HANA in an interrogation room. DETECTIVE and PARTNER are questioning her.
DETECTIVE
Thank you for coming in Ms. Maan.
HANA
I wasn’t under the impression it was a choice.
PARTNER
Of course you have a choice, Ms. Maan. You aren’t under arrest.
HANA
So you don’t have to read me my Miranda rights or allow me a phone call.
PARTNER
Would you like to call your attorney, Ms. Maan?
HANA
Yes, I would.
DETECTIVE
Please, Ms. Maan, we just have a few questions and we don’t suspect you of anything.
HANA
Then you won’t have an issue with me having a lawyer present for my protection.
DETECTIVE
Who do you need protection from? Surely we aren’t that scary?
HANA
I am a dark-skinned Arab immigrant woman wearing a hijab, officer. You and your partner are that scary to me.
PARTNER
Fair enough. Do you have their number?
HANA
In my phone.
PARTNER
Would you like some privacy?
HANA
I would prefer to call them outside the station.
PARTNER
Like we said, you aren’t under arrest. Call from where you’d like. We would greatly appreciate it if you would stay until we can get some answers to our questions.
HANA
I’ll let my lawyer know to meet me here. Thank you, detective.
PARTNER
Of course.
[HANA leaves]
DETECTIVE
Why are you letting her call her lawyer?
PARTNER
She’s not going to talk to us. You heard her, she doesn’t trust cops. And we don’t think she’s involved anyway. We just need her to tell us about the wife.
DETECTIVE
But her lawyer’s not going to let her talk!
PARTNER
Her lawyer is going to advise her to tell the truth, once it’s clear that we aren’t looking for her to incriminate herself.
DETECTIVE
I don’t like it.
PARTNER
Listen, this is the way of the future. The free copaganda was great while it lasted, but the average person just isn’t buying it anymore. We have to be smart and pick our battles wisely.
DETECTIVE
And what if she is in on it?
PARTNER
We’ll cross that bridge if we get there. For now, this is a step toward gaining trust. Right now she’s thinking we’re two of the “good ones” for not trying to push her into talking. A little good will can go a long way.