VENTURES: Death Row Cheryl

Natasha Smith sat in the "Fishbowl" , the nickname the detectives gave to the interrogation room and said nothing.

She smiled politely, but refused to answer any questions or respond to Lt. Tragg in any way.

"Look Mrs. Smith, you're in beg trouble here...These are murder charges and your boyfriend can't help you...I don't care what he told you or the fancy lawyers he got for you....You're in trouble..and I'm the only one who can help you." said Lt. Tragg..

"OH PUT A SOCK IN IT? YOU? HELP HER? PUH LEASE!" said Beverly...

Bresha giggled....

"YOU FIND SOMETHIN FUNNY?" Lt. Tragg snarled at Bresha..

"Ohhh leave her alone Lieutenant!!....You know the drill, Your interview is over.."said Olivia.

''We've found a judge, you should be arraigned in front of her in two hours." I said.

"No sweat.."said Nelson..

"When We get you out...We'll all go and have a nice breakfast." said Josie.

Lt. Tragg was as red as a beet...He stomped his foot and stormed out of the room...

"I didn't say anything Ms. Olivia." said Natasha.

"Good Girl!" said Olivia.

We wound up in Judge Julie Wong's courtroom...

She was stern and tough , but fair...but not the Judge we wanted...

Percy Reynolds or Keith Morrison were more preferrable judges..

There was a new prosecutor, Cheryl Drake...Well ,she was new to me..

"Oh No...."Death Row Cheryl." said Beverly, with a genuine look of fear in her face, The first time I had ever seen that..

"You know her?" asked Bresha.

"Yes...I lost to her when I was a Public Defender...I lost so bad that I was in tears..I was thinking of quitting and going to D.C. to take a government job."said Beverly.

"Yeah she handed me a defeat too..She's good..she's sharp."

"You both were young Public Defenders...You didn't have the experience you have now...What Did I just get finish telling you guys? Reputation and pedigree doesn't win cases, preparation does." said Olivia.

Josie listened intently..

I rubbed Natasha's shoulders, trying to make her feel better.. ADA Cheryl Drake reminded me of every stern teacher I had in school.. she was intimidating.

Natasha must have felt the same way because she had a look of pure fear in her face.

ADA Cheryl Drake gave a strong and dramatic argument that Natasha Smith was a cold and calculating killer and was a danger to the community and should be held without bail for the crime of murdering her soon to be divorced husband for a half million dollar pay day.

Olivia, Beverly and Nelson argued emotionally and dramatically that we were not going to argue the merits of the accusations at this time and presented precedents and rulings from simular cases to back their argument up..

Josie and Bresha paraded 28 charactor witnesses , Neighbors and yes, church members who attested to Natasha's good charactor...That and the fact that she had no prior criminal record all weighed in her favor.

Judge Wong was most impressed with the argument we made...

She set bail at $1200.00 dollars..

Olivia wrote a check for $160.00 and passed it to the bailiffs..

She looked at her young associates..

"Reputation and Pedigree don't win trials...Preparation and superior argument does." she said

to a relieved Beverly, Nelson, Josie and Bresha who had been prepared and rehearsed by Olivia..

Cheryl Drake was amazed...She had never so much as lost one of these arraignments...She'd never faced Olivia Bennett-Alexander either..She recognized Beverly and Nelson..She had beaten both years ago, but they were both older and more polished now...She didn't know Josie and Bresha..but she realized she was going to have her hands full with this bunch.

Lt. Tragg was furious as usual.

II-

Pinkney saw us in the hallway and he walked over to Bresha.

''I saw you guys in uh Aqua Bar the other night..Looks like you have a boyfriend...He's a lucky man and I hope he knows he has a good girl...I -I hope he's a smart man and doesn't mess up like I did.. I've stopped smoking weed and I've uh cut my drinking down.." said Pinkney.

"That's great Pinkney! I see you have someone new too! Judge Wong eh? Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww who would have thought that? Niceeee!" said Bresha.

"Yeah we've uh been kickin it for a minute....It's surprisingly very nice, very nice..I uh hope we can uh take it to the next level."said Pinkney quietly and I hope you and I can be uh friends...No bitterness." said a very contrite Pinkney..

"Sure Pinkney....Good Luck to you." said Bresha.

"I told you Olivia and her bunch are the best... And I ought to know...They beat me in court." said a happy Todd Dellums , hugging his girlfriend.

''Well for now...I'm not out of the woods yet."said Natasha.

"Let's go upstairs and get breakfast...I have some questions."said Olivia.

"This Dining hall is a close second to BIG FED." I said.

"I agree and right now the safest place in the city for us to eat." said Beverly..

"Until you know figures out where we disapear to after these arraignments." said Nelson.

"There is the elevator, let's go." said Josie.

We all walked upstairs to the stylish dining hall in the courthouse...

We all had coffee

Olivia, Beverly, Josie ,Bresha and Natasha ordered Omelettes....

Nelson and Todd Dellums ordered Steak and Eggs...

while I had Shrimp and Grits, Louisiana style..

Olivia and Beverly looked at me and smiled and said on cue- in unison.

"Almost as Good as home isn't it? " They said. They looked at each other and smiled..They were so in tune they often said the same thing..

I smiled. "Almost"

"Soooooo what is next guys?" asked Todd.

"I have to get a copy of the Autopsy Report and Crime Scene photos and reports...Hopefully we won't have to subpeona these."I said.,

"If Lieutenant Tragg gives you any problem...You call me and I'll take care of it,.."said U.S. Attorney Todd Dellums..

Natasha looked at him admiringly....She liked a man with power and influence like U.S. Attorney Todd Dellums.. I was just glad for his help.

''While He and my niece are doing that...Nelson, Josie , Bresha and I want to disect this case further and begin our defense strategy.."said Olivia.

''Do you own a gun Natasha?" asked Nelson.

"Nooooooo ,I've never owned a gun...I've never so much as handled or fired a gun." said Natasha.

"From what I saw in the preliminary report...your husband was shot twice in the chest... a double tap and no one close to the scene saw or heard a thing..."said Beverly.

''A double tap and a quiet shot..That means the killer used a silencer..." said Josie.

"That means the killer was a pro...and Lieutenant Tragg should be looking for a hitman or at least a gangster and not you my dear." I said.

"Unless he's going to say you hired someone...Which is a whole nother matter." said Olivia.

"Hired someone? With what? Check my bank account...I'm a Model and an Actress...Not a Mob Boss..I have money due to me in a few days from a commercial I just shot...but I'm using that to pay my rent and buy groceries...and to pay you guys..."said Natasha.

''We believe you...and we are going to drive this home to a jury...That you're not the type, nor did you have the finances to hire a pro."said Bresha, which was exactly correct.

"I told you these guys are good.." said Todd Dellums....

III-

OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY-Cheryl Drake...

At This Very Minute-

Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Drake, nicknamed "Death Row Cheryl" because she'd sent so many people to death row. sat at her desk leafing through the files of the attorneys who had just bested her at thee arraignment..Something that hadn't happened since she was a first year Assistant District Attorney.

She sipped her coffee and read the files.. She always liked to know everything about the cases she worked on, including the attorneys..

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

Speaks French and Spanish Fluently...

Worked as a Public Defender,

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 Advocay, Temple University..

J.D.-University of Pennsylvania Law School

Passed the Bar, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Deleware

Speaks French and Spanish Fluently...

Worked as a Public Defender,

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 Univeristy Law School, New York City..

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

Speaks Spanish , French and Russian Fluently...

Worked as Public Defender,

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 Law School..

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

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

Bresha Williams

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

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

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

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

Speaks Spanish and French Fluently...

Presently doing an Internship at Alexander and West , Attorneys at law.

"Death Row Cheryl" smiled.. She had heard of Olivia Bennett-Alexander, but this was her first time actually meeting her.. She knew she was Beverly West's aunt.. and she knew that Nelson East, now Beverly's husband was once Olivia's protoge' in the Public Defender's office...She observed how polished they were now..No doubt because unlike when she faced off against both, they were young and wet behind the ears...They were both now veterens of many courtroom battles and could be something of a problem to her...

She didn't know Josie Boyd or Bresha Williams, but they were indeed new attorneys and young and vulnerable..The thing is..They were being trained by Olivia, Beverly and Nelson and seemed very sharp...Add to the equation, They had me, an Investigator and ex-cop and that made this group , even more formidable..

She herself bore simularities to us..

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

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

J.D.- Columbia University school of Law, New York City, New York

Passed Bar- New York, Pennsylvania, Deleware, New Jersey, CT.

Speaks Spanish and French fluently..

Married to Philadelphia Police Detective, Phillip Drake,

Divorced... No children.

Been an Assistant District Attorney for several years...

She studied the case file...

Sloppy half baked work , she concluded...She was going to call

Lt. Tragg's boss,

Captain Eddie Cantrell and demand that he go over that crime scene again and interview more people.

She had heard how Lt. Tragg conducted half baked investigations for other ADA's , leaving things out and not interviewing key witnesses after they had asked him to recanvass...She was going to make sure he did recanvass this time.

IV-

And at Todd Dellums Condo..

"Now where were we?" whispered Todd Dellums

''We were at the part where you releive me of my panties." giggled Natasha Smith...

"Ohhhhh yessssss....Yesssssssssssssssss!" moaned Todd as he slipped her panties down and off..

She giggled..

as they kissed slowly and softly and they both helped each other out of their clothing..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BABBBBYYYYY!" moaned Todd..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU TODDDERS" she cooed softly as they kissed in a warm embrace...

She eased down on his waiting penis and moved up and down on the side of his bed...kissing him to near delirium...

She rode him like a surfer rides waves once in his bed..

and eventually they settled for the missionary position....This time they weren't going to be interrupted..This time they were making up for lost time... NINE TO TEN HOURS of slow , non steady lovemaking continued in his bedroom...

And in the office of Assistant District Attorney , Cheryl "Death Row Cheryl" Drake.. Lt. Tragg is not happy.

"You wanted to see me Lieutenant?" she asked.

"I don't like you going over my head to my Captain and to the Deputy Of Operations about how I choose to run a case...A case I've already handed you.." said Lt. Tragg snidely..

''A case that leaves a lot to be desired..I don't like to waste my time and I don't like to lose cases...I need you to be on top of this... Olivia's investigator is already ahead of you..

"He and Olivia's cute little niece and their intern have already picked up copies of the Autopsy report, photos of the crime scene, and copies of the criminal complaint and case file...In addition they've re-interviewed the six people you interviewed and six people you didn't interview and subpeoned the Street, Traffic and Business Cam photos... They're way ahead of you and don't give me this business about Obstruction of justice I heard you like to threaten attorneys and investigators with...You have no grounds...They're doing their job...For their client..I want you to interview those six people you missed

and look at those Street, Business and Traffic cam photos , look at the autopsy report and photos and recanvass that scene..Take some CSI men if you need to."said ADA Drake.

"Look, you operate on your side of the street and I operate on mine...I don't tell you how to practice law and you don't tell me how to be a cop....I was a detective when you were just startin out.." snarled Lt. Tragg.

"I'm not trying to step on your toes here, but as I said.. I like to win cases....

"You don't think I know that Olivia Bennett-Alexander and her niece and their team of attorneys are going over every inch of what her husband, Donnie Ray

may have turned up today? I need to have something to counter balance that....That's why I need you to be on top of this thing.. You need to be working bigger and better than Donnie Ray...You have more at your disposal than he does...While I do what I can to counter balance Olivia and her team...Work with me here...We can win this case." said Cheryl Drake, but it was as if she was talking to a brick wall..

"Like I said counselor, you work your side of the street and I'll work mine." he said and stormed out of her office as red as a beet!

"What an asshole" she grumbled to herself after he left.

She was right about one thing...We were all at our home, working hard on this case...Interrupted when Josie's Boyfriend Paris stopped by with three huge Pizza's , enough for everybody..

Him and Josie, who were spending the night with Beverly and Nelson..

Olivia and I who were glad we took Beverly's advice and bought a new (quiet smart bed), which would allow us to keep our door closed and guests would not hear the bed squeaking or a headboard rattling..