The Diamond Syndicate

“Counselor, since you aren’t able to finish questioning with the prior witness, you can call your next witness,” Judge Fritz said while putting his glasses back on.

“Yes, Your Honor.” Prosecutor Swartz stood. “I would like to call Karen Odums to the stand.”

Karen stood when her name was called. She was another nurse that worked for Dr. Ricci. Karen and Diamond got along for the sake of the job, but Karen was closer than anyone else to Ms. Brown.

Karen was tall and slender. She wasn’t the most attractive flower in the bouquet, but she was a pleasant person. She tried to keep to herself at the office, and she didn’t get in the middle of confrontations that would often break out between Diamond and other staff members.

Karen’s five-feet, eleven-inch frame glided down the aisle and up into the witness box. After she was sworn in, she took her seat. She glanced over at Diamond. Diamond looked back at her and smiled. Karen gave a slight smile.

While Karen waited for Prosecutor Swartz to begin questioning her, she thought about how never in a million years would she have imagined herself sitting on the witness stand testifying at the trial concerning Dr. Ricci’s murder. She, like all the other women who worked there or came through the office, was in love with Dr. Ricci. And now here she was sitting on the witness stand ready to testify against the person she believed murdered the good Dr. Ricci.

Prosecutor Swartz made her way over to the witness stand. “Hi, Karen,” she said.

Karen was nervous. “Hello.”

“How do you know the defendant Diamond Reed?”

“We worked together.”

“Worked together where?”

“We worked for the late Dr. Ricci.”

“How did you like working at the doctor’s office?” Prosecutor Swartz walked over to the witness box.

“I loved it.”

“How long did you work there?”

“Three years.”

“How did you feel when you found out the doctor was murdered?”

“I cried.” Karen lowered her head, remembering what had happened.

“It must have really hurt to hear that Dr. Ricci had been murdered.”

Karen nodded, her eyes watering.

“Tell me about the defendant Diamond Reed.”

“What do you want to know?”

“How well do you know the defendant?”

“I don’t know her that well.”

“You worked with her though, correct?”

“Yes, but we barely talked.”

“Why did you barely talk to her when you worked with her?”

“Because I didn’t trust her.”

“What was it that you didn’t trust about her?”

“She just seemed sneaky to me.”