I recently got an exclusive interview with Badger News Incorporated Head of Fundraising Christy Hendrick. Christy worked with Sam Wright at Badger News Inc for some years, prior to his arrest for Enlightenment Sympathy, incarceration, and eventual escape. I was particularly interested to get her take on the recent prison break massacre which also involved his illegal lover, Eve Young.

I understand the fugitives Sam Wright and Eve Young have now crossed the border into the Democratically Enlightened American Republic. Do you think they’re gone for good?

Perhaps, but at this stage, it’s just a rumour. They could still be out there. The police and security services don’t really know what happened to Sam and Eve. But if they did escape the justice of the New Puritan American Republic, that’s too bad, as their escape resulted in the deaths of seven prison officers.

Did you know Eve Young?

Sam worked with me for several years, but I didn’t meet Eve. Sam didn’t ever mention her. The first I heard about her was when news of their arrest reached the Badger News Inc offices.

Do you really think Sam and Eve were capable of the killings for which they were accused?

There is security camera footage showing what they did, and it was calculated, brutal, and bloody. So regardless of any personal feelings I might have had about them beforehand, it seems clear they were capable of the killings.

What do you say to rumours the security camera footage was faked?

This footage hasn’t been faked. Experts have been over it and confirmed the authenticity. I know a certain section of the public enjoy conspiracy theories, but in this case the dead bodies speak for themselves. Seven prison officers died in the escape of Sam Wright and Eve Young. The blood of those brave men is on their hands.

If Sam and Eve have escaped to the Democratically Enlightened American Republic, as now seems apparent, do you think they will be welcomed in that nation?

Well, attitudes there are very different. In fact, I’d say attitudes in the DEAR are degenerate and depraved. So perhaps Sam and Eve will fit right in, given their illegal sexual activities, as well as the murders they committed.

We hear a lot about how degenerate the DEAR is on NPAR television, but surely it can’t be all bad? Surely reality is more nuanced?

The truth is the truth. There are no nuances of goodness to be found in the social, political, and religious make-up of the DEAR.

As Sam’s former colleague and boss, it must have been quite a blow to you personally, discovering Sam murdered several people, especially after the favourable coverage Badger News gave him during his trial.

It was a huge shock to me, and indeed everyone Sam knew at Badger. But let me also be clear: Badger News Incorporated was never biased. Our coverage was entirely objective. We simply reported public opinion at that time, when Sam and Eve were tried for Enlightenment Sympathy. Since the prison break massacre, public opinion understandably turned against Sam and Eve, and we reported that objectively too.

I’d also like to point out that Sam worked in a different department to me. I was never his boss. My father was his boss.

I was told Sam answered to both you and your father.

Sam did assist me at times, but officially he answered to my father.

We approached your father several times for an interview, but he doesn’t wish to comment. Can you explain his reluctance?

What are you insinuating?

I just find it unusual that Doug Hendrick, the CEO of Badger, has consistently refused to be interviewed regarding the fate of Sam Wright, considering Sam was, for years, a very popular political commentator in all your media outlets.

All of this has taken quite a toll on my Dad, and I would ask that you respect his privacy at this time. He and Sam were very close indeed, and he is grieving a terrible loss and betrayal. They saw eye to eye on almost everything, so when Sam was charged with Enlightenment Sympathy, this was very upsetting to Dad. As for the massacre, well that simply destroyed him. I’ve never seen my father so unhappy, and I am deeply grieved at the pain Sam has caused him.

I have been told, confidentially, that Sam Wright and your father did not see eye to eye at all. I’ve heard they clashed many times – for example, over an internal investigation into former Badger employee Matthew Ingram.

Who is your source on this?

Let’s just say an anonymous informer.

I see. What did this “anonymous informer” claim?

The informer claims Matthew Ingram was framed, because he uncovered financial irregularities relating to yourself and your father. Of course, if this isn’t true, you can put the record straight.

Be careful Simon. You wouldn’t want to end up on trial for Enlightenment Sympathy yourself.

No, of course not. Thank you very much for your time Christy. I think we’ll leave it there.

For more information on this news story, keep an eye out for my new novel Peaceful Quiet Lives, released on the 4th of December. It can be pre-ordered here.