Conversation · White Envelope

You take the legal documents out of the envelope: a 12-40 month construction period and the zoning plan in the addendum. Underneath all this -- on the signature lines -- your little forgery.

Try to find a loophole in the deal.

There is no loophole. The simple truth is the current residents are going to lose their street access and for the next 12-40 months their lives will be dominated by constant construction noise right next door.

Good thing I got those drunks to sign this.

"Yes." The lieutenant nods. "Too bad we can't see Evrart's face when he finds out."

That was a nice move, yes.

What are the ramifications here?

There are none. The signatures of the drunks are worthless and once Evrart is ready to start the construction, he'll need to actually get Lilienne and Isobel to sign.

There is no loophole. The simple truth is the current residents are going to lose their street access and for the next 12-40 months their lives will be dominated by constant construction noise right next door.

Good thing I forged the signatures.

"Yes." The lieutenant nods. "Too bad we won't see Evrart's face when he finds out."

That was a nice move, yes.

What are the ramifications here?

There are none. Your forged signatures are worthless and once Evrart is ready to start the construction, he'll need to actually get Lilienne and Isobel to sign.

There is no loophole. The simple truth is the current residents are going to lose their street access and for the next 12-40 months their lives will be dominated by constant construction noise right next door.

What are the ramifications here?

Once the construction starts it'll probably take a few months -- a year maybe -- for even the most stubborn occupants to get tired of living like this. After that they'll sell their property cheap and move out.

Isobel and Lilienne have a rough 12 to 40 months ahead of them.

"I should have seen it," the lieutenant says with regret. "The people in the village are going to move out on their own accord sooner or later."

"All we can do now is not mail these to Evrart's accountant." He pauses. "Your gun would probably stay missing though."

"Fuck these people. What have they ever done for me? We move on."

"Yes -- being an asshole makes this much easier. Let's go."

"I don't need my gun. I'm not going to mail it." (Cancel task.)

The lieutenant gives you a long look before speaking. "For what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing. Firearms can be replaced. People not so much."

"We'll need to find you a new weapon -- and we'll need to hope to finish the case without Evrart's help." He sighs.

(Sigh.) "Okay, damn it... it sounds like too much. Let's fucking mail it."

"Yes..." He reluctantly nods. "It's probably the smart choice."

"Alright, I'm ready to take the damage for the sake of my conscience."

"You made the right choice." The lieutenant smiles approvingly. "Now let's move out and solve this case."

"Damn it... I really need my gun -- and to see where this is going."

"Let's go get it then."

I don't need my gun. I'm not going to mail it.

Putting the good of others before your own... You're a good man, Harry. A good and honourable man. And guns can be replaced -- people can't.

You are of course going to have to find a new weapon and hope you can finish this case without Evrart's help.

Alright, I'm ready to take the damage for the sake of my conscience.

Okay. Cool. Honourable too. Just walk away with your head held high.

Damn it... it sounds like too much. I'm going to fucking mail.

This is probably the smart choice. Now go mail the document and don't think about it anymore.

Damn it... I really need my gun.

No one would judge you. After all, what is a cop without his gun? Is he really even a cop anymore?

It's hard to imagine anyone enduring these conditions. The stubborn ones might last for a year, but before 40 months are through, they'll sell their property for pennies and move on.

You could always not mail the signatures to Evrart's accountant. But then you'll never see your gun again.

There is no loophole. The simple truth is the current residents are going to lose their street access and for the next 12-40 months their lives will be dominated by constant construction noise right next door.

Wait, what are the ramifications of this?

Once the construction starts it'll probably take a few months -- a year maybe -- for even the most stubborn occupants to get tired of living like this. After that they'll sell their property for cheap and move out.

This is terrible. Poor people. Can't I do something?

"Of course... I should have seen it." The lieutenant frowns as he reads over the document again.

"Evrart probably has eyes on us, but..." He pauses to think. "If the second signature were to be somehow wrong..."

He won't say it outright, but he's suggesting forgery.

"I was actually thinking of forging Isobel Sadie's signature..."

He nods approvingly. "Not a decision I would normally condone, but, under the circumstances..."

"You probably don't have a pen." He takes one out of his pocket. "Here, you can keep this. I have another one."

Or! You could try to trick Evrart. Get someone random to sign the document. By the time the Union boss finds out, your business here will already be concluded.

"I thought of forging Isobel Sadies signature, but then decided against it. But now I see it may be the right thing to do."

He nods. "Not the sort of act I would normally condone, but, under the circumstances, if done discreetly... it may be the only way to save what's left of the village."

"I considered forgery and ruled it out. It's illegal and unethical."

"I am not sure whether working with Evrart is particularly ethical either... But I understand and respect your position." He looks off to the side, deep in thought.

He feels guilty about failing to protect the inhabitants of the fishing village from a greedy mob boss.

"You're suggesting..."

He purses his lips. "Forgery, yes. It would render the document invalid."