Emotional 101

PRELUDE- The morning of the trial.. A Downtown coffee shop.
 

Attorney and Murder Suspect Laverne Leal was looking as her coffee order was filled..

"That's a lot of coffee young lady....You must be very nervous.." said the well dressed Black man, smiling.. He was Attorney Blake Daniels...He smiled at her...

If there was one man who always got Laverne aroused it was Blake Daniels. He was Tall , Handsome and well dressed...Laverne had liked him for years...When she met him in D.C. , She was involved with Calvin Lumpkin...When she ran into him again...She was and still is married to Lenny Deal. she knew he was interested in her. She was interested in him, but they kept missing each other....

"This is for my legal team.." she said.

"Oh you're really trying to butter them up huh?" he joked.. "They're on your side...This coffee should be for ADA Bruce Green and the Judge." he laughed.

"Oh you got jokes huh?" laughed Laverne..

"I'm just an optimistic guy." said Sean... "In all seriousness, how are you doing?" he asked.

"Hi Blake,I'm doing as well as I can under the circumstances. uh, I guess you've heard of my recent legal troubles...My murder trial begins today.....I didn't kill Cal Lumpkin....I didn't.." said Laverne..

"I never thought you did...Considering who arrested you...I'm 100 percent certain you're innocent...Did you see him on Television this morning?"he asked...

"No...I thought he was in jail....But it's Monday...I guess he would be out."sighed Laverne.

"He had a big press conference this morning outside the courthouse....

He said he knew you were guilty because of the way the crime was committed...He said it was emotional and violent and that men don't kill that way.. He's an idiot.. Already women's groups are protesting his remarks and The Philadelphia Police department have distanced himself from his views.He's am idiot....Laverne, I know you're married, but I have....Well I shouldn't be saying this...but I've always cared about you..." he said.

She passed him her business card, on the back, she wrote Olivia and Beverly's address...

"I'm staying there for the time being...until the finish of the trial...I'm in the sub-basement. ring the back doorbell....on the side...I mean, I mean if you're uh interested in visiting me.." she said and walked away with her coffee...

He smiled ,put her card in his wallet and looked at her as she walked away with her coffee.

We were all sitting in the waiting area.... We had been trying to have quiet conversation...

This was all interrrupted by Lt. Tragg, who as usual was whining and complaining about how guilty our client was, how only a woman would kill in such an emotional way...killing the bird as well, shooting him so many times and how we wouldn't be able to bend and twist the law to suit our case this time..

None of us said a word..We sat quietly and let him rant.....

"Ohhhh the silent treatment eh? I hope your client shows up today because if she doesn't...I'll issue a flight warrant on her." he snarled..

Laverne arrived with hot coffee's for everyone...

"Coffee everybody." she said.

She passed a hot steaming tumbler of coffee to the six of us...and saved the last one for her.

''Oh Thank God...This is just what the doctor ordered." said Yvette.

"Yes...Nice to have something to distract us from the sermon we just got."said Bee Bee sarcastically...

"Yeah thank goodness...I was about to fall asleep." I said.

"Me too!" said Sofia.

"Thanks for breaking the monotony!" said Kahlil.

"Oh for sure." said Jade.

Lt. Tragg still stood there staring balefully at us... We were totally ignoring him...drinking coffee and having small talk amongst ourselves...saying nothing about the trial.

"SOOOOOOOOOO YOU SHOWED UP EH?  YOU HAD BETTER SHOW UP EVERY DAY OR I'LL HAVE A FLIGHT WARRANT OUT ON YOU!" Lt. Tragg bellowed.

His phone rang.....

"It's the Police Commisioner....Wow!  Calling me?   I have to take this..  Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, Homicide reporting mam!  What is that?  why did I give a press conference?? Mam I constantly speak to the press.... No I was not aware that the department frowns on speaking to the press about current cases.....No mam...I was not trying to deny Mrs. Leal a fair trial.. No, I I seriously doubt that Yvette Jones might ask for a mis-trial or a change of venue because of my untimely remarks....No...I-I never meant to make the Philadelphia Police department look sexist.....No mam...No mam my head is not up my ass...mam that kind of language....No mam.....No mam....I understand that you don't give a merry damn what I say....Yes mam....There will be no more press conferences....Yes mam...I will go on TV tonight and apologize for my sexist comments...Yes Mam...Yes Mam!"

(Click!)

He was as red as a beat...We all knew he'd been chewed out by the police commissioner...We all snickered,.

He finally walked away...

"Sounds Like the Lieutenant got a real good stitching from the Commissioner."I laughed.

"Yeah, it's usually the Deputy of Operations that rips him a new one." said Kahlil.

"The Police Commissioner is a woman...She was probably as insulted by his goofy theory , as we were." said Bee Bee.

"Yeah...and she let him know it." said Sofia.

"At Any rate...I can't wait to see the news tonight ,when he has to eat crow and walk his statement back."laughed Jade.

''It'll be even better when we prove Laverne didn't commit this emotional crime...Come on let's go inside." said Ms. Yvette.

''Showtime."said Laverne as she followed us into court.

II-

COURTROOM C-

We had a new Judge, One none of us seemed to know...

"Good Morning Attorneys, I am Judge Lincoln Shaw.......Welcome to my courtroom....Due to courtroom crowding of cases , we are going to bypass a preliminary hearing...We know that a crime, a henious crime has been committed so we are going to go straight to trial.. We will have Jury selection today...and we will begin trial promptly tomorrow morning." said Judge King.. "We will start today with introductions.." he said.

''Assistant District Attorney Bruce Greene, representing the commonwealth your honor." said Bruce Green.

 

 "Lead Attorney-Mrs. Yvette Jones -Lockwood for the Defense , your honor." said Yvette.

''Associate Attorney , Keith Jones for the defense, your honor." I said.

''Associate Beatrice Evans-Jones for the defense , your honor." said Bee Bee.

"Attorney Sofia Garcia-Ahmed for the defense your honor." said Sofia.

''Attorney Kahlil Ahmed for the defense your honor." said Kahlil.

"Jade Lee-Ho, Investigator for the Defense." said Jade.

"Good! Now that we are done with introductions, we'll have Voir dire....Potential Jurors are here." said Judge  Shaw.

ADA Bruce Green was a good attorney and he knew a few tricks of the trade....

Not that she didn't trust us, but Ms. Yvette joined us in Voir dire..

Her soft sexy voice took Bruce Green off of his game...He was so busy concentrating on her, he wasn't concentrating on the task at hand..

It was more than he could handle.. Bruce Green had no idea that Yvette, Kahlil and I already knew all there was to know about the jurors and which ones we'd find acceptable and which ones we wouldn't...

Bee Bee, Sofia, Kahlil and I had carefully worded questions ready for each person we talked to...

And after a short while.. Ms. Yvette, Kahlila and I   had an even dozen...All 12 of the jurors we wanted... and a surprise.considering we were up against a formidable attorney , who had up to now had rarely lost a case or one of these Voir dire battles...

By the time he realized what had happened...We had our jury picked...

Our client, Laverne Leal rared back in her chair and smiled....She realized what we had just done...she was happy...Hopeful...

"Excellent...We have a jury....Trial will begin promptly tomorrow morning at 9:00 am. Be on time and be ready for trial.." he said and banged his gavel....."Court is dismissed for the day." he said..

Blake Daniels stood in the visitor's section....He smiled wryly..."She's got good attorneys"he thought.

''Yvette....Yvette...After all these years here we are going up against each other in court.." said Bruce Green as we left court..

"It was bound to happen sooner or later." said Yvette dryly...she really had no desire to talk to him...

"I understand uh Renee Cantrell is your neighbor now...do you uh ever see her?" he asked...

Yvette almost slipped up and said "I see her everyday." but she didn't...She knew Bruce was fishing for something, like information as to where she was working. "Renee and her husband, live three blocks from me...We are having Christmas Dinner with her and her husband in fact..." she said.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh" he said.....

"Natalie invited everybody to the Atlantic Bar for some Christmas Cheer tonight." said Bee Bee.

"We gettin a ride? You know the buses or are we driving?" I said.

"Olivia's buses are taking us....It's someplace different." said Jade.

"Oh Good, Us High Fallutin lawyer types won't be drinking and driving...laughed Sofia.

Kahlil busted out laughing.

We knew Lt. Tragg was eaves dropping our conversation...

In truth we were all nowhere near the Atlantic Bar....We were in Center City at  Stephon Bristol's new rooftop bar and lounge ...

It was a warm night and we each had heaters by our tables and a fine view of the the city...

"Natalie, you've done it again...This was a great idea for a Monday Night..." said Jazzy..

 

"Yeah our Christmas shopping is done...Low case load...What a better way to spend an otherwise quiet afternoon?" said her husband, Dabnis.

"I love this place....The view..and all." said Kayla.

"I thought Stephon Bristol would be around tonight...I wanted to get some stock tips from him." said Ray....

"Ummm Sangria looks good tonight." said Jessica.

"Yes it does." said her husband Chip...

"I'll have that too!" said Karen Page, newly married to B.L. and sitting on his lap...

"I'll have that too!  Great job Natalie..." said B.L.

"It wasn't just me..It was my idea, but Olivia called Stephon Bristol and got the reservations...He was only too glad for our patronage."said Natalie.

"Last time everything was on the house..we have to pay for our drinks tonight." joked her husband, David.

"That's alright...I'm just happy for a night out with you guys, enjoying ssome pre-Christmas cheer."gushed Brooke.

"I feel the same way." said her husband  Sean.

"This is so nice."said Zoey.

"Very Nice."said Lem..

"I so love these guys...Working with them...Hanging out with them.."said Renee.

"Me too How are you doing Ms. Yvette.? You guys began a murder trial today." asked Tyrell.

 ''We did..We picked a jury...Trial actually begins tomorrow.. we are ready...We should be finished by the end of the week." said Yvette.

"Listen at my baby...so self assured...She's just too sexy." laughed her husband, Gary.

"And the best thing...We threw ole Blue Menace ,Lt. Tragg off." I said.

"Ouuu I hate it when he's around...Staring and listening to everything we say...God he's a nuisance..." said Bee Bee.

"I Imagine he's at the Atlantic Bar right now...thinking we are there planning to crash our party with his whining and complaining..."said Sofia.

"Maybe not...He's holding a press conference walking back his sexist statements from earlier.." said Kahlil.

"Which is going to make him very unhinged and then prompt a visit to the Atlantic Club"laughed Jade.

"He's miserable."sighed her husband, Lt. Danny Ho.

"Yes he is..." said Virginia.

''Well Here come our drinks."said  her husband, Jetty.

A Multitude of Refreshing drinks arrived. 

"Ummmmmmmm now this is how you end an otherwise mundane Monday." said Olivia ,sipping her drink.

 

"Laverne didn't come out tonight...she under the weather?" asked Donnie Ray...

''Noooooooooo she's expecting company..and before you ask...it's not Lenny....That drunken bum has no idea where she's staying...She said he's called all of her relatives and friends , asking."said Beverly.

''Damnnnnn...I just hope she's careful...She hasn't had the best track record with men." said Nelson.

"She'll be just fine." said Josie.

"From your lips to God's Ears."laughed her husband, Paris.

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu this Sangria is giving me a buzz."laughed Bresha.

"Yeah me too!" said her husband, Tony, laughing.

"Sangria gets me horny....I must be buzzed for even telling you that.."laughed Alfreda..

"That's Alright...That's allllllllllright..."laughed her husband, Rockland...

Some of us ordered Gourmet Burgers from the kitchen...To chow down on with our drinks....

It was indeed a great night.

III-

We were all out at Stephon Bristol's Rooftop lounge......

Laverne was in our sub-basement with a guest....Attorney Blake Daniels...He had taken her up on her offer of visiting her.

"I know you uh didn't expect me to uh er ah visit you so soon.." he said.

''Actually I did...and I'm glad you did.. I gave up a chance to go out to a really nice place with some friends tonight...So I would have been upset if you hadn't come through." she said.

"I uh er ruh hope you don't consider this too forward....but I've wanted to kiss you for years." he said and took her into his arms.....

"Ummmmm I've imagined those lips of yours to be so soft and they are." he said as they embraced into a passionate kiss...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu and I've wanted you to kiss me.." said Laverne..

As they continued kissing passionately......

They fell on the bed, kissing passionately...
.

.

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!" he moaned in a very deep baritone as they kissed on the bed...She thought he sounded funny, but she didn't want to laugh.

They stood up and kissed against the wall...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned loudly as they continued to kiss passionately....he took her blouse off .....

She unzippered his trousers and slipped his boxers down...

"OHHHHHHHHHH MY GODDDDD!! WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU YOU'RE A HORSE!" she exclaimed...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned loudly as they continued to kiss passionately..

he unhooked her bra slowly...

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned...

She giggled at his excitement...This was a man who in his public persona was cool ,calm and collect...He never sweats.....His voice was always even and low whether in court or at  a litigation table.. She had watched him and swooned over him for years.....

He slipped her panties down...

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned...He was sweating...

She couldn't believe how excited he was... She couldn't believe how huge he was, though she suspected that he was packing for awhile...

After all these years, she finally had him...She had to pinch herself...She had bought this set today, after  court from Bridget's shop...anticipating him coming by...

He spread her legs and entered her doggie style.... She had an embarrassingly quick orgasm....Her body trembling, her head turning from side to side...her arms flailing...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she moaned...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" he moaned..

"OH MY GOD BLAKE.....BLAKE....WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she screamed out...

YOU ARE SO DAMN BIG...OUUUUUUUUUAND HARD! YOU'RE GOING TO SPLIT ME IN HALF....WOWWWW!" she moaned..

She had another embarrassingly quick orgasm....Her body trembling, her head turning from side to side...her arms flailing...

She was so soft, so wet...and smelled so good, Blake didn't know if he was coming or going..

They were on the floor really going at it....

They were sitting on the side of the bed making love as if they had been old lovers for years...

her riding him like a surfer rides the waves.

"UMMMMMMMMMM..OUUUUUUUUUUUU LAVERNE!!!" he moaned as she continued to ride him...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BLAKE....OUUUUUUUUUUU IS THIS FOR REAL?" she moaned.

"OH MY GOD BLAKE.....BLAKE....WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she screamed out...

YOU ARE SO DAMN BIG...OUUUUUUUUUAND HARD! YOU'RE GOING TO SPLIT ME IN HALF....WOWWWW!OUUUUUUU" she moaned..

He flipped her over and entered her once again...missionary style..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM....OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned..

She had another intense orgasm....Her body trembling, her head turning from side to side...her arms flailing...

They made sweet sweet love for the Next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS....

Laverne ended her night sleeping on his chest.....her left leg still trembling....She was still stroking his penis gently..

"Laverne , I uh don't want you to think that this was all I had on my mind....I've been attracted to you for years...but I never intended to use you, take advantage of you...." Blake whispered.

"I didn't think of tonight like that...Tonight was nice...perfect...." she giggled.

He rolled over on top of her and entered her again..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHH I CAN'T HELP IT....IT's SOOOOOO GOOOOD!" he moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU BLAKKKKKEEEE!" she screamed out...

As they began making love again for another TWO HOURS!

The next Morning Laverne was back in the coffee shop buying us coffees...

She brought them to us in the courthouse waiting area.

''Coffee everybody!" she said.. For someone who's murder trial was beginning today...She seemed very cheerful and happy...She had obviously had a good night last night.

 

 ''Oh Thank God...This is just what the doctor ordered." said Yvette.

"Thank You Laverne." I said.

"You certainly look happy and chipper today." said Bee Bee.

"I'll bet  I know whyyyy!" said Sofia.

"Yeahhhhh, you had a nice night too! So did we."said Kahlil...

"Yes we did!"said Jade smiling..

"I had a wonderful night." said Laverne, just glowing.....

One person who didn't have a great night was Lt. Tragg...He had to stand before the city's media and walk back his earlier statements...

"I-I realize I may have spoken out of term regarding the nature of the Calvin Lumpkin murder...it could have been committed by anyone...I meant no slight to any of the many female residents of the great City of Philadelphia..and I will not speak out of term again." he said.

The Deputy Of Operations and his immediate superior, Captain Eddie Cantrell stood next to him...

It was a humiliating moment for all of them and one that made both the Deputy Of Operations and Captain Cantrell furious, because neither of them wanted to be there on a Monday night with him...because of some stupid offhand, politically incorrect statement he had made.

He had gone to the Atlantic Bar , thinking he would spoil our night, only to find we were not there...None of us....

He sat in there for three hours and we never showed up....He was livid when he left....

The Trial began and the kid gloves were taken off immediately...

ADA Bruce Green was cut-throat and he went for the jugular in every way possible...

Bee Bee, Ms. Yvette and Sofia proved to be annoying with their objections, all based on Predicates and laws from like cases and general laws period...They had prepared well and in two days had him gasping for air and twisting in the wind...

ADA Bruce Greene was frustrated....He did not like being bested like this and by smart females...

Judge Lincoln shaw was amused and impressed by Yvette and her two young protoge's...

Despite it all, I had to give credit where credit was due...He started out with a brilliant prosecution...I could see why and how he had won so many cases...but not this one.. He didn't have a feasible motive..and we hammered away at that...

Piggy backing off of Ms. Yvette , We attacked his Forensic Science and Evidence... Our client's fingerprints were only found on the handle of the door...The panties and bra were not our client's...They didn't fit her and the DNA in the semen in the panties and saliva on the bra definitely was not a DNA match for our client...or the deceased for that matter...

The Hotel clerk said that Mr. Lumpkin had had no visitors that afternoon....So the question was...Whose panties and bra were they?

ADA Bruce Greene practically had to argue jury nullification in his closing argument.....He tossed his suit jacket up in the air at the end of trial on Wednesday in frustration....

Lt. Tragg was so angry and frustrated that he kicked a trash can in the hallway until it dented..

"My God! They say women get emotional." mused Laverne out loud. 

 "Yeah how about that?" said Ms. Yvette...

Me, Bee Bee, Sofia, Kahlil and Jade laughed out loud as we walked out of court with Laverne...

"Ouuuuuuuuu they twist and turn and bend every law around possible to fit their narrative...OUUUUUU!" moaned Lt. Tragg..

"You should have put together a better case... Zero forensic evidence ,except for a fingerprint on the door handle, Zero motive and no witnesses......They are making me look like a fool.." scoffed an angry ADA Bruce Green, who couldn't believe he was being out lawyered by this group.

IV-

THURSDAY MORNING!!

Blake Daniels was waiting for Laverne when she returned to the Coffee House...

"Good Morning Counselor...I was hoping to see you in here." he said...

"I was hoping to see you today.... The Defense begins today.." said Laverne..

"I've been at the trial...Doesn't seem like your attorneys need to present a defense....They've all but deep sixed Bruce Green's prosecution..." he said.

an order of multiple cups of coffee arrived...He smiled.

"Here these are for you....FROM ME!   Take these to your lawyers. and after the trial, which should be over today...Will you join me for drinks and dinner?   At a place called Curley's tonight is couples night." he said..

"Oh My God! Thank Youuuuuuu, Yes I'll go out with you....And Curley's is perfect...All of my friends are going there tonight." said Laverne.... She knew she had really put something on him.....She never thought that she could...He had been so cool before in the past...but he was definitely hooked now...Buying coffees for her, asking her out..she couldn't wait to divorce Lenny....Unfortunately..She had to see him today...He was being called to the witness stand.

This was like Deja Vu..

Lt. Tragg standing over us, whining and complaining and accusing us of subverting the law.....

 

 

"Coffee everybody!"said Laverne as she walked in... 

 "Oh Thank You...Just what I needed...The Lieutenant here was about to put me to sleep...He says the same thing over and over...."said Yvette loud enough for him to hear it.

''Hey when do you go back on that Marine Boat?" I asked.

"Yeah for real, do you bore them the way you bore us?" asked Bee Bee.

Sofia busted out laughing....

So Did Kahlil

and Jade.

"I DON'T FIND ANYTHING FUNNY, NOT ONE DAMN THING!" said Lt. Tragg loudly....

We all ignored him and drank our coffees and headed into the courtroom.

Where we called our first witness, Laverne Leal herself....

she came to the stand...

"Mrs. Leal, tell the jury exactly what happened in the day leading up to Mr. Lumpkin's murder."said Ms. Yvette.

Laverne calmly and eloquently recreated that day...

"I went home....that day after being up here with you all...

"Hello Lenny." I said to my husband... He was as usual, half drunk...He had come home early and started hitting the bottle.

"Hey girl, where you been? I called your office....They told me you weren't in..." he said.

Pouring himself a drink and a drink for me  and an extra one for him...

"I was , visiting Yvette Jones....Remember her?" I said.

"Yeah I remember her...How's she doin? she still at McCluskey/Cozen/Connor & Pratt?" he asked.

''Yes, only she's made Partner and she has a suite all her own down there......She's got four attorneys on her staff, one investigator and one Office manager...All are people of color, Black, Puerto Rican, Arab, Asian....She runs the whole show....I was quite impressed...The asked us to meet them for drinks at the NO ID BAR this Friday Night."I said.

"That's that uh hipster joint , down by Penns Landing......I'll go with you...This ought to be good for a laugh." he chuckled as he swigged down tequilla...

"You know...drinking this Tequilla and looking at you gets me as horny as hell." he said.

"You're horny when you wake up in the morning."I laughed.... I could still barely walk..

after the doggie style thrashing he had given me that morning in the bathroom....

The Doorbell rang......

"I'll get it." I said.. I opened the door and to her surprise..

"OH MY GOD!" I said startled.

''Well don't just stand there....Let me in....I come bearing a gift or two..." It was  Cal Lumpkin, I hadn't seen him in three years...

"I know it's been awhile...but I found out you were in Philly, where by the way I am staying for the time being... I've got a big case and I had to come see you...Wish you a merry Christmas and bring this peace offering..." he said.

"It's a Partridge.....I didn't have a Pear tree.....but I did have a Partridge.... Merry Christmas.." he said , smiling...

"Hey Man, get that bird outta my house.." said Lenny....

"Uh Cal, I'm I'm Married now! This is my husband, Lenwood J.Leal....Lenwood this is Calvin Lumpkin.." I said.. I was nervous as hell, Lenny had been drinking and he was very volatile when drinking.

"I know who he is...You told me about him.....Now like I said, Get that Bird outta my house....I aint gonna ask you again...You've said Merry Christmas....Now you can go!" said Lenny...

"Damn Man, you aint gotta be all like that..." said Calvin Lumpkin....

"Is you gonna leave or do I gotta go get my gun?" asked Lenny, who was getting angrier by the second..

"Cal please, please...just go..." I begged him...

"Alright...Alright...Damn man....Merry Christmas Laverne." said Cal, taking his Partridge and leaving...

A little later Cal sent me a  text....It had the address of his hotel room and his phone number...He said to drop by for a little Christmas Cheer. At first I wasn't going to go but my curiosity got the best of me...

24 HOURS BEFORE- SUNDAY NIGHT!

I took a drive down to the Marriot in town.. I was curious....I just wanted to see what he wanted... I wasn't planning on staying longer than a half hour."

"I had Cal Lumpkins's address on my smartwatch...

I knocked on his door....It was ajar...That was strange...I hoped I wasn't walking in on him and another woman....but he would never be that careless...

I was stunned by what I saw....

Calvin Lumpkin was lying on the floor of his hotel room...face up.....His lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling... his chest full of blood...he appeared to have been shot several times.....He was very, very dead!!!!

His Partridge.....The bird he was going to give me as a gift....Had also been shot dead...

On the floor, a .22 caliber handgun lie  in a corner... I was no fool... I immediately got out of that room....I didn't touch anything....except the handle on the door. I swear, that's the truth.." she said.

On Cross Examination Bruce Greene went after her hard...This was his last chance...This was his hail Mary...He wanted to know why she didn't call the police.

She said that she did...

Kahlil showed the jury her Smartwatch...It showed a call she made to 911 at the exact time she said she did.

Bruce Green accused her of "Freaking out" when she saw another woman's panties and bra  lying on the floor.

She denied that and said she didn't even see the panties and the bra. She said she opened the door after knocking and he was lying face up on the floor in a pool of blood...She saw the gun lying beside him...She said she never went inside any further...She turned and fled...She called the police after she was out of the building..She exited by the back steps she said

He kept going on with the emotional ,freak out narrative..

Laverne Leal  was a like us a Trial Attorney, she knew how to keep her poise when answering questions....She like us had prepped clients on how to keep their cool and poise in court.She wasn't rattled by Bruce Green at all.

Sofia objected...saying he was badgering the witness and saying asked and answered...

Judge Lincoln Shaw agreed and made him stop....He sat down having made absolutely no headway....

He crossed his arms like a petulant child....and rocked back and forth....You could see the slight trail of tears streaming down his face... A Bit Emotional!

Yvette called our final witness, Lenny Leal, Laverne's estranged husband..

Lenny Leal... He smiled when he took the stand... He stared at her breasts...

"Damn Vettie, Did your breasts get bigger? Damnnnnn!" he whisperd.

''Eyes Front...Eyes on me sir." Yvette said to him..."Did you know your wife might go see Calvin Lumpkin?" she asked.

"Of course not...How would I know?" he said.

"Because I think you read her Smartwatch while she was asleep..

"I think you read it and you went to his hotel suite and you KILLED HIM IN A FIT OF RAGE and shot the bird that was going to be his Christmas gift to your wife!" said Ms. Yvette.

"Girl you crazy!" said Lenny ,who was visibly nervous..

"OBJECTION...SPECULATION!!" screamed Bruce Green..

"Question withdrawn" said Yvette....she smiled slyly...She knew the jury had already heard what she said.

Bee Bee showed him the panties and the bra found on the floor at the murder scene....

"These are pretty....I have a pair just like these.....These aren't your wife's panties..because they don't fit....." she said..

''The dried semen in these panties and the saliva on the bra straps is a 99 percent match to you.....So my question is....WHAT WERE THEY DOING IN CALVIN LUMPKIN's room?  He didn't have a female visitor that day....The Hotel has confirmed that...In fact he didn't have any visitors..." said Sofia.

"The M.E.'s Report states that he had been dead about 5 hours when our client, Laverne Leal was seen in the lobby preparing to see him...He was already dead... "said Kahlil.

Using a monitor ,I showed the jury Lenwood Leal entering the lobby and taking the elevator 5 hours before.

"You were in that hotel  and you took whoever's panties and bra they were and dropped them there to throw the police off...didn't you?" I said.

"I aint sayin nothin....I aint sayin nothin else...I want a lawyer!" screamed Lenny...

"That's a good idea." said Yvette,looking scornfully at Lenny....

"YOU BUM, YOU DRUNKEN, CHEATING BUM!" Laverne said to Lenny....

"The Defense rests." said Yvette...

TWENTY MINUTES LATER-

This jury came back fast.......

"Has the jury come to a conclusion?" asked Judge Lincoln Shaw...

"Yes your honor, we have." said the jury foreman....

"Bailiff, bring me the verdict." he said...

The Bailiff brought him the verdict...He read it with no surprise on his face...

''Alright everybody stand." he said.

ADA Bruce Green stood...He somehow thought he might have won this case...

Laverne stood...She was 100 percent certain she was going to be acquitted.

We stood with her...

 

 Yvette held her hand....

I held Bee Bee's hand...

Bee Bee's hand was sweating....

So was Sofia, who was shaking as she held her husband's hand...

Kahlil was as cool,as a cucumber..

So was Jade.

IN THE MATTER OF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA VS LAVERNE LEAL....COUNT FOUR ,COMMISSION OF A FELONY WITH AN INSTRUMENT OF CRIME- NOT GUILTY

IN THE MATTER OF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA VS LAVERNE LEAL....COUNT THREE ,MANSLAUGHTER- NOT GUILTY.

IN THE MATTER OF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA VS LAVERNE LEAL....COUNT TWO 2ND DEGREE MURDER- NOT GUILTY.

IN THE MATTER OF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA VS LAVERNE LEAL....COUNT ONE,  IST DEGREE MURDER- NOT GUILTY.

Bruce Green tossed his suit jacket up in the air....He fell to the floor and kicked his legs up in the air like a petulant child...He was so upset at losing the case..

Judge Lincoln Shaw looked at him and just shook his head...

"Jurors we would like to thank you for your service....You can exit from the back door...Your checks will be sent to you in the mail." he said.. "Court dismissed" he said and struck his gavel.

Laverne didn't look surprised at all, She sighed a sigh of relief and hugged Yvette and kissed her on the cheek.... "Thank you girlfriend...I am in your debt.." she said.

 "Guess it wasn't an emotional woman who committed this crime after all."said Yvette, happy with her win..

I looked at ADA Bruce Green , getting up off the floor.. and shook my head.

"Speaking of emotional." said Bee Bee, laughing.

''I know...He's worse than a woman...He's like a baby."said Sofia.

''A Brat." said Kahlil.

"Yeah a spoiled brat." laughed Jade.

Me, Bee Bee, Sofia,Kahlil and Jade all cracked up laughing.

The Press and women's groups were really giving it to Lt. Tragg...

He turned and ran out of the courtroom....Embarrassed and Humiliated......

 "Never thought I'd see that....Lt. Tragg running from a Press conference."laughed Ms. Yvette.

"Yeah that's one for the books." I said.

"They really let him have it..."said Bee Bee.

"He deserved it..Next time he'll think before he shoots off his big mouth ." said Sofia.

"Yeah.." said Sofia.

"No he won't..." said Jade..

Laverne and Blake Daniels stood in a corner, away from the crowd kissing passionately like two teenagers...

An emotional happy ending....

EPILOUGE- 

Lenny Leal was arrested days later and charged and convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to Life , No Parole.

Laverne Leal changed her name back to Laverne Scott, her maiden name.

Zoey represented her during his murder trial and got her a divorce......She sold the house and is now looking for a new residence...

She is currently staying with Attorney Blake Daniels in his condo....

CURLEY'S BAR- THURSDAY NIGHT

It was Couples Night...We all arrived early and staked out our area.....

 

 "Ummmmm I smell the steaks cooking in the kitchen, good, because I'm good and Hungry." said Yvette.

''Look at my little winner and her crew." gushed her husband, Gary.

"Today was a good day." I said.

"Yes it was....I'm satisfied." said Bee Bee.

"I'm satisfied too! We won our case...and let's hope no one finds themselves in trouble until next year" said Sofia.

"I hear that.." said Kahlil.

"Me too!" said Jade...

"That food does smell good." said her husband, Danny Ho.

"That and the drinks  on the way ...Do We have enough room here?" asked Virginia.

"We've got plenty of room baby."said Jetty..

Laverne and Blake sat in between us, kissing passionately..... 

 ''Ouuuuu somebody made a love connection." laughed Olivia.

''Yeah I see." said Donnie Ray.

"They make a cute couple." said Beverly...

"Yeah they do." said Nelson, who eagerly awaited the steaks.

''Ummmmm I can't wait for those fried shrimps." said Josie.

''Me too!" said Paris.

"That food does smell good." said Bresha...

"Yes it does..."said Tony...

"It's good that we are all in this section in the back of the bar." said Alfreda.

"Yeah we are isolated and not quite the easy target." said Rockland..

 

"Ahhhhhhhh here comes our drinks." said Jazzy...
 

"And the food." said Dabnis..

"Yessss......" said Kayla.

"I love the steaks here." said Ray...

"Me too and the seafood as well." said Jessica.

''Same Here." said Chip.

"Cheap Discounted drinks, Good Food, What's not to love?" said Karen

"Yeah, really!" said B.L.

"I'm happy.....I'm happy to be here with you and with all of these cool people."mused Natalie.

"I feel the same way." said her husband, David.

"I'm Happy our food is arriving and our drinks." said Brooke.

"Here Here."said Sean.

"Ummmmm I smell the steaks cooking in the kitchen, good, because I'm good and Hungry."

''So Am I "said her husband, Lem...

''Ouuu look at those steaks." gushed Renee.

''And those Fried shrimp!" said Tyrell.

We ordered Steak and Potato Dinners...Some of us ordered Fried shrimp and of course a lot of cold refreshing drinks, Beers, Martinis and Sangria.

We were in the middle of our meal when Lt. Tragg walked in...

He was in for awhile before he saw all of us in the back corner area...Eating, Drinking ,Laughing and talking.....

"WELLLLLLLLLL LOOK AT THIS, ALL OF YOU HIGH FALLUTIN LAWYERS, EATING , DRINKING OFF THE PUBLIC DIME..DRINKING TOO.. OLIVIA YOUR BUSES BETTER PICK EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU GUYS UP , BECAUSE I'LL BE WATCHING!" HE SAID.

No one acknowledged his presence...We continued to eat and drink and laugh and talk amongst ourselves..

He as usual stood there staring balefully at us for a moment and then reluctantly walked over to the bar and ordered some drinks...

The News came on the Television sets....and there he was with the Deputy of Operations and Captain Cantrell walking back his earlier statements and then again today after the verdict in which a man was identified as a possible suspect, refusing to talk to reporters and running away...

A chuckle and a a few snickers turned into outright laughter ,not just from us, but from everybody in the bar...

He drank one beer,paid for it and quietly left the bar amidst loud laughing and snickering.....

It turned out to be a good night after all.

FOR SLC!