Interview for freedom (Rebecca)

[powermaniac184]

Lisa walked into the gazette newsroom. She had been called by a writer called Rebecca to have an interview with Lisa. Lisa checked around, taking out her black berry and checking her messages. She walked around the hall, putting the blackberry away, most people stared at her as if they were being charged with a crime or typed while looking nervous. Her strawberry blonde hair flopping up and down as she made her way past looking at the names, finally seeing Rebecca's name.

Lisa had been in Gotham about a week and a half, crimes were through the roof. Cases were closing and opening at the same time. A bulk of her cases were sexual ones, getting warrants for the detectives making deals with arroney's to have the defendent plead guilty for a lesser charge or have a witness have immunity from being charged. Prosection made the big calls, being a lawyer was about compromising as much as it was ensuring that justice was done in the eyes of the people. A loss to her was a trip to the bar, a bad confrontation was a trip to the bar.

Lisa knocked on the door, she didn't have all day for the interview. Her feet swelled from the heels. A trip to the mall would be good. Recently, she was given two months pay check of four hundred dollars. D.A knew she would be working overtime, only fair to pay her well for her work. Lisa sat down in the chair next to the door, unzipping her case and signing or reading warrant charges, immunity pleas, etc. Lisa didn't know what to expect from newspapers, the smell of paper, talking bad coffee and people clicking their pens every three seconds because their bosses were too busy yelling or looking at their emails.

Bad coffee was everywhere. In Brooklyn Sex crimes division where she worked. In her office and in the courtooms. The place obviously didn't get good supplyers. Manhatten Sex crimes division had somewhat better coffee than Brooklyn but nothing as good as her mother's cup. Lisa's lips craved a good cup of coffee.

[rebecca]

Rebecca tucked a few stands of escaped brunette hair behind her ear as her head was tilted, her other ear plastered to her own cell phone as she busily typed at the computer. She hit the backspace a button and pursed her lips as her blue eyes blinked in thought.

“Well, I assure you, sir,” she clipped the last word, her eyes narrowing, “that I have every right to know the information I do. The Freedom of Information law says that 'on a need to know basis' I can get the information I want at a minimum cost and I'm telling you, Gotham deserves to know about this. So either you allow me the information for the cost I paid—out of my own pocket, I might add,” she removed her hands from the keyboard, “or I'll be sure when my article comes out to let all of Gotham know who I really had to get the information from.” She chuckled and sat back, allowing her fingers to take the phone.

“No, it's certainly not a threat. I mean, if you don't give it to me, surely no one will think the worst of you. Oh? Well, then I guess that settles the matter to you doesn't it?” She grinned cockily. She glanced up at the knock on the door. “Just make sure they'll sent, alright? Don't worry I'll call if I don't get them soon. I certainly wouldn't want to misrepresent you. We certainly wouldn't want that.”

She stood up, smoothing the wrinkles from her black trousers and making sure her, dark crimson blouse had no stains. “You have a good day,” she said sweetly as she made her way to the door and slid her phone in her pocket after she had hung up.

Opening it, she didn't have to look far to see Gotham's newest A.D.A. sitting in one of the chairs that she had by her office to allow her interviewees to wait in some comfort. She stepped out and smiled kindly to the woman offering a hand. “You must be Ms. Novak, I'm Rebecca McNeal, we spoke on the phone. Sorry for the slight wait, Gotham's federal government is giving a bit of a run around.”

[powermaniac184]

Just as Lisa had finished looking over the documents in her three current cases. The woman who had called here had just spoke to here. Lisa got up immediately, "Yes, yes I am. You don't have to tell me about it, I just had a run in with the fed's trying to get the person I'm prosecuting for an undercover operation. With a little help and my attitude they bugged off" As she finished her sentence, Lisa walked in closing her bag back up and sitting in the chair, her strawberry blonde type red hair now resumed a different position. She put her bag down next to her. "Nice office, Larger than mine, yet just as busy. How are you?" It was usual to be polite if another was being polite to you. Sometimes Lisa had to snap her fingers to bring people back to reality.

Lisa noticed that the room had large reports, highlighted interviews, a computer that was used too frequently, and pens everywhere. Not to mention a large calender in the back. Rebecca had a sense of style, different from Lisa's. Then again Rebecca wasn't a Senior ADA. Instead she wrote about the severity of crime on people's lives, educating them to stand up for themselves. Lisa was careful when talking to the press, she didn't let things slip and she didn't mess up on the camera.

[rebecca]

Rebecca listened to her politely as returned to her office. How she agreed, with an underlying sentiment that often the feds just got in the way of actual progress. She entered behind Lisa and smiled as she looked at her office.

"How am I? Exactly as you said, busy. Uncovering the truth that the Gotham Public as well as officials needs to hear it's very consuming job, but I wouldn't trade it. You'll have to excuse if my office seems messy to you, the drawback to all my research." She moved behind her desk to take a seat and opened the uppermost drawer. "I do hope you don't mind me recording this; everything I speak about is on record. You are allowed to withhold answers and refuse questions. I'm an Investigative Journalist, Ms. Novak. I, in a way, go where most reporters are too afraid to."

[powermaniac184]

Interesting, someone who could be of help to Lisa or just an interesting phone conversation. "Well, we're someone has to do it. I didn't pick my job for the money, but for the impact that I knew I would have in every case that I did, and I do. I'm ready when you are." Lisa sat calmly peering into the near windows that were slightly down, she enjoyed exercising though not as much as ensuring that justice was done. Interviews were fine, though she had never done one, she had spoke to the media, but never really one on one. Though she had seen Barbara walters interview people. Then again, Rebecca wasn't seventy years old. She laughed inside, the thought of this young bold reporter questioning Lisa as if Lisa is the guilty one.

[rebecca]

She placed the tape recorder on the desk. "You're right, I didn't go into this for the money either. And someone has to do it, I'm only interested for the sake of the citizens of Gotham." She pressed the record button.

"I want to know, if you'd be willing to share, the details on this President-approved order called P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Sources in the Gotham legislature and in other places I'm not at liberty to speak of have told me of it, and I'll admit I'm concerned. That's what I've been getting the run about on. So if you'd please, you're a Gotham A.D.A. I know you're in close contact with the police department. You and I, we just want to find out the truth."

[powermaniac184]

Lisa listened to the question with intent on responding, though this one was one she was sure was popular. FBI, Agents everywhere, more cops, more wires, more guns it's all strange even for a place like Gotham. Lisa leaned her chair in to make sure she was heard. "P.R.O.T.E.C.T. is a large government plan to basically stop crime. It was approved by congress and apparently not seen as unconstitutional. From what I was told, habeus corpus has been suspended for criminals. The real details I was not told, because I didn't have the clearence. I doubt anyone else does in the police department nor the D.A. office have the clearence. The FBI and the federal government do though. It's best if people stay calm, and keep out of trouble for the time being. The D.A. office has issued a statement saying that we are going to work with the police and the civilians of Gotham to make sure that people are safe and that justice can be done"

Lisa was sure that she had told what she knew, if she had told more it wouldn't be allowed printed for the sake of classification. She smiled at Rebecca, one of Lisa's natural smiles.

[rebecca]

"A suspension of habeas corpus?" Rebecca asked both to let it be known that she had been listening and also as a note to herself. "That means that anyone, any one person thought to have committed a crime is now to be held without restriction of time. That's allowing people, possibly innocent people to be wrongfully held." She took a deep breath. "I do understand the meaning behind it. It stops anyone suspected of a crime from being released until evidence is given that they have not committed any crime, but it certainly still is a huge wrong against the citizens."

She steepled her fingers against each other and went silent a moment, "Crimes are committed here everyday, some minor, many serious. But the criminal is just as likely to be captured and held according to this suspension as a person who happened to witness the crime and be present when the police come. I will definitely tell the readers to be watchful and helpful. In a time like this, it is more reasonable to stay calm. I just have a bad feeling about it."

She tried to return the smile, but it wasn't stiff out of any form of disrespect, but instead out of worry. "I know I will put my faith in you, but we are all only human in the end." She sighed softly. "This must be quite a welcoming present to your newly appointed position of Assistant District Attorney. Yet you are very accomplished at your job as I have heard. Served in Manhattan and Brooklyn, handling mostly sex crimes. How does it feel coming to Gotham during a time like this?"

[powermaniac184]

Lisa nodded her head when the reporter gave the legal definiton. "You've done your research, Rebecca." She laughed, then listened on feeling the reporters fear. "New York and Gotham are different places geographically but the systems are different. People work day and night for a better city. In New York you don't have a broken legal system, in here you do. Gotham and New york have crime with Gotham having more than most states. I'm glad I came to Gotham because I'm needed here. Times are going to get tougher, so I caution all to be mindful that your lives are going to change with the recent crackdown on crime. Gotham needs heroes, heroes that don't dress up, heroes in plain clothes."

Lisa scratched her leg, she had recieved a blister the other day from running and tripping on the sidewalk. She had ran three miles, and had taken a swim. She like to exercise, but she also liked to eat and watch the television.

[rebecca]

Rebecca smiled genuinely at the compliment, "I have to know what I'm talking about." She shrugged and then listened as Lisa continued to speak. She used the pause when she leaned over to scratch her leg to speak again. "Gotham's legal system is very broken. Years of abuse and bribery has morphed it into a sorry state, but it's certainly in better shape than it used to be."

"And these costumed heroes, Vigilantes, they're called. I'm not sure how I feel about them. In a city this broken, any citizen willing to do what is necessary to help it. I can't fault them, but at the same time, they brought our costumed criminals out of the duct works in a way too."

[powermaniac184]

She watched Rebecca as she spoke again, "Except that Costume criminals don't have boundaries. I can assure you that if I charge a costumed criminal he will be going to jail. Evidence of their plans is everywhere, on scarred buildings, on video cameras."


Lisa began thinking if Rebecca was going to ask about her personal life. She was fine answering personal questions, but she didn't want to go too personal. That would not be on the record. Lisa watched the young woman continue analyzing her statement, like reading over an essay for errors.

She bit her lip realizing that she had to look over more papers. They could wait, Lisa had done paperwork the last three days, been to court in the last week, and had heat fatigue. She opened a bottle of water and drank it, the icy cold water refreshing her throat and keeping her hydrated.

[rebecca]

Rebecca nodded, "Of course, they need to jailed, they are breaking the laws," she smiled. She paused a moment and stared out her window. It wasn't a great view. She could see the gray skyline and the building across the street. She knew the police station was just a few buildings down.

"Tell me, Ms. Novak how you came to be here, if you please," she turned back to the woman, "where were you born and what inspired you to enter law."

[powermaniac184]

]Lisa wasn't paying attention to Rebecca's question so she was caught off guard, her brown eyes were looking at the plants in the apartment far from the Gazette building. "Well, I was born in Brooklyn to a surgeon my mother and a veteran soldier my father. I wanted to represent the people in their daily lives. I wanted to prosecute the people that changed victims forever and made sure they left with some kind of punishment. This idea was developed during college, when my mother was down on payments for her mortgage."



"I had looked at all her records and had analyzed the information to bring up a case. Unfortuneatly, judges don't take well to woman who have no legal jursidiction in their courtrooms. I went to Fordham University and after quite some time and money I went to Fordham law school. Studying and passing with flying colors. I left New York because I wasn't needed there, Gotham has had a painful history of the law and dealing with the federal government and crime. So I came to inspire people and ensure that sexual offenders will be prosecuted in the courtrooms I go to."


Lisa hadn't been telling the whole truth about leaving Manhatten sex crimes. She was censured by a judge for tampering with a witness testimoney and evidence. One of two reasons she left the other she had already stated. Putting her water bottle away, she crossed her legs, and made sure she had something for Rebecca after the interview, some would say it's a calling card, Lisa would say it was a paper with her name, phone number for her office and cell phone, and an email number.Promptly handing over the rigged and light card Lisa smiled at Rebecca again waiting for more questions.

[rebecca]

Rebecca took the card, gratefully, "Thank for this, and I've been keeping up with your career. I wanted to know about you." She flipped off the tape recorder. "I do know why you came here, the other reason, but it's not important," she smiled. "We all make mistakes trying to catch the bad guys." She turned the recorder back on. "You've been doing fairly well since you came. Quite a few have been convicted because of you. You're a good attorney. Gotham needs more people willing to inspire and stand up for the truth. You spoke of it needing people without masks, and you're right. We can't depend on people like Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl forever."

She tucked her hair behind her ear again. "Have you met any staunch opposition in your case? Other than the F.B.I. with P.R.O.T.E.C.T.?"

[powermaniac184]

Lisa smiled, she liked that she was wanted and that people didn't think of her as a fool as some did. "Thank you for your kind words, The other reason I left was because I was censured and put on probation for violating a procedure. As Rebecca turned back on the recorder she resumed her facade. "The D.A. office has been very supportive of my tactics and how I get things done and it really makes me feel good knowing that someone has my back other than myself and my detectives. Commisioner Gordon has been a huge supporter even though the police department isn't the best at least we have leaders looking out for our citizens"

Lisa thought of the next question, " Well.. There are criminals who oppose me, but then again they have always opposed people like me. Some doctors and judges across the countries believe that my methods of justice are unpredictable and highly unorthodox. But if you want to outsmart the criminal in the courtroom you have to think "outside the box". Lisa felt bad that she had used such a cliched term as that. But she enjoyed her first interview and was eager for the next question as long as it wasn't personal.