| |
N
ext stop: Precinct 89. It was going to be a quick in and out. But as soon as Angela parked outside the station, there was already a storm of reporters, cameramen, interviewers, journalists, and more waiting for Angela and Toby.
Someone must have tipped them off. Angela knew what they wanted. And she wanted to give it to them. There was no other way Alveris would believe them unless it was through Angela's mouth herself. So, as she walked out of the car, she deliberately made herself known so the reporters would come swarming towards her.
And so, they did. All of them started to ask questions at once. Everyone was shoving their microphones into Toby and Angela's faces. Cameras were snapping, and flashlights were going on and off. Everyone kept speaking over each other, and so it was just a cacophony of sounds.
Angela stopped for a moment and tried to make sense of what question was being asked, but it all sounded like gibberish, so she just spoke up herself. "Look, I'm here to follow through on a complaint. My client here was abducted by none other Mr. David himself, and we've come here to get Toby justice."
As soon as Angela started speaking, the voices around her died down. As soon as she was done speaking, another reporter quickly spoke up, "Miss Angela is it true that you and Mr. David were dating for a brief period of two weeks?"
"I wouldn't call it dating. But yes, we were hanging out," Angela said.
"But you went to the Masquerade Ball. It's one of New York's most posh nights. And you went there as a couple. So, isn't that called dating?" the reporter asked again.
"Well, no, and yes. We went there as two people who liked each other. But we couldn't work out as a couple because one was deceitful. And please, I would encourage questions that pertain more to my client Toby and this case. Thank you," Angela replied.
"Okay, so, you're not a couple anymore, and you don't like him? Right? And did you only get together with him to find dirt to help your case? Was that your game plan all along?" another female reporter asked.
Angela was stunned at the audacity of the question, but she knew she had to answer it. "That's absolute garbage. I had no such intent. Had I known better, I wouldn't have been with him in the first place. With that said, no, we are not a couple. And I certainly don't like him. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that I loathe him.
I was under the impression that he was a nice guy who was simply misunderstood, but I'm more than well-acquainted with what kind of a person he is. I was under the guise that he was helping me. But now I know he's one of them.
So, I'm coming after everyone. I didn't use him to get any information on him or use his fame and limelight to make me famous. Don't twist my words. Thank you. That's all I have to say," Angela replied and walked away, making her way through the middle of the crowd while the reporters kept pelting her with questions.
Had she said a lot? Was that too much? She should have been nicer with her words. David would see this. She hoped that he wouldn't mind and knew in his heart that this was all a play. She had let the comment of that female journalist get to her head, and that had made her get too emotional.
She got carried away and took it too far. She might have crossed a line. She hoped she hadn't. With all these questions raging like madness in her head, she was relieved when Toby and herself finally entered the precinct. Toby was taken to another room to help draw a sketch, while Angela went ahead to have a word with the sheriff.
"Hello, Mr. Bates. This is Angela. I'm a lawyer; we met a few hours ago in the court," Angela introduced herself.
"Yes, yes. I know you. Come have a seat. Is there something you want to talk about?" the sheriff asked.
"As a matter of fact, there is. We have just asked for the court to give us an early date for the trial. The last time we called for a trial, my client was abducted. I can only imagine what will happen this time around. Just now, we were ambushed by a swarm of angry reporters. We are lucky that we made it inside with all our arms, legs, and limbs. If that's the kind of reporters that will greet us every day, I'm fearful. In fact, what if a mob joins them? There are a lot of supporters, fans, and lovers of Mr. David.
You would know that all too well. I fear for the safety of my client and myself because we are up against a very powerful man. Therefore, I want to put in a request application for victim protection for both my client and me. I want to know that we are both safe and sound as we work on this case and until this case is over.
If I feel safe and know that my client is safe while we stay at home, or when we commute, it will ease the burden a lot and will give me the peace and silence to work on this case with all that I have, without having to worry how the press will be waiting for me outside my door, or an angry mob will attack me, or if I maintain a stalker," Angela explained.
"Absolutely, Ms. Angela. That's a very strong concern, and I empathize with you. But now, we are kind of understaffed. There is a big operation going on in Washington, D.C, and the staff forces were required there, so we don't have a lot of people on hand.
So, I'm afraid to turn you down, but that's something that cannot happen at the moment. As soon as the forces are back and we are no longer understaffed, I'll approve your application, and there will be a man appointed outside your doorstep and your plaintiff's doorstep," the sheriff explained.
No, no, no. This can't be right. This can't be happening. Angela needed that extra protection. It was going to ensure that Toby and herself would be safe from Alveris this time around. This would mess up the whole plan. It could blow the whole cover because David would now be involved to protect them again, rather than finding out proof on Alveris to present to the Feds.
"Are you kidding me? Don't you understand the severity of this matter? My client and I are in danger. There's a threat to our lives. The abduction is just one example of that. And you are telling me that you can't even provide us protection? That's our basic right. That's our constitutional right. If anything happens to us, it will be your fault. There will be blood on your hands. You are seriously not telling me that you are fully aware of what this man is capable of, and what resources he has, and the extent he can go to, to remove our existence off the face of the earth, and yet you refuse to give us protection? I will not sit here and stand by that. I'm going to talk to the deputy chief. Yep, that's what I'll do. Let's see what she thinks of this entire matter," Angela warned and left the room.
The sheriff walked behind her, calling her to calm down. "Miss Angela, please try to understand, you have got to calm down. Please listen to me before you go."
