Chapter 7
Albert Wesker sauntered into the RPD in the early hours of a Tuesday morning, a much rested man. Also, one who had at least twenty new reports on his desk concerning battery, assaults, identity theft, and prostitution charges. The later would go to Chris. He had half expected to see a suspension notice on his desk from Iron's secretary but it never came. Irons didn't have the balls to rid himself of Wesker. The Captain did everything Irons hated and didn't want to do... which literally meant everything. While Wesker was organizing teams, being forced to go to charity events, budgeting the RPD with what little they had, Irons was out buying stuffed tigers and hiring hookers.
--
"That chick is back again.." Joseph murmured by the copier to Jill. You know... the girl."
"What are you talking ab-"
The same brown haired, slim framed teenager walked around the perimeter of the STARS office where as she reached the Captain's door. It was opened just in time for her to enter. And be shut.
"She doesn't even ASK anymore." Frost muttered.
"Joseph. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation."
"Yeah. ok. You know what happened the last time you said that? The sandwich call."
Jill couldn't help but almost spit out her three musketeer's bar all over her desk. The sandwich incident. Still funny.
"Hey Chris. Why so glum?" Barry asked.
Chris did indeed look troubled.
"Chris?"
"huh?"
"what's wrong with you? You look like you just saw some puppies being kicked."
"Oh, it's nothing. Just.. it's early."
"You need a new watch, man." Frost said simply.
"Hey, is the Captain in today?"
"Oh, IS HE." Frost said.
"Chris, could you grab my stapler for me? Yeah. Right there."
"OW! What was that for!"
"For being jerk." Jill said.
Wesker's door opened, letting out the Captain and the young girl who approached them all as they stared shamelessly.
"I'd like to introduce you all to Rebecca Chambers. She's going to be training with Alpha temporarily, as a Medic. She'll be filling McCarthy's old position. She's fairly new to the RPD so I'd like one of you to direct her around the station."
There was silence for a good 3 seconds.
"You can count on me Captain." Frost spoke up smiling.
"Jill, would you mind?"
"Not at all, Sir."
"Good. All your paperwork is in order. Suit up before you proceed. You shouldn't be in here without your gear."
"Yes, Sir! Sorry!"
"No apologies." he said and walked away, back from where he came.
"What does he DO in there, all day?" Joseph said glumly.
"Come on Rebecca. I'll show you around." Jill said with a smile and put an arm around the girl in a reassuring manner. Chris looked towards the door.
--
It was still early in the morning and he seemed to already have his hands full. Wesker opened his laptop and began. After he left for the evening, he would track down that son of a bitch, Timothy Donetsk, and shoot out his knee caps. Or cut his brakes. He was still debating between the two when a knock came at his door.
"Captain?"
"Chris. How are you."
"I was wondering if I could talk with you about something."
"What's on your mind?"
Chris closed the door behind him, to the Captain's office. Then Wesker knew it had to be serious... to Chris.
"Wesker... i found something that i think you should be aware of."
"Out with it, Redfield."
He handed the Captain, a piece of paper where he read it diligently. His forehead suddenly furrowed. Chris sat down, his hands pressed tightly over his knees. His knuckles white.
"I don't like being a rat sir.. but Irons is a -"
"I know full well, what Irons has done, Chris."
The face of the STARS point man, elongated with shock.
"You knew? Why haven't you done anything!"
"As in the article you found, there is little incriminating evidence against him. In court and in this city, it would be thrown out immediately. You know this. The man is a lunatic, but he's untouchable."
"That's not true!" Chris suddenly yelled, standing to his feet.
"Calm yourself, Chris."
Wesker, unfortunately couldn't touch Irons. He was the tainted civilian. The useless link between all of Umbrellas mishaps and Raccoon City. For once, he and Chris might have hated someone equally as much.
Chris sat down after a moment of observing Wesker's coolness. He felt out of place.
"I've done all I can to box Irons in, but there's only so much that can be done."
"Like what?" Chris said smugly.
Wesker paused.. seemingly to be having some difficulty deciding.
"Before you transferred here, Jill Valentine was one of the first I hand picked for this team. Her qualifications were conveniently adequate."
"What are you saying.." Chris asked.
"There have been several sexual harassment charges submitted in this Precinct over the course of 5 years, Chris. Each one, has fallen through. All have indicated Irons. I've done my best to ensure they do not ...resurface, without my knowledge."
There was a silence that fell between them for a moment.
"Oh." Chris said, turning a deep shade of red. Chris felt like a fool. Here he was accusing the Captain of looking away, when in fact, he was protecting one of the finest people he had ever worked with...ever KNOWN for that matter.
He had moved Jill to STARS to ensure she was away from the Chief's lecherous paws..
... and Chris knew that the safest place in this precinct, was under Albert Wesker.
"I... don't know what to say sir... Is there anything at all we can do?"
"I've been looking into evidence in my spare time here at the RPD, but nothing so far."
Chris nodded, in a daze. He stood up and Wesker held out the article for him to grab.
"It won't be long, though." The Captain said. "A man like that never does last long."
"...Thanks.. Captain... and.. I'm sorry about.. before."
"It's understandable." he said and went back to his laptop.
"I almost forgot." Chris said turning back in. Wesker arched an eyebrow.
"There's a woman here to see you. She says she's a journalist."
"Send her in."
--
Ada Wong was sitting outside on a bench in the lobby. Until a dark haired man in a STARS uniform led her to a corner office with massive half frosted, glass windows and a heavy door. When the door opened, she found herself in the same room, alone with her man of mystery.
He looked up and seeing who it was, took off his sunglasses and stood. Ada was already making notes in her mind.' proper'
"Good morning." he said in plain.
"Good Morning. Captain Wesker, I presume?"
"Correct."
"My name is Miss Ahn, I'm a journalist with Raccoon Daily News. I was wondering If i could have a moment of your time?"
"I'm quite busy this morning, Miss Ahn."
"I understand that. But I was wondering if you would just answer a few questions concerning STARS and the RPD? It won't take long and as i can tell, STARS could use some good publicity."
Wesker stared at her in silence for a moment.
"Alright." he said in plain, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. She sat, but he remained standing with his arms crossed.
'He's on guard.." she thought to herself.
"How long has STARS been around?"
"3 years now."
"And you founded it?"
"I did. The RPD was not well equipped for threats that were more than a single SWAT team could handle. Raccoon City needed a response that was a guarantee. STARS is that response."
"You seem pretty confident about your team, Captain."
He looked at her, unfolding his arms and walked over to the desk, now sitting on it.
'Good.' she thought.
"STARS is the best there is, Miss Ahn. We have adopted ex-military and the best SWAT has to offer, with training that is unfound anywhere on the east coast."
She smiled and laid back in her chair.
"And by we, you mean, you."
He tilted his head in the slightest.
She had peaked his interest.
A clamor came from outside which made the Captain stand immediately. There was an intolerable yelling coming from outside the door.
"I said stop! Stop where you are! Someone get that guy!" a man was screaming. The Captain was the first one out the door as a mad man had somehow barged through security and began ranting and raving violently, outside the hall. He was foaming at the mouth, his eyes wild. He was waving a gun in the air.
"Freeze where you are!" Three cops had their guns drawn but the man seemed to not care. He immediately turned to run from the coming gunfire, when a rather tall man stepped in front of his path just as he turned.
CRACK.
The drunkard fell to the floor, unconscious.
The Captain shook his hand for a moment and then looked to the surrounding men.
Three cops leaped onto the assailant and cuffed him.
"How the hell did he get in here?" he roared. No one dared answer. He rarely lost his temper but the level of incompetency of the RPD seemed to be heightening as of late. None of them wanted to shoot because they didn't want to deal with the paperwork.
In his frustration he turned and went back to his office where the Journalist was respectfully waiting.
He looked at her crossly but she continued to smile.
"It seems you have enough on your hands at the moment." she said, sitting up.
She reached into her purse and handed him a card which he took. It simply had a number on it.
"Let me know if you think of anything else, Captain."
She turned and smoothly slid through the crowd of cops in the doorway.
Wesker was beginning to think his week could not become any worse.
That woman... was anything but a journalist.