Reality (Sequel to Future)

Chapter Two

I stopped at the door of the court room that Chresanto was in. My hand hovered over the handle. What if he got the worst sentence? He didn't want me to bring Deon to see him. At least that's what he told me the day he got arrested. But if he had to spend so much time in jail, he'd have to see him. Or was I just jumping into conclusions? I mean, depending on how much evidence they had he could get off with probation. We could work with that. I took a deep breath. I heard arguing from inside and knew that it was the two lawyers. I opened the door and stepped inside. I could see Chresanto sitting in the front as his defense lawyer and prosecutor fought it out. Also sitting behind Chresanto was Devin, one of his good friends from when he was still in the game. I had met him on the plane when Chresanto brought me from New York. They all turned to look at me and I instantly became uncomfortable. The prosecutor smiled.

"The woman of the hour!" he said.

What the hell? What did I have to do with this?

"Your honor, this brings me to my next piece of evidence. Ms. Rodriguez, were you or were you not there the night that Jermaine Black and John Thomas were murdered?"

I could feel my stomach tighten and my only wish at this point was that I could somehow rewind the clocks back fifteen seconds ago and go home. My first instinct was to lie but what if he had hard evidence proving that I was there?

"Objection, Your Honor!" Chresanto's lawyer said. "Ms. Rodriguez is here to support her fiancé, not to be bombarded with questions"

"He's right" the judge said. "Stay within your boundaries, Mr. Ross. Ms. Rodriguez, have a seat if you're staying"

I looked over at Chresanto and saw his pleading face. Even though where he was sitting and where I would be sitting was separated, my presence must've been enough to comfort him. I can only imagine how annoying it was to have to sit here and listen to two lawyers fighting it out and one of them wants to lock you away forever. I sat in the first row behind him next to Devin and the lawyers continued.

"Your Honor, I have a statement from a witness that lives in the neighborhood where Jermaine Black and John Thomas were killed who say that they saw Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. August leaving that house" he said pulling out a piece of paper and offering it to the judge.

The bailiff came over and took it from him giving it to her.

"So, if I write up a statement saying that I saw my neighbor with the President of the United States, it automatically makes it true as well?" the defense attorney asked sarcastically.

"Mr. Ross, this witness of yours says that she believes that the dark haired black woman she saw leaving the house that night looks is Ms. Rodriguez" the judge said as her eyes scanned the paper in front of her.

"Yes, Your Honor"

"Believes" she repeated.

This time the prosecutor was silent. The judge set the paper down and sighed in frustration.

"Mr. Ross, I gave you three days to come up with some cold hard evidence against Mr. August for the murder of these men and drug trafficking and all you gave me was a belief"

"Your Honor, I-"

"In my courtroom" she interrupted "I want nothing short of certainty. If it isn't certain, I don't want it. Two days. You have two days to give me more and I want facts! Understood?"

"Yes, Your Honor" the prosecutor said a little embarrassed.

"Good" she said picking up her gavel and slamming it. "Adjourned"

Chresanto's lawyer walked over to him with a smug look on her face. She began speaking to him and all Chresanto did was nod. Eventually, he got up and went back over to the police officers to be taken back to the prison. The lawyer turned to me and smiled. She came over to me and Devin and shook both of our hands.