VENTURES: Vendetta Or Not

We were in court at 11:00 am sharp!

"Did you guys find a decent Judge ?" asked Ms. Yvette.

"Sure did, the best...Elise Clemmons." said Bee Bee.

''She was the Judge in Olivia and Beverly's last case." I said.

''Yeah and she's cute too!" said Lonnie Dellums.

Sofia laughed. " You haven't changed a bit Lonnie." she said.

Kahlil laughed.. "We don't know who the ADA is on this one." he said.

''But we know who the arresting officer is." she said.

She said as Lt. Tragg walked in... Impeccable new suit, Expensive Italian leather shoes, every hair in place and heavily made up.

This wasn't a heavy news worthy trial...but he was prepared as if it was.

Judge Elise Clemmons was presiding...

The Assistant District Attorney was a new comer, Astrid Delaney....

"VA VA VA VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" said Lt. Tragg, getting a look at her.

ADA Astrid Delaney was more prepared than most ADA's at this stage of the game.. She argued that due to the cruel nature of this crime, the victim shot in the chest twice and once in back of the head, and blood on the defendent's clothes and his penchant for gambling and welching on his debts...He should be considered dangerous and a flight risk. She brought up the fact that he fled Atlanta due to gambling debts and an angry husband of one of the women he was fooling around with being after him... She did her homework.

Ms. Yvette argued that as an officer of the court, A well established local attorney ,he should be given the benefit of the doubt. 'My client eagerly seeks his day in court and wishes to fight these outrageous charges.. She argued that his past in Atlanta was a few years ago and has nothing to do with the man before us today.

Bee Bee addressed the blood on his clothing. The fact that it was on his trouser legs ,when he bent down to check for a pulse and the fact that he was the one who called 911 and waited for them to show up, not something a murderer would do!

Sofia brought up the fact that no murder weapon was found and his hands were checked for gun residue and none was found.

Astrid argued that in the 45 minutes it took the police to get there , He had ample time to wash his hands and hide the gun.

I asked her then where was the gun? The police searched that place from top to bottom and all of the dumpsters and they found nothing I said.. If he left the apartment, Somebody would have seen him and he would have been picked up on the street cam...I added..None of the witnesses that night reported him running or leaving the building before the police got there.

Kahlil and Ms. Yvette argued that we could argue the merits of the case at some other time..but all we were asking for now was bail, so that Mr. Dellums could meet with his legal team properly and easily.

Judge Cummings agreed with us and set bail at $5000.00 dollars..

His cousin, AUSA Todd Dellums paid his bail...He wrote a check on the spot and just like that,

Lonnie Dellums was a free man....

Lt. Tragg was livid..

"I've never liked that Judge..She's too damn liberal." he snarled.

"Relax...I didn't expect to win this battle...but I intend to give them hell later on." laughed Astrid

as she walked away .

We got on the train and headed towards our building.

Lonnie looked at our building..

"WOWWWW! This is a new building...You guys must be big deals." said Lonnie.

"I'm Managing Parter at McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt and this is our office...We've only been here a few months."said Ms. Yvette.

He was impressed and even more impressed with our office manager, Ms. Virginia.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

''Are you married?" he asked her.

"No! But I'm spoken for.. Uh I mean I'm in a relationship.." said Virginia.

"Yes, she is!" laughed Ms. Yvette. "She is the least of your worries..Let's get you something to eat first and then come back up here and talk about your case." said Ms. Yvette.

Lonnie was amazed at our huge ultra modern cafeteria. He had a huge appetite.

Cheddar Omelette

Hash Browns

sausage

Oatmeal

Orange Juice

and hot coffee.

With his sense of humor and gift of gab, he was a big hit with our friends, Jazzy, Dabnis, Kayla, Ray, Jessie and Chip and Tony.

"Our guy is the life of the party." I mused.

''He was always more personable ,more fun than Todd." said Bee Bee.

''Todd always put on airs..Acted like he was smarter and better than everybody...He was snooty!" said Sofia. "Lonnie was never like that." she added.

''Tell us how you really feel Mamasita" laughed Kahlil..

"Let's hope he can wow a jury with his affableness.."said Yvette.

''I couldn't find one person, not one person at Eddie Lee's place, including Eddie Lee who liked him either.. They said he got drunk and became obnoxious and Bennie Ling always had to throw him out..That's why we didn't have any charactor witnesses for the arraignment.. but you guys pulled it out anyway." said Jade.

''We may have an uphill battle ahead of us." said Ms.Yvette.

II-

THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY- ASTRID DELANEY.

She was at her desk studying files...Files on us...

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

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

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

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, Deleware and New York, Texas, California

Associate Attorney-McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and 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

"All Penn graduates huh? Yvette hired from her alma mater almost exclusively...They're all good attorneys...I'll have to bring my A. Game..

She looked at her file on the defendent...The man she'd be prosecuting..

Lonnie Dellums

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Central High School

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

J.D.- University of Pennsylvania School of Law, Philadelphia PA.

Speaks French and Spanish Fluently

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

Associate Attorney at Bonnett And Saunders, Atlanta ,Georgia.

Associate Attorney at Leland and Sanders, Atlanta , Georgia.

Past President of the Atlanta Black Bar Association

Associate Attorney at Leland and Sellers, Washington D.C.

Taught Trial Advocacy at Georgetown University Law School

Senior Associate Attorney- The Koppelburg Firm, Philadelphia PA!

''Damn, even he's from PENN.....He looks like he had an illustrious career, aside from his drinking, gambling and womanizing..I hate to put a guy like this behind bars..but he took a life." she said.

Lt. Tragg walked in... He sat down..

"I'm Lt. Arthur Tragg...I'm the Lead Investigator in charge of the investigation. Heh heh heh!" he laughed.

''Yes? I'm very busy." she said.

''I like the way you handled yourself kid.,You really had them on their toes.. We workin together, me and you, we just might put this guy away." he said, smiling.

"I need the Autopsy Report and the Crime Scene Report from you... Yvette Jones's investigator has already been by here today and got copies of both., I should have had the originals by now Lieutenant." she said not looking up, but reading our dossiers and a temporary crime scene assessment." she said.

"Listen, I know a place that serves the thickest ,juiciest steaks and good cold domestic beer...How about some dinner and some quiet conversation huh?" asked Lt. Tragg.

"I'll have to take a rain check on that offer Lieutenant....I'm trying to get up on this case... I need you to bring me the Autopsy Report and the crime scene report and try to find me that murder weapon, Scan the Street and Traffic cam reports and have your men do a block to block search, Sewers, Dumpsters, the works..I'll get you a warrant and you can search Dellums's apartment.. anything you need...I just need more on this case." said ADA Astrid Delaney...

But as usual, what she said went in one ear and out the other.. Lt. Tragg stood there for a minute staring blandly at Astrid.

''Did you want something else Lieutenant?" she asked.

''Er Uh No!" he said and walked out of her office, very disappointed.

At our building...

In our conference room/law library

"This is a Portal....This is how we will communicate with you....Concerning your trial..We won't drag you down here everyday...We'll keep you up on what we are doing and what we might need from you." said Kahlil.

"This is a phone..a burner phone... If you need us for anything or wish to discuss something with us.. You call this number.. Write it down and memorize it..Do not call our office or any of our personal numbers with trial related conversation." said Bee Bee.

''Wow, you guys don't take any chances..."said Lonnie.

"That's why we win cases and Lonnie, we are going to win this case. Lt. Tragg has next to nothing on you....This is more childish gamesmenship between him and your cousin." said Ms. Yvette.

"I know.....they both can be very childish...They're the flip side of the same coin... I'm guessing at the bottom of this, there is a woman." said Lonnie.

'Well, Your cousin and Lt. Tragg have stepped on each other's toes numerous times in work related issues.. We believe , but we can't prove that Lt. Tragg had the room bugged of a woman your cousin was having a one night stand with and he made sure this zip drive containing the entire night was sent to your cousin's present and now FORMER GIRLFRIEND." I said.

''We were there when she showed him the film footage on her laptop and then dumped a Hot Fudge

Banana Split sundae on his head and essentially gave him his walking papers.." said Sofia.

"OH MY GODDDDD!!! I KNOW MY COUSIN WAS PISSED!" said Lonnie ,laughing out loud..

"Oh He was...He Arrested the P.I. He thought was responsible for the bugging." said Bee Bee.

"He didn't find jack did he?" asked Lonnie.

''Of course not."said Kahlil.

''Then Saturday Night Lt. Tragg was arrested by Sherriff's deputies for something, We don't know..We were out...and he was just getting off on Monday Morning..."said Jade.

''So when he fell upon you. He was pretty soused...Good and soused...Especially when he realized who you were related to." said Ms. Yvette.

''So I'm just a pawn in this whole thing eh?" asked Lonnie.

''Yeah...Have you got anywhere to stay? We always suggest a hotel or a friend's house, because Lt. Tragg won't let you have a minutes peace if you stay at your home." I said.

"My cousin offered me a room at his condo...but in light of what you said.. I don't think that's a good idea. "said Lonnie who wrote down a name and an address... This is Angie.. Angela Darwin...My Para-Legal....I'm going to stay with her...You can reach me there." said Lonnie.

''Is she your girlfriend Lonnie?" asked Sofia.

''Well ahhhh, uhhhh no, not really...Like I said, She's my Para-legal...My closest confidant at the law firm... Four years ago when I first started there...She helped me win a big case for a very important client..It got me promoted to Senior Associate Attorney...The Client was so grateful he wanted to do something for the two of us... I asked him to give Angela a full scholarship (Books and Tuition) to the law school of her choice..She's in the third and final year at PENN LAW...our alma mater...When she graduates ,I'm going to ask old Dabnis if he can help her study for the bar." said Lonnie.

"You like her a lot don't you Lonnie?" asked Bee Bee.

"Well I mean, she's good people and all.. I mean er uh.."said Lonnie.

"Lonnie...Your cousin has never been my favorite person, I've always liked you a lot more..Everybody has..but you both have this habit of blowing good things when you have it... Your cousin lost my girl Bee and he lost another girl named Aida and he's divorced... Now he's lost Natasha, the girl who dumped the Sundae on his head.. Never satisfied, always looking for the next best thing.. There will always be a next best thing.. But you have to decide on what's best for you right now..." said Sofia.

"PREACH MAMASITA!" said Yvette, clapping and smiling.

'Have dinner with us tonight Lonnie..and bring your lady friend.."I said.

"Good and you're paying for all of the groceries.."laughed Bee Bee..

"I'll be over to help you girl."laughed Sofia.

"Me too!"said Jade.

"You guys are too funny." said Ms. Yvette.

III-

Later on that afternoon, Kahlil and I were at the supermarket....

''You got everything on Bee Bee's list." said Kahlil..

"Yeah, this is the last thing." I said.

"Bet you won't open your big mouth again and throw dinner on Bee Bee without a heads up ,will you?" laughed Kahlil...

''No, I sure won't." I said.

We finished shopping and drove home.

The girls were waiting when we brought the groceries...

''Ohhh good, you brought everything...I bet Sofia you were going to miss something."said Bee Bee.

"I knew they weren't." said Sofia.

''After all, they are lawyers." joked Ms. Jade. All three women laughed.

They had pots of hot water boiling...For the pasta.

we had two pastas..Spaghetti and Fettucine Alfredo, a nice garden salad and A bottle of Sangria.

Lonnie and his Para-legal, Angela Darwyn arrived on time.

"Heyyyy Lonnie, come on in...You're right on time." I said.

"Hello Lonnie and Angela." said Bee Bee.

"I'm never late for a good meal.... Angela....This is Attorney Keith Jones, and his wife ,Beatrice Evans-Jones.. I grew up with Bee Bee in Fishtown..." he said.

"Pleased to meet you all." said Angela.

"Hi Lonnie, Pleased to meet you Angela." said Sofia.

"Heyyy Mann." said Kahlil.

''Hey Sofia, Kahlil.. I grew up with Sofia too in fishtown... I went to Temple and PENN LAW with all four of these guys...Now they're tryng to save me from lethal injection."said Lonnie.

"Oh Lonnie stop being over dramatic... From what I've read the state hardly has a case." said Angela.

"I like her already." said Bee Bee.

''So do I"laughed Sofia..

''Oh and let me not forget , the most important person.....Mrs. Jade Lee Ho, the Investigator..Her investigation may save my life." said Lonnie.

"That's right...You'd better not forget me." said Jade,laughing.

No sooner than we all sat down and got to eating good, the doorbell rang, followed by banging..

It was Lt. Tragg, if he couldn't find us at work...He certainly knew where we lived. But the doorbell stopped ringing and so did the banging just as soon as it stopped. We continued eating.

No sooner than the words were out of his mouth, a Sherrif's deputy drove up....

"Come on Lieutenant, how many times are we going to have to do this?" he asked.

''Hold Up! I've got a warrant.." he said and showed it to the deputy./

''It's for Lonnie Dellums....He lives nowhere near here...This is the home of Keith and Beatrice Jones." said the deputy..

''They're two of his attorneys." said Lt. Tragg.

''Nice Try...Let's go.." he said and handcuffed him once again..

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! COME ONNNNNN!" said Lt. Tragg as he was handcuffed, His car commandeered by the other deputy

and he was carted off to jail.

For a second time in as many days.. He was still being shadowed by the FBI, who were still calling the sherriff's deputies when he violated C& D.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Dellums sat in an unmarked car across the street,laughing his head off.

''He's sooo easy." he said and pulled off.

Ms. Yvette took a raincheck....

She and her husband, Gary were a few doors down from us, enjoying some alone time..

''Mmmmmmmmmmm ,I gave up a good dinner for this." Yvette cooed in between slow soft kisses.

"You must of thought this was worth it." said Gary in between more kisses..

"OHHHHHHHHHHH YESsSSSSSSS...OUUUUUUUUUUUU YESSSSSS!" moaned Yvette in between more kisses.

"OH MY GOD VETTTIEEEE!" he moaned, slipping her panties down..

"OUUUUUUUUUUU YOU LIKE THEM?" she asked.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsS!" he said slowly...

She giggled.

He lifted her up and moaned..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMM MY SWEET SWEET GIRRRRRRRRRRRL" he said..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU GARYYYYYY!" she moaned.....having one intense orgasm after another,.

as they sat on the side of the bed, Yvette slowly moving up and down on Gary, both unaware of the drama that had just played out down the street.

Ms. Virginia took a rain check too and for the same reason...Judge Jetty Dukes took her out to dinner in Camden at a spot he knew and then brought her home.. He had said he couldn't stay over tonight because he did have to work tomorrow.

"You know you're staying over...Why don't you stop lying Jetty?" she said,.

"Nah, I can't tonight.. I gotta be at work tomorrrow..." he said.

"I want to but like I told you........I can't." he said in between kisses... I-I er uh....ahhhhhh,I can't." he said in between more kisses.

"Okayyyyyyyy, see ya when I see ya." said Virginia softly...She knew she had gotten him aroused.. It wasn't hard..

"Oh Lord!" said Jetty, his trousers sticking out like a circus tent..

He slipped her dress off...

and then her aqua thong...

"OHHHHHHH LAWWWWWD! You don't play fair." he exclaimed.

She laughed as he hoisted her in the air and long stroked her...

and later placed her on the dresser drawer...entering her slowly and trembling....

For The Next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS ,they made love in her bed...

and the night ended the way it always did with Jetty falling asleep and she sleeping peacefully on his chest...

Our dinner ended nicely...

"It was sooo nice meeting you all." said Angela Darwyn.

"Listen ,don't be a stranger and when you're ready to study for the bar.. Any of the four of us can help you and we have a good friend who lives across the street in the next block, who is excellent in teaching people how to take the bar." said Bee Bee.

''Thank You...I will be calling you." said Angela.

"Good Luck!" I said.

''So Uh, you're staying with her tonight?"whispered Kahlil in Lonnie's ear.

"Yeah...We are stopping by my apartment to pack a few things and then I'll be staying at her apartment..

You have her address and phone number." said Lonnie.

''She's a keeper Lonnie." said Sofia.

''Definitely" said Jade.

Lonnie smiled

Angela waved as they headed to his car..

They had no idea how close they came to being arrested this afternoon.

IV-

SAM MOTHER'S DINER - The next Morning.

AUSA Todd Dellums was sitting with Natasha Smith, his ex-girlfriend..

"Look...I've explained to you that this is all part of a sick vendetta on the part of Lt. Tragg..He's had me shadowed by a Private Investigator...who took those photos of me, who bugged various bedrooms I was in..Who was out to get me.. This is the second time this has happened to me..Don't you see the pattern?" he pleaded.

"Yup, I do...You've arrested him twice and you two had that bust up out in the street a few weeks ago...I imagine he does hate you and I imagine he is petty enought o want revenge..A few months ago, didn't you tell me you called his Deputy of Operations and got him assigned to the Philadelphia Harbor Patrol for 30 days? That was funny." she said and laughed.

"Yeah , that was funny." he said.

He laughed too.. It was the first time the two of them was cordial and laughed in each other's presence since they broke up a few weeks ago..

"But Todd, you know what's even funnier?" she asked.

''What's that?" he said, still laughing.

''That he caught you in bed two times...Two times with two different women., What's funny is that if you hadn't been screwing two different women, he wouldn't have had anything to slip under my door.

I know I didn't go to Harvard like you and you think I'm a silly little flake of a girl...but I'm not stupid.

You think I am..but I'm not.. You've cheated on me twice and you can't deny it. Vendetta or Not..

I'm done... I've found someone who up until now hasn't cheated on me, who values my time and what I'm trying to build and who is a lawyer just like you. Save your story about a vendetta. You're free to screw as many women as you want now..." she said.

'' So you'd rather go out with that corny guy you're dating. I heard he had a plum job, a villa in Dubai and a place in L.A. Got fired, lost it all."snarled Todd.

"Yeah that all happened...but he doesn't cheat on me. He's happy and appreciative to have me and right now, He's got me and you have not! Always a pleasure talking to you Todd...Gotta go.. See ya." she said and got up from the table and left.

He was furious... The only thing he was happy about this morning was that Lt. Tragg was once again,locked up!

And in our conference room..

''So how was your dinner last night?" asked Ms. Yvette.

"It was so nice.. We really like his Para-legal, she's very nice." said Bee Bee.

''We saved you and Gary some dinner, all you have to do is warm it up!" I said.

''Awww I love yall." said Ms. Yvette.

''We had an unwanted dinner guest last night...ringing the bell and bamming on the door.. We didn't open the door for him." Said Kahlil.

"Lt. Tragg?" asked Yvette.

''Who Else? There is no peace from him... At least he doesn't bother us at work anymore.. "said Sofia.

''Check this out...My contact at police headquarters told me he was arrested again by Sherrif's Deputies.

last night. But none of us called." said Jade.

"Olivia and her crew were out..and the others were out somewhere too last night.."said Yvette.

"Don't look at me.. I was six blocks away..Wasn't lookin for him... but isn't it nice, him off the streets and out of everyone's hair?" said Virginia.

We all busted out laughing.