QR Codes: From a Place of Sincerity

“Why’d you resign your commission?” Yawquisha asked.

“I wanted to make the ton of money you’re making,” Kim said dryly. “No, I had noticed that things at home were getting worse, and that’s before all this QR mess, I just said I could serve my state more than I was shuffling papers in the Marines.”

“Did it take long to resign?”

“It was a flurry of paper but again, what isn’t? I just had to sign documents and I essentially peeled off like a used bandage.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Sometimes. My guys. We were really tight. We all knew we had a purpose and that we would be able to carry out every mission. Even if that meant fixing a jammed printer.” Kim grinned.

“Did you see any action as a captain?”

“Not really. We were mainly doing a lot of what I do now. We were interviewing the locals and gathering intel on the areas in which we patrolled. It sucked. But again, if you have the right team, things go smoother. Being enlisted had its benefits and it was also detrimental. You obviously don’t have enough power and you’re not in charge for the most part. I mean as a lieutenant and a captain you don’t get as much respect from SNCOs generally. I did though because I knew my stuff. I didn’t worry.”

“But you’re still shuffling papers…sometimes….” Yawquisha observed.

“Sometimes.” Kim pulled into the vacant lot where uniforms had placed yellow tape around another body.

Yawquisha decided not to video the scene.

“Where’s your stuff?” Kim questioned.

“I’m just going to let this one go.”

“Why’s that?”

“I know him.”

Yawquisha and Kim remained silent in the car ride to the station. Upon reaching the interview room, Yawquisha asked just for some water.

“How did you know Rayquis Berenger?” Kim asked Yawquisha.

“He was my cousin. On my dad’s side.”

“How long did you know he wanted to be a rapper?”

“He’s been rapping since he was eight and then stopped. He obviously started again.”

“He was an up-and-comer on the scene. You seem to not have had too much contact with each other. When was the last time you saw him alive?”

“I think it was his dad’s funeral about ten years ago. That’s the last time we even talked. We didn’t even share stuff online.”

“No social media?”

“No.”

“But you knew he was part of this QR Code ring?”

“I didn’t have a clue about it. I knew that he flirted with signing with a label. At the funeral, he even rapped the obituary. He was talented but whoever wanted him to die obviously knew that he was going to blow up. I would have been a supporter given his talent. Regardless of family.”

“Yawquisha, I am sorry that this has happened to a loved one.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Hell, you didn’t kill him.”

Kim chuckled lightly. “I’m glad you’re able to keep such composure. It must be the Objectivist in you.”

“So you’ve been looking up on Ayn Rand?”

“A little here and there. I found that you don’t look forward to events like this. This is an anomaly to life. It’s not endless euphoria and neither is it a hall of horrors.”

“You’ve read quite a bit.”

“I just got that from the Internet but picked up We the Living and Anthem. What should I read first?”

“That’s up to you.”

“Okay. Again, my condolences to you and your family. I’m going to fight especially harder in these cases. You can pick up your camera whenever you feel comfortable.”

“Thank you, Kim. I know it’s from a place of sincerity.”