Black Friday: Exposed (11 page)
Read Black Friday: Exposed Online
Authors: Ashley;JaQuavis
“Who are you? What are you doing in my house?” she asked. The man didn’t respond. “I’m calling the police.” Norelle ran toward her door, but stopped mid step when the man spoke.
“I didn’t know you were buying a new crib,” Kasheef said slowly ... calmly.
Norelle ran and turned on the light in the living room. “Kasheef?” she asked. Her nerves got the best of her and she began to stutter. “Wwh ... when did you get out? Wwh ... why didn’t you call me to let me know you were home?” she asked nervously as she backed up toward the front door. She knew that she was caught. Here she was buying condos and cars while she was telling her man that she didn’t have the money to bail him out. She was busted, now all she could do is run for her life.
Kasheef stood up and walked over to Norelle. “You planned on leaving me?”
Norelle opened her mouth to explain, but no words came out.
“Huh?” Kasheef asked in a whisper. His low tone was almost more menacing then his yell and the look in his eyes sent shivers up Norelle’s spine. “You were just gon’ leave me in there?” He approached her and until her back was against a wall. He put his hands around her neck and rubbed gently as he stared her in her eyes.
She closed her eyes and flinched from the unexpected.
“You afraid of me now?” he asked.
She nodded truthfully, but didn’t open her eyes. She saw her life flash in front of her. She couldn’t understand it.
How the hell did he get out without me knowing about it?
She wondered.
Why didn’t Carmen say anything?
Kasheef’s face was inches away from her own. He was so close to her that she could smell the peppermint scent of his breath. “I’m sorry,” she stammered.
How the hell did he get out without me knowing about it?
She wondered.
Why didn’t Carmen say anything?
Kasheef’s face was inches away from her own. He was so close to her that she could smell the peppermint scent of his breath. “I’m sorry,” she stammered.
“I know why you did what you did,” he said as he backed away from her.
Confused is the only way to describe what Norelle was feeling. She was speechless.
“Please come sit down with me and talk,” Kasheef said as he took a seat on her plush leather sofa and patted the cushion next to him.
Reluctantly, Norelle obliged and sat down near him, being sure to leave a bit of space between them just in case he decided to pounce on her.
“All of this is my fault,” he continued. “I know what type of woman you are Norelle. I know you better than you know yourself. You are high maintenance. You live to be on top. Everything that I’ve provided you with over the years you deserved. I knew when I met you that you were not attracted to me. You were attracted to what I could give you. What I could do for you, nah mean?”
“That’s not true,” Norelle whispered back, attempting to keep up her facade.
“You ain’t got to lie to me ma. I know your game and I respect it. You had your use for me. It was the money. I provided you with a lifestyle. Me, I also had my use for you. You were my trophy. You were the woman I stepped out with when I wanted to shine,” he said as he lifted Norelle’s chin from her chest with his finger. She smiled slightly, but was still unsure.
“So, you’re not mad at me? Because I swear Sheef I’ll pay you back every dime,” she promised quickly. “I just didn’t know what to do. I never thought you would go to jail.”
“I’m not gon’ lie to you, when you first left me stinking up at Rikers I was hot. That shit had me tight, but it’s not important anymore. I’m out and I understand. See, even though we were using each other, something happened to me while I was with you. You stole my heart ma,” he whispered smoothly. “So even if I go away, I still want to make sure you’re straight. I know you were just worried about you. You didn’t know how you were going to survive, but I’ll never leave you stuck like that. I want you to be okay and financially set even if I go away,” Kasheef explained.
“I don’t know what to say ’Sheef,” Norelle replied. “I just wish you had told me before I did all of this. Now you will never trust me again.” Norelle really didn’t have any remorse for what she had done, but she was for damn sure going to play this new role he had assigned her. The way he was talking he was going to make sure she was okay for the rest of her life and she was going to cooperate in order to get more money.
I slipped up this time,
she thought.
But once Alija testifies, the jury will find him guilty. When I’m sure he’s in jail for life I’ll drop him like hot grease.
I slipped up this time,
she thought.
But once Alija testifies, the jury will find him guilty. When I’m sure he’s in jail for life I’ll drop him like hot grease.
“Let’s not worry about that,” Kasheef stated. “I just want to enjoy the little bit of time that I have left with you. Just in case I lose in court, I want to make each moment count.”
Norelle hugged Kasheef in complete disbelief at how naive he was.
I would have been hustling his ass if I knew it was going to be this easy,
she thought. Kasheef gripped her waist tightly and then pulled away from her and said, “Look before I go in, I’m going to hit you off with a lot of money. Don’t keep it in the house. Stick up kids gon’ automatically assume that I left you with my stash so it won’t be safe to keep it here. Tomorrow morning I want you to go and open up a bank account. I’ll make sure you have something to put in there a’ight?”
I would have been hustling his ass if I knew it was going to be this easy,
she thought. Kasheef gripped her waist tightly and then pulled away from her and said, “Look before I go in, I’m going to hit you off with a lot of money. Don’t keep it in the house. Stick up kids gon’ automatically assume that I left you with my stash so it won’t be safe to keep it here. Tomorrow morning I want you to go and open up a bank account. I’ll make sure you have something to put in there a’ight?”
“Okay ’Sheef,” she replied as she took his face in her hands. “I love you.”
“I know you do.” Kasheef hugged her and frowned. He found it funny how the words
I love you
could slip out of her mouth so easily. It was because of women like her that he did not believe in love. Women like Norelle, made it hard for him to believe that love really existed because they lied on love’s behalf so easily as if it meant nothing. He pulled away and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go.”
I love you
could slip out of her mouth so easily. It was because of women like her that he did not believe in love. Women like Norelle, made it hard for him to believe that love really existed because they lied on love’s behalf so easily as if it meant nothing. He pulled away and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go.”
“Wait!” she yelled. “Why won’t you just stay here?”
“I don’t want you to be involved in any of this drama. The first day of my trial begins tomorrow. You’ll be better off if we keep our distance. I’ll come and check on you though. Call me after you open the account. I’ll have the money for you in a couple days,” he said.
Norelle blew him a kiss and Kasheef left without responding. It had taken all that he had not to choke the air out of Norelle’s lungs. He was just happy that he had not lost his top. Revenge was so much sweeter when it was unexpected.
Chapter Twelve
“Hello ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Over the course of this trial the defense is going to use a barrage of illusions to trick you into freeing a guilty man,” Nancy Schwartz began her opening statement while leaning on the jury box and pointing one finger toward Kasheef. “They will hold no punches as they try to paint a lovely portrait on a dilapidated, cold, brick wall. They may even try to bring up the past of a little boy raised in an urban environment who had no choice but to adapt to his surroundings. Let me put this question in your mind before all of this even begins. What does any of that have to do with a murder? Upbringing, charity contributions, or any other tool that the defense tries to use has nothing to do with murder. They are just distractions. Good distractions I might add. As a matter of fact, let’s give a preemptive round of applause to the defense right now for their creativity.” Nancy Schwartz walked straight over to the defense table and stood directly in front of Kasheef. She clapped her hands loudly before turning her attention back to the jury. “You see ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Rose here is a skilled magician who has made many charges disappear for many known criminals.”
Carmen smirked, but did not interrupt. She knew that the DA would be pulling out all stops in trying this case. This was Carmen’s first big case and the DA was trying to make it seem like Carmen had defended John Gotti or something. Nancy Schwartz was declaring war on Kasheef and she wanted to first, draw blood. She wanted to be inside of the heads of the jurors, but she would have to do much better if she wanted to intimidate Carmen. Carmen tapped her pen against the desk and listened on.
“Don’t let her turn this trial into another one of her magic shows. Over the next couple weeks, the state will present you with the facts. We will give you an eye witness account of what occurred on the night of March 21, 2008. A courageous young woman, who can identify the killer of Ahmad Simmons, has agreed to share with you her account of what happened that night. There can only be one person to blame and the state will prove that person to be Kasheef Williams. Mr. Williams is the one responsible for the murder. It is his fault that a little girl will grow up without a father. It is his fault that a mother had to bury her son. It was at his hands that this tragic murder took place and now it is in your hands to bring him to justice. It is your responsibility to right this wrong.” District Attorney Schwartz gave Kasheef a smug look before she took her seat. Kasheef shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
He leaned over to Carmen, “Who the fuck is she looking at like that?”
Carmen grabbed his arm and squeezed it gently. “Don’t worry about it. I got this.”
Kasheef turned around and scanned the crowd. Norelle sat directly behind him as if it were her place to be by his side. He gazed past her when he noticed Alija sitting in the last row of the room. He winked his eye and saw her smile, then turned back around.
It was Carmen’s turn to deliver her opening statement and she was a woman determined as she approached the jury looking fly as ever. Her long, tailored, tan Dolce pencil skirt, a high rise design, stopped right below her bust line. She wore a silk tan blouse with a ruffled neckline and a sleeveless tan vest to accent her outfit. Her Giuseppe stiletto pumps click clacked against the floor as she walked.
“Hello ladies and gentleman of the jury, how are you all doing today?” she asked with a genuine smile. She decided to take the laid back approach with her jury of mostly women. She quickly scanned the faces of the jury. Two white women, five black women, one Hispanic woman, three white men, and one black man could either make or break her entire career. All that she had worked hard for was riding on this.
“I am here to set the record straight. Mr. Kasheef Williams is not a criminal, nor is he a threat to our society. In fact, the DA is right. He has contributed thousands of dollars to local charities and even political figures. In fact, I believe Mr. Williams contributed $50,000 to Judge Martin’s campaign when he was up for judicial election.” Carmen turned toward the judge who turned beet red at the public revelation. Several members of the jury chuckled and Carmen continued. “He’s never been in trouble a day of his life. It seems to me like he would work his way up to something as big as murder!” she said incredulously. “You know? Give himself a little bit of practice. Maybe commit a couple robberies, get himself an aggravated assault charge ... something. Murderers are not made overnight,” she argued. “Kasheef Williams is a law abiding citizen who does not have the stealth or the malice in him to commit a crime of this magnitude. He’s had no practice. No priors whatsoever. He is simply the wrong man and while the state is here wasting your tax dollars the real killer is roaming free around our city streets. The district attorney can call me a magician and try to put all of these biases into your heads to help her case, but the truth is I represent the underdogs. I speak for those who can not speak up for themselves, the men and women who would otherwise be trampled on and punished for crimes that they were not responsible for. All I’m asking you is to keep an open mind while you are hearing this case. Don’t let the state make your decision for you. This is someone’s future you are playing with. Be 100 percent sure that the man before you is your murderer. If you feel like he’s the perpetrator of this crime then by all means, convict him. If you have even the slightest sliver of doubt that leads you to believe that something just doesn’t quite add up then you are obligated by law to let my client go. None of my so-called magic is needed here. The only thing I need from you ladies and gentleman is an open mind. An open mind is all you need to render a fair and just verdict. I can assure you that Mr. Williams is innocent. Now I just have to get you all to see the innocence in this man that I see.”
The first day of the trial went by quickly. Both sides went through the coroner’s report of the body. The short man that sat on the stand gave a very detailed account of the decomposition of Ahmad’s body once it was recovered from the river. The prosecution used gory details to horrify the jurors and played the sympathy card by reminding them of the family that Ahmad had left behind. Carmen could tell that Kasheef was concerned about the affect that the coroner was having on the jury because his body was tense and his usually calm demeanor was now anxious as he tapped his foot against the floor.
When it was time for cross examination Carmen arose from her seat and walked over to the coroner. “Was there any evidence left on the body that would indicate that Ahmad Simmons contributed to his own death?” Carmen asked.
“Well there was a small trace of gun powder on the deceased’s hands,” the coroner replied.
“So the victim was not as heroic and innocent as the prosecution is making him out to be. There are no gun permits registered in Ahmad Simmons’ name. So it may be safe to say that the shooter, whoever he may be, could have been protecting him or herself from the deceased,” Carmen said.
“That is very possible,” the coroner replied.
“No further questions your Honor,” Carmen said and then returned to the defense table.
Both sides went back and forth for a few hours before court ended for the day. Kasheef exhausted and more worried then ever, retired to his hotel room for the remainder of the day. He lay in bed with his hands behind his head. He thought of his trial as he felt the stress build in his shoulders. He couldn’t ask for a better lawyer. Carmen was great and was doing a damned good job, but there was only so much that she could do. The prosecution had it out for him. They portrayed him to be this horrible monster and he could see their words taking its toll on the jury already. They wanted a bad guy and Kasheef was it. A small knock at the door interrupted his thoughts and he walked somberly over to it. When he opened it up, Alija stood before him in a black BCBG jogging suit that hugged every curve on her voluptuous body.
“Hi,” she said in a low voice. “I just came to check on you. I could tell by the look on your face that you weren’t happy in there today. I thought you could use a friend.” Alija smiled half-heartedly as she looked up at Kasheef.
Kasheef moved to the side to let her in, but peeked his head into the hallway to be sure no one had seen her come to his room.
“Don’t worry, I made sure I was low key,” she said, knowing that they were not supposed to be associating with each other. “Now what was wrong today? Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“They are trying to put the noose around my neck.”
“Why are you so worried?” she asked. “You have the entire thing in the palm of your hands.”
“I know but when I’m sitting in that courtroom I feel like I’m choking,” he admitted. Being vulnerable in front of other people was something that Kasheef did not do often. He was surprised that he was opening up to Alija in the way that he was. “How’s li’l mama doing?”
“She’s good. I went to see her after I left the courthouse. She’s still not ready to come home yet though.”
He walked over to sit down on his bed. With his face buried in his hands he sighed deeply. Alija was shocked at this new connection she felt with Kasheef. He was her enemy, but here she was in his room. She was beginning to view him as one of the only friends she had. One of the only people who could understand what she was going through.
If he only knew,
she thought regretfully. She sat down next to him. “Everything will be fine. We just have to get through this. Once this is over we can go our separate ways,” she said.
If he only knew,
she thought regretfully. She sat down next to him. “Everything will be fine. We just have to get through this. Once this is over we can go our separate ways,” she said.
“What if I don’t want that?” he asked as he turned his head to look at her.
Tears filled her eyes and she willed them away, but didn’t respond. She wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold. “I don’t think you know what you want Kasheef. Not long ago you wanted me dead ... now you’re saying you want me here with you? I think you’re just alone right now and you think that I’m what you are looking for. You just found out all that stuff about your girlfriend and you are searching for a quick replacement, someone who you can trust. Or maybe you just want to play with my head and get involved with me because of our agreement. I don’t know what is up with you, but if you think I am who you want or what you want in a woman. Believe me, I’m not. You have no idea who I am. You don’t know anything about my past or what I’m capable of. I will be nothing but heartbreak for you.”
“I’ve been alone my entire life, ma. I just see something in you. When I look at you, I respect you and I have never felt that way about anyone. I can kick it with you, nah mean? I see you with your daughter and it just feels right. It all feels right when I’m with you,” he admitted.
“But it would be so wrong,” Alija whispered as she touched Kasheef’s face with her hand. If it had been under different circumstances, she may have given him a chance, but the way that their paths had crossed would forever haunt her. She just could not take it there. She could not allow herself to. “I have to be honest with you. You scare me. Just the way that we met and—”
Kasheef cut her off, “I would never hurt you.”
“My heart seems to know that. I mean for these past few days you have been the only person I can talk to, but my mind ... my mind is telling me that not too long ago, you wanted me dead. What if I had not gotten away from your goons that night?” she asked as she stared into his face. “I would be dead and quite possibly my daughter would be dead.”
The way Kasheef looked at her as she spoke caused her to blush. He stared at her so intensely that she had to break his gaze. He intimidated her. “That was then,” Kasheef whispered as he brought his face toward hers. She pulled away, he pulled her back ... taking control of her, commanding her to come nearer until their lips touched. He kissed her slowly. “Now I’ll kill anybody who tries to bring harm to you,” he said as he gently sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. Alija resisted, putting her hands up against his chest and pushing him away. “No, this isn’t right ... you’re not for me,” she whispered, but the softness of Kasheef’s full lips drew her back in each time she pulled away. “I’m sorry ma,” he said to her repeatedly as he kissed her smoothly; his voice like a classic melody to her ears as she gave into him with regret. “I’m sorry ... I need you. Don’t tell me no.”
Aljia’s heart raced as she returned his kisses passionately, their tongues intertwining like a slow dance. “Kasheef,” she moaned knowing that she should stop. This was not apart of her plan. He was getting to her and he was a completely different person than what she had first expected.
“Shh!” he said as he pulled her shirt over her head. His kisses trailed from her mouth to her neck to her hard dark pearls as he moved from one breast to the other, circling her erect nipples with his tongue as he palmed them softly.
Alija’s back arched and Kasheef stood then picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and the womanly crease between her legs was soaked in anticipation. Kasheef’s hands massaged her round behind and his fingertips melted into her skin causing a wave of pleasure to pulsate through her body. He put her on her feet and reached down between her legs. When he brought his fingers out they were dripping wet. “Do you want me to stop?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said as she backpedaled toward the door. Kasheef watched her walk away and as she opened the door he came up behind her and closed it, pinning his body against hers.
“Don’t leave ma,” he whispered in her ear as he planted kisses on the back of her neck. She closed her eyes, her hand still on the door handle. “Make love to me ma.”
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