Page 33 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Thirty-Three

Shiloh:

“Oh my gosh. What?” I groaned hearing my phone ring and rattle on the sink in the bathroom.

Though my phone continued ringing, I ignored it since I was still in only a bra, skirt, and had rollers in my head.

I had to hurry up. I wasn’t sure of the need to be at the courthouse for Rashad when we still had a week before the trial, but we had to be there.

“Where is my shirt?” I questioned out loud, pulling the rollers from my hair and letting my curls fall freely. I was in the house alone, so the question wasn’t one that needed an answer.

“Give me a damn break!” I shouted hearing the phone ring again. I didn’t know who was calling, and I didn’t have the time to stop and see. Whoever it had been would have to wait until I was in my car, and that was only if I wasn’t ripping and running the streets to make it to the courthouse.

Glancing over at the clock that hung on the wall, I realized I had about seven minutes to be in my car to make it to the courthouse at the assigned time and that was hoping there was no traffic. I hated to rush, but today, I had no choice but to do so as it was impromptu.

Without grabbing anything for breakfast, I rushed out of the house, starting my car with my key fob.

I hated being late. It made me disgruntled, and nothing ever seemed to go right.

Opening the door, I tossed my messenger bag and purse onto the seat before roughly placing the car in drive and peeling off.

“Shit, shit, shit.” I banged my fist on the steering wheel when I came to a swift stop almost slamming into the car in front of me. “Freaking train.”

I sighed, looking at the time on my dashboard. Today was not the day to be late by any means. Looking in the rearview, I saw no cars were behind me. Swiftly placing the car in reverse, I backed up before placing it in drive and making a U-turn.

Thankfully, no police were in the area since I was breaking traffic laws.

I made it to the courthouse in record time.

Sloppily pulling into a parking space, I rushed from the car, doing double time to make it into the courthouse.

Most times, when I entered the courthouse, I’d greet security, make small talk, and linger a bit.

Today, I tossed my belongings on the conveyor belt and stepped through the metal detector.

After being cleared to go, I grabbed my messenger bag and darted for the elevator.

I wasn’t sure why I was needed at court so early, but I knew it had to be something serious. Once on the elevator, I pressed it for the third floor, taking the time to catch my breath as it ascended to the designated floor.

“Lord give me the strength.” I prayed quietly just as the elevator door dinged, indicating I’d reached the floor.

I stepped off, walking with a purpose. One last exhale slipped from my lips when I stopped in front of the courtroom’s door, and I stepped inside.

As I took the short walk to the front, it seemed all eyes were fixated on me.

I felt like I was about to be on trial. At the tender age of seven, I decided I wanted to follow my father’s footsteps and become a lawyer.

I remembered going into the office with my dad and feeling at peace watching him in action when it came to the law.

Each time the feeling was better than the last, so being his only girl and child, it was only right I did what he loved.

Since I could remember, law was my life…

until now. Sitting in the cold, unwelcoming courtroom, any joy I once felt seemed to diminish with each passing second.

“I wonder why we’re here,” William said out loud for the third time in two minutes as he paced the floors.

Arthur sighed heavily as he had each time William asked the question. However, this time, he responded. “I’m sure it’s nothing. His team has probably come up with some bull to throw into the case, but it won’t change us going hard and having that boy locked away.”

Could you sound more racist? I thought, staring at Arthur.

I almost said something, but Rashad and his team stepped off the elevator, commanding all of our attention.

Rashad’s legal team walked beside him as if they were his bodyguards, and while they were dressed nicely, my eyes seemed to zoom in on Rashad.

Rashad wore gray slacks, a black button-down shirt, black designer shoes, diamond earrings in both ears, and a single platinum necklace sealed the deal. He was fine, and that man knew it.

When they neared us, I expected maybe a simple head nod or even a look of acknowledgement once Rashad was near since this was our first encounter since me telling him I was pregnant.

I got nothing. Swallowing hard, I looked away, blinking my thick lashes in a hurried manner so tears wouldn’t fall.

It had to have been the hormones from the baby.

Usually, something so little wouldn’t have made me cry.

“You may enter the courtroom.” I heard, not even realizing the huge door to the courtroom had been pushed and held open by the bailiff.

Arthur nor William had notified me or waited for me as they had already entered the courtroom.

Finally standing, I gathered my messenger bag and held my head high and stepped into the courtroom.

“All rise.” I heard seconds after getting comfortable in my seat. That quickly annoyed me.

The bailiff announced Judge Fairbanks once he was in the room, and once he was settled in his seat, he instructed us all to have a seat.

“I’m not even going to pretend I’m happy to be here before my courts were due to open,” Judge Fairbanks stated without looking up from the many papers he was rifling through.

“Us either, Your Honor,” William spoke up, causing many of us to look in his direction in irritation.

Judge Fairbanks finally looked up. Annoyance was written all over his features. His eyes instantly went to Rashad and his lawyers.

“Mr. Jackson, we’re here at such an unappealing time for a request of dismissal on behalf of your client, Mr.—”

“On what grounds?” Arthur shot up from his seat. The trial would be considered a dismissal instead of an acquittal because the trial hadn’t officially started.

In a swift motion, Judge Fairbanks picked up his gavel and smacked it against the wood on the podium “Mr. Whitlock, you have been a counselor in my courtroom before and know I will not tolerate any outbursts of any sort. You will have your chance to speak, and now is not the time,” He reprimanded.

The judge wasn’t even speaking to me, yet I felt the need to adjust in my seat and press my lips together so that not even my breathing would be heard.

Like a child having a tantrum, Arthur flopped back into his seat while mumbling things that even I didn’t understand being that I was so close, so I was sure no one else did either.

“Mr. Jackson, please continue.”

Feeling someone looking my way, I automatically assumed it was Rashad, which prompted me to look his way.

As expected, Rashad’s eyes were on me. He didn’t speak, and a blank expression covered his features, yet his intriguing, dark brown eyes glimmered.

Offering Rashad a smile, I looked away to focus back on his defense attorney.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Mr. Jackson said. Amusement laced his tone. He looked over his shoulder at us with a smirk on his face before turning back to face Judge Fairbanks. “As I had previously stated before I had been interrupted, Your Honor, we’re requesting a dismissal.”

“What are the reasons for the request? And it better be good since it was stated that it was such an urgent matter.”

“Your Honor, if I may present to the court exhibit A of a signed and notarized letter from an undisclosed witness that my client was wrongfully charged. In fact, said witness stated that the charges were fabricated.”

“Objection!” William shouted as he stood just as roughly as his father had. I guess it was like father, like son.

I sat quietly, not because I didn’t have a say, but because I was shocked so many lies were attached to this case. I had never really concluded with what I’d do with the information Anita had given me, but it was clear I didn’t have to make any moves.

“Mr. Jackson, allow me to review the evidence before I can decide if I will allow it.” Judge Fairbanks seemed extremely over the circus that was unfolding in his courtroom.

“Permission to approach?” Jackson asked.

Instead of a response, Judge Fairbanks waved his arms in annoyance, giving him the go head to approach the bench.

The courtroom was as quiet as a catholic church during mass as we awaited Judge Fairbanks denial or approval. Finally looking up, Judge Fairbanks pulled his glasses from his face. “I’ll allow it.”

Rashad’s team seemed to cheer in happiness while William and Arthur both groaned, expressing how unhappy they were with the decision. The commotion from both sides subsided simply from Judge Fairbanks’ expression.

“Your Honor, I would like to give the plaintiffs a copy of said evidence.” Mr. Jackson was already headed our way.

William nor Arthur moved in to take the document, so I took it.

I didn’t even need to read over it because, though I hadn’t spoken up, I had a good idea what the paper said and who the witness was.

“Your Honor, in addition to the undisclosed witness’ testimony I would now like to present to the court exhibit B, which is a video of an unknown woman saying how she would have my client framed.”

“Objection!” William and Arthur both shouted in unison.

“Your Honor, at this point, I feel as though the defendant and his team are wasting the court’s time and could possibly be utilizing said witnesses from their own team to get out of a trial.”

“Your Honor, by no means would myself or my team jeopardize our licenses to fabricate anything. Any evidence we’re presenting this morning is valid and was given to us under oath,” Mr. Jackson spoke in a calm tone.