Redemption Crash Series Book Three

The Interview

Aria

“For the first time since Saturday's murders at The Quartz during the annual Dixie Incorporated dinner and awards we have Aria Crawford with us. Fiancé to new CEO Of Dixie Incorporated Mason Maverick who took over just two months ago after the Russian Mafia scandal that shook the world. Previous CEO Edward Maverick and father to Mason was removed from his position at the time of his arrest in connection to Maksim Stasevich alleged leader of the Russian Mafia.

“Aria and Mason played a key role in the investigation which they’ve both been open about. Aria do we have your promise to be just as upfront and truthful about Saturday’s events?” She has that typical newscaster voice, even and more accentuated than normal. Her hair is ashy brown, straight, perfect as her smile, her make-up, her clothes.

“Of course, as much as I legally can share I will.” Smiling I twist my hands on my lap, off-camera. The interview is with a national newscaster whose offices are located in NYC, so here I am at our local Boston newsroom surrounded by a cameraman, a producer, Wyatt, and Becca.

“Great so let's get to it. Alexander Fedorov was arrested later Saturday night while two still unidentified males were found murdered. You’re on a graphic video, we chose not to show here tonight due to the violent nature, and to be blunt it looked as if you were the one that killed one of the unidentified men?” I’m prepared for a million of these types of questions Becca grilled me all night, even while I worked a shift at the soup kitchen.

“Anything seen on the videos or pictures leaked from that night, shows me acting in self-defense.”

“Sure, but he is among one of the dead?” Her eyes grow wider looking at me through the TV screen. Staying still despite the need to shift uncomfortably I ring my fingers tighter.

“He passed away from his injuries yes,” I nod sadly.

“Earlier in the year, you were involved in the murder of your ex-boyfriend. He’s since been identified as the serial killer Brian Wysocki. It was declared an act of self-defense as well which begs the question how many people have you allegedly killed by alleged self-defense?” Dead eyes and pilling bodies flash through my head, a terrible nightmare that’s all to real. Their demons are now mine to bear.

“Brian kidnapped me, dragged me into the woods while threatening to do unspeakable things. I was lucky enough to survive, no one else was. I wish that wasn’t the case but I wasn’t going to end up in the same grave.” I still struggle to think about what he would have done to me, the one person he had a personal relationship with but also I was the only one to ever dare get away. He didn’t like it that much.

“You don’t think it too coincidental to now be involved in at least two murders both of which you claim self-defense?”

“On the contrary, I think it’s a tragedy. I was forced to make a decision my life or theirs both times I got lucky and survived with some serious injuries.” Hospital-worthy injuries…

“That’s right the police report states you were stabbed twice, one to your right side while the other occurred through your left shoulder. You also sustained a concussion and some other minor injuries. Can you explain the events that took place leading to the stabbing?”

“As you read in the police report I was with my two bodyguards when I was approached by a young hotel employee who explained there was an urgent matter that needed my attention. The three of us followed him out of the back of the room. They waited until Levi was inside before two men with guns aimed at us came trapping us in the hallway.

“Trying to get away led to an altercation involving the stabbings.” From the side of the room the producer wheels over an 8 x 8 foam floor plan.

I watch as the screen moves from my face down to the new prop. “For all our viewer's convenience here’s a diagram of the floor plan at The Quartz can you show us where they attacked you and where your bodyguards were at the time,” Nancy says from the other side of the screen.

Wiping the palms of my hands on my pants I scoot to the edge of my chair as I grind my teeth the camera panning back to me as I gear to defend the guys and their feelings. “One was bleeding out from a shot to the chest while the other was in an active altercation with one of the men.”

“There were three attackers and four of you, including the hotel employee, so how did they get the upper hand?”

“Like I stated before they waited until we were separated, one of my guards went in the room first to clear it.” I give in pointing toward the rooms as I play it back like the security camera that caught it all, while I make my point. “It was then he was shot. The other two men came from down here, while we were there. They had guns drawn so we followed their instructions until my other guard took action, disarming the one man and leaving me with the other.

“I was trapped against this wall, my dress was stuck to the textured wallpaper and the fallen gun was only a few feet away. I thought if I could get it I could at least get us a little bit of an upper hand but soon the third guy was in the hall and we were both stuck in physical altercations.”

“Your bodyguards do they not carry weapons?”

“They do, neither of them had any time to use them at that point.”

“Were you the one to kill the second unidentified male?”

“Both my guard and I were in an altercation with him as his cause of death is still undetermined, I can’t begin to say who had to make that sacrifice.” I know it was me that gave him the fatal blow but I won’t be announcing it here and now.

“Sacrifice?” She questions not understanding.

“Taking another’s life is not easy, regardless of the reason.” Licking my lips, I settle back in my chair. I wish this was over already.

“Why were these men after you and not Mason?”

“They want revenge for our roles in the Russian investigation. As you stated both Mason and I have been honest with our involvement in dismantling their sick corruption. We angered a lot of people and that was their way to get themselves what they see as some justice.

“They would have come for Mason at some point or maybe they would have used me as a security blanket I’m not sure what they had planned.”

“Security how?”

“Mason is a smart man he wouldn’t give in to anyone’s demands no matter if my life was at stake or not but to them, they may have thought it would buy them some time or weed him out.” I won’t be letting everyone in the world know I might be one of Mason’s only weak spots, I have more self-preservation than that.

“You’ve both stated you were actively tracking and gathering evidence long before the FBI or any other agency was involved. Why were you reluctant to go the legal route and involve the authorities and by what means were you gathering the evidence?”

“Alongside Mason with the help of trusted legal advisories, we followed leads and gathered video as well as audio evidence, some of which pointed to the long stem of corruption that weaved its way in and out of the federal government to the local authorities. We had no idea who to trust.”

“Aria, do you believe you're above the law?” Here’s one of those gotcha leading questions I can hear it in the pitch of her voice and I hate it.

Palms sweaty I keep my face straight looking at the camera. “No, absolutely not.”

“You’ve been stuck in a self admittedly abusive relationship with a police officer who turned out to be a serial killer and now you were actively investigating without any Private investigation license, where you saw how deep the corruption runs. How do you feel about police officers and the overall criminal justice system?”

“Brian was sick, being an officer in no way impacted the person he turned out to be. He used his position of authority as a weapon but it is not what caused him to become who he was. He was abusive long before he went into the academy.

“While I helped gather video and audio evidence I did so safely while breaking no laws. The investigation should have and is going through the authorities now and that was my goal all along. We needed enough concrete evidence to reach every branch of corruption. Like I stated its thorns were stuck in a multitude of places more so than just spaces of authority.”

“Do you think there should be some major criminal justice reform at the federal level?” This is also a gotcha question no matter what political alignment you’ll gather some hate.

“Yes, there are some reforms needed, new regulations, and better civil protections.” I stay honest, Mason will need me to answer political questions for the rest of our hopefully long lives.

“What are your suggestion regulations?”

“To start we need to adjust the way we handle 911 calls. There needs to be a better understanding of who needs to address which calls. Drug-related incidents should be treated by different trained individuals compared to a mental health crisis call or a criminal call.

“No knock warrants need to be outlawed and we need more trainings in place to cover every scenario across the board. We need to the police to work with us not against us with better regulations that can happen.”

“Currently as it stands do you agree with the statement ‘I support the police’?”

“Yes I do but-” She cuts me off plowing over anything I had to say.

“There's rumors Mason Maverick will be running for senate in this upcoming special election can you confirm.”

“I can not, no.”

“Does he also believe in vast police reform? Does he believe similar to his father that he’s above the law? His corporation is in muddy water is he really the best man to handle this new transition?”

“Nancy, I can’t speak for Mason. His positions are his as are his announcements.”

“One last question before we go. Wrapping back around to earlier there are some allegations that you learned to fight besides Mr. Wysocki. Did you in any way know what he was doing prior to the police investigation?”

“No. Mason has taught me how to defend myself all I learned from Wysocki was how to take a punch without flinching.” I don’t smile I don’t sugarcoat any of it she wants the truth she can have it.

“It was nice talking with you hope to have you back. Now…” She drones on but my mic cuts off the interview over. Leaving me with thoughts of death and traumas.

Scooting to the edge of the chair I slowly get up careful of my side and my shoulder, it’s extra sore tonight and I’m extra exhausted. Time to go home.