Chapter 5
They took her to the police station without formal charges. Now she sat in an interrogation room in handcuffs while they searched for laws under which they legally could hold her.
Out in the hall, she sensed Marla and Shane talking with Minister Gabor. They tried to talk him down. Shane seemed to understand that it was an accident, but the Minister was pissed. He called them arrogant Americans with no respect for culture, and then called the city prosecutor.
A few hours later, they came in with her lawyer, Richard Scorva from Sibiu, whom she’d only met a few times.
An officer came in and finally uncuffed her.
“They can’t really do this, can they?” asked Starr.
“Well, no, but he’s gonna try,” said Marla. “If he can’t get you for destruction of government property, then he’s gonna try to charge you for destruction of historical property.”
“What nonsense is this?” Starr asked Richard.
“It’s a very obscure and unrefined law,” explained her lawyer, Richard Scorva. “It’s not one that’s been used much. This is a very unique situation.”
“Am I gonna have to stay here?”
“I’m already putting pressure on them to release you, but you could be in for the hassle of a lifetime.”
Hassle of a lifetime was right. The police didn’t want to let her go; they wanted to keep her in the interrogation room overnight. They were just as enraged, if not more than, Michael Gabor.
As they left the police station, people looked at her and spit, and stared. They were even turned down by a few hotels because news of her property’s demise made it to television and radio.
“Whatever you do, don’t eat or drink anything,” warned Shane when they sat down at a restaurant.
The following morning, police showed up outside her room. They took her to the county hospital and forced her to submit to a mental evaluation. Then she was formally served later, as she left the building, by a young man who had been waiting for her.
The charges were informal civil suit. So the following Monday, she was dressed and ready for a day court. Fortunately, the wait to be called wasn’t too long, because everyone wanted to punish her for the ruined castle.
“Ah, it’s you!” the judge exclaimed, nastily, in Romanian. He flipped through some papers and wrote on them. “I’ve been studying all night, looking through all my books, in an effort to find something to get you with. Unfortunately, there has never been a crime such as this, not since the communists first took over, but you can’t punish in war. Congratulations, American, you’ll likely make it into the history books.” He sighed loud and said, “I would love to throw the book at you, but it was her property to do with as she sees. The intent wasn’t maleficent, but it was only pure stupidity. I’m ordering that you, Minister Gabor, take the money she offered to pay.”
“But you’re not gonna just let her get away with it.”
“Shut up!” he shouted. “I hold you responsible, too, Gabor. If not for your harassment, she would have never attempted a hurried renovation, in order to home her land. If I could, I’d send you away for the sloppiness in which you conducted your business.”
He sat down and remained quiet. Then the judge looked at Starr and said, “However, I’m sentencing you to the full extent of the law in regards to illegal renovations, and operations without consent from the city or permit. For that, you’re getting 90 days in jail. The fine for such crimes is up to 100,000 euros, but since you’ve guaranteed to restore the castle using only original materials, I’m going to wave the fine so that you can invest it. Mind you, if you don’t carry out the terms of this agreement, then the fine will stand.”
The judge banged his gavel, got up and left without another word.
Starr’s ears rung. She was frozen in shock.
New Digs
Chapter 6
The sentence wasn’t too bad, despite the rumors of Romanian jails being especially foul. Starr found that with persuasion and a little money, she could buy her way into a white collar resort. Breakfast was fresh scramble and ricotta cheese, and lunch was chicken salad and Chianti.
Marla and Shane came to visit her on their way out of town, back to the Council. In a private office, they sat and looked very concerned.
“What brings you?”
Marla laughed. “You look well.”
“Yeah, I like it in here. It’s the long needed vacation I’ve always wanted. I spent the morning playing tennis with a famous model, and tonight we’ll be watching scary movies over popcorn and wine.”
“Tuh,” said Shane as she shook her head.
“What? I’m not a criminal!”
“What are you gonna do about blood?” asked Marla.
“Hello? Am I a vampire, or am I vampire? Anyway, why are you here? I need to get back to the commons. This girl I met is teaching me how to play chess.”
“Things are out of control in Bangkok,” said Shane. “We can’t locate the Fleet. We need you.”
“Uh, and you were hoping I’d sneak out? What if I get caught? The staff check on us throughout the night. You guys, well, you Shane, are gonna have to learn to handle these things without me because I quit.”
Shane slammed the table with her fist and stood up.
“You have to go to Thailand. Don’t worry; I’ll be there, watching from my mind. I’ll help you.”
Then Starr got up the phone and left the room.
More about the series:
Vampin Box sets are now available at all major retail sites.
Up and coming:
Champagne Confines (10/2013)
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