Auntie Grizelda

PRELUDE- YVETTE'S CONFERENCE ROOM- SIX MONTHS BEFORE-

"I really don't see why we need all of you Attorneys working on this..It just confuses things...I am a capable Attorney and I have made sure everybody has gotten a fair share of your aunt's new will." said Attorney Harlen Dixon.

"They are representing me... I see you have managed to be my auntie's executor and to have carved yourself a huge piece of my auntie's estate." said Marcy Lewis, the neice and only living heir of Grizelda lewis, one of the area's wealthiest women...

By "They" she meant Ms. Yvette, Myself, Keith Jones, my wife, Beatrice Evans Jones- Bee Bee, Sofia Garcia -Ahmed and Kahlil Ahmed... We were representing Marcy and looking over a new will that was drawn up.

"Mr. Lewis we just want to make sure Mrs. Lewis was in her right mind when she wrote this newly revised will." said Ms. Yvette.

"Her original will left 50% of her estate to Ms. Marcy Lewis and the other 50 percent to her favorite charities." I said.

"Yes and now with this rewrite, YOU have a sizable amount of money that you didn't have before..We are just looking for clarity here." said Bee Bee.

"Are you insinuating fraud here missy? I find that highly insulting..."said Harlan Dixon.

''We don't. In the interest of our client...We want transparency here." said Sofia.

"Did she sign this in her right mind of was she coerced?" asked Kahlil..

"I find this insulting....She rewrote this will a few months ago....And there was nothing wrong or untoward about it....Your client has a problem with her portion of the will being cut somewhat....That's what this is really about... " said Harlan Dixon.....

Ms. Virginia sat with us...She knew Harlan Dixon....She knew he was a cut-throat attorney who had his name on the wills of at least wo other wealthy people in the area.

Grizelda Lewis, had a touch of dementia...but had rewritten her will or so we were told just weeks ago.. It left a third of her immense fortune to Marcy, another third to her Attorney Harlan Dixon and the rest to her favorite charities...

"You're full of it Harlan...We'll table this for now...but this isn't the end of this.  Thank you Yvette, guys for bringing this to the table...I'll be in touch Yvette.

''We'll be here."said Yvette.

NOW!-

 Thursday ...We all once again got in the two buses and along with the catering van and drove to the  Shore...

To the two Beachfront houses that Nelson owned....This was the most we had ever ventured down here... But after several cases that lead us all to near exhaustion...All of us agreed to venture down to the shore for rest and relaxation.  To recharge our batteries if you will.

It was Matthew and Lee's second time traveling here with us....

"WOW!! This is Amazing....I love this."said Matthew.

"I love coming down here with all of you guys..."said  Lee.. She had recently graduated from law school and passed the bar...We had all attended both and were very proud of her..She lie peacefully in Matthew's arms the entire bus ride...

''We love having you down here....Ms. Lawyer....So proud of you for graduating from law school and passing the bar." said Ms. Yvette,.

"We usually come in the hot blazing summer , when we can barbecue and go out on the beach, get in the water. but it's nice to be able to come down here when we need to just chill out, like now."said Olivia.

 

"But these two homes have central air and therefore , we are comfortable, no matter what time of year we come down here." I said.

"I love this...and I love being down here with all of you." said Beverly....

"There is 12 rooms in each house.... There is a room for you two here and we still have one extra room." said Nelson, smiling.

"We are going to have a good time..." said Josie.

"We always have a good time." said Josie's husband, Paris.

"Yes... enjoy!" said Bresha.

"We brought plenty of food..." said Tony.

"Get settled in your rooms and we'll start getting everything set up."said Alfreda.

"Welcome to the family." said Rockland..

 "Our two groups, Mine and Olivia's  have always done things together...We just started pulling the others in." said Yvette.

"You've been around us long enough....Relax." said Gary...

"I've got no problem with that."laughed Matthew...

"Me Neither."laughed Lee..

"Good , we brought cards and games"said Keith Jones.

"And Music." said Bee Bee.

"Food and drink..."said Sofia.

"And let's not discuss work at all...."said Kahlil.

"Amen to that." said Jade.

"Yes." said her husband, Danny.

"Well, let's go unpack and get our rooms settled."said Virginia.

"Yes lets." said her husband, Jetty.

And next door...

"This is so nice...Last time we came down we stayed around the corner at those apartments."said Carlos.

"They were nice, but not as nice as here."said Nina Rios.

"I told you we had room enough for you guys to stay here." said Jazzy...
 

"Yeah....this is sooo much better..."said her husband Dabnis.

"Our group has just gotten sooo big."said Kayla.

''Yeah we can't afford to get any bigger."laughed her husband ,Ray.

''Well nobody else can move on our block." said Jessica.

"This is true."laughed her husband Chip..

"The weather is pretty mild this week."said Karen...

"Still not nice enough to go swimming."said B.L.

"Yeah but the shopping is pretty cool."said Natalie. "Me ,Brookie,Bev, Jazzy, Renee,Josie and Bree  saw a few stores we would like to hit tomorrow." said Natalie.

"You gals love to shop."laughed David.

"You guys are are going to hang around here playing cards and drinking beer."laughed Brooke.

"Yup...If we can."laughed Sean.

"I know a few places, Liv, Vettie, Karen ,Freda and Virginia might check it out. It rained the last time we were down here and we didn't go out."said Zoey....

"Good thing we had enough food and drink."laughed Lem.

"Like we have now." laughed Renee..

"Yup, we do!....Sunny skies predicted for this weekend."laughed her husband, Tyrell.

Within an hour, we all set up grills inside two tents in between both buildings.....

Donnie Ray, Gary, Rockland, Nelson, Paris, Tyrese, Tyrell and Kahlil and me manned the grills and prepared the meats and seafood.

We had Burgers and Dogs on two grills.

Steaks and Hot Sausages on another grill...

Seafood on yet another grill...

Beverly, Alfreda, Renee ,Kayla and Jazzy prepared

 Pork and Beans..

Creamy Pasta

And Cole Slaw  served from the kitchen of both homes..

Good Music flowed from both living rooms...

Backgammon

Chess

Poker, Spades and Pinocle were played...

and there was Plenty to drink....

"Olivia, Vettie, this is wonderful....I love it...I love all of you guys, You're so much fun."giggled Lee.

''And we love you...Despite the size of this group...We don't invite everybody into our circle...Consider yourselves special."said Olivia.

Lee felt a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time...Like she was part of a big family....It was a nice feeling.

Mrs. Grizelda Lewis was the last thing on our minds this weekend.

II-

And in Philadelphia right now!

"She's been dead about a day now!  Rigor really set in." said a Crime Scene Investigator as another man snapped photos.

"Doesn't seem to be any scene of foul play." said one Homicide detective.

"No sign of struggle or anything." said another detective.

"We won't know the cause of death until we do an autopsy....but I must admit...She  does look like she died of natural causes." said Dr. Hazel Baylor.

"This is Grizelda Lewis, one of the wealthiest women in the city, in this area...This big,"said Dr. Marcy Martin,.  "Does this woman live here alone?" she asked.

"She has a young niece who was living here."said a Homicide Detective,

"Yeah, well where is she?" asked Lt. Tragg,

"I don't know....Anybody got a phone number of contact information on her niece?" asked Hazel..

Everybody shrugged.

"Find her!" said Lt. Tragg.

Grizelda Lewis's body was put in a white body bag and strapped to a gurney and rolled out of the big house..

While at the shore-

It was a warm, breezy Saturday afternoon...A lot of us had gone shopping at the shopping center here-

"This is sooo relaxing...Coming down here was a good thing..."said Olivia.

"Yes...Let's go in that shop..." said Zoey.

"I'm not feeling any stress, but the best thing...is that my young associates are relaxing....They've been working so hard....Not just with me, but with everybody." said Yvette as she ,Olivia and Zoey entered a store to shop in..

"Me neither Vettie....For once...I don't have a big case on the horizon..." said Karen..

"Knock on Wood!"laughed Yvette...

"Yeah let's not jinx ourselves." said Olivia.

We were all relaxing in the same mall...

"I love this mall....I love shopping here." said Bee Bee.

"I do too!"said Sofia.

Even Jade was with us today..... Our group was very close knit...

"It is kinda cool."I said...

"Love it...look who else is here." said Kahlil.. We had run into the "other clique" in our larger clique you might say... 

"Heyyyyy Guys..." said Beverly.

"You got your husbands to come out...Our husbands are back at the house playing cards and drinking beer."laughed Jazzy..

"And Farting!" said  Kayla.. Everyone busted out laughing....

"I love this mall." said Josie.

''So do I." said Bresha.

"This time is better than the last...Just wait until the summer when it gets hot."laughed Natalie..

"Ouu I know....Cooking out, Shopping and going to the beach." said Brooke.

" I can't wait to go to the beach...I brought new bathing suits."said Jessica.

" So did I...Ouuu just wait Lee..Wait until we come down here for Memorial Day.Unless you have other plans." said Renee.

"Are you kidding???, I have no plans... I literally spent last summer, alone ..I am loving this." laughed Lee, so glad to be with the girls.. So glad to be with everybody.

Matthew had chosen to be with her today. He was glad to be with everybody too!

Back at the houses...

Gary, Donnie Ray, Danny Ho, Lem, B.L,  Nelson, Dabnis, Paris, Tony,Ray, Sean, Chip, Tyrell and David were playing cards...

"This is sweet, The wives are out shopping and we guys are here playing some cut-throat poker." said Gary.

"Good thing we aren't playing for money or some of you would be broke."laughed Donnie Ray..

"Deal me in." said Danny Ho.

"Ahhhhhhhhh you're a shark." laughed Lem.

"Too Rich for my blood....Let me see your hand."laughed B.L.

"I call." said Nelson.

"Already Buddy?"laughed Dabnis.

"He Misses his wife...He plays better when Bev is his partner."laughed Tony.

"She and Liv are amazing poker players...Which is why they are so good in court."laughed Tony..

"Calling ADA's bluffs."laughed Ray..

"I'll say."said Sean.

"Tonight we are all hitting that bar we like right?" said Chip.

"Yeah after we have a little dinner.."said Tyrell.

"There is a nice spot Jetty showed us."said David.

"I don't think Jetty or some of the others are going to make it tonight."laughed Nelson slyly as they continued to play cards.

Nina and Carlos, Rockland And Alfreda and Jetty and Ms. Virginia were in their rooms with the doors locked. If you listened hard enough you could hear the moaning and cooing and the sound of  beds squeaking and headboards slamming against the wall silently...

"Ayyyyye Mios Dios, Ummmmmm Papi."moaned Nina..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MAMASITA." Moaned  Carlos...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHH ALFREDA...OUUUUUUUU!"moaned Rockland..

"SHHHHHHHHH...KEEP IT DOWN, THERE ARE PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS!. "cautioned Alfreda.

"OH MY GOD!  YOU BROUGHT IT!! MY FAVORITE!" said Jetty...

"SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH YOU, BEING TURNED ON BY THIS SLIP!" said Virginia,laughing.

THEY WERE ALL IN COITAL BLISS...All three couples...

Nelson was right...They weren't leaving their rooms tonight to go anywhere...They had been making sweet love all afternoon and showed no signs of stopping.

They were in for the afternoon.
 

While in Philadelphia-

The Body of Grizelda Lewis was being wheeled from her home on a gurney....on the way to the morgue.

III-

THE OFFICE OF LT.ARTHUR TRAGG-HOMICIDE -MONDAY MORNING!

"I got the results from the Autopsy Report back!  Mrs. Grizelda Lewis did not die of natural causes...She had an over abundance of arsenic in her system....I've had my guys back at her house going through her food and the things prerpared for her to drink...Her hot cocoa , her coffee..and what have you and guess what ? A large dosage of arsenic was found in it all...THAT MAKES THIS MURDER!!!!" said Lt. Tragg.

"As executor of her estate I find this very upsetting ." said Attorney Harlan Dixon......"I'll do whatevert I can to assist you in your investigation of this most egregious matter." he said.

"First Off...Where is the neice?  It's been three days and I haven't been able to contact her." said Lt. Tragg,

"I don't know....She's been very angry lately. Her Aunt changhed her will and gave her a smaller cut in the inheritance and she's been quite sullen."said Harlan Dixon.

"Are you her attorney?" asked Lt. Tragg.

"No...uh she has outside counsel."said Harlon Dixon.

"Well she's going to need it...I need to talk to her...If you see her, tell her to get to my office pronto!"said Lt. Tragg.

TUESDAY MORNING-  

We were back from our nice long relaxing weekend...

Virginia entered our conference room with coffees and a newspaper..

Did you guys hear? That Old Woman that was here about six months ago...Grizelda Lewis was found dead in her home....The Police are saying it was murder...Arsenic poisoning." said Virginia.

"Awwww that poor old lady!" said Yvette.

"I haven't thought about her in months."said Bee Bee.

"We never did get that will straightened out." I said.

"I appealed the validity of the changed will; and there was a court case pending."said Ms. Yvette.

"I remember...I went to court with you....Her lawyer, Harlan Dixon was not too pleased."said Sofia.

"Anybody heard from Marcy?" asked Kahlil..as we all put cream cheese on our bagels.

"You want me to call her Vettie?" asked Virginia.

"Yes,call her..We need to talk to her." said Yvette.

"They are saying it was murder... You don't think......?" I asked.

"No...No way...There was a housekeeper living there and that shifty lawyer

"I think I'll talk to both of them." said Jade.

"That's a good idea Jade." said Yvette.

"Sofia,let's take another look at that will...both of them, the new and the originial."said Bee Bee.

"Coming Up....Let's make sure there are no discrepancies..." said Sofia.

"Because Harlan Dixon and Marcy are really going to be squabbling over that money now."said Kahlil.

Yvette thought of Marcy.....She looked worried.

IV-

At the home of  Grizelda Lewis..

The housekeeper, Mrs. Morales was packing her things...

"I suppose now that Mrs. Lewis is dead, there will be no more need for my services."she said to Attorney Harlon Dixon.

"No it will not...I intend to put this house on the market and sell it off. You'll be paid a decent and fair severence." he said.

"How nice for you.  Before you do that, think of something....I know that it was you serving and supervising her meals..and not me...I had a visit from Lt. Tragg from Homicide today....I didn't mention your name....but I could've you know...." said the House keeper , Mrs. Morales. "I could mention all of that rat poison you ordered...Rat poison contains arsenic...and WE DON'T HAVE A RAT PROBLEM!" she said slyly...

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I want my severance pay upfront and 2.5 million dollars wired into my account and you will never hear from me again...Failure to do either one and perhaps I'll have a little talk with Lt. Tragg and those young attorneys representing Marcy....You've got 24 hours to give me your decision." she said.

Harlon Dixon stood quietly, stoically...He looked like the cat who swallowed the canary....

End of a long day.....The ride home...

"Well Jade, first day back at work after a wonderful weekend and we may be back into a case."said Yvette.

"I called Marcy and left a message...I didn't get a response....and I visited Grizelda's house...Apparently Harlon Dixon is wasting no time at all auctioning off some of her things and having other things put in the street...He's planning to sell the house...The House keeper, Mrs. Morales was not there at all."said Jade.

"Go back tomorrow...Try again....And guys...Go to the M.E.'s office...I need an Autopsy report on Grizelda Lewis." said Yvette.

"Kahlil and I will get on that tomorrow." I said.

''Sofia and I are still looking at the will...We are going to the probate office tomorrow."said Bee Bee.

"Yes....Hopefully, we'll hear from Marsha. Let's hope Lt. Tragg doesn't get to her first."said Sofia.

"I was thinking that myself." said Kahlil.

"So was I...I hope we get to talk to her before he does..I'm certain he's been by the house interviewing the housekeeper and Harlon Dixon." said Virginia. 

"I can't wait to get home , and take off these heels." sighed Jazzy..
 

"Stripper Heels...I think they're sexy/" laughed Dabnis.

"Sexy but murder on the dogs."laughed Jazzy.

"I hear ya."laughed Kayla.

Her husband, Ray smiled and softly rubbed her legs.....

Jessica eased her heels off and sat back and relaxed as the train began to move...

Her Husband lay his head on her shoulders.....She put her arms around him.

Karen was sitting on her husband, B.L.'s lap tonight with her arms around him.

B.L. smiled sheepishly.

"Tonight is our vacation from our mini vacation." said Natalie.

"Nice to not have anything in our coffers huh?" said David.

"Yessssssss!" agreed Brooke , who was sitting on her husband Sean's lap.

Sean smiled and held her tight.

"I can't wait to get home , and take off these heels." sighed Zoey.

"You can take em off now...Relax...Just don't forget to pick up your shoes when we get off."said Lem.

"That's what I did Zoey....I'm just kicking back and enjoying this 45 minutes." said Renee.

Her husband, Tyrell was softly rubbing her legs.

"Man, I can't wait to get home." said Tony.

"Me neither."said Paris....

''We get off first..."said Nina Rios.

"Yes." said her boyfreind, Carlos.

"I really want to see Matthew tonight." said Lee.

As the train rumbled on...

Ms. Yvette wondered silently what was down the pike for us concerning this case.

(TO BE CONTINUED)