The Honesty Robbery

(It's been a while, but alas, I've written a new story)

“Stop running, now!” A security guard yelled loudly. 

 Aiden’s heart pounded as he ran. It wasn’t his first time doing this, but his first getting caught.  

  Had he really just broken into a building and attempted to steal from it? Yes, he definitely had. What trouble he would be in if he got caught? A big ‘if’ because he never got caught and never would.  

 Aiden hadn’t really been paying attention. He looked behind him and realized the security guard was no longer there. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath. 

“Woo, I made it,” Aiden said to himself.  

“Oh, you did, did you?” There stood the security guard in front of him. 

“I need to go soon.” His hands we now on his thighs. 

“Oh, so now you’re in a rush? I’ll be calling the police; you’re not going anywhere soon.” 

“There’s no need. I wasn’t even trying to steal anything.” 

“Save it for the police.” 

The security guard grabbed him by the arms and pulled him back into the Jewelry Store. He utilized some rope and tied Aiden to a chair. 

The police car had arrived. They opened the door and stepped inside. One man was tall while the other man was much shorter. 

“Okay, we’ll be asking you both questions. My name is Bryan and I’ll be asking you some questions and my partner, Jones, will be asking Mr. Clevland over there.” 

The police, Byran as he said before, was looking through the notes he had been given and had his notepad ready for additional notes he would need to take. “First, your name?” 

“Aiden Wilsom.” 

“Okay, from what I understand, you broke into this store and attempted to steal from it. Is that correct?” 

Aiden shook his head. “No, that’s not correct, sir.”  

He definitely wasn’t going to just admit he was a thief and make things harder for himself. 

“If that’s incorrect, then why did you run from the security guard, furthermore, why were you here in the first place?” 

It was a reasonable question, so Aiden took a moment to think of a smart response. 

“I needed to get home; It was getting late.” 

“You ignored my question. Why were you here at 11 PM, well past the shop’s hours?” 

“I really need to get home.” 

“Well, if you don’t answer my questions, you’ll be here a whole lot longer. I might even consider taking you down to the station for questioning.” 

 That was not what Aiden wanted, but if he answered these questions, where would that leave him? He should have stayed home, but of course he decided to go out and try to break into a jewelry store. 

“I was looking for something. I was here earlier in the day and I lost it.” 

“Is there someone who can prove that?” 

“Yes.” 

“So, if I have this straight, you came to get an item you lost, but got caught by a security guard. You left the store without the ‘item’ and started running; trying to get home because it was late? And you weren’t actually trying to break in and steal something, but it just looked like you were?” His voice was laced with sarcasm; it was clear he didn’t believe Aiden. 

“Yes, that’s correct.” 

But it wasn’t. Aiden had broken in and he was trying to steal something. Though he could have planned it out better, but he wasn’t about to tell the police that bit of information. 

“Okay, I will conder with my partner and see what we have. Do not leave the store.” He walked away. 

“Like there’s anywhere to go,” Aiden grumbled under his breath; he was after all still tied to a chair. 

*** 

“What do you have, Jones?” 

Jones looked up at him then, “Well, his story is a little less convincing. I’m think we take him down to the station. Once he’s in an interrogation room, he’ll probably squirm and tell us what really happened. And the worst thing that could happen is he spends a night in the slammer and then he fesses up.” 

“Maybe.” 

The two men walked away from where they had been standing and walked towards the room where Aiden was ‘tied up’. 

“We’re going to take you down to the station for more questioning.” Bryan said. 

“As in, going in a cop car to the station?” 

“Yes, we certainly aren’t letting you go there by yourself.” The two men laughed. 

“Do I have to get cuffed?” 

“Do you want to get cuffed?” 

The obvious answer was no, but of course, Aiden wouldn’t answer with the obvious answer. 

“Yes, I do.” 

That certainly wasn’t the answer they had expected. Should they grab the cuffs and detain him or decide not to? 

“Okay, let’s head down to the station now.” 

Bryan placed him into the back of the cop car. 

*** 

“Okay, here we go.” Bryan said. 

“JUST TELL US THE TRUTH! I WON’T TAKE YOUR LIES! GIVE ME ANSWERS NOW!” The man, jones had spit in Aiden’s face multiple times. 

“I was there to get my mother’s golden watch. It had been missing for weeks and I saw the initials on it.” 

“GOOD GRIEF SON, YOU THINK I BELIEVE THAT? NO, TELL ME THE TRUTH NOW! YOU’RE JUST A NO-GOOD THIEF AND LIER” 

The spit was beginning to be bothersome. 

“It’s true.” 

“YEAH RIGHT, TELL IT TO THE COPS.” 

“Jones, we are the cops... We are not tv drama cops here.” 

“Sorry, the shows are always on when... I’m at my mom’s house... I definitely don’t watch those shows for fun...” Jones said, then began shouting again. 

“ALRIGHT, CUT THE NONSENSE. SON, WEREN’T HAVING IT.” 

“Please. Jones, just stop. We all know you watch the tv dramas for fun. Don’t pretend. Just get out, I’ll handle this.” 

Jones walked out of the interrogation room quickly. He was probably going to go home (To his mom’s house) and watch one of those tv dramas. 

“Alright, Aiden. I’ll let you go now, but I’ll be checking in soon. After I speak to the shop owners’, I’ll get in contact with you.” 

“I can just go?” Aiden asked. 

“Yes, but don’t leave town. I’ll be in contact, likely without my partner, Jones. And before you go..” 

“Hm?” 

“Sorry about him, he’s uh... still in training.” 

“No problem, I guess I’ll see what happens tomorrow.” 

 Aiden went to sleep wondering what would happen next. Would he become a criminal in the morning? Or be fined? He guessed he would find out in the morning. 

*** 

A knock on the door startled Aiden awake. It was only 7 am. 

“Who could it be?” 

Aiden open the door and saw the police officer from last night. 

“Hi, I’ve come here to tell you about the decision by the shop owners.” 

“Oh, what happened?” 

“The shop owners have decided not to press charges. They also left a gift for you. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure you’ll be happy with it.” 

Bryan left, and Aiden was left with his box. He opened it and saw the pocket watch that belonged to his mother. There was also a note inside. 

  Dear Aiden,  

We are quite sorry about what happened. We were unaware of the history that surrounded this watch. Maybe, if we had payed more attention, we would have noticed the initials engraved on it.  

It is with deep regret that you had to go to such great lengths to get this watch. That proved that this watch meant a great deal to you. We hope you take good care of that watch and if it is ever in need of repair, bring it to our shop. I hope your mother has great joy when she sees the watch again.  

We truly were unawere it was stolen, otherwise we would have tried to find you sooner. I hope that we get to meet you face-to-face one day. Then, we can talk.  

                                                                                                                               Take care,  

                                                                                                                                             Mr. And Mrs. Polycot 

Aiden was quite shocked. He would salvage this letter and maybe, just maybe, meet up with the shop owners. Good things did happen to him, Aiden thought. Then he smiled. Maybe last night wasn't so bad after all.