The Button Man

 The Next day at work....Bee Bee was sifting through some mail..

"I'd like a nice juicy case to sink my teeth in..." said Bee Bee..

"Be careful what you wish for girlie."said her best friend , Sofia..

"Now of days I feel more like a porn star than an Attorney..." giggled Bee Bee conspiratorially..

"I knowwwww especially on Saturday Mornings..Kahlil doesn't want to go anywhere, He wants to stay in bed with me all day... Doesn't want to eat.."laughed Sofia..

Both girls laughed...

Kahlil and I walked in just then with four coffees...

"Heyyyyy wifey" he said and kissed Sofia in the lips..

putting the coffees on the table in front of us..

"Heyyy Papi" said Sofia, blushing a little.

I had bagels....

I put them on the table and took Bee Bee in my arms...I planted a wet one on her lips..

"How is the girl I love most in this whole wide world..?" I asked..

"Ouuuuuuu she is feeling goood!"laughed Bee Bee... "You've got mail.." she said and placed the letters on my side of the table.

It was the third day that all of us were together and back from our honeymoons...The only real difference was that we were married....but it still took a little getting used to..

Ms. Yvette walked in....

"Heyy loves...ouuu that looks good.." she said..  "I've got some possible case work for you... Jessica Sanchez Burrows may have an immigration case she may need two of you for and Olivia and Beverly may need one or two of you for a case they are working...They're working a wrongful conviction case.." she said..

Just then, one of the partners, Robert Connor walked in...

"Mmmmmm looks good....Yvette, guys...Can I see all of you in Mrs. Lockwood's office and close the door , he said.. "Yvette, you've got to get "Jones" taken off that door and have "Lockwood " put on now..If you want ,I'll see that that happens." he said.

We all walked into Ms. Yvette's office and closed the door..What could be so important? we all wondered.

This had to be something really serious for him to call us into an office and close the door I thought..

I put my arms around Bee Bee..

Sofia held Kahlil's hand tight..

Kahlil looked at Ms. Yvette..

"What is this about Mr. Connor?" asked Yvette.

"I need a favor....and I need for you and your team to do me this favor...You have to understand that this must be kept in the strictest of confidentiallity..No one outside of this office, except your investigator, Jade Lee, who I have already talked to can know about this...

A young man, who we all know was arrested last night by Lt. Tragg for murder...A murder which I KNOW he did not commit....I want you to represent him...I would represent him myself..but I can't be connected to this in anyway...I will pay your legal fees myself, which will be extra to your normal salaries and any bail that has to be paid..I'll take care of it..I'm not at liberty to tell you anymore..but just take care of this boy...Anybody give you any trouble....You call me and I'll handle it..." said Robert Connor, not the most liked of the partners, but a big fan of us..

''Who is the boy?" asked Yvette.

"You all know him....The Bike messenger, The guy that comes up here with mail, flowers, fruit baskets what have you..." said Robert Connor.

"Jason? Jason Pale? Nahhhhhh!" I said.

"Jason kills my patience sometimes...but he's no killer."said Bee Bee.

"Oh My god, Jason?" asked Sofia.

"Who is he accused of killing?" asked Kahlil..

"A man named Ed Tarnick...He is an accountant...He was a witness against a businessman this firm is representing...Lt. Tragg seems to think this kid is a paid contract killer...I can't get close to this case..Which is why my name can't be mentioned..but if you have any problems out of anybody, just call me...Don't mention my name...You just call me and I'll handle it...Thank you guys and this meeting never ever happened."said Mr. Connor, who left the office and vanished down the steps..

This wasn't a request...It was kind of an order..

"Well guys...I guess our work is cut out for us...huh?" said Ms. Yvette.

II-

He had been up all night....

Jason Pale, Bicycle Messenger one day, Accused Contract Killer the next...He hadn't called an attorney because he didn't know any...Well actually , he knew plenty, but none he could afford..So he sat..

He had two coffee's and a hot dog..

still he remained silent..

Lt. Tragg continued to grill him...

"Listen Kid, you're in a lot of trouble..Who put you up to do this?  Who paid you?  Help yourself...I'd hate to see you go to prison for life...life pal...no more girls, no more rides in the early morning, no more sunlight...Think about it....you're throwin your life away....NOW WHO IS THE BUTTON MAN?" screamed Lt. Tragg,pounding his fist on the table.

"THE BUTTON MAN????You sound like a retread of an old Bogart movie...I told ya, I didn't shoot nobody...Yeah I rode by that van, but I ride by that building everyday....I deliver packages to that building...I rode by so fast I didn't see nothin...I'm tellin you ,you got the wrong guy..." said Jason Pale..

"Kid, you're trying my patience...."said an exasperated Lt. Tragg.

"I want a lawyer....LAWYER!!! I aint talkin to you."said Jason Pale..

"Yeah , Like you got a lawyer! Right?" said Lt. Tragg.

"He does now!" said Bee Bee.

"Five of em to be exact!" said Kahlil..

"Hey Jason, what I tell you about keeping late hours?" I joked , tryin to lighten his mood.

"Heyyyyy Papi!"said Sofia.

"WHAT??? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE??" screamed Lt. Tragg.

"Goood Morning Lieutenant, you been up all night?   You'd better get some sleep..."said Yvette..

"DON'T PATRONIZE ME YVETTE!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Bellowed Lt. Tragg.

"We are representing our client!" said Yvette , smiling innocently.

"Hey guys...What-What are you doin here?" asked Jason..

"What do you think we are doing here??...We are here to represent you.."I said..

''Don't say anymore, We are going to get you arraigned and released.."said Bee Bee.

"Shhhhhh, your legal fees have been taken care of...just don't say anymore."whispered Yvette in his ear.

"Hold it Yvette, Who is paying you guys? I know a few things and I know this mook can't afford fancy dan lawyers like you guys from your law firm...WHO IS THE BUTTON MAN?" asked Lt. Tragg.

"The Button Man? What is this, the Untouchables?" laughed Kahlil..

Jason Pale howled with laughter and slammed his palm on the table..

"Lieutenant, you know by law we don't have to answer that...Bottom line is , We are his attorneys of record...Charge him or release him to our custody...But we are going to arraign him in a few hours."said Sofia..

Lt. Tragg was livid... "Matty, take him upstairs to the cooler... Kid, this isn't going to end well for you...I'm telling you.."said Lt. Tragg, who stomped his foot in anger..

Within an hour...In a city courtroom , with my dad presiding..

We got Jason released on relatively low bail.....

He smiled at Bee Bee..

"Hi daughter in law" he whispered in the hallway, kissing Bee Bee on the cheek and hugging her.

"Hiiii Dad!" Bee Bee Giggled..

"That's her father?" asked Jason..

"That's My Father, but let's keep that on the low...Not many people know that." I said..

''Damn Keith, your old man's a judge....No wonder you wound up being a lawyer."said Jason.

"We have to take him to the one place we can have a private conversation...But first...I'm sure you'd like to eat, wouldn't you?" said Yvette..

"Well uh yeah...I'm starving.."said Jason.

Kahlil whispered in Ms. Yvette's ear...

"That's perfect...Call Jade, tell her to meet us there...I was going to have lunch with my husband today...I'm going to have to cancel.."said Ms. Yvette.

"Let's slip out through that side exit before Lt. Tragg walks out here.." said Sofia...

We all followed suit...

III-

We took him to the diner in Camden we ate at while working on a Wrongful Conviction Case...

We were all famished and we all chowed down....

"I appreciate you guys bailing me out and getting me breakfast and all...but I don't understand...I can't afford you guys..." said Jason...

"We know that...but like we said...Your fees have been taken care of." said Kahlil..

''We want to know what happened that night or afternoon...Tell us your side."said Yvette.

Ms. Jade joined us..

"I've seen the police report...Here is the good news...No prints or DNA were found on the murder weapon whatsoever and his hands were tested for residue from gun fire or usage and there was none..The bad news is the gun was found in a plastic bag in the trash dumpster outside your apartment complex, which even a guy like you would be smart enough not to leave there." said Jade.

"You're all heart Jade" laughed Jason..."Look guys...I didn't have no gun....I've never owned a gun in my life...I don't even know this man who died...I don't know him, never seen him before in my life..Have no reason to kill him..They got the wrong man..."said Jason.

"People at the scene said that they didn't hear anything..Just a bit of glass breaking." said Jade..

"It's pretty brazen to shoot someone in Broad Daylight.."said Bee Bee..

"It happened around the time we were coming back from lunch...That puts it at 2:30 pm maybe.." said Sofia..

"I might have been riding my bike in the area at the time..but I didn't see or hear anything...That's how random it was...It was so many people on the street at the time, people and cars.." said Jason.

"Anybody you know can verify your story?" I asked..

''Wellll come to think of it..There was this Black lady...real pretty, dresses to the nines...She was there.." said Jason..

"That sounds like Ms. Yvette!" said Kahlil..

That brought howls of laughter from Sofia, Me, Bee Bee and Jade...

"Stoppppppppppppp"laughed Ms. Yvette..."Besides...I was with you guys." she said, smiling.

"Noo, she's someone I just started seeing in the past few months...I think she works in your building..What was odd was that I seen her a block away from where it went down and she was a little tipsy...I thought that at this time a day...2:30-3:00 pm it was a little early to start hittin the sauce...but she saw me because she waved..she was headed to that upscale bar down the street...But I don't know her name..I'd know her if I saw her again.."

"But you didn't see a shooter?" asked Bee Bee..

"No..It was a lot of people  on the street and like I said..I didn't hear anything..It could have been anybody.." said Jason.

"They don't have a lot if any evidence against him.."said Jade.

"We could argue for complete dismissal based on lack of evidence...I'll see..... Jason, go home, shower, get cleaned up and then take some clothes...here is some money..Check into a hotel...Use your own name..

Here is a Portal...We will communicate with you by this....Here is our numbers.. Give me your phone..You have any problems with the police or whatever...You call us Okay?" said Ms. Yvette.

"I was kinda hopin I could uh stay with uh Ms. Jade...Since she has that uh whole new house all to herself.." he said , looking at Ms. Jade, sheepishly...

"In your dreams." said Ms. Jade.

We all broke out in guffaws of laughter..

 

  IV-

At Curley's Bar, Two men were also having lunch..

Both were having corn beef specials.

Businessman James Cole and his attorney, Leonard Biggs..

"Ummmmmmm I tell you, nobody makes a Corn Beef special quite like Curley's.." he said..

"You're right about that pal....did I tell you, Curley used to be a cop? Yeah, a A homicide detective...He retired...He had a little bit of money and uh ruh, he bought this bar and restaurant and look what he did with it.." said Attorney Leonard Biggs..

"Yessss...I'm sure grateful to you Biggs...You saved my ass....I was about to lose my shirt...Looks like we got lucky...That big mouthed Accountant, Tarnick got himself murdered....I hate to say it, but what a stroke of luck....I heard they caught the kid who did it...was it a mugging or something?" asked James Cole.

"Oh I don't know.. In this city, you never can tell..."laughed Leonard Biggs...

"We are very happy, very happy with the job you've done...Now look , my offer stands...You come in with us as one of our attorneys and I'll set you up in Dubai for a year at our office there with a nice portfolio.....enough that you can buy that land in South Florida you've been telling me about.."said James Cole.

"Excellent....I'll be turning in my resignation shortly...In two weeks....I think I'd like to work in Dubai..and retire after two years to South Florida..." laughed Leonard Biggs..

"Yesssssssss....The good life....Lenny, ya done good...Thank you ever so much...And oh, I took your advice...I cleaned up his records...Switched the books...Heh heh heh...."he laughed.

"Good Job, we don't want any loose ends..."laughed Leonard Biggs...

He was unaware that our partner...Robert Connor, was sitting just seats away, watching the both of them.

Night time...

At Ms. Yvette's house....Now Her and Gary's House..

She and Gary were enjoying a sweet kiss at the end of the day..

''Ummmmmm does it feel normal to you yet?" asked Ms. Yvette ,staring up at her new husband..

"Ummmmmmm yessss....It's not I haven't spent the night over here before...But I guess, now, all of my clothes are here and I don't have to get up and uh go anywhere or wake up and find you gone.." said Gary...

"You know the youngins said the same thing..

About waking up in each other's arms and all of their clothing being in the same place and not having to leave...." Gary laughed..speaking of me and Bee Bee and Kahlil and Sofia.

"You've talked to them?" asked Ms. Yvette incredulously...

"Well yeah....They tend to get home before you do on most days...and we've talked.. All of us being new to this block.."chuckled Gary....

"I want to protect them.....We are involved in something that looks a little snarky, Murky.....Something slightly above their paygrade... I don't want them too involved in this...Not until I need them...Olivia and Beverly asked for Bee Bee and Keith and Jessica and Chip asked for Sofia and Kahlil...They've all worked well together...I was going to call them and tell them that we are busy...but I think they should work with them...Jade and I can handle this case...Up until we are ready to go to trial.."said Ms. Yvette.

"Damn.....see this is what made me fall in love with you.....The way you are so nurturing to people."said Gary..

"That's what you say....but I think it was something else.....So come here....Let me nuture you.."whispered Yvette..

Yvette began kissing Gary softly and he slowly lifted her top up and began running his hands deep into her panties..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu girrrrrrrrrrllll" he moaned..

She loved his deep baritone voice , when he said that to her...

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Gary.." she cooed..

He lifted Yvette up and entered her slowly and softly...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....HUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSBANDDDDDDDDDDD!" she moaned... she liked the sound of that...Of her being married..Of her having someone to come home to every night...

She was certain that Bee Bee and I, who were at this very moment, a few doors down making sweet love ourselves..

felt the same way she did..

and Sofia and Kahlil..

who were also in the throes of passion...

also felt the same security....

She liked having them living down the street from her..

She and Gary continued making sweet love while standing up....

As the teeming city sleeps!

(TO BE CONTINUED)