For at least a single week her life had returned to normal. It took a few harsh words to knock some sense into Aria, and though her marriage to Albert was at the moment strained, she felt better; not as paranoid as before, but at least her mind was clearer.
Aria had put away the notes she made, storing them in a shoe box in her closet. She wasn't ready to throw them away yet but having them out of reach eased her. To show her dedication, she opted to keep the internet turned off; the library was always an option if she seriously needed it.
At least she was trying. Life was out to test her, however.
On her fourth day back at work, another DOA patient was wheeled in; an animal attack – go figure. Aria had been on break, so she allowed Kathy to assist Ethan with the body. She didn't want to look at it or know who it used to be. It was easier this way and Ethan didn't seem to mind.
Her anxiety was at an all-time high, but once her shift was over, Aria returned home and took a shower. Not knowing had saved her the misery.
Ignorance is bliss, she reminded herself as she got into her car after her recent shift at the hospital.
It had been a long and boring night, but Aria was thankful.
She opened her purse and took out her phone, checking her recent messages. Albert called at her usual break time; Aria ignored it. But one message from her brother-in-law made her raise a brow and then snort.
Bring better coffee, it read.
Aria turned up her eyes and started her Audi. A mom-and-pops coffee shop was on the way, so once she left the hospital parking lot she turned on Mission Street and headed toward the shop.
It had been a while since she had been on a coffee run for the S.T.A.R.S. members, but Aria easily remembered their orders. Once she had them, she drove to the station and parked in the garage, heading to the front door.
The same dark-haired receptionist Aria had met before greeted her.
"Are you here to see Captain Wesker again?" She asked.
"No," Aria answered as she signed in. "And I remember the way."
The receptionist tossed her a pass and Aria hooked it onto her uniform. She held the drink trays close and walked down the hall towards the stairs. At least she made it to the second floor without drawing the attention of Chief Irons this time. Knocking on the door to the S.T.A.R.S. with her elbow, Aria waited for someone to answer.
That someone was Brad.
He grinned as he saw her and moved aside for Aria to walk in.
"You made it just in time. Barry without his morning coffee is not a person you want to cross," he mentioned.
"He's just a big softie," Aria retorted with a snort.
She walked further in, spotting the Alpha team at their desks, but not the Bravos.
"Where is Rebecca?" Aria asked.
Brad hummed.
"Around I reckon. Enrico probably has them in the firing range."
Shame. Rebecca was going to miss out.
"It's about damn time," Barry stated.
Aria rolled her eyes. He's lucky she even came.
"He means thank you," Chris remarked with a grin.
"I know that I said," Barry mentioned, standing. He walked over and took his drink from the tray, humming as he took in the heavy scent.
Aria gave Chris and Brad their drinks, then sat the extra tray on the desk beside Jill. Each of the names of the Bravo teams was written on the cups.
"I would have let him suffer," Jill mentioned, taking her own and setting it on her desk.
Aria grinned.
"I can't imagine how you all deal with him every day. I have to see him during the holidays, or Moira and Polly's birthdays, and in that short timeframe I want to squeeze him until his head pops off."
Barry gave Chris a heated look as the latter snorted.
"Yeah, or you can stop coming over," he retorted, sharp as a whip.
"And miss your loving face. I would never do that," Aria bit back.
Barry shook his head and ignored her. If not for the fact that he asked her to come by or that she was his sister-in-law, then he'd ignore her.
As much as Aria loved annoying him, she had someone else to see. She picked up the cup with Albert's name on it and walked over to his office door, knocking. Before she went inside, she took a deep breath.
Albert glanced up from his computer screen and hummed. He thought he heard Aria's voice.
"Barry messaged me," she mentioned. "I was about to go home."
She walked over to his desk and sat the cup down.
"You have minutes? I called you on your break."
"I missed it," Aria lied.
Clearing her throat, she motioned towards the door.
"I'm going to go. Last night wore me out, and I'm ready to crash."
What else was there to say? Speaking with Albert was so awkward since their argument. Aria thought it would be easy to bounce back from considering the fact it was their first, but it wasn't. She didn't want to admit that he was right; she already accepted the fact she was paranoid. Wasn't that enough?
As she turned around, his sudden question stopped her.
"Are you alright?"
Was she? Aria took an uneasy breath and hummed.
"I'm getting there."
At least she hoped.
"I'll see you at home," Aria mentioned.
She left the office and walked to the other door.
"Aria," Jill called to her.
She left her desk and reached down, putting something in her hand.
"I got in touch with that person you asked me about. I don't know the reason you want to talk with him, but he posts a lot of strange things involving Umbrella, mostly accusations. Please be careful," she mentioned beneath her breath.
Aria hummed. It wasn't Bertolucci she had been wanting to speak with. And honestly, she forgot about asking Jill to look into him.
"I promise," Aria retorted.
She wanted to assure Jill that her reasons for wanting to speak with Ben were of mild interest, but she couldn't. Instead, she said nothing.
"But please don't mention this to anyone, not even Albert."
Jill frowned. What was Aria up to? Despite her worry, she nodded.
Aria thanked her and slipped out into the hall, raising her hand. Jill had given her a piece of paper with an out-of-town number on it.
ASAP was written below it.
Ben obviously had something to share with her. Aria had a bad feeling.
Fuck! She swore to ignore her paranoia. Shoving the paper into her pocket she thought about what Albert had told her. She was sick.
She took an uneasy breath and made herself swear that she wouldn't call him.
The temptation was hard to pass up. Was someone covering up the murders with false news of animal attacks? And why? What could be killing people in Raccoon City that the citizens didn't need to know about?
Was Umbrella behind it?
"No! Stop this," Aria uttered. "Go home and go to bed. Don't do this to yourself again."
She needed to shut down her brain. For her sake, ignorance is bliss.