Chapter 36

I was arraigned in court the next morning. John brought me breakfast and a change of clean , descent clothes before I went to court. I listened to his advice on what I should and shouldn't do in court. This was my first time stepping in a court, so I knew absolutely nothing of what goes on in there .

When I was led inside, the court room was full to the brim. It felt like everyone was here. From reporters to civilians and people I didn't know. I kept wondering why they were all here. Didn't they have something better to do?

The reporters I understood why they were here. They were covering the event of the century. This was an event to them but to me this was my life. My life that was disrupted. We sat at the defense side. The bench behind me was filled with my mum, dad, Elena , Amari ,Zuri and their baby Nora.

John was by my side defending me like he had promised and I appreciated everything he did. Without him I wouldn't know where to start or whom to call. He was heaven sent. I didn't know what would happen but my chances of getting free were slim to none.

I prepared myself mentally for the outcome. If I depended up being released ,then well and good but if I was sentenced then I had to accept it somehow. How do you accept ownership of something you didn't do?

My mum left the bench and came to give me a much needed hug before the process started. I felt warm and safe in her embrace and when she pulled away I felt cold and lonely.

" Everything will be okay Zee ,just pray" she tried assuring me.

Being a Christian my mother raised us to pray and seek guidance from our lord. It has been a minute since I prayed if I was being honest ,if you exempt the time I was being chased by assassins. Mom went back to take her seat when a court guard yelled the case number.

Immediately she sat down, a female judge walked in and we all rose . After she was seated we all sat down. I didn't know what was happening ,so I followed what everyone else was doing.

' Lord, please help me today. I don't have much of a defense but I hope what I have is enough ' I prayed .

The court was officially in session. This was either sink or swim . Someone announced the case number again and all the details but I was not listening. My attention was turned towards Marcus.

He sat all high and might, looking smug even when he knew very well that he was destroying my life. I know he could feel my gaze on him but he refused to look at me. Coward. The lawyers presented their cases and then the witnesses were called .

Marcus was called to the stand .

" Can you state your name for the court please?" Asked the prosecutor

" My name is Marcus Anderson" he answered.

" In brief can you explain what happened?"

" My company has been dealing with a lot of theft for the past 3-4 years. We went to the police at first but when they didn't arrest the pulpitratos we decided to hire private investigators. For a while,we didn't get any leads until two years ago."

" Can you please tell the court what happened two years ago?"

" Certainly, I met Zawadi two years ago at a club in Westlands. We started out as friends before we decided to start dating. We had our own differences but in the end we did our best to communicate. I took Zawadi back home with me to meet my family, especially my parents but that didn't happen "

" If that was the plan,why didn't it happen?"

" The private investigators had found some of my stolen money. We traced the money to her bank account. Out of anger and disappointment ,I broke things off between us"

" The documents are on the evidence provided today " announced the prosecutor

" Please proceed Mr. Anderson "

" I decided to let it go but that was until we met again very recently. We both attended her friend's baby shower.  We started talking again until three months ago when I discovered she had stolen from me again" he growled his eyes filled hatred .

" Please tell the court how you learned about this lastest theft" asked the prosecutor.

Marcus shifted in his seat before he proceeded to say " One of my employees notified me of the missing money ,so I flew in the private team I used last time."

The prosecutor raised another binder full of papers. That was alot of evidence against me. Like alot. I couldn't think of any way to get out of this except through a miracle.

The prosecutor went back to his seat after he finished questioning the witness. It was John's turn to examine the witness.

" Mr Anderson, why didn't you take action the first time you found evidence of Zawadi stealing from you?" John asked smoothly.

I was seeing a whole new side of him. The playful side of him was replaced by a serious lawyer ready to crack the case.

" I didn't believe it at first ,I needed time to understand why she would do this to me" he said softly making people take pity on him.

He didn't deserve any pity. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing literally.

" You said you came back to the country and you two met again. Is it safe to say that you wanted to see if the feelings were still there? " John pushed.

" No! I am an engaged man" he hissed

" Does an engaged man, blackmail the woman he was supposedly in love with to continue their relationship?"

" I don't know what you mean"

" Objection!" Yelled the prosecutor.

" Let me put it in simple terms. Did you or did you not blackmail Zawadi to continue with the relationship you had once with the evidence presented in this court?" Asked John calmly

" I did not. Your client threw herself at me" he said smugly.

The court burst out in mummers as people discussed what he said. My family and friends were shocked by the revelation. Damnit! I didn't want people learn about my extra curriculum activities like this.

I tuned my attention to the rest of the discussion. More and more witnesses came in and testified against me. It was overwhelming to watch people I knew driving the nail further in. I was screwed. I had no evidence to exonorate me . I had nothing.

My family and friends were probably embarrassed by my behavior. I would be too. I stopped following the proceedings until it was my turn to take the stand. When I stood up infront of everyone ,my feet felt heavy like I was dragging the weight of the world.

I was seven months heading to eight months pregnant. My stomach was huge and heavy while my feet worked overtime to support the excess weight . John helped me up to the podium where I was supposed to sit.

" Please state your names for the court?" John asked.

" My name is Zawadi Njoki "

" Ms. Zawadi please tell the court in your own words how you met Mr Anderson " asked John.

" I met Marcus at a club in Westlands while I was out with my friends. We met a few times after before we decided to start dating. We broke up once but we got back together after I was involved in an accident "I explained

" What happened when you guys went to meet his parents ?" He asked.

" I met his sister as well as his brother. During my visit everything was going well until he threw me out and broke up with me " I said

" Did he tell you why he broke up with you?"

" He kept saying that I betrayed him. He didn't mention anything else "

" What is your relationship with him now?"

" We don't have one. He blackmailed me with some evidence he had that showed that I was stealing from him. I didn't know where he could find such evidence " I explained

" When you were summoned to court the first time ,you did not attend. Can you tell us where you are?"

" I was hiding. Some bad men were after me. They planned to kill me"

" Your witness " announced John before he sat down.

" Ms Zawadi ,do you honestly expect us to believe that you were blackmailed. How?"

" It is the truth. I didn't want to go to jail for something I didn't do" I hissed

" How did you transfer money from the company's account to your own account?" He insisted

" I didn't do any of that. I don't even know how to properly operate a laptop or a computer except to type and watch a movie"

" Very well, let's pretend that you didn't steal the money as you put it. How did the money end up in your account " he asked

" I don't know. Honestly I think I am being framed."

" You think your being framed! How convenient. Do you expect us to also believe that you life was in danger?"

" Yes it was, if you saw my house you would understand "

" That doesn't prove much, you could have paid someone to destroy it"

" Why would I destroy my own house?" I yelled

John said something and the judge responded with something I didn't hear. My heart was beating to fast . My mind was crowded by all this things they thought I did. I was innocent. Why couldn't they believe me? As if on cue tears started flowing down my cheeks.

I tried wiping them away but more flowed freely . Fucking hormones. John came towards me and helped me back to his side. The judge announced recess for two hours as she looked into all the evidence presented today.

I used my two hours talking with my very worried parents who were suprised to see me very pregnant. Yap! It was a suprise to my family. They listened to my side of the story and not once did they have a judgy expression on their faces. I held Zuri's child for almost an hour as we ate and talked.

Recess was over ,so we went back to listen to my verdict. Sincerely I didn't know what would happen to me. My fate was in the hands of God.

" For the counts of embezzling four billion dollars, I find Ms Zawadi , Guilty"