Hard Luck Story

 

       

Olivia Marissa Bennett-Alexander

Graduated , Philadelphia High School for Girls

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

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Passed the Bar, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Deleware, Louisiana, Texas, California

 Speaks French and Spanish Fluently...

Worked as a Public Defender, -Philadelphia PA.

Worked for Bach and Roach LLC, as Associate Attorney

Founding partner-Alexander & West , Attorneys at law..

Divorced- Elwood Barnes..,Corporate Attorney 

No Children, two miscarriages..

Married-Donnie Ray Alexander

Beverly Cheryl West-East

Graduated , Philadelphia High School for Girls

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

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Passed the Bar, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Deleware, Louisiana, Texas, California

 Speaks French and Spanish Fluently...

Worked as a Public Defender,-Philadelphia PA.

 Founding Partner-Alexander & West Attorney's at Law.

Daughter of Olivia's Older Half Brother, James West... Olivia's Niece

Married to Nelson East.

Nelson Sean East

Graduated, West Catholic High School-Philadelphia PA.

B.A. Administration of Justice, Pre-Law- St. Johns University, New York City
Psychology Minor...

J.D. -St. Johns University Law School, New York City..

Passed The Bar , New York, Pennsylvania, Deleware, New Jersey, Texas, California 

Speaks Spanish , French and Russian Fluently...

Worked as Public Defender, -Philadelphia PA.

 Associate Attorney at Robert Foxworth and Associates.

Associate Attorney at Alexander and West , Attorneys at law.

Married to Beverly West

Donnie Ray Alexander

Born and Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Educated in New Orleans Public Schools..

Associates Degree- New Orleans Community College-Administration of Justice, Pre Law

Homicide Detective, New Orleans Police Department, Retired.

Principal Investigator, Alexander and West Attorneys at law-Philadelphia PA.

Married to Olivia Bennett

Also a semi-professional musician

Josephine Boyd

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Raised in Red Hook Section of New York City 

Bachelors of Science, Architecture from Fisk University

Master in Business Administration- University of Pennsylvania.

Para -Legal -Alexander & West Attorneys at law.

JD- Drexel  University -The Thomas Kline Law School..

Passed the Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Deleware, New York, Texas, California

Associate Attorney-Alexander & West, Attorneys at Law, Philadelphia.

Married to Paris Boyd

Bresha Billips

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

B.A. Administration of Justice,/ Trial advocacy /Pre Law- Lasalle University, Philadelphia PA.

J.D.- Middleton Law School, Bayside ,Pennsylvania.

Passed the bar, Pennsylvania, Deleware, New Jersey, New York, California.

Speaks Spanish and French Fluently...

Associate Attorney at Alexander and West , Attorneys at law...

Married to Attorney Tony Billips

THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DONALD GIORGIO

He peered at his laptop, studying profiles of us... and the man he was prosecuting, Willie ''Sweet Dick" Jenkins.

while having a cup of coffee with his good friend from their New York Days, Judge Kelly Ann Mercer.

"Kelly Ann, so nice to see you...It's been three years since we worked together in New York City." said Donald Giorgio... "You've done well for yourself...I see you're a Judge now." he said.

"Yes...So many of our New York friends have relocated here.. Remember Bonnie Shay?  

She's now an Attorney for the Cyclops Insurance Agency and an Insurance Investigator." said Kelly Ann.

"You don't say?  Well this is a homecoming for her...She was from Philly anyway...It's cheaper to live here....I have a condo down by the waterfront... I'm studying this case I got here...I was looking at the attorneys for the defense." said ADA Giorgio...

"I know them all....I live near them....They have practiced in my courtroom a number of times and even represented me in a civil case once...They're good people...real good people.... I should warn you...They are no slouches...They come to court prepared, super prepared...They leave no stone unturned...So if you're trying a case against them..Bring your A game...That's all I'll say." said Kelly Ann.

"Duly noted....This case bothers me....This guy charged...He doesn't fit...He's from out of town...He doesn't know the players...Wasn't in town long enough to acquire a debt with these guys...Wins big at the crap table and leaves.....I imagine he's in a pretty good mood.. So how does that compute to a double murder???...  He's not known to be connected to any of our local organized crime figures... He has two convictions, but they're from years ago and he hasn't been in any trouble since then...He's a Longshoreman in New Orleans...He doesn't fit the profile of a killer...Contract or otherwise..;.I don't know your boyfriend...The Detective who brought this case in...but I think he should delve deeper. "said newly minted ADA Donald Giorgio.

On this day...Everybody except me was at The Bridge Building , having Breakfast... They even took Alfreda with them. 

"This was such a nice day and my team has been working so hard on this case I figured we should come down here and have Breakfast and lunch with our friends."said Olivia.

"Always a pleasure to hang out with you guys."said Beverly...

"And Josie and Bree get to eat with their hubbys."laughed Nelson.

"I must admit it is nice." said Josie.

"Shame you guys can't open a shadow office in this building and like come down two or three times a week."laughed Paris.

''We wouldn't get a lick of work done." said Bresha ,laughing.

"I know I wouldn't."laughed Tony..

"Nice Cafeteria you got here...I can't wait to see what they have for lunch."gushed Alfreda. 

 "Oh girl you'll love it." said Yvette.....

"This is nice...A nice rest for you guys.."said Keith Jones.

"I guess you guys are ready to go to trial."said Bee Bee.

"I know Mr. Jenkins will be ready to put this behind him and be a free man."said Sofia.

"Old Wrong Way Corrigan, Lt. Tragg ,always arresting the wrong suspect."said Kahlil.

"He is a nuisance." said Jade.

"He is...You can always count on him to arrest the wrong suspect." said Virginia.

"And you can't tell him nothin... Talking to him is like talking to a brick wall."said Jetty.

"This is true."said Jazzy.
 

"I know that for a fact." said Dabnis.

"He still thinks I'm Olivia's Niece...I've tried to tell him I'm her cousin."said Kayla.

"You're Still A Bennett Woman!" laughed Ray.

Jessica laughed.

So Did her husband, Chip.

"Well Olivia, it's still nice tha you guys came down and joined us for two meals today..." said Karen.

''We can all go shopping after lunch." said Natalie.

"What a bunch we are...We work together, eat together and hang out together on the weekends."laughed David.

"Gotta love it."laughed Brooke.

"Best Bunch I ever hung out with..." laughed Sean..

"This group just kept growing and growing."said Zoey...

"Glad that we are a part of this...All of it."said Lem.

"Ditto!"said Renee.

"Ditto!" said her husband, Tyrell.

II-

I was halfway across town at another location...The Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Division as well as the FBI and ATF...

I had the gun identified as the murder weapon in my case.

"I'm taking quite a risk bringing this here.. This is part of Lt. Tragg's evidence...I've got to get it back as soon as possible without him knowing.. but I need the DNA and partial prints checked on this...I'd really appreciate your help Sissy." I said.

'We are taking a risk interfering in another detective's case, but with Lt. Tragg's penchant for screwing up an investigation, I welcome the chance."said Sissy, Lt. Sissy Van Buren.

"Your client's prints and DNA isn't on this at all right?" said Carlotta.

"Right ,but there is sweat on it and a partial print...The doer didn't wipe this gun down completely.." I said.

"Let me see it."said Tyriq.

"I'll run it through Decks ,VICAP and Civil Service."said Jimmy..

"We should get a hit." said Sirena.

"I'd really be surprised if we don't." said Hop...

"This crime looks like a street crime... knowing Vic Delong and Carlo Ruffin, there could have been any number of suspects.." said Duke Baylor.

"Those two had a long line of credit on the streets, a long line of people and businesses who owed them money."said Angie Belton-Barlow.

"If you guys don't find anything...Give it to me...I'll find something."said Sharon Harris, my wife's old Law school buddy and now head of the area's FBI/ATF office.

ONE HOUR LATER-

"They've all gone to lunch Donnie Ray, but they did get a hit."said ADA Keith Wallace.

A two time loser named Lonnie Mulligan..

"A degenerate gambler, one time heist man....He has one conviction...He did 5-10 in the state penn for Armed Robbery... He got out after 6 years ,got married and got a job driving a truck for a beer and beverage distributor, even bought a house...That should have ended his story, but he got pinched again for violating his parole and had to go back and finish the final four years of his sentence...While in prison...His wife divorced him and sold the house and moved to places unknown...

Out on the streets again, he lived in a rooming house and worked odd jobs to pay rent and make ends meet...He began gambling again and got heavily into debt...He owed money to quite a few gamblers...Big time playas!His Gambling debts were paid off by Vic Delong...but now he was into Vic Delong for close to 80K....

It is believed he's committed a few burglaries in an attempt to pat Delong off...but that he is still in hoc to him...He has appeared to have dropped out of sight." he said.

"Wow! a real hard luck story huh?" I said.

"It gets worse....He met a girl.....She worked at one of the bars he frequented...They started living together...He was late with a payment to Delong and Delong couldn't find him for a few weeks.. It's believed he took it out on the girl. Delong was known to be ruthless like that!

We fished her out of the water.....Duke and Angie picked up Delong and Ruffin..

No witness would come forward and there was no physical evidence...so we had to cut em both loose...You can understand why no one here is too broke up about the two of them being shot to death." said ADA Wallace.

"Of course not...They're the kind of scum I put behind bars when I was a detective in New Orleans...

Well, let me put this gun back...Tell Siss and the guys thank you." I said.

"Let me take it back Donnie Ray....It'll be easier for me than you...And if asked ,I'll inform Lt. Tragg of the new information we got on this gun." said Keith Wallace.

"Thanks man." I said, shaking his hand.

A Little Later on the train ride home..

''So you've identified the DNA and partial print on the murder gun?" said Olivia..

"I sure have and I think I can find this guy....I just need a subpoena written up for him...Lonnie Mulligan...a real hard luck story." I said. He's real hard luck story..

"A degenerate gambler, one time heist man....He has one conviction...He did 5-10 in the state penn for Armed Robbery... He got out after 6 years ,got married and got a job driving a truck for a beer and beverage distributor, even bought a house...That should have ended his story, but he got pinched again for violating his parole and had to go back and finish the final four years of his sentence...While in prison...His wife divorced him and sold the house and moved to places unknown...

Out on the streets again, he lived in a rooming house and worked odd jobs to pay rent and make ends meet...He began gambling again and got heavily into debt...His Gambling debts were paid of by Vic Delong...but now he was into Vic Delong for close to 80K....

It is believed he's committed a few burglaries in an attempt to pat Delong off...but that he is still in hoc to him...He has appeared to have dropped out of sight." I said.

"I almost feel sorry for the guy.." said Nelson.

"I do too!" said Olivia.

"It gets worse....He met a girl.....She worked at one of the bars he frequented...They started living together...He was late with a payment to Delong and Delong couldn't find him for a few weeks..

She paid with her life...They found her body floating in the river.. Of course Delong and Ruffin were picked up, but not a witness came forth and there was so little evidence, the two of them had to be cut loose."I said.

"Well there goes your motive there." said Beverly...

"Remember, we aren't trying to solve this crime...We just want to point the arrow in another direction , show the jury that somebody else actually had a reason to off these two.."said Olivia.

Josie and her husband,Paris were locked in a passionate kiss..

As was Bresha and her husband, Tony

and Alfreda and Rockland, who was on our train tonight...

 

 Yvette sat by the window and slowly dozed off...

Keith and Bee Bee, Sofia and Kahlil were laughing and talking quietly...

Jade sat quietly and stared out the window..

Virginia and Jetty were all over each other, kissing passionately.... 

 

Jazzy laid her head on Dabnis's shoulder and dozed off to sleep..

Kayla laid her head on Ray's shoulder and softly dozed off to sleep...

Jessica sat on her husband's lap, with her arms around him.

Karen,like Yvette sat by the window and slowly dozed off...

Tonight, Natalie, her husband David, Brooke and Sean were laughing and quietly talking about something....

So Was Zoey ,Lem, Renee and Tyrell..

It was a 45 minute ride from the Bridge Building to our neighborhood..

It had been an interesting day.

III-

A Downtown Dive Bar....

Olivia ordered a Citris Martini....

Beverly ordered a Mango Martini....

Lonnie Mulligan sat in between them....He ordered a Beer.

"I haven't seen you two girls in here before..." he said.

"That's because we are just passing through." said Olivia.

"You two sisters?.....You two sure look like you could be." said Lonnie Mulligan.

"Nope! We are not!  That's my aunt." said Beverly...

"You're joshin me...She don't look much older than you..." he said.

"She's ahhh Eight or nine years older.." said Beverly...

"Her father, my older brother is 12 years older than me...I was nine when she was born."said Olivia.

"You don't say?   Say what do you gals do for a livin?" he asked..."I'm lookin at your handbag and your clothes and uh ruh you seem pretty fancy for around these parts." he said.

''We are lawyers." said Beverly.

"Awww Come on!" said Lonnie.

Olivia and Beverly pulled out their Bar Association Cards and Work ID's....

"I've heard of you two...you're those famous attorneys, Aunt and Niece that be on the news a lot..with big cases..." he said.. "Well I'll be damned.. What are you guys doing out this way?" he asked.

"Lookin for you." said Beverly as she finished her drink and plunked a few dollars down on the counter.

"Lookin for me?" he asked.

"See we are defending this guy accused of shooting to death two loan sharks, Vic Delong and Carlo Ruffin... This guy ,our client is from out of town, He never even heard of these guys ...He was in Eddie Lee's club, gambling...His car was parked behind their car, right by the alley way when somebody shot both of them and then tossed the gun into the back seat of his car... He was arrested and charged with murder.....Now we know he didn't do this...We'd like to know where YOU were on that night?" said Olivia.

"I don't know what you two are talkin about....I don't have to answer your questions." he said.

He started to get up....I walked up and sat him back down..

"Sit down Lonnie..."I said.

"This is a subpoena...a court summons....For you, bedtime reading..You will answer our questions in court..We'll see you then...Let's go ladies." I said.

Olivia paid her tab and both she and Beverly left with me...

Poor Lonnie, he thought he had committed the perfect crime....but it seems as though the law had caught up with him again....He had the worst luck.

MEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY-

Lani Jenkins was Sweet Dick's only visitor today and she didn't bring any food.. Still he was glad to see her.

"I'm glad to see you..." he said...

"I'm glad to see you...I can't wait until you get out of this jail....Your trial begins in a few days...Your lawyers are ready and 100 percent confident they can get you off." said Lani..

"How Bout you gettin me off right now?" he whispered to her..

"What? In Here?" she said.

"Aint nobody around...Aint no cameras in here." he said.

''Sweet Dick" she said.

"That's my name baby." he chuckled..

They began kissing...

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm I've missed you." he said.

"I'm sure you found some entertainment while I was gone." she said.

"I said I missed you...I didn't say I was a monk." he said.

They both laughed and continued kissing.

The Kissing got hotter, more passionate..

"Whatever....Nobody put it on like I can." she said.

"You're right baby, you're the best..." he said..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU SWEET DICK!" she moaned...

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWD GIRL!" he said.

as he slipped her panties down...

She spread her legs and eased herself down on him...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! UMMMMMMMMM...OH MY GODD!" she moaned...

Moving up and down on him cowgirl style...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUU SWEET DADDY! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" she cooed.

"AWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWWWWWWWWWD!" he cried out

as she rode him slowly like a surfer rides the waves.....Her entire body began to tremble...her head turned from side to side.. and she experienced and intense orgasm and then another as they made love for TWO STRAIGHT HOURS!!!  

"OHHHHHHH DADDY WHY'D YOU DO IT TO ME SO GOOOD?" she moaned..

"IT AINT HOW GOOD I DO IT TO YA BABY...IT'S HOW I DO IT GOOD!" he moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU SWEET DICK! YESSSSS! YOU AINT NEVER LIED!! OUUUUUUU" she cried out as she orgasmed one last time and he came so hard, he felt as if he was dying..

Lani fixed her clothes.....

"See you in court baby." she whispered..

"Yes. I look forward to that." he said.

They kissed one last time before he returned to his cell.

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned....

IV-

CURLEY'S- COUPLES NIGHT

Lt. Tragg was in the bar early tonight...Talking to Bull Bailey-

"He's been quite the celebrity the past two weeks.. Auntie and Niecey and their batallian have been

coming up everyday with his three daughters and his wife..They bring food..and they were staying all day... They brought laptops and case files on a big bus..."said Bull Bailey..."The only one who visited him was his wife, yesterday." said Bull Bailey..

Lt. Tragg listened, but he didn't really care.. He was waiting for Kelly Ann to arrive..He figured Olivia and Beverly visited him at the prison...They were his lawyers...They were supposed to. He didn't care.

But Bull Bailey did.. He was still mad at them for defending Brooke and foiling his and Lucas Fuentes plot to throw their one time colleague under the bus to save their asses...He hated to admit it...but he didn't blame Olivia and Beverly for defending Brooke from those phony charges. But Bull Bailey raged on and on about the same thing everytime he saw him..He was like a broken record.

"Uh Your Lady friend isn't handling the case is she?"asked Bull Bailey..

"Uh No...Someone else is trying the case..."said Lt. Tragg...

''Speak of the devil...Look who's coming in."said Bull Bailey..

Olivia and I, Beverly and the whole gang arrived and took seats together..Even Nina Rios and Carlos Mendez were with us tonight.. 

"Well we got good seats tonight...Let's order some drinks."said Olivia.

 

"It's been a good week." I said.,

"Yeah, now let's get ready for next week..The trial." said Beverly...

"I like our chances..We are in a good place." said Nelson.

"I think so too. We prepared well." said Josie.

"You did! But then you always do!" said Paris.

"I wonder who the Judge will be....I heard the ADA is a new person...Someone Who just came down from New York.

"You guys have beat the pants off of everybody from Philly...Guess they have to bring in new blood."joked Tony..

"I know that's right."laughed Alfreda.,

Rockland chuckled, remembering his battles with Olivia and Beverly in the past.

"I came close, very close to facing Olivia in court, but I never did...I dreaded the day because she and I have always been such good friends.."said Nina Rios, a one time ADA, now a staff attorney at Womens Legal Services.

 

"Well now you won't have to."laughed her boyfriend, Carlos, also a staff attorney with Women's Legal Services.

 "We just finished a big case...We all need to go on a Mini Vacay somewhere.." said Yvette.

"Maybe we all can come up with something after Olivia and Beverly finish this case."said her husband, Gary.

"I'd like to get away for a few days." said Keith Jones.

"Me too!  Someplace with a Spa." said Bee Bee.

"Ouuuuuuuuu girl yes!" said Sofia.

"Maybe we can go to Nelson's beach houses..They had Central Air."said Kahlil.

"Yeah...We can bring food...We don't have to cook out.."said Jade.

"You sound like you're making a case to present to Olivia already.."laughed Danny..

"It sounds good to me...We'll have to run it by Nelson."laughed Olivia.

"I'm all for it..We need some rest and relaxation..and I love that Bar they have down there." said Virginia.

"I know a cool Breakfast Spot.. We should try it.." said Jetty.. 

"I'm In, what say you Nelson?" asked Jazzy.
 

"Yeah man." asked Dabnis.

"It's cool with me.. bring some cards and some games and we got it..They have Central Air..They have that cool bar down there that serves food and Jetty knows a good Breakfast spot.. We got it made.. Just clear your schedules." said Nelson..

"My Brother in law is sooo cool." gushed Kayla, hugging Nelson..

"He is...and Sis in law aint so bad either.."said Ray squeezing Beverly..

Beverly laughed.

"I'm all in..." said Jessica.

"Me Too!" 

"Sounds Like Fun...Come on Olivia, get this guy off." joked Karen..

"I want the first interview. "joked B.L.

"I just know you do."laughed Natalie, sitting on her husband's lap..

"Here comes the drinks." said her husband, David..

"And food...ouuuuuuuu"said Brooke.

"Yeah." said her husband, Sean..

''So what do you think about a getaway husband?"asked Zoey.

"I'm all for it." said Lem..

"Then it's Unanimous...Olivia, Bev and I will work out the logistics." said Renee.

"You love this type of thing."said her husband ,Tyrell.

"I do! If I ever retire from the legal profession, I'll be a party planner in my next life." laughed Renee.

Drinks Arrived ,along with Shrimp Baskets and Barbecued Chicken Wings

We were ready for everything..

"I'm Glad they only come one night a week " said Bull Bailey. He despised everyone in our crowd, except Brooke....

Lt. Tragg was bored with his complaining about how he got a raw deal at his last job and how Brooke barely speaks to him anymore. He was tired of hearing it..

Kelly Ann walked in with a tall gentleman...He was glad to see her.

''Arthur this is an old friend and associate from New York..He's a Prosecutor here now...In fact he'll be prosecuting the Jenkins Case...Donald Giorgio...Donald , this is my boyfriend, Lt. Arthur Tragg."said Kelly Ann.

"Pleased to make your acquaintence..We should talk, about this upcoming case, but not tonight...Maybe Tomorrow." he said.

"Yeah, maybe tomorrow." said Lt. Tragg.

(CONCLUSION NEXT)