Allison's Awakening

By Simone Brookins

Allison Crenshaw comes from one of the wealthiest families in the Tampa Bay Area. She made the choice to become a prosecutor rather than practicing at her family's law firm like her siblings. As a prosecutor for the State Attorney's office, she prides herself on sending the guilty to prison. However, she encounters 16-year-old Darius who she's forced to charge as an adult. As Allison evaluates this decision, she takes a journey that changes her life forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477268445

Simone Brookins

Simone Brookins is a native of Tampa Florida and graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida with her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She is most passionate about education as well as the business world. Simone has taught middle school for several years and has also served as a reading specialist. She began writing as a child and as an adult, decided to transform her passion into writing novels. In her writing, Simone seeks to entertain her readers but to also raise awareness to issues that are prominent in today's society.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Career Change

No Michael! Absolutely not! Why would we accept a deal when we have enough evidence to send this guy’s great-grandchildren to prison?

Allison… Allison Crenshaw. It was not only her given name, but it was what made her distinctive among her peers in the state attorney’s office. It was how she introduced herself, a slight pause after her first name, never failing to add her surname. Her surname, Crenshaw, carried hundreds of years of legacy from her great-grandparents who were born into slavery to her parents who came from humble beginnings and transformed those beginnings into a successful enterprise. Allison’s father grew up living in the housing projects of Tampa while her mother grew up in a small town outside of Orlando called Winter Garden which during that time had dirt roads and was less developed compared to today. Both her parents had to walk several miles to school each day because there was no family car.

The legacy built by the Crenshaw Family filtered down to Allison and her siblings, all of whom were attorneys at the family’s law firm. Except Allison. She decided that she wanted to do more to serve the people so she became a prosecutor. She felt that by prosecuting those who are guilty, she was doing her part to make communities safer. She’s the youngest of four and her two brothers and her only sister would sometimes joke at how she utilized her position as the youngest to her advantage, but she and her siblings were very close and protective of each other. Initially, Allison’s mother was hurt by her decision to become a prosecutor because she wanted all of her children to work for The Crenshaw Law Group. However, as one of her daddy’s little girls, he was proud of her whether she was a prosecutor or working for the family law firm. The Crenshaw family was a family of faith and with strong convictions. Allison and her siblings learned from their parents to stand on their faith and to follow those convictions for the good of others.

Aside from making a name for herself as one of the toughest prosecutors in all of Hillsborough County, she was a member of one of the most prominent African American families in the City of Tampa. But this didn’t make her haughty in the least. She remembered the stories her mom told her about when she had to be the look-out while her older sisters snuck a sip out of the Whites Only water fountain because the lukewarm water from the Colored Only water fountain didn’t quite quench an ugly thirst on a hot August afternoon. She remembered when her dad talked about how he was ridiculed by white children as he walked with holes in his shoes to his segregated school with hand-me-down books with covers ripped off. They heard about the sit-ins and the marches. Her parents remembered vividly when Dr. King was murdered and the terror they felt upon hearing this news on the radio. They stood speechless when President Kennedy was murdered. Her parents’ journey motivated them to rise above their circumstances and fight for the equality that they believed in. They also had a strong desire to provide opportunities to others that would lead to them fulfilling their own dreams. They always remembered and appreciated their personal journey in their quest toward success. The Crenshaw’s worked hard to instill values in their children, teaching them to fight for what’s right and never take their blessings for granted. This kept Allison and her siblings very grounded, especially having listened to how their parents had to fight to achieve success.

Allison continued her cell phone conversation with her co-counsel, Michael Whitfield, on a case they were wrapping up with a man charged with manslaughter. Michael’s 6'4" stature, his perfectly toned body with skin the color of milk chocolate, as well as his award winning smile didn’t seem to faze Allison in the least, especially since she was still in what she felt was the building stages of her career. However, she did enjoy how Michael provided her with just enough eye candy when the two of them were stuck working long hours wrapping up a case. The two of them knew each other from high school when Allison was a freshman and Michael was a junior. However, Michael first met Allison prior to her entering high school from playing on the basketball team as a sophomore with her oldest brother who was a senior. Although they were well acquainted in high school, Allison and Michael became best friends after working with each other for a little over a year. They had tried and won numerous cases together and had developed an excellent rapport as colleagues as well as friends.

Really Allison? Michael said with slight laughter. So now we’re gonna send the man’s unborn great-grandchildren to prison too?

Allison laughed which helped to ease the tension of her morning. Yes, if that’s what it takes. But seriously, we’re not accepting a deal on this one. It’s flat out manslaughter and he needs to be locked up . . . not fitted for an electronic ankle bracelet.

Hey, you don’t have to convince me. I’m on your side. I’ll follow up with his attorney and tell them no deal. Oh and knock ’em dead today.

Thanks Mike. I’ll catch up with you afterwards.

Allison was heading to court for opening arguments for a 16-year-old boy who was about to be tried as an adult for drug possession, drug trafficking, and attempted murder. She had never tried a juvenile as an adult before, but she was more than prepared for such a challenge. Allison had on her gray power skirt suit trimmed in black, her ensemble being complete with her favorite pair of black patent leather Christian Louboutin pumps that she usually reserves for court. Her hair, often mistaken for extensions, reached well below her shoulders, which she decided to wear straight to show the fullness created by its layers. Her Mac makeup added a polished look to her natural beauty.

Allison walked into her assigned courtroom and immediately settled herself at the prosecution table. Carefully, she pulled out her leather portfolio with her legal pad where she had made notes of her opening argument and her prosecution strategy. She pulled out her navy blue gel pen, just in case she thought of additional thoughts to jot down.

This should be quick and easy, Allison thought to herself. Ten minutes pass and Allison glanced down at her watch, which read one minute to nine. They would be starting in less than a minute. At nine o’clock sharp, the bailiff brought in the defendant, Darius Smalls, and sat him at the defendant’s table. Allison was puzzled that Darius’s attorney wasn’t present and equally puzzled that he looked much younger than she expected. Prior to this point, Allison hadn’t given a second thought to trying Darius as an adult. However, when he entered she saw a young boy rather than the hard core thug that she pictured in her mind. He’s not just another case or another victory. Darius became human to her. She tried not to concentrate on that thought for long fearing it would cloud her judgment. Soon after, the judge entered.

All rise! The bailiff announced with a stern, authoritative voice. Allison stood up and ran her hands across her skirt as if she were smoothing out wrinkles.

Judge Sharon P. Ford, presiding. Allison took a quick glance at Darius, his attorney still missing in action. She wondered where he could be. The jury then entered the courtroom, and the judge requested everyone to be seated.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is case number 412025… the State of Florida versus Darius Letrell Smalls, the bailiff announced, establishing a somber tone in the courtroom.

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you will now hear opening arguments first from the prosecution, then from the defense. Miss Crenshaw…

Allison stood up with hesitation still wondering when Darius’s attorney was going to arrive.

Um, thank you, your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, as residents of the City of Tampa as well as citizens of the United States, we value the fact that we can go about our daily lives and for the most part, not be concerned about our lives ending at the hand of another human being. However, one young man operated with this same assumption and almost lost his life at the hand of another human being… this young man, Darius Letrell Smalls. The young man you see before you may seem harmless, but the reality is that he has committed some serious crimes… crimes that impede the safety of citizens in our community. As we present this case, I ask that you pay close attention to the details. You too will find that Mr. Smalls should not be free to roam the streets where he can engage in more crime and attempt to take more lives or in actuality, be successful in taking another person’s life. As you hear this case, I want you to think about your husbands… your wives… your children, your mother, father and yourselves… and ask yourself this question: ‘Would I feel safe with someone like this loose on the streets? If he’s in possession of drugs, trafficking drugs, and desiring to take someone’s life at the age of 16, what do you think he’ll be capable of doing at 18? 21? 30? Today, the State of Florida will prove without reasonable doubt that Mr. Smalls was in possession of drugs, that he was trafficking those drugs, and that he attempted to murder one of his business partners over a drug deal gone wrong. Now, clearly if he can attempt to murder one of his own, he surely will not have any issue murdering an innocent victim that lives here in the Tampa Bay Area. I implore you to ensure that justice is served. Thank you.

Just as Allison was finishing her opening remarks, she thought about her statement regarding Darius’s capabilities, but from another point of view. What would he be capable of doing at the age of 18 if he had not gotten on the wrong path? Would he be going to college? At 21, would he be graduating from college and getting ready to start his career? Darius’s attorney, a public defender named Charles Charlie Harmon, rushed into the courtroom. His three-piece suit and hair were clearly disheveled as if he had been caught in a windstorm with his white collared shirt mis-buttoned. His glasses were half hanging on his face. He had a manila folder with several sheets of wrinkled notebook paper that was clearly disorganized.

Mr. Harmon! You’re late and disrupting my courtroom yet again.

Uh… I’m so sorry, your Honor. Seems like my alarm clock wasn’t quite cooperating with me this morning. But I assure you your honor, I’m ready to jump right in to help young Darren here.

Darius, his defendant nervously whispered.

Pardon?

Darius… my name’s Darius, not Darren.

Oh, yes, yes… right, Mr. Harmon quickly corrected himself and tried to get back on track. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today we stand before you with Darius, not Darren, and we will show you that he is not guilty… not guilty, at all, of… uh, Harmon shuffled through his papers to find the details of Darius’s charges.

You can’t be serious, Allison said to herself but loud enough to be heard.

I beg your pardon, Miss Crenshaw? the judge replied.

Nothing, Your Honor.

Very well, continue Mr. Harmon.

Yes Your Honor. Now as I was saying, uh… Darius has been accused of aiding and abetting a fugitive.

Are you serious?!? Allison sternly declared while jumping to her feet.

Do you have an objection, Miss Crenshaw? the judge asked.

Your Honor, I think it would help if Mr. Harmon knew what his client was being charged with.

If you give me a moment your honor, I’ll clarify that in just a moment, Harmon said nervously trying to clarify his defense.

Your honor, may we approach please? Allison protested. Very rarely did she feel an ounce of sympathy for the defendants she prosecutes and Allison was accustomed to dealing with public defenders who were overwhelmed with their caseload and unprepared to defend their clients. But there was something very different about this situation. She was floored by Harmon’s lack of preparation and the fact that this child’s life and future relied heavily on Harmon’s defense. With this case, she felt a sense of conviction inside of her; something she had never felt before. As a result, she refused to sit back and let the defendant’s future slip away. The two opposing counsels approached the judge.

Yes Miss Crenshaw?

Your Honor, Mr. Harmon is clearly unprepared, and I would even assume that he isn’t taking this case seriously. He didn’t even know the defendant’s name.

What do you care Crenshaw . . . your goal is to lock him up and throw away the key anyway. What do you care if I make it a little easier for you with my ‘lack of preparation’ as you call it?

Oh please Harmon! Any good attorney at least prepares their case. Your case preparation is below average at best. At least make this somewhat of a challenge for me. Besides, this boy is a child being tried as an adult and his life rests in your hands. Can you honestly say that you’re okay with him spending the rest of his life in prison?

I will not have the two of you arguing like this in my court room, especially in front of a jury! We’ll take a 10 minute recess, so you can address your concerns in my chambers.

Yes, your Honor, the two of them said harmoniously.

We’re going to take a 10 minute recess. Counsel, please meet me in my chambers.

Allison gathers her portfolio and notes and proceeds to the judge’s chambers. Harmon nervously gathers his wrinkled stack of papers and followed Allison.

So Miss Crenshaw, I’m curious. Why the concern for Darius Smalls or his defense? You’ve come up against hardened criminals and you’ve never shown this degree of interest.

Your Honor, I’m all for making sure that the guilty go to prison and, in most cases, never see the light of day for the rest of their lives. But clearly, Darius has made some mistakes in his life and there has to be an alternative. Maybe if Harmon here even took a millisecond to get to know his client, he could figure out where things went wrong for his client.

"Watch it Crenshaw! You try working with my caseload and see how well you get to know your client."

"Well, Harmon, I actually have double your caseload, but I find the time to prepare my cases so that justice is served. Unlike you, I actually do my job."

The judge interjected abruptly. That’s enough! I will not have the two of you arguing like children in my chambers. Miss Crenshaw, are you suggesting an extension so that your opposing counsel has more time to prepare his case?

At least an hour for him to look over his files on this boy, Allison suggested.

Mr. Harmon do you have any objections to this? Judge Ford asked.

I have only one question… what’s the catch Crenshaw? You’ve never shown any type of mercy to any of us public defenders. What type of scam are you running? Harmon asked.

There is no scam, Harmon. I don’t want to see this boy who is practically a child go to prison if there is some alternative for him that will allow him to pay for his crime and possibly get rehabilitated.

Well if it’s not a scam I guess I have no objections, Harmon reluctantly agreed.

"Fine. We’ll meet back here in an hour… if that’s okay with you, Your Honor?" Allison asked.

I’ve never seen anything like this before but I’ll allow it. I’m interested to see this case is going to turn out. However, I don’t think that it’s realistic for Mr. Harmon to adequately review the case in an hour and prepare a defense, Judge Ford said.

I’ve reviewed the case Your Honor. An hour to sort through my notes should be fine, Harmon replied, wanting to appear more prepared than he was.

We’ll reconvene and I will let the jury know that we will take a one hour recess, Judge Ford stated.

Thank you, Your Honor, Harmon said graciously.

Once court