The Diamond Syndicate

“Ms. Odums, you could be just as guilty of committing the crime that the state is trying to accuse my client of committing. How do we know you weren’t the one who ran these illegal insurance fraud claims? How do we know you aren’t trying to pin this charge on my client?” He stood directly in front of Karen, waiting for her answer.

Prosecutor Swartz and her co-counsel both stood together and yelled together, “Objection, Your Honor!”

Judge Fritz looked over at the prosecutor’s table. “Overruled.”

The young attorney whispered to Prosecutor Swartz, “What is he doing?”

“I don’t know, but this is pissing me off!”

“I didn’t kill him!” Karen yelled.

“I never said you killed the doctor. Now that you bring that up, did you?” Kyle leaned into the witness box.

“No!”

“Were you in on the alleged insurance fraud, Ms. Odums?”

“No!”

“Oh, come on, you had to have been in on it. The good doctor must have been getting a pretty good penny off of each case. I’m sure he gave you some of it.”

“Objection!” Prosecutor Swartz yelled.

“Sustained.”

Prosecutor Swartz sat back down and whispered, “It’s about time.”

“Counselor rephrase your question,” the judge ordered Kyle.

“Ms. Odums, did you have anything to do with the murder of Dr. Ricci?”

“No, I had nothing to do with it. That’s why I quit!” Karen blurted out hysterically, crying now.

“Why did you quit, Ms. Odums? Because the doctor cut you out of the deal?”

“No!”

“Why didn’t you go to the police when you quit?”

“Because I didn’t want to have nothing to do with what was going on in that office. You have no idea what went on!” Karen yelled back through snot and tears.

“Ms. Odums, you knew about the illegal activity, and you didn’t report it to the proper authorities. Why should the jury believe you?”

Karen broke down in tears, unable to answer.

“Order in the court!” Judge Fritz yelled as the court murmurs grew louder. “We will take a thirty-minute recess, so the witness can get herself together.”

TWENTY-NINE

“All rise! All rise and greet the Honorable Judge Lewis D. Fritz!”

Judge Fritz walked into the courtroom and took his seat. “You may be seated,” he said.

Karen Odums was escorted back to the witness stand to continue with her testimony.

The judge said to Kyle. “Counselor, you were questioning the witness before recess. Would you like to continue?”

“No, Your Honor. I have no further questions of this witness on behalf of Diamond Reed.”