Omega and the beast

Chapter 25

It had already gotten dark. The streetlights outside the window combined with the wind rustling the tree branches made staring out at the desolate street outside feel even more uncomfortable.

It was raining and there were puddles everywhere on the ground. No one was outside except for one person who was trying to pull his garbage can up to the front door.

I hugged myself, following him with my eyes. He had a worn denim jacket with old oil stains. His hands were rough, and his shoes worn. A car mechanic? How could I even see such details in the dark and at such a distance? Nothing surprised me these days.

"...Regardless of the value of a particular car, there is no such thing as petty theft of an automobile. It means that almost all forms of car theft are legally considered grand theft auto and can be difficult to get to another kind of crime. It's considered if the person deliberately tried to or stole a car with the purpose of keeping it or reselling it. But in Massachusetts, a distinction is made between grand theft auto and what is called joyriding."

"What does that mean?"

"According to my lawyers, this means that joyriding is a type of property crime, referred to the suspect unlawfully taking a vehicle. In the eyes of the law, the main distinction between joyriding and grand theft auto is that in cases of joyriding, the person who takes a car does so without intending to keep it."

"And that was our plan! We would never keep any of those cars!"

"Grand theft auto is generally considered a more serious offense than joyriding, but according to my lawyers the differences between each type of crime are subtle. We are now working hard so that you won't be accused of grand theft auto. We consider that our best chance now is if we succeed in persuading the judges that you had no intention of keeping the cars."

"And that's the truth!"

"A juvenile criminal defence attorney can then build a case that shows that you had no intention of stealing either my car, the car from yesterday or any other car you may have taken. If successful, this could have a significant impact on the charges or sentences you may face."

"This will be the end of me!" Becca cried.

"Calm down, honey," mom sobbed.

"Juvenile offenders are considered delinquents rather than criminals. While juveniles convicted of theft are rarely sent to adult penitentiary facilities, they may very well be sentenced to time in juvenile detention if they are found guilty. But we will try to turn it toward you being young and clueless teenagers who just want to rebel and explore the world."

"That's the truth! Dad, don't let them take me!"

My heart broke, literally. I didn't stand in mom's and dad's kitchen together with the others but stood in their study, trying to stay out of the way. But I could hear every single word they said, and Becca's weak voice and mom's sobs were like stabbings in my heart.

Reed and I had gone here as soon as he had talked to his people and bailed out Becca. Another cost he takes care of for us, for no good reason.

When I called mom and dad, of course they already knew all about Becca being arrested for theft, but they didn't know anything about Reed's car until dad came here with Becca after picking her up. They needed to know his involvement in everything.

When they found out that Becca stole Reed's car, mom and dad were completely appalled. First about her doing such a thing, then how I could lie to them about it for her to then being over how Becca let me take the blame for it. Last it was over the fact that they would never be able to repay it all.