This Was About Her

 Unlock other prisoners in the "Fishbowl", the interrogation room nicknamed that by the detectives...

Tucker Carlton didn't turn down anything...He didn't smoke, but he was Hungry...

He had a Toasted Grilled Ham and Cheese sandwich

and a Coke..

Even had Cole Slaw...

Lt. Tragg walked in...

"You've got quite an appetite buddy....You know you're in a lot of trouble...Attempted Murder of an Assistant District Attorney...We got the Garrote with your sweaty DNA on it...We got video footage from the parking lot of you dragging his body to his car, where you closed the door and turned on the car to make it look like a suicide..and we've got Street Cam video of you getting in your car and pulling off...We got you cold pal..and yet he says he doesn't know you...What was this all about?" asked Lt. Tragg..

"I think I should talk to a lawyer Good Lieutenant...Oh yeah and thanks for the grub...that really hit the spot." said Tucker Carlton..

"Eat Well, I hear the food in the State Correctional Center isn't half as good ."said Olivia Bennett-Alexander.

Beverly slapped the subpeona in his hand..

"That's for you ,It's a subpeona...For you, bedtime reading."said Beverly..

"NO..NO..NO..NOOO, DON'T TELL ME YOU GUYS ARE REPPING THIS GUY? I HAVE AN AIRTIGHT CASE AGAINST HIM!!"said Lt. Tragg, who missed the part about the subpeona.

"Relax Lt. Tragg, we have no desire to represent this dreck..We just issued him a subpeona to appear as a witness in our murder case, that's all." I assured him..

"Yeah...Looks like you got an airtight case against him for the attempted murder of ADA Jake Patais."said Nelson..

"Yeah for once." Josie whispered to Beverly..

"You've been hanging around me too long Josie girl...You're beginning to sound just like me."Beverly smickered.

Lt. Tragg was relieved that we wouldn't be defending this guy..His whole demeanor changed...

"See you in court Mr. Carlton." said Olivia, as the five of us left....

Lt. Tragg looked at Tucker Carlton..

"You're in a lot of trouble buddy boy." he said.

Tucker Carlton just shrugged his shoulders...

"Hey, you got anymore of that slaw? It was good" he said calmly..

II-

TWO DAYS LATER-

We were back in court for a second day of Preliminary Hearings..

ADA Jake Patois was angry...He had now heard the entire story of ADA Diane Baronski and her relationships with Tucker Carlton, Vinnie Barrett and Walker Clarke.. He was furious with Diane and no longer speaking to her.

Despite pleas from her and us..He stubbornly decided to continue to prosecute Walker Clarke for First Degree Murder..

Walker Clarke sat in disbelief with Olivia and Beverly and the rest of us,

Myself, Nelson and Josie watched as Crime scene photos of the body being pulled from the water was shown, of the body in the morgue were seen.

He interviewed Lt. Tragg

Who glibly explained how he came to the conclusion that Walker Clarke was the killer.

Olivia and Beverly eviscerated him...They asked him about other prints and DNA found at the scene, If he in fact knew that there was two other people's DNA involved..

He was forced to admit that he knew Diane Baronski's DNA was also found and an unidentified DNA...

Nelson and Josie pilloried him with questions of... "So you just made a decision that one person's DNA and prints made them automatically guilty and another's who you knew and may have purposely kept out of discovery was not guilty.?

This was a great line of questioning..

He was as red as a beet and tongue tied...

ADA Jake Patais was frustrated...He realized that Lt. Tragg was like a weight around his ankles pulling him down.. Lt. Tragg had single handedly destroyed his credibility and had cast enormus doubt on Walker Clarke's guilt..

He presented 10 witnesses who heard a loud argument between Walker and Vinnie...All 10 of these guys knew both men personally..

Olivia, Beverly and Nelson went hard on cross, comparing the witness statements they made to Lt. Tragg with the witness statements they made to me and what they were saying now.. They found major discrepancies and found that practically all of them were walking by and heard loud voices...but had no idea what the argument was actually about..

Jake Patais looked flustered..Olivia, Beverly and Nelson were taking his case apart like surgeons...and this was just the preliminary....Maybe he should have spent more time working on his case and less time in bed with Diane..He was furious and frustrated..

I sat and looked at how frustrated he was....

ADA Diane Baronske sat in the visitor section...She felt sorry for her one time protoge' She had told him to work harder on this case, to dig deeper...He had ignored her..and now Olivia and Beverly and the other two attorneys with them was tearing his case to shreds and we were still only at a preliminary hearing. He was at least taking notes...

"He thinks this is going to trial...He's naive..This is going to be over quickly.." she thought..She wanted to talk to him, but he wouldn't look her way... Tears flowed down her cheeks..

I felt sorry for her.

Jake Patais called his last witness... A Man who had actually heard the argument..

This witness heard a woman's voice...and heard enough to know..That "One of em had caught the other having sex with his woman."

Jake made a big mistake..He called Diane as a witness..

He was angry, He was hurt and he asked her questions about her sex life that we were not planning to ask..

She admitted to having a sexual relationship with Vinnie Barrett..That they had sex on at least three occasions before she and Walker Clarke had a sexual relationship..

She said that it had only been once and she explained that the two were drinking and smoking marijuana..and added that she didn't view herself as being in an exclusive relationship with either man..

"Yes...That's about how you do things..isn't it?" he said sarcastically...

"COUNSELOR!!!! WATCH IT!!!" said the Judge... He like everybody knew that the two ADA's had a personal relationship...

''She's not my witness...but I wanted to object to his questioning so bad."said Beverly, who for the first time felt a tinge of sympathy for Diane..

"He's hurt Honeybun."said Nelson.

"There was no need to be cruel."said Olivia.

"No further questions...Counselors?" said Jake..

"NO QUESTIONS YOUR HONOR!"said Olivia.

ADA Diane Baronski was surprised that Olivia and crew chose not to question her...She expected to be raked over the coals...but she supposed there was no need to, Jake had done that...She was thankful for their kindness..

Jake Patais gave his closing argument and demanded that Walker Clarke be held over for trial...

"This was a spat between two friends OVER HER, THIS WAS ABOUT HER!" he said, pointing to Diane....

"Alright...It is close to Noon....Mrs. Bennett-Alexander do you plan a defense? If not...I can set a trial date for Tuesday at 10:00 am.

"Your honor , we do have a defense..."said Olivia.

''Alright...then we are adjourning...Everyone be back at 2:00 pm." said the Judge...

III-

We went to the courthouse cafeteria, which we were beginning to like..

We had burgers...

"I'm no lawyer, but even I can see this guy doesn't have much of a case."said Walker Clarke.

"No he doesn't and we aren't going to waste the court's time with a trial...This is going to end this afternoon."said Olivia.

"Yes..We know who the killer is and it's all going to come out this afternoon."said Beverly.

"This definitely the closing of the book...But what gets me is how unprepared he was...How he set so many traps for himself ..This was too easy..."I said.

"He should have spent more time working on this case and less time in bed with Diane."said Josie.

"I'm sure he's beating himself up about that."said Nelson.

"He hasn't been so bad...Right now he's 20-0...He's been very good in court.."said Olivia.

"That's because he hadn't dealt with us.." said Beverly..

''Welllllllllll yeah, you're right."said Olivia.

We all laughed loudly.....

Jake Patais sat bewildered in the Judges Chambers...

He was livid... Calling Lt. Tragg

 as a witness had proven to be a big mistake. He now knew why Diane never called him. He contradicted himself several times and it was clear that he did not do a thorough investigation..

The only reason why he kept her information out of Discovery is because he too had slept with and was beholden to her...

Olivia and her team were very very good...They disected witness statements, the way he should have

They had predicates up the wazoo...They knew their law....

He hung his head.....He knew he was beaten....He had a good mind to just drop the charges and spare himself the humiliation...He smelled her perfume...He felt her presence..He looked up..

"Jake, I know you hate me...but...but..all of this was a year before I met you...I never cheated on you...Never.." she said..

He stared into her eyes...His eyes were watering...As were hers..

They kissed passionately...

"I'M SO SORRY DIANE!" he said..

"SO AM I...." she moaned as they continued to kiss..

He unbuckled his trousers....and slipped his boxers down..

He slipped her panties down and lifted her up..

"OHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYY!" she said..

"AWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWWD!" he howled...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed as he hiked her skirt up

and thrusted deep inside of her..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!" she moaned..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I'VE MISSED YOU SOOO MUCH!!" he moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...I'VE MISSED YOU TOOO!!! UMMMMMMMMMM!" she cooed.

IV-

2:17 PM

We were all in court after recess, Neither ADA Jake Patais or Diane Baronski was in court..We were just standing...

The Judge was perturbed..

"Auntay...You think he just decided to quit?" asked Beverly..

"No....He'll be here."said Olivia calmly...She was sitting next to me, rubbing my hands..

I was smiling calmly...

Nelson looked at the door.

"Here he comes." he said.

"Here he comes."said Josie.

"I'm sorry I'm late your honor." said ADA Jake Patais.. His suit was wrinkled and his collar was wet as if someone had wiped lipstick off of his collar.

"YOU KNOW I HATE TARDINESS SIR.....LET'S GET ON WITH IT" said the Judge.

"We call our first witness, Tucker Carlton.."said Olivia.

Tucker Carlton walked to the stand.. He had finally showered..He no longer smelled unbearable.

Diane entered the courtroom at the time and sat down..

"You knew Ms. Baronski, Assistant District Attorney Diane Baronski did you not?" asked Olivia.

"Yes...I uh was working for a Construction Company and she was there interviewing for the job of Chief Counsel...She didn't get the job...She and I went out for drinks...We went to several bars and then we went back to my apartment..." he said.

"You went back to your apartment...Was it to have coffee and quiet conversation?" asked Beverly..

"NO, IT WAS TO HAVE SEX!!! She was all over me..We DID IT ALL NIGHT!!!" he snarled ,balefully looking at Diane Baronski..He seemed as if he wanted to unburden himself..

"She was gone when you woke up the next morning...I have a phone record here of several calls you made to her afterwords...and I have credit card statements from several florists in which you ordered flowers for her and had them sent to her job, the District Attorney's office..You wanted a relationship, correct? You were very much smitten with her correct?" asked Olivia.

"I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER!!! That's right...I called her ,I asked her if I had done anything wrong..She said that I hadn't, but that she didn't wish to see me anymore..I didn't understand.."said Tucker Carlton..

''So to her this was just a one night stand...To you it was something deeper...You were in love right? And you don't treat someone like that right?" asked Beverly.

"NOOOO ,YOU DON'T ....YOU DON'T TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THAT!" he said.

"Relevance...Where are you going with this? What has this got to do with Walker Clarke?" asked ADA Jake Patais.

"We are going somewhere with this your honor."said Olivia.

"Make it quick counselor and Make it Plain."said the Judge.

''Did you know either Vinnie Barrett or Walker Clarke, the defendent?" asked Nelson.

"No I don't believe I do.." said Tucker Carlton.

"I have photos found in your house when you were arrested of Vinnie Barrett , alone with Ms. Baronski. Here in the Coffee Shop, Mocha Joes and on Penns Landing in bars and At his House Boat...

You used this camera

with a very expensive telephoto lense to snap these rather explicit photos of Vinnie Barrett and Ms. Baronski

You stalked her, you photographed her...Just like you stalked her and photographed her with ADA Jake Patais. You were enraged weren't you ? And You decided to eliminate your competition didn't you?"asked Nelson.

"I refuse to answer that on account I am protected from self incrimination." said Tucker Carlton.

Nelson smiled at him..

Josie was up next and she had a Fire Extinguisher.

"This is a Fire Extinguisher found on the boat...with a dent in it...My client, Walker Clarke's fingerprints are not on it...but yours are...and Vinnie Barrett's blood and brain matter is on this..."said Josie.

"This is the murder weapon...You fractured Vinnie Barrett's skull with this and then weighted him down and dropped him in the river and you still didn't have Diane...You called her so much, she got a new phone with a new number...You continued to send flowers and stalk her.  

We have photos with her other suitors..

Private Investigator Bert Vandenberg

Assistant District Attorney James Taylor

and ADA Jake Patais...

You were stalking her....Just a  few days ago you tried to murder ADA Jake Patais, We have your Garrote which you left behind and we have you on film dragging his body into his car and turning on the exhaust to surely kill him and make his death look like a suicide."said Beverly.

"If you couldn't have her , why should they? THIS WAS ABOUT HER!!! IT NEVER WAS ABOUT THEM..WAS IT?  "asked Olivia.

"DAMN RIGHT AND I WOULD HAVE KILLED EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM UNTIL SHE HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO BUT BACK TO ME....YOU DON'T DO SOMEONE LIKE THAT, SLEEP WITH THEM ONE NIGHT AND JUST TOSS THEM ASIDE LIKE A PAIR OF OLD GYM SOCKS..

YA JUST DON'T DO IT... I SMASHED THAT SUCKER, BARRETT'S HEAD IN AND I THOUGHT I CHOKED THE HELL OUT OF THAT JAKE FELLA" he said pointing to ADA Jake Patais.. He was sweating and shaking and crying... "YOU JUST DON'T DISCARD PEOPLE LIKE THAT...YOU DON'T DO IT!!!" he screamed!

"BAILLIFS Take Mr. Carlton into custody...Read him his rights...All charges are dropped against Mr. Clarke." said The Judge..."Thank you for your time...Let's Gooooooooooooooooooo!" he said and did his two step.

 

"They told me you guys were the best, but I didn't know you were this goood!"laughed an exuberent Walker Clarke...

"OHHH WALKER...I'm sooo glad this nightmare is over for you...I knew you would have never of hurt Vinnie."said Cynthia Anderson.

"CONGRATULATIONS MAN!!! Olivia, Beverly, Donnie Ray, Nelson, Josie...Thank you all so much."said Wallace.

"All in a days work..Sooo glad it didn't turn into a long drawn out trial.."said Olivia.

"Me too!" said Beverly..

"Ditto" I said.

''Alls well that ends well...The right killer is behind bars and an innocent man is free..

"Yeah and look over there...Those two have made up.."said Josie.

ADA Jake Patais and ADA Diane Baronski had made up....

They were sitting in a corner of the courthouse , oblivious to everyone, kissing passionately....

"I think those two need a moment."said Beverly...

"I think those two need a room."said Beverly...

"Or some cold water thrown on them." I said.

Josie cracked up laughing...

"Throw me the keys...I'll drive."said Nelson.

EPILOUGE-

Tucker Carlton was convicted of Attempted Murder of ADA Jake Patais and of the First Degree Murder

of Vincent Barrett...He was sentenced to Life ,No Parole...

Lt. Tragg gave several interviews after the conviction of Tucker Carlton, who he did arrest, with considerable help from me..

"HE was a cold blooded killer...I looked into his cold blank eyes..I saw nothing , nothing even remotely human..but I snapped the cuffs on him and told him..."END OF THE LINE KILLER!" he said.

as reporters ate it up!

"Soooo nice to see Lt. Tragg win one for a change."joked Olivia as she sipped her coffee..

"I'm glad we are here in Mocha Joes...If we ate in Sam Mother's today , we wouldn't hear the end of it.."said Beverly...

"It was nice we were able to give your mom off today and to have coffees here."said Josie..

"Yeah this is the best coffee I've had in awhile.." said Nelson..

More Coffee arrived.

"Mmmmmmm, you're right...this is good.." I said as I sipped my coffee....

"Well Hello Olivia, Beverly...Josie right?" , Nelson and Mr. Alexander..."said ADA Diane Baronski.

We didn't expect to see her here..

"You like  this place too huh?  I turned your friend, Yvette Jones-Lockwood on to it." said Diane.

"Yvette Turned us on to this place...Small world isn't it?" said Olivia..

"I just couldn't be in Sam Mother's today...After seeing Lt. Tragg on television..He'd be just impossible to bear in Sam Mothers... I need my peace.."said Diane..

''That's part of the reason we are here."said Beverly, who was sitting in Nelson's lap..

''Yeah."said Nelson.

"Peace and Good Coffee." I said, smiling..

Josie smiled..

"I want to thank you guys for your kindness and your professionalism towards me...I am so grateful.

So sorry for that monster from my past who caused all of this..I was a coward for not speaking up for Vinnie in the first place.."said Diane.

"Don't Beat yourself up...Nobody is perfect...It's over...Pull up a seat...Enjoy this good coffee with us."said Olivia.

I pulled up a seat for her..

"Thank you all very much."said Diane as she sat with us..

Beverly, Nelson and Josie moved over..

Another round of coffee arrived...

And we whiled away the rest of the afternoon, drinking coffee and decidedly not talking about the case.

FOR SLC!