VENTURES: Murder and Gumbo

In "The Fishbowl" The nickname Detectives have given to the interrogation room, Lt. Arthur Tragg stares down at murder suspect Melvin "Mellow Lemon Jelly" Brooks , A musician by night, school teacher by day..

"Look pal..what happened there that night? You just got married...What were you even doin there with that woman that time of night...You should have been home in bed , screwing your new wife's brains out!! We know you were there...Your fingerprints are on the doorknob and the wall...and we used a search warrant to get the suit you were wearing from your house on the night of the murder...Some of her blood is on the suit...Talk to me..I can help you." said Lt. Tragg...

"Look man, when you arrested me you told me I had the right to remain silent..I'm choosing to remain silent..Why don't you respect that?" said Melvin...

"Look, Olivia and Beverly told you that right? They can't get you out of this...I know you're Donnie Ray's friend from New Orleans..but we got you cold...Olivia and Beverly are not miracle workers..Look I know them...They're good lawyers , both of them and even the others who work for Liv..They jump on a lot of cases for publicity....Win or lose, each case brings them more clients..You're just a dollar sign to them." said Lt. Tragg.

"I've been in Philly since the year my man Donnie Ray married Ms. Olivia.. So I know them ...Seems like her and her niece and her niece's husband and them other girls do a lot of winning..I aint seen them lose but maybe one case or two at best, while you are known for bringing in the wrong suspect,.like you've done now and blowing a lot of cases...If you were a bettin man, who would you bet on? My money is on Olivia and Beverly and my main man Donnie Ray!" said a defiant Melvin.

"Alright, HAVE IT YOUR WAY!!! YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO THE LITTLE GREEN ROOM AT GREEN HILL STATE PRISON...YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS PAL?? THAT'S THE ROOM WHERE THEY GIVE YOU A NEEDLE AND PUT YOU TO SLEEP PERMANANTLY!!" said Lt. Tragg.

Speaking of the lethal injection chamber.

"Oh Lieutenant, stop being so dramatic." said Olivia, sighing as we entered the room..

''Melvin, We brought someone you might like to see." said Beverly..

"Ohhhh Melvin...Melvin...I've been sooo worried about you." said his wife, Michelle..

"BABBBBBBBYYYYYY!" said Melvin..

They embraced in a passionate kiss.....

I smiled, then looked at Lt. Tragg..

"Lieutenant!!" I said softly..

"I know....I know..." snarled Lt. Tragg, who stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

''We brought coffee for everyone." said Nelson.

He distributed eight coffee cups around the table..

Josie had creams and sugars and stirrers for everyone..

Bresha checked to make sure the door was closed and secure..

"That's okay baby, we aren't going to talk in here about anything serious." said Olivia.

"Liv, can you get me out of here? I didn't kill that woman, she was dead when I got there..I tripped and fell over her body!" said Melvin..

"Don't say anymore..Not in here."said Olivia.

''We got a Judge...And we got you an arraignment in one hour...So drink up..." said Beverly...

"Thank You!" said Melvin.

AN HOUR LATER-

We all stood in the courtroom with our client and his wife.. The Judge was late....

"This isn't like any judges we know , being late."said Olivia.

''Well, we uh haven't seen this one in a long time." said Beverly ,with a look Olivia hadn't seen since Beverly was a little girl, a look of guilt,mixed with a little fear.

"What do you mean by that? Who did you get?? Judge Reynolds?? Judge Morrison?? Julie Wong??

Judge King??" asked Olivia.

"Nooooo, they all had trials or aren't in today... We needed someone who would definitely be on our side and post a low bail...and uh he was the only one available..I had no choice.."said Beverly..

"Please don't tell me you got Judge Joe Crawford?" asked Olivia in horror.

"Okay...I won't tell you...Don't be mad at me Auntay.."said Beverly...

Olivia hugged her niece...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh I can't get mad at you...I suppose he asked what color panties I was wearing today, didn't he? Old Horny Toad!" said Olivia.

"You know he did..but I told him I didn't know...Which I don't...We don't get dressed together..So I told him I was wearing Opague silk sheer panties and a matching bra....Which I'm not...but how would he know?" said Beverly..

Olivia laughed and kissed her niece's forehead.. "I love you!" she said.

Melvin , Michelle and I were off in the corner talking amongst ourselves when the Judge walked in..A Judge we hadn't seen in a few years..The Horny Judge, Joseph Crawford, who had an unnatural thing for my wife..

''Good Morning..Sorry I'm late...Let's get started.."he said , staring at Josie's breasts..

to the point of making her uncomfortable..

"You were a para-legal the last time I saw you....I understand you're an Attorney now huh? Good for you....I'd love to have you practice in my court..." he said.. He then stared at Bresha..

"And who are you?? MYYYYYYYYY LAWDDDD!" he said.

"I'm Bresha Williams, Attorney....I'm interning with Olivia and Beverly..." she said.

"LAWDDDDD! OLIVIA KEEPS SOME FINE ASS WOMEN AROUND HER!! LAWDDDD!" he said..

He saw Beverly and smiled wickedly at her...Thinking about the Sheer Opaque panties and matching bra she told him she was wearing..

"Ughhhhh he gives me the creeps." said Beverly...

"He'd better not get out of line with you or Liv." said Nelson.

Lt. Tragg was hoping a pretty blonde ADA was trying this case or at least a woman, instead he was sitting with a new ADA..Who he didn't know..

The ADA's name was Peter Giffords...He was a Special Prosecutor called in to handle the overload of cases in our court system.

The arguments began...

Melvin Brooks was accused of murdering Lena Braithwaite, described as a jeweler, who may have been blackmailing him or offering to sell him a piece of jewelry he had previously owned.. It was mentioned that his fingerprints were on the wall and the doorknob...

Olivia, Beverly and Nelson argued that his arrest was a rush to judgement, that all of the facts had not been sorted out yet...and that Mr. Brooks, who had no prior arrests or criminal convictions was a beloved music teacher at one of our city's high schools as well as a professional musician in his private life and a well loved man in his community..

Josie and Bresha brought more than 40 charactor witnesses to testify in his behalf..

Judge Crawford was listening to the arguments intently...but his eyes and his mind was drifting towards

Olivia, Bresha and Josie and now especially, Beverly...

He was more aroused than ever...

He released Melvin Brooks on his own recognizance...Which shocked everybody in the courthouse ,except me!!! I knew he was looking at the girls..and drooling..

"I told you everything was going to be alright!" I said.

"I never doubted it Donnie Ray....You guys are the best.." said Melvin..

"Let's go home baby.." said Michelle..

''Take this phone...It's a burner phone..You communicate with us distinctly on this phone.."said Nelson..

"And we'll communicate with you through this portal." said Josie.

"Thank you so much." said Melvin.

"Yes, Thank you soo much." said Michelle.

Assistant District Attorney Gifford walked over to Olivia and Beverly...

"Sooooooooo you're the famous or infamous, depending on how you look at it, Olivia Bennett-Alexander and this must be your niece, Beverly huh? I'm Assistant District Attorney Peter Giffords...I'm actually in Private Practice now...I've been called in as a Special Prosecutor to try this case...I'm very much aware of who you are and of the stunts you pull in court, like the stunt you pulled today and I'm here to tell you that I'm not going to have any of it..." he said sternly..

"What stunts? Me and my associates go completely by the book...in everything." said Olivia, who did not like his remarks.

''We don't use stunts or shenanigans...We don't need to." said Beverly, also angered by his remarks.

It was if they hadn't said a word..Peter Giffords smiled..

"I know that Judge has the hots for one or all of you...I'm not stupid...You can be sure that he will not be around come the preliminaries..And I warn you...I taught law at Dartmouth...I will not put up with any shenanigans and stunts that you and your niece and her husband are famous for...Do you hear me?.. I'll have you prosecuted if you try and that can mean the loss of your licensces to practice..Which would be a pretty bad example for your two newest attorneys over there." he said looking at Josie and Bresha,.

in the distance..

"You don't scare me... I didn't start practicing law last week..Don't even try to go toe to toe with me..You'll lose." said Olivia.

He laughed..

"Well here is something for your husband..He's spoken to several witnesses and compiled some information on the players in this case.. This is a summons... I want copies of everything he 's gathered on my desk in the morning or I'll have his license pulled..Good day Ms. Olivia, Ms. Beverly." he said.

''Didn't Lt. Tragg try to do something like this to Donnie Ray before?" asked Nelson.

Olivia laughed -"He did and you won't believe this.. His was written better and made a little more sense than this from Mr. Dartnouth." said Olivia.

''What a joke!" said Beverly.

II-

In his office, Special Prosecutor, Peter Giffords looked at the files of the attorneys he would be up against..

He was actually impressed...Though he'd never admit it to them..

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,Texas, California

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, Texas, California

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 ,Texas, California

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.

"Hmm they're actually good..I could actually use them in the future.." he thought to himself..

He didn't know that at this minute , we were in front of another Judge, a few floors down from him.

The first thing we did was appear in a downtown courtroom in front of a Judge..

Judge Elise Clemmons..

Olivia and Beverly were arguing on my behalf that I was illegally subpeoned and that the new Special Prosecutor, Peter Giffords had no legal rights to any information I had gleaned during an investigation since at the time, my investigation was not connected to any crime..and connected purely to a request by our confidential client , who was also not connected to a crime.. They cited the law and had several predicates and like cases...

We had brought Bresha along so that she could learn from this. once again.

The Judge agreed to this and over rode the original subpeona....

"If the police show up...Just show them this..It over rides their subpeona. In Fact, I'm going to take this upstairs to him personally." said the Judge.

"Thank You Your honor..."said Olivia, beaming..

"Thank You Your Honor." said a smiling Beverly..

"Thank You Your honor!" I said.. "You know I appreciate you girls having my back like that...but there isn't a thing in those interviews that would help him. I doubt anybody said anything different to me that they didn't say to Lt. Tragg." I said.

"I know, but I didn't want Lt. Tragg or any of these prosecutors to make a habit of this in the future...I thought I nipped this in the bud with Lt. Tragg, Now I have to nip this in the bud with Gifford." said Olivia.

"If he wants to know what they had to say...He can always interview them himself..or get Tragg's notes."said Beverly..

"Oh By the way...I have copies of the police report and the autopsy report..as well as copies of the original witness statements and my witness statements..

''We have all we need..It's Friday..let's go home..." said Olivia.

"It's New Orleans Night at Josie's....I hope Melvin and Michelle come out.." said Beverly...

"Oh if I know right..He'll solo.." I said, laughing..

And upstairs in his office, Special Prosecutor Gifford is visited by Judge Elise Clemmons..

''Welllll if it isn't the Activist Judge." he said and reared back in his seat..

"This is your original subpeona for Donnie Ray Alexander... and this is my order and Judge Hansen's order circumventing it.. Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Beverly West wrote a brilliant piece explaining why this is unconstitutional..You should read it and hire somebody to help you prepare better briefs....Good Day Mr. Giffords." she said and left his office..

He was livid..His hands were shaking..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, They didn't wait a day!!!" he fumed.. He kicked his desk..

He kisked his trash can..He tossed his suit jacket up in the air...he was sweating... He poured a glass of cold water.

He pulled out his pill bottle..and took three pills..

He got on the phone..

"Is this the Acme Escort service??"he asked.

III-

It was "New Orleans Night" at Josie's ...

Josie's was packed..

In addition to the Liquid Love Band,

there were performances from Reed Nelson and his quintet, Downtown Rob Brown and his quintet, Bone Hampton's group and 88.on the keys..

Melvin "Mellow Lemon Jelly" Brooks, fresh out of the hoosegal was there with his new wife..Michelle

but he didn't perform...He sat with us.

Symphony Sam held a fund raiser for his defense fund..In which the patrons all dropped a five or a ten or a twenty in a basket that was sent around.. They raised twenty thousand dollars by the time the night was over and they cheered us, his defense team and gave us a big table up front....That seated Me and Olivia, Beverly and Nelson, Josie and Paris and Bree and Tony...

Of course our friends were here and sat with us.. Yvette and Gary, Keith and Bee Bee, Sofia and Kahlil and Jade and Danny..

The table seated 18...

Cousin Kayla, Ray, Jazzy, Dabnis and Chip and Jessica sat at a smaller table behind us...

It was great seeing everybody out tonight..

Even Kevin and his wife Sepia were out tonight..

Even Bonnie and Ronnie Shay were out tonight..

And Lem and Zoey, who we hadn't seen in awhile..

As Well as some of our friends in Law enforcement, Angie Belton, Sirena Pile, Our good friend, Bridget Jones,

Tyriq Pile

Jimmy Barlow

Duke Baylor

And Dr. Hazel Baylor, with a rare night off.

Everybody was out tonight...

And the food..

The caterer must have been from Louisiana... The food was delicious...In felt like I was home..

"Feels like Home doesn't it baby?" said Olivia.

"Oh My God, it does.." I said..

"It's delish.." said Beverly...

"Mabel Jenkins and her sisters catered this..They closed their restaurants for two days to put this food together.."said Nelson..

"That explains everything.They're Louisiana girls." I said..

"I'm glad it's Friday...No way I'd make it to work tomorrow after all of this.." said Josie..

As promised...Five D.J.;s came after the musicians went on break and kept the crowd eating and dancing..

I imagine Josie's was pulling in a fortune tonight..I'd never seen Gus and Honey Brown so happy!

Olivia fixed me a plate of Gumbo...

"You think Mabel or her sister will teach me how to make Gumbo like this for you?" asked Olivia.

"You can ask." I smiled at her..

and passed her a martini..

IV-

In The East Falls section of the city-

Crime Scene Investigators snapped photos...and dusted for prints, DNA, et al...

"Black female, aged 30..name according to drivers license - Thelma Bell." said one of the men.

"She 's a pro..I know her..works for the Acme Escort Service..a semi legal outfit.."said a Detective..

"What have you got Doc?" asked one of the two Homicide Detectives on the scene.

''Cause of death was manual strangulation...Somebody really did a job on her neck...We might be able to get prints off of the skin...but there is a lot of semen here..a lot...We may have a freak, who gets off on the violence.." said Dr. Marcy Templeton..

"This place was wiped down...No prints, no forensic evidence of any kind..not even the victim's prints..So why didn't he use a condom?... There is a lot of semen everywhere..."said the Vice Detective,,

"Ejaculation and murder makes you stupid." said Marcy..."Can I move the body?" she asked

"Yeah, you can move her.." said the detectives...laughing at her last remark....

The body of the young woman was put in a body bag, strapped to a gurney and removed..

as a small crowd gathered outside...

At a Tony after hours spot miles away...

Special Prosecutor, Pete Giffords looked distraught, shaken...His hands are shaking..

He orders his fifth drink of the night ..

and swallows some more pills...

While miles away....Olivia and I are alone in our bedroom after a beautiful night out at Josie's with all of our friends..

"Tonight was soooo nice...All of our friends out..Good food, great music, cheap drinks...I love Josie's more than any other bar around here." said Olivia.

"I do too...I mean Aqua Bar, Stoleys , even the Mermaid Crabhouse are all nice.. but none of them have that warm , homey feeling Josie's has..." I said.