And Redemption

BROOKE KENNEDY- MARKS

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Hallahan Catholic High School for Girls.Philadelphia PA.

B,A,- Administration Of Justice/Trial Advocacy/Pre Law- Lasalle University

J.D.- Middleton School of Law, Bayside,PA.

Speaks Spanish/French and Russian fluently.

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

Law Clerk for Pennsylvania's Chief Judge of Appeals, Carter Baum

Trial Attorney for U.S. Department of Justice's Anti- Trust Division, Washington D.C.

Married to Attorney Sean Marks, A Trial Attorney for The U.S. Department of Justice, Anti Trust Division. Washington D.C..

DIVORCED after two years. No Children.

Public Defender's Office-Philadelphia

Assistant District Attorney- Philadelphia District Attorney's office.

Married to U.S. Attorney Sean Marks

Staff Attorney-WRONGFUL CONVICTION UNIT

NATALIE JEAN TENNISON-CHARLES

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from The Philadelphia High School for Girls,Philadelphia PA.

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

JD-Georgetown University Law Center

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

Associate Litigation Attorney at Akin/Gerard/ Jordan/Hester & Field

Public Defender's Office- Philadelphia

Assistant District Attorney-Philadelphia

 Staff Attorney - WRONGFUL CONVICTION UNIT

 Married to David Charles.

DAVID KEITH CHARLES

Born in Philadelphia Pa.

Graduated from Simon Gratz High School, Philadelphia PA.

BA-Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre-Law- Temple University.

JD- Temple University Beasley School of Law

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

Speaks Spanish And French Fluently..

 Public Defender- Philadelphia PA.

Assistant District Attorney-Philadelphia District Attorneys Office.

Staff Attorney -WRONGFUL CONVICTION UNIT

MARRIED TO NATALIE CHARLES.

KAREN ALEXANDRIA PAGE

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Moved with her parents to Narberth, PA.

Graduated from Lower Merrion High School.

BA-Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre-Law-University Of Pennsylvania.

JD-University of Pennsylvania School of Law

Passed the bar in Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Deleware/New York /California

Associate Attorney -McCluskey/Cozen/Connor and Pratt

Married Civil Rights Attorney Lloyd Cantrell, Moved to San Francisco, where she worked as an assistant Attorney for Lloyd Cantrell's practice.

Lloyd Cantrell murdered and she returned to Philadelphia PA.

Assistant District Attorney- Philadelphia D.A.'s Office.

Now Supervisor- Wrongful Conviction/Conviction Integrity Unit

Married to Attorney /Podcaster/Talk Show Host- B.L. Benz.

Sean Marks

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Graduated from Northeastern High School.

B,A,- Administration Of Justice/Trial Advocacy/Pre Law- Villanova University

J.D.- Georgetown  University Law Center

Speaks Spanish/French and Russian fluently.

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

Law Clerk for Pennsylvania's Chief Judge of Appeals, Carter Baum

Trial Attorney for U.S. Department of Justice's Anti- Trust Division, Washington D.C.

Married to Attorney Brooke Kennedy, A Trial Attorney for The U.S. Department of Justice, Anti Trust Division. 

DIVORCED after two years. No Children.

Federal Public Defender- U.S. Courthouse- Philadelphia PA.

Married to Attorney Brooke Kennedy again

MATTHEW AKES JR.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria

Was brought to Philadelphia PA. when he was six months old . Has lived here ever since.

His Father, Matthew Akes Srs. Naturalized American Citizen, Attorney ,works at the International Consulate here in Philadelphia.

His Mother and Sister have become Naturalized Citizens..

Graduated from Central High School..

BA.- Administration of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre Law-Temple University,Philadelphia PA.

JD- Yale Law School

Passed Bar in Ct, MA,  Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York,

Speaks French, Spanish and Russian Fluently

Practices International Law at the International Consulate

Lee (Lisa Chou Lai) Phillips

Born in Philadelphia PA.

Her Father and Mother second generation American Citizens owned  a successful Dry Cleaning Business...

Graduated from Philadelphia High School For Girls

B.A. -Administration Of Justice, Trial Advocacy, Pre Law-Temple University.

Studied Law at Middleton School of Law for two years, suspended studies because of pregnancy..

suffered a miscarriage.

Had transcripts transferred to Drexel University-Thomas Klein School of Law, where she has been a student for a year..

Has Interned for Olivia Bennett -Alexander/Beverly West East and Associates and Yvette Jones Lockwood-Managing partner of McCluskey/Cozen Connor and Pratt and associates. The Innocence Project and other law firms.

J.D.- from Thomas Klein School of Law, Drexel University

JESSICA SANCHEZ-BURROWS  AND CHARLES "CHIP " BURROWS..INNOCENCE PROJECT ATTORNEYS

THE OFFICE OF NEWLY MINTED BAYSIDE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY  SYLVIA LIVELY....TWO WEEKS LATER!

Attorney Sylvia Lively had come a long way....She had been a Senior Associate Attorney in Philadelphia at famed Law Firm McCluskey/Cozen/Connor & Pratt until a flippant remark towards one of the partners got her fired. She sued all four of the name partners and the Managing Partner....What followed was a massive litigation that netted her zero...They settled for her getting her job back and all of her back pay.. Once re-instated, she was demoted to Associate Attorney. She lost her plush office and wound up in the cubicles again..

Several of her contemporaries snickered behind her back as they walked past her...She wasn't so high and mighty now...

After a few months she turned in her resignation....She moved to nearby suburb Bayside and took a job in the District Attorney's Office... This was going to be her first case...It looked easier enough.

She didn't know any of these attorneys....but she was certain she could get a new conviction, regardless of how many lawyers this loser had she reasoned.

DISTRICT COURT BUILDING-BAYSIDE-

"This coffee isn't as good as our coffee at home..but it'll have to do." I said as I passed out coffees to all of our colleagues.

"I don't care...It's hot and it's right on time." said Natalie.

"I feel you girlfriend." said Brooke as I passed her a coffee...

"Thanks David..."said Sean.

"I have some information for you....The ADA is a novice...and she's from Philly....Her name is Sylvia Lively..  She's the same Sylvia Lively that once worked for McClusky/Cozen/Connor & Pratt and who sued our dear friend, Yvette and her partners......Olivia, Beverly and their team and the rest of Yvette's team defended them and She wound up with nothing but her job returned to her and back pay...and to make matters worse..She was demoted after that." said Karen..

"Ohhhh my God, how humiliating."laughed Natalie.

"Can you imagine how uncomfortable that was?" said Brooke.

''So as soon as a position opened up here in Bayside....She jumped on it...I wonder if she lives here now?" I mused..

"That damn Lloyd Jenson...He succeeded in postponing our case anyway...Although it cost him his life."said Jessica.

"Yeah we were already to go...." said her husband, Chip...

"Well, we are still ready to go and I'm sure Owen is as well ." said Lee.

"Yeah, and speaking of Owen..."said Matthew..

The Bus from the city jail pulled up in front of the courthouse..

Our Client, Owen McCallister got off the bus in handcuffs...he looked well rested and hopeful, eager for a second trial....and redemption.

II-

COURTROOM B-

We had a Black Judge....None of us, having not practiced in Bayside knew who he was...We hoped he'd be fair..

"Good Morning, Good Morning Jurors..I am the honorable Judge Malcolm Fortune....I am not familliar with any of you, but I am familliar with this man and his case..Ten Years ago...I was a Defense Attorney observing this case...That's all I'm going to say about it..There is no need for a prelim in this hearing, So we are going to go straight to trial.. We will have Jury selection today...I'll be out tomorrow..So Wednesday  we will begin with trial." said Judge Fortune. "We will start today with introductions.." he said.

"I am Assistant District Attorney Sylvia Lively your honor....I'm originally from Philadelphia...I just moved here a few weeks ago and started this job after the tragic death of Lowell Jensen and this will be my first trial in any courtroom here.."said Sylvia.

"You moved on that opportunity pretty fast...The man's body isn't cold in the ground yet." the Judge joked.

The courtroom erupted in laughter..

"Alright..Alright...Next please..." he said.

"Attorney for the defense, Karen Page your honor....I am also from Philadelphia.  I am the director of the Wrongful Conviction, Conviction Integrity  of Philadelphia's District Attorney's Office." said Karen.

"Attorney for the defense, Natalie Charles your honor....I am also from Philadelphia.  I am a staff attorney of the Wrongful Conviction, Conviction Integrity unit  of Philadelphia's District Attorney's Office." said Natalie.

"I'm uh her husband...."Attorney for the defense, David Charles your honor....I am also from Philadelphia.  I am a staff attorney of the Wrongful Conviction, Conviction Integrity unit  of Philadelphia's District Attorney's Office." I said.

"Attorney for the defense, Brooke Marks your honor....I am also from Philadelphia.  I am a staff attorney of the Wrongful Conviction, Conviction Integrity unit  of Philadelphia's District Attorney's Office." said Brooke.

"I'm uh her husband...."Attorney for the defense, Sean Marks your honor....I am also from Philadelphia.  I am a Federal Public Defender, who took an interest in this case. " said Sean.

"I am Attorney for the Defense, Jessica Sanchez-Burrows of the Innocence Project your honor. I'm also from Philadelphia."said Jessica.

"I am Attorney for the Defense, Charles Burrows of the Innocence Project your honor. I'm also from Philadelphia. and Jessica is my wife."said Chip.

"I am Attorney for the Defense, Matthew Akes of the Innocence Project your honor. I'm also from Philadelphia.""said Matthew.

"I am Attorney for the Defense, Lee Phillips- Akes , also from Philadelphia ,your honor." said Lee.

"MY GOODNESS IS THERE ENOUGH LAWYERS ON THIS CASE?" said Judge Fortune.....

"You're all married I see, To EACH OTHER..." he said..

The courtroom erupted in laughter....

"And all from Philadelphia...My My...Well welcome to Bayside...We hope you enjoy our restaurants and shops while you're here." he said smiling.   He seemed like a nice man..

"Alright...Now we will have Jury selection.

Natalie and Brooke had done their research of the juror pool here and they had excellent questions...

Ironically enough, Sylvia had not...Considering this was her first case...She should have had a more 

seasoned Attorney with her...To give her tips and to help out...

Natalie and Brooke got an even 12-0 victory....Getting all 12 of the jurors they wanted.. It had been a long time since they had had such a huge victory....

Karen was ecstatic...

"MY GIRLS!" she said, smiling and clapping her hands.

"Alright!! Alright!!  We have a jury.....Trial will begin tomorrow at 10:00 AM...Attorneys and Jurors be on time and ready for trial.." said Judge Fortune.

"GREAT..We get to enjoy breakfast tomorrow morning." I said.

"I know that'll make you happy."laughed Natalie.

"Yeah, It'll make you happy too Sean."said Brooke.

"Anything is better than Eight O'Clock." said Sean.

"Or Nine." said Matthew.

Lee laughed and hugged her husband...She was just so glad he wasn't in ICE custody anymore.

"Olivia said we can use one of her buses again...So We'll meet everybody at an agreed time.."said Jessica.

"How about 8:00 AM?" said Karen...

"That works for me.." said Chip.

III-

The Next Morning..We found a Diner, right down the street from the courthouse...

"OH MY GOD!!! THIS FOOD IS SOOO GOOD!" I said.

"It is good food..."agreed my wife, Natalie.

"Next time our whole group comes out here to shop....We've got to all come here." said Brooke..

"Yes..this place..WOW! The food is incredible."said Sean.

"WOWWW! Sam Mother's Diner, take note."laughed Karen.

"Indeed!"laughed Jessica.

"We all could fill this place up!" said Chip.

"Yes we could."said Lee.

''We aren't the only people that feel that way.."laughed Matthew.

Across from where we were eating ADA Sylvia Lively was eating her breakfast....

Today was the first day of Wade McCallister's retrial.

In front of the courthouse was a throng of reporters....Newspaper and Television media.

This trial was a major story....

B.L. Benz, Karen's husband was there with his television crew to cover the trial for HARD BOTTOM, his weekly talk show.

And so...The trial began....

Owen sat and watched a new prosecutor,

Sylvia Lively, who wasn't even in law school the last time he was on trial spin the story...about Elaine Compton....Her photo was shown to the jury on a 75 inch screen...

Elaine Compton, a young woman who often drank in local bars with Wade McCallister and his friend, Joey Williams. Elaine Compton who resided in Bayside,PA., A Philadelphia Suburb. returned home from work. 

The next morning her body was discovered–she had been beaten, raped, and murdered. It was alleged that Owen McCallister, either acting alone or with Joey Williams, intentionally murdered the victim in the course of committing burglary and sexually assaulting the victim. 

 The state determined the cause of death to be from blunt force injuries and asphyxia by smothering or strangulation. 

The prosecution also produced evidence that the defendants were in possession of the victim’s car on the morning of March 2, 2016 and had sold items belonging to the victim on the night of the crime. Witnesses testified that Owen McCallister had admitted to the burglary and a forensic analyst testified that a bite mark found on the victim was “consistent” with McCallister's co-defendant, Joey Williams While the analyst excluded McCallister as the source of the bite mark, his bite mark testimony about the codefendant (which was given at McCallister’s trial) tied McCallister to the crime. Because there was not adequate empirical data on bite mark analysis, the analyst’s assertion that the bite mark was consistent with McCallister’s co-defendant was inherently prejudicial and lacked probative value. A jury convicted McCallister of capital murder and sentenced him to Death by Lethal Injection.

His co-defendent, Joey Williams committed suicide before he was to go on trial.

She went on about this , showing the jury lurid crime scene photos for two days...Asking the Jury to find Owen McCallister guilty of First degree Murder again.

Karen and Jessica brilliantly spent their time tearing her story apart piece by piece,.

Sean and I called in three Bite Mark experts from around the area, one used in trials in Bayside..

We had a model of Joey Williams mouth...They determined that the bite marks did not belong to Joey Williams or Owen McCallister.

Natalie, Brooke and Lee presented DNA Experts from The FBI, From Dr. Goggins Independent DNA Lab and from our Medical Examiner's Office in Philadelphia...They determined that the DNA extracted from the bloody shirt in Owen McCallister's apartment was not his or Joey Williams...

Matthew and Chip also used our DNA experts to determine that the DNA found in the semen that was in her body, on her panties and the saliva on her bra strap belonged to a different individual and was a match for the DNA found in the blood on the shirt found in Owen's apartment..

This all pointed to someone...Someone else other than either Owen or the late Joey Williams.

Karen gave a closing argument saying that there was enough reasonable doubt here to state that this man should have never been convicted of any crime.

Owen liked that we had given a much more aggressive and intelligent defense than he had had ten years ago.. Nobody fell asleep in court, Nobody was drunk in court...We all were nine young, highly intelligent attorneys who gave him the best defense he could have....

"Alright Jurors.....The case goes to you..." said Judge Fortune.

TENDER IS THE NIGHT-

We all came home from Bayside pretty satisfied tonight...We had stated our case as best we could....And we thought the jury...a jury of people we picked understood what we were saying.

 We settled in at our homes after the day was over...

''Wow! We did the damn thing in court today." I said.

"I knowwwwwwwwww!" said Natalie... "Hopefully The Jury thought so too!."said Natalie.

"I think they did." I said as Natalie and I began to kiss..;.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm I'm sure you're right." she said as the kissing got hotter and steamier.....

I smiled and just stared at Natalie...

"You know I love you don't you?" I whispered...

"You'd better....I don't just kiss anyone you know." Natalie giggled....

as we continued to kiss....

"Or let just anyone unsnap my bra..."she said.

"Or let just anyone slip my panties down..." she giggled...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"   I moaned...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" she moaned...

Natalie and I lay down....She opened her legs wide and eased herself down on me and  moved up and down on me slowly....She was so wet and smelled so good ,I was losing my mind....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU HUSBAND!! IS IT GOOD TO YOU? IS IT GOOD TO YOU BABY?" she asked me..

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" I cried out....

"UMMMMMMMM let me have all of it.....OUUUUUUUUUUUUU...OH MY GODDDDD!" she moaned.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH NATALIE!"I  moaned.

She began to ride me slowly....I loved looking into her pretty face and eyes....as she kissed me softly and slowly and rode me like a surfer rides the waves...

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM DAVID!!! OUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she screamed

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I cried out...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU  DAVID YOU ARE SO DAMN BIG!  UMMMMMMMM!" she moaned as she rode me softly and slowly like a surfer rides the waves and felt her whole body trembling...her head turning from side to side...and her arms flailing...continuing to kiss me.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"she cooed.

I flipped her over and entered her missionary style...She was so wet, so warm.....I was delirious...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHH NATALIE JEAN!" I moaned.

Natalie laughed.....

Natalie opened her legs even wider and spread them over my neck and arms...

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU"she cooed as our bed began to squeak even louder...

I couldn't get enough of Natalie and she couldn't get enough of me... We moved in a 

nice ,slow groove.  Waves of pleasure flowed over both of our bodies....

"I LOVE YOU DAVID." she cooed.

"I LOVE YOU NATALIE." I said softly as we made sweet,sweet love.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU HUSBAND!! IS IT GOOD TO YOU? IS IT GOOD TO YOU BABY?" she asked me..

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" I cried out....

"UMMMMMMMM let me have all of it.....OUUUUUUUUUUUUU...OH MY GODDDDD!" she moaned.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH NATALIE!"I  moaned.

EIGHT TO NINE HOURS SLIPPED SEAMLESSLY BY..

Natalie wound up sleeping on top of me peacefully as I softly rubbed her butt.

While next door...

"Ummmmmmmmmm.Tonight I'm the one who is aroused.." said Brooke.

"Oh My God, you should know not to talk like that around me." said Sean..

They began kissing...

"I know what I'm doing.." she said.

"OHHHHHHHHHHH VANILLA, YES YOU DOOOO!" he said.

Their kissing got more passionate...

"OH MY GOD VANILLA!" said Sean in between more kisses...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUU CHOCOLATE DADDY!" said Brooke.

They lie across the bed, kissing passionately...

Sean slipped her panties off of her...

"These are pretty!" said Sean...

"Thank you...I'm glad you like them." said Brooke.

He turned her over and entered her slowly.....

UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  Chocolate Daddy  this is so good!!!...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..ummmmmmmm..OHHHHHHHHHH MY GODDDDD!" she moaned..

''Vanilla , I love you." he said

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...oh my god Chocolate Daddy...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! I love you too!....OUUUUU!" she moaned as he entered her and began to go to town inside of her...

"OH  MY GOD!   I dream about this during the day."  he snarled as he thrusted mightily into her...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  DADDY!....ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.. Do you?"she cooed..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl... Yes I do!" he moaned..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..you think about me a lot.."she moaned...

"I sure do!" he said.

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd  Chocolate Daddy!" she moaned.."OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd!!"she moaned.

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....I've been wanting to do it to you all day long!" he cried out...

"I know...I know Daddy...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she cooed..

The bed was squeaking out of control...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh my god...Brookie you are so soft, so wet baby..ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.."

"Sean,ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.." she cried out...

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Brookie...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" he moaned.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Sean....ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.."she cooed..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl..." he moaned..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.."she moaned...

"Vanilla...you are sooo soft, sooo wet baby...I'm going crazyyyy.."he moaned..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Chocolate Daddy....ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....." SHE COOED... 

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned loudly...

Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd Sean!" she moaned.."OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd!!"she cried out!!!She was having another intense orgasm, her third....

NINE TO TEN HOURS of non stop lovemaking in their bed,  slipped aimlessly by...

The legs were squeaking and rocking from side to side.....the headboard was slamming against the wall..

Neither one of them could get enough of the other...The legs on the bed were rocking so hard they were in danger of cracking, yet they didn't.....

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..This is sooooooooooooooo good...Ouuuuuuuuu.." he moaned..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..Chocolate Daddy......"she squealed...

She was shaking, trembling...crying like a baby...She was having another intense orgasm...Her fourth, since they'd started...

 "Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...oh my god husband..Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" she moaned...

ANOTHER HOUR OR SO PASSED BY!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.." he cried out as he began to cum and cum hard....He was cumming so hard he felt as if he were dying....

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd husband!!" she moaned.."OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd!!"she moaned..She didn't think he'd ever cum....He was a little upset that he did cum..it was feeling so good.

Tears and perspiration running down her face..Her body trembling...she was cumming so hard, that she was shaking out of control....tears were just streaming down her face....Her head turning from side to side.

Like Natalie and I, She wound up resting comfortably on Sean's chest.....

Another nice night in our neighborhood.

IV-

TWO DAYS LATER-

"ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE JUDGE MALCOLM FORTUNE-" said the Bailiff.

Sylvia Lively looked confident like she had knocked it out of the park.....

"It bothers me that it took the jury two days to come to a conclusion."said Karen...

''And they asked all of those questions...We laid our case out pretty clear."said Natalie.

"They are intelligent jurors...and they were making sure...I'm confident in them."said a hopeful Brooke.

I hugged her..."Yeah?  I'm glad you are." I said..I was beginning to have my doubts about this jury.

None of this was heard by our client, Owen McCallister, who was looking hopeful...He had been locked up, locked away from civilization for 10 years...in the shadow of death...This was his entire life on the line.

''We got you man...regardless of what happens." said Sean..

"Yeah we got you man."said Chip.

Jessica remained stoic....

So did Matthew.

Lee held his hand tightly....

"Has the jury come to a decision?" asked Judge Fortune.

"Yes your honor, we have "said the Jury forewoman.

She passed the verdict to the Bailiff.

She passed it to Judge Fortune.

He read it and smiled... That made us look hopeful.

"Read it!" he said.

"We the jurors representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania find the defendent, Owen McCallister,

NOT GUILTY as charged of First Degree Murder." she read.

"Oh My God!  My Redemption!!  I've been acquitted...I'm Free....I'm Free to Go!" said a very happy

Owen McCallister..

"That's right....Tonight for the first time in 10 years...You are a free man...No cell, no lights out...You're free."said Lee, hugging him...

"We've arranged for you to stay in a half way house until you can get yourself together." said Matthew.

"Mr. McCallister....10 years ago, I thought you got a raw deal and now I'm going to petition the state of Pennsylvania to give you some money to ease your troubles of the past 10 years..."said Judge Fortune...

"You all did a great job defending him." he added, smiling at us.

"Thank you your honor."said Karen..

Natalie and I were in the corner enjoying a celebratory kiss....

as was Brooke and Sean...

Sylvia Lively quietly left the courthouse....She wasn't starting out too good, losing her first case...

Owen smiled, observing Natalie and I and Brooke and Sean kissing,,,He said to Karen...

"I think they need a moment " he laughed.

"I think they need rooms." said Karen, smiling.

Owen, Jessica, Chip, Lee and Matthew burst into gales of laughter.

EPILOUGE-

Owen McCallister was awarded $10,000.000.00 after taxes  for his wrongful conviction and incarceration...

Boone Jordan is missing...He has never been found and to date...Elaine Compton's Murder is still open and remains unsolved.

That Night we all celebrated at our neighborhood Steak and Seafood Restaurant...They were having a seafood fest..

It brought out the whole neighborhood. 

 "This is soooooo cool, just what we needed on a cold Friday Night." said Olivia.

"I know they miss us at the NO I.D. Bar." said Donnie Ray.

"I like this...We can at least walk home when we get ready...We don't have to wait for a bus.."said Beverly as she cracked a crab..

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm this is sooo good."said Nelson, enjoying his food.

"Yesssss...this is soo good." agreed Josie.

"Mannn, I love this..."said Paris.

"So do I...This is a nice gathering." said Bresha.

"It is...We certainly live in the right neighborhood." said Tony.

"Yes we do." said Alfreda.

"Yes indeed." said Rockland. cracking a crab and eating the part called the "Dead man", the middle.

 Yvette looked at Rockland and shook her head...

Gary also had the deadman and said to his wife.

"What are you shaking your head at girl?  That's the best part of the crab." said Gary, smiling.

"Good Crabs, Good Beer." said Keith Jones.

"I love to watch you eat and enjoy your food." said Bee Bee....

"Ummmmmmmmmmm I wish they did this every week.."said Sofia.

"Yessssss." agreed Kahlil.

"Ouuu pour me some more beer honey."said Jade.

"Definitely..."said her husband, Danny...

"This is the most fun I've had in awhile."said Virginia.

"Same here." said Jetty.

who was drinking beer and cracking crabs with a mallet.

"This is a time for celebration...Our friends won their case, got that poor man acquitted and released from prison." said Jazzy...
 

"Here , Here...Congratulations  guys." said Dabnis.

"Yes , congrats guys...We are so proud of you guys."said Kayla.

"You can have one of my crabs,."joked Ray...

"Thank you.."laughed Jessica.

"Yeah thanks guys." said Chip.

"We worked hard on that case...I was so happy we saved him from a needle and won his freedom for him..."said Karen.

"Thanks for letting me cover it...It was HARD BOTTOM's highest ratings in a month." said her husband, B.L.

"Ummm Crabs and Beers...Reminds me of Friday Nights in the projects when I was a little girl...One of the few times I bonded with my daddy." said Natalie.

I put my arm around her... "Well now you can bond with me.. Big Daddy.."I said..

"Ouuuuuuuuuu Big Daddy...I like that." said Natalie, who hugged me.... "You're my Big Daddy!" she cooed....

"Sounds sexy huh Bestie?"laughed Brooke.

"It feels so good that we won that case.." said Sean...

We were all cracking crabs with mallets and drinking beers.

"I'm so happy for you.."said Zoey..

"I had no doubt you guys were going to prevail." said Lem...

"This is sooo nice...I love this." said Renee.

"I know they miss us at the NO I.D. Bar tonight...but they couldn't top this."said Tyrell.

"Ummmmmmmmmm I love this. You know how much I love seafood." said Lee.

"What a way to celebrate our courtroom victory." said Matthew.

"Yesssss...it was close there for a minute...but you guys pulled it out."said Nina.

"You guys knocked it out of the park." said Carlos..

Our law enforcement friends were also here tonight...

''Ewww...you eat the middle of the crab? The body?" said Lt. Sissy Van Buren to her husband, Eddie C.

"What are you shaking your head at girl?  That's the best part of the crab." said Eddie C.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm this is soooo good."said Carlotta.

"Yes I'm really enjoying our night off."said ADA Keith Wallace.

"Ummmmmmmmmm girl I am really enjoying myself."said Tyriq.

"I can see." laughed his wife, Sirena.

''Enjoying your food Ang?" asked Jimmy Barlow.

"Sure Am.. I see you are too honey." said his wife, Angie.

''Ewwwwwww you're eating the middle?"said Sharon.

"It's the best part of the crab..."said Hop.

"Tell her Hop, she doesn't know what she's missing."laughed Duke.

"Oh My God!" laughed Hazel.

Across from all of us was Judge Kelly Ann and Lt. Tragg.

"All of your favorite people are here, Detectives, ADA's and Attorneys." joked Kelly Ann, knowing that jabbed at her boyfriend.

"Yeah, I see them."snarled Lt. Tragg.. "Seems like we can't go anywhere around here without running into them." he said.

"Because they all live around here....Walking Distance for most." said Kelly Ann.

"Yeah, Yeah I know." said Lt. Tragg...

As they too enjoyed the crabs and beer...

FOR SLC!