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It's a cold evening on Stratt's Vat. The wind carries a strong breeze, casting a chill over the aircraft carrier. Stratt herself is off somewhere else, but Grace isn't concerned.
Well. Not about Stratt, at least.
As for the people in the room, however...
"It is less inheritance and more of simply- Taking their stuff once they cannot say anything, you know?" Ilyukhina grins at the group.
Yáo shakes his head. "I do not think so. If they have no one to collect their belongings, then you are the only person the items should go to, no?"
"Yáo is right," Shapiro nods along, glancing around their little circle. "If you murder someone without any family, their stuff automatically goes to you. Not legally, but still. It makes sense."
DuBois hums thoughtfully. "I believe it depends on the purpose of the murder. If you murder them for their belongings, and there is no one else their belongings would go to, then you should be the one to receive their belongings. However, if you're murdering them for some other reason, then their belongings have no reason to fall into your possession."
"You realize this isn't a hypothetical question you actually need to find an answer to unless you plan on murdering someone, right?" Grace cuts in, frowning as he looks at the others. "You're starting to scare me a little bit here, guys, I'll be honest."
"Do not be so boring, Dr. Grace! We are all friends here! It is fun discussion, that is all." Ilyukhina laughs, patting Grace on the back without warning. Her arm is thrown around his shoulder, and he laughs awkwardly, brushing it off gently. When she doesn't seem offended, he breathes out a quiet sigh of relief.
"What if they do have family? Like Mr. DuBois said, their family should get their stuff, right?" Steve asks from the door, where he'd been instructed to stay. He'd been listening in to the conversation.
"Maybe, but only if you did not kill them for their stuff." Ilyukhina shrugs. "But, it is more fun when you can collect a reward for your hard work, no?"
"Right, but if you take their belongings immediately, wouldn't people notice? It could be evidence." Shapiro points out.
"It is possible," Martin nods. "But it would only happen if they search your house, or see something on your body or in your car that would be suspicious, and the chances that they search you at all pertaining to the investigation are low unless you're already a suspect to begin with. Unless you're seen with a large collection of their belongings following their death, you should be fine."
"How about we just stop talking about murder in general?" Grace requests, suddenly feeling sick.
"Oh, alright, fine. Since Dr. Grace cannot stomach the idea of murder, we will table the discussion for a time that he is not here. Okay?" Ilyukhina sighs, looking around the group again. When they all nod their heads or voice their agreements, she hums.
"Okay, but, like- What if they only have a pet? What happens then?" Steve raises an eyebrow, looking almost sheepish as he asks his question.
Grace groans. This will never end.