Page 18 of Captive Hearts
‘Look, I’m asking for a favour,’ DI Conway said. ‘But I promise that when this is over, I’ll give you an interview.’
Ashley raised an eyebrow. ‘Full details?’
‘Shit,’ Gina muttered.
‘Everything I can legally tell you,’ DI Conway replied.
‘Shit, shit, shit,’ Gina said.
Ashley turned to her. ‘Gina...’
Gina shook her head, vehemently. ‘No.’
‘I know this isn’t without risk. But it sounds pretty minimal. And you need to know…’
‘Know what?’ Gina asked. But she didn’t care what Ashley was going to say. She was standing firm.
Ashley turned to DI Conway. ‘I need to speak to my colleague. Could you give us a second?’
The officer nodded. ‘I’ll be waiting.’ She walked past the barrier where she proceeded to get straight on the phone to someone, no doubt updating superiors.
Once they were alone, Ashley began her coaxing. ‘You need to know that if we were to do this, you could probably write your ticket with regards to work. The camerawoman who walked into a hostage situation to get an interview with the gunman? You’d be set.’
‘No,you’dbe set. No one cares about the camera operator.’
‘Not usually. But they will. I’ll make sure of it. If we get this footage, it’s going to be a big deal. We’re probably going to be interviewed ourselves. You’ll be famous. And once that happens, I think you’re going to get all kinds of interesting-’
Gina had to stop her there. ‘I don’twantto be famous, Ashley. I don’t want what you want. I just want to do a day’s work and then go the fuck home, no drama. And this is as dramatic as it gets.’
Ashley paused, and Gina wondered what new tack she’d take to convince her. But whatever she expected, it wasn’t what she got. ‘Look, if you want to say no, that’s fair enough. You’ve done me a lot of favours today, and we barely know each other. I know I’m overreaching here; I do. I’m being far too demanding.’ Ashley took a deep breath. ‘But, you’re right. Idowant this. Because I’ve got this feeling that getting this interview will change everything. I can finally move up. I’m stuck right now, and I can’t go anywhere because… because people don’t like me, alright? No one will hire me because I’m kind of an arsehole. I know it. I’ve always known it,’ Ashley said with a sad smile. ‘I was lucky to get this job, but I want to do more. I can doso much more,’ she said passionately. ‘Only I can’t get any further, not the normal way. But this? It’s my shot. It has to be. Maybe the only one I’ll ever get. So I’m not going to tell you there’s anything in this that you want. I can see now that there isn’t.’ She breathed deeply, and then said quietly, ‘I’m just asking, for me.Please.’
Gina was surprised to see Ashley exposing herself like this. She wouldn’t have thought it could sway her, but somehow, her heartstrings were getting quite the yank. Ashley knew who she was, what was standing in her way. It was herself. Gina understood that. She thought that was what usually stood in the way of anyone getting what they really wanted. Gina herself didn’t want much, so there wasn’t anything you could take from her. But Ashley was bursting with desire to report big news. And it was hard to refute the fact that something like this would get her on her way. Ultimately, it was too human a request to simply dismiss, even from someone as salty and walled up as Ashley.
‘Look, I’m not saying I’m going to do it, but if I were.If. I need to know I’d be safe,’ Gina said.
Ashley nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yeah, of course, me too. I don’t wanna get hurt any more than you do. Let’s get some more details from DI Conway. Then you can make your decision.’
Ashley gestured to the copper to come over, but Gina knew the decision was already made. She was going to do this stupid bloody thing to help a woman she barely knew make a leap in her career.
