The Photo

Sean walked into the deli... 
 

He smiled...He saw the person he was looking for sitting in the back...

Kathy Elliot...He hadn't seen her since the trial...The trial in which she had been a murder defendant and he had been a juror.  She had been acquitted....Thanks largely to him being the Jury foreman and steering the jury the right way...

"Hello Mr. Marks...I must admit I was surprised when you called me ,wanting to meet with me." she said.

She was having breakfast...

"This is a deli...I didn't know they served breakfast here too!" said Sean...

"Oh Yes... They serve Breakfast until noon.. They make some of the best Hoagies and Deli Sandwiches in the area...." she gushed..

She had moved out of the loft she had once lived in with her murdered lover, Zack Roman...Too many bad memories...She was now in a different part of town in a nice neat apartment.

''So uh what did you want to talk to me about.?" she asked.

"I need two favors from you... One I need you to go to court with me and get a transcript of your trial...and two...can you get me into your old loft?  Do you know the manager?"  asked Sean..

"I can do better than that...I still have the key to Zack's loft...When I moved ,I turned in my key, but forgot that he gave me an extra key...I don't think anyone has moved in there...If we hurry...We can go over there after we eat...We'll take my car...Then I'll bring you back to your car." said Kathy.

"That'll be great."said Sean...

He ordered Pancakes.

Hash Browns

Sausage

and coffee.

"So what is this about?" asked Kathy Elliot.

"It has long bothered me that Zack was brutally and cruelly murdered and that his killer is still out there,unpunished." said Sean.

Kathy got silent... " I loved Zack...I did...Since he's been gone...I haven't even thought about dating anyone else...Zack was a sweet guy....but he had his darkness about him.....He never said....He said it was better if I didn't know....but he said..He couldn't believe the depravity of some people... I asked him who, but he wouldn't say. He said it was better if I didn't know."said Kathy.

"Have they moved his things out of his loft yet?" asked Sean.

"I don't think so... His people are coming from D.C. to pick up his stuff at the end of the week.

"Washington D.C. I met my wife Brooke there...We were both working at the U.S. Attorney's Office..and we were both the same age and from Philly...After a short courtship...We got married....My family was at least cordial...Her family was against it and refused to come to the wedding.  Her friends didn't dig it either....And after awhile we just decided to divorce....We never stopped loving each other.

We both left D.C.  Brooke wound up working at the Public Defender's Office and later became an Assistant District Attorney... I stayed with the U.S. Attorney's Office and became a Federal Public Defender...

Our paths crossed each other again and we decided to get married again , this time for keeps...This time we are surrounded by accepting friends...and live in an accepting enviroment." said Sean.

"I saw your wife in court during my trial...

She was always smiling at you...She's beautiful....You are a lucky man.." said Kathy.

"Thank you....I am.." said Sean smiling as they both finished their breakfast..

They drove over to the loft where Zack Roman last lived....

The chalk outline of his battered body was still on the floor.

Brooke shed a few tears...

"Oh My God!" she said.

They went through the drawers.....in one drawer...there was panties...

Kathy blushed.. "Oh My God, these are mine....This was my drawer...for uh when I stayed over..."she said. She packed them into her pocketbook.

Sean smiled..There was no need for any explanation...They kept looking...and searching through drawers and closets...

In the bottom drawer , They found a photo......

The Photo was taken in Curley's Bar... The Photo was dated July 2016...In it was Judge James Wilson, Assistant District Attorney Lucas Fuentes, Former Federal Investigator, William "Bull" Bailey. a man I did not know and Zack Roman....

Sean showed the photo to Kathy......

"Do you know any of these people?" I asked.

"That's the Judge in my case.. I didn't know he knew Zack...Zack never mentioned him or any of these men."said Brooke.

"Standing next to the Judge is Assistant District Attorney Lucas Fuentes...I think he has moved on to another position....My wife used to work with him....Standing next to him is William "Bull" Bailey, former Homicide Lieutenant, Former Federal Investigatior...My wife worked closely with him at one time...Today, he works as a guard at the House of Corrections and Valhalla Women's Correctional Center. This other guy, I don't know who he is...and there is Zack...."I said.

"Zack used to be a Valet, a driver....He drove some pretty heavy hitters.. That's all I know about his past."said Kathy..."I certainly never knew he knew Judge Wilson...Judge Wilson should have recused himself from my trial." said Kathy..

"Yeah Judge Wilson should have done a number of things ." said Sean dryly...

II-

The Next Day at Breakfast...Sean showed us the photo.

"Oh wow, look at this...practically a rogue's gallery...."I said laughing at the photo..

"Oh wow, everybody's favorite Judge...and look who else is with him, sleazy Lucas Fuentes, your old boss Brooke."said Natalie..

"And William "Bull" Bailey, as in former federal investigator, now prison guard..." said Brooke.

"Who is the other guy?" asked Sean...

"Don't know him." I said.

"Don't know him either..."said Natalie.

"I know him or rather knew him...That's Paul Lagerfield...He was an Attorney..." said Karen...

"You said knew him...He's dead?" asked Sean...

"I don't know....He was having drinks at Curley's Bar one night in August 2016...He left at around 1:30 am...and was never seen or heard from again.."said Karen...

"Ouu that's spooky!" said Natalie...

"Just vanished off the face of the Earth huh? Wow!" said Brooke.

"Vettie can tell you about him...Vettie,look at this photo." said Karen..

 "Oh look a rogues gallery.....Where did you find this picture???...It's eight years old... That there is everybody's favorite Judge, though he wasn't a Judge then...He was a very ambitious attorney looking to make partner...He had tried and failed while at McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt... and was now up for it again at his new law firm...Heston and Clarke...Only this guy here, Pretty Boy Senior Associate Attorney Paul Lagerfied was up for it too and beat him out for it..Needless to say, our favorite Judge was not too pleased...He left Heston and Clarke and accepted a position as Assistant District Attorney.He ran unsuccessfully for District Attorney and eventually left, running for and winning a seat as Common Pleas Court Judge in 2018....." said Yvette.

"Was there an Investigation?" asked Sean..

"Oh yeah, a six month investigation...that lead nowhere...The case is still open...No usage of credit or debit cards....No phone usage...no nothing!  He stepped out of Curleys that night and into the darkness."said Karen..

"So this Paul Lagerfield fellow made partner at Heston and Clarke...huh?" said Keith Jones..

"Not a name partner, a Managing Partner, like me.....They were getting ready to give him a suite and his own staff when he vanished without a trace.One day he didn't show up for work...They called him, went to his house...Nothing...Mail piled up..Bills piled up...and nothing..Never seen or heard from again."said Yvette.

"He was younger and good looking...I could see that really getting under old Judge Wilson's skin." said Bee Bee.

"Well he made Judge within the next two years...Why?" asked Sofia..

"Because that strikes me as being the way he is...Petty and competitive.."said Kahlil.

''And this guy just vanished into thin air?" asked Jade.

"Yup....I remember him..and I remember the search for him...There was a nasty rumor that he was fooling around with Judge Wilson's wife, but nothing came of it though." said Virginia.

"That's because the Judges wife vanished too, without a trace...just days after Lagerfield did...This was in the summer of 2016...She was declared legally dead last year...I don't know about him."said Jetty...who is the young guy on the end of the table.?" he asked.

"Him? His name was Zack Roman and he is dead..He was murdered weeks ago... I was the Jury foreman at his girlfriend's trial...She was acquitted..." said Sean.  ''We went to his loft today and I found that photo." he said.

"Well one thing I'll say...It's obvious the Judge was an acquaintence of his...Even if it was 7 years ago...He had no business being a part of that trial...He should have recused himself." said Natalie.

"Yes he should have." said Brooke.

"He did everything he could to kneecap the defense....He was very biased , bending real close to the prosecution. Everybody noticed it." said Sean.

"And Nobody knew at this point that the Judge was somehow acquainted with this guy, the murdered guy?" asked Jazzy...
 

"He might not have been acquainted with him...The photo looks like five guys having a drink...Maybe the murdered guy was there with this Paul Lagerfield."said Dabnis.

"I wonder if the Judge was aware Lagerfield was fooling around with his wife..? Wonder if the murdered guy knew about it." laughed Kayla.

"That was just a nasty rumor...Never proven. You could write a mystery novel Kayla." said Ray..

"Yeah I could, couldn't I?" laughed Kayla.

''That would be cool." said Jessica,laughing.

"It still makes an interesting story. Guy beats him out for Partner and Beats his time with his wife." said Chip laughing.

" Funny...That talk went around for a month... The Judge was investigated and cleared of any wrong doing and the matter was dropped.  It's something to look into...but neither Fuentes or Bull Bailey will talk to you Sean.. Fuentes is still angry about Brooke being exonerated at his expense and the embarrassment costing him a run at the States Attorney position." said Karen.

''And Bull Bailey hates your guts because you have Brooke and he's had the hots for Brooke for years."said Natalie.

"Damn Brookie,you sure hook the interesting ones." I said,laughing..

"Don't remind me...ewwwwwwwwwww!" said Brooke.

"Hmmmmmmm you're right...I can't talk to anyone in this photo still living...but I need to get to the bottom of it." said Sean.

"You need a Private Investigator....Someone who's good....discreet."

"Milt Lewis.." said Lem.

"Yeah, that ole hound dog will get to the bottom of things." said Renee.

"Yeah, he's good...Used to be a cop." said Tyrell.

"The Best P.I.'s are the ones who used to be cops.....Donnie Ray, Jade for example.." said Paris.

"Yeah!" said Tony....

At this very moment...

At the former loft of the late Zack Roman..

Dressed in all black, Judge James Wilson went through the loft with a fine tooth comb, looking for anything ,anything linking him to Zack...He found nothing.

He was sweaty but satisfied..

"I should have done this during the trial, but there was too much of a police presence. He has nothing..

I've erased his laptop and his phone...I'm in the clear..." he thought, smirking...just in case somebody was looking into this murder further....He was certain this murder was now a closed case...even if the woman set up to take the fall was acquitted..

He left the loft...never to return again.

III-

The Next Day Kathy Elliot went to the Office and ordered a copy of her trial transcripts... I was waiting for her outside.

"Here you go....The Transcripts of my trial.." said Kathy Elliot..

"Thank You!   Say Kathy, you got a place you can stay for a few days? " asked Sean..

"Funny you should ask that.....I have some relatives in Rochester, New York...They've been wanting me to visit them for awhile now and they have some job prospects for me..." said Kathy....

"I think you should go visit them as soon as possible...Don't tell anyone where you are going...and use cash as long as you can.." said Sean.

"I've already packed....I'm driving up.. If I get a good job....I  might not be coming back! ..It's that serious huh?" she said.

"It's that serious! We are talking about a man with connections who will stoop to any low to cover up whatever he is hiding...including I think...Murder....I think Zack knew something....Something he kept secret that may have cost him his life and I aim to find out." said Sean.

"Ouuu Scary stuff....Okay...I'm out of here tonight..." she said.  "good Luck and you take care of yourself." she said.

That night she packed up her car and left Philadelphia, headed for Rochester, New York,,,,She was an out of work singer and actress...Her relatives promised her a new job in Rochester....I was glad she was safe..She had been through enough....

That night Judge James Wilson , dressed in black paid her apartment a visit...and found she'd moved out with no forwarding address...

He had heard through the grapevine that she had ordered a copy of the transcript of her trial...He wondered why...

He began to sweat a little bit , but on his drive home he consoled himself that there was nothing in it that a pea brain like her could find to use against him.

Later that night

"Sean is really serious about investigating this Judge...He has the transcripts to the trial he was involved in..." I said.

"He is so careful that he has them locked in the safe at Olivia and Beverly's house...So that this Judge and his operatives won't find them in any of the usual places like an office or a safe deposit box."laughed Natalie.

"How careful is Sean?" I laughed.

"Very...This Judge has a lot of friends and is very well connected. He doesn't want to be found out just yet..." said Natalie.

"Ummmm Lawd Natalie..." I said.

"Lawd Natalie What?" asked Natalie, smiling....

I began kissing her...

"Damn Natalie, you look gooood!" I said.

"Think so?" she asked , giggling

"Ummmmmmmm yeahhhh! I know sooooo...Ouuuuuuuuuu" I said.

"Well thank you.....You've been staring at me all day...." she said.

"I think I just give you a big boner that's all." she said.

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu you do....and I'd like to put it inside you.." I said.

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu....ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!" she moaned..

"Permission to enter.." I said,laughing..

"Permission granted.." she whispered.

I unsnapped her bra...

and slipped her panties down....

and placed her on the dresser, spreading her legs wide open and thrusting wide into her wet and warm center....

"WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU DAVID!" she screamed...her head turning from both sides, sweat and tears running down the side of her face...

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWD!" I cried out...

"WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU DAVID! WOUUUUUUUUUUUUU! "she wailed... her head turning from side to side.....and she holding on to me for dear life...She was having a surprisingly quick intense orgasm......

"NATALIE....EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU TURNS ME ON!" I cried out..

"I'M GLAD OF IT!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! YESSSSS! YESSSSSSS! UMMMMMMMMMM HUSBAND!" she screamed. her body continuing to tremble......

Next Door-

"I'm worried about you Sean, I don't want to be a widow if what you say is true..." said Brooke.

"I'm not afraid of him......Olivia and Beverly and their team and Yvette and her team and even that Public Defender,Adam Clarke defied him and none of them were thrown in jail for contempt and they managed to all win their cases despite his interference..." said Sean.

"He may let that slide...but when he finds out you're investigating him, he won't let that slide. He wants to be appointed to the Federal Bench badly."said Brooke.

"On The Federal Bench, He'd be even more dangerous!!!  I'm not afraid of him...not in any way...He's a small, petty man, a frightened little boy, a bully who uses intimidation and his position to get his way...And I tell you one thing...He'd better not put his hands on you again or screw an investigation...I'll beat him to within an inch of his life..."said Sean...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuu you get me excited when you talk like that.."said Brooke laughing...

"You get me excited just breathing..." said Sean...

"I know and I see..."laughed Brooke.. "Ouuuuuuu look at youuu!" she laughed.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm Chocolate daddy." she cooed.

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Vanilla!" he moaned, calling each other by their nicknames.

He unsnapped her bra...

"Oh My God Brooke." he said.  His hands shaking..

She softly rubbed his hands...

"Sean it's okayyy, It's Okay.." she whispered softly..

and he slipped her panties down...

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWD! OH MY GODDDDD!" he moaned..

He parted her legs and entered her...She was so soft, so wet ,so warm....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!  WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! LAWDDDDDDDDDDD! BROOKE!" he moaned...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GODDDDDD!!OUUUUUUUUUUU
WOUUUUUUUUU!" she screamed. Tears flowed down her cheeks!

Her body trembled and she had a quick almost embarrassing orgasm....

He seemed as if he couldn't get enough of her...She couldn't get enough of him.....

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.LAWWWWWWWWWWD BROOKE, MY SWEET VANILLA!!!" he moaned.

The bed squeaked loudly and the headboard rattled....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! CHOCOLATE DADDY!!!" she moaned.. 

They made sweet, sweet  love for the next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS~!

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!  WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! I'M LOSING MY MIND!" she cooed.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! LAWDDDDDDDDDDD! BROOKE! SO AM I" he moaned...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GODDDDDD!!OUUUUUUUUUUU
WOUUUUUUUUU!" she screamed. Tears flowed down her cheeks!

Her body trembled and she had another quick  orgasm....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUU I LOVE YOU!"she cried out!

"I LOVE YOU TOO!" he moaned.

Outside their windows-

Dressed in all black, Judge Wilson could only see the outlines of both women's bodies.. but he could hear their moans and their coos.... Hearing Brooke moan and coo drove him mad... Especially since a Black man was the one making her moan and coo. It should be him, he thought....

He stomped his foot in anger and stormed off...He was indeed a scary and obsessive man.

 

 IV-

THE OFFICE OF JUDGE JAMES WILSON-

"What do you mean they still have questions about me? What Questions?" asked Judge Wilson..

"Just a few weeks ago some attorneys took you before the Board of Ethics, tried to get you removed from a case,citing bias towards the prosecution and very bad and rude behavior on your part...That never looks good..." came the voice on the other end of the phone..

"Attorneys always get mad when rulings don't go their way....Their little feelings got hurt is all and besides they failed to get me removed..." he retorted..

"Just Barely....7-5.... 2 votes saved you from major embarrassment...and then during the same trial a State Appellate court overturned one of your rulings...a ruling that shouldn't have even been made....Again not a good look at all..."came the voice on the other end of the phone.

"Loook, these attorneys were just angry.....Their feelings were hurt, that's all..."he said.

"Then there is the problem of your public image there in Philly of being a Bully....Your last case...You threatened the entire defense with being jailed for contempt.. They brought up good points, good legal points and you all but nullified them....That's not good jurisprudence."said the voice on the other end of the phone.

"You got somebody spying on me?"asked Judge Wilson.

"You can call it that...but we have to ensure that we are getting decent judges....Good Charactor, Fairness...etc. The Good News for you is that Senator Hawkins, a very influential Senator is still in your corner and still talking you up....Remain cool, steer clear of any controversy." came the voice.

"I certainly will...Thank you again."said Judge Wilson..

He put his phone down... His hands were visibly shaking....

We sat in our conference room at work the next day...

"Guys we have a new case and a case with a twist  to it." said Karen.

"Ouuuuuu..I like that...Seems like our friends have all had headline grabbing cases..."said Natalie.

"Yeah, but we don't want the kind of cases they had if you know what I mean." said Brooke.

"So what's up Boss Lady?" I asked.

"In February 2024, a fire destroyed the home of 49-year-old Barbara Jones. Barbara's home had extensive electrical problems, and she had spent the night with her sister after the electrician failed to show. The insurance company declared that the fire was electrical in nature. But after the fire, Jones' former roommate, Alan Olsen, approached Barbara, grabbed her by the throat and threatened to tell the police that she burned the house down unless she gave him a piece of the insurance money. 

Barbara refused and reported the assault to the police. Alan then went to the police and accused Barbara of arson, presenting audio tapes in which a female voice said she "lit a match" and burned the house down. 

Based on Alan's report, Barbara was arrested and charged with arson. At the trial, the police denied knowledge of the assault. Barbara testified that the voice on the tape was not hers, while her defense attorney highlighted Alan Olsen's extensive criminal background and argued that Alan had fabricated the tape to get back at Barbara for refusing to pay him. Barbara was convicted of arson and sentenced to nine months in jail and seven years of probation.

Jessica and Chip of the Innocence Project got her conviction overturned and a new trial ordered..

That is where we come in.. They passed this case to us.

The original Defense Attorney was bullied by the Judge and came to court sleepy or inebriated on several occassions... We are asking for a new trial on account of inefficient defense cousel....

You wanna guess who the Judge was in the original case?" asked Karen.

"Oh No.." said Brooke...

"James Wilson?" asked Natalie...

"That's right....but he WILL NOT BE THE JUDGE in our retrial...I assure you of that." said Karen..

"That's good....I suspect we'll be traveling to Dolly Madison soon to see our client." I said.

"Nope you won't....She's not in jail..She was released from custody after her conviction was tossed out...She's at home....but I've already filed a motion for us to represent her as we believe she was wrongly convicted. And I have requested a new judge, any judge but him..I've made that crystal clear for a number of reasons." said Karen.

"Good!" said Natalie.

"When will we meet our client?" asked Brooke.

''She'll be coming here tomorrow." said Karen.

"Good this will be different...We won't be going to a jail or a prison."said Natalie.

"No staring down Bull Bailey." said Brooke.

"Or James Wilson." I said.

Sean walked into our office...We were almost ready for dinner.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" he asked.

Brooke and Natalie smiled and looked at him...

"So what's up?" he asked.

"Sit down Buddy." I said.

(TO BE CONTINUED)