VENTURES

BROOKE KENNEDY- MARKS

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Hallahan Catholic High School for Girls.Philadelphia PA.

B,A,- Administration Of Justice/Trial Advocacy/Pre Law- Lasalle University

J.D.- Middleton School of Law, Bayside,PA.

Speaks Spanish/French and Russian fluently.

Passed the Bar in Virginia/Maryland/ Pennsylvania/New Jersey/New York/ Deleware

Law Clerk for Pennsylvania's Chief Judge of Appeals, Carter Baum

Trial Attorney for U.S. Department of Justice's Anti- Trust Division, Washington D.C.

Married to Attorney Sean Marks, A Trial Attorney for The U.S. Department of Justice, Anti Trust Division. Washington D.C..

DIVORCED after two years. No Children.

Public Defender's Office-Philadelphia

Assistant District Attorney- Philadelphia Districts Attorney's office.

Married to U.S. Attorney Sean Marks

Staff Attorney-WRONGFUL CONVICTION UNIT\

NATALIE JEAN TENNISON-CHARLES

Born in Philadelphia PA.

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

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

JD-Georgetown University Law Center

Passed the Bar in Virginia/Maryland/Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Deleware / New York

Associate Litigation Attorney at Akin/Gerard/ Jordan/Hester & Field

Public Defender's Office- Philadelphia

Assistant District Attorney-Philadelphia

Staff Attorney - WRONGFUL CONVICTION UNIT

Married to David Charles.

DAVID KEITH CHARLES

Born in Philadelphia Pa.

Graduated from Simon Gratz High School, Philadelphia PA.

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

JD- Temple University Beasley School of Law

Passed the Bar in Pennsylvania/New York/Deleware/New Jersey

Speaks Spanish And French Fluently..

Public Defender- Philadelphia PA.

Single, No children

Assistant District Attorney-Philadelphia District Attorneys Office.

Staff Attorney -WRONGFUL CONVICTION UNIT

MARRIED TO NATALIE CHARLES.

KAREN ALEXANDRIA PAGE

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Moved with her parents to Narberth, PA.

Graduated from Lower Merrion High School.

BA-Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre-Law-University Of Pennsylvania.

JD-University of Pennsylvania School of Law

Passed the bar in Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Deleware/New York /California

Associate Attorney -McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Married Civil Rights Attorney Lloyd Cantrell, Moved to San Francisco, where she worked as an assistant Attorney for Lloyd Cantrell's practice.

Lloyd Cantrell murdered and she returned to Philadelphia PA.

Assistant District Attorney- Philadelphia D.A.'s Office.

Now Supervisor- Wrongful Conviction/Conviction Integrity Unit

Married to Attorney /Podcaster/Talk Show Host- B.L. Benz.

Sean Marks

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Northeastern High School.

B,A,- Administration Of Justice/Trial Advocacy/Pre Law- Villanova University

J.D.- Georgetown University Law Center

Speaks Spanish/French and Russian fluently.

Passed the Bar in Virginia/ Washington D.C./ Pennsylvania/New Jersey/New York/ Deleware

Law Clerk for Pennsylvania's Chief Judge of Appeals, Carter Baum

Trial Attorney for U.S. Department of Justice's Anti- Trust Division, Washington D.C.

Married to Attorney Brooke Kennedy, A Trial Attorney for The U.S. Department of Justice, Anti Trust Division.

DIVORCED after two years. No Children.

Federal Public Defender- U.S. Courthouse- Philadelphia PA.

Married to Attorney Brooke Kennedy again

THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY COURTLAND JAMES...

He turned off his laptop. He knew all he needed to know about the attorneys he was going up against...

He was livid.

Deputy District Attorney Lester Burke walked into the office...

"Courtland.... this is two cases, two capital cases of yours that has been overturned in one week.

The Bossman wants you to either drop the charges quietly or get some new evidence, evidence that puts both men back in prison." he said.

"Why doesn't he put a muzzle on Karen Page, Brooke Marks, Natalie And David Charles? This is all their fault." he said.

"They are doing their job....making sure if we've prosecuted any one wrongfully ,that person gets a fair shot at justice...You concentrate on your part...To help you, we've assigned another attorney to assist you....Come in here darlin.." said Lester Burke.

An Attractive Blonde walked in..

"This is Alva Simmons, she is new to the District Attorney's Office..but been practicing law for the past 10 or 11 years...l.She will assist you." said DDA Lester Burke.

"Hello." she said.

"Well Hellooooooo!" said Courtland, suddenly smiling and looking his new assistant Attorney up and down like a hungry wolf....

II-

We were having dinner at Olivia and Beverly's house along with some other friends. In addition to Olivia's staff , there was Yvette Jones and her staff and Jessica and Chip.

"Dinner is served everybody" said Alfreda...

"Karen, Brooke, Natalie and Sean ,Thank you so much for handling that last piece of business for me, the Mark Williams case... We are now free to be all in on helping you with the defense.. You all aree welcomed to work here after work if you like." said Olivia.

"Thank you so much Olivia.....but really it was nothing...Like I told you , this case would normally come under our jurisdiction anyway."said Karen.

"Apparently our case and my hubby's case were both prosecuted by Courtland James..." said Natalie.

"And he lost them both in the matter of two days." said Brooke.

"He got a good scolding from the Judge in both cases for sloppy work.."I said.

"He was not a happy camper." laughed Sean.

"I'll say, he pushed one of my cameramen away."laughed B.L , who had been there to film the results of the Williams case.

"If I may ask...Who was the arresting officer?" asked Olivia.

"It was Lt. Arthur Tragg and Detective William Wisdom." I said.

"Same two on our case." said Brooke.

"Unbelievable....Same two, Same sloppy police work and a Prosecutor willing to let that slide."said Donnie Ray.

"I'm not surprised....I'm not surprised at all...Boy are they going to be mad when they see all of us in court."said Beverly...

"I can't wait..Guess we'll be giving Curley's a rest for awhile.."said Nelson.

"I don't think Lt. Tragg will be a bother, but Detective Wisdom won't be a happy camper."said Josie.

"To hell with them both...They should have been doing their jobs."said Josie's husband, Paris.

"That's right...Then we wouldn't have to do ours." said Bresha.

"Good Luck to you guys."said Tony.

"I hope you can get this guy off...Both of them."said Alfreda.

"I should tell you...They've assigned a new attorney named Alva Simmons to assist Courtland....She's pretty good..She's been around for awhile.." said Rockland.

"I know Alva....She is pretty good."said Yvette.

"Yeah, I know her too!"said her husband, Gary.

"Well she's not working on your case is she David? We are going to be working with you." said Keith.

"There is going to be a lot of lawyers at that prison tomorrow." said Bee Bee.

"Yes..With Food and everything to welcome them home." said Sofia.

"I think they'll like that." said Kahlil.

"Yes...and Gary and I will get to locating those two witnesses." said Jade.

"You guys have some party planned eh?" laughed her husband, Danny...

"You know us...it's always a party."laughed Virginia.

"Heh Heh Heh.. I know that's right.."laughed her husband, Jetty...

"As we promised,. We are going to help you too David." said Jessica Sanchez-Burrows..

"It'll be like old times again.."I laughed.

"Exactly" said Jessica's husband and fellow attorney, Chip.

A Good Meal was had by all!

The next morning at the men's correctional center...

Bull Bailey was surprised to see two buses pull up..

In Bus number one...

Brooke, her husband, Sean, my wife Natalie, and Karen were joined by Olivia, Donnie Ray, Beverly, Nelson ,Josie and Bresha who were helping out on the case.

Bull Bailey knew they were coming to see the new prisoner, Mark Williams, whose conviction had been overturned and a new trial ordered... He had been released from Death Row just one month before he was to be put to death...Bull Bailey hated what he called "Bleeding Heart Do good lawyers" such as us..

All except Brooke, who he felt had been lead astray , either by her Black husband....or her black friends such as my wife, Natalie who he hated with a passion and her association with Olivia, Beverly and her team...

The second bus emptied with me,

Sweet Jessica of the Innocence project, a Puerto Rican girl that turned Bull Bailey on, almost as much as Brooke did,

and her black husband, Charles "Chip" Burrows, her black husband, who he hated as much as he did Brooke's Black husband, Sean...

In addition there was Mrs. Yvette Jones-Lockwood, who he reffered to as "Ms. Big Tits" , something he would never say to her face...who he found very attractive...He knew her husband, Gary, an investigator for the D.A.'s office, who was once one of his detectives....He had nothing against him..

He felt neutral towards Yvette's young associates.... They were for the most part very quiet and polite.

He was attracted to Ms. Jade too , though she found him repulsive.

This was the team that was going to help me with Rufus Haney's appeal and retrial.. A formidable group..

We were all very fortunate..

Both prisoners were brought to a big visiting room where they were introduced to all of us...The legal team that was going to represent them..

Both men, one a poor Latino male, the other, a poor Black male....both represented by overworked and under budgeted Public Defenders, both condemned to death....and both saved from death within minutes for one and a month for the other were now cause celebre who had a LEGAL TEAM backing them up.. A team of lawyers neither man would have been able to afford..Karen was using city funds to pay both Olivia's team and Yvette's team for their help as well as Innocence Project attorneys Jessica and Chip.

We brought in Cheese steaks...

and Hoagies as well....Something they both appreciated and hadn't had in three years or so...

We would've liked to have brought in beer , but it was against prison rules...so we brought cokes...Both men were appreciative.

We spent the entire day with the men....going over their cases from top to bottom, researching the laws regarding their cases, predicates regarding their cases and general laws that could come up during their appeals and oral arguments...All of this and good food, plus some good conversations about theior past life and what they hoped for their future...

As Ice Cube said...It was a good day!

III-

THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY COURTLAND JAMES- A DAY LATER!

ADA Courtland James had gotten a call from Bull Bailey

about all of the attorneys who had been to the prison the day before to visit Mark Williams and Rufus Haney....and now he felt a bit of dread..

He knew Bull Bailey, a former Homicide Detective and a Former Federal Investigator, wanted back into a big case...but he knew he couldn't allow that...as much as he wanted to.

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.

KEITH JONES-

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Mother, Nancy Jones, Court Stenographer

- Father, Judge Keith Morrison

Graduated from West Catholic High School

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

J.D.- University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish, French, German

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

Associate Attorney- McCluskey/Cozen/Connor/Pratt

Senior Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor/Pratt

Married to Beatrice Evans

BEATRICE LYNN EVANS -JONES

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

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

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish and French

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

Associate Attorney- McCluskey /Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Senior Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor/Pratt

Married to Keith Jones

SOFIA CARMELITA GARCIA-AHMED

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

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

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish and French

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

Associate Attorney -McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Senior Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor/Pratt

Married to Kahlil Ahmed...

KAHLIL ABDUL AHMED

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Central High School

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

JD- University of Pennsylvania Law School

Speaks Arabic languages fluently, fluent in German and Russian.

Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York, Texas, California

Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Senior Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor/Pratt

Married to Sofia Garcia

YVETTE DENISE JONES-LOCKWOOD

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from North Catholic High School

BA-Trial Advocacy, Pre Law, Administration of Justice -Lasalle University

JD -University of Pennsylvania Law School

Fluent in Spanish, French and Russian

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

Senior Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Managing Partner- McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Married to District Attorney Investigator-Gary Lockwood

He had faced and lost cases against all of these attorneys...With all of them now involved, he faced an uphill battle in both of these cases, neither of which he wanted to lose.

He walked over to the law library in Center City..

where his attractive assistant attorney-Alva Simmons was studying and doing research on both cases..

She was looking up from the case files

and her laptop...

"Hey lady!" he said.

"Hey yourself." she whispered..

"You look exhausted....Come on...let's go get some dinner and some drinks....It's on me." he said.

"Sounds good...Let me clean up this table and get my things." she said.

That night at our homes- We were relaxing....We had spent two days after our prison visit. working in Yvette Jones-Lockwood's suite by day and at Olivia and Beverly's law library at night...Coming home a little after nine o'clock..

These were long days.....

I stared at Natalie.....

''What a day....I'm as horny as hell.." I whispered in her ear...We hadn't had sex in three days...

She giggled that cute giggle of hers... "So What else is new?...When aren't you as horny as hell?" she said.. slowly and softly rubbing the crotch area of my trousers... Her eyes got as big as saucers...

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMM.......OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU LOOK AT YOUUUUUUUU!!! MYYYYYY GOODNESSS!" she laughed... "I guess you aren't lying.." she laughed...

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, I guess I'll have to take care of that, huh?" she asked, continuing to laugh....."OUUUUUUUUUU IT's SO DAMN BIG AND HARDDDD OH MYYYYY!" she said.

"You always say that.." I laughed.

"It's true.." she whispered...

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed.

We continued kissing...

and I took her bra off and I slipped her panties down..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GIRRRRRRRLL!" I cried out.

We lie on the bed kissing and smooching like two teenagers....

"David?" she said.

"Yes Natalie" I answered..

"I love you." she said..

I smiled..

"I love you too!" I said.

I turned Natalie over and entered her slowly...She was so damn soft, smelled like a newborn baby and so wet....

"Ummmmmmm this is soooooo damn gooood" I said and laughed..

"Glad you're enjoying yourself....I know I am.....OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" she said....

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH NATALIE JEANNNN!" I said.

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! PUT IT IN....OHHHHH PUT IT ALL IN....OUUUUUUUUUU" she moaned as we began to make love....

"OUUUUUUUUU ....OH MY GOD DAVID!!! UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" she moaned......

I laughed out loud....

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YOU FEEL SO DAMN GOOD! I told you I was gonna eat you up..." I said.

"SO DO YOU!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! TAKE ME!" she cooed.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYY GODDD DAVID!" she moaned as we began making sweet love..

Her head turning from side to side furiously, sweat and tears streaming down the sides of her face, both legs just shaking......For EIGHT TO NINE HOURS!

And Next door....

"Vanilla, you have no idea how aroused I am right now..!" said her husband, Sean.....

"Judging by the size of that bulge in your trousers, I think I do.....Oh My Goddddddddddd Sean...WOUUUUUUUUUUUUU, how does your boxers contain all of that?" Brooke asked.

"I don't know.....They do quite well until I'm around you..." he said...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, ...My goodness Sean.Do I get you that excited?" said Brooke, devouring his lips...

"YES......YES YOU DO!" said Sean...

"OH MYYYYYYYY!" exclaimed Brooke.

He slipped her panties down..

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm, Vanilla, you have no idea how bad I want you!" said her husband, Sean. again.......

"I'm right here for the taking baby!" she cooed...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned.

They lie across the bed, kissing each other passionately...

before he turned her over and entered her warm, soft and wet center......

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM VANILLA!" he moaned.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU CHOCOLATE DADDY, YOU FINNALLY GOT WHAT YOU WANTED HUH?" she cooed.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, FINALLY!" he said.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU AND I'M GETTIN WHAT I WANT TOOO!! OUU!" she cooed.

And soon they were making sweet love...just as we were...Her head turning from side to side furiously, sweat and tears streaming down the sides of her face, both legs just shaking....

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM THIS IS SOOO DAMN GOOD!" he moaned.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! OUUUUUUUUUUUUU LAWDDD!" she cooed...

And for the next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS....the beds in both of our homes were getting a good workout.

IV-

CURLEY'S BAR-Couples Night

It was couples night and the drinks were flowing....

We were already there, sitting down and drinking...We had come on the first bus...The second bus carrying the rest of our friends was in route.

"Tomorrow is going to be the start of a big week....The retrial of Rufus Haney.." said Jazzy..

"Yeah David...You Ready Man?" asked Dabnis.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I said.

"Charlotte Peterson is going to be the judge....That should work in your favor...Though I won't say thayt too loud."said Kayla.

"Yeah Don't" cautioned her husband, Ray.

"He won't be alone...He'll have me and papi by his side , just like in the days at the Public Defender's Office."said Jessica Sanchez-Burrows.

"Yeah , we worked a couple of cases together."said Chip...

"And he'll have Vettie, Keith, Bee Bee, Sofia and Kahlil backing him with Jade doing the investigation."said Karen.

"He'll be just fine... By the way, you girls begin your trial just a week later huh? He'll be well into his." said B.L.

"Yes...and we are nearly ready..."said Natalie.

"You guys will be fine...you'll have Liv and her team with you."I said.

"They're the best...I must prefer to work with them than against them.."laughed Brooke.

"I love the way they work a case...They're never surprised by anything the other side does and on the rare occassion they are, they recover quickly."said Sean..

"Yeah I've worked with them...I've seen them in action." said Zoey.

"Yeah same here." said Lem..

"I'm glad they're my friends and I've had the pleasure of working with them..."said Renee.

"Speak of the devil, here they come now." said Tyrell.

"Hey everybody....That rain was coming down pretty heavy...but we made it here."said Olivia.

"I hope the rain stops by the time we leave." said Donnie Ray...

"It will...We had a good driver."said Beverly...

"I hope we have a good one going back." said Nelson.

"My hair was drenched.." said Josie.

"Wasn't expecting that rain....It came from out of nowhere

"The Storm before.." said Bresha.

"Yeah, the fireworks begin tomorrow." said Tony....

"Well not for us...For Vettie and her team and David." said Alfreda.

"They have a pretty decent Judge, Charlotte."said Rockland.

"Yes, I'm happy she's going to be overlooking this case... Courtland won't be able to pull any stunts...Try any undo influence." said Yvette.

Her husband, Gary laughed..

"We usually don't know who are Judge is going to be this early..."

'Well regardless of who the judge is..We've got to make our case before her and a jury.."said his wife, Bee Bee.

"You're right girlfriend." said Sofia ,rubbing her lifelong friend's shoulder gently..

"We'll be ready."said Kahlil confidently....

"I'm nervous...but then I'm always nervous right before a trial starts."said Jade.

"Tomorrow is just a hearing...A get to know each other hearing and jury selection."said her husband, Danny.

Virginia looked out the window...

"Wow it's really pouring outside.." she said.

"The Storm before." said Jetty...

"That's a good way to put it."laughed Nina Rios..

"I'm glad we are going back on Olivia's buses and not driving."said her boyfriend, Carlos...The buses were going to drop them off at their condo first and then take the rest of us home.

In a dark corner in the back of the bar.. Lt. Tragg and Judge Kelly Ann Mercer were doing what they usually did on Couples Night, Kissing passionately and downing beers.