Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the below piece of fiction, Capcom does.

Warning: Nothing

Authors Note: I'm back! I actually finished my last exam this morning, so I have a little while to sit back and breathe before school starts back up again. I think I did pretty well this term, though! Anyways, thanks for all being super supportive about the break and for respecting said need. Really, both my beta and I appreciate it! But, the next chapter is (finally) upon us! So go- read! Also, Happy Holidays~!

Chapter 34- Mysteries

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible. ~Oscar Wilde~

He hated having to ask her, especially after everything she said had been going on, but Mindy was their only hope of getting into the case.

When he had heard the news of the new bodies, he immediately called her up asking for a favour. He knew it was a lot to ask and he was going to try his hardest to make it up to her, but she was the only one who really had access to the files they needed.

Mindy, of course, said yes, but only after a few attempts at getting Chris to just sit back and wait to see if they were put on. She was, understandably, hesitant to steal the files from the RPD case room—after all, it was stealing from the police in a police station. But a few days after Chris had asked for the reports, she came to his office and dropped them discreetly in his top drawer while disguising her visit as a social one.

Chris was forever grateful for Mindy's willingness to help out, and was currently trying to think up ways to repay her while going over the coroner's report on the second body that was found by a group of three people, all while listening to Barry and Jill fight over the validity of death cult rumours.

"I'm just saying we shouldn't go on pure speculation—I mean, all of these rumours were started thanks to the press," Barry said as he entered the dining room from his kitchen.

When they got a hold of the files, they all went back to Barry's house and set it up as a base of operation. His was probably the safest, due to the fact that he had his own place with no nosey neighbours on either side that could listen into the conversation by simply pressing their ears against the wall.

Besides, his place had snacks.

"But I'm saying we should at least look into it—see if we can find any occult activity that surrounds killing people," Jill said, clutching her book of magics and the occult.

"Not just killing—eating as well," Chris said, reading over the bite marks found on the body. The coroner clearly stated that the bites were from a human—multiple humans, in fact. This led Chris to believe that the police were the ones preventing real information from getting out and not the coroners. This also chilled Chris to the bone.

No one was to be trusted now...

"Do you really think there are cults out there that eat people, Jill?" Brad asked as Barry sat back down and began to flip through a more recent folder, one with very little information in it. Mindy had only really been able to get information on the cases leading up to the recent house break in. Anything after that was still being worked on, and therefore a complete mystery to them.

"I don't know, but it's worth looking into it," Jill said, frowning. Putting his hands up in surrender, Barry shrugged and went back to flipping through the sheets in the folder.

Bringing his attention back to the reports as well, Chris re-read the report on the second body for the seventh time, trying to make sense of it all. The three people that found the girl had been going for a stroll through the woods, close to the city, when they noticed some red—later on they discovered it was the colour of the jacket the girl was wearing.

They approached what they thought was a collapsed woman and they came to see it was indeed a mutilated body. When they found her, she had been dead for about twelve hours, making her time of death around ten o'clock the night before.

She hadn't been too far in the woods, and it seemed as if she had only gone off the path by a few feet... as if she was trying to get a better look at something. There were scuffs in the dirt, and there had obviously been a struggle. The report noted that there was a tree root that was raised up, and chunks of bark had recently been removed... Perhaps she had tripped?

But if the murders were by the hands of people, how come there had been no arrests with so many dental impressions?

Shaking his head, Chris let out a frustrated sigh and closed the folder before passing it to Barry when he held his hand out for it. Trading it for the most recent case, Chris flipped it open and viewed the crime scene photos, pushing past any disgust. The first body was right by the door, as if they had gone to answer a knock and had been taken down quickly.

Then two others (the youngest— fifteen and seventeen) were found in their bedrooms, and the last (the mother of the family) was found in her bedroom but out of her bed, as if she had tried to fight back, to no avail.

The attackers moved quickly, but had little care for leaving things behind. It was as if they wanted to be caught, almost as if they were stuck in a mindless, vicious frenzy and all that mattered was the kill.

"Find anything?" Chris mumbled, flipping a sheet over before glancing up at Jill.

"Not really... Unless you want to know how to make a protection charm or which crystals out there are the best for healing and energy flow..."

"Where did you get that book anyways?" Barry asked, rubbing his eyes.

Flipping the page, Jill scanned it quickly before replying. "My boyfriend's sister is into this. I asked her about it, saying I was curious about the different forms of magic. I think she thinks I want to get into it or something."

Chris was honestly a little surprised to hear Jill talking about her boyfriend—last he heard she had been going through a rough patch with him... But perhaps a relationship could survive in this fucked up city of theirs.

"We need more," he finally admitted, defeat getting the better of his optimism. He had thought that by getting the files things would finally look up, that they could get something done.

But it just made all of them more curious and frustrated. The mystery was getting worse, and they didn't have all the clues to solve it. What they really needed was to be put on the case, and it didn't look likely.

"Oh! Wait, wait, I think I found something," Jill said, grinning.

Waiting patiently, they watched her scan the page further, her smile slowly fading.

"What is it?" Brad asked, closing his folder to peer at the page Jill was reading.

"I thought it was something, but it's not—just silly horror stories," she said, sighing. Taking the book from her, Brad read the page and began to laugh.

"Zombies?"

**XX**

Sitting in front of his desk, Chris pretended to be interested in a case he started yesterday, but found it increasingly difficult when the only other person in the room was Wesker, who was currently walking back and forth from his desk to the fax machine... again... and again.

The case was a simple one involving a robbery that he'd been called to; it ended with nothing stolen and a broken and beaten burglar. The woman behind the shop counter obviously didn't appreciate being robbed and managed to yank the shotgun out of the young man's hand and slam the base of it into his nose.

It was really quite impressive and Chris was tempted to recruit the woman.

But all of those thoughts were put on the back burner as Wesker, once again, stood up to go to the fax machine that he seemed to touch more than he did Chris back when they were still screwing around.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Chris asked in a monotone voice, his chin resting on his hand as he stared at Wesker.

"Faxing, what does it look like I'm doing?"

Shrugging, Chris went to fiddle with his pen. "Is something up?"

"Yes."

Perking up, Chris' gaze immediately went back to Wesker, excitement in his eyes. "Really?"

Maybe they were put on the case?

"We have a new STARS member—I'm finishing the paperwork."

"Wait, what?" Chris hadn't heard any news regarding the possible hiring of a new member—in fact, Wesker had last been talking about shifting their jobs around. There were rumours floating around that Joseph was going to join Alpha team and that Chris was going to take Enrico's position, which he still didn't understand. "How come you never told us?"

"Because it didn't matter," Wesker said simply, returning to his desk. The entire time he didn't once look at Chris.

"W-well what is their name? What are they going to do?" Chris asked, getting up to stand in front of Wesker's desk, finally bringing his gaze towards him.

"Her name is Rebecca Chambers—she'll be Bravo team's medic."

"Well, how come we don't get a medic?"

"We will in due time, Chris... Now sit back down."

Glaring at Wesker, Chris did the exact opposite and stayed standing in front of his desk. "I'm tired of this whole 'you don't need to know this so shut up' attitude you've got going on."

"And I do not enjoy you shrieking at me, so I guess we are both rather annoyed."

Going red in the face, Chris was tempted to pick up his half empty coffee cup and splash the contents on Wesker... or his keyboard. Probably his keyboard; it would make him angrier. "No, see, your attitude and your secrecy is going to fuck up things more than it did for our relationship. Soon enough people are going to get sick of it and stop following you around like little school children. Soon, they're going to start asking questions and demanding answers."

He didn't know where all of this pent up aggression was coming from, but it felt good to just yell.

Taking a moment to reply, Wesker lifted his fingers from his keyboard and turned to look at Chris, his eyes gazing at him from overtop his sunglasses. "Do these 'people' you're referring to mean yourself?"

"Fuck yes! Damn it, Wesker! Haven't you been paying any attention to me at all? Didn't you listen at all to why I broke up with you?"

Clenching his jaw, Wesker took a deep breath before pushing his sunglasses back up his nose. "I did listen to why you left me; I am not that much of a fool."

Chris was about to say something before pausing, his mouth open like a fish. "Not that much of a fool? So you're saying you're a fool about something?"

"Go back to your desk, Chris."

"No, I want you to elaborate on that," Chris said, hoping against hope that Wesker would actually talk to him about their relationship—maybe then he could get some closure. He thought that maybe Wesker had felt like a fool when Chris left him... Or perhaps he felt like a fool for letting him go?

They both sounded absurd, but the way he shot Chris down seemed like he was hiding something.

"I don't want to, now sit back down." Wesker was visibly getting agitated, his stance becoming stiff and the corners of his mouth tightening.

"No, tell me—"

"Sit back down, and that's an order!" Wesker suddenly barked out, lashing out in an uncharacteristically loud way.

Eyes widening, Chris simply stared at Wesker, his hands limp on either side of himself. He had never heard Wesker get so... loud and angry. Sure, he'd heard him raise his voice slightly, but this was completely new. Backing off a bit, Chris sent Wesker a nasty glare before returning to his desk slowly.

Sitting down, he fiddled with his pen again before speaking, this time lower. "You really need to open up to people more, Wesker... You're going to get sick."

"I am perfectly fine, Chris."

**XX**

The day after their fight, Wesker didn't show up to work. Again, Barry was put in charge and no questions were asked about their Captain's whereabouts. He would show up again... He always did.

Chris, of course, knew it was because of the anxiety, and he felt a little bad that he had probably been the one to trigger the attack. The last time Wesker had one, they were still together—although it was near the end of their relationship.

He had simply laid with Wesker in his bed as the chest pains receded and the breathing became easier. He had hated seeing Wesker in so much physical and mental stress, and tried to kiss away whatever worries he had had. They ended up staying in bed all day with Chris keeping Wesker from returning to his work whenever he said he felt better.

Later on, Wesker admitted Chris' company had helped with the attacks...

But now Chris wasn't going to go over and kiss him till he was better. All he was going to do was welcome the newest STARS member—Rebecca was her name, right?

"Hi, I'm Rebecca Chambers," she said, sticking her hand out for Chris to shake it. Taking her significantly smaller hand in his own, Chris shook it back.

"So, uh... how old are you?" he asked, not able to get over the fact that she looked and sounded like she was twelve.

"Eighteen—I just graduated med school," she said, giggling nervously as Jill seemed to be giving her the same look of disbelief. It was the girl's first day and they had managed to find her setting up her desk in Bravo team's room before they had to go out on any missions or complete any case work. When Wesker had said he hired a new medic, Chris didn't think he had hired a child.

What the fuck was he thinking?

"You just graduated? How?" Jill asked, an eyebrow raised.

"I was... well, I was gifted and I kind of flew through school and skipped a lot of grades," she said, giggling nervously again.

"Why STARS?" Chris asked, wondering if she even knew how to fire a gun.

"I wanted to help people—more so than what a regular doctor would do. I wanted to help the people of Raccoon in all areas, including crime, poverty, and medical care." She recited it like she'd been asked the question again and again. She probably had.

Making a face, Jill shrugged a little. "Well, I guess if you want to deal with the crazies in this city, you should be allowed to."

"T-thanks?" she said, sounding like she didn't know if Jill was joking or not. But they didn't have time to say anything else before Kenneth showed up.

"Hey now, don't crowd her, she just arrived," he said, giving Jill and Chris a special 'back off' look. Taking the hint, Chris nodded and turned to leave to return to his office where he should really be working on that case he'd neglected yesterday. He was going to take it home to work on, but had gotten caught up in looking over the murder case files... again.

If he could just find a clue—something he hadn't read before or noticed, maybe he could get further with what he had and really work on the cases, rather than just agonize over them for days.

"Good luck, kid," Chris said, already halfway out of the office. He knew he should be more welcoming to such a young and probably intimidated all to hell woman... But he couldn't find himself to care, what with so many other things occupying his mind. He knew it was rude, but... but she didn't matter right now.

Sitting back down at his desk, Chris went to work before Barry spoke up from his spot behind his own desk, just as Jill sat down.

"The phone wires have been tapped," he said in a low but casual tone. Flipping the page on the newspaper, he acted as if he hadn't said anything.

Standing up, Jill walked over to Barry and Chris' joined desks and crouched down beside them. "Tapped?"

"Yup. Pick it up and listen to the dial tone."

Doing as Barry instructed, Chris heard the familiar drone of the dial tone, but occasionally heard a soft click every five seconds or so. Putting the receiver back down, Chris nodded at Jill, their expressions equally grim.

"What does this mean?" she asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"It means we're under suspicion. Chris, I want you to get those files back to Mindy soon, and Jill, go tell Brad about this—discreetly. He's working on the engine of the helicopter right now."

Nodding, Jill stood up and went to leave the office, a random file in her hands as if she was going to go talk to Brad about a case. Biting his bottom lip, Chris watched her leave before sitting back in his chair.

They weren't safe anywhere anymore...

**XX**

"Mindy... Please, tell me what's going on."

"I... I can't. Please, Chris, just let me hang out here for a little while?"

Staring at Mindy, who was currently curled up on his couch, Chris nodded slowly and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, of course... Did you want something to eat or drink?"

"Can I have a glass of water?" she asked, looking at him quickly before turning her attention back to the TV, which was shut off.

Smiling slightly, Chris nodded again and headed to the kitchen, at a loss as to what to do. When he returned home that night she was already at his door, her small frame curled up at the bottom as she waited for him to return. Her eyes were red and her hair was a mess, as if she had run her fingers through it numerous times. She refused to tell him what was going on, other than she didn't want to be alone.

After letting her in, she immediately went to the couch and simply sat, refusing to open up or really talk about anything. It worried Chris to see her in such a condition, especially after what she had told him a week ago.

Getting her the glass of water she asked for, Chris added a few chunks of ice to it before returning to the living room. Passing it to her, he watched her take a small sip before going to sit down beside her, hands resting awkwardly on his knees.

"Mindy... Please, tell me what's going on," he said, hoping he could break through to her and get some answers as to her erratic and frightening behaviour.

Taking her time, Mindy took another sip of her water before she stared at the rim of the glass, her hair hiding some of her face. "Can we please talk about something else?"

"No," Chris said, sounding firm but supportive at the same time. "Just tell me, Mindy. I can help."

Letting out a heavy, shaky sigh, Mindy opened and closed her mouth a few times before speaking. "I... I don't feel safe around Irons anymore."

Violent images suddenly flashed into his mind, and Chris felt an urge to hunt down the man without even knowing what he had done to frighten her. "Did he hurt you, Mindy?"

"N-no, no he didn't... B-but..."

Letting her take her time, Chris sat patiently but eagerly for what she was about to say. He just wanted to help...

"I found out something that I wasn't supposed to know..." Mindy began, furrowing her eyebrows. "I... I'm afraid he'll hurt me if he knew that I knew."

"What do you know?" Chris asked, his chest getting tighter with anxiety.

"I... I found out—"

Just as Mindy was about to open up, the phone rang, making both of them jump.

"Shit," Chris mumbled, making Mindy suddenly go back into herself.

"Answer it," she said, going to stare at her water again. Nodding, Chris stood up and hurried to his phone. This had better be important.

"Chris!"

"O-oh, hey, Claire," Chris said, finding himself frowning rather than smiling like he usually did when he heard her voice.

"Hey, what's up?" she asked, her voice chipper as always.

"Nothing," Chris said, going to look at Mindy in the living room to see she'd turned the TV on and was blankly watching the news.

"Uh... you sure? You sound distant and you haven't called in a month or so," she said, and Chris could hear the concern finally leaking through.

"No, things are good. Work is hectic as usual," he said, still watching Mindy carefully. "H-hey, have you heard about any murders in Raccoon?"

There was a pause on the other side before Claire spoke. "No... Why, is something the matter?"

"No, no, it's fine," Chris said, confirming his suspicions that either the news wasn't being let leaked, or people didn't figure it important enough—although which news company wouldn't want to be covering a story about cannibalism in America?

"Okay, Chris... Are you sure you're all right? I'm getting worried," she asked, and Chris found himself nodding even though she couldn't see it.

"I'm fine. Listen, I'm kind of busy. Can I call you back later?"

As much as he hated blowing Claire off, he needed to get Mindy to finish what she was saying. Not to mention he'd have plenty of time to talk to Claire later... if he remembered to call her.

"Yeah, sure, but don't wait another month, okay?"

"I won't. Love you, all right?"

"Love you too."

Hanging up the phone, Chris tried to brush past the guilt he was feeling for pretty much blowing Claire off, and instead hurried back to the living room where Mindy was now staring intently at the screen.

"Mindy, what was it you were—" he began, only to have Mindy shush him and point to the TV.

"—more and more upset citizens. With the number of victims on the rise and with nothing being done about it, people are beginning to question the service the police officers of the RPD are doing for the city itself," the reporter began as they sat behind their nightly news desk, the background a night scene of downtown Raccoon City.

The screen suddenly flashed to a legal expert sitting in their office, looking completely at ease in front of the camera. "The people of Raccoon have a right to be protected, and the police of this city have signed a contract with the citizens of the city to protect them, no matter what. But it appears as if they're doing nothing, and holding back their best team from getting involved—STARS."

"What?" Chris mumbled, sitting down on the armrest of the couch. The screen flashed back to the newscaster as they flipped the sheet of paper in front of them.

"With the mention of STARS, a sudden outcry has occurred from numerous members of city council, as well as everyday citizens, asking for the Special Tactics and Rescue Service to be put on the case and seek out the answers we've all been waiting for."

Turning the TV down when the story was over, Mindy looked up at Chris. "Looks like you might be put on that case after all."

"Maybe..." Chris said, trying to keep the hope he felt in check; no need to get too excited about something he couldn't guarantee. But if they were put on the case... finally, he could do something.

Bringing his attention back to Mindy, Chris reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "But what were you saying before?"

"O-oh? Oh, no, I just... He's having an affair and I found out," she said, taking another sip of water. "I know it's silly but some men will d-do a lot to protect such a secret."

For some reason, Chris didn't believe her.

**XX**

This was it—it was finally happening. No more stealing; no more lies; no more secrecy. The moment Chris had been waiting for for weeks was finally here.

"As of this time today, the STARS units, Alpha and Bravo team, have been put on the recent murder cases," Wesker began as he stood behind a podium, the press recording, writing, and taking photographs in front of him in the press room. Alpha team stood behind him, trying not to fidget too much as Wesker told the entire city what everyone had been waiting to hear for weeks.

"No longer shall these gruesome murders continue to haunt the people of Raccoon City. As members of STARS, we have sworn to protect and serve the people of this city, and we will see this through to the end. Tomorrow, Alpha and Bravo team will patrol the Raccoon Forest during the day in search of campers, hikers, and those living in the area. We will be asking all those who currently reside in the area to leave for the duration of the case—both for their own safety, as well as the safety of the case itself.

"After an initial sweep, the real work will be done. Night shifts will happen, regular patrols will be carried out, and STARS will use all of the resources available in order to find, apprehend, and bring those involved to justice... Thank you."

Stepping away from the podium, Wesker once again ignored the sudden influx of questions and led his team out of the room.

STARS was officially on the case.

So if you guys know your RE time line correctly, you'll realize that it is 2 weeks until the Mansion Incident! I hope all of this stuff isn't too boring for you guys, but I really wanted to fill in the stuff that we missed when it comes to the investigations and the lead up to the mansion. So hopefully it's not too dull. But yes, Rebecca has now joined, Joseph has switched sides, and Wesker is busy having panic attacks! Yaaaaay! But thanks for reading through, and I hope it was worth the wait!