VENTURES: Hall Pass

Karen Walker took a nice long hot soapy shower and brushed her teeth....She lotioned herself down and put on a nice smelling fragrance....She put on a change of clothes...

She had had her first good night's sleep since Saturday and this was the first time she'd showered and changed her clothes since Saturday Night.. It was Tuesday! It was the first time she was sober too!

Olivia and Beverly had been gracious enough to let her stay in the sub-basement apartment of their Office/Duplex...

Alfreda was the only one in the office, when she came up...

"Well good morning, aren't you a breath of fresh air.. Did you sleep well?" she asked.

Karen was the same age as her daughter, Beverly....She felt motherly towards her in the same way she did, Beverly, Josie and Bresha.

"Best sleep I've had since Saturday.. A Good night's rest and a nice hot shower does one good." said Karen, sober for the first time since Saturday.

"Liv and my daughter are in court this morning...but she fixed you breakfast before she left.." said Alfreda, who placed a plater of Eggs, Hash Browns, Bacon,Hot steaming Coffee and Orange Juice in front of Karen... The food made her feel even better.

Karen devoured the breakfast..

"Olivia and Beverly are angels." she said, grateful to have them as friends..

TUESDAY MORNING- 10:00AM, COURTROOM D.

Judge T. Freeman, who we hadn't practiced in front of in a long while and a good friend to us was the presiding Judge.

Olivia looked at Beverly, Bresha and Josie and smiled.

"Good Job ladies." she whispered.

''We thought you'd be pleased Auntay."said Beverly, smiling.

"Beverly and Josie told me about his uh er proclivities.." Bresha said with a smile. The Judge liked to wear ladies panties and pantyhose under his clothing...He wasn't Gay, but he found ladies underwear made him comfortable during stressful court proceedings...Only a select few people knew about it...

Josie smiled....then giggled.

''So this is a good Judge huh?" asked Bishop.

''The Best we could get." assured Nelson..

"Nelson's right..He's our friend...We've been before him many times in the past." I said.

"Mel's not here...I suppose she's angry at me huh?" That damn keystone copper, Lt. Tragg... I could kick him square in the ass..All he had to do is make the arrest, not blab all of my personal business all over the news...To make himself look good." snarled Bishop.

"He always does that." said Beverly..

"Ever think if you hadn't of lied to her, if you hadn't been cheating on her...None of this would have blown back on you? I'm not gonna be judgemental...and I don't believe you killed her...but I'm just saying." said Olivia.

"You're right Liv....Last thing I want to do is hurt Mel...I wasn't thinking." said Bishop.

"You were thinking with the wrong part of your anatomy....Like a lot of guys." said Bresha.

''She's been hanging around you too much Bev..."laughed Josie, hugging Bresha.

Beverly laughed..

''Mel will get past this..Not to sound cold, but her competition is now deceased...and you guys aren't married yet...She may consider this your Hall pass." said Olivia.

Jake Patais walked in...He was going to be the Assistant District Attorney on this case...

"Look, it's Lawyer Bae." said Josie, using the nickname all of the female Attorneys, ADA's and Judges had for Handsome Jake Patais.

"This ought to be fun..We've gone up against his girlfriend before, but never him."said Beverly.

"Ouuuuuuuu yes!" said Bresha.

''Don't none of yall ever say nothin about me looking at Judge Julie Wong again." said Nelson..

Speaking of sexy Judge Julie Wong, nicknamed "The Hot Judge" by all of the Male Attorneys...

"It's all in fun bae.." said Beverly , assuring Nelson...

The arguments began... ADA Jake Patais argued that Bishop Coogan murdered Laura Costnor after a lover's quarrel gone wrong and further more with him being a resident of New York City was a "probable flight risk " and should be denied bail.

Olivia and Nelson argued that Mr. Coogan has no criminal record whatsoever, Not even a traffic ticket and wants his day in court to vigorously fight these "egregious and false murder charges..."

Beverly argued that there is no proof of any lovers quarrel and that that should be struck from the record. "That is malicious hearsay and gossip of the worst kind and is the work of an over imaginative detective's mind." she said. ''There is simply no foundation for any of this."she said.

Lt. Tragg sat stoically with his arms folded.

Josie and Bresha presented four character witnesses a piece...All members of Bishop's band...

Judge Freeman ruled..

"Because Mr. Coogan is indeed from out of town....I am going to have him fitted for an ankle bracelet so that he can be electronically monitored and set his bail at $5000.00 dollars." he said.

Bresha wrote a check for $500.00 and passed it to the bailiff...

Bishop Coogan was fitted for an ankle monitoring bracelet...and released from custody....

"I feel like a common criminal...I can't tell you how many guys...even some of my old band members wore these things in New Orleans...Everybody knew they were on papers for somethin." he said to me.

''Would you rather we take it off and you return to lock up?" I asked him...

"Oh Noooooo Noooooo, the ankle bracelet is just fine.." said Bishop..

I laughed.. "I thought as much.." I said, smiling.

"Come on Bishop...Let's go get you something to eat..." said Olivia.

"We are going to take a train ride." said Beverly.

''A Train Ride??"said Bishop.

"Yeah to a nice place ,where you can eat in peace." said Nelson.

"Come on, you like a train ride don't'cha?" said Josie, taking one arm..

''Well yessss, with such attractive escorts."laughed Bishop..

"Then follow us." said Bresha, taking the other arm.

as we all left the courthouse and boarded the train..

headed toward the Bridge Building at Penns Landing.

Lt. Tragg ran out of the courthouse, only to find that we were already gone...He saw no evidence of our SUV in the parking lot this morning.....That's because we commuted... He was angry at losing us..

II-

Melody hadn't wanted to come to the arraignment.. she was instead visiting Yvette and her staff at their new office in the Bridge Building

Attorney Melody Baker looked around..

"Ouuu Vettie Girl, this is soooooooooo nice... So Modern..." quipped Attorney Melody Baker, looking around.. "You and Olivia are killing the game..I am sooo proud of you both." she said,

"Isn't it amazing?" laughed Yvette...

"I saw your staff offices... Nice...and they are so nice, so polite.. I just love them!" gushed Melody..

She was speaking of Keith Jones, his wife, Beatrice Evans-Jones, , Sofia Garcia-Ahmed, her husband, Kahlil Ahmed and investigator, Jade Lee's offices..

""This is a far cry from the cubicles they had at our old building and the two offices we shared before we all left. Jade, my investigator didn't even have an office.Yes ..it is a big change...This office is certainly more colorful than the one I had before too..We are all getting used to it." said. Yvette.. "I heard you've been busy lately... In New York with your own practice and all of the rappers , singers and actors you represent" laughed Yvette.

"Girl, I have an office...A small office, nothing like this.. You have a suite..

and an Office Manager-

speaking of Ms. Virginia.

"I have none of that...I have one Attorney who works for me and an Administrative Assistant.. That's it..You and Liv are big time. I do have a nice townhouse.. Bishop put me in it.." she said.

"Speaking of Bishop... I uh heard the tawdry stories in the news.. Lt. Tragg has no restraint and absolutely no discretion at all.. He has no business spreading all of that gossip and here say.."said Yvette.

''Well maybe not.. but loaded condoms with his proven semen isn't a lie...I don't know how long he'd been screwing her, or if this was just a one off, but he was...He was lying to me.. I feel like calling our engagement off." said Melody.

"Whatever he was doing...It's definitely over now...She's dead....I know that sounds cold..but she's dead and you're not...You got him girl...Plus, you guys aren't married yet...Let that indiscretion be his Hall pass...I'm bettin he'll never cheat on you again....Now come on.. Let's go have lunch... Olivia and the gang and your fiancé should be here ," said Yvette.

Melody was amazed at how huge the cafeteria was and how ultra modern it was...

She saw Jazzy, her husband, Dabnis, Her old college friend, Karen Page, Kayla, Ray, Jessica, Chip,

Bresha's husband, Tony, and Yvette's staff, Keith, Bee Bee, Jade,Sofia ,Kahlil and Virginia, already seated and eating..

"Vettie this is soooooooo cool, You guys all live on the same street...You work in the same building and you hang out together....I'm so envious.." gushed Melody...

"Here comes Liv and the gang now." said Yvette.

Olivia and I, Bishop, Beverly and Nelson and Josie took a seat...Bresha sat at a different table with her husband, Tony...

''Hey Vettie..Melody, As you can see, we were successful. We got him out on bail." said Olivia.

''And right now Lt. Tragg is fuming..If I know right , He was expecting you to come in Sam Mother's to eat..

Furious that you guys didn't eat there...

His undercover car on the corner of our block, which he thinks nobody noticed is reporting to him

that you didn't return home yet...So he doesn't know what you guys have done or where you've gone."said Yvette.

''A pretty accurate assesment Vettie, which is why we are here where we can relax." I said.

''What an idiot...He always harrasses you guys like that?" asked Bishop.

"Sometimes..We have a Cease and Desist order of protection out against him.."said Beverly.,

"He has violated it a number of times and been hauled off to jail for a few days." said Nelson.

"But he's hard headed..." said Josie.

''A butt head is what he is." said Olivia.

"I'm glad I got to see you today baby." said Bresha.

''Me too!" said Tony.

As they enjoyed a sweet kiss at their table.

"I owe you an apology Mel....The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you....If you can find it in your heart to forgive me...I promise you this will never happen again...I guess it's Karma...Why I'm in all this trouble.. I didn't kill anybody..I swear." said Bishop.

"I know you didn't and I do forgive you...We aren't married yet, so I'm gonna give you a HAll PASS on this one..After all, she is dead! But that's it... it better not happen again...." said Melody..

"It won't...I swear it won't." said Bishop.

III-

Bishop and Melody checked out of their hotel room.. They were scheduled to leave tomorrow, but since that obviously wasn't happening..

Nelson and Beverly helped them pack... They were going to stay with us until the trial was over.. Something we had never done before with any of our clients..

"You'll be safe with us..." said Nelson.

"Auntay put clean sheets and pillow cases on the bed up in the spare room and everything." said Beverly.

"That bed was very comfortable.." said Melody, who had already spent one night with us.

"A lot more comfortable than the bed I slept on in jail I'm sure." said Bishop.

They packed and headed back to our Office/Duplex.

At our Office /Duplex, our other house guest was talking up a storm...

''So tell me this again?" I asked.

"Yes. Start from the top." said Olivia.

Josie and Bresha set up a tape recorder and a video camera.

Karen was sober and clear headed now.

"As you know, I really bombed Saturday Night at Mulberry Street... I was depressed .....I drank myself into a stupor that night and passed out.... Sunday, I spent the day in Curley's bar... I was soused.. I had on the same clothes.. I hadn't gone home...I was still drinking..I was at the bar...There were two guys there.. a young guy....I didn't know him...but the older guy...Him I know..His name is Rock Muhammad..He's a manager and a talent scout...He fashions himself as that , but he's really a hood..

"Did you talk to Laura ? I told you to talk to her about getting out of that contract." said a bald headed well dressed Black man.

"I did...I-I-I reminded Laura of her promise last winter... She said she changed her mind and was staying put.. We..We We got into a big argument and and..and things got out of hand.." said the younger man talking to him..

"What do you mean out of hand?" asked the older bald headed man.

"We got into a physical type thing and I....I...I uh think I strangled Laura." said the younger man.

"YOU DID WHAT??" said the bald man loudly..

"It was an accident...I swear...Laura hit me first....Things got out of hand!" said the younger man...

"SHUT UP! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" said the bald headed man..

Karen had told us the entire exchange she heard.

"I don't think either one recognized me.. I was sloshed and my head was on the bar, like I was knocked out...but I heard every word and the younger guy confessed to Rock Muhammad that he quarreled with and strangled Laura Costnor...I can give you a description of the younger guy...but that's it...Rock Muhammad was livid that he had done that...but he didn't say anymore." said Karen.. " I need to stay here for a few days...I'm afraid..." said Karen. "Rock Muhammad is a stone cold hood.." said Karen.

"Sure, you can stay here." said Olivia.

"Karen , that may be just the information we need to free our client.. Of course I'll have to check it out." I said.

"WOWWWWWWW!" said Josie.

"This could blow the whole case wide open." said Bresha.

Beverly and Nelson returned with Mel and Bishop just then.

"Hey Guys, we are back..Nelson and I are going to help them unpack their things upstairs....Auntay, toss me your keys." said Beverly.. "Hi Karen." she said.

"Hi Karen.." said Nelson.,glad to see she was sober and had a change of clothes.

''Well let's get situated..." said Bishop..

"Yes, let's get situated." said Melody winking at Bishop seductively.

"Karen get some more rest...Tomorrow we'll talk some more.. All of us." I said.

"Okay, thank you guys...I really appreciate this." said Karen, who had been defended by us twice and who had worked a case with us...She might suck as a comedian, but she was a fine lawyer and a friend.

''See Ya in the morning Karen." said Olivia. "Hey Girls, here come your husbands...Wanna go and get some Ice Cream with us?" asked Olivia.

"That would be a great idea." said Josie , smiling.

"Yeahhh!" said Bresha.

As Tony and Paris walked in..

"Liv, I'll see you in the morning." said Alfreda, holding Rockland's hand...

"Good Night guys." said Rockland.

''Bev, Nelson, we are all going to get some Ice Cream...Wanna come with?" said Olivia.

''Sure." said Beverly.

"That would be a nice cool ending to a long day." said Nelson.

With us gone and Karen safely tucked away in our sub-basement.... A different drama was unfolding upstairs at the "Hotel Alexander"

Bishop stared at Melody and shook his head.. "Ummmph, Ummph, Umpph, I must have been out of my mind to cheat on you baby..." he said.

"Truly you must have." said Melody...

He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately.... He slipped her dress off of her...

"UMMMMMMMMMM HMMMMMMMMMM LOOKA HERE, LOOKA HERE! YOU GOT ME HORNY AS HELL!" he moaned...

"OHHHHHHHHH , OHHHHH MY GODDDDD! BISHOP....OUUUUUUU! LOOK AT YOUUU...UMMMMMMMMMM I'M A LITTLE HORNY MYSELF.....OUUUUU MYY GOODNESS ,LOOK AT YOUUUUU!!!" she cooed.

And slipped her panties down

and unhooked her bra....

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" she cooed..her body trembling..

He lifted her up....

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM LAWDDD!" he moaned as he entered her.....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO LAWDDDDD!" she cried out...

Bishop was huge and he was as hard as a baseball bat and he was pounding her good... She was soft and wet and very warm....

He put her on the sink in the bathroom and went to town going in and out of her....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU BISHOP BABY !!! HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS, HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS BISHOP!!!!!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS, HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS BISHOP!!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! HANDLE ALL OF THIS DAMN BUSINES...WHOOOOO LAWDDDD YOU ARE SO HARD.,.....SOOOO BIG....OUUUUUUUUUUUUU BABY, HANDLE ALL OF THIS BUSINESS! " she yelled as he thrusted with wild abandon inside of her.. sweating and driven to the point of deliriousness.

He stretched her across the sink and was thrusting inside of her doggie style...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME??" she cooed.

:WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME GIRRRRRL?" he asked...

Soon they were on the bathroom floor going at it....

"Let's get in the bed..." Melody Cooed..

They sat on the side of the bed, kissing passionately ,while Melody moved up and down on him...

She rode him cowgirl style on top of the bed...

And finally he humped her across the bed.. "OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU BISHOP BABY !!! HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS, HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS BISHOP!!!!!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHmUMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned.

Finally they got into a sweet rhythm in the bed...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu" she cooed.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he moaned.

IV-

It must have been couples night at The Food Corner, a few blocks from us...because everybody was there..

"Oh Look at this...Keith, Bee Bee, Sofia, Kahlil, Jessie , Chip, Jazzy, Dabnis, Kayla and Ray are here."said Olivia.

"Seems like everybody is on the same wave length at the same time." I laughed.

"It's summer" laughed Beverly..

"Yeah...even though I come down in the Winter too." said Nelson.

"Me too Nelson" said Josie.

"This is a nice night considering yall got to get ready for a trial." said Paris.

''We have it down to a science now." said Bresha

"Listen at my baby....She is killin the game." said her proud husband, Tony... As we all enjoyed Banana Splits..

"This is a nice night, a nice night for sittin on the steps talkin, Remember law school when we used to sit outside the dorm in the square and shoot the breeze?" said Keith Jones..

"Yeahhhh, the four of us...Sometimes an extra...Good times." said his wife, Bee Bee.

"Yes they were...These are good times too...With more people in our circle."said Sofia.

''Yeah.."said Kahlil.

''I envy you guys that...You have histories..I was pretty much a loner until I met you guys and we moved on this block." said Jessica Sanchez-Burrows.

"This is the most fun and camraderie I've had in a long time." said Chip.

"I always had Beverly and Kayla... My ride or dies since Girls High , Through Temple and Through PENN LAW...I'm so glad I still have them." said Jazzy..