Stealing cars is all he knows. Of course, he calls it "boosting cars"; he doesn't steal them. He boosts them, brings them back to life without a key. Sure, he takes cars from parking lots, garages, even those parked at the curb on the street. But to him, it isn't stealing.
Riel Imperia is what the social class would label as scum: he lives in the "hood", drives a clunker of rust, and has a history of dealing drugs. But who didn't, here in the hoods of PG? He needed money, fallen angels needed their pixie dust. He was just the messenger.
His rusty clunker appears just that: disgusting on the outside. It looks like scrap. But inside is mint: done up to the nines, taken care of well. He is the best at red light street races, because every driver he goes up against underestimates his car. Sure, a 2019 white Corvette against a... what even is that? A rusted Buick from the eighties? Or was it a Mercury? Doesn't matter, it's easy money because it looks like shit.
Riel Imperia won all of his races that way. It made him laugh every time, seeing a poor rich kid from the College Heights District lose his hundred thousand dollar car Mommy and Daddy bought him, because he thought he wouldn't lose, and went balls in and bet his car. Because his car was a bargain he thought he would keep.
When Riel Imperia won cars, he did with them as he did with the ones he boosted: sold them to a trader in another city, who'd give them a paint job, tune up, and sell them again for profit.
Sure, Prince George is a big city, but wouldn't somebody see shit like that happening? The answer is no, surprisingly. Car boosters are like the Mafia: you know about them because you've heard rumors, but they're like shadows. No PG cop is gonna bring them down. Hell, half the force is in on it, because the Booster Mafia's got dirt on them to keep them quiet. Cops are crooked; that's the biggest joy in having an illegal business. Get some intell and have those pigs wrapped around your finger.
Riel Imperia isn't in charge of the cops; that's somebody's job higher up the ladder. He's just a car booster: jump start, drive to a set location, load. Fill the truck. Get paid and go home with money.
It sounds simple. And to be blunt, there is no catch to it. This city is so dirty, the waters of the Nechako and Fraser couldn't keep it clean. Maybe that's why these PG rivers are called "muddy". Like "The Muddy Frazer River", or "Dirty Nechako River." The waters are muddy because they've tried.
Riel Imperia lives in Prince George, BC. He lives in shabby duplex near Alpine Village between Tamarack and Strathcona. He drives a rustbucket of a car with a banger engine. He used to sell drugs for the money. Now he boosts cars because the money's better.
And something to keep in mind, the next time a stolen car gets reported on the CKPG News at 5: Riel Imperia is good at his job.
YOU ARE READING
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Non-FictionI had this idea last night after a few drinks, a pounding headache, and an excessive amount of throat lozenges. In order to inspire me to write more often than I currently do, I am planning to write a new post every day and publish it, allowing me t...
