Chapter 133 The Interview Request
CAITLYN'S POV
We had been at Tommy's for three days when I got an email. It was from a producer at one of the major news networks. I read it while feeding Emma and my heart started racing.
"Jason," I called out. "Come look at this."
Jason came into the room. "What is it?"
"An interview request," I said. I handed him my phone. "From a national news show. They want to interview me about the trial. About my experience."
Jason read the email. His jaw tightened. "They are offering money?"
"Yeah," I said. "Twenty thousand dollars for a one-hour interview."
"That is a lot of money," Jason said.
"I know," I said. "We could really use it. With all the legal fees and not working and everything."
"We are not that desperate," Jason said. "You do not have to sell your story."
"Maybe I want to," I said. "Maybe this could help other victims. Show them they can get justice too."
"Or it could make things worse," Jason said. "More media attention. More invasion of privacy."
"I do not know," I said. "I want to talk to Detective Rourke about it. Get his advice."
"Okay," Jason said. "Call him."
I called Rourke and explained the situation. He was quiet for a minute.
"My advice is do not do it," Rourke said finally. "These interviews never go the way you think they will. The producers edit things. Take your words out of context. Make you look bad."
"But what if it helps?" I asked. "What if my story helps other victims come forward?"
"It might," Rourke said. "But it also might paint a target on your back. Make you more visible. More vulnerable. There are still people out there connected to Hayes's organization. People who might want revenge."
"I did not think about that," I said.
"You should think about it," Rourke said. "You have Emma to think about now. Her safety comes first."
"You are right," I said. "Thank you."
I hung up and looked at Jason. "Rourke says no. Says it could be dangerous."
"Then it is a no," Jason said.
"But what about the money?" I asked. "Twenty thousand dollars would really help us."
"We will figure out the money," Jason said. "I can take extra jobs. We can cut back on expenses. But I am not putting you and Emma at risk for money."
"You are right," I said. "I know you are right."
But part of me was disappointed. Twenty thousand dollars was a lot of money. Money we desperately needed. And the idea of helping other victims was appealing. Of showing them that justice was possible.
I emailed the producer back and declined the interview. Explained that I needed to protect my family's privacy. She responded immediately asking if I would reconsider. Offered more money. Thirty thousand. Then forty.
"They keep raising the offer," I told Jason. "Now they are at forty thousand."
"Because they are desperate," Jason said. "Your story is hot right now. They want to capitalize on it. But once they get what they want they will move on to the next story. And you will be left dealing with the consequences."
"I hate that you are right," I said.
"Me too," Jason said. "Forty thousand would be nice. But it is not worth it."
I declined again. This time I blocked the producer's email. Deleted all her messages. But other news outlets started reaching out. Different shows. Different producers. All are offering money. All want my story.
"This is insane," I said to Jason. "How do they all have my contact information?"
"Someone probably sold it," Jason said. "Or they did research. Found your email address somehow."
"Can we change it?" I asked. "Get a new email?"
"We can," Jason said. "But they will probably find that one too. Maybe we should just stop checking email for a while."
"Good idea," I said.
Tommy came home from work and found us in the living room looking stressed.
"What is going on?" he asked.
"News shows keep asking Caitlyn to do interviews," Jason said. "Offering money. Lots of money."
"How much money?" Tommy asked.
"Up to forty thousand for one interview," I said.
Tommy whistled. "That is serious money. Are you going to do it?"
"No," I said. "Rourke advised against it. Said it could be dangerous."
"He is probably right," Tommy said. "These media people are vultures. They do not care about you. They just want ratings."
"That is what Jason said," I said.
"But it is still tempting right?" Tommy asked. "Forty thousand is a lot."
"It is really tempting," I admitted. "We are struggling financially. That money would solve a lot of problems."
"Money is not worth your safety," Tommy said. "Or Emma's safety. You did the right thing saying no."
"I hope so," I said.
That night I could not sleep. Kept thinking about the interview offers. About the money. About how much easier our lives would be with forty thousand dollars. How many bills can we pay? How much stress would be lifted?
"You are thinking about it again," Jason said. He was lying next to me awake too.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Because I am thinking about it too," Jason said. "Forty thousand dollars is hard to ignore."
"We could pay off the lawyer," I said. "And the hospital bills from Emma's birth. And have some left over for savings."
"I know," Jason said. "But Rourke was clear. It could put us in danger. And we have to listen to that."
"What if we ask DA Walsh?" I asked. "Get her opinion too? Maybe she will have a different perspective."
"We can ask her," Jason said. "But I think she will say the same thing as Rourke."
The next day I called DA Walsh. Explained the situation. She sighed heavily.
"I wish I could tell you to do it," DA Walsh said. "I know you need the money. But Rourke is right. These interviews rarely go well. And with four more trials coming up, you do not want to give the defense any ammunition."
"What do you mean by ammunition?" I asked.
"They could use the interview against you," DA Walsh said. "Claim you are doing this for money or fame. Claim you are not a credible witness. It could hurt the other cases."
"I did not think about that," I said. "I do not want to hurt the cases."
"Then my advice is to decline," DA Walsh said. "Wait until all the trials are over. Then if you still want to do an interview you can. But not now. Not while the legal process is ongoing."
"Okay," I said. "Thank you."
I hung up and told Jason what she said. He nodded.
"So we wait," he said. "After all the trials are done we can reconsider."
"After all the trials," I said. "That is months away."
"I know," Jason said. "But it is the smart thing to do."
"The smart thing," I repeated. "Not the easy thing."
"Never the easy thing," Jason said.
I emailed all the producers back one final time. Explained that I could not do an interview while the legal cases were ongoing. That maybe after everything was finished I would reconsider. Most of them said they understood. A few kept pushing. But I stopped responding.
"It is done," I said to Jason. "I declined them all."
"Good," Jason said. "I am proud of you. That took a lot of strength."