Murder in Germantown (28 page)

“
So we have two shooters. One female and one unknown. One or two from the school. So we are looking for someone looking to frame Wydell, or hurt Shannon Oscar?”

“
I’d concur.”

I checked my watch. “I think I better have Marsha set up a press conference and a team to get my legal research materials for this motion to dismiss.”

CHAPTER 63

“
Thank you, ladies and gentleman,” I said to the press.

They were piled in my office, and it was such an invasion, but that was where I wanted them. I really did not like media hounds, but during times like that, they served their purpose. Seated behind my impressive desk, I looked at the cameras, microphones and tape recorders and wanted to vomit. I cleared my throat, sipped a hot tea, and commenced to pollute my potential jury with the preliminary facts.

“
I have a brief description of the past few days regarding the investigation into the murders of Dr. Lawrence Miller, Shannon McKeithan, and Casey Daniel. Could you please cease with the picture taking until I am finished. Geesh. The flash is blinding me!” Stupid idiots.

* * *

Barbara tapped on her boss’s door. “Cynthia, Lemmelle is holding a live press conference.”

The DA hopped to her small portable TV and turned it on to watch the broadcast as she called the head DA.

* * *

When the reporters settled, I began my fairytale.

“
On Monday, I was retained by Mr. Wydell James to represent him against murder charges. He has maintained his innocence. He was childhood friends of two of the victims and had no motive to kill anyone on Hope Circle. He sends his condolences to the families and hopes that the Philadelphia PD leaves no stone unturned during their investigation in pursuit of the true killer.”

“
What about the gun found in James’s vehicle which has been linked to the deceased?” Aramis asked in cue.

“
I am getting to that, Mr. Reed,” I said.

I sounded like George Bush as if I knew all of the reporter’s names in the room.

“
Now, if I may proceed?”

The room hushed again, and I went on. “Excellent. This is what the defense has proven thus far. Late last Saturday, drug king pin Shannon McKeithan sat in an alcove chatting with Casey “Pooh” Daniels and Dr. Lawrence Miller. Suspect, also known to police as Shannon McKeithan threw the bash to host all of the who’s who in the Philadelphia tri-state illicit drug business.

“
Low-Down, also known on the streets as Dr. Miller, the attorney at law who has worked to keep many of the partygoers out of jail, was shot when a bullet passed through the seat which McKeithan sat in. It seems like it was a warning shot. The next three shots did not miss their marks. Mr. McKeithan and Dr. Miller both received a gunshot to the head. Mr. Daniels received a fatal shot to his
back. Several partygoers summoned the police to investigate.

“
An anonymous tip led the police to Mr. James’s Germantown home. Police officers took up position at the home of Mr. James and just so happened to have found the smoking gun hanging out on the floor of my client’s inoperable car, which brings me to alibi.

“
Mr. James, my client, is the star shooting guard for the LaSalle University basketball team. On Saturday night between seven and ten p.m., Mr. James played a ball game. He scored in excess of 30 points and had 10 rebounds. It was a hard game that wore him out. Afterward, he adjourned to his girlfriend’s dorm room and then a victory party from ten until half past midnight. He then took a cab to his Germantown home. He was home by ten after one.

“
Investigators have proven that there are at least two shooters. Bullets removed from the victims confirmed two different weapons. Hence, multiple shooters. Mr. Wydell James offered a reward of $5,000 for any information leading the police to the identity of the perpetrator of this heinous act.

“
Lastly, the defense has submitted a beautiful Motion to Dismiss the charges against Mr. Wydell James. I know because I wrote it myself.”

The media hounds laughed, rather than bark questions. Someone always had to be a bad apple, though.

“
If Wydell did not do it, then who did?” someone asked.

“
I surely didn’t,” I said.

Another round of laughter.

“
That’s all for today. I will not be answering any more questions. Believe me, if there are any significant details, I’ll be sure to ring all of you. You’ve been a delightful audience. I’ll be glad to have you back.”

They chuckled. And so did some man with cheesy bucked teeth and bifocals. The cameras were turned off, but the man who I thought was a reporter had not made an attempt to move.

“
May I assist you, sir,” I asked.

“
One crucial last question, Mr. Lemmelle. I am not a reporter, but I saw them piling in and decided to join them,” the man said, and wiped the smile off my face. “Were you as eloquent when you abused your wife, counselor?”

I remained stone faced, despite all of the reporters staring. I was on a runway and the headlights of several Boeing 747’s blinded me. I said, “That would depend on what you call abuse.” I was fishing.

“
How ‘bout grabbing her and pushing her to the bed while cursing her, Mr. Lemmelle, attorney-at-law?”

“
I wouldn’t know anything about that, sir.” I remained calm.

Outwardly I was unmoved by the mental quandary, but I wanted to call security. Who the hell was this man?

“
Sure counselor,” he said and then pulled out a thick, paper-clipped set of papers from a cheap briefcase. “You’ve been served.” I looked bizarre. “Yes, divorce papers.”

“
Thanks,” I said. “Yay for me, because I have always wanted a set of these.”

* * *

Mr. 357 walked from Rayvonne’s office with a grand smirk on his face. As soon as he stepped off the elevator, he called Ariel.

“
Hey, babe! You should have seen the fright on your husband’s face,” he said lying. “He couldn’t believe that he was served, and at a press conference. It was priceless.”

“
How’d you do that? He has seen you with me.”

“
Don’t worry I wore a disguise.”

CHAPTER 64

I blinked at the afternoon sunshine. I was pissed that I had not closed the curtains in my office before my 45-minute power nap. Ordinarily, sleeping on the job was not a necessity, but my therapist claimed that it was as therapeutic as a bath. I had no fear of becoming caught by one of the partners, either. I had a watch dog named Marsha, who was an hour late, but I paid her and ignored her tardiness. So she watched my tail.

This was an unfair day, but who did I blame? I caused the gargantuan headache that no longer broiled, but simmered. I would bet had I slept one more hour, my headache would have been gone. I looked at my watch. 12:46. Fourteen minutes to get to my lunch date. I would have to play big brother under this stress. I never had that chance to have a sibling. I wanted to lead Kensan to the water, but he had to drink.

“
Marsha, come sweetie,” I said into the intercom.

“
You rang, Masta,” she said, barging into my office with a smile on her face. A gorgeous smile.

“
Did anyone from upstairs come through?”

“
All was quiet. They were at a luncheon. Besides, who cares?”

I gargled Scope and spat in a small sink in my closet. A convenient luxury for being employed by a legal conglomerate. I looked into the mirror and saw restless eyes and sagging cheeks. I needed rest. I was also getting old. Maybe Brandon was right.

“
Listen, hun. I am going to lunch. I am helping a friend learn the dynamics of becoming a valuable Philadelphian.”

“
Take him to a firing range,” she said and folded her arms.

“
You’re insane. I don’t want you beside me in court as a defendant rather than an assistant.” I laughed and walked to my office door. We both exited. “If anyone calls, I’ll be taking calls after three.”

“
Do you need that MTD delivered?”

“
Yes, ma’am,” I said. “Thanks.”

CHAPTER 65

Inside Twenty21, I found Kensan perched in the lounge area reading a book. He actually looked like he belonged there,with the exception of the over-sized suit, which was suitable for a grand ghetto wedding, not an interview. The shoes were more flashy and prom-esque, than suited for a boardroom.

“
Ken,” I said.

He snapped the book shut and went right in.

“
Do you realize how much parking is. You had me do a lot of running around. I spent $40 in parking. Then you have me in this bourgeois restaurant and this salad costs $18.”

He lifted a large Caesar chicken salad in the air to eye level.

“
Are you done?” I asked.

He nodded.

“
I specifically told you to walk, take a cab, take the train, or hitch a ride. You did not listen. Key number one to success. In court, I hear so much yak, gibberish, and chatter, and I consume every syllable. You have to listen! Lunch is on me.”

“
No, I got my share.”

“
Cut the rich shit. You don’t owe me anything. I invited you here. And this is hardly bourgeois. This is a very cozy restaurant. It’s more to life than Nikki’s Soul Food on Wayne Avenue and the greasy Chinese food joints. Everybody is trapped in the BMW and high fashion ideology. There’s more to being big time. Driving a Benz and living in squalor is something I will never get.”

“
Man, you can’t talk down on our people. That’s what we do. You’re not better than anyone, Ray-Ray,” he told me. He was calm, but probably angry as if I gave a damn. “Some people just wanna stay comfortable. Don’t knock ‘em.”

“
Or some people want to knock the people around them by dangling their European vehicles, which are probably in someone else name, and can be taken by the feds at any time, in the faces of poor people. People that are not competition. They’re afraid to live anywhere where they wouldn’t be paid any attention. They can’t live without people kissing their asses.”

“
Look, this is a free country and people can live where they want. I do not care about them and do not want to waste time talking about them. All I can do is speak for me, and I want out of Germantown.”

“
Excuse me, Ray-Ray. Can I get you a drink?” the waiter asked me.

“
The regular, Nate, and some chicken cordon bleu,” I told him.

Kensan ordered another drink before I asked to see the resumes. Kensan handed me a manila folder. I opened it and found a generic jail house resumé. Then I scanned the resumé created on the yellow pad.

“
I did three different ones. One for each position.”

“
Good,” I said. “But...”

“
I knew you’d have a but.”

“
Hear me out. These are great, but you forgot to add key info.”

“
Like?” he asked, and gave me a condescending smile.

“
What happened to you attending Penn State?”

“
I didn’t get a degree.”

“
No, but you can delete the GED Test completion from the Education Section and replace it with the fact that you spent two semesters at Penn State. That confirms a diploma and college credits.”

“
You’re such a manipulator. I’ll fix it.”

“
I like how you describe your duties at your previous employers. It’s colorful. Now all you have to do is get this bad boy typed up.”

“
I do not have a computer, yet. I thought about renting one, but never got around to it.”

“
So, what are you going to do?”

“
I thought,” he began.

I saw it in his eyes. “My office is off limits for that. My computer has classified info and I’d be fired if you were on it.”

“
What about your house?”

Good question to which I had no answer to. What should I do? He was only a friend. A close childhood friend. A friend that I had sex with. Could I have him in my home? How would Dajuan react to that? Good thing, Nate brought my black and white milk shake and cordon. I had a reason to stall. Kenan would have never understood me denying him entrance into my home.