Any way to do the Riften Skooma dealer questline without stealing?

[cgoose500]

Everything inside the warehouse you kill Sarthis in is marked as "steal", including the item you need to progress the quest.
I just really don't want to do crimes with my current character.

[Madao]

you don't need to steal anything.
you kill Sarthis, loot his key, open the one locked door and read the note.

[Bonus!]

Originally posted by Madao:

you don't need to steal anything.
you kill Sarthis, loot his key, open the one locked door and read the note.

why steal when you can just murder

[Nabinkemper]

Since you are commissioned to take out Sarthis and find evidence related to the Skooma distribution from the Jarl, you are technically working as a Marshall and functioning under law. The note is the only thing you need to show the Jarl. Everything else can be left as it is.