Black Friday: Exposed Read online

  “You know you’re going to go to prison right?” the detective taunted. “Twenty kilos of raw heroine inside your apartment. Whoo! That’s a lot of time. You’ll never get out and a pretty little piece like you will drive the butch broads crazy.”

  “Those drugs aren’t mine!” she protested.

  “So they belong to Kasheef?” Detective Nielson asked feeling like the girl across from him was getting ready to crack at any moment.

  As soon as Norelle opened her mouth to speak, the door opened forcefully.

  “This interview is over,” Carmen stated. “Let’s go Norelle.” She helped her friend out of her chair and then nodded toward Nielson. “Detective.”

  “Counselor,” he replied with a head nod. He could’ve protested and held Norelle longer, but she wasn’t the type of fish he was looking to fry so he let her walk for the time being. He wished he had even a minute longer with her because he had a feeling that she was getting ready to talk. “I’ll be in touch,” he promised.

  Carmen stopped dead in her tracks, turned on her expensive heel, and stared directly in the detective’s eyes. “If you need to speak with my client about anything be sure you call me first,” she said in a professional but threatening way. She wrapped an arm around Norelle and ushered her out of the precinct.

  “Carmen I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” Norelle said once they were outside.

  “Don’t worry about it. Go home, get some sleep, and we’ll meet for breakfast tomorrow morning to discuss everything. By then I’ll have a lot more information about what they are charging Kasheef with and what they may be trying to charge you with.”

  “Can you get him out?” Norelle asked despondently.

  “Not tonight, but that’s what we’ll work on tomorrow. Go get some rest girl. You’re going to need it,” Carmen suggested. The two women embraced and then went their separate ways. Norelle had the weight of the world on her shoulders and Carmen a huge smile on her face. She needed a major case like this. More importantly she needed to win a case like this. She was trying to make partner at her law firm and a case like this could make or break her career. She just hoped she was ready.

  “What am I going to do?” Alija asked. “They could’ve killed me and Nahla.”

  “But they didn’t sis, that’s what’s important. Thinking about what could’ve happened will drive you crazy,” Mickey comforted as she held her baby niece and paced the floor of the motel room Alija had checked into. “You can’t go back to the apartment especially now that you’re snitching.”

  “Thanks Mick! That helps,” Alija responded sarcastically. “What other choice did I have, huh?”

  “I’m just saying Alija. You don’t even have any cash to relocate. You can’t snitch on somebody like Kasheef and then go back to the hood thinking shit gon’ be gulley. His people gon’ be gunning for you just off of GP,” Mickey said.

  “Well either way I’m losing. He sent them dudes up in my crib before I said one word to anybody. I had no intentions of going to the police,” Alija objected.

  “It’s done now. You’ve already started telling. Now you need to think about how you gon’ live after all this is over. This ain’t a game.”

  “No, it’s definitely not that,” she responded as she looked at her daughter. “This is my life Mick ... it’s her life.”

  Chapter Six

  Carmen walked into her office to find her boss sitting in her chair. She was surprised and greeted him hesitantly as she sashayed toward her desk with a copy of the morning New York Times tucked beneath her arm.

  “Good morning Richard,” she said as she sat her Dooney & Bourke alligator skinned briefcase near her feet.

  “Carmen ... I hear you’ve taken on a major case,” he stated.

  “What case might that be?” she asked, unsure of what he was speaking of. Richard stood up from her desk and stepped out of her way as he motioned for her to take a seat. He reached for the remote control that controlled the small plasma television in her office. Flicking on the screen he turned to the local news station, catching the middle of the broadcast.

  Kasheef Williams’ arrest occurred early this morning. A police representative states that they are charging Mr. Williams with second degree murder. By obtaining a noted defense attorney by the name of Carmen Rose, it is definitely not an open and shut conviction for the prosecution. Ms. Rose is a junior associate at Barnes & Baker Legal Firm in Manhattan and has not lost a case in the five years she’s been practicing law...

  Her boss turned off the TV before the broadcast could finish playing and looked her in the eye. “Are you sure you want to take on a case of this magnitude?”

  Carmen fidgeted in her seat. It was true, she had never lost a case but her record was jaded because she had never defended a crime more serious than aggravated assault. Murders, rapes, and drug related offenses were usually handled by the senior partners ... more specifically the white male senior partners. She was up for evaluation in six months and she desperately hoped to be considered for the open position of senior partner. With her record she had a good chance, but her competition was sure to argue about the ease of the cases she’d previously tried. She needed to take a chance on a major case. Kasheef’s case had just happened to fall into her lap. “Yes, Richard, I’m sure.”

  “Okay then ... I can say this off the record. If you bring this win in for the firm, I can almost guarantee that the board of trustees will elect you as the new senior partner. You have full access to all resources and any paralegals or research teams you may need.”

  A huge smile crossed Carmen’s face as her boss turned to leave. Before he exited fully he faced her once more. “But if you lose Carmen, it will set your career back five years. Everything you’ve accomplished will be overshadowed by this loss.”

  “I guess I have to win then,” she stated confidently. Dawn walked into the office with an incredulous look plastered on her face.

  “Is what they’re saying on the news true? Are you really getting ready to defend Kasheef Williams?” Dawn asked.

  “I guess so,” Carmen replied with a slick smile. “If I can pull this off I’m taking you straight to the top floor with me Ms. Executive Assistant.” She got up from her seat and glided past her secretary. “I’m going to meet with Kasheef’s girlfriend to discuss her involvement in his activities. After that, I’m going downtown to let Kasheef know I’ll be taking his case. I still haven’t spoken to him yet.”

  Carmen made her way to Starbucks on Lexington Avenue and ordered two caramel macchiatos as she waited for Norelle to show up. Ten minutes passed before Carmen saw her friend come through the doors. She waved her over and instantly felt bad when she saw Norelle’s swollen red eyes. She could tell that her girl hadn’t gotten much sleep.

  “Thanks for coming,” Norelle said while pulling out a chair and graciously accepting the macchiato. She shifted in her seat nervously and then looked up at Carmen. “I can’t go to jail Carm. I’ll do whatever I have to do to get out of this situation.”

  “What exactly is the situation?” Carmen asked. “If I’m going to represent you, I’m going to need to know everything. You can’t keep anything from me.”

  “Kasheef wasn’t home that night Carmen. He didn’t come home until like four in the morning. There was blood on his shirt,” Norelle admitted.

  “Do you think Kasheef committed this murder?” Carmen asked as she took notes on a legal pad.

  “Yeah, I do.” Norelle was ashamed to say it. She had bragged and flaunted Kasheef in front of Carmen, lying about what Kasheef did for a living to make herself look better. Now the truth had come out and she was forced to admit the truth. She did not want to tell Carmen about what had happened that night. Kasheef had given her specific instructions to be his alibi, but she was so afraid that she was just looking for a way out of her predicament. She didn’t care who she had to throw under the bus in order to do it.

  “And the drugs?” Carmen asked.

  “I
didn’t even know they were in the house,” Norelle replied incredulously.

  Carmen reached over the table and grabbed her friend’s hand. “I need to go speak with Kasheef. Try to get some rest okay?”

  Norelle nodded.

  “I’ll call you later,” Carmen said before walking away.

  “Williams let’s go!” an officer yelled as he came and removed Kasheef from the bull pen, placing him securely in cuffs.

  Kasheef stood without protest and was taken to a small interview room. He stepped inside and noticed Carmen sitting in front of him.

  “Norelle sent me,” Carmen explained. She turned toward the officer. “Can you remove the cuffs?”

  The officer unlocked the handcuffs and left the room. Kasheef massaged his wrists as he sat down in front of Carmen. “Thank you for coming,” he stated. The crease in his forehead and the way that his brow dipped low revealed his stress. “What do they have on me?”

  “Kasheef I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t like to paint a fairytale portrayal of any case just to sugarcoat what is happening. I would rather be upfront and honest with you so that there will be no surprises. I want you to know what to expect of my services.”

  “I respect that,” he replied. “Just keep it real with me. What am I facing here?”

  “This does not look good,” Carmen stated frankly.

  “I know ... I know. My back is in a corner right now. You’ve got to get me out,” Kasheef said with pleading eyes.

  “They have a witness. This entire case relies solely on her testimony. I’ve seen the tape from the club that night. Your face isn’t recognizable which works in our favor. I will play on that fact as much as I possibly can. She’s the only person that can place you at the crime scene,” Carmen said. She hesitated before continuing. “I need to know everything Kasheef. Don’t try to hide anything from me. I’m a lawyer. If you want me to do my job effectively I have to know what went on that night. I have to know the complete truth, not just what you interpret it to be. Did you do it?”

  Kasheef leaned across the table until he was only inches away from Carmen’s face. “I’ll tell you what I’m not gon’ do ... this time they’re trying to stick me with. Get me off.” His voice was low as he spoke but it did not stop the authority from being present in his words. Carmen understood perfectly. She knew men like Kasheef. At one time in her life she had been attracted to men just like him. He was a boss and he was used to being in charge. He never asked for anything from anybody. He demanded respect and instilled fear in the hearts of many. He was not the type of man that you could tell no and she understood this. She nodded, knowing that he would never admit his guilt. He didn’t trust her enough to incriminate himself and she could understand why. His life was on the line. Her gut told her that he was guilty, but her mind told her that it didn’t matter. She was going to do her job to the best of her ability. Whether Kasheef committed the murder or not was irrelevant. She would do all that it took to sway a jury into finding him innocent.

  “Okay,” she said as she closed her briefcase and stood to leave. “You’re being arraigned later on this afternoon and we’ll enter a plea of not guilty. I’ll try to get the judge to set bail. See you in court.”

  Alija watched from her car as Ahmad’s friends and family slowly scattered from his grave site. She didn’t know why she was there, but she felt compelled to go pay her respects to him. She had seen everything that had gone down the night he was murdered. She wanted to get out. She wanted to shed tears over his grave, but something kept her rooted in her car. She knew that she was not welcome. She knew the full story. She saw Ahmad try to rob Kasheef and then in the blink of an eye the situation turned in Kasheef’s favor and Ahmad was the one who ended up dead. The tears that tainted her cheeks were those of sadness, regret, and fear. Kasheef knew that she had witnessed his actions, yet he let her go. Now she was scared, running for her life because she was getting ready to testify and turn state’s evidence. She looked in the back at Nahla who was sound asleep in her car seat. She closed her eyes as she thought of all the things that her daughter would miss out on because of the tragedy that their lives had become. You can fix this, she told herself. All you have to do is testify against Kasheef. After the trial all of this will be over. You can just pack up and leave. She knew that she didn’t have much, but she was willing to go as far as a full tank of gas would take her just to get out of New York. Just as she pulled away from the curb, her cell phone rang.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “They really fucked our apartment up,” Mickey said.

  “I know, tell me about it. Do you think it’s smart for you to be there? What if they come back?”

  Mickey scoffed and replied, “They’re not looking for me. They want you and after all the attention they drew the first time they won’t be trying to come back here. I’ll be fine ...”

  “Okay ...” Alija replied skeptically. “Oh, yeah I forgot to tell you that the state sent you some papers. I set ’em on your bed. Something about jury duty.”

  “Yeah, okay ... good looking out. I’ma get myself thrown out of that selection so fucking quick. What I look like sitting on somebody’s jury all damn day,” Mickey replied.

  “I know right?” Alija replied. “I’ll call you later. I’ve got to go get my mind right.”

  “Say no more ... I’ll come through later on with the la, after I figure out what’s up on this jury bullshit,” Mickey said before hanging up the phone.

  “On the state charge of 2nd degree murder how does the defendant plead?” the judge asked.

  “Not guilty,” Kasheef said.

  The judge looked toward the prosecution’s desk. “Is the state prepared to proceed to trial?”

  “Yes we are, your Honor,” District Attorney Nancy Schwartz, replied.

  “Okay then, jury selection will begin immediately. If the both counselors agree there is a jury pool taking place today at 3:00 P.M. This jury pool was originally for another case, but this case takes precedence. Jury selection can begin today. Now let’s proceed to the matter of bail,” the judge stated.

  The DA stood and said, “The state is asking for remand.”

  Carmen immediately stood to her feet and interjected. “Your Honor, that is completely unreasonable. My client has no prior record and does not pose a flight risk. He insists of his innocence and on his behalf I must ask for a personal recognizance.”

  “On a murder trial!” the DA said with mocking laughter in her voice.

  Carmen knew that she was grasping at straws by asking for Kasheef to be released on nothing but his word, but it was all a part of her plan. If she low balled then when the state countered her offer it would be around the right ball park. Otherwise the DA would try to stick her client with a high bail and she was going to fight tooth and nail to prevent that from happening. “Your honor the state has nothing but circumstantial evidence against Mr. Williams. Their entire case relies solely on one woman’s testimony.” Kasheef smirked to himself as he watched Carmen in action. She was passionate about what she did and he was glad that he had her on his team. He was confident in her skill.

  “She’s an eyewitness!” the District Attorney shouted.

  The judge banged his gavel and sighed. “Ladies there has to be a medium that we can come to.” He paused and thought for a moment. “Bail is set at $200,000 cash or bond.”

  Carmen smiled as Kasheef was handcuffed.

  He nodded her way and said, “Send Norelle down with that bail money. I want to be out of here like yesterday.”

  “This is some bullshit. They got me up in here for some damn jury selection,” Mickey complained.

  “It’s not that bad,” the lady beside her commented. “They pay you ten dollars an hour just to be here.”

  Mickey rolled her eyes, but perked up a little bit as she thought about getting paid for nothing. A young black woman and an older white woman entered the room. They were assigned numbers and then called into a small
room one by one where the defense and prosecuting attorneys asked a series of questions to determine the jury. When Mickey’s turn rolled around she walked into the room and took a seat. She wore Seven jeans under an ivory NY & Company pea coat.

  “Please have a seat. I’m District Attorney Nancy Schwartz,” the white woman introduced.

  “Mickey,” she replied as she sat down.

  “And I’m Defense Attorney Carmen Rose,” Carmen introduced. “You are here to be considered as a juror on a very high profile case. A man by the name of Kasheef Williams has been accused of murder. Does this case sound familiar to you?”

  Whaaat? She thought to herself. Ain’t this about a bitch? I’m sitting here getting considered for Kasheef’s case.

  “No, that doesn’t sound familiar,” Mickey lied. She didn’t know why but she felt compelled to get on this case now that she knew all that it entailed.

  “Mickey have you ever been arrested or involved in any illegal activities?” The DA asked.

  Mickey thought of all the times she’d defrauded the welfare offices. “No, I’ve never done anything illegal.”

  “How do you think drugs have affected your community?” Carmen asked, trying to gauge if the young woman had any personal vendettas against drug dealers.

  “I guess I don’t really think about it,” Mickey said. She tried to sound neutral on the situations so that she could appease both the prosecution and the defense. She felt like she was at a job interview as her palms began to sweat.

  “When choosing between two sides, what do you base your decisions on?” The DA inquired as she stared intensely at Mickey through wire framed glasses.