Rematch

 We all sat in the courthouse waiting area...

"Coffee's everyone." said Josie.

"Coffee." said Bresha...

They went to the coffee shoppe down the street and brought us all back steaming hot tumblers of coffee.

"Ohhhhhh bless your hearts." said Rosie, taking her cup...

"Thank you ladies ." said Olivia ,taking her cup.

"Mmmmmmm it smells good and it is good." I said,

"This trial is going to have a lot of surprises ."said Beverly as she sipped her coffee.

"It's going to be over fast too!" said Nelson.

''Don't be too over confident guys.....I know this guy, H.Stanley Stanlison...He wants to win this case badly....Let's hope we checked all of our boxes and don't get surprised by anything." said Olivia.

"He's so smug, So confident....I just want to jam this verdict down his throat."said Josie..

"Don't look, but here he comes now." said Bresha.

''Well good morning counselors..Hope you're enjoying that coffee.....Because you're going to need the boost that it gives you....I'm not planning to pull any punches today..." he said.

He waited for a response...but it was as though he wasn't there... Olivia, Beverly, Nelson,Josie, Bresha, Rosie and I just stood there, sipping our coffee's and saying nothing....

"Ohhhhhhhhhh Nothing to say eh?   I'm sure you'll have enough to say during trial...I look forward to it.."he said and walked away...

"I'm going to make him eat his words." vowed Olivia.

II-

COURTROOM A-

We were gathered for thje rematch between us and H.Stanley Stanlison.....The Murder trial of Rosie Gardenor.  This time for poisoning an  unknown man.... The man was unknown no more..  He had been identified as Henry "Hank"Gaskins, another pilot and a friend of Rance Gardenor...He hadn't been seen or heard from in three to four weeks. Rosie said although she had seen him before...She did not know him and had not been in his company.

We had a new Judge, Judge Julia Bruton..

"Good Morning Jurors , I am Judge Julia Bruton........I usually preside cases in Bayside, but I'm on loan to Philadelphia again  for this trial. Welcome to my courtroom....You've already had a preliminary hearing... so we are going to go straight to trial.. We will have Jury selection today...So Tomorrow,  we will begin with trial." said Judge Bruton.. "We will start today with introductions.." she said.

She was pretty and a pleasant woman..

"Representing the People of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Special Prosecutor, H.Stanley Stanlison, your honor." said H.Stanley Stanlison.

"Yes, I remember when you were a Common Pleas Court Judge Mr. Stanlison..."said Judge Julia Bruton..... "And Now for the Defense." she said.

"Olivia Bennett-Alexander, Lead Attorney for the Defense your honor." said Olivia.

"Beverly West-East, Co_lead Attorney for the defense, your honor."said Beverly...

"Ahh the famous Aunt and Niece team....I've long wanted you two to try a case in my courtroom."said Judge Bruton, smiling.

"Nelson East, Attorney for the Defense your honor."said Nelson.

"Josie Boyd, Attorney for the Defense.your honor."said Josie.

"Bresha Billips, Attorney for the defense your honor." said Bresha.

''Well young lady, you have a stellar legal team defending you....I wish you good luck."said Judge Bruton.

"Thank you, your honor." said Rosie.

"Now we'll have jury selection." she said.

This was what H.Stanley Stanlison had been waiting for...He had studied the jury pool almost as good as Nelson...

Nelson was laser focused and had most of his questions ready...

Josie and Bresha were there with their laptops to offer assistance , to whisper to him...

Although H.Stanley Stanlison started out strong..

Nelson won the battle with a 7-5 split going his way....Including the Jury Foreman.

Both Olivia and Beverly were as pleased as punch......Smiling broadly....

Much to H.Stanley Stanlison's dismay. He would have liked to have done better.

"Alright...OUTSTANDING!   We have a Jury..... Attorneys, Jurors be here in Courtroom A-Tomorrow

Morning at 9:00 AM...Be on time and Be ready for trial." said Judge Bruton.

III-

The next Morning was very interesting....There were a lot of surprise visitors to this trial...

Believed to be dead, Rance Gardenor was there...in handcuffs...

Brought to the courtroom by a handful of FBI agents... he had been captured in the Bahamas and brought back to Philadelphia...where we subpoenaed him.

He spoke briefly to Rosie.

"Rosie...I'm so sorry...I never meant for you to be caught up in all of this...I swear.." he said.

"Save it creep! All I want from you now is an equitable divorce.  I've got some good lawyers and I plan to get it." said Rosie.

Amber Williams was there too! Subpoenaed by us.....She too wanted no parts of Rance Gardenor or us for that matter.

Attorney Marlon Taylor was there in the visitor's section to observe the trial and to support Rosie. 

"Well, this is going to be quite a trial, with a lot of revelations coming out." said Olivia.

 

"If I wasn't apart of it...I'd love to be watching this on television." I said.

"I knowwwwww right? This has everything in it.. Murder, sex, infidelity, oh wowww!" gushed Beverly..

"I know...This should be a movie."said Nelson.

"It is a media event..."said Josie.

"Look there is B.L." laughed Bresha, waving..

Our Friend B.L. Benz was here with a camera crew..

Along with the rest of the press, covering what had ballooned into the "trial of the century"Yet another one.

Lt. Tragg was loving it...He smiled for the press and snapped photos like he usually did....

IV-

COURTROOM A-

The Rematch between us and H.Stanley Stanlison was on...

The new evidence he had was that the dead man in the plane had now been identified as Henry "Hank" Gaskins , a dashing but older pilot and friend of Rance Gardenor...

Even though he knew this and we knew it... His case was almost carbon copy of his former case..

Finally facing H. Stanley Stanlison, the special prosecutor brought in to win this thing...

He was putting on a show talking about how their recent marital problems and financial difficulties lead Rosie to plot to murder her estranged husband by poisoning his coffee...

He presented a Thermos that had her fingerprints on it and a witness..

Hank Jenkins, who said he personally saw her pass the Thermos to her husband... 

 On cross ,Olivia brought up the fact that his fingerprints were on the Thermos also...and that Rosie didn't personally give the Thermos to her husband....HE DID!  And that she delivered the Thermos with the coffee and left the airport one hour before the flight left,meaning that ANYBODY could have touched that coffee.

Beverly presented 5 witnesses who said they saw Mrs. Gardenor give the Thermos to Hank Jenkins and that at no time that morning did her and her husband interact.

Nelson dropped the big bomb..... That Hank Jenkins knew Rance Gardenor was still alive all the time and not the body in the plane????

After some wrangling, Hank Jenkins admitted that yes he did know that Rance Gardenor had switched planes at the last minute and still gave his Thermos of coffee to Hank Gaskins. He admitted that he had perjured himself in the preliminary.

This was a bombshell, that neither the prosecution or the jury expected.

Josie called Dr. Hazel Baylor, Dr. Marcy Martin and Doc Gibbons to testify that the dead man was positively identified as Hank"Hankie Pankie" Gaskins and that his body was filled with coffee, muscle relaxers and a powerful sedative.

Bresha brought up the fact that a recent check of Rance Gardenor's financials showed him alive and well in the Bahamas and in Miami the week before.

 

I smiled at Rosie and squeezed her hand tight..

She smiled too!

H,Stanley Stanlison argued that despite all that, Rosie Gardenor had no way of knowing her husband had switched planes, flying in his newer plane instead and allowing his good friend Hankie to fly in his older plane and delivered the poisoned coffee to him instead of her original target ,Rance.

Olivia and Beverly argued that Rosie delivered the Thermos to the airport and gave instructions to Henry Jenkins and left without ever interacting with her husband or Mr. Gaskins , who she did not know.

Rance Gardenor testified that his wife knew nothing of his plans to get on another plane and he didn't originally plan to fake his death. When he heard his plane had crashed and burned and an unidentified body was found on the plane that people believed was him, he decided to go ahead and be dead..This way he could escape his financial problems and start over again..

Amber Williams testified that she heard from Rance two days after he was supposedly killed in a plane crash and he instructed her to put all of her things in storage and to hide out at their "Love Nest." the apartment we first contacted her in... (She was in the process of moving out when Beverly and I fell upon her.)and to meet up with him in the Bahamas at the end of the week.

Nelson brought up the fact that Hank Jenkins had ordered The powerful sedative off of the internet..

He had his recent credit card and internet records to prove it..  He had Muscle relaxers left over from a recent back ailment he had had the year before...

"You Ordered these drugs didn't you Mr. Jenkins and you had the time to place them in the coffee, knowing that Mrs. Gardenor would be the one linked to the Thermos didn't you?" asked Josie.

He refused to answer the question.

"ANSWER THE QUESTION MR. Jenkins." demanded the Judge.

"Yes." he said meekly.

"There was rumors that Henry "Hankie Pankie" Gaskins as he was known was fooling around with your wife..and had been for awhile , is there any truth to that sir?" asked Bresha.

"YESSSSS!" said Hank Jenkins angrily, his whole body shaking.

"You spiked that coffee on purpose and gave it to Mr. Gaskins didn't you?" asked Olivia softly...

"Yes." he said meekly...

"We tried to subpoena your wife, but we couldn't find her...Neither could the prosecution...Where is your wife Mr. Jenkins?" asked Beverly softly...

"She's at the Zoo, over near the cat house...What's left of her....I killed her the night before.." said Hank Jenkins non-chalantly...

Even I wasn't prepared for that.   His admission sent a chill up everybody's spine.

All Charges against Mrs. Gardenor are dropped...Bailiffs, Take Mr. Jenkins into custody." said The Judge. "Jurors you are discharged." said The Judge..

Furious and Embarrassed that he lost again to us and in front of so large an audience, H.Stanley Stanlison turned to Lt. Tragg and said..."THIS COULD HAVE ALL BEEN AVOIDED IF YOU HAD DONE A BETTER INVESTIGATION!" he snarled.

"I DEALT WITH THE FACTS PESENTED TO ME AT THE TIME!"said Lt. Tragg in his defense.

"Nonsense ! You rushed to Judgement...You didn't give the M.E.'s Office time to properly identify the corpse...I don't even know how you got an indictment...You are the absolute worse." said H. Stanley Stanlison.

A Victorious and Jubilant Rosie Gardenor stood with us as we addressed the Press Corps. 

"This was a rush to judgement.. They charged my client before the body was even identified and then tried to accuse her of murdering a man she didn't know.  No one looked into his life to see if he had any enemies or whatever."said Olivia.

 

"In my former life as a Homicide detective, I had a case that was similar to this...I just went about it the same way I did that case." I said.

"We knew Mrs. Gardenor was innocent all along."said Beverly.

"It's a shame when you can't get people to listen to you..."said Nelson.

"You mean Lt. Tragg?" asked one reporter...

Nelson didn't go any further....He simply smiled.

"We are just glad it's over and we know our client is glad...She can go and live a normal life now..."said Josie.

"And so can we?" said Bresha.

As reporters snapped photos of us and continued to ask us questions.

"Hey Lieutenant this 0-105 for you isn't it?" asked a reporter.

The press core burst into laughter.

"Watch it Lou!"  said Lt. Tragg, leaving the press room.. They'd get no interview from him today...No chance to jeer at him and goad him into a big melee.

Lt. Tragg stomped his foot and angrilly kicked a trash can until it dented and quietly slipped out the side exit...He didn't want to talk to any reporters today.

H. Stanley Stanlison was not gracious in defeat...He was livid..Convinced that if any detective other than Lt. Tragg had been working this case...He could have won it.  His pride couldn't allow him to face  Olivia, Beverly or any of us...He walked out of the courthouse in tears.

EPILOUGE-

Rance Gardenor was convicted of Wire Fraud and of faking his death and sentenced to Three years in Federal Prison...He was released after one year....

Rosie received her divorce and a 3 million dollar settlement after taxes.....

She married Marlon Taylor shortly afterwords.....They both were offered and accepted jobs at Rollie's foundation.

Hank Jenkins was convicted of the murders of his wife, Flossie Jenkins and of Hank Gaskins and sentenced to two life sentences.

We all met at a very tony high rise in town...and enjoyed a pool party...and drinks, Thanks to our Benefactor, Rollie Rollerson.

He was thankful for our "Stellar and successful defense of Rosie Gardenor, now Mrs. Rosie Taylor.

He booked two floors (20 rooms), the bar and the pool for the entire weekend just for us in one of the hotels he was on the board of directors of.

There was a catered Breakfast awaiting us tomorrow and Sunday/..

along with a Soul Food Buffett for lunch also awaiting us.tomorrow and Sunday....

 

"Rollie is sooo sweet...He not only paid our fee....but he rented these rooms and the bar and the pool for all of us..."said Olivia.

 

"He is your best client...He's my favorite." I said.

"I'll just bet he is."laughed Beverly, sitting on her husband Nelson's lap.

"This is lit!   We got the whole bar and the pool as well as great rooms." said Nelson.

"There is another bar on the first floor for the other patrons."said Josie.

"I'm loving this."said Paris.

"Man, we've been having so much fun this summer." said Bresha.

"We work hard...but we play even better." said her husband,Tony...

"Yes Indeed!" laughed Alfreda , who was sitting on her husband, Rockland's lap.

 "This is great." he said.

"Rollie really knows how to throw a party."said Nina Rios.

"Yes he does and I for one am glad I know someone who is plugged into him." said Carlos.

"Liv, we've known Rollie since we were Public Defenders." said Jazzy.
 

"WHAT? a rich guy like him went to a Public Defender?"

"Beverly, Nelson and Jazzy and I defended the son of one of his associates, who didn't want the father's help..We won the case.. Rollie was impressed. He gave me his card.. He said if I was ever looking to move up in the world to give him a call.  I used him as a reference when I left the Public Defender's Office to work for Bang & Roach....Then when I left them to start my own firm, he came by and asked that he be put on retainer...and we've been friends ever since..Bev, Nelson and I have represented him in a half a dozen cases personally. He in turn has brought us business and clients..and has rewarded us well."explained Olivia.

"He's a good friend and a client to have." said Kayla, who had also represented a few of his friends.

"I'll say." said her husband, Ray.

"Olivia, the rooftop party was one thing...but this tops everything...A whole weekend."gushed Jessica

"The rooms are incredible...A Shower and a Jacuzzi.."said Chip..

"Ouuuuu I never imagined living so high..."laughed Karen.

"This is incredible..." said B.L.

''All the girls bought new swimsuits for this occasion."said Natalie.

"I can't wait." said David.

"We might go for a dip tonight." said Brooke.

''A moonlight dip in the pool."laughed Sean.

"We don't have to leave..."said Zoey..

"We have a catered breakfast and soul food luncheon tomorrow."laughed Lem.

"This is my kind of weekend."laughed Renee.

"Mine too!" said her husband, Tyrell.

"We've just been having soooooooooo much fun this summer." said Lee...

"I'll say, Beach Parties, Party Boat, Rooftop Parties...this, Wowwwwwwww!"said her boyfriend, Matthew.

 

 "This is soooooooo much fun.."laughed Yvette.

"Rollie really knows how to swing." said Gary...

"These rooms have a shower and a jacuzzi."said Keith Jones.

"I'm not going to be able to get you out of that Jacuzzi am I?"laughed his wife, Beatrice.

"Sure you will once he see you in the lingerie we bought or the bikinis." laughed Sofia.

"Awwwwwww my god!"said Kahlil.

"Liv and Bev need to take on more cases for Rollie...No telling what else we could enjoy." said Jade.

''A Cruise to Monte Carlo." laughed Danny.

"I'm Happy for Rosie....New Husband and all....Nice settlement."laughed Virginia.

"They're a floor above us in the Honeymoon suite."said Jetty... I uh doubt if we'll be seeing them this afternoon "he said as he sipped his drink.

He booked the honeymoon suite- a floor above us for who else....Newly married Rosie and Marlon Taylor.

"HUSBANDDDD!" said Rosie...

"WIFEY!!! COME HERE MRS. TAYLOR!" said Marlon..

"YES MR. TAYLOR-"giggled Rosie.

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" she cooed.

"We don't have to sneak around anymore.." he said.

"No..We are totally legitimate." she said.

"I'm legitimately hard right now." he said.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUU YES YOU ARE!!! MYYYY GOODNESS AND SO DAMN BIG!" she exclaimed.

They lie across the bed kissing...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" he moaned.

He slipped her panties down and off...

And then he parted her legs and entered her slowly.....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU OH MY GOD MARLON....OUUUUUUUUUU!" she moaned.....

Her body began to tremble....Her head moved from side to side and once again, tears flowed down the side of her face..She was having another quick orgasm....

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM OH MY GODDD, ROSIE!" he said.

"You've wanted to do it to me for years haven't you?  I used to catch you looking at me all the time."she giggled.

"For years." he said.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him toward her....

"OH MY GOD YOU FEEL SO DAMN GOOOOOOOOOD!  OUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! YOU ARE SOOO BIG...SO DAMN HARD!!!!OUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! " she moaned as he thrusted away....

"OUUUUUUUUUUU  ROSIE.....YOU ARE BLOWING MY MINDDD!" he moaned..

"AWWWWWWWWW MARLON....OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! UMMMMMMMMM! YOU ARE BLOWING MINE!!! OUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed.

They began making sweet love...

The bed began squeaking loudly......

"OUUUUUUUU  THIS BED IS LOUD....EVERYBODY WILL HEAR US!" said Rosie, embarrassed by the noise the bed was making..

"Trust me, everybody is either in the pool or at the bar...They aren't thinking about us...We have this whole floor to ourselves."said Marlon..

He was correct. 

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GIRRRRRRL!" he moaned..

"OH MY LORDDD!" moaned Rosie......

Her body began to tremble,. her legs began to shake and her head moved from side to side... She was having an orgasm like she'd never had before...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUWEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she yelled out..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GIRRRL" Marlon shouted.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Marlon!" she cooed.

They made love for the next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS!

They lie across the bed kissing, while she fondled his still hard penis.

She straddled him and opened her legs wide and eased herself down on him....

He was slowly losing his mind..

She rode him like a surfer rides the waves....

He didn't know if he was coming or going.....

They ended up on the side of the bed , kissing while she rode him slowly and softly for another 

TWO TO THREE HOURS.

She lie across his chess, breathing heavily....

He was breathing heavily too....He softly rubbed her butt...She smiled at him...as they both dozed off..

A Nice ending to a tawdry affair.