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“Yeah, but it’s a touchy situation. We don’t need her doing anything stupid to jeopardize either of your cases.”
Dante nodded.
“So don’t say anything to her, and leave the rest up to me and my brother.”
“A’ight, but I hope my mother don’t fuck this up.”
“Listen, Dante, we’re gonna have to make your mother understand how serious this is. My brother and I have an undefeated record, and I ain’t tryna let her fuck that up for either of us. So if we can’t make her understand, then she’s gonna have to get herself another lawyer. My brother may be sweet on her, but I ain’t the one.” Kendall began to pack his briefcase.
From Kendall’s last statement, Dante knew his mother had gotten next to Kyle. He hoped her vindictive ways wouldn’t cause dissension between the two brothers, because, from what he could tell already, Kendall obviously didn’t agree with his brother being sweet on Diamond.
After Kendall finished packing his briefcase, he picked up the legal pad and looked at the first page. “This is some shit right here.” He shook his head. “Are there any more secrets or tricks pulling rabbit’s outta hats that you need to be telling me?” He tossed the legal pad in the briefcase and shut it.
“Naw, man, that’s it from me on all that I know. But maybe y’all better check your girl again,” Dante said, referring to his mother.
“Oh, trust, she will be checked,” Kendall said as he stood.
Dante shook his head. Kendall had no idea who he was about to go up against.
TWENTY-EIGHT
The State versus Reed and Reed
2003
On Monday morning the courtroom began to fill as the reporters and spectators took their seats. As the attorneys for both the defense and the state walked into the courtroom, reporters clicked photos on their flashless cameras, making the attorneys look like celebrities walking down the red carpet. One by one they marched down the aisle to their respective tables and began to set up, removing paperwork from their briefcases.
Prosecutor Swartz was the last to enter the courtroom. Once seated, she looked over at the two defense attorneys and gave them a slight nod. Both brothers returned the pleasantry before huddling together to discuss their strategy.
Ten minutes passed, and the courtroom still buzzed with anticipation. When the bailiff came out of the side door, he held the door open, and two uniformed officers walked in holding the arms of Diamond and Dante.
Once the two defendants were seated, the bailiff went through his ritual of announcing the judge. “All rise! The Honorable Judge Fritz presiding!”
Everyone stood and waited for the judge to exit his chambers.
Judge Fritz walked into the courtroom and made himself comfortable in his seat. “You may be seated,” he said and banged his gavel.
Once everyone was seated and all movement ceased, Judge Fritz removed his glasses. He folded his hands and studied the spectators.
Everyone started looking around at each other, wondering why the judge was not proceeding with court.
“I don’t know what has happened to our country,” Judge Fritz said. “But I do know that I am fed up!”
Kyle and Kendall looked at each other and slouched their shoulders, sitting back in their chairs, defeated. From past experiences with Judge Fritz, the brothers knew it wasn’t going to be a good day in court when he was pissed. They both knew why Judge Fritz was pissed. All the attorneys had a meeting with him before coming into court, and they all got an earful from him.
“There has been a change to the case over the week-long recess,” the judge said. “I am praying that it had nothing to do with this case. God help those who are involved, and God help anyone here today that had anything to do with the reason for this change in the case!”
Everyone i
n the room began to murmur, trying to figure out what the judge was talking about.
“I am not at liberty to reveal details, but we will proceed with this case.” He banged his gavel. Judge Fritz was aware of Tammy Starks’s murder and had worked closely with the police department to keep the murder out of the newspapers and away from the jury until the case was completed. The jurors had been sequestered in a hotel and had no outside contact. The spectators in the courtroom began to talk amongst themselves, wondering what the judge was talking about.
Judge Fritz banged his gavel. “Order!” he yelled.
Everyone settled down and became quiet, waiting to hear what else he had to say.
Prosecutor Swartz listened to Judge Fritz’s announcement with a blank expression on her face. When she got the phone call about Tammy Starks’s murder, she knew deep down inside that the Reeds had something to do with it. Although Tammy was now dead, and she was the star witness for the prosecution, Prosecutor Swartz felt confident enough in her case and the witnesses she had left that she still felt she had a good chance of winning.
