Resident Evil Recall: Operation Arklay

Episode Seven: Investigations

Part Two

The Arklay Resort, 1:00 PM…

Making sure that his sidearm was hidden under his jacket, closed the side door of the SUV and then followed McGee across the parking lot toward the front entrance of the resort. The double doors were made mostly of heavily tinted glass, as was the archway above them, showing that this reduced the amount of sunlight coming in by about two thirds once they walked in and the doors swung shut behind them. This made it appear that it was late in the evening outside, instead of being just a little after noon.

"Oh, wow." Chambers said as he looked around.

The lack of light coming in from outside was made up for by the elaborate chandeliers and floor lamps scattered throughout the interior of the main lobby, which most small houses could have probably fitted into easily. The floors were made completely of well-polished terrazzo, all of the couches and chairs in sight were real leather, and the top of the front desk that McGee was now leaning on was a pretty blue marble. The people were also dressed up just as elaborately as if the front door had led into another world where everyone was a millionaire… well… except for him and McGee.

"Uh… can I help you?" The receptionist asked after looking disapprovingly at them.

"Yes, you can, honey." McGee replied while flashing his badge discreetly. "I'm Detective McGee, this is Officer Chambers; we would like to speak with the Resort Manager, please."

She just looked at the two of them for a second as if she didn't know what to do, and then she kind of nervously smiled before picking up the desk phone and speaking into it in a hushed voice once someone answered. Chambers moved up to the desk and joined the Detective in leaning on it as the woman kept looking at them while speaking too softly for them to hear. A few moments later she hung up, and was a little hesitant to look up at them.

"It will be just a moment." She said quietly.

"There's no need to be nervous around us." Chambers replied, trying to be friendly. "I know we're cops, but I'm actually a pretty nice guy once you get to know me."

The receptionist just looked at him for a second with the same look of not knowing what to do, but there was also a sign of offence to his comment, revealed by her crinkling her nose and scoffing a bit as she looked him up and down.

"I hope you don't take offence to this." She replied sharply. "But unless you make at least six-figures a year… I don't have any interest in getting to know you."

Now it was Chambers' turn to not know what to do, so he just stood there stupidly as McGee shook his head. The receptionist returned to her work a second later, and Chambers was still trying to think of something to say back to her insult, when the door behind her swung open. Behind it was a balding man in a nice suit, who looked around for a second before spotting them, and then he franticly waved to them to come over, while trying to stay out of sight. With still nothing to say, Chambers followed the Detective over to the door, and the balding man quickly shut it once they were inside.

There were blinds set at the top of the door, which he immediately put down and closed as if he were afraid of being seen with them. This area was just as well maintained as the lobby, but it was a narrow hallway with fluorescent lights across a low ceiling, and several doors to what looked like offices on both sides.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The balding man demanded in an angry yet hushed voice. "This isn't some General Store where you can come in and harass the staff at any time you like; we cater to guests of the highest social status from all over the world, so you had better have a good reason for being here today, or…

His speech was interrupted when McGee suddenly grabbed him by the arm and twisted it behind his back. He then shoved the balding man up against the wall, and restrained his other arm in the same way before taking out a pair of handcuffs out from behind his back. Chambers again found himself not knowing how to react as the Detective snapped the cuffs on the now stammering balding man's wrists, and could only wonder how this was going to play out.

"Stop resisting." McGee ordered while tightening the cuffs. "You're under arrest for Obstruction of Justice, Verbally Assaulting a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct. You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you in a Court of Law. You have the right to an Attorney; if you are unable to afford one, one will be provided to you free of charge. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them?"

"Wait, wait, please, wait!" The balding man stammered as McGee started to move him toward the door. "Stop, please! There's been a misunderstanding, please!"

The poor man was sweating bullets, and McGee kind of smirked at Chambers before taking the cuffs off. The balding man took a moment to catch his breath and wipe the sweat off his forehead before turning around to face the two cops. Suddenly it was like looking at a completely different person, the way the balding man cowered a bit and shook nervously, so Chambers would definitely have to remember that move.

"Oh, thank you so much, Officers." The balding man continued while rubbing his wrists. "I'm Reginald, the General Manager of The Arklay Resort… how can I help you?"

"Well, we came here to investigate reports of strange noises." McGee replied while shooting a quick wink to Chambers. "But you're behavior has been pretty suspicious, so I think we're gonna have to do a full investigation of your facilities, here. Isn't that right, Chambers?"

"Uh… yeah." Chambers replied. "We need to check everything; the food, uh, the sauna, and we… um… need to do a stakeout for the noises, from, uh… your best room."

"Oh, well, um, I suppose a tour can be arranged." Reginald answered nervously.

"No, no, you're missing the point." McGee continued. "We need to blend in with the other guests so that no one gets suspicious, see? That means a key to your finest suite, free room service, and HBO at no charge. I mean, unless you want me to put the cuffs back on and walk you out of here in front of the guests."

Reginald shook his head, and then smiled nervously before opening the door and motioning for them to follow him out. McGee gave a quick thumbs up as he followed him, and Chambers knew that he had made the right choice by teaming up with him as he also went out the door.

Arklay Village, 1:45 PM…

With her stomach burning from the spicy wings and beer provided to them by Deputy Gumb, Ashwood let out a loud belch that any college frat-boy would have been proud of just as she was about to open the side door of Liquid's SUV. She felt it all the way down in her intestines, and groaned in misery as she leaned against the door. None of the others seemed to have any problem eating horrible things like this; Liquid licking his fingers as they walked back into the gravel parking lot, and Lopez sneaking another wing out of his takeout box, but this was nothing like her normal diet.

"Hey, Sheriff, it's Jesse." Gumb said into the radio receiver while leaning on his car. "Tobias Liquid's back in town, wants to see you about something."

"Tobias?! Well, say no more, Jesse." Sheriff Thompson's voice replied over the speaker. "You bring that damn city-boy down to headquarters; I got ribs on the grill and plenty of Busch in the fridge."

"I am never leaving this town." Lopez said while taking another bite.

Oh God, Ashwood thought as she heard them talk about even more food once they got to the Sheriff's Station. It hurt her diet enough to have a single naughty day during the week, but first The Grill 13, then coffee-maker hotdogs, spicy wings, and now ribs… it was like something out of The Twilight Zone, and with the way her stomach was revolting against her, it felt like she was going to explode if she didn't find a way to escape.

"You okay, Ashwood?" Liquid asked after she let out another belch. "I got some more Vernors if you want."

She just shook her head as she opened the door, and groaned again as she got into the passenger seat. Lopez climbed into the back and laid across the seat a moment later, and the slamming of the doors from both him and Liquid getting in was too much. Hopefully some of it would digest before they got to their destination, and she put down the window so that the moving wind could help her as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"Okay, I just gotta say something, here." Lopez spoke up as they got back onto the road. "Now, I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, Liquid, but I just find it a little weird that everyone in this town seems to, you know… like you for some reason."

"Why is that weird?" Liquid replied. "I'm a likeable guy."

For a moment there was silence in the SUV, but then both Lopez and Ashwood burst out laughing, but Ashwood had to stop when her stomach rumbled again. Oh, there was definitely a visit to the toilet in her future, she just wasn't too thrilled about that being the first impression she made on the Arklay County Sheriff. Well, technically it would be the second, since the first was her spending a half hour deflecting Deputy Gumb's obvious flirting, but maybe the toilet thing would finally make him stop.

"Are you kidding me?" Lopez asked. "No offence, but you're like, the most uncharismatic guy in Raccoon City."

"Well, good thing this isn't Raccoon City, then." Liquid replied. "Things are done a little bit differently out here in Arklay County, and yes I have a lot of friends out here, but then again, crimes aren't solved by being liked. Crimes are solved by not being afraid to piss off the big bad people in charge, and sticking it to the bad guys no matter if they're a local crack-head or the damn Mayor's daughter. That's why we're out here, boys and girls… and when we drag the sick monsters responsible for all these deaths into the RPD, we're going to rub our victory right in Chief Irons' face."

Silence fell inside the SUV after Liquid's speech was finished, and Ashwood was thankful for her attention being taken off of her rumbling stomach, but now her mixed thoughts were returning about this mission. Liquid was driven and dedicated to solving this case, for sure, but his personal involvement with the victims as well as his vendetta again the RPD's Chief could easily cloud his judgement. She knew in her heart that things were going to get bad, like, really bad before this mission was over, and she just hoped that everyone's head was in the game when it did.