VENTURES: It Ends Where It Began

THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY LESLIE CHANCE

Leslie Chance sat at her desk looking over the case she was about to prosecute in a few hours..

Lt. Tragg walked in her office with a Christian Dior Gift Box and two tumblers of hot coffee.

She thanked him for the coffee and then opened the gift box...

In it was a pair of white lace panties a little more expensive than the ones he ripped off of her unceremoniously in Curleys the other night.

She was surprised...She hadn't expected him to buy her a new pair.

He had a pleased as punch look on his face. Almost as if he expected her to try them on in front of him...

She placed a file in front of his face..

"Did you know about him?" she asked.

John Henry Liel

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Attended Thomas Edison High school, Expelled..

Attended Kensington High School, Expelled.

Did a year in the Pennsylvania Youth Study Center.

Earned a G.E. D.

Associates Degree in Business Administration-Community College

Arrested for Conspiracy to distribute controlled substance (Heroin) ,Charge suspended

Arrested and Convicted for Distributing Controlled substances (Heroin) ,(Cocaine)

Sentenced to 5-10 years in Stanga State Prison.

Took a course in Bartending, Taught English to inmates...

Paroled after three years..

Employed as a Bartender at Stoleys Lounge

Rumored to still be dealing a package within the bar.

Lt. Tragg looked at the file.

"Yeah, I interviewed him a week or two ago...One of the Bartenders at Stoleys..He was clean..Didn't know either of em, Didn't remember ever seeing em." said Lt. Tragg. "I didn't know he had a sheet like this on him..What about him?"asked Lt. Tragg.

"Apparently he did know both victims..He slept with Marilyn Corey at least once...There is a hotel receipt here and her credit card receipt from their night together and Narcotics says he has been on their radar for months..He is believed to be selling a package out of Stoleys and one of the people he sold to was Jason Corley....You know how I came upon this? " asked ADA Leslie Chance.

"Olivia Bennett-Alexander's husband, and investigator, Donnie Ray Alexander gleaned this information.

Stan Steinberg turned this over for discovery and guess what? They have already subpoenaed this guy as a hostile defense witness.. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU CARE MORE ABOUT GETTING INTO MY PANTIES THAN YOU CARE ABOUT GETTING ME CREDIBLE INFORMATION ON THIS CASE." SHE BELLOWED ANGRILY!

"I'll...I'll get over to Olivia's house today and get to the bottom of this.I swear!"said Lt. Tragg.

''Get to the bottom of what? They've already shared their information with us..What more do you want from them? Olivia told me that she and an associate

told you about this guy a whole 24 hours before they subpoenaed him and you did nothing...I know...You were busy replacing my ripped panties right? Just get out of my office!" she snarled.

Lt Tragg slinked out of her office. He was furious. Furious at her rejection of his advances and furious that once again our team had made him look like a fool.

He was furious that Stanley Steinberg

a very capable attorney himself had hired us to assist him on a case he very well could have and should have handled himself..

He thought of his entire history with Olivia...He had been a Detective for a few years then..Olivia, then known as Olivia Barnes had been a Public Defender...a cute and pretty ,but smart and pesky little thing

that was good at finding loopholes and mistakes and getting her clients off..

He remembered when she took Nelson under her wing..He was Robin to her Batman...He was good at reading juries even then and the two of them frustrated him and his partners many times..They became the Public Defenders of choice for many of the thugs who got arrested..They didn't plead out..They actually tried and WON cases!

Then her niece, Beverly came along...She was worse...At least Olivia was polite and Nelson for the most part was quiet... She like her aunt was good at finding loopholes and mistakes and getting people off and she wasn't humble about it...He grew to despise her despite admiring her curvy, sexy body, Her nice breasts and her sexy legs..

For a couple of years they were gone off the radar and then

Olivia divorced and remarried..She was now married to a Former Homicide Detective named Donnie Ray.. She brought Beverly in as her partner and recruited Nelson back into the fold..

and added two additional attorneys ,Josie and Bresha.

and that annoying harpie of an office manager,

Alfreda Johnson to the front desk..

And had been the bane of his existence ever since, winning case after case and making him look like a fool.

No he wasn't going up to their Duplex/Office today...He'd see them in court.

II-

It was the first day of the Preliminary Hearing..

Judge Percy Reynolds was presiding.. He had no love for Lt. Tragg and he glared at him angrily when he appeared in court..

He sat next to ADA Chance.. He was for once on his best behavior..No rubbing her legs, no trying to slip his fingers up under her skirt. He could look at her and tell she wasn't having it. She felt as though he had handicapped her case.

She looked like she was through with him... She pressed her case , calling witnesses from the clinic to testify about the relationship between Dr. Colgate and Marilyn Corley..

A lot of what they said was innaccurate or hearsay, office gossip and Olivia, Beverly, Nelson and Stanley Steinberg took apart what they said like surgeons..They had thoroughly studied all of the witness statements.

Dr. Colgate whispered to me..

"Your wife and her niece and her niece's husband are so good,.They don't get in each other's way and they are like a well oiled machine..I love them." he said.

"That's because they've worked together so long.." I said and smiled.

Leslie Chance spent the next few days showing photos of the crime scene and of the skeletal remains.

and interviewing CSI, Cops on the scene and Medical examination people.

Josie and Bresha had a number of challenges...and the basic argument..."How does any of this place their client at the scene? Does any of this prove that our client had anything to do with this?"They asked on cross examination.. Not one Medical Examiner, CSI person or Cop they talked to had one once of forensic evidence placing Dr. Colgate at the scene. They did an excellent job.

Dr. Colgate was so pleased with how we were handling the case ,he felt like applauding.

It had been four days and Attorney Stanley Steinberg felt alive in a way he hadn't felt alive in ten years..

He loved us and how we were running this case. It was like a refresher law course.

ADA Leslie Chance watched her case slowly fall apart over the next four days. She realized that we were prepared, much more prepared than she was. Last, she interviewed people who had been at Aqua Bar and Stoleys

the night the two vanished...stating that our client was stalking them..

Stanley and Olivia offered proof that our client had been there an hour after both murder victims had left..Thus ,never interacting with them.

Bresha presented a Credit card receipt from a Gas Station in the opposite direction, proving our client's alibi that he headed home after that...

Beverly and Nelson presented four witnesses who testified that they saw him in the vicinity of his house, shortly afterwords...

Josie and Olivia produced phone records showing him at home shortly afterwords as he said he had been.

They certainly made Dr. Colgate's alibi stand up more than not.

All of this meant nothing to Lt. Tragg, who felt as though we were using trickery and chicanery to once again bend the law in our favor. Nothing could be more further from the truth. We presented factual information that he could have turned up if he had bothered to check the man's alibi. He didn't care about his alibi.

These were the preliminaries...Within the criminal justice system, a preliminary hearing, preliminary examination, preliminary inquiry, evidentiary hearing or probable cause hearing is a proceeding, after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial.

A crime had definitely been committed..There was motive, but there was no physical or forensic proof whatsoever, linking Dr. Colgate to this crime, even though she believed he was indeed guilty..Stan Steinberg and Olivia Bennett Alexander and her associates were running rings around her and it was evident. She had little to nothing..This was textbook defense attorney stuff.

The Judge felt the same way....He felt as if this case should have never been brought to court, Not with this lack of real evidence.

"Mr. Steinberg,. Mrs. Olivia Bennett-Alexander, Do you even plan a defense?" he asked exasperated..He didn't feel we needed one.He was close to dropping charges on lack of evidence.

''We do your honor and our defense will only take one day."said Stanley Steinberg.

"Thank God....Alright..Court is adjourned for the day...The Hearing will convene at 10:30 am tomorrow, Be on time and be ready for trial." he said.

"Let's go to Sam Mothers...Lunch is on me!" said a jubilant Dr. Colgate...He was convinced this entire affair would be over tomorrow.

"Capital idea. It's been a great week.. This case has been easier than I thought." said Stan Steinberg.

"Nelson take the keys...Liv and I are going back on the train." I said.

Nelson smiled wryly..

"Okay. Got'cha." he said.

They all converged on Sam Mother's Diner..

''Order anything you want! It's on me.. You guys are the greatest...Hey where is Olivia and Donnie Ray?" asked Dr. Colgate.

"They went home..They were tired.."explained Nelson. "They said they'd take a rain check." he added.

"Tired? Ha.. They went home to do the Hibbity Bibbity.."joked Beverly.

Josie laughed... "I wish my husband was home from work...That's what I feel like doing." she said.

"Girrrrrrrrrrrl, you aint never lied." laughed Bresha, high fiving Josie.

"Hmmmmm let's see what's good." said Stan Steinberg, eying a menu.

III-

Olivia and I took the train home.

We held hands and walked home..

When we got there.. We gave Alfreda the rest of the day off and told her to close up shop.

She smiled..

"UMMMMMMM HMMMMM ALRIGHT YOU TWO!" she said.. She knew what was up..

No sooner than she was gone and we were in the privacy of our domicile..

The kissing began..

''Darling!" said Olivia.

"Baby!" I said..

We smothered each other with sloppy, wet kisses...

We quickly undressed..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUU OH MY GODDD! HOW DOES YOUR BOXERS CONTAIN ALL OF THAT?...WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUWEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"gushed Olivia..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" was all I could manage to say.

I unhooked her bra and slipped her panties down...

''Are your knuckles still hurting from bashing that guy's face in?" she asked..

"Not right now." I said as I lifted her petite body up..

"I didn't think so...WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she moaned as I lifted her up and long stroked her..I think she liked this the best....Her body trembled and she began to sweat and her head turned around from side to side..

I placed her petite body on the dresser and pumped her for all I was worth..

"OHHHHHHHHHHMY GOD!" I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU HUSBAND...I LOVE YOUUUUU!" she cried out..

"I LOVE YOU TOOOOOOOO! OUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" I moaned.

I bent her over the table and entered her doggie style..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, OHHHHHHHH DONNIE RAYYYY..OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed softly..

We sat on the side of the bed, Olivia moving up and down on me..kissing me..bringing me to the point of sheer delirium...

and riding me like there was no tomorrow..

"OOOOOHHH OHHHHHHHHHHHH...OHHHHHHHHHHHH MY GODDDDDDD!" cooed Olivia.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, OHHHHHHHH DONNIE RAYYYY..OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! YOU ARE DOING THE DAMN THING BABY!" she cooed softly..

"OHHHHHHHH MY GOD OLIVIA...OH MY GOD! "I shouted out.

For the next NINE TO TEN HOURS, we made furious love...

While at Sam Mother's everybody had finished their lunch, surprisingly undisturbed by Lt. Tragg.

"That was a great meal, great meal, nothing like comfort food.. By this time tomorrow, this entire thing should be over."said Dr. Colgate...He was confident that there was no way this could go to trial. It was after all a sick vendetta by a cop who needed to be on Television and who didn't like being criticized.

"Tell your aunt that it has been a joy and a learning experience even for an old codger like me working with you guys...She is a fabulous lawyer and she has put together a team of equally fabulous lawyers."said Stan Steinberg who was just so impressed by the way we worked and the relative comfort we worked in.

"I certainly will pass that on."said Beverly... She knew that a lot of older white male attorneys had problems letting Black attorneys and Black Female attorneys at that , run a case for them..But Stan Steinberg had put his ego aside and allowed them to run the case and alowed himself to learn from them, wgile teaching them a few tricks of the trade, This whole experience had been educational and enjoyable.

Nelson felt the same way and enjoyed the fact that one or both of them either brought food or paid for their meals.

Josie and Bresha, relatively new attorneys were like sponges ,soaking up everything..

Lt. Tragg walked in just as we were finishing up..

"WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Look at this..Stan, couldn't handle this case on your own, so you brought in re-inforcements...That's because you know this case is weak." he snarled.

"It is weak...Your side hasn't proven a thing..Once again your sloppy police work is going to cause you major embarrassment."said Dr. Colgate. He couldn't believe Lt. Tragg actually thought the prosecution was winning. A Testimony to how out of touch with reality he was.

"Watch your mouth Doc..Or I'll close it for you!" said Lt. Tragg.

''Artie face it..You brought him in on trumped up charges..that you know have no basis.. All because he pissed you off by talking bad about you on Television...The Judge was about to throw this thing out..I could see it on his face.. The ADA knows this case is weak..I don't even understand why she is pursuing it? Give it up will ya?" said Stanley.

Lt. Tragg looked around..

" There's nothing to give up.. He's guilty and he's going down.. Heyyy where is Olivia?? Donnie Ray??" he asked.

"Figuring out another way to make your life miserable."said Beverly.

The entire table exploded in laughter as they got up and slowly filed out..

Leaving Lt. Tragg standing there fuming...He hated being the butt of the joke.

IV-

THE NEXT DAY- 10:30 AM

It was the last day of the preliminary hearing.... We would be presenting a defense and the Judge would determine if there was enough here to warrant a trial.

You could see the look of defeat in ADA Leslie Chance's face..

You could see the look of confidence on defendant, Dr. Barrett Colgate's face.

Olivia and I, Beverly and Nelson ,Josie and Bresha sat at the defense table with Dr. Colgate.

Our witness, John Diel sat in the visitors section...His lip was still swollen, so was his cheek..One of his eyes was open, the other still swollen shut..He looked like a hurt child after he'd been spanked..

He saw me sitting with Olivia...

He recognized Beverly, Nelson, Josie and Bree from the bar..He had had no idea they were attorneys...

He didn't know Attorney Stanley Steinberg....He assumed we worked for him...Not that we were working with him... It didn't matter...He didn't want to be here..And he hoped he could get out and be done with this.

"Counselirs , you may call your first witness." said Judge Reynolds.

John Liel was called to the stand.. He took his time walking up, being sworn in and sitting down..

You could see the hostility in his eyes.The sullenness in his body language.

Stanley Steinberg decided to question him...

"Mr. Liel did you know Marilyn Corey?" he asked.

"Just to see her come into the bar."he said.

"Mr. Liel, you're under oath...The punishment for Perjury can be severe."said Stan Steinberg.

Beverly turned on a 64 inch monitor which showed a credit card receipt for The Down Home Motel...and video footage of both of them entering a room on the same night and leaving in the morning.

Josie brought up the Motel Manager and cleaning woman, who both testified that they saw them both together in the Motel on said night.

"So you did know her.. You knew her in the biblical sense..."said Stanley.

Bresha produced a Debit Card receipt of his for flowers from a florist that directed the florist to deliver the flowers to Marilyn Corey's apartment.

''So we know you knew her, We know you two were intimate, you had feelings for her..We know you knew Jason Corley also... You sold Heroin to him, which he in turn sold and paid you a percentage...And before you lie..Nelson."said Stanley.

Nelson had photos taken by Narcotics Unit undercovers of hand offs and payments between the two as well as arguments..

ADA Leslie Chance glared angrily at Lt. Tragg..

"You had access to all of this information..You're a detective damn it, or at least that's the rumor. Olivia's investigator got it and YOU didn't bother to ask. You didn't check this guy out to see if he had a record! OUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she whispered angrilly.

Lt. Tragg was angry at the police who talked to Me...and at the fact that we interviewed a suspect he had already interviewed,,,His sense of logic was amazing.

"John....John..John ,what happened that night son..?" asked Stanley in a soothing fatherly tone.

"She was my girl....I-I-I hated her being with him...I hated it!...So when they left...I followed them..

I followed them in my car.,....

They were at the lovers lane..

They were making out...Kissing and hugging and slobbering all over each other.. I-I was so mad...I-I

Shot both of them..

I killed em both.... I-I-I took a shovel out of my trunk and dug a shallow grave...Nobody else was up there..I stripped them of all their clothes and put their clothes in the trunk of my car... I dug a shallow grave and buried them both there. Then I drove their car to a chop shop..Where it was washed and bleached and taken apart for parts.. I went back and got my car the next morning and that was it! Damn it..Damn it! DAMN IT!" he broke down, crying profusely...Shaking!

"Bailiffs, take him into custody..." said Judge Reynolds.

"In Light of this new information..The People move to drop all charges against Dr. Colgate."said ADA Leslie Chance, glaring angrilly at Lt. Tragg.

who looked like he'd swallowed a canary.

The Press was gathered outside the courtroom after the shocking confession..

Attorney Stanley Steinberg held Olivia and Beverly in each arm, hugging them, and said.

"I got to work with the most fabulous attorneys ever...That was the only good thing about this and I will be forever in their debt.. Not just these two fine ladies..but the other attorneys on their team as well." And he called them by name..

"The Brilliant Mr. Nelson East...Who picked an excellent jury...Couldn't have done it without him..

"Mrs. Josie Boyd..a fine, fine Attorney in her own right..

and last but certainly not least, my former student, Mrs.Bresha Billips..Glad to know she is in such good hands, working with these fabulous attorneys and a very fine first rate investigator.

"Mr. Donnie Ray Alexander, Olivia's husband.." said Stanley Steinberg to the press.

Lt. Tragg was not mentioned at all.

"I'm just glad we got to the truth of who really killed these two" said ADA Leslie Chance... She walked away, again not mentioning Lt. Tragg.

But Dr. Colgate, when he was interviewed had a lot to say...A lot more. "I am relieved to be exonerated and vindicated by my incredible legal team...I thank them all, Stanley, Olivia, Beverly, Donnie Ray, Nelson, Josie and Bresha.. I am forever in their debt.. Now I can go back to work and heal.. Now I have closure finally...I know what really happened to Marilyn and how I dodged a bullet. None of this would have ever happened if this case had been investigated thoroughly and fully...Instead you had a cop who is always seeking the limelight , always needing to be on television who turned this into a whole nother matter..Lieutenant Arthur R. Tragg Jr.is the biggest disgrace to the Philadelphia Police Department, Frankly I don't see how he ever made Detective, let alone Lieutenant...He should be a beat cop or a crossing guard...He made this case completely on a wild made up fantasy of his, that the remains found were first the long lost remains of Richard Graves wife , with no proof, with no finished autopsy..Then when they were identified ,he immediately arrested and charged me with two murders despite there being no physical or forensic proof at all..he was given credible evidence about a possible suspect and he never bothered to look into it. He turned this whole matter into a media circus...My attorneys not only proved my innocence, but solved the case for him..I am seriously considering filing charges against the city for false arrest and harrassment." he said.

Lt. Tragg was immediately put back on the Marine Boat for 30 Days.

He was livid..

"I'm going to get Colgate if it's the last thing I do!" he swore as the boat pulled off with him on it.

He took a sip of his Jameson's Irish Whiskey....

EPILOUGE-

John Liel was convicted of the murders of Marilyn Corey and Jason Corley and sentenced to two life sentences.. No Parole.

Lt. Tragg being on the Marine Boat was pure Heaven for everyone involved.

Our neighbors and friends went to Sam Mothers both in groups and alone and had enjoyable meals, whenever the mood hit them..Mostly on Weekends when they weren't at work or if they had a court date.

Of course we made the best of it.. counting down the 30 days until he'd unfortunately be back and we once again would stop eating and drinking at these two establishments.