Chapter 2. First things first.
You enter the Belfast police station confidently - you know your way around this place - you check in with an officer at the entrance and head straight for the meeting room. The whole station must be already outraged by Ned's morning article, no need to annoy them even more with another journalist sneaking about.
You wait for about 15 minutes, before you hear footsteps outside - a pair of high heels and a pair of flats. Then the infamous Stella Gibson enters, accompanied by Dani. Of course it has to be Dani - you curse inwardly as you see the red-haired girl freeze as she recognises you.
"Good morning, M'am" You greet Stella first, as you should as she is the superior in the room and you both introduce yourself and only then you extend the welcome to the accompanying police officer. "Hi, Dani" you use your warmest tone, but she still looks tense as hell.
"Um. Hi." She says and her strained look doesn't escape you or Stella. You can see her gaze between you two with interest as Dani excuses herself awkwardly and leaves the room.
Only then you are able to really look at Stella. Petite, elegant, sexy as hell. You don't really go for blonds but there's just something about her that's captivating. Maybe it has to do with those piercing blue eyes or those full exquisitely shaped lips. You even develop a appreciation for her nose that looks like it's been hewn from marble. The woman is a vision. And right now that vision is wearing an amused expression on her face and you find yourself liking that look on her.
"I see you've met my PC before" She utters and you feel a rush of adrenaline run through your veins - that voice is doing wonders to you and you know you want her. You're used to getting what you want to you narrow your eyes at her teasingly and answer in a low, sultry voice:
"Yes. It was a very pleasurable, but brief encounter"
Her eyes widen at how brazen you're being and you know it's on. But that's not what you're here for. At least it wasn't before so you know you need to put business first. Before she can answer, you continue, your voice different now - detached, colder, the tone you call business casual.
"I feel I should apologise for the article our paper printed this morning. I represent the paper so please accept my sincere apology for that on behalf of Belfast Chronicle"
"I will consider it." She obviously doesn't trust you and you're not always the best judge of character, but she looks like someone who doesn't appreciate to be played games with. So you decide that for this to work you'd need to lay your cards on the table - no bullshit. You speak slowly, punctuating every word to get the message across as clearly as possible:
"However, I can't promise that it won't happen again. It is a result of my colleague's desire to get ahead and my editor's desire to print the Hot stuff. I hope we can move past this to achieve mutual understanding on the fact that as long as we work together on this and get the hot stuff to my editor fast enough, we can then control what comes out in print and the way it's presented."
There's a silence in the room for several seconds as you wait for her decision that will determine the way this whole thing is going to be handled. Are you going to work hand-in-hand on this or will it be your job to gather crumbs of information from all the possible sources and then compile a story mostly out of gossip? You certainly hope for the former.
"I think I could work with that." You admire the way she tends to linger on words. It is extremely sensual. "I think that in this… particular situation… the help of media could be quite useful. We are dealing with a kind of individual who will be tracing every reference in the papers, every story, every mention of his crimes. We could use that to our advantage."
"I agree" You are happy you seem to be on the same page, but at the same time the journalist in you latches onto the information she just leaked: "Are you saying you're thinking serial killer? Hasn't there only been one murder?"
She ignores your question as she goes on.
"But. I have a few conditions for you."
"Me too" you see the surprise register on her face as she answers.
"You go first then." Going first means being in a weaker position but you don't mind - you don't deceive yourself into thinking you're even players on this field. She has the upper hand and you need to show her you understand that. So you go first.
"I only have three. One - you need to trust me with the whole picture. That way I will be able to present the information the way we need to and I won't be mislead in any way to jump to fallacious conclusions which will inevitably happen if you omit or distort the facts. This partnership will not work if one of us on kept in the dark. Two - you need to trust me to be on your side - I am not going to write up dirt, I am not going to publish stuff that will undermine the investigation and I am not going to try and twist the facts to show you or the police in a bad light. However - Three - there's a line between presenting the facts in a certain way and outright lying. I am not going to lie on your behalf - if you or your people fuck up irreversibly, or if some nasty details are uncovered, I will let the world know. I am a journalist, not your PR agent."
"I see you have quite a backbone." Amusement is playing in her eyes again, mirroring your own. This meeting is becoming quite interesting for both of you and you give her a small smile to show that you're enjoying this as much as she does.
"I have some experience and I prefer to set the rules early on. So that there's no room for misunderstanding. What are your rules?" You certainly hope she gets the underlying message too, and the glint in her eyes proves she's as shrewd as you hoped she'd be. This is going to be very exiting.
"I have three as well. The first - you have to trust me to know what I'm doing and try to understand my actions instead of questioning them. If unsure - ask. The second - don't ever lie to me. If you're doubting something - ask. If you're being pressured into something - tell me. If you think something is wrong - tell me. Feel you're in danger - also let me know. This partnership will not work if one of us on kept in the dark." You smirk as she throws your own line back at you. "And third - run everything you are going to publish by me. I understand that there will be some things you will feel like you have to publish or will be pressured into publishing by your editor, but I'd rather know exactly what's coming my way."
"I think I could work with that" you make a point to use her line from earlier as well and judging by the way she's looking at you that doesn't go unnoticed.
"We have an agreement then." She nods and you see her glance at her phone to check the time. "Right now I have a staff meeting - how about we start our work later today? Join me for dinner at my hotel and we can discuss the material for your first story."
"My first story is due by tomorrow morning for print." The dinner invitation is flattering, but you'd rather get something now. Also, you were kind of hoping for a different kind of plans with her for the evening.
"You'll manage"
This woman is deliciously evil.
"I guess don't have a choice then, do I?"