The Diamond Syndicate

“Are you talking about welfare claims?” Prosecutor Swartz asked her.

“Yes.”

“She’s lying!” Diamond yelled.

Kyle grabbed Diamond’s arm, to calm her.

Judge Fritz banged his gavel. “Order! Ms. Reed, I’ve already warned you once. Don’t let it happen again. Counselor, either control your client or she will be removed from my courtroom. Go on, young lady,” he said to Shakeeda.

Shakeeda still avoided looking over at Diamond. She put her head down, ashamed and afraid at the same time. She knew that she too would be facing criminal charges for her involvement. She’d struggled with that thought for a long time.

But it was also driving her crazy that she would have to look over her shoulder forever, fearing that Diamond had someone watching her and at any moment she would lose her life.

Her sister had told her before that she needed to confess. She also told Shakeeda that if by chance she had to go to jail, that she would be there for her. But Shakeeda was dead set on not confessing at that time.

She went to church to confess to the pastor, who prayed with her and spoke to her regularly. He taught her how to deal with the demons she held within herself. He helped her to accept God and taught her how to repent. Once she began to heal, she realized there was only one thing she had to do in order to lift the burden she carried around. Her pastor also hired a lawyer for her and got everything prepared for what she was facing once she confessed.

Shakeeda had moved several times because of her fear of Diamond and her crew. But once she testified she could rest easy because she would be under protective custody. She’d made a plea bargain and would get five years probation, but depending on her testimony today, the state could still press charges and take her to trial.

“I created the claims. I didn’t want to create the claims, but Diamond is a ruthless woman, and she has a team of ruthless men behind her.”

“Objection, Your Honor!” Kyle shouted. “The witness is speculating.”

“Sustained,” Judge Fritz said.

“She’s a lying bitch,” Diamond whispered to Kyle.

Shakeeda kept her head turned toward Prosecutor Swartz, so that she didn’t have to look at Diamond.

“You better look away,” Diamond muttered.

“Do you honestly think acting this way in front of the judge and jury is gonna help your chances of getting out of jail?” Kyle whispered to her through gritted teeth.

“That bitch is lying!” Diamond stood, no longer able to contain her anger.

The two bailiffs in the courtroom prepared to restrain Diamond, but Kyle stood and forced her back down in her seat.

“Do something!” she yelled at Kyle. “You just gonna let this bitch sit there and lie on me?”

“Calm down, Diamond!”

Bang! Bang!

“Counselor!” Judge Fritz yelled. “If you don’t get control of your client, I will have her removed from my courtroom!” Judge Fritz could have removed Diamond a long time ago but he intentionally didn’t. He knew her antics wouldn’t sit well with the jury and whether she knew it or not, he knew that she was putting the noose around her own neck by acting a fool in his courtroom.

Diamond sat back down, ice-grilling Shakeeda.

When the room became quiet again, Prosecutor Swartz continued her questioning. “Did you feel your life would be threatened if you didn’t create the claims?”

“Yes. In fact, in so many words, it was.”

“So what else happened?”

“Ooh!” Diamond said loudly, ready to blow a gasket. “You better burn this bitch when you get up there,” she told Kyle.

He simply stared at his client, telling her to be quiet with his eyes. Judge Fritz was also looking over at the defense table, showing his disapproval of the defendant’s behavior.

“Well, she told me that she