Diane

 "Mmmmmmmmmmmm. Do you want me to drive you?" asked Gary, kissing his new wife, Yvette.

"No baby...I have my own car....You just want to be around me every second don't you?" cooed Yvette.

"I can think of nothing better my sweet.....Anyway...I have to be at work early today ..A New Assistant District Attorney is starting...She's the daughter of a good friend of  D.A. Garcetti's wife...." said Gary.

"Really?" asked Yvette..

"Yeah...Bad enough he has his son working there...Now the daughter of  a friend of his wife's...Talk about Nepotism...."said Gary.

"I know right?" laughed Yvette...

At Sam Mother's Diner...We were having a nice breakfast..

Steak and Eggs, Hash browns and Hot coffee.. The five of us, Me, Bee Bee, Kahlil, Sofia and Jade

sat in a booth...

"Been awhile since we've treated ourselves.." I said.

"I knowwwwwww" said Bee Bee leaning on my shoulder as we both ate...

"This was a good idea , of us getting here early to avoid you know who." said Kahlil..

"You know, we oughta be able to eat in peace, regardless of what is going on...No one person should be allowed to be such a nuisance.."said Sofia.

"Sofia is right."said Jade, who was also chowing down...

Lt. Tragg walked in just then.....At first he didn't notice us...

"Sam I'll have my usual..Two eggs fried..some spuds, sausage and hot coffee.." he said.

"Comin up Artie!" said Sam Mother..

He suddenly noticed the four of us..

Kahlil saw him first...

"Uh Oh...Here comes Agita!" he said..

Jade, Bee Bee and Sofia all giggled...They had finished their breakfasts....

I was finishing my coffee...

"Welllll look who it is....The Young Lions...."he said sarcastically...."I suppose you all are on your way to the courthouse to arraign your little friend, Jane Martin.." he said.

He had grilled her mercilessly for 16 hours in the Fishbowl...

She hadn't said a word...She just smiled and stared at him quietly... She was an Attorney, she understood that she didn't have to say anything...and she didn't...She invoked her right to silence.

Furious....He had her sent back to the "cooler.."

Where she sat and slept most of the time...

The four of us simply ignored him...We didn't answer yay or nay or indulge him in any verbal sparring..

We acted as though he wasn't there and divided up our bill..Unlike our contemporaries...We knew that getting into a huge argument with him about a pending case was a waste of time..He wasn't an attorney, just a detective, we could possibly reveal something he could take back to an ADA and we were giving him what he wanted a relief...So we took the safe route..We said nothing..Nothing at all.. he couldn't charge us with anything or fuss at us for saying nothing..

He then peered at Ms. Jade..

"And you Jade Lee..Watch yourself...I'm just an angel's breath of arresting you for obstruction of Justice...A conviction on which your citizenship would be invalidated and you'd be shipped back to Mainland China.." he said.

Jade couldn't help but to laugh at this....

"Did I say something funny?" he snarled..and then out of the side of his eye, he saw her..

She was a strikingly beautiful woman...She had a pocketbook and a briefcase...She looked like an Attorney...

She was flanked by District Attorney John Garcetti ,

His son. Assistant District Attorney, Chris Garcetti and 

Assistant District Attorney Cal McCafferty....

They sat down at a table and ordered breakfast...

The woman ordered her eggs fried..

with hash browns

and 

hot coffee...Just like he did..

"VA VA VA VOOOOOOOOM!!" he said..forgetting all about us..

II-

We met Ms. Yvette and our new client , Jane Martin at the courthouse..

She was to be arraigned today on First Degree Murder charges...

The woman we saw in Sam Mother's Diner this morning turned out to be the Prosecutor we would be facing in this case..New Assistant District Attorney Diane Baranski....She had been an Assistant District Attorney in Boston and had a perfect 100-0 record of prosecutions...She had left Boston abruptly and returned to her native Philadelphia..She had just joined the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office..She was the daughter of a friend of D.A. John Garcett's wife...This was to be her first Philadelphia case...

Lt. Tragg sat entranced with her...He watched her every motion...

He hung on to her every sentence...It was as if nothing and no one else mattered but her...She noticed how hard he was staring at her and was a bit taken aback...

The Judge was Tad Thornton..Someone we knew , but not someone like Judge Reynolds or my father who might cut us some slack....Still He was a friend of Ms. Yvette...They had known each other in Law school, even though he was slightly older...

The arguments began.. ADA Baranski argued that the defendent, Attorney Jane Martin brutally beat her supervisor, Michael Presser upon the head with an ashtray and left tried to hide from the police by having her attorney, One Beatrice Jones drive around in her car to distract them while she made her get away...

Bee Bee argued just as vigourously that this was not true..and that the ADA didn't have a shred of proof..She said that she was actually representing her client in a sexual harrassment suit against the decedent and did not realize he was dead until they both arrived at the crime scene..

Yvette argued that we were not trying the case during arraignment...That that would come with the preliminary....

I backed Ms. Yvette up by arguing that our client is an officer of the court...An Attorney with a good public record and should be afforded the assumption of innocence until PROVEN guilty and there for be granted bail..

Sofia and Kahlil paraded 25 charactor witnesses who vouched for Jane Martin's good charactor...Most were her colleagues....Some were other attorneys who had worked with her over the years...

ADA Baranski seemed to argue a bit too much that due to the nature of the crime, the brutalness of it and the fact that the defendent has proven herself to be tricky , that she might be a flight risk...

Judge Thornton appeared to be a little aggravated with ADA Baranski's tenacious arguing and set bail at $1500.00 dollars....

"THAT IS EXTRORDANARILY LOW YOUR HONOR....I WOULD SAY INCREDIBLY LOW...DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEFENDENT??" asked an angry ADA Baranski...

"You're new to this job and I'm going to give you a break and not hold you in contempt...but another word out of your mouth and You'll trade places with the defendent in the cooler."said Judge Thornton..

"WHOA! WHAT WAS THAT?" asked Bee Bee..

"Ms. Yvette, what just happened?" asked Sofia.

Yvette's mouth dropped.....

"I don't know...But we are going to count our lucky stars and go with it.." she said as she wrote a check for $150.00 and passed it to the bailiff..

"Something was definitely going on between those two.."said Bee Bee..

"Yeah, whatever...Let's get out of here...I need a shower , a change of clothes and some decent food and most of all , a drink..I'm certain I've lost 12 pounds these last two days in stir."said Jane.

Sofia laughed.. "Jane, you never change." she laughed...

"Let's exit out of the side door.."said Kahlil..

"Yeah Jade 

brought the car around the back.." I said..

The car was in the back driveway....

"Well guys...let' go...and I know a perfect place for lunch."said Ms. Yvette.

Lt. Tragg walked over to the new ADA...He had surprisingly not let his busy hands wander up her skirt...although he was tempted to..

"Hi..I'm Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, Homicide..We'll be working this case together...Tough break in there..I know that Judge..He's an Asshole.." said Lt. Tragg..

"I agree..I'm Diane Baranski..." she said..

"Listen, why don't we go grab some dinner and a couple of cold ones?" he said.. "My treat!" he added..

"Why Lieutenant that sounds like a good idea..Lead the way...I'll follow in my car." she said.

III-

They went to Curley's...They ordered Two New York Strip Steaks 

with Mashed Potatoes.

and Beers....

Lt. Tragg liked ADA Diane Baranski...She seemed like one of the guys...The type of ADA he remembered from early in his career, who drank and socialized with the cops..

"I heard you're from Boston.....I can show you Philadelphia...I'm born and raised here..."bragged Lt. Tragg..

"So was I Lieutenant...I went to school in Boston...Harvard...and after I passed the bar, I worked in Boston...For a small Boutique Law Firm and then as as Assistant District Attorney...after five years,I decided to return to Philadelphia and try my hand here.." said Diane.. "I've been gone for 14 years....I must admit...It does feel a little foreign to me.." she said.

"And that's where a guy like me comes in."said Lt. Tragg.

Just then, Bert Vandenberg walked over to their table...He was a Private Investigator now, who used to be an FBI special agent...He dropped a file in her lap..

"This is the information you wanted Diane." he said..

"Bert, what are you doing here?" asked a surprised Lt. Tragg..

"Working for my client...Ms. Baranski here.."smiled Bert Vandenberg...He also found ADA Baranski very attractive and had attempted to put the moves on her days before..

"Oh you two know each other huh? This being Philly, I suppose that makes sense... Bert got me some information on the Attorneys I'm going to be up against...I should have asked for this sooner..but better now than later..Information being a prime commodity.."said Diane..

She opened her pocketbook and got her checkbook out..She wrote Bert a check...

"Thank you Bert.."she said.

"Don't mention it..Give me a call okay?" he said..

"I'll be sure to do that."said Diane , who smiled...

"I'll be waiting...See ya around Artie." he said and smirked.. "He hasn't got a shot." he thought to himself as he walked away..

"You don't need to hire a P.I.  You have me...I work for you..."said Lt. Tragg..

But she wasn't listening...she was reading the files he brought her...They were on US!

KEITH JONES-

Born in Philadelphia PA. 

Mother, Nancy Jones, Court Stenographer

Father, Judge Keith Morrison

Graduated from West Catholic High School

B.A. Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre Law- Howard University

J.D.- University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish, French, German

Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware and New York.

Associate Attorney- McCluskey/Cozen/Connor/Pratt

Married to Beatrice Evans

BEATRICE LYNN EVANS -JONES

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

B.A. -Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy ,Pre Law- Temple University

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish and French

Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Deleware

Associate Attorney- McCluskey /Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Married to Keith Jones

SOFIA CARMELITA GARCIA-AHMED

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

B.A. -Administration Of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre Law-Temple University

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish and French

Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware and New York

Associate Attorney -McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Married to Kahlil Ahmed...

KAHLIL ABDUL AHMED

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Central High School

BA.- Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre Law- Temple University

JD- University of Pennsylvania Law School

Speaks Arabic languages fluently, fluent in German and Russian.

Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware and New York

Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Married to Sofia Garcia

YVETTE DENISE JONES-LOCKWOOD

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from North Catholic High School

BA-Trial Advocacy, Pre Law, Administration of Justice -Lasalle University

JD -University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish, French and Russian

Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware and New York

Senior Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

''Wow, I'm up against some very impressive young attorneys.. Like me they all got their degrees from an IVY leauge establishment.. PENN eh? Looks like their supervisor plucked these young upstarts from her alma mater ....Interesting...They're married couples too...Super interesting..Means they have Chemistry...Hmmm.."

"I could have gotten all of that for you , for free.."snarled Lt. Tragg...."Besides...I know everybody on that list personally...Being a Detective in this city and arresting many felons...I've tangled with that crew of lawyers more than enough times.."said Lt. Tragg..

She had already been given the story on him about how he had loused up a number of cases and had caused more than one ADA to lose to an assortment of attorneys...Not just these five...She looked forward to the challenge of winning this case in spite of Lt. Tragg..

IV-

We went back to the rooftop Martini Bar.

Where we ordered six gourmet burgers....

"This was perfect Ms. Yvette.." I said...Glad to be enjoying these great burgers and free from the thought of Lt. Tragg bothering us..

"Oh My God...I couldn't wait to get back to these burgers.."said Kahlil..

"They are delish.."said Bee Bee ..

"Ummm hmmmm.." agreed Sofia..

"They are good...Guys we did good in there... and we got a little lucky...but that's probably our quotient of good luck...Where are we on this case..?" asked Ms. Yvette.

"I looked at the files you had in your briefcase....They were all loans, bad loans that were taken out by your firm....Your firm was underwater....Did you know that?  Then suddenly it wasn't... You got a huge influx of cash from somewhere?  Is this what Mike Presser had you looking up?" asked Jade.

"Yes....he had me looking up and researching these files for weeks, but he wouldn't tell me why..There are more...but obviously I can't get to them.."said Jane.

"Something was obviously going on...This information would be dangerous to someone...I know a guy...He's a friend of Olivia's..He's and Attorney and a Financial Forensic Investigator..He can help us and I'll need a court order and a subpeona...Keith, you and Mamasita work on that..."said Yvette..

"On it!" I said.

"First thing in the morning.."said Sofia.

"Bee Bee, you and I will get in contact with Olivia's friend.."said Yvette.

"I'll meet you in front of your house in the morning."said Bee Bee..

"Kahlil, you and Jade check out the arrest report, the autospy report...Check the Street, Traffic and ATM cams..See if thre was anyone in that building that saw or heard anything and check all witness statements."said Yvette.

   "On it Boss Lady" said Kahlil..

"Yupper"said Jade..

"What if anything can I do? seems like you guys got everything covered..." said Jane.

"You, get another hotel room...Use your real name....get you a nice hot shower and go to bed...don't make any waves...You have our numbers...don't hesitate to call if there is any trouble." said Yvette.

Hours later at home..Yvette sat on her bed with her laptop..

She studied the information she got on her laptop 

and information 

Jade had given her on the new Assistant District Attorney, Diane Baronski...

DIANE MICHELLE BARONSKI,

Born in PHILADELPHIA PA.

GRADUATED FROM NORTH CATHOLIC HIGH.

B.A. Trial Advocacy, Pre-Law, Administration of Justice, Harvard University, Boston, MA.

J.D. - Harvard University

Passed Bar in Mass, Ct, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Fluent in Russian

Employed as Associate Attorney at Steward and Goldmen Attorneys at Law, Boston

Associate Attorney at the Wellington Group, Boston

Assistant District Attorney, Boston , (100-0)

Currently employed as Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia PA.

"Impressive...We attended the same High School...She attended Harvarrrrrd" said Yvette ,using a phony Boston accent.. "She's three years older than me...So our paths never crossed..."said Yvette.

''She was doing good for herself in Boston...Wonder what made her suddenly come back to Philadelphia after being gone for 14 years?" asked Gary..

"Tell you what?  Why don't you find that out for me? You're the big investigator." said Yvette, smiling at him as she sat on the bed in her night shirt , that came to her thighs...

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!I've got something big I want to share with you.." moaned Gary.....

Yvette turned her laptop off and placed it on the night stand...She dimmed the lights....

"I know you do!" Yvette whispered to him and smiled.

Gary ran his hands up her night shirt and slipped her panties off....

She leaned over and began kissing him softly...

He crawled on top of her...and they began to make sweet love on top of the bed..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" she said to him...

"I LOVE YOU TOO!" he said without hesitation...

The bed began to squeak under their combined  weight and the headboard began to softly slam against the wall..

As the harvest moon shone over their neighborhood!

(TO BE CONTINUED)