Chapter 43

Raccoon City, September 1st, 1998

"Any luck?" I asked Alice as she climbed into the sedan we had rented for this stakeout.

"This site probably isn't doing any testing," the woman replied with a sigh. "Honestly, this feels like a massive waste of time. Umbrella has labs all over the city and likely is only doing the research in a small handful of them. They're not idiots, and they likely predicted that people might try to gain access to their secret research. The fact that we only found stuff in the mountains means they've had decades to work in secrecy. It's looking like they're tightening security up after the Mansion incident."

"You're probably right," I replied as I cranked the car over and began heading back to the hotel room. "But it's at least worth a shot to check some of the labs out."

"So, got any more information out of your people in the RPD and hospital?" Alice asked as she accepted a bottle of water.

"The RPD is scrambling to deal with a lack of funding right now," I replied. "Now that STARS is gone, the gangs decided to start acting up again, and a lot of cops have been pulled to work on that end of town."

"Sounds like they're going to have issues later," Alice said as she took a sip of her water. "Any luck on the job front? I know you've been looking while Jill and I are working the Umbrella side of things."

"Yeah, there's a school that's looking to hire some extra security and medics due to the crime wave," I replied. "I've got an interview later today."

"You going to accept?" Alice asked. "Seems like we didn't manage to contain the virus if we encountered a zombie a couple of weeks ago. Might be better off just continuing to prep."

"If and when things start going down, I'd rather have saved those I could. Especially the kids," I responded as I flowed through traffic. "Besides, when all hell breaks loose we can send the kids out on a school bus. I've got enough kit to give them some firepower for defending the kids after all."

"I suppose that makes a certain degree of sense," Alice said as we rounded a corner on our way to pick up Jill. "I'm just worried that you may end up separated from us should something happen."

"I've got some ideas about that," I said as we neared the fast food chain that Jill was seated in. "But It'll take some work to see if they'll work or not."

"Well, let's hope that your ideas work," Alice said as Jill got in the car.

"Well?" I asked.

"I may have an in," Jill said with a small smirk. "Turns out there's a few nerds in there who don't keep up with the news, and one of them decided to try and ask me out. I figure I'll go out, see what kind of info I can pull while out drinking."

"Just stay safe," I fixed the rearview mirror so that Jill could see my eyes as I glanced back. "I can be on standby if you need backup."

"No offense," Alice said with a small laugh. "But you're not exactly unobtrusive. A six-foot-tall bearded man draws attention in this kind of place."

"Urban America is the only place in the world where I wouldn't blend in," I replied with a sigh. "You have a point. Alice can be on standby then."

"You're paranoid," Jill slugged me in the shoulder. "I can handle on nerd even if I happen to be drunk."

"I guess that settles it then."

–

–

September 3rd, 1998

"So, is there a particular reason why you're hiring an armed guard now?" I asked the principal of Raccoon City Elementary school.

"The RPD has refused to station a School Resource officer here for the last month and a half, citing "manpower issues" as the reason why we haven't had any armed security even though a gang shootout happened less than a block away from the school last week."

"You're aware that there might be bad publicity associated with hiring me on?" I questioned further, wanting him to be certain about this decision.

"Fuck them," the Principal swore. "I'm here to educate young minds in a safe environment, and I'm going to ensure that it remains safe in spite of whatever protests someone might raise."

"I'm in, but I am aware that this position is temporary," I replied.

"Do a good enough job and I'll see about making it permanent," John Paul stood up and firmly shook my hand.

"I'll be here bright and early in the morning," I said as I shook the hand back. "I've already got a tac vest and everything except for a rifle."

"I can't get you one of those, unfortunately," Principal Paul grimaced. "But I'm not going to kick up a fuss if you keep some extra firepower in your vehicle."

–

–

September 4, 1998

"Sherry, I've got your lunch packed," Annette Birkin said as she handed the young girl a lunch box . "I'm going to drop you off at school and then I'll be at work for the rest of the day. I've put dinner in the microwave if we don't make it home until late."

"Okay mom," Sherry said as she gave her mother a hug.

The duo made their way to the car and got in, Sherry buckling up in the back seat as they moved toward the Elementary School.

"I love you, have a good day sweetie," Annette gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek as Sherry got out of the car and waved goodbye to her mother.

"Love you too, mom!" Sherry yelled back as she began walking into the school.

"You're new," she said as she saw a man in a vest that said 'Security' on the front of it.

"Yes ma'am," the bearded man replied with a gentle smile as he knelt down. "I'm here to keep y'all safe."

Sherry just smiled as she considered that before continuing on her way.