“Where the hell did you get these? Who are you?” he whisper-shouted.
“That’s not important. What’s important is that you let Emil and Ellis Aldana go free. And let’s just be real here. That witness that gave you that written testimony shouldn’t hold up in court. The prosecution could have easily fabricated that testimony. Oh, how do I know, you ask?” I pulled a recorder from my pocket and pressed play.
“I was subpoenaed! That bitch Leyla said my name in court, and then those lawyers came by here and told me I had to testify!”
“What were you going to tell them exactly?”
“They told me to say that I saw who killed Ray and Al.”
“So, you were going to get on the stand and lie? Don’t you know that’s perjury, and you can go to jail for that?”
“I know, but they scared me and told me they were unhinged and were going to come for me since Leyla told them I was there that night.”
“Damn. They put your ass in a trick bag. Set you up on some crazy shit because they wasn’t even thinking about your ass.”
I turned off the recording and stared at him. I could see him go through an influx of emotions before he sighed deeply. “Two lives have been taken, young man. I can’t just overlook this.”
“You can, and you will. I’m sure if your wife sees those photos, you wouldn’t give so much as fuck that those two niggas were extinct. Do the right thing here, Sammy. I’m sure you don’t want to go viral.”
He frowned deeply as his face turned a bright shade of red. “I’ll make sure they walk.”
“My ni—” I caught myself before letting that word come out of my mouth. His ass wasn’t a nigga at all. “I mean, my man.” I chuckled and stood.
“I’m sure this won’t be the last time they do something else that’s wrong. There’ll always be another judge who doesn’t have any secrets who will make sure they get life in prison. Once a criminal, always a criminal.”
I shrugged. “You may be on to something.” I smiled. “You can keep those. I have other copies just in case. Enjoy your pumpkin pie.” I winked and let myself out. I knew once I showed him pictures of him allowing the strippers at The Pink Lady gentlemen’s club to stick shit up his ass and tie him up like a bitch, he would do whatever I said.
His wife was the daughter of the chief judge in the Supreme Court. If his father-in-law found out about the despicable shit he was doing behind his daughter’s back, I knew for sure his life would be over, not to mention his wife possibly divorcing his nasty ass.
“You’re leaving?” Olivia asked once I headed for the door.
I smiled politely. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You didn’t eat your pie.”
“I’m sure your husband will enjoy it. I hear he likes a nice cream pie.” I chuckled and got the fuck on.
My mission was accomplished.
Chapter
Twenty
YUMI
One Week Later…
The courtroom was silent.
After giving our closing arguments, the judge excused himself and the jurors. I was nervous because, while I made valid points and made Emil and Ellis look like angels, the judge didn’t seem to be buying it.
Because the witness or CI refused to show their face, the testimony on paper was dismissed by the judge, who believed it was fabricated. That was our only saving grace, and I prayed it would work out for Emil and Ellis.
Smith and Rivers looked more nervous than me, and George’s shit-talking ass was now on mute. He didn’t even look at me the whole time we’d been here, not that I wanted him to anyway.
We had a brief recess while the jury deliberated, which lasted only five minutes. In my mind, that could have been a good or bad thing, and I was too nervous to even think about failing Emery and his family.
Emil placed his hand over mine to stop me from tapping my pen excessively. “Relax, sis. You got this.”
