Convergence - The Last Science #2.2 - Heroes and Villains

B2: Chapter 24 - Two Interviews - II

  "Let the record show that my client, Miss Winscombe, is here of her own volition, and was not summoned, subpoenaed, or otherwise compelled to appear for questioning."

  "You brought a damn stenographer?"

  "Let the record also show that this conversation is being recorded by both parties. The state did not agree to an off-record interview, so my client exercised her right to record the interview as a citizen, and the state consented."

  "That clacking is annoying as fuck."

  "Attorney for Hailey Aurora Elizabeth Winscombe is Jefferson Baux, associate at Hanford and Jenkins. The state declined to have an attorney present."

  "Are we fucking done yet?"

  "State's interviewer is..." Jefferson waited, while Hailey shifted uncomfortably in the chair. It wasn't the steel chair and stone box she'd dreaded, but a pretty ordinary conference room. No windows, but the walls were lined with wood paneling, it was carpeted and the office chairs were pretty nice. Not as good as the ones her mom had, but still comfy. She sat on one side, with her lawyer next to her and a stenographer from his firm at the end of the table.

  "Michael Aderholt, and I'm federal, not fucking state," grunted the man across the table, sitting alone except for a laptop.

  "Position?"

  "Pacific Northwest division, sub-station chief, SeaTac branch of the National Security Bureau."

  "Let the record show Mr. Aderholt is currently the designated lead agent for the 'Rallsburg Incident' case."

  "Would you stop that fucking clacking?"

  Jefferson smiled. "Will the state consent to an unrecorded interview with my client?"

  Aderholt glanced down at his laptop, where he was getting information fed in from his superiors. "You two already blew enough smoke up the ass of the whole fuckin' country for every single news outlet to park a van outside. What the fuck are you afraid of coming out?"

  "My client merely wishes to let the public know her status as a public figure, before and after the interview takes place."

  He didn't miss the implication. "The fuck are you accusing us of?"

  "Nothing, sir. I offered an explanation for our... excessive display entering the structure."

  "And you're gonna do the same fuckin' thing when you leave, are you?"

  "If my client wishes. Can you say she broke any laws?"

  "Violating my fucking airspace."

  "My client has not entered the restricted zone while airborne, nor proceeded past legal limits for unregulated civilian flight."

  That he knows of... Jefferson had asked her not to tell him, since it would count as informing him she intended to commit a crime. A minor one, but they wanted to stay as clean as they possibly could.

  "It might also be pointed out that since my client does not use a vehicle, she is not required to have a pilot's license."

  "Skydiving license then, asshole."

  Jefferson smiled slightly. "Sections 105.21 and 105.25 don't apply in this case, as my client does not use a parachute."

  Aderholt leaned back in his chair, looking vaguely impressed. "There's a fucking loophole for you."

  "As I said, my client will be flying out of here, just as she flew in. She has a prior engagement this evening that she simply can't miss."

  "Oh, she can miss it."

  "Was that a threat to my client, Mr. Aderholt?"

  "You can't hold me," said Hailey, staring him directly in the eye.

  Aderholt smirked, in a way that made Hailey distinctly uncomfortable.

  "What my client means," said Jefferson quickly, "is that since you haven't charged my client with a crime or formally placed her under arrest, we reserve the right to end this interview at any time and exit the premises."

  "Right." Aderholt rolled his eyes. "Well, Miss Winscombe, let's get down to fuckin' business then."

  "One moment." Jefferson leaned over to confer with Hailey privately. "You still want the NDA?" he whispered.

  "Can we pull it off?" she whispered back.

  "We might. It doesn't hurt to try."

  "I want to help, but I don't want this stuff getting public."

  He nodded, turning back to Aderholt. "My client has an additional condition to present the state before this interview can proceed."

  Aderholt threw up his hands. "Jesus fuck, what now?"

  "We'd like an absolute assurance of secrecy, on the basis of potential national security threat, to the information presented within this interview. Neither your records nor ours will be presented to the public without the express agreement of both parties. The information will only be acted upon for credible threats to public safety and stability." Jefferson pulled out the agreement and slid it across the table.

  "Sign it," Hailey added.

  Aderholt looked up at her, eyes narrowed. "You don't tell us what we can and can't do, kid."

  "You don't know what you're dealing with, Mr. Aderholt. I do. So if you want my help past the basics, sign the agreement."

  "I think you'll be quite pleased with the additional level of service my client is willing to render the state in exchange," added Jefferson.

  Aderholt picked it up and left the room for a minute, which dragged into two, and then five minutes.

  "What's this mean?" Hailey asked, as sweat trickled down her forehead. "The delay."

  "He's talking to his superiors. They're deciding if they're okay with the muzzle and leash."

  "And if they are? Is it strong enough?"

  "Well, as strong as two days of crunch legal work can build." Jefferson shrugged. "Honestly, I think it might be too strict to be a good reactive deal, but it always has the escape clause where we can clear any action we deem credible. I'm used to working within the law, not creating new ones, but I'm assured that it should be fairly ironclad."

  "Assuming they play by the rules," said Hailey dubiously.

  "Well, yes, but if they don't then this is all pointless anyway, and you don't even need me here." He smiled. "You weren't wrong. They definitely can't hold you, from what I've seen."

  The door swung open again, and Aderholt came back into the room.

  "No deal," he said, sliding the page back across the table unsigned, the vaguest hint of a grin on his face.

  Jefferson sighed. "So be it. Let the record show that the state refused the offer by my client for additional service and support."

  "Noted, asshole." Aderholt turned to Hailey. "Now, let's talk."