A few days had passed without incident, but Cass wasn't sure if she should feel relaxed or alarmed. The chief hadn't acted any different toward her. In fact, he mostly just kept to himself. While she felt like she should be wary of this new attitude, it was difficult to keep on guard when everyone else at the station had grown more relaxed. Keeping herself on high alert but trying to look as calm and collected as everyone else around her was starting to become exhausting.

Standing out as the lone nervous wreck wouldn't do her any favors, especially when she was trying to do research without anyone knowing. Trying to find a reliable reporter who wouldn't take her information straight to the chief was easier said than done. She couldn't risk the chief knowing that she knew, and even if she could find one, it would be hard to get information to the reporter without someone finding out. Reporters were currently kept outside the station. The chief had told the mayor that they were too distracting and that the officers needed to be able to concentrate on doing their best to stop the disappearances.

Cass assumed the chief had people keeping an eye out at the local news stations as well. Especially the ones where his least favorite reporters worked, which were the ones Cass most wanted to speak to. No doubt the chief also had people watching outside the station too. Making sure no one really knew just how many disappearances there were now.

Clutching the files carefully in one hand, she used her other hand to check her pocket. The paper was still there. She had the information written on a small piece of paper in invisible ink. That way if it fell out, someone would most likely just think it was a piece of trash and throw it away. An opportunity could come anytime, and she wanted to be ready. No… she needed to be ready. Thoughts of those poor children kept her up at night. Whatever had happened to them… they deserved justice.

Cass let out a restless sigh as she began walking back up the stairs. There was one reporter she'd had in mind, but she doubted he'd be hanging around here. Ben wasn't even allowed near the building without an escort. Clearly, the chief viewed him as a threat but not enough to have him "taken care of." Or perhaps if something happened to Ben, the chief knew he'd be a suspect.

"Miss Walker, is something wrong?" the captain asked from behind her, nearly causing her to drop the files. She hadn't even heard the door open.

"Ah, no, sir," Cass replied quickly, shuffling the files to keep them from falling. "Just thinking about the test coming up for the qualification… a little nervous is all."

Captain Wesker started walking up the stairs towards her with a small smile. Her grip tightened on the paperwork, but she gave him a sheepish smile before continuing up the stairs. She wanted to tell him the whole truth, especially since the captain was already investigating the chief, but she had no idea who could be listening in on their conversation. Chris overhearing would be a disaster. If she could talk to the captain alone somewhere, she could tell him, but that would be distinctly difficult.

"Nothing for you to be nervous about. I'm sure you'll do just fine, but… if you would like a private training session, I'd be more than willing to assist you."

"Are you sure?!" Cass blurted out before blushing at her outburst. "You have a lot on your plate. I wouldn't want to bother you."

"You would be no bother at all," the captain replied with a cool confidence and gave her a smile. "I have confidence that you won't need much training anyway."

"Thank you, sir! I'd appreciate it," she replied excitedly as the captain held the door open for her.

"You are very welcome. I will have to get back to you with a time and place. Unfortunately, my calendar is chaotic at this time… but you understand."

"Yes, sir. I understand," Cass said as she stepped out into the hallway. She could barely believe her luck.

"Captain Wesker!" Chief Irons called out from the doorway to his office. "The mayor would like a report from us, and, Miss Walker, would you kindly escort Mr. Bertolucci outside? He seems to have forgotten that he isn't allowed in here, even with the mayor's daughter… Ms. Warren, you're more than welcome to wait in the hall or downstairs if you prefer."

The chief was doing his best to pretend he didn't want to strangle Ben, but Cass could see a vein in the side of his head. Ben gave the chief a disgruntled look in return but said nothing.

"No," Ms. Warren said and looked to Ben with a meaningful look. "I don't mind waiting outside with Ben."

The chief quickly hid his irritation with a plastered-on smile and walked back into his office without another word. Cass felt a hand on her shoulder as the captain walked by.

"Thank you, Cass. I'll find out soon," Captain Wesker said in a low voice before following the chief into the office and closing the door softly behind him.

Cass took a moment to prepare herself before turning back to Ben and Ms. Warren. She gave them a curt smile and said politely, "The exit is this way. Please follow me."

"I know the exit very well," Ben snapped before Ms. Warren put her hand lightly on his arm.

"Then you should be able to follow me quickly," Cass replied bluntly.

Ben made an irritated noise but followed behind her. As they followed Cass down the hallway, her mind raced as she tried to find a good place to pass him the note. Officers walked about the precinct, making that an impossibility. She'd have to wait until they were outside and hope no one noticed or cared. Holding the files with one hand, she used her other hand to fold the piece of paper into a smaller shape.

"You're the one who shot the dogs, right? The one from animal control?"

Cass glared at Ben as Ms. Warren also looked at him with irritation. She kept walking. Getting him out of the precinct was a great idea even if she couldn't figure out how to pass him the note.

"Sorry. Probably could have phrased that better. So you know how bad this situation is… and it's getting worse every day. More people going missing… and your chief! He's just going to mutter some lies with that sidekick of his, and the mayor will believe him."

Cass stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. "Sidekick? Please tell me that you aren't referring to the captain in that manner. The S.T.A.R.S. team has been working around the clock to keep people safe. You may not like the chief, and that's fine by me. But don't you dare talk about the captain or any of the team that way. Especially not in front of me. You got that, Mr. Bertolucci?"

Ben looked like he had a retort, but Ms. Warren brutally elbowed him with a smile.

"I'm sorry about that," she said, and Cass calmed down. "He doesn't mean to be that way… he just wants to make sure everything that can be done is being done."

Cass turned and led them down the stairway in the main lobby before opening the door for them. Ben had, thankfully and finally, shut up. With a final glance to check if anyone was watching, Cass followed them out the door. Ben gave her a curious look when she held out her hand. Catching the hint, he gave her a handshake, and Cass slipped the note into his hand.

"I'd appreciate it if you would keep out of here. We're doing our best with what we're given… and so should you."

Ben stealthily pocketed the note and couldn't suppress a smile. "Nice to meet you… Miss Walker, was it?"

Cass nodded before she turned to walk back inside the building. Her heart beat in her chest as she tried to look around without being obvious. This was either her luckiest day or the start of her unluckiest one. No one had seemed to notice or care that she'd even been outside. Even the guard at the front was reading a magazine. No wonder Ben had gotten inside the station. Cass felt a small twinge of pity for the guard. Once the mayor left, no doubt there would be hell to pay.

With a spring in her step, she skipped up the stairs towards the S.T.A.R.S. office. She could at least sleep tonight knowing that she had passed along what she'd overheard. She could tell the captain at their training session together. Everything was starting to look less hopeless. Now her only worry was whether Ben knew how to reveal invisible ink.