Chapter 13:The Interview

 Alpha could not believe his luck. What are the odds of an attempted

assassination happening in the morning and from out of the blues

the shooter to suddenly contact the media. This was a silver lining

in the clouds but Alpha knew the game pretty well. He knew he had

that momentary lapse to breathe and compose his thoughts before

that nincompoop Jeff ruins the moment as he always did.

Immediately Alpha turned to Athena and told her to call the front

desk and schedule a private press conference with the top news

stations in Sin City.

"Are you sure you are wiling to bring the press in here? So that

they can start poking around and sooner or later realize that

Daymond isn't even here"

"At the moment, they want me. Set up the conference inside my

office with only Jeff. He called me out. Now's my turn to fire back"

Alpha responded as he left the office and went to his main office to

compose himself.

All newsrooms went berserk when they heard that Alpha had

agreed to a press conference but none of them thought that he'd

pick Jeff to interview him.

Within minutes, Jeff was at the front door of the premise with his

cameraman and a notebook. He was ushered into the building by

staff members and taken to Alpha's office which sat at the highest

point of the building. When he entered the office he was actually

impressed by the decor and the view that was given by the high

vantage position point of the office. He locked eyes with Alpha as

he continued to scan the room. His cameraman was busy setting up

his gear while Marla brought in some refreshment drinks for the men

and immediately left the office. The suspense was so stiff in the air

that even the cameraman felt it. Both sides had a lot to lose if one

made a mistake during the interview.

Jeff had a reputation for tearing down people like Alpha and he

knew that today would bring him home a fat check if he succeeds in

destroying Alpha's reputation and his company's image altogether.

On the hand, Alpha had a very high reputation to defend and if he

survived a mauling by Jeff, his credits would shoot sky high in front

of millions of citizens who would be watching live.

These two men were like gladiators in a duel to the death. None of

them had something personal against the other,just purely business

. But since Jeff's first shot at Alpha, it made Alpha question

whether Jeff had a personal vendetta against him that had been

simmering just waiting to boil over. And since the opportunity

arose, Jeff being the opportunist that he was, he grabbed it and

milked it dry. Before the feed began Alpha and Jeff had a few

seconds to gather their thoughts as the cameraman counted down

from ten for the feed to go live. Surprisingly enough, both men had

not even been acquainted with each other since Jeff walked in. The

cameraman finished his countdown and the feed was live across the

country and to the whole globe for those who were following the

case across the borders including Siberia which had expressed deep

concern with the handling of Daymond who according to them,

under the alias of Serb Slayer had terrorized their streets for a long

time. They had even requested to arraign him on Serbian soil to act

as a way of administ ering justice on behalf of the friends and

relatives of the slain victims.

Jeff: So good afternoon thank you so much for joining me on this

one on one sitting with LA's Advocates founder and CEO, Mr Legit

Alpha. Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me despite the

circumstances that you are faced with.

Alpha: It's my pleasure to welcome you to my office and actually

meet you in person, Jeff.

Jeff: I know at the moment you are a busy man so I'll just keep

straight to point. My first question is..

Alpha.. where is Mr Daymond ?

Jeff: Took the words right out of my mouth.

Alpha: Mr Daymond is ina safe place as we speak. He's unhurt and

in good condition.

Jeff: So,is he still in this building?

Alpha: That is information I cannot disclose due to security

reasons. I mean, we were almost shot dead. You don't expect me

to tell you where he is, do u?

Jeff: That's a fair point. And on that point, what exactly happened

our there?

Alpha: By out there, I suppose you're talking about the courthouse

 shooting. Lemme tell you for a fact that I honesty don't

understand what also happened. One minute we were fine and the

next we were receiving gunfire like we were in a battle field.

Jeff: So you are saying you had no knowledge of the impending

attack?

Alpha: I see what your trying to do. For your information Mr Jeff, I

was also in that car with Daymond when we got hit. I could've also

been shot together with my client but we were so lucky that our

shooter didn't want any blood spilled today. I'm asking the same

questions as you are about to ask

I don't know the motive behind the shooting and I'm just happy

that we were all lucky to be alive.

Jeff: Understood. Now people are asking why was he immediately

brought here instead of taking him anywhere else

Alpha: That's simple. Our company is sponsored by some high class

security agencies around the globe due to the nature of our

business. Since we mostly handle high

profile individuals, we are given access to utilize their personnel

incase of such scenarios and use our premise as a temporary safe

house.

Jeff: Interesting. So,for how long do you keep your clients in this

safe house?

Alpha: Nice try Jeff. Nice try. Jeff: You can't blame me for trying.

Alpha: I know you're not here to have chit chat with me. Why

don't we just get down to business.

Jeff: Strictly business, I like that. So allow me to ask the question

a lot of reporters would be afraid to ask straight to your face. Are

you the one behind Mr happy trigger, our so called shooter?

Alpha: As if I didn't see that coming. Of course I'm not behind the

shooting by any way or the other. And I'm pretty sure you

received a message from the actual shooter, doesn't that give you

enough clarity that I can't be puling any sort of strings around the

shooting.

Jeff: Aaah,about that. Don't you think that was just a way of

throwing the common citizen off your scent. But I'm not just any

common citizen or common reporter, I am....

Alpha: Jeff..no need to gloat about how good you are. I already

know who you are and what you do. So no amount of pressure or

poking is going to make me budge.

Jeff: I see you have me well scouted. But after all, you are a highly

decorated advocate...meaning part of your work is to study your

clients. And I'm so sure right now, you're treating me like one

meaning you have me read already.

Alpha: I see you have good instincts. You should trust them.

Jeff: Now stop with the charade, I know that you are the one who called the hit on Daymond. You may have all these other people

convinced but not me. So Mr Legit, why don't you just admit it.

You weren't prepared for the court hearing so you had to buy

some time for your little minions to compile their paperwork in

order to cook up something.

Alpha: Is that what you really think ?

Jeff: No. Its what I know. Do you know who you are representing

M Legit?

Alpha: Yes. Yes I do

Jeff: Then I'm sure you know how many lives he has destroyed.

How many families he has shattered. How many innocent sous are

six feet under for his sadistic satisfaction! So I ask again, do you

really know who you are representing?

Alpha: Allow me to ask, are we on air nationwide?

Jeff: (looks taken back a little) Uuhhhmm, yes we are

Alpha: Good. So I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks you are

taking this case very personal. As a matter of fact, I happen to

know that you had a sister living in Serbia at least two years ago

before she went missing. Never to be found or heard from again till

date. Now anyone would see this as a normal disappearance but

you didn't. 23 year old girl goes missing just when our Serbian

Slayer is on a rampage. What are the odds of that happening in

Serbia? Huh? Maybe she just went down the wrong alley. Or she

was living a double life? I bet not. Maybe, just maybe she was another victim of our blood thirsty serial killer. And anyone in their

right mind can guess what happened to her,including her concerned

brother who just happens to know exactly what happens around

the globe since he's at the news desk ll day every day.

Jeff: How do you know all these?

Alpha: I did my homework. So, is this all about what the people

want or what you want ? Tell the people the truth Jeff

Jeff: This interview is over.

Just as the cameraman was about to cut the feed, Alpha's phone

rang and everyone froze

"Hello, Alpha answered it, " you don't say. Lemme get back to it

then.

Jeff: Who was that?

Alpha: That was my assistant calling me. She says that your views

have doubled in the last five minutes. So before you get going, how

about you give your viewers what they want, answers. It seems

like I'm not the one who has skeletons in their closet am I? You

have some really old skeletons in there, or you thought that I

didn't know what I was doing inviting you over for this interview.

I've played this game longer than you Jeff, so welcome to the

interview.

Jeff: Watch your words Legit, this is my interview.

Alpha: From the looks of things its no longer your interview. I can't blame you to be honest though. Sister goes missing and when

you are just about to have something close to closure, I happen to

be standing in your way. In the defence of the man you so much

hate because you see him as the monster everyone believes him to

be, and as if karma isn't a bitch already... His court hearing is

postponed by two weeks. A whole two weeks for you to keep on

boiling in rage. But you can't control it any longer, because here you

are in front of me live on air trying to depict me as the devil

incarnate for being the only guy who actually believes that

Daymond didn't actually commit any of the murder charges that

are on his charge sheet. What are you going to start throwing

around now? I was his accomplice? Maybe he has paid me off since

we are the best advocacy agency across the nation?

As Alpha was asking these questions he was firmly fixed on Jeff's

body language. Careful to notice any slight body movement that

Would tip him off when he hit the right nerve. From the point he

took control over the interview Jeff had changed his demeanor. He

had suddenly become a little bit tensed and Alpha knew it. People

like him are not used to being on the receiving end of such questions

. He was in a totally different ground and was very uncomfortable

with how the situation had turned out. Immediately Alpha

mentioned about being paid large sums of cash to get Daymond off

the hook, Jeff suddenly shifted his sitting position. Alpha noticed it

and couldn't help when a smile escaped from his lips

Alpha: That's it. You think I'm doing this just because the has made

my pockets fatter? You think this is all about money? Jeff: What else could this be about? The best advocacy agency

across the nation goes on the defensive for a man who will better

be known as the boogie man in our children's history books, what

else can this be about?

Alpha: The man can barely save up enough money to pay his own

rent. He worked two day jobs and a night shift just to make ends

meet. He just lost his daughter and needed the state to organize

for her burial since he couldn't meet the bill. Does that sound like a

man who's money can even make a dent in our bank accounts? Let

alone even schedule for a sit down with any of my lawyers? I know

my company is not a charity centre because we don't just

represent anyone who walks in through our front doors, we left

that work for NGO's. But if you all want to jump on the band

wagon and crucify an innocent man for something he didn't do, then

you do exactly that. I just won't riding along with all of you,

instead, I sat down with the man and listened to him. Something all

of you are very poor in. And I took it upon myself to prove this

man's innocence. And I plan on doing exactly that no matter the

consequences.

Jeff: And does that involve hiring a hitman to stage a shooting at

the courthouse?

Alpha: If I were you Mr Jeff, I'd watch carefully the next words

that will come out of your mouth. If the state is willing to

prosecute an innocent man for the crimes committed by the real

serial killer who is still running lose in our streets, I wouldn't be so

surprised if the barge in here accusing me of ordering the hit on our cars

Now,I believe this interview is over and you gave the people more

answers than the questions asked. I thank you for making time for

me and have a good day, will you? My assistant will show you out I 

have a lot of work on my hands so till next time, bye.

Jeff signaled his cameraman to pack up and left knowing that he

was not ready for Alpha and with this knowledge, Alpha had shifted

the ground to his favour.