"You spoke to Leon?"
Rebecca handed a glass of water to Claire, who was seated on the sofa.
"Yeah. After we finally heard from Chris that the two of you were okay, I thought we should let him know." Rebecca sat on the other end of the sofa, pulling a pillow onto her lap. She clutched it with both arms, casting a glance at the door.
"How is he? Claire asked, not waiting for an answer. "How's Sherry? Are they all right? Do you know where they are? She was practically tripping over her words; all traces of sleepiness now having disappeared. Rebecca smiled at her excitement.
"They're both fine, although he was half-crazy with worry over you" she added. "He said to tell you that Sherry is safe and misses you terribly--"
"He didn't tell her about what happened to me, did he? Claire interrupted.
"No. He told her you had to keep a low profile while you searched for Chris and that's why you hadn't been in touch" Rebecca assured her.
I didn't even know where they were," Claire said, sadly. "All I had was an e-mail address. Thank God I did, otherwise I would never have reached Leon and Chris wouldn't have had any idea where I was." Rebecca nodded in understanding.
"That's how Jill and Barry found out where Chris went. They found the message he sent on Chris' computer." Rebecca reached over and put a hand on Claire's arm. "Leon told me to tell you that he misses you, too and can't wait to see you."
"Where is he, anyway?" Claire questioned. Rebecca was about to answer when the door suddenly burst open, making them both jump.
"I need to see it, Barry. Something's really wrong, here." Jill entered the cabin, followed by Barry and Chris. She walked swiftly to the table near the corner and opened up the laptop that sat there. She began to type. "Where do I find it?" she asked, her voice tight with anxiety.
"I saved it" Barry responded, reaching over to point at the screen. "Just click here." Claire stood up and headed towards the table.
"What's going on?" she asked. Jill sat and stared at the screen, transfixed by what she saw.
"There was something in the news about Jill's father" Chris answered, moving to stand behind Jill so he could look over her shoulder. They were both silent as they read the article.
AP - Illinois
Officials from the Leominster County House of Corrections in Westfield confirmed the escape of a prisoner from the medium security prison on Tuesday afternoon. Richard T. Valentine, currently serving a 25-year sentence for Grand Larceny, was to be transferred to another facility by several uniformed police officers. According to prison officials, he never arrived at his destination. Leominster County Warden, Edward Tyler, immediately notified local and state authorities. Prison officials discovered on Tuesday evening that the documentation for the transfer was, in fact, a forgery. A statewide manhunt is now underway for Valentine, along with the individuals who engineered his escape. A source close to the investigation confirmed that authorities are looking into a possible connection between Valentine's escape and the disappearance of his daughter. Gillian Valentine, a police officer in Raccoon City, Oregon, has been missing since the horrible environmental accident, which decimated that city in August of last year. Westfield police would not comment on this part of the investigation, but are requesting anyone with information to please contact them.
"I don't believe it" Jill said, softly. "I should have known they'd find a way to get to him." Chris rested his hands on her shoulders, squeezing firmly.
"Jill, we don't know--"
"Bullshit!" Jill stood up suddenly, shrugging Chris' hands off as she spun around to face him. "We know exactly who's responsible for this!" Jill shouted, her body shaking with rage. Claire walked over to the table to look at the computer screen. She quickly read the story, eyes widening in surprise. Chris went to Jill and gripped her by the arms.
"I'm sure he's okay," he said, soothingly. He hoped it sounded convincing.
"Umbrella."
Everyone looked at Claire, who was still bent over the laptop. Her dark blue eyes locked on Jill's brown ones, holding her gaze for a moment.
"Excuse me." Jill pulled away from Chris and headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
"Goddammit", Barry muttered, "When I first read it I was hoping there was another explanation. Maybe he had a few friends that set it up, something like that. But, in my gut, I knew."
"Why now?" Rebecca interjected. "It's been a long time since she left Raccoon City. They don't even know where she is. It doesn't make any sense."
"They're trying to flush her out." Chris said, simply.
"They know they've got some leverage" Barry confirmed, "…a bargaining chip. That's why our families are in hiding, Rebecca. Your parents, my wife and kids. Poor Jill didn't have any way to protect her father. She just had to hope he'd be safe from them in prison. But, in reality, he was a sitting duck." Rebecca folded her arms across her chest and began to pace. Chris ran a hand through his hair and cast a glance at the bathroom door.
"The question now is, what are we gonna do about it?"
***
Jill splashed some cold water on her face and picked her head up, looking in the mirror. Hearing Claire utter that name had made her stomach lurch. Nothing in her life ever had the power to strike a chord of fear in her as much as that one, single word.
'Umbrella'
It was almost primal. A nightmare realized, brought to life in one simple word, and that word meant 'Monster'. That's what it was to her now. A living entity made up of thousands of people willing to offer up the sacrifice of human lives in their quest for power. And now that monster had her father. He was nothing to them, except a means to an end…her end. She would have to do whatever it took to save him. This was her fight, not his, and she was not about to sacrifice his life for her own.
***
"How could they be sure she'd even find out?" Rebecca wondered. "She hasn't contacted Dick in months."
"With good reason", Barry added.
"I guess they figured she'd find out sooner or later", Chris reasoned. "They just had to wait her out." He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "Now, they have her right where they want her." The bathroom door opened and Chris straightened up as Jill emerged. Rebecca eyed her friend with concern.
"Are you okay?" she asked. Jill managed a weak smile.
"I've been better." Rebecca placed a hand across her forehead, as if trying to detect a fever.
"Sorry", she muttered. "Stupid question." Barry looked at her with sympathy before turning his attention to Jill.
"We'll figure something out", he stated. Jill walked to the table, seating herself at the computer, once again.
"I may already have." She began to point and click her way through several screens. Suddenly, she stopped and leaned back rubbing her face with her hands. Her friends all gathered around, seeing what she had been searching for. The tension in the room was palpable.
"Umbrella's website?" Claire queried. "You think there might be something there?" Jill sat forward, continuing to search the menus, leaving the younger woman's questions unanswered. She looked over the list of categories,
deciding to start at the top. Selecting an option required a click on the Umbrella logo, a symbol they all hated. She tried 'Business Affiliates' first. A list of subsidiaries was displayed.
Click back.
The next option was 'Career Opportunities'. She found nothing there.
Click back.
The third option on the list was ' Sales Promotions'. She clicked on the logo, beginning to think that maybe there was nothing to find. The next page displayed…
…and Jill's heart stopped.
There on the screen, in large red letters, were three words:
'Valentine's Day Promotions'
"Jesus Christ", Chris breathed. Jill willed her shaking hand to respond. Slowly, she moved the cursor and clicked on the icon…a little red heart. There was a phone number, along with a short message:
'Call for details'
Jill got up and rushed to where her coat lay, draped across the back of a chair. She quickly rifled through the pockets and retrieved her cell phone. Barry intercepted her as she hurried back to the desk.
"Whoa, Jill" he started, holding his palm out in front of her like a traffic cop. "You can't just call them." Jill held the phone up to his face.
"It has a scrambled signal, Barry", she explained. "They won't be able to trace it, you know that." Barry's face showed a look of surprise.
"That's not what I meant", he corrected. "We need to think this out before we make a move."
"I don't need to think about this, Barry. He's my father for God's sake." Her deep brown eyes glistened with unshed tears as her voice lowered to a whisper. "They'll kill him…or worse, and I can't let that happen. I won't."
"Jill, he's right." Chris came around the table to stand next to Barry. "We need to talk about this, first." Jill's cheeks flushed as the anger she was trying to hold back began to bubble up to the surface.
"This coming from you, Chris, of all people!" Jill retorted. "You didn't bother to talk to any of us before you ran off to save your sister, did you?" She pointed her finger at Barry, "And your family is safe and sound, aren't they? Rebecca's family, too, right?" She stepped between Barry and Chris, moving swiftly to the table. "I will do whatever it takes to save my family…just like the rest of you would." With that, she dialed the number, closing her eyes as she tried to swallow a lump in her throat. She wanted her voice to sound steady. After two rings, a voice answered.
"Yes?" A female voice, Jill noted.
"This is Jill Valentine", she announced.
"One moment." Jill heard several clicks, knowing with the utmost certainty that Umbrella was trying to trace the call.
"Hello, Officer Valentine." A male voice now greeted her. He sounded almost pleasant. Jill wanted to strangle him.
"Is he alright?" She new the question was a pointless one, but she had to ask it.
"For now." The threat was loud and clear.
"What do you want?" She opened her eyes to look at Chris. His gaze was intense, no doubt a mirror of her own.
"A simple trade" The voice responded in a reasonable tone. "You, for him."
Jill said a silent prayer to herself. She could do this. She had to.
"Do we have a deal?" The voice asked, calmly. Jill scanned the faces of her friends and teammates. They would have to go along with her decision.
"Yes" she answered, adding "But, I choose the time and place…or no deal."
"Agreed."
"I'll get back to you shortly." She hit a button and ended the call. Chris' face was hard as stone.
"You can't." It was a plea.
"I don't have any choice."
Boy, that chapter seemed a bit long to me, mostly dialogue. Anyway, the next chapter should have some action…I know, I know…finally!