One Murder Too Many

SIX DAYS AFTER THE OPENING OF THE WARREN HUTCHINSON TRIAL...

A small crowd gathered outside the courthouse... A Lexus sat in front of the courthouse with a young woman in the passenger side....She was dead...very dead.

"Cause of death appears to be manual strangulation." said a crime scene investigator as another one snapped a photo.

"Somebody brought her here....but the registration states that this is her car,." said one of the two detectives at the scene...

"Body temperature states she's been dead about three hours..." said Dr. Hazel Baylor.

"Somebody strangled her , then drove her car here...but why?" asked Dr. Marcy Martin..

"That's our job to determine...."said Lt. Tragg, who fished for her drivers license in her purse.. He got her license, her bar association card and her auto registration.

"Her name is Kimberly Lacey....She's a lawyer...She was also supposed to testify today for the defense in the Hutchinson case...When she didn't show up...Vettie and company asked for a continuance until tomorrow...Guess she won't be showing up now." said Lt. Tragg...

 We stood outside the courthouse with the small crowd that had gathered.... 

 "I-I never meant for this to happen....This wasn't personal...It never is... I didn't mean for that young lady to lose her life...I didn't mean it." said Ms. Yvette, who was visibly upset...

"This is not your fault Vettie....Not your fault at all....and I don't want you feeling as if it is... You or your crew."said her husband, Gary Lockwood, an Investigator from the District Attorney's Office, once

a homicide detective.

"Wowwwww!  I can't believe this..."I said,shaking my head.. I was upset too about hat had happened..

"I never thought that as an attorney my life might be in jeopardy....Never." said Bee Bee.

"She was an attorney just like us...Trying to make a living...Whatever she did...She didn't deserve this."said Sofia, who too was visibly moved and like all four of us felt a little guilt..After all...We had served her a subpoena a few days ago... A Subpoena that may have gotten her murdered.

"I'm....I'm at a loss for words here." said Kahlil.

"You guys did nothing wrong...You did your jobs...as you were supposed to do...Somebody, Somewhere

didn't want this woman to testify....They're responsible...Not you guys..." said Jade.

Judge Charlotte Peterson was in the crowd too!   She had a look of pure sadness..She never really wanted this case.. She was tough but fair and had honestly been fair to both sides of this case.

Jumpshot Jim was in the crowd too that had gathered outside the courthouse steps...Six days in and he had once again completely lost the jury...and was on the verge of losing this case once again because of Lt. Tragg's sloppy ,inconclusive police work...

We had used the GPS on Warren Hutchinson's Smartwatch, and his Smartphone and Credit Card receipts to establish his whereabouts every second of the day of the murder and establish his alibi.

Plus we had witnesses...

Plus there was that jimmied door...Something he wouldn't need to do since he owned the keys to the house and that size nine shoe print near the back door and on the patio that didn't match Warren, Catherine or Jesperson...

We had established enough reasonable doubt in just three days of testimony that we were close to getting an acquittal.

What we wanted to do is expose who might really be behind this...The Long Green, The Dirty Money....

Ms. Yvette looked into the crowd  and she saw him... Jack Collins

looming in the background as he always did.

"There he is.. Jack Collins....That's who I should have subpoenaed.."said Yvette.

Gary eyed him.....

We watched as they opened the door and took Kim Lacey's lifeless body out of the car and placed it in a body bag and strapped it to a gurney...

For her, The Rat Race was over!

II-

THE BRIDGE BUILDING!

OUR CONFERENCE ROOM-

Ms. Yvette looked up information on Kim Lacy...

Kimberly Yvette Lacy-

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from The Philadelphia High School for Girls -Philadelphia PA.

BA. Double Major- Political Science and Economics from Vassar College, New York.

JD- Columbia University School of Law, New York City, New York

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

Clerked in New York City for then Attorney Kelly Anne Mercer

Moved to Philadelphia PA.

Worked as Staff Attorney for the Harris Group

Senior Associate Attorney for Lessner and Lundy and Associates.

Senior Associate Attorney for Mattay and Delphi Attorneys at law

Attache for John Collins , Investment Banker.

I looked over her shoulder...

"She had quite a resume huh?" I said.

''She was a good girl.. She was working her way up the ladder....Just like Bee Bee, Sofia ,Lee Phillips....

She didn't deserve this." said Ms. Yvette.

"Still this is not your fault Vettie!....This is on Jack Collins or whoever killed her." said Virginia.

THE OFFICE OF JAMES "JUMPSHOT JIM" TAYLOR

"I'm thinking of dropping these charges... Did you even ask him for an alibi before you charged him??

Everything is looking as if  he was nowhere near the scene and pointing to another suspect.."said Jumpshot Jim.

"Look I'm telling you..He's the guy...He's got motive, the man was screwing his wife...He walked in on them for cryin out loud...That's motive...The murder weapon, his gun.....That's the case right there."said Lt. Tragg.

Jumpshot Jim was still not convinced...We had done a good job of putting doubt in his mind as we had the jury...

Ms. Yvette sat alone in her house, in her panties and bra , listening to some Jill Scott music...She hadn't done that in a long while..

Gary came home..

"Hey " he said.

"Hey....did you eat?" she asked.

"I did...Me and Danny grabbed a meal in Sam Mother's Diner." said Gary... "I uh know you ate at work." he said.

"Yeah, I did..."said Yvette...

"Long time since you've sat alone in the dark in your bra and panties listening to Jill Scott...You uh want to be alone?" he asked...

"Actually I don't want to be alone....I want you..." she whispered...

"WELLLLLLLLLLLL!" he said with a wry grin on his face..

They began kissing....

"I knew you'd be home and be horny as hell...In fact I counted on it."said Yvette.

"You've always known that you control me." said Gary.

"I've always known what you ultimately wanted.. To get me in the bed."laughed Yvette.

"Vettie I love you....I really do...It's more than just that."said Gary as the kissing got hotter.

"I know you do and I love you too...But you desire me in the bed something terrible and that's okay....I'm kinda hooked on you too!" she said with a smile..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" moaned Gary as he undressed.....

Soon they were in the middle of the bedroom floor, kissing even more passionately...

Gary placed her on the bed and parted her legs , entering her slowly.....She was wet and warm and so turned on it wasn't funny...Her body began to tremble something terrible....her legs began to shake..Sweat and tears of joy streamed down her face and she began to have an intense orgasm....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU GARY YESSS...YESSSSS!!" she cried out, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist...

"OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!, VETTTIE, VETTIE YOU ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!" he cried out...He didn't know if he were coming or going...

They made sweet ,slow love for the next NINE TO TEN HOURS!!!

Yvette experienced two more intense orgasms...that had her crying like a school girl

"Gary, I love you so damn much...OUUUUUUUUU!" she cried out..

"I love you too Vettie." he moaned..

Both climaxing loudly and Yvette resting on top of Gary's chest....while he tried to catch his breath...

"Would you like some more?" asked Yvette, softly fondling his still hard penis...

"WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?" exclaimed Gary, who couldn't believe his good fortune..

Yvette opened her legs wide and eased down on Gary...

Slowly moving up and down and riding him like a surfer rides the waves...She experienced another 

intense orgasm...

They wound up sitting on the side of the bed, kissing passionately as Yvette rode him for another THREE HOURS!

It was near daybreak.....Yvette was resting peacefully on top of Gary, who was exhausted at this point...Yvette had a trial to go to tomorrow and he had work...They were both going to be tired...but both were going to feel good..real good..

III-

DAY SEVEN- WARREN HUTCHINSON TRIAL-

"Coffee's anyone?" said Sofia. She and Kahlil had gone to fetch coffee..

"Come and get it guys."said Kahlil.

"Thank Youuuuu!" said Jade...

"Oh Thank You...." said Bee Bee.

"Just what the doctor ordered." I said.

"Thanks guys." said Ms. Yvette...She had recovered from yesterday....She seemed laser focused on the task at hand.

"Guys and Gals...Yall did a fantastic job...I think you have more than acquitted yourselves..You've created reasonable doubt...I'm giving our closing argument today..." said Ms. Yvette.

We all agreed....

And so...

Judge Charlotte Peterson listened to closing arguments from Jumpshot Jim

and us with our client, Warren Hutchinson.

 

 "The Defense rests your honor." said Yvette.

"As usual, you guys were great, better than I bargained for in every way." said our client, Warren Hutchinson.

"Let's hope the jury thinks so." I cautioned. A Conviction could land him on Death Row or in prison for the rest of his life...

"I think we did enough to win ." said always optimistic Beatrice....

"I think so too!" said Sofia.

"I would have really have loved Kim Lacey's testimony....That would have been the icing on the cake and it would have pointed to the real suspect in this."said Kahlil.

"Our job isn't to solve the case...just to prove that Warren didn't kill those two people and I think we did." said Jade.

The Case went to the jury, who unlike our other cases , had be sequestered in a hotel....We wouldn't get a verdict until tomorrow at best...

It was Thursday Night!

"See you in the morning Warren...Hopefully they'll take those shackles off of you and you'll be a free man." said Yvette as bailiffs put handcuffs on Warren 

 and led him to the bus that would transfer him back to the Men's Correctional Center.

CURLEYS ON THURSDAY NIGHT- COUPLES NIGHT!

The Drinks were plentiful and flowing...Two drinks for every two drinks ordered...You couldn't beat it.

''Well Vettie, if the jury comes back with a verdict tomorrow...It will be just in time for our Rooftop Party Saturday Afternoon." said Nina Rios.

 

 "Oh that would make for the perfect weekend.Nina." said Yvette.

"Well let's cross our fingers and hope for the best." said her husband, Gary...

It's been my experience ,when I was a trial lawyer that sequestered juries come to a decision fast..They want to go home." said Carlos Diaz, Nina Rios, boyfriend and fellow staff attorney at the Women's Law Center.[

"Let's pray they make the right decision." I said.

"I think they will...Kahlil said from where he was sitting it looked like all of the jurors broke our way." said Bee Bee.

"Even the female jurors who tend to fawn over Jumpshot Jimmy." said Sofia.

"Is he still one of the city's most eligible bachelors?" asked Kahlil...

"Yeah...He's still number one on the sexy singles list every year."laughed Jade.

"That is getting so old."laughed Dsanny Ho, her husband.

"You won't believe this...but before I went to jail...I was on the Sexy Singles Listing."said Virginia.

"I believe it!" said her husband, Jetty...

"The Weather looks good this weekend,.. Sunshine and High Temperatures..."said Lee

"Perfect for a rooftop party."said Matthew. 

"Renee and Alfreda will be bringing over some of the food tomorrow afternoon.. Thanks for getting your building to reserve parking space for our two buses and our catering van." said Olivia.

 

"That's better than when we all used to drive there." I said.

"Or Walk."laughed Beverly...

"Yeah, I remember that."laughed her husband, Nelson..

"Me too!  One time..Paris carried me part of the way...Tee Hee.."laughed Josie.

"I remember that."laughed Paris.

"Wow...Sure wished we knew you all then...Sounds like a lot of fun." said Bresha.

"Oh it was I'm sure." said Tony...

"We used to have to rent a refrigerated truck to transfer the meats...but not anymore.."said Alfreda.

"I missed those parties too!"laughed Rockland.

 

Shrimp Baskets and Barbecued Buffalo Chicken was served... 

"Ummmm this is sooo good...I can't wait until Saturday Afternoon."said Jazzy...
 

"I knowwwwww..."said her husband, Jetty..

"We've got everything ready...The Meats, the salads...."said Kayla.

"Got the Music programmed. Me and Donnie Ray programmed everything." said Ray...

"That's something we didn't have before, but now we do." said Jessica.

"Yeah, good music."said Chip.

"I believe I was at one of those rooftop parties.. The night Keith and Bee Bee and Sofia and Kahlil got engaged."said Karen..

"Yeah, that was the last one." I said.

Her husband B.L. raised his glass  "Here's to reviving the custom.." he said...

Everybody raised their glasses.

"Wow...I wasn't coming up this way that much then and didn't know a lot of these people then...This will be nice." said Natalie.

"You knew Beverly and Jazzy and Kayla and we knew Jessic and Chip,,,We just didn't socialize or keep up with them then." said David.

"This will be sooo nice.. I hope we keep this up." said Brooke.

"We'll be going back to the beach in a few weeks..." said Sean...

"I love being a part of this group of friends..."said Zoey...

"Yeah me too!" said Lem...

"Hey we all live in the same area and work in the same building almost...We might as well socialize."said Renee.

"Might as well." said Tyrell.

Sitting in a corner, oblivious to all of uis was Judge Kelly Ann and Lt. Tragg.

"Arthur thank you so much for staying with me the other night and helping me grieve and get over the death of Kim Lacy....She interned for me in New York straight out of law school...She was so sweet..and I'm so sorry this happened to her." said Kelly Ann...

"It's Okay..Detective Brice and I discovered a smudged fingerprint and some DNA in her car as well as some grainy film footage taken by an ATM camera from the bank across the street...We'll be making an arrest soon."said Lt. Tragg...

This was only partially true.   Detective Sgt. Brice had done this by himself with no help or assistance from Lt. Tragg at all.

"Ohhhhhhhh thank you Arthur.."said Kelly Ann..

"You know I could use some soothing myself...This has been a very trying week for me too with this trial and a murder right in front of the courthouse..and all.."said Lt. Tragg..

"Awwww you poor horny thing you." giggled Kelly Ann..

She leaned over and kissed him softly...

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" he moaned.

"Feel Better?" she asked.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSS!" he moaned..

"I thought you would." she replied and smiled.

Their kissing continued....Getting hotter and hotter...

Nothing like Couples Night at Curleys!

IV-

COURTROOM B- DAY EIGHT

Judge Charlotte Peterson was glad the jury had come to a decision... This trial had made her most uncomfortable.

She had tried to be as impartial and fair to both sides as possible.

"Has the jury come to a decision?" she asked.

"We have your honor." said the Jury Forewoman...

She gave the envelope with the decison to the bailiff. He gave it to the Judge. She read it and sighed a sigh of relief...That didn't let us know if she was sighing because we, her friends had prevailed or simply because the trial was over at last..

She passed the decision to the bailiff and sighed.  "Read it"

"WE THE JURY , REPRESENTING THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA RULE ON COUNT ONE...THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF CATHERINE HUTCHISON...WE FIND THE DEFENDENT , NOT GUILTY...

ON COUNT TWO , THE FIRT DEGREE MURDER OF CURTIS JESPERSON, WE FIND THE DEFENDENT, NOT GUILTY

ON COUNT THREE ,CONSPIRACY IN THE MURDERS OF CURTIS JESPERSON AND CATHERINE HUTCHINSON...WE FIND THE DEFENDENT, NOT GUILTY!

It was a clean sweep!  We had won!

The guards had taken the handcuffs and shackles off of Warren Hutchinson.....

"Ohhhh thank you, thank you...Thank you....I'm a free man...Thank you guys again..I'm keeping you on retainer and speed dial.. I know you've ben paid, bt I'm going to send you guys an extra bonus." said a joyous, newly freed Warren Hutchinson..

 

 'Well, what's the first thing you're doing tonight Warren?" asked Ms. Yvette, relieved that we had prevailed.

"I'm going home, get a good shave and a shower and then maybe I'll go to a small Cantina, and celebrate with a few drinks."said Warren.

"You deserve it man...You deserve it.." I said.

"It's Friday Night...We'll be at the No I.D. Bar." said Bee Bee.

" So nice...but I could go for a Burger right now." said Sofia.

"Me too!  I'm famished..." said Kahlil.

"That makes two of us."laughed Jade.

Jumpshot Jim didn't like losing a case and he avoided the press as he quietly slipped out of the courthouse....

Standing in the shadows was Jack Collins.... He had engineered Warren's defense .....Now Warren was a free man and he could make the deal with his company to recoup the money he had lost... He was satisfied with how everything turned out..

He turned ,only to see Ms. Yvette looking at him.

"Mister Collins...At last we meet!  ....You are something else..I realized I subpoenaed the wrong person...Instead of Ms. Lacey, I should have subpoenaed you...I suspect that you killed Catherine Hutchinson and Curt Jesperson...You'd been over their house enough times...You knew the layout and you knew Warren had bought Catherine that gun for her protection...Also..you're a size nine shoe...Neither Warren, Catherine or Curt Jesperson is a size nine...and you left your footprint on the floor and in the patio... I guess you killed them to clear the way for Warren to keep his company and to avoid a costly divorce so that you could recoup the money from him you were hoping to get to make you solvent again.. I understand that...

But then you had that girl, that innocent girl , Kim Lacey, a young attorney truying to work her way up hand me that money...all that money..enought to pay me and my young attorneys to defend Warren and get him off ,just like you knew we would and now you can not only recoup your money from his company, but replace all the dirty money you tossed around....The money to pay somebody to demand that Judge Charlotte Peterson stay on the case...after she recused herself and rightfully so...because she is our friend...

You did it all and have managed to stay insulated from the whole thing....Very masterfully played...but you killed that girl , you or somebody in your employ....That girl was innocent..She was one murder too many." said Yvette.

''Ahhh Ms. Yvette...Ms. Yvette Jones-Lockwood. You're a clever woman...Just as smart as you are beautiful...Naive...but smart...You think you've figured it all out...but you haven't...and you haven't got a shread of proof for any of your claims...You have no idea how the big players play...You're out of your league,,So Stay in your world of good guys and bad guys...I'm in a different league."said Jack Collins.

"Was Kim Lacey out of her league?" asked Yvette.

"She was trying to learn the game...but unfortunately...She was expendable...Now if you don't mind...I have to go.." he said tersely..

"You're not going anywhere Collins...You're under arrest, Murder One.. Kimberly Lacy, hook him up boys."said Detective Sgt Brice.

"You have the right to remain silent...Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law...You have a right to an attorney,if you can't afford one...One will be provided to you, thought that doesn't look like a problem in your case...Do you understand these rights as I am reading them to you?" asked the detective, as the other detective handcuffed him.

"He understands....Let's go Collins. BOOK HIM!  MURDER ONE!" said Lt. Tragg..

"I don't believe this...This ....Isn't happening..." he said as he was lead out of the courthouse in handcuffs...

as cameras snapped...

We stood and watched as he was lead out in handcuffs.

 

 "Well there is Justice After all."said Ms. Yvette.

"Looks like the good guys won after all huh?" I said.

"They did this time Hot Stuff!" said Bee Bee.

"We didn't get Kim on the stand...but her ghost spoke loud and clear...The cops got her killer." said Sofia.

"Yup, The Good Guys won today."said Kahlil.

"They sure did." said Jade.

EPILOUGE-

Jack Collins was convicted of the murder of Kim Lacey and sentenced to life, no parole.

With help from Ms. Jade..

Sgt Brice and her husband,Lt. Danny Ho charged him with the murders of Catherine Hutchison and Curtis Jessperson... He was convicted and sentenced to two additional life sentences , no parole.

As promised we had our rooftop party at the apartment complex, Me, Sofia, Kahlil and Bee Bee used to live  at on the roof.. Now being hosted by Lee Phillips, Matthew Akes , Nina Rios and Carlos

"Thank you all for coming out.... Make yourselves comfortable...Enjoy!" said Nina.

"Yes, enjoy!"said Carlos.

Alexa was playing Classic R& B, Classic Hip Hop, Neo Soul and Smooth Jazz....Something for everybody!

"I am sooooo happy you all came." said Lee Phillips..

"We should do this more this summer." said Matthew..

There was Burgers and Hot Dogs on one Grill..

Steaks , Hot Sausages  and Corn on the Cob on the Grill next to it..

and seafood on the grill next to that......

Pork and Beans...

Creamy Pasta Salad 

and Cole Slaw....

In addition to Barbecued Wings

And fried shrimp...

Enough Food for everyone there and then some..

 

 "This Brings back memories doesn't it?" said Ms. Yvette,,

''Awwww yeah.."said Gary.

"This brings back some good memories doesn't it?" I asked Bee Bee.

"It sure does... Only difference was...After it was over..We just walked downstairs to our apartments.."laughed Bee Bee.

"Just like Lee and Matthew and Nina and Carlos are going to do."laughed Sofia.,

"And like us then...They aren't married yet." laughed Kahlil.

"Give it time. They'll be married and out of here ,looking for a house before you know it."laughed Jade, who used to live across the street from us.

"Not too soon I hope...I'm enjoying this." said Danny Ho.

"Me too and not a cloud in the sky." laughed Ms. Virginia...

"I brought the drinks.." said Jetty, who opened up a chest..

 

"Good Ole Jetty, he always comes through with the drinks." said Olivia.

 

"I'm famished...There is certainly enough food here for everyone..."said Donnie Ray.

"This brings back some sweet memories...huh?" said Beverly.

"It sure does... I can't believe it's been so long since we did this."said Nelson.

"No one has lived here that we knew... Ms. Virginia didn't stay that long..."said Josie.

"That's true....Now we got representation here again. Enjoying yourself Brre, Tony?"said Paris.

"Oh Yes... Yes..I'm loving it..."said Bresha.

"I told you ,even when you were interning that these were the people to hang out with"laughed her husband, Tony...

"Ohhh this is so nice...Enjoying yourself husband?" asked Alfreda..

"Oh Yes..Most definitely.."said Rockland, glad to have Alfreda and glad to have all of these friends...

"This is soooo nice.. So much food...Oh I love it!" said Jazzy...
 

"Mannnn This brings back good memories...We had great parties on this roof."said Dabnis.

"We did...So nice to bring all of our new friends here with us."said Kayla.

"Yeah, giving them a taste of how we used to get down."said Ray.

''Aye Mios Dios...So much food and drink.."said Jessica.

"We gonna dance it off." said her husband, Chip...

As a few people did some line dances....

"Oh I love this... I was at one of these....Wasn't this much food and wasn't any music. .This is the best one yet."said Karen.

"WOW!!! This is great!"said her husband, B.L.

"This is sooo much fun...I hope we do these more often."said Natalie.

"I do too!" said David.

"Ummmmmmm...I'm full....Let's dance."said Brooke, taking her husband by the hand...

He was holding a burger in one hand..

Zoey was laughing ,watching him...

Soon she joined her husband Lem on the dance floor as they all line danced.. They'd have plenty of time to eat...

Renee and Tyrell were on the dance floor...

"I can't think of a better ending to this week ,can you?" she asked.

"No! Really I can't " he said as they continued to eat, drink and party...

By the time everybody finally left to go home...There was absolutely no food left and only a few sodas..and it was daybreak...Sunday Morning..

A Good time was had by all.