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
“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
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