"So, how long have you been into metalworking?" Officer Burks asks.
"About two and a half- three years" You say.
"And how'd you get started? None of this could've been cheap" Burks asks
"Well... some of it was savings, some of it was loans. I'm sure it's that way for most small businesses." It was more like a single large loan from a bank. You had to take it out to get this shop after the factory you used to work at closed down. You could have taken another job, but long hours with barely enough pay to cover the gas it took to get there? You decided to take the chance and opened up your shop. You don't regret it, but you're still paying back your loan. Those bills really hurt your bank account on lean months, but you're on top of it. Mostly.
"So, what kind of things do you make here?" Burke asked.
You answer, mostly honestly. Artwork, figurines, statues, machine parts. You and Adrian may have occasionally made replacement parts for your car or bike that technically are only allowed to be made by the manufacturer, but you neglect to mention that.
Of course, you don't mention the things you make for your "hobby".
Officer Burke starts asking for specifics about what you do and who your clients are. Officer Hare stays silent the entire time. She stares at you, but occasionally, when you're giving a detailed answer to Burke, her gaze wanders. Specifically wanders into your workshop. You curse yourself for not closing the door, but that would make you look even more suspicious than if you left it open. You just hope that you didn't give her any more reason for her to be.
"So, any unusual jobs lately, say, in the past three-four of months? Maybe something using materials that you don't normally work with" Burke asks. At that, he looks you in the eye. Three to four months. That's when you started your Vigilante career.
"I'm sorry, but what exactly is this about?" You ask.
"We'll ask the questions here" Burke says. You can tell, even behind his sunglasses, he's glaring at you. "So answer the question. Or we'll have to ask you again downtown. And trust me, you don't want that to happen"
You think about it. They're asking about the things you're making, not your whereabouts. Maybe they think you're supplying… yourself? Or another vigilante? Of course, Stampede is the only person you can think of you, as your civilian self could be working with. Maybe making larger parts for her robot or even acting as a "clean" buyer for larger quantities of metal.
But back to the matter at hand, you could say "No". But you don't know how much they know and how much they only suspect. And depending on what they know, saying "no" could be very suspicious.
"Well, there was something a month and a half ago" You say.
"Oh?" Burke asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it was supposed to be a simple job. Someone wanted me to make some small trophies for some competition. Not what I usually make, but she had some pretty cool designs for them. Problem, she wants bronze, silver, and gold. Now, these aren't cheap metals, and so the trophies aren't gonna be cheap. And when I try to tell her that…"
You spin a tale. It isn't long, and it has just enough truth that you have some receipts and text messages to prove it. Sure, you may… embellish what you said, or what your would-be client threatened, but by the end of it, even Burke is chuckling to himself.
"So, after a month of revision after revision, I'm out a few thousand and I'm still stuck with a bunch of shit I'll never use. Hell, I'd be lucky if I can get the costs back…" You say with a sheepish grin, even you're taken in by your story a little bit. Though it helps that you're still mad about the lost profit, even if you're exaggerating the money and time lost" But hey, at least I'm not spending that money on Herbalife."
Burke lets out a short laugh at that, but quickly stops himself. Hare, however, has her face as still as it was before, like her face is carved from stone.
"Well, I think that's all we need for now." Burke says, smile still on his face. "But let me talk to Officer Hare for a second. Sit tight, alright?"
As you lean back against your wall and the officers walk back to the cruiser, you let out a breath that you had been holding in. That was… way too close.
Then, you see what Hare may have been looking at. On your desk, right beside your work computer. If a motorcycle helmet. Specifically, the one that you wore when you met Kachuusha at the hanger still in disguise. There probably a lot like it, but it's distinctive enough, red with a white pattern on the side.
For a second, every cell in your body screams at you to run. If you took off behind you, there's a drop off that leads to a creek, and if you go back up and through a tree line, there's a strip mall. Heading south and hoping a fence would take you through a residential neighborhood. East and West would take you down the street in front of your workshop, and both lead to two separate highways. Both lead to different parts of the city where you could disappear.
But the cops are here. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to find out where you live. And even if you get away, you'd either have to abandon your family, or try to take them with you if you run. And that would put them in danger.
You try to stay calm. You're being paranoid. You could buy a motorcycle helmet like that at three different stores less than ten minutes from here. And it isn't a secret that you're a biker. You don't have anything to worry about.
Then, the officers start walking towards you. Worryingly. Burke has an expression on his face much like Hare's, cold and emotionless.
"Ms. Northwest. I'm going to have to ask you to get in the back of the car." Burke says. And friendliness he had before was gone.
Fuck.
[] Get in the back of the car.
[] "Am I under arrest?"
[] "I'm not saying anything more without a lawyer"
[] "Not unless you have a warrant"
[] "Fuck you! I didn't do anything."
[] Start fighting Burke and Hare.
[] Write in.
