by Neviah Wohl
“Go ahead,” she said, her deep voice was steady, almost warm.
“Karin Williams, Kari to her friends, murdered her boyfriend, stabbing him multiple times. It’s ugly. The press is into it. It’ll be in the headlines by tomorrow morning. It might very well be first-degree murder. She says it was self-defense, but if you ask me, she’s psycho. Plus, the girl is black, the boy was white, and he was a very promising young entrepreneur, educated, popular, accomplished. You can imagine it’s a sensitive case.”
Adrenalin pumped through her veins.
“You say Kari killed him in self-defense.”
“She says Jim attacked her and wanted to strangle her, but I’m not sure she’s telling the truth. There was no sign of a fight at the crime scene, and she only has light bruises.”
“Only?” Diana was appalled.
“See, a few contusions, a few scratches, nothing worse. He was a big guy, a star football player in his college years. If he’d wanted to strangle her, it would show.”
“Are you a doctor to tell this?”
“The officers who arrested her had this bad vibe about her. She looks unstable.”
“Again, you’re no psychologist to tell that. Plus, it’s unstable girls who are most vulnerable to domestic violence, especially if they are black.”
“Whatever you say, Diana,” he said. “It’s a case for you, you can walk on eggshells with political correctness.” She could sense hidden contempt in his voice. “Again, I warn you, this case won’t make you popular. Remember Jodi Arias’ lawyer got death threats?”
She smiled and nodded.
“I absolutely do, but I’m interested in the Williams case. Very much. Have you sent it over in an email? I’ll give a look to it.”
“Already?” Smith laughed. “It’s Friday night, Diana.”
“You assume I should be out for a date?” she asked with a laugh and a glowing, cynical glare.
“I guess you won’t have free time on your evenings and weekends if you start this case.”
Diana shrugged and turned back to her laptop, ready to fight for the unknown woman named Kari Williams.
Chapter 2
Diana took in every detail, the apartment and the young woman next to her. Kari Williams’ Brooklyn home was cozy and neat. It had a large living room with white walls and plenty of natural light, hardwood floors in a warm brown color, only a few cabinets and shelves in white, pale brown or gray. It featured armchairs for visitors and friends.
Kari was strikingly attractive, with glowing eyes, sharp features, prominent, wide cheekbones, and amazing teeth. She had natural hair, wild and curly, almost shoulder-length. Her posture talked about confidence, she was no taller than Diana herself, five feet four, and she was thin, probably too thin, but very fit and toned, and she wore a bright yellow blouse and black trousers. Diana was slightly amused to see that Kari had a taste and style similar to hers: elegant, simple, a bit formal, a bit casual.
Diana was sitting next to Kari on the couch, and there was an encouraging smile on her face as she was listening to her. Kari was playing with her graceful hands, her eyes were on Diana as she shared her story with her, and she leaned close to her. Diana was listening carefully, she nodded, signaling to Kari that she had her full attention, and gently hummed as she learned more and more about the young woman.
Kari was highly intellectual and ambitious. She graduated from New York University, majoring in environmental and energy studies in civil engineering, and she worked for a firm that dealt with technologies for environmental sustainability. It was a rare case that a suspect of a first-degree murder excelled at her studies and had a well-paid job, a stable life, a solid background—and Kari Williams had it all. Her mother was a cardiologist, her office was close by, only a couple of blocks away, on Maple Street. Kari was particularly close to her grandma and her younger sister. Right now, there was no clear evidence against Kari, so she was allowed to live at home until her trial, her mother paid her bail.
Kari appeared shocked and appalled by her boyfriend’s death, but she did not seem bitter or hostile. She was respectful and friendly with Diana. She even gave her small, quivering smiles as they were talking. It was not surprising for Diana, she could always bond with people easily. They felt connected to her on a personal level. They loved her strong, comforting voice that sounded deep and soft like the purring of a cat, they loved her warm smile, her energy, her iron will, her work ethic and quick wits. She was like a strict but gracious teacher who always was there for her students, offering a helping hand and a friendly ear.
What Diana did find surprising was the fact that she herself felt relaxed and comfortable with Kari. They exchanged smiles and shared laughs as though they had enjoyed a long friendship for many years. Kari was dignified, level-headed, high-wired with energy, and it was good to be near her. At Diana’s request, she told about herself. It turned out she had friends and substantive hobbies. Diana discovered they shared hobbies: deep love for arts, theatre, books and crime stories. It seemed Kari had a good life except for her corrosive relationship with her boyfriend.
“I want you to be as honest as you can,” Diane explained. “We mustn’t screw up, I need to know everything in order to help you, and what we say here will remain between us, so you should reconstruct everything correctly, you mustn’t miss a beat. Did Jim Walker invite you over on Thursday night? Or you went to see him uninvited?”
“He did invite me. I didn’t want to meet with him, but he persisted. I knew he was angry, I heard it in his voice.”
“What happened when you arrived?”
“He looked upset. He asked whether I was seeing someone.”
“Were you?”
“No, I wasn’t, frankly, I’ve had enough of dating anyone. I couldn’t even think of it. I told him so. I wanted to be alone.”
“What did you tell him? It’s important, the prosecution may claim you were provoking him, they will ask you a million times, they will cross-examine you, and you must make it clear that you weren’t prodding him. Were you respectful with him?”
Kari shrugged.
“I guess I was, but I was sick and tired of his moods.”
“He had mood swings?”
“He did. They always came out of the blue. One moment, he was the warmest, funniest, most generous man, next thing I know, he was screaming obscenities.”
“He was obscene?”
“You bet.” Kari gave her a dark smile. “And he was raging. You should’ve heard how he screamed at me.”
“He was verbally abusive. How about physical abuse?”
Kari was thinking for a second.
“No, not really.”
“Not really?”
Kari was silent.
“He’d grabbed me, pushed me.” She admitted in a few moments. “I don’t know.”
“Has anyone witnessed it?” Diana leaned closer, her sharp eyes were glued to her. “That he was rude, aggressive, probably violent?”
“I don’t know. He did it when we were alone.”
“Someone who knew about his abusive behavior? Former girlfriends? Neighbors who heard him scream?”
“I don’t know.”
Diana stared down at her own hands, adorned by a brilliant ring.
“Okay. Let’s recall what happened when he asked you whether you’d been seeing someone. You denied it, you were calm and poised. And then?”
“He said . . . he said that he’d beat me up.” She shuddered. “I was afraid of him. His eyes were different, his pupils were dilated. He was yelling, slamming doors, kicking chairs, threatening me, throwing offenses at me.” Her eyes were troubled as memories emerged. Diana kept nodding, with soft humming sounds, and touched Kari’s hand with her own hand, it was a feathery touch, she felt a gentle shudder as she touched her.
“What did he say?” she asked softly.
“Beating me up, breaking my neck . . .”
“Breaking your neck.” Diana moved forward, closer to Kar
i. “Were you afraid for your life?”
“Not yet, but I was afraid of him. I thought he would hit me. He screamed I was cheating on him, I was a liar, a control freak, a crazy bitch, I was the worst thing ever happened to him.”
“What did you say?”
Kari looked away, she was clearly uncomfortable.
“Kari, I’m not here to judge you,” Diana said. “I should know what happened, since that’s how I can defend you. Whatever you said, whatever you did, they’ll hold it against you, I’m here to help,” Diana said in her warmest, most empathetic alto voice, with a light stroke on Kari’s hand.
A ghost of a smile appeared on the young woman’s face.
“I know, Diana . . . Ms. Rodham,” she said.
Diana gave her a smile, it was the warm smile of an experienced, elegant woman.
“Call me Diana.”
***
After having long private conversations with Kari, Diana met with her friends and family members who she wanted to use as character witnesses. The boys, Kari’s three cousins, had big smiles and wide shoulders, her two aunts, an accountant and a college lecturer, were motherly, sweet women, with eyes bright like gemstones. Kari had the same brilliant, alert eyes, Diana thought. Kari’s mother was a gentle, soft-spoken woman in her early fifties. Flora, Kari’s younger sister, was just as slender and toned as Kari, with elegant features, shapely mouth, and wide cheekbones. Grandma had gemstone eyes, a short and very round figure, her short hair was just as curly as Kari’s, still jet black, streaked with the slightest silver. She offered coffee and a sandwich to Diana, she shared stories from Kari’s formative years, she had a deep, pleasant voice, and she was gracious and wise, Diana was not surprised that she and Kari had a special bond.
She learned that Kari had been a promising, competitive and talented student. She had wanted to excel in everything she tried her hands at: every subject at school, graphic designing, workout programs. Always the gentle and positive people pleaser, she had girlfriends to have endless confidential conversations, take long walks, watch movies, share jokes, or go to a café together, but she was a private person, plus, she was impulsive and controlling, so she had her fights with the world when she was a teenage girl. She was studious, disciplined, she had an iron will, she set her standards high and challenged herself all the time. When she started working as a program manager for a sustainable energy company in downtown Manhattan, her family members were bursting with pride. In a few months, she moved into her own home, just a few blocks away from her family’s place.
Diana was listening carefully to the heart-warming story, she felt a rush of love and admiration for Kari, but she tried to ignore them. She still kept her eyes on the goal, and what she had just learned was helpful. Kari was a good woman who valued education, arts, books, and hard work. She was gracious, had plenty of friends, she was successful at her work.
The story progressed. Kari started dating Jim Walker, the kind of guys who every girl wanted to date, he was good-looking, tall, athletic, a football star while he had attended Manhattan College. He was a real estate entrepreneur, bright, active, street-smart, he could see through people in a few moments. Kari’s family members were excited to meet with him, they found him smart an respectful, even grandma’s sharp eyes could not find a flaw in him, no sixth sense told her that Kari should be careful. They were happy for Kari.
Then suddenly she changed, her visits home became less frequent, and when she did come, she did not talk much, and she snapped at anyone who tried to prod her. She did not have endless conversations with grandma, and she did not find time for her younger sister when Flora turned to her like had done in happier times. Grandma cooked vegetable soup only for Kari, with plenty of spices, just as she loved it. “Eat something,” she murmured, “you’re getting thinner. I’m afraid to look at you.”
They were alarmed, something was wrong, but they could not tell what happened. At last, Corey, Kari’s oldest cousin found out. Corey spotted her and Jim at a Manhattan club, witnessing an ugly scene between the two.
“I’m fed up with you sleeping around,” Jim told her, he was not very loud, but his face was angry.
“I’m not sleeping around!” Kari said, her voice was higher than usual, it cut like a knife. “Peter is a colleague, he’s been my friend for years. You’re psycho. Do something about your paranoia!”
“Yeah? It’s not my fault that you cheat on me like a dog. I saw how you grinned at the guy. I’m not sure I’ll put up with it much longer. I could have so many girlfriends who look much better than you and they aren’t sluts.”
He was already pushing her against the bar counter. The bartender tapped Jim’s shoulder.
“Buddy, don’t make a scene here. I saw when your girlfriend met the guy. They didn’t do anything.”
Jim gave him the finger and murmured obscenities, but he let go of Kari, turned around, and headed for the exit. Kari was rooted to the ground, looking lost, troubled, and humiliated. She did not notice Corey, and Corey did not dare to approach her. Kari was a proud woman, fiercely independent, she never wanted to look weak or out of control, she never complained, she would never have admitted that she made the wrong choice and was dating a bastard. Corey drew back and kept an eye on his cousin until she left the place in a few minutes. Corey followed her, he just saw when she slipped into an Arro cab.
He told to his family what he had seen, and now they realized that Kari did change since her boyfriend entered the scene.
She was walking down a dark path, she missed deadlines at her workplace, she lost a well-paying project. She was still reluctant to talk about her problems.
“You’ll help her, you can, I know,” Grandma said with trusting eyes. “You’re a smart woman, Ms. Rodham. And I see you care about her. With people like you, we almost forget that we’re black.”
The boys shook their heads with a grin, Flora gasped, Kari shrugged with an awkward smile.
“So sorry, Diana, Grandma didn’t mean to hurt you, she knows you have nothing against us. But they’re afraid that the court will judge me differently for being black.”
Diana was nodding, signaling them she understood their fears.
“I’ll do my best not to let them,” she said in a warm voice.
***
Kari saw Diana out, walking down the stairs of the building.
“Thank you for everything, Diana. You were amazing. They adore you.”
Diana saw delight in Kari’s warm smile, those gemstone eyes of hers were almost reflective in the uncertain light of the stairwell.
Diana laughed, she felt light-hearted, since her character witnesses were helpful, plus, she had enjoyed the company of Kari’s family members.
“I like them, too,” she said, turning face to face to Diana as they were standing in front of the red-brick building. “Your grandma is a sweet woman. She’s the boss, right? And the others are great, too.”
“Thank you for everything you do for me,” Kari said, her eyes had a strange mix of longing, admiration, and sadness.
Diana felt a rush of excitement again as she realized her interest in Kari was more than caring about an important case or a friendly client.
“Anytime, Kari. I’ll do my best to help you. I promise,” she said, her voice was warm and deep, it sounded like purring.
Kari pulled her into a hug, she was strong, and she pulled her so close, then she pressed her soft lips against her neck and kissed her—like a woman who kisses a beloved mother, a close friend, or a lover. Diana instinctively pressed herself against her. Her arms circled her slender, athletic form, and she caressed her back with gentle hands. After long, long moments they parted, Diana was patting her shoulders, she was smiling. She stroked Kari’s soft face, then she got into her silver Mercedes SUV, her thoughts were turbulent and she felt strangely elated, but her sharp eyes were on the road ahead of her, her hands were steady on the wheel as she drove into the night.
Chapter 3
Kell
y Hogan had bleach blonde hair, a nice average face, and thin figure, and she knew how to play up her assets with dramatic makeup and expensive clothes. She sat across from Diana in an elegant Upper West Side cafe. Diana could sense barely hidden hostility in her brown eyes as she was talking about Kari.
“Jim was my good friend,” Kelly explained with a sad smile. “He was a great guy, funny, charming, handsome, there were always girls who went after him, but Kari Williams was desperate. I spotted it right away when Jim introduced her to his friends. I was confident she was more interested in Jim’s money than in Jim himself, but I didn’t say a word, since he seemed so delighted. Then weeks went by and I saw how right I was.”
“You had this bad vibe about her at the beginning?”
“You bet I did, I could tell she was entitled, you know the type, girls who want attention all the time, they’re possessive as hell. She always tried to get on Jim’s radar, she showed up at places where Jim was hanging out. She called him at night, saying she had an accident and she was in a hospital, of course she was fine and she was laughing that Jim believed her.”
“She played cruel jokes on Jim?”
“Not really, she tried to manipulate him. She was obsessed. She didn’t want to lose him. She had to be perfect, at college, at work, in her private life, I guess it was pathological, her competitiveness. She just couldn’t let Jim Walker get away from her. Once Jim told me she’d followed him home, and she’d been waiting in front of his building for three hours until one a.m. Jim found it flattering, but I thought it was creepy.”
“Did you warn him that something was off with her?”
“No, no, I didn’t. I didn’t want to seem bitchy. In the end, he was considering a restraining order against her.”
“He told you so?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Did he say he was afraid of her? He thought she was unstable?”
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know. I didn’t ask questions, and he didn’t discuss his problems, any problems, work-related or girlfriend issues. He was an optimistic guy, he hoped he could deal with everything alone.”