The Diamond Syndicate

“My clients are anything but thieves. They have not robbed you or the system of anything. My clients were obviously set up. I will prove to you during the course of this case that murder was not premeditated. Self-defense plays a key part here. All the allegations my clients are accused of are false. Diamond Reed is a loving, caring mother who raised her son alone. Neither of my clients has a criminal record. So, you tell me, how can these two defendants with squeaky-clean records be accused of the alleged crimes that have been announced today? I will show you that they are a product of misconceptions. My team has hard evidence showing that Diamond and Dante Reed are not only innocent, but were blackmailed, blackmailed by people that you and I trust every day—doctors and city and government officials. What choice did they have?” Kendall paced in front of the jury box, making sure he made eye contact with each juror, especially the women. “So, I say this to say to you. You were not robbed by my clients. How can you make an example out of two people who have been used and taken advantage of? We intend to prove that the prosecution’s evidence is purely circumstantial, and that Diamond and Dante Reed are not guilty.”

With that, Kendall walked back over to the defense table, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and took his seat. The trial of the year had begun.

TWENTY-ONE

The State versus Reed and Reed

“Counselor, are you prepared to call your first witness for the state?” Judge Fritz looked over the top of his gold wire-framed glasses at Prosecutor Swartz.

“Yes, Your Honor. The state would like to call Ms. Estelle Brown to the stand.”

Reporters lined the first two rows on both sides of the courtroom. No camera flashes were allowed, but the reporters wrote furiously on their notepads. Most people in the courtroom were outsiders who just wanted to be a part of the big case after hearing about it in the news.

Within the fifth row Estelle stood. Her skin bore a few wrinkles, but other than that, it was dark and smooth, and her hair was completely white, her prescription glasses clinging to the edge of her nose. She eased her way past the others who sat in the same row.

The men stood, giving her more room to pass by.

Once in the aisle, Estelle pushed her glasses up onto her nose. A gold, black, and white flowered dress draped her slightly overweight figure as she carefully walked down the aisle sporting low-heeled, black-and-gold patent leather shoes.

The bailiff held her hand and helped her climb the three steps up to the witness stand. Once seated, she was sworn in. She sat there and began to wring her hands, her face clearly showing her discomfort.

Prosecutor Swartz finally stood after reviewing some papers in front of her. She walked over to the witness stand, her hands clasped behind her back. “Hello, Ms. Brown.” She gave Estelle a warm smile, trying to make her feel comfortable.

Estelle gave a half-smile and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

“Ms. Brown, you worked for Dr. Michael Ricci. Correct?”

“Yes.”

“How long did you work for the doctor?”

“For five years.”

Estelle wondered why Prosecutor Swartz was asking her questions she already knew the answers to. In their brief encounter, she’d openly told Ms. Swartz that she would cooperate because she didn’t want to be involved in the allegations against Diamond and Dante. She felt she did the right thing by calling the police and just wanted to go on her merry way.

“So you knew the doctor pretty well, huh?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Estelle lowered her head, thinking about the awful state in which she’d last seen him.

Prosecutor Swartz noticed Estelle wringing her hands. “Relax, Ms. Brown. It’s OK,” she whispered to her.

Estelle took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. She pushed her glasses up on her nose again.

“So you pretty much handled everything in the office, huh?”

“Objection!” Kyle interrupted. “She’s leading the witness, Your Honor.”

“Overruled.”

Prosecutor Swartz rephrased the question, to appease defense counsel. “What were your duties in the office, Ms. Brown?”

“I handled all the paperwork for the doctor, all the important phone calls, and the books.”

“Dr. Ricci must have really trusted you to handle his bookkeeping?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Would you say Dr. Ricci was a good doctor?”