Chapter 98

.

When Eve became RJ's footsoldier he taught her what to do if the police questioned her. Take the cop to RJ's place to where he would look for his "papers." While they were there RJ would give the police officer gifts, candy, cigars, shampoo. At some point the cop would let RJ slide for the violation. Eve learned how much bribery was about respect, being nice to cops. She should never outright say "Do you like bribes?" On December 23rd Eve was leaving school when officer Murphy approached her. He said they needed to talk about her retail activities. Eve suggested they go see RJ, Murphy said no. They had to go to the police station now. He didn't put handcuffs on Eve, but she was put in the back seat of his car. Eve began to fear this was not going to end well. Officer Murphy seemed to be in his late 40s or early 50s. He also seemed somewhat menacing to Eve. As he walked her to an interrogation room at the station Eve saw a poster. It told cops about earning more money as security guards with private companies. Murphy left Eve and said he'd be right back. Eve waited nervously. Ravenwood was having its annual christmas party tomorrow, but as time ticked away it became less likely that she'd make it there. Eve was scared, she could be in trouble. Police stations were believed to close early these days, what if Murphy forgot about her? She'd heard stories about people being taken, tried and convicted within a day, being executed the next day. Suppossedly they were all murderers of children, but were any wrongfully convicted? If Murphy looked he might find the mass e-mail Samuel sent out on Eve's computer. Eve had never supported the murder of children, but she'd committed other sins. She'd tried to justify RJ's business to herself, that she only did what she had to do in order to survive. But that wasn't entirely true. RJ never forced Eve to stay, the food shortage had ended. Eve chose to stay so she could have a little extra, candy, ciggarettes, shampoo. She'd risked her freedom to satisfy her own selfish desires. Nadia made Eve feel guilty, only because she didn't partake, not accepting Eve's offer of a food gift, even when hungry. Eve wasn't really sure how much time had passed, maybe an hour, maybe more. It felt longer than an hour. It gave Eve the chance to think about her actions. She decided to confess everything, maybe she'd get in trouble, but it could be worse if she lied. Whatever happenned Eve had to be honest, admit her mistakes, hope for forgiveness.