Aria didn't want to go home once she got into her car a little after seven this morning. She was too scared to be alone and far too tired to stay awake, cowering beneath her blankets in an empty home as she worried about being mauled to death in her sleep.
Even though none of the murders had occurred indoors, and despite Albert assuring her that she'd be fine nestled away in their home under lock and key, she was still too scared to go home. Aria didn't want to let her guard down, not when the murders occurred close to home. That sort of ignorance horrified her the most.
How could anyone sleep soundly knowing a person in the same community was dead? Murdered, no less.
Aria frowned and gripped the steering wheel.
Poor Mr. Webster.
Her heart went out to her.
His death shook her. Dr. Hersh called it at a quarter till five this morning, though he passed on before the EMTs arrived at his home on Wallace Street. His carotid artery had a puncture; his spine broken, causing him to bleed out in minutes during the alleged onslaught.
His wife passed years ago from leukemia, so Aria had to leave a voice message with his son, who lived in Washington, according to his address. In a soothing voice too unreal for a woman who just witnessed a horrific murder, Aria informed him to contact the Hospital Director once he heard it. Still, she doubted that Mr. Webster's son would get the message until much later, given the time zone.
An EMT that brought him in reported that a neighbor from across the street saw Mr. Webster get attacked by a black dog near the edge of the forest; several large chunks were missing from his upper body, unlike any canine attack Aria had ever heard of before. What was he doing near the woods in the middle of the night? And what drove the animal to attack him?
Perhaps the beast was starving. Why else would it eat him?
Aria shivered in fear.
She tore from the parking lot in her Audi and turned onto Mission Street, heading towards Central down to Ennerdale, where the police department sat; the prominent structure before 1969 was an art museum bought out by the RPD.
Aria transferred to Raccoon General in 1992 after its construction, coming from Stone Ville, a town northwest of the city, but she knew its history, despite how expansive Raccoon had grown during her time from home; the city continued to grow even now thanks to Umbrella Pharmaceuticals, and the company's investments.
Parking her car, she strode from the underground garage to the department's entrance, slowing her rushed pace once she entered the reception area to the right of the main hall.
She noticed a woman with dark hair that she had never seen before occupying the reception desk. As she approached, the woman glanced up from her computer in boredom.
"What can I help you with, ma'am?"
Aria cleared her throat. "I came to see Albert Wesker."
The woman typed something into her computer and hummed, then tossed a laminated pass onto the counter; Aria hooked it onto the pocket of her scrub top.
"The S.T.A.R.S. office is up the stairs at the far end of the hall," she explained in a dead tone. "Be sure to sign in before you go."
Aria did as she instructed, then stormed down the hall, turning the corner near the entrance to the west office. As she neared the stairs, she came across Barry Burton at the vending machine, recognizing his hideous red vest.
"Isn't it too early for a break?"
Barry turned in shock, staring at her. Once he recognized who Aira was, he narrowed his eyes.
"I'm surprised that Wesker let you off the leash today," he teased.
Aria snorted and rolled her eyes. Barry was uneasy about her marriage to Albert, mainly because she married him a year after meeting him. She hadn't even had a honeymoon yet, but that didn't matter; she loved Albert.
He was quiet and somewhat arrogant when prompted, but he never treated Aria like she was inferior to him. Albert kept her together.
Barry didn't understand. Not to mention he wanted to set her up with Chris – his good friend – despite the eleven-year age gap.
"Behave," Aria teased. "I don't want to tell Kathy that you've been eating junk food when you're not supposed to."
Barry grunted. "I said nothing."
She thought so. Her older sister was a force to be reckoned with, and he knew it.
"What are you doing here, Aria?"
She frowned, recalling the events of this morning.
"I want to see Albert is all," she explained.
Barry sighed, bending with a grunt to pick his candy bar up from the exit slot.
"You might want to wait," he suggested. "Irons is up there bitching to him about something. He sent the entire unit out."
Aria puckered a brow. "Is everything alright?"
It was none of her business, but she wondered if the meeting with Irons had anything to do with the murder on Wallace Street. But why involve the S.T.A.R.S. unit? The murders were not a product of antiterrorism or urban crime and were more suited towards the cases the Patrol Division officers oversaw.
Perhaps she was overthinking it.
"As far as I know," Barry answered back.
Aria hoped so. She said her farewells, deciding to wait near the S.T.A.R.S office, but as she began to climb the stairs, she had an idea and peeked over the railing to call out to Barry down below.
"Do you think Kathy and the girls would like to visit the zoo Friday?"
Barry hummed. "I don't see why not. I'll ask them tonight."
Aria thanked him and continued up the stairs to the second floor. She rested on the bench next to the office door and waited for Irons to leave.
Once he appeared, storming out into the hall as he uttered beneath his breath Aria stood and greeted him.
"It's good to see you again," she mentioned with a fake smile.
Irons grinned, looking her over. "The pleasure is mine. How are things over at the hospital?"
"Fine," she answered back.
He reached forward and gently touched her shoulder. "Ethan called me already. I heard about the man who died this morning, but I don't want you to fret, Aria. I'll take care of it."
"I appreciate that, sir. Thank you," she stated.
Albert must have known as well.
Easing over, Aria grabbed the knob and opened the office door.
"Try and get some sleep, Aria. You look tired," Irons mentioned.
She nodded and slid inside, closing the door behind her.
His kindness was innocent, but at times it freaked her out.
Aria sighed and strolled further into the room. Albert had his own office immediately to the left after coming into the primary office; she entered once she knocked on the door.
He puckered a brow.
"Aria, what are you doing here?"
He seemed to be in an irritated mood.
"I came to see you," she answered back. "But I can leave if it's not a good time."
Aria was referring to what Barry had said; about Irons grilling him.
Albert motioned her in; she looked desperate.
Aria shut the door behind her and strutted towards the desk, coming around the side of it.
"I guess you heard," she mentioned. "Mr. Webster – the widower on Wallace Street – was brought in this morning."
Albert hummed. "Brad mentioned that it was an animal attack."
"Another one near our street," Aria confirmed.
He puckered a brow, watching as she sat on the desktop. Her tired eyes stared down at him; Albert understood.
"Are you too scared to go home alone?"
She frowned. "I hate how you said that."
Like she could do nothing without him.
Aria sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She had a terrible headache brewing.
"That wasn't fair," she mentioned. "I'm just tired; forgive me."
Albert opened his desk drawer and tossed her a bottle of Diphenhydramine.
"These will put me in a coma," Aria joked.
He hummed. "Whatever makes you sleep easier."
"You being home will make me sleep," she countered.
That reminded her.
"Are you working this weekend?"
Albert nodded and stood up. "Something came up."
Of course, something came up.
"But I'm home Sunday," he added. "And we can catch up."
Aria grinned. At least she had one day alone with her.
"Please tell me what you want for Sunday, and I'll cook for you," she offered.
Albert grinned and motioned towards his seat. "I'll think of something. In the meantime, rest your eyes. I'll wake you before I leave."
Her face heated up. "Thank you."
How did he take her mind from one place to the next? It amazed her.
Aria hopped from the desk and embraced him. Her cheek rested against his chest.
"I'd be a mess without you," she said with a laugh.
Albert snorted and buried his fingers into her coarse blond hair, aware that she wasn't joking.
Aria was a feeble pet, after all.