"On the condition that you don't talk about the case until then," Alison added.
Angela made a show of pouting."I’m not sure I can do that.After my latest live cast was cut short, the fans will want to know what happened, and I’ve already begun talking about the case, so I can hardly stop now."
"You have started talking about it," Alison pointed out."You already mentioned that four people are dead."
Angela’s eyes widened in expectation as she sat forward."Have there been more?I want my podcasts to be as current as possible."
"How did you know four people were dead?"Hartley asked.
"What?"Angela asked, frowning."What do you mean?"
"That’s not public knowledge yet," Hartley told her."The media have been reporting on three crime scenes, but not four victims.The most obvious conclusion from public knowledge out there is that we have three cross scenes and three victims.So, where did you get your information from, Miss Wu?"
Angela took a moment, not speaking.Her jaw tightened as she controlled the emotions and thoughts running through her.She looked from Alison to Hartley as she planned what to say.
"I can't talk about that," Angela replied.
"You can't or you won’t?"Hartley asked.
"Both," Angela said.
"Okay, so you have private information that the killer would know, and you’re refusing to tell us where that information came from?"Hartley asked.
"Yeah, I’ve been talking with the killer," Angela said sarcastically."They’re going to be a guest on the next show."
"I’m looking for a killer who’s killed four people and might kill more," Hartley said sternly."I don't appreciate the mocking tone.Now, the way I see it, either you know the information because you’re the killer, or you know the information because someone told you."
"I couldn’t have been at the museum," Angela said."I was in the studio with my team, planning out the next episode.We pulled an all-nighter.There’s no chance of my slipping out, making it to the museum, and back.It’s not like it’s close to the studio, right?"
"Okay, good," Hartley said."Now, we’re getting somewhere.We’ll check that alibi, and if we can confirm it, we’re a little further forward.So, if we can rule you out as the killer, that means the information came from someone close to the case.Either the killer themselves or someone associated with the case.I believe you when you tell us that you couldn’t have killed anyone at the museum, but if you’ve been conversing with a serial killer and haven’t told anyone, I will arrest you right now, and you’ll have to record the next episode of your podcast from prison.Is that what you want, Miss Wu?Will that bring more popularity?"
"I haven’t been talking to the killer.Of course, I haven’t," Angela said quickly.
"So, the quip about the killer appearing on your show," Alison said.
"Just a bad joke, okay?"Angela raised her hands before her."When I get nervous, I often make jokes.That’s all that was."
"So, you aren’t in leagues with the killer?"Hartley asked.
"No, I have no idea who they are."
"Okay, good," Hartley said slowly."So, we can rule out you being the killer, if your alibi can be confirmed, and we can rule out you conversing with the killer.That means you’re getting your information from someone associated with the case, which is also extremely serious.I want their name."
"I can't give you that," Angela said, confirming to them that there was someone feeding her information.
"That’s not good enough," Hartley told her.
"I don't need to give you that information," Angela claimed."You can check my alibi, and it’ll prove that I didn't kill anyone.I can give you the names of two other people who were in the studio with me that night, and it’ll prove exactly what I told you.I’m not giving you my contact's name.I’ve spent years establishing trust with them."
"Then I have no option but to detain you," Hartley said."At the moment, I can cite obstruction of justice, but we’ll figure out the details later.All I know is that we’re in here with you instead of looking for the killer.You’re wasting our time."
"You only want to silence me," Angela claimed."I knew that as soon as I started talking about the case on my live stream, you would have me shut down.It’s freedom of speech, you know?"
"You can talk about that on your next episode, all you want," Hartley said."I don't want you talking about the case live on air, that’s true, but this has nothing to do with free speech and has everything to do with spreading panic.We can't have details of the case out there just yet, and you have to know that.This isn’t some past crime that you can talk about.We don't have the killer in custody yet, and if you release information that hasn’t yet been released, you jeopardize the case.So, give me a name, or I’ll arrest you."
Angela fell quiet as she thought about it.She looked down at her lap as she sucked in her bottom lip.
"I can't do it," she said."I wish there were a situation where it would make sense, but I can't do it.Not right now.I have an alibi for the museum, so if you need to arrest me for something else, then I’ll take that lawyer."
