“Your Honor, I hold in my hand a police transcript from Ms. Brown signed by her. I would like to submit this into evidence as Exhibit A. I’d also like to ask Ms. Brown to read from page three, section B of the statement.”
She handed the papers over to the defense attorneys, who both looked at the papers and then handed them back to her. Prosecutor Swartz then handed the papers over to the judge, who looked them over, nodded, and handed them back to her.
“Ms. Brown, I’m asking you to please read from the statement that you gave to the police department when you were brought in for questioning. Please, if you will, read section B of this page.” She handed the papers to Ms. Brown.
Estelle took the papers, pushed her glasses up on her nose, and began to read. While she read, Prosecutor Swartz paced in front of the jury.
“Question by Officer Blake: Ms. Brown, were you aware that Dr. Ricci and Ms. Reed were committing insurance fraud?
“Answer by Ms. Estelle Brown: I knew something was going on with those two, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. But I believed it to be illegal. I never trusted her.”
“That’s enough, Ms. Brown.” Prosecutor Swartz took the papers from Ms. Brown and continued to pace, letting Ms. Brown’s words sink in.
Estelle lowered her head. She’d forgotten about the statement she’d given to the police. She was so nervous that night, she could’ve said anything.
“So after reading the statement, do you remember saying this?” Prosecutor Swartz asked.
“No, I don’t remember saying that,” she responded sincerely. “Someone must have added that in.”
What puzzled Estelle when Diamond came to work at the office was, Diamond had no prior medical office experience. She often wondered how the woman was able to obtain a job with such a limited resume. After working beside her and finding small amounts of evidence, she figured out that Diamond and Dr. Ricci were up to something illegal, and it made her uncomfortable. Now she was on a witness stand trying to pretend that she never had an inkling illegal activity was going on.
“Ms. Brown, you just read a statement given by you and signed by you,” Prosecutor Swartz said, snapping Estelle out of her thoughts.
“I understand that, but I don’t remember saying that.” Estelle began to wring her hands again. She wanted to tell the truth badly, but she was afraid for her life.
Low whispers and murmurs could be heard throughout the courtroom.
Prosecutor Swartz stopped pacing and faced Estelle. “Maybe this will help your memory.” She walked over to a covered easel and began to drag it over, but one of the bailiffs came over to assist her and placed it where she indicated.
“Thank you,” Prosecutor Swartz said to the bailiff. “I want the court, jurors, and Ms. Brown to see what these defendants did to Dr. Ricci.” She pulled the cloth off the easel to reveal a blown-up picture of the dead Dr. Ricci, courtesy of the coroner’s office, for all to see.
The spectators in the courtroom gasped at the picture of Dr. Ricci lying on the metal table in the coroner’s office. His chest was bare, and every stab wound inflicted on him was visible. The skin was spread apart around each stab wound. Blood seeped from the wounds, and the flesh looked swollen around the wound sites. Some of the jurors covered their faces; others simply turned green with sickness.
Estelle turned her head and began to cry.
“Do you remember now?” Prosecutor Swartz asked her.
Estelle could only remember that day at the office.
“Ms. Brown,” Prosecutor Swartz called out to her.
“Yes?”
“Ms. Brown, were you at the doctor’s office when Dr. Ricci was killed?”
“I told the police that I left my house keys at the office, and when I came back to get them, that’s when I found him dead. I called the police, and that was it.”
“Was there a murder weapon on the scene?”
“I don’t know. I ran out of the office when I saw him dead.” She lowered her head, remembering the sight of Dr. Ricci bleeding.
“Did you give that statement in the police report?”
“No.” Estelle looked at the attorney with unfocused eyes. It was clear she was giving conflicting answers.
“Sounds like you said exactly that, Ms. Brown. You do know that you were sworn in to tell the truth and nothing but the truth? Do you know the penalty for perjury in this state?”
Judge Fritz looked over at Estelle and could tell she was clearly upset. She began to breathe heavily from the pressure Prosecutor Swartz was applying. “Counselor . . . ”