VENTURES: "Sheila Baskett"

ONE DAY LATER-

With everyone back , Olivia and I

from our two day trip to Kingston, Jamaica and

Beverly and Nelson back from Atlantic City...We all had breakfast in our place and a lot to talk about..

"It's so nice to have you guys back...It was so quiet around here.." said Josie..

"Yeah...we both missed you guys." said Alfreda.

''Awwww, well as far as I know..We won't be going away anywhere anytime soon." said Olivia..

As fluffy Pancakes

Breakfast sausage

Hash Browns

Fresh Orange Juice

and hot coffee was served to everybody...

We were really happy to all be together again and we did have a lot to talk about..

''Well, the first thing we found out was that apparently, Bob Haskell's wife,the late Sheila Haskell and the late Roy Baskett were lovers and planned their disappearences..He vanished first and she vanished second and they both were in Kingston the whole time..We met with Walker Long and he's told us a few whoppers apparently.. One...He knew where Sheila Haskell and Roy Baskett were the entire time they were missing..We have a photo of the three of them having dinner just a few nights before Sheila Baskett's suicide." said Olivia.

"Sheila Baskett's "suicide" is questionable from what the case detective told us...I have the Autopsy report here , some crime scene photos and the complete police report...She said that Roy Baskett was a prime suspect in what they believed was a staged scene...His Attorney flashed a lot of cash around to the corrupt officials and the case detective was taken off the case..when she questioned Walker Long, he did the same thing...Had this same attorney flash some cash and get the authorities to cease and desist." I said.

"We found out that our girl, Terry Meadows-Baskett is a bigamist...Apparently she is still married to a man named Tracy Meadows from Atlantic City and never divorced him...She cleaned out their joint account and vanished a year and a half ago..Then married Robert Baskett...Now she's vanished again.."said Beverly.

"I checked...Bunco squad is looking for her... She's not from San-Francisco...She's from Atlantic City, born and raised..No police record. High school diploma, One year of Community College...Married to Tracy Meadows , vanished..Shows up here, married Robert Baskett and now has vanished again."said Nelson..

''Lawwd, you guys have stepped into something now."said Alfreda.

"She's the only eyewitness to our murder...The only one who saw the killer and can get Bennie off the hook." said Josie.

"If she saw the killer and the killer knows she saw him, she's probably scared."said Alfreda..

"No...She's wanted for Bigamy and Theft...She doesn't want any attention that would bring her to the attention of the authorities...That's more what it is." I said.

"That's exactly what it is.. So we have to go at this case a different way, assuming that we will not have her testimony anytime soon...we've got to establish Benny's alibi and see if anybody else was in that building..We can scratch Bob Haskell off...I want to look at walker Long and even Rita Baskett and her brother, Robert Baskett."said Olivia.

"Annnnd we need to look at those crime scene photos and the autopsy report/...Nelson and I can go to the courthouse and order copies."said Beverly..

"We can get on that after we eat." said Nelson...

"Can I got with? I've been cooped up here for days."said Josie with a smile.

''Sure!"laughed Beverly.

II-

Some Hours Later, Beverly, Nelson and Josie met us at the office building where the Baskett Investment Firm was headquartered.. They were armed with the Autopsy Report, Crime Scene Photos and a Copy of the official Police report just as we'd asked.

"They said they'd be in here....They're looking at the firm's books.."said Beverly.

''I know a little about Tax law."said Josie..

''So do I..What I learned in Law School and what Lawrence Stevenson taught us when we worked a case with him a few years back."said Beverly..

''I remember him...He's an Attorney and a Forensic Accountant."said Nelson.

"Rita , thank you so much for allowing us to look at your books." I said.

'Yes...This will go a long way towards building our case." said Olivia.

"Oh don't mention it...Anything you can do to help Bennie is good as far as I'm concerned."said Rita.

We had already cleared her...Her telephone calls and her credit card charge at a nearby gas station gave her a clear alibi for the night her estranged husband was murdered..

''We brought in an expert, An Attorney and Forensic Accountant I've known for years named Lawrence Stevenson to help with this.."said Olivia.

''Wow! I could have helped you with this...I have a degree in Accounting."said Rita Baskett.

""Fresh eyes are always good." I said...

"They sure are...Somebody was skimming off the top from your company for a very long time...and according to these statements...They had set up a bank account in Kingston, Jamaica..

"Hmmm Kingston, Jamaica...That keeps coming up.." I said.

"Hey Guys...we're back..We have the crime scene photos, The official Autopsy report and the Police report of the incident." said Beverly..

"Thank God, Lt. Tragg wasn't around...We had no problem getting copies made.."said Nelson..

''We didn't have to threaten a court summons." said Josie.

"Well that's good.."said Olivia..

"Hi Lawrence" said Beverly.

"Hi Lawrence." said Nelson

''Hi Lawrence." said Josie.

"This Bank Account....It's in the name of Sheila Baskett." said Lawrence..

"Sheila Baskett? There is no Sheila Baskett!" said Olivia.

"No , but there is a Sheila Haskall and there is a Roy Baskett and they were both in Kingston at the same time and both were lovers...This was their dummy account.."I said..

"No wait! How could that be? Roy Baskett returned and was on the warpath because he said someone was skimming money from the company accounts...when he vanished..He vanished with 1.5 million of money from his personal account..."said Beverly..

"She's right...He accused me and then Bob Haskell of skimming money and then he fired Bennie as the company attorney out of spite..Benny accused him of skimming and setting up a dummy account and he flatly denied it..Bennie showed him that Bank account and he went ballistic." said Rita.

'Well if it wasn't Benny or Bob , then who?"asked Nelson..

"Uh Guys, We have company." said Josie.

III-

A White man in a very expensive, tailored suit stood in the doorway...

''WHO THE HELL ARE ALL OF YOU? RITA, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHY ARE THEY GOING THROUGH OUR PERSONAL AND I MIGHT ADD CONFIDENTIAL FILES?"

"Everybody, this is my husband's former Attorney and now our firm's Attorney, Chet Wesley.... Chet , this is Attorney Olivia Bennett-Alexander, her husband,Investigator Donnie Ray Alexander, Her niece, Attorney Beverly West -East, Her husband,Attorney Nelson East , Attorney Josie Boyd and Attorney and Forensic Investigator, Lawrence Stevenson...I invited them here..I am still a Majority Partner.."said Rita Baskett...

Pointing all of us out...

"I am quite aware of who most of them are...They are defense attorneys ,representing Benjamin Gillespie..So why are they HERE with an Attorney ,who is also a Forensic Accountant?? What is going on?" he asked.

''So you're Chet Wesley huh? You're the man who greased the palms of the pseudo corrupt authorities in Kingston and got them to shut down a suicide investigation that looked more and more like a murder huh? How nice to meet you...I've heard so much about you."I said.

"Nice suit....Your wife pays you well....I hope she can defend you just as ardently in a slander or libel suit if you want to make that charge...Now, unless you have a court summons...I suggest you all get the hell out of here and don't come back until you have one...Signed by a Judge and with probable cause...Oh and don't approach my client again...I'm talking about Walker Long....Is that understood?" said Chet Wesley...

"We can go guys...We got what we needed....Mr. Wesley, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T INTIMIDATE ME RIGHT? butttt, I'll take what you said into consideration." said Olivia. "Let's go guys." she said.

I took one look at him and smiled..

"Catch you later." I said.

Beverly smiled.

Nelson looked at him like he wanted to cut him..

So did Josie..

Lawrence just gathered his briefcase and smiled..

He smirked as we all walked out..

IV-

CURLEY'S BAR...

It used to be a cop bar, now lawyers, doctors and politicians hang out here, much top the delight of it's owner..

A retired Homicide Detective , who bought this bar during his last year on the force.

Two Corn Beef specials and Two Beers arrived.. Walker Long and his Attorney, Chet Wesley sat at the table ,chowing down...

"I'm telling you, Nobody in Philly makes a Corn Beef Special like Curley's...Mmmmmmmm, I defy you to find a place that makes one better." said Chet..

"I don't like all of those lawyers in the office going through our books... They are supposed to be defending Bennie, why were they in our books?I don't like it...We may have to talk to Rita..a little hard, you know what I mean?" said Walker Long.

"Relax, they got nothin....I think I got them out of there before they saw anything even remotely incriminating....Besides...Your name isn't on anything..I know Olivia Bennett and Beverly West, they are looking for any edge they can give Bennie.. because their case is week...So just relax...In a week, Rita will have cashed out and we can buy Haskell out...I've talked with him and he's so bitter, he's ready to cash out...You'll be in total control of the entire company....We got this.." said Chet Wesley...

''Wellll Mr. Walker Long...Isn't this a co-incidence....And this time you are with your Attorney..Great." I said.

"You know...I like your wife...She's very pretty and very smart...You Mr. Alexander are starting to try my patience.."snarled Chet Wesley..

"Well we won't be long...You told us to come back with a court summons, signed by a Judge...So we did..How do you spell Subpoena??? " said Beverly , who slapped it in Walker Long's hand..

"What is this?" said Walker Long..

"It's what my wife said it is...A Subpoena to appear in court...The Bennie Gillespie Murder trial as a hostile witness...Be there or be square.."said Nelson..

"Ohhhhhh You guys are flirting with Harrassment charges..."snarled Chet Wesley..

"Really? Well we didn't want you to feel left out Shyster...Josie!" I said.

"This is a Subpoena for you too Mr. Wesley...The Bennie Gillespie Murder trial..Be there or be square...And thank you guys for not running...Beverly and I just bought new pantyhose today and we would have hated to get a run in them."said Josie ,smiling as we all walked away...

Olivia stood in the midst after we had all left..

"A word to the wise Mr. Wesley and Mr. Long...Don't ever threaten me or my associates...It won't go good for you...Good Night and enjoy your sandwiches...They look good..Nobody makes a Corn Beef Special like Curley's..." said Olivia, smiling and walking away..