It had been seven days since the last court hearing.
James lay on his prison bunk still very much in pains, but what bothers him most was the possibility of going to jail, he wished he could hear from Dean or Drake, maybe figure a way out of this place. He had tried to reach out to them yet no significant progress. Malik, the same man James once trusted and protected, was trying to bury him alive in court. For James that feeling of hopelessness always creeps in no matter how hard he tries to remain positive.
But James wasn't totally broken he knew if he could get someone from the outside to work out a plan together he can get out.
He did not believe in the lawyer getting him out because he feels guilty despite most of Malik's accusations were false.
But he knows he's not clean and the court will not be stupid enough not to find anything after his trials.
Next Hearing
Back in court the next morning, things were tense. The prosecution brought in one of their star witnesses, a former accountant who claimed to have handled financial records for James and Malik.
The guy walked in with a folder and a nervous look.
Thomas Marshall moved closer to James and said to him do not worry too much, this dude's shaky. I might break him with just one question."
The judge looked over his glasses. "You may proceed."
The prosecution started. "Tell the court what you found in the ledgers."
The accountant cleared his throat. "Uh… I noticed repeated transfers from Starks Holdings to off-shore accounts, names not officially on any documentation but linked to drug shipments in the port…"
Marshall stood up.
"Excuse me let me ask you something," he said, "These accounts you say were 'linked' how exactly? Did James Starks sign for them?"
"No… but his name was used" the man answered.
"Used by who?" Marshall asked.
The man hesitated. "Malik, I mean Malik gave the instructions, but...."
Marshall pounced. "Alright let me get this straight. You never met James Stark, And James never spoke to you, He never gave you instructions. But you're here swearing that he was involved, is that what you are trying to tell this court?"
The man opened his mouth, then closed it.
"Your honor, I'd like this testimony to be thrown out as speculative and unreliable." Marshall Said.
"Objection," the prosecutor shouted.
"Sustained," the judge ruled. "You have to stick to facts, Mr Gatlin not theories."
James let out a heavy breath, Marshall was good. Too good.
Even the jury was starting to shift in their seats, a few clearly confused now.
And James can't help but wonder who hired Marshall for him, he was sure it's definitely not Drake or Dean.
During recess, Malik passed James in the hallway guarded, but close enough to whisper.
"This lawyer won't save you," he muttered. "You think you're smart. But you're done. I'll never go down alone."
James seemed not bothered at all.
And that made Malik even more furious.
"Can't you hear me you idiot" trying so hard to draw a response from James.
"You already flipped. That means you're weak," he said calmly. "And weak men die first." James said with a smile.
Malik still furious. "We'll see who dies first when the cartel finds out your lawyer's digging into their pockets too."
James's face changed. "What did you just say?"
But Malik just smiled and walked off with the guards.
Jazmin 's Visit
Later that evening, back in his cell, James got a visit.
It was Jazmin. James was surprised, "You bitch, what are you doing here?"
"Calm down Jammie, I don't have enough time, I think someone tried to follow me here." Jazmin said.
James eyes widened, "Who?"
"I don't know," she said. "But ever since I paid your lawyer, I've been getting strange calls.
"Wait you mean you hired the lawyer for me?"
James asked.
"Yeah, you got a problem with that?" Jazmin said with a smile knowing that he was surprised to hear that.
"No.. I mean yes, we are supposed to be enemies" James said a bit jokingly.
"In your books Jammie, not in mine" Jazmin answered looking straight into his eyes.
He looked away initially and then looked at her again and said "Alright nevermind, what's the details of the strange calls you said you've been getting?"
"Firstly, she began I got a call a male voice I couldn't recognize just said you are going down with James and ended the call."
"I got another call a female voice pretending to be in distress asking about the details of Mr Marshall, that she would really need his services"
"How many people knew you hired the lawyer for me?" James asked with visible curiosity on his face.
"Not a single soul as far as I know" she answered
"Not even Bryan?" James queried.
"Not even Bryan" she affirmed.
"Words of your arrest and court case are everywhere on the street though and i heard that the Iron Teeth Cartel think you're using the trial to leak names including their names to drag everyone down." she said adjusting her seat.
James exhaled, slow. "I do not need the cops or court to fight my battles, I'm no rat... I think everything boils down to Malik he's the one trying hard to pitch me against everyone and he's also the one doing all the snitching.
"I never liked him from the first day I set my eyes on him" she replied.
James was silent.
"Is there anything else you would want me to do for you, Jammie?" Jazmin asked.
"Yeah, can you help me find Drake and Dean? I need them on my side. Tell them where I am and tell them to send their words through you; I just need to hear from them, please."
"It's a hard task, Jammie. I've not seen or heard from them in a long time, and you know they see me as an enemy; they can't wait to eliminate me, but I'll try," she said.
"Okay, thanks, and how about Bryan?" James asked. She hesitated, then answered, "I've not seen him for two weeks now." She lied because she didn't trust that James would ever forgive Bryan.
"Do you need me to send a message across to him for you as well?" she asked, trying to read James's mind.
"No, don't worry," James said.
"Did he tell you anything about our last meeting at the Oasis Hotel?" James asked.
"He said you shot him but also saved his life," Jazmin answered, looking at James with a straight face. James lowered his head, trying to avoid eye contact with Jazmin yet again.
"I'll be leaving now Jammie" Jazmin said.
"Okay, thanks for helping me and I'll be expecting you back soon Jazmin" James said with a sly smile.