Free Gutta Mamis by N’Tyse

she would’ve pushed her pride aside and let the system work for her, we wouldn’t have this little dilemma.”
    â€œYour Honor, I don’t think we have any choice but to move for a dismissal,” Melissa said. “As the prosecutor so elegantly put it, without the witness, their charges cannot be proven.”
    The judge was stuck; Melissa was right, but he didn’t like it. In his heart, he wished that there was something that he could do, but his hands were tied. There was no way that the state would win this case without their star witness. The case was built on circumstantial evidence as it was, so without Juanita Chandler to point the finger at the women she saw running from her house, the case essentially collapsed. Judge Green was no fool. Years of experience on the bench told him that Jasmine’s crew had something to do with Juanita’s sudden demise. Since there was no way to prove it at the moment, he had no choice but to grant Melissa’s wish.
    â€œLook, I’m sorry, Mr. Morgan, but Mrs. Crawford is right. Without the witness, I have no choice but to dismiss the case.”
    The prosecutor stormed out of the chambers in a huff. Normally, when someone showed him up like that, Judge Green would hold that person in contempt, but he felt the frustration on this one.
    â€œAnd you, Mrs. Crawford,” he said, pointing his finger at Melissa. “If I find out that your client had anything to do with that poor woman’s death, I’ll make sure that her and anyone else involved gets a lethal injection! Do I make myself clear?”
    â€œYes sir, your honor,” Melissa said, walking out.
    Judge Green, feeling like shit even though it wasn’t his fault, shook his head and followed her out.

    Judge Green plopped down in his seat after he reentered the courtroom. Taking off his glasses, he ran his right hand across his face in a manner that said he was fed up with the shenanigans of the legal system. Before he spoke, his eyes scanned the courtroom, knowing full well the chaos that was about to ensue after the announcement he was about to make. As soon as his pupils got to Jasmine, his head stopped rotating. His cold stare would have intimidated the hardest of criminals, but Jasmine Turner was a different breed. She was a thoroughbred and not easily scared by such tactics. A sly smile escaped her lips as Judge Green shook his head at her with disdain.
    â€œLadies and gentlemen of the jury,” he began. “I have received news of a terrible tragedy. It appears that there was a fatal shooting involving the witness. I have no choice at this time but to dismiss the case. Ms. Turner, you are free to go. Court adjourned,” he said, banging his gavel.
    The courtroom erupted. Jasmine covered her mouth and feigned shock and remorse.
    â€œOh my God,” she said loud enough for the judge to hear her.
    Judge Green knew it was an act, but there wasn’t anything that he could do about it. “Order!” he demanded. “Order! Order in my courtroom!”
    Jasmine kept her hand up to her mouth, more so to conceal a smile than anything else. She turned around and looked at the shocked crowd mumbling amongst themselves. Her eyes came to a rest on the same redhead that she’d caught staring at her earlier. Once again she ignored her and turned back around.
    â€œCongratulations,” said her lawyer. “You beat the rap.”

3
    The humidity index made the eighty-degree heat feel like ninety-five and the GMBs were just as hot as they stepped out on the town to celebrate Jasmine’s release. Ever since the judge had denied bail, Jasmine had been cooped up behind bars for the better part of two months. She couldn’t wait to get out and let her hair down. Kicking it with her crew was one of the things that Jasmine had missed most. The last time she’d kicked it with her partners-in-crime, she and Kita had to pull Roni off a bitch’s ass