Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment: TMODJ (PRSIM)

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in The Quill & Parchment: TMODJ (PRSIM)

Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment: TMODJ (PRSIM)
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

For a moment, Raf closed his eyes, remembering those rare days when things were okay, before their bad behaviour caught up with them. When he opened his eyes, resignation filled his eyes. “I have a criminal record. I’ll automatically be questioned, Karilan- I know how this goes. And I’m not going to refuse to talk to the police. I’m not stupid.” He sighed. “But, I will tell you.”

For a moment he turned and looked around the bookstore and then back to Karilan. “Dash’s record is sealed, because unlike me, he was a juvenile. He completed everything that was asked of him, and at the age of nineteen, five years after he was sentenced, his record was sealed. Even if the police check for one, it won’t come up. He got a fresh start.”

“But things were hard after he finished school. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do and had a job at a shuttle repair facility while he worked out what he wanted to do next. You have to understand that Dash only started hanging around me and the other guys and getting involved in the B&E’s because he was having a hard time coping with his’ dad’s death. The man was a monster and most of us were rather okay with him being gone. it did something to Dash though. Anyway, it was just him, his mom and little sister after that, and Dash tried to help out. But then he was spending all his time being a student and doing his shit ton of community service that he couldn’t really help his family. He wanted to do something for them as they were really struggling. His mom had had some bad health spells and money was tight. Then one day this guy his dad knew shows up offering Dash a one-time job.” Raf blew out a breath. “He wanted him to steal this seemingly innocuous painting from someone’s house. Dash said no, but the money was really good, and the painting wasn’t anything super famous as far as he knew. The job would be a quick in and out.

“He caved, out of guilt he told me, because he had screwed things up for his mom and sis and he owed them some stability. And it was exactly as advertised. In out, no one knew he was there. And the guy paid him as promised. Dash gave it all to his mom and sister. Had he been caught though, Karilan? He was an adult and he would have been tried as one. But the thing is that this painting turned out to actually be worth tons and the police never found out who took it. The owner knew it didn’t look like much and most people thought it ugly, so he hid it in plain sight. No security, nothing.

“Dash only ever told me and his therapist at the time,” Raf said. “But a big shot diplomat with a criminal past? It would be bad for him here, that’s why I understood that he needed space from me. But that case was never solved. I don’t know how long someone can get charged for something like that, but if I was Dash and someone might know? I’d be hella worried too.”

~Rafael Torres

Karilan looked at him for a moment, blinking slowly. “Wait… you are telling me that now… now… almost thirty years later… now Mr. Jones was worried about being found out?” She looked at him for a long moment, and then shook her head and tried very hard not to laugh. “I’m sorry… but this is… this is so absolutely a case of blowing something so far out of proportion as to be almost a plot device in some fictitious short story.” She didn’t laugh, but the smile on her face conveyed her sense of absurdity about the whole thing. She reached across the counter and took Torres’ hand, giving it a reassuring pat. “Mr. Torres… the statute of limitations for such a crime has long expired. And even if it did come out- and I will ensure that it does not- the most that would have probably happened is the tabloids would have a few days of mockery of the Art Thief Turned Diplomat.” and she sighed and smiled, shaking her head. “If that is what he was so worried about, then I feel for him. He was carrying a weight that he should have dropped a very, very long time ago. As are you, Mr. Torres. Do not fret over this. I am quite sure that Mr. Jones was a victim of something far more complicated than a thirty year old theft. And you… Just because you have a criminal record is no excuse for the authorities to question you. No no. Not on my watch. You had nothing to do with Mr. Jones’ situation. I know that for a fact. So there is no reason to bother you. And if the police try, well… I have a very good attorney. And they do so love telling the police where their authority starts and stops.”

Karilan

His pensiveness was replaced by incomprehension. “Wouldn’t it be more suspicious if I refuse to talk to them? I want to help Karilan. He was my brother. Maybe not by blood, and maybe I haven’t lived up to that title, but I feel it still. Even now that he’s… ” Raf shook his head and folded his arms on the counter. “It doesn’t even make sense.”

~Rafael Torres

Katilan shook her head. “No, it will not be more suspicious. They have no reason to suspect you. And I know you want to help. Mr. Torres. But allowing yourself to be used as a pawn by the police wouldn’t be helping. And I sincerely doubt Mr. Jones would want you involved in this, isn’t that true? Now, I am quite certain that the police will come to speak with you. When thru do, you are free to do as you wish. But there is nothing wrong with having a lawyer there with yiu if you do speak with them; to ensure you are protected… correct?”

Karilan

Raf nodded, if slowly. “Dash would tell me to keep clear.” He snorted and shook his head. “He’d probably tell me the same thing I told him, that we made our mistakes and there’s nothing gained by digging a bigger hole.”

Tapping his palms on the countertop, Torres drew in a breath, holding himself a little straighter. “What else do we need to do before opening?” It didn’t even seem a question that they would open. “And, uh, I’ve got thing here if you need to step out at all.”

~Rafael Torres