The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[RainBeau]

Wow! That was a surprise. Her reaction was too funny! I've never seen a heat-of-the-moment kiss rejected before.

[MarianT]

I love the Spies-R-Us Forum! I've never seen the heat-of-the-moment kiss rejected either, but I imagine Schip has her ways.

[ladybug53]

This was a great update ! I also loved the twist in the story . Those photos were so awesome ! I can't even imagine what's going to happen next . I have my suspect someone but .

[Magpie2012]

Yay Rhapsody!! Yay Schip!! I can't wait to see what's next!!!

[Schipperke]

Beauty and the Thief, Part IX

Diary Entry

The next pageant event was the fitness competition.  The five contestants and I piled into my van and made our way to the dojo.





Climbing walls had been set up specially for our use.  None of the girls had ever used a climbing wall so I gave them a bit of instruction and then the competition began.











There were a few tumbles, but no-one was hurt, and they all agreed it was a fun way to get fit.  When the competition ended I asked Julienne if she'd like to visit the brand-new movie theatre with the big screen.

We arrived just in time for the show and found good seats.  I purchased the largest bag of popcorn and handed it to Julienne.  She didn't eat much of it, but I persuaded her to hold it and then proceeded to make a lot of noise crunching my popcorn and rustling the bag with my left hand as my right hand explored her purse on the seat between us.



We were visiting in the lobby after the film.  I gazed intently at Julienne.



"Ben, why are you staring at me like that?  You're making me uncomfortable."

I told her I was counting her freckles.

"That's rude!" she exclaimed.  She was trying to appear annoyed, but I could see how uncomfortable and nervous she was.

"Yes, Julie, I guess it is.  But I'd rather be rude than be a thief and traitor.  So tell me, which of those "freckles" is the microdot?"



She gaped at me, then put her hand to her forehead, closing her eyes in despair.



"How did you know?" she asked.

"I didn't know for sure, not until you told me just now."  Her eyes were full of tears as I asked "Why, Julienne?  Why did you steal the microdot?"

Her shoulders slumped.  Her big dark eyes full of misery, she said, "I didn't want to do it.   A week before the pageant, one day I got a phone call.  The voice was disguised, but I think it was a man.  He told me that if I didn't steal the microdot, he'd destroy my family.



"The voice on the phone claimed to have evidence that proved that my mother had falsified her tax returns, back in the early days when she was struggling to make a success of the diner.  He said that if I didn't want my mother to go to jail and my family's reputation to be destroyed, I had to do what he said.  Ben, my mother is old!  It would kill her to have to go to jail.  And my father - he lives for his work.  Can you imagine what it would do to his surgical practice to have such a scandal in the family?"  She continued brokenly, "Ben, I'm no criminal.  I didn't want to steal the microdot.  But I couldn't let that man destroy my family!  ... I just wanted my family to be safe."



She peeled the microdot off her cheek and handed it to me.  "Here - take it!  Now it's all going to come out, the accusations against my mother.  And on top of it, now I'm a thief and traitor.  Oh, Ben.  I was trying to save my family, but I've really messed up, haven't I?"



I nodded, agreeing with her that she had really messed up.  Julienne was ambitious and driven, but she didn't strike me as politically-motivated or criminal.  I believed her story.  I needed to turn over the microdot to my boss.  I told Julienne I'd get back to her, and meantime she should sit tight and say nothing about all this. 



I gave Julienne a ride back to the hotel. 

Then I went off to find my boss.  As I thought about what I had to report, De Luca's words were going through my mind: 

You need to find out which girl has the plans and recover them before the end of the pageant.  Do whatever it takes to catch her.  Believe me, they'll throw the book at her for this traitorous stunt.  Whoever the thief is, she'll be modelling an orange jumpsuit in prison for the rest of her life. 

[Audren]

I just went back through the thread to see if Julienne was always wearing orange, and she was! What a sneaky method of foreshadowing! I wonder if her story is really as true as Ben believes it to be... 

[Schipperke]

I just went back through the thread to see if Julienne was always wearing orange, and she was! What a sneaky method of foreshadowing! I wonder if her story is really as true as Ben believes it to be... 

Her clothes were all chosen by Ausette, so you have her to thank for that particular clue.  If it is a clue.   

[Audren]

I think I found another clue, (maybe) but I'll keep this one to myself. 

[Beezy]

I don't believe her. But I won't tell why. 

EDIT: Oh, and congrats on the 50th Chapter. 

[RaiaDraconis]

Hmm, I'm not so sure I believe her either. She doesn't have the best of relationships with her mother and I doubt she would go out of her way to protect her...plus isn't she romantically interested in one of the Rackets?

Then again, she could very well be the victim of blackmail.

It's so difficult to tell! Once all of this finally plays out I'm sure we'll all be looking back and saying "Why didn't I think of that?" Truly, the earmark of a good mystery writer. I'm still on the edge of my seat!

[ladybug53]

I don't think I really believe her either .   Time will tell . I'm sure Ben isn't quite finished yet . Or is he ! That was a great update . 

[RainBeau]

I do believe her, but she's one of my favourite Sims so I am biased. And I would not have seen the orange clothes as a clue since orange is her favourite colour.

[Blayzen]

Wow. I forget to check the forum for a few days and I come back to this? Not just one but THREE new updates?!? Lucky me! I'm so happy you've gotten back in the game, Schip but please try not to push it! We want you fully healed first!

As for the mystery itself, I would never have picked up on the Orange clothes either but I'm also not sure if that really was a clue...Looking forward to reading more because something tells me that there is more to this story than meets the eye! 

[Schipperke]

Beauty and the Thief, Part X

Diary Entry

De Luca said she'd meet me at the barracks the next morning.  Meantime, I spent the evening on the computer and phone doing background checks on Julienne.  Officer Draconis in Twinbrook was very informative.  She told me

She doesn't have the best of relationships with her mother and I doubt she would go out of her way to protect her...plus isn't she romantically interested in one of the Rackets?

Then again, she could very well be the victim of blackmail.

Hmm.  Consorting with criminals?  That didn't look good for Julienne.  Then again, she had no criminal record and had never been charged or even suspected in any crimes.  It was also interesting that her relationship with her mother wasn't very good, but I wasn't sure what to make of that.  Julienne seemed very determined to grow the family business, and I was sure she'd want to do whatever she felt was in the interests of the business.  Maybe her motivation for the theft had more to do with protecting the reputation of her business than with concern for her mother.  I finished typing out my report and went home to bed.

De Luca arrived right after the recruits and May left for work.  She listened attentively as I made a full and detailed report, concluding by handing her the microdot.



De Luca was quiet for some time after I stopped speaking.  She seemed lost in thought.  She asked a few questions.  Then she said, "Well done, Oliver.  It was clever of you to think of checking the changing room regularly.



"It was certainly a lucky break that the thief dropped the microdot while she was changing," De Luca said, eyeing me shrewdly.



She continued, "Of course, it's a great pity the thief could not be identified.  Still, I've always felt that incompetent old commander in Twinbrook was mainly to blame for what happened.  And I'm sure nobody wants a young girl's life to be ruined because she foolishly yielded to temptation or pressure.  Those five girls all seem to be fine upstanding citizens.  I'm sure whichever one stole the plans will never do such a thing again.  Right, Oliver?"



I agreed solemnly that I was sure the girl who had taken the microdot would never do it again.  I hoped.

Then De Luca said, "Fine.  That's that, then.  Now, the awards ceremony will be starting soon, and I'm sure you don't want to miss it, so off you go.  Oh, and Oliver, your application for upgrading training has been approved.  You can leave for University as soon as the pageant is over."

[Magz from Oz]

Nice.  How sweet was he not to sink Julienne while he had the chance.  I wonder if the favour will be paid forward?

Ben at University.     Look out dorm, the love boat is in town!  How much study is he going to get done?  I hate to see tax payer funded professional development money being wasted.