Hello Like Before

 The "Fishbowl", the nickname the detectives gave to the interrogation room...

Julie Romney sat being charged with murder...The Murder of her former boss, Art Mallick. She wondered about her father... He had also been arrested this morning with her.

There was no need for her to worry about him...

All charges had been dropped against him...He was released about two hours ago...

But his daughter, his poor daughter Julie..

She remained in that "Fishbowl" with it's oppressive smells......

Lt. Tragg walked in with two tumblers of coffees...He passed one to Julie.

"You're in a lot of trouble missy...You murdered your boss after he fired you...A lot of people saw you arguing with him...A lot of people heard you curse at him, you were angry, you were pissed...you came back after hours and you shot him dead.. A Heat of passion type of thing right?" said Lt. Tragg.

"Wrong!  I came back to get my camera and my film...He was dead when I got there..I didn't kill him!!

You got it all wrong."said Julie.

"STOP JERKIN ME THE HELL AROUND!! YOU KILLED ARTHUR MALLICK...I KNOW IT AND YOU KNOW IT!!!  IF YOU CONFESS, SAVE THE STATE A TRIAL ,THEY'LL GO EASY ON YOU..JERK US AROUND ,FORCE US TO GO TO TRIAL AND WE'LL THROW THE BOOK AT YOU!" screamed Lt. Tragg, hoping to scare her..  He didn't.

"I didn't kill him and I'm not going to confess to something I didn't do...I don't care how long you get or how long I have to stay in this horribly smelly room." said Julie Romney.

''That's good advice...Don't say another word Ms. Romney.." said a portly , but well dressed man who walked into the interrigation room just then,,

"Who the hell are you?" asked Lt. Tragg...

"I'm Justin Brown, Public Defender... I'm here to represent you Ms. Romney...Your dad called me this morning." he said.

"My dad?" she asked..

\

"Yes...He was released from custody this morning..All charges dropped.. He knows you don't have a lot of cash, so he called the Public Defender's Office....I was assigned your case...One of five on my docket..  I've got a Judge and an arraignment set up for 2:00 pm this afternoon... Don't say another word.." he said.

"Okay, thank you." said Julie as she was handcuffed and led to one of the holding cells upstairs..

Lt. Tragg smirked.. At least it wasn't Olivia or Yvette...This guy seemed like all he was interested in was his next meal...He wasn't worried about him..

He was walking out, just as we were arriving... We saw Julie being escorted to the elevator and we saw Justin Brown leaving..

"Looks like someone beat us here." said Olivia.

"He didn't beat us to the buffet table though.." said Beverly...

Olivia, always amused by her niece's sense of humor laughed...

"If you don't stop." she said..

"Looks like she already has counsel." I said to Olivia.

"I see that...He looks like a Public Defender...I'm still curious.. Let's find out the time of her arraignment ...I want to see what kind of defense he mounts." said Olivia.

 

"I'll find that out for you." I said , exiting...

"You care about this  case Auntay...I know you... We are going to take it."said Beverly..

"If she wants us to....If he's in agreement...We can't just take it....It's his case...but anyhow...Nelson, go call our Bail Bondsman..." said Olivia.

"I'm on it Liv." said Nelson.

''Yeah, we are taking the case."laughed Josie, smiling.

"Lt. Tragg's head is gonna explode." laughed Bresha as we left the precinct. This time without a confrontation with Lt. Tragg.

II-

COURTROOM C- 2:00 PM

''So Look..Everybody saw the altercation between you two...He fired you, didn't even open up your present and you called him a son of a bitch and stormed out....Then you're caught on camera returning to the scene of the crime...just minutes after his death...Face it they got motive and opportunity...They got you...So I'm saying, plead to Manslaughter, diminished capacity and I'll get you 10-15....I'll plead it down to maybe 5 years incarceration, 10 years probation....I swear , you won't do more than 5 years ." said Justin Brown.

''What kind of defense is that? I'M INNOCENT...I DID NOT KILL ARTIE MACKLIN...I DO NOT EVEN OWN A GUN."protested  Julia Romney...

"Look baby..I believe you...but in this court game, there is what you can prove...We can't prove your innocence." said Justin Brown...

"You didn't even try...I'm not pleading guilty to something I didn't do...." said Julia Romney...

''And you shouldn't..."said Olivia. "I'm sorry I didn't get back with you right away Julia and by the time I called..it was too late, you had been arrested. If you'll have us..we'll take over your case." said Olivia..

Justin Brown was astounded...star struck...

"OLIVIA BENNETT-ALEXANDER!!!! THE LEGEND!!  BEVERLY WEST!!....NELSON EAST!!! YOU GUYS ARE LEGENDS IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE....THERE IS PHOTOS OF YOU THREE ON THE WALLS......But what are you doing here?  You don't do pro bono?" he said..

"I do sometimes.. If you like...We can piggy back on this case with you...We've done that before,I have my husband here...He's an Investigator.." said Olivia...

 

"Pleased to make your acquaintence..." I said.

"And my niece, Beverly, you know of her...

and her husband, Nelson...you know of him....

And my associate attorney, Josie Boyd

and my other associate attorney, Bresha Billips....what do you say?" asked Olivia.

"Normally, I would be flattered Olivia, but I've got five other cases that require my attention at this time...You know how it is...You were once on this grind.." said Justin Brown...

"You're preaching to the choir Justin... I had ten at one time.....my future hubby at the time split the cases with me ,so we could give them all adequate defenses...."said Beverly..

"Man, I know what you're going through...So if you don't mind...We'll take this one." said Nelson..

"You got it...Good to you Ms. Romney....I mean that...really....Olivia, Beverly, Nelson...Great meeting you in person.....Good luck to you all..." said Justin as he got up and walked out...

"Okay, this is case 904.....Defendent, Julia Louise Romney, charge is first degree murder how does the defendent plead?" asked Judge Julie Wong...a favorite judge of ours...

"We plead NOT GUILTY Your Honor...Olivia Bennett Alexander for the defense...assisted by

Attorneys Beverly West-East, Nelson East, 

"Thank You  Olivia...Thank You All.." said Julia Romney, now in tears....She was a year older than Beverly, Nelson and Josie.She was like one of our youngins..

 

I put my arm around her and hugged her as she sobbed..

Beverly took some tissues out of her purse wiped her tears.

Nelson, Josie and Bresha all stood quietly...

And then a woman familliar to Olivia, Beverly and Nelson, but not to us showed up...Assistant District Attorney, Elaine Young showed up...

"Your Honor...This defendent is accused of a brutal crime of passion and should be held in custody without bail." she said.

They didn't have any charactor witnesses, but Olivia, Beverly, Nelson, Josie and Bresha argued that our client had no priors and no history of violence and bore no threat to the community....

Judge Wong didn't like people with no priors being locked up...She set bail at 100K, which we thought was excessive...

Our Bail Bondsman put up the $10,000.00  for her and we all walked out of  court....

Lt. Tragg was livid...

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!" he said and stomped his foot.....

"Ohhhhh thank you.,...Thank you...." said Julie Romney...

"Thank you guys....but I called a Public Defender....I can't pay you guys...." said her father, Robert Romney...

''We are taking this case pro bono sir."said Olivia.

"Pro Bono...Who is he?" asked  Robert Romney...

"That means it's free daddy."laughed Julie, hugging her father..

"Oh, well thank you...Let me do something...Come on over to Sam Mother's Diner.. Your lunches are on me!! Come on!" he said.

"Okay...My staff aren't ones to turn down a free lunch."laughed Olivia.

 

"No, not at all."I laughed...

"I know my husband isn't."laughed Beverly...

Nelson just laughed... He loved Beverly referring to him as "Her Husband.."

Josie laughed out loud...

'Well let's not just stand here...Let's go." said Bresha as we left the courtroom...

ADA Elaine Young stared at us...

"Olivia certainly has come up since last we met...She was a public defender, her and her niece and Nelson East.... Since we last met..Olivia has gotten married, Her niece and Nelson hace married each other and she's added two additional attorneys...She's got her own firm...I thought I'd be farther along in my career by now... but here I am and once again...I'm trying a case against her ....With ole Handsy hank, Lt. Tragg as the main investigator.." she said.

III-

SAM MOTHER'S DINER-

As much as we liked this diner, as much history  as we had with this diner... We avoided eating here...because a certain Police Lieutenant made it almost impossible to eat in peace...

This afternoon, we were the guests of our client's father... Retired detective, Robert Romney...

who was treating us to lunch....

"Eat up kids....This is just a small way I can say thank you for defending my daughter..." he said.

We all had Hot Roast Beef Specials , Corn Beef Specials, Onion Rings and Cokes...

"Ummm this food is soo good...I love this place." said Olivia.

 

"Before I met you, when I came up to Philly to play gigs...the guys used to bring me here...." I said, smiling , while eating my Hot Roast Beef Sandwich and Mashed potatoes.

"Ummmmmmmmm, Ummmmph ..I've always been partial to the Hot Roast Beef sandwich they serve here..I know Curley's makes a good one...but Sam Mother's tops that...What do you think lover?" she asked Nelson.

"I don't know...I haven't had Curley's. But you're right about this one...It is delicious!!" said Nelson, who was really chowing down.

So was Josie...

"Ummmmmm this is good...I can't imagine anybody topping this..ummmmmmm.." she said..as she wiped the gravy off her fingers.

Bresha was eating a Corn Beef Special like Julia, but she weighed in...

"Ummmmmmmmm, yes...Well you should try Curley's and then compare...They're both good.." said Bresha, really enjoying her food.

"I've only had Curley's Corn Beef, Not his Roast Beef.." said Julia's father, Robert Romney....

Julia sat smiling and laughing at her father and her new attorneys, eating and getting along...

That good feeling was short lived.... We looked up and Lt. Tragg was standing over us, staring balefully...

"I don't understand you guys....This broad killed your friend....and she doesn't have much money and yet you're defending her....She had a lawyer...and you took the case from him.... She's as guilty as hell!" he said.

"You always say that and we always prove you wrong." said Beverly..

''We think she's innocent..We were there that night..." said Olivia.

''Still takin shortcuts Junior.. You're just like your old man....Go for the easiest most obvious target...Have you checked into the victim? do you know if he had any enemies...I understand he had enemies out the door and around the corner, but I know you...You haven't looked into a one of em...You haven't checked for fingerprints, DNA...probably haven't read the autopsy report..Takin short cuts....but it gets you good press." said Robert Romney...

"You Old Rummy, I thought you were dead....I had no idea you were this girl's father...Still, you aint on the job anymore...You let Detectives who know what they're doing handle this case, okay?" said Lt. Tragg..

"That's what I was hoping for...Why are you on it?" said Robert Romney.....

 

We couldn't help but laugh....

That was all thin skinned Lt. Tragg could take...He Angrilly stormed off...Heading toward the counter.

Assistant District Attorney, elaine Young walked in just then...

"Hello Olivia...It's been awhile hasn't it?" she said.

"It has been......Years....." said Olivia.

"You have your own firm now....a far cry from your Public Defender days huh?" she said.

''I was in the Private Sector for awhile..." said Olivia.

"I was also...then I had to come back....We must do lunch one day after this  trial is over."said Elaine.

"Yes , We must.."said Olivia.

A Little while later...we all met at our Office/Duplex-

"This is a nice set up you guys have here Olivia.." said Robert Romney...He and Julia had been given the royal tour..

OLIVIA AND I's PLACE on the third floor..

BEVERLY AND NELSON'S PLACE on the second floor...

OUR LAW LIBRARY in the adjacent building...

OUR MEDIA ROOM, also in the Adjacent building...

"Olivia.. when I left there that night...I was angry, furious....but I didn't kill anybody...I don't even own a  gun...I went to the Pawn Shop...Here are my slips and receipts...He gave me $1200.00 for my cameras...I didn't even get a chance to spend it."said Julie.

"You keep it..pay your bills with it, whatever.....I don't want to keep you from eating..."said Olivia.

 

"Did you know of any enemies Artie Mallick may have had?" I asked..

"A lot of the photogarphers who worked for him hated his guts, Male and Female....He was very high handed with us...when it came to pay and he talked to us like we were dirt...but I don't think anyone wanted to kill him...."

"I'm going to check on his employee list....I'm going to talk to all of them, see if anybody was in debt, see where everybody was that night." I said.

"See that's real police work...Uh Huh!" said Robert Romney with approval..

"I was a Homicide Detective before I came to work for her." I explained.

"I thought so,....." said Robert Romney, smiling..

" Julie...this is a Burner Phone... I want you to forget our office number and any of of our personal numbers.." said Beverly..

"We change the sim card after every case....Write this number down and if you have any problems, any questions...You call us at this number...on this phone...."explained Nelson.

''We usually put people up in a hotel....but I think you'll be safe with your dad..."said Josie..

She handed her a Portal...

"You being a Photographer, I know you know what this is...It's a Portal..We will give you daily updates on the progress we are making on your case....This way you don't have to come here...and you can keep a low profile at your dad's house...He seems like he can handle Lt. Tragg, should he come calling."said Bresha.

"He stops over here more than we would like...We could use your dad here." laughed Alfreda.

"Thank you guys so much for everything.." said Julie..

IV-

NIGHTFALL CAME-

Olivia and I were in our bedroom...

She was looking up our Assistant District Attorney, Elaine Young...She liked to know who she was up against....

ELAINE ELIZABETH YOUNG-

Born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey...

Graduated from Elizabethtown High School..

Valedictorian..

Bachelor's Degree from Rutgers University where she studied Pre Law /Administration of Justice...Trial Advocacy

J.D.- Princeton Law School.

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

Assistant District Attorney in Camden County , New Jersey

Assistant District Attorney -Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Married Attorney James Wickersham of Philadelphia PA.

Moved to Philadelphia...Joined the Wickersham Law firm...

Wickersham was disbarred and is presently serving a Federal Prison term of 10 years for Wire Fraud, Identity Theft and extortion of several clients...

Divorced from Wickersham...

Assistant District Attorney-Philadelphia Pa.

Associate Attorney -Mccluskey/Cozen/Connor & Pratt

Associate Attorney - The Harris Group

Married Attorney Roderick Nellis...

Nellis was killed by the husband of a woman he was having a torrid affair with...

Assistant District Attorney-Philadelphia

"WOW! She's been through it huh?" I said peeking over Olivia's shoulders...

"Yeah, she's really come full circle...." laughed Olivia, folding her laptop up and placing it on the counter..

"I'd better help you get all of that out of those boxers." she laughed as I hurriedly undressed..

"OHHH MY LORD, LOOK AT YOU! OUUUUUUUU!" she cooed.

"LOOK AT YOU!" I said, watching her slip her panties off...

Olivia was both Horny and a little ambivalent, I suspected..

We had been kissing for a long time..

I pulled her to me and dropped my trousers...Hiked her babydoll up and bent her over the bed....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!" she moaned as I entered her.. "You've been wanting to do this all day haven't you?" she said.

"Yesssssssss!" I moaned as we went at it hard for about  AN HOUR!

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMPH!" I moaned...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU  I CAN TELL...OUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! I'VE WANTED YOU TO DO IT TO ME TOOO! OUUUUUUU!!! OH MY GOD!!!! OUUUUU!!" she cooed softly..

"YESSSSSSSSSSSS!" I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUU " said Olivia.  "UMMMMMMM OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she hollered..

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!" I moaned.

I was near delirium!

"YES.....YES....YESSSSSSS..OHHH YESSSSSS! GIVE IT TO ME!!! YESSSSS , GIVE IT TO ME STRONG!!" Olivia demanded as we wound up on the bed room floor for  TWO HOURS....really going at it...I did my best to oblige her..

I lifted her petite body up and began long stroking her..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU....UMMMMMMM...OHHHHH DONNIE RAYYYY...OUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!" she moaned..gasping for breath... Another TWO HOURS passed by..This was the ride of my life...I didn't know if I was coming or going..She was still so soft, so wet, smelled so good...Kissed me soooo softly....

I put her down, she leaned into me..We had stopped to catch our breath...

"WOW!! ,Let's get in the bed..!" she laughed..

She took me by the hand and led me  into our bedroom where we undressed..

We sat on the side of the bed, kissing, while she moved up and down on me..

"Ummmmmmmmmm you feel so gooood!" she exclaimed in between butter soft kisses..

"OOOOOOHHHHHHH, SO DO YOUU!" I moaned.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" she screamed..as I entered her.....

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" I yelled out....

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU DONNIE RAY...MYYYY GOODNESS!" she cooed..

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.....OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..AWWWWWWW LAWD!" I exclaimed.

"I make you feel very good don't I?" she asked innocently...

"YES YOU DO!!! YOU SURE DO!" I replied..

She giggled like a school girl.

and then for the next EIGHT TO NINE  HOURS, we were in bed ,making slow, sweet love..

Downstairs, Nelson and Beverly

were standing up against their  bedroom door kissing passionately until they couldn't stand it anymore.

Clothing came off, Boxers, Panties and Bras came off.

"OUUUU HUSBAND, UMMMMMMMMMM HUSSSSSBAND!" she cooed.

"BEVERLY, I LOVE YOU, I JUST LOVE YOU SOO MUCH!" Nelson declared as he parted her legs and entered her slowly and softly...

"NELSON, I LOVE YOU TOOO!! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she cooed.

 and he lifted her petite body up and long stroked her in the corner...Beverly's loud howls of pleasure resonated outside the window.. She admired Nelson's stamina.. He held her up like that for THREE HOURS!

"OUUUUUUUUUUU!   YESSSSSSSSSS, YESSSSSSSS OUUUUUUUU HUSBAND, DO IT TO ME!!" she yelled.

"OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!   OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, OHHHHH MY GODDDD!" exclaimed Nelson..

Beverly was soft and wet and smelled good....She kissed him slowly with butter soft kisses...He was close to exploding..

Their soft sweet moans could be heard if you stood close to the window..So could Olivia and I.

Nelson was going to town...He had Beverly on the bedroom room floor..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" cooed Beverly loudly...ANOTHER TWO HOURS passed by,,

Beverly had Nelson hollering too!

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUU...LAWDDDDDD!"

She was riding him! slowly, softly like a surfer rides the waves on their bed...

They finally made it to their bedroom , they wound up making slow and sweet love on their bed for the next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS....

Beverly was riding him some more.. and kissing him slowly...

" Baby ,We've been doin the complete nasty a lot.. a whole lot.." she said..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I knowwwww.. ouuuuuuuuuu I knowww.." he said..

She continued to ride him slowly...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!" she yelled to the top of her lungs.

"Nothin wrong with that!" said Nelson..

"NOT AT ALL...OUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" screamed Beverly.

We worked hard...We loved and played hard too!

.(TO BE CONTINUED)