Chapter 106: The Talk of the Town

The group worked diligently until it was almost time for supper. The East area has not been explored thoroughly but Rebecca went over every BOW Angela had taken care of. There were still many things to catalogue but it would take a few more days for this to be done. No other monsters had attacked and they were all grateful for it.

“I can’t believe they worked on squirrels.” The extravert of the escort duo spoke up absentmindedly while the group was riding the elevator back up to the chalet.

His partner was of the same mind. “Between the elk, the wild boar… It’s like they weren’t making BOW but…”

“Testing the effect of the T-virus on as many animals as possible to see what would happen.” Rebbecca finished the man’s sentence, her mind thinking on the same thing.

It’s been well established that Tyrants, hunters and Lickers were the top of the bio-organics weapons. From what Angela told them they were the most popular ‘breed’ among the bio-terrorists. The only reason why the scientists here worked on more animals was perhaps to integrate the mutated DNA of the beasts into their leading products to give them supplementary abilities or start a mutation. Rebecca needed time to go through every document and report to get to the bottom of this.

Back to the chalet, Rick was nowhere to be seen. He left a note in the kitchen warning that he went back to town to resupply ammo. O’brian had been updated on the situation at hand. The group locked the area and rode back to Mackenzie too. The sun had already set and Angela brought everyone back to the hotel the BSAA was staying at.

Angela never even got a glimpse of her partner the whole evening. From the other members who had gotten back from their scouting, Rick had parked their SUV outside and took a walk into town and hasn’t been seen since. Not overly worried about him, she put it out of her mind. Rick was the most dangerous being in town and she doubted anything would happen to him. To begin with, Mackenzie was small and everyone knew everyone around those parts. The type of crimes that could be found here were neighborly disputes, jay walking, a bar fight at best and not the more serious kind like theft, assault or murder.

After a very hot shower and a relaxing shower, a good night of sleep and a greasy and unhealthy breakfast, Angela drove Rebecca to the police station to start their day.

“Where is he?” The latter mumbled to herself in the passenger seat in an unhappy tone.

“Probably already there.”

“Why would—”

Rebecca stopped herself from finishing her sentence. She was well aware by now of Rick’s pattern. He finished a mission, more often than not dangerous and went to a bar to pick up a woman to spend the night with. It infuriated her to no end. She understood why he did that and couldn’t blame or be mad at him for needing to unwind, particularly after what had happened the previous day, down in the lab.

What infuriated her however was that not once did he pick her up. Rebecca wasn’t blatant about it but she wanted her shot at him. Rick was a hunk in her opinion. A delicious handsome man with all the proper muscles and intellect she’d need in a man. Their one and only time in Spencer Manor had not been a world changing experience but quite a good one when it was his first time. Now nearly a decade later and plenty of experience with the opposite sex, she was sure Rick would not only rock her world but completely destroy it then reshape it. The fact that some of his one night stands came back to the usual bar the BSAA went to after hours, expressingly for him reinforced the idea she had about him.

Unfortunately for Rebecca, it was like God or the universe was conspiring against her. Every time she tried to chat him up, something happened to derail her plans. Either Rick simply went home, not in the mood to go drinking, another floozie had already sunk her claws on him or Rachel did.

The big-titted blonde was the greatest source of frustration in truth. On one hand, Rebecca got along very well with the woman. She was funny and she was kind. Rebecca was always reminded a bit of Jill but with a sense of humor on top of being a flirt. On the other hand, it was like she had a sixth sense to mess up with her plans to get with Rick.

The rest of the short drive was spent in silence. Rebecca exhaled deeply to calm herself. Her emotions always got the better of her when Rick was involved, especially now with the revelation of what he was. She was still bothered by the discovery.

After Angela parked in a free spot, they made their way inside the building. All the police agents present were gathered around Robert Moore’s desk and they were all looking to the side, beyond the ladies' sight. They were all wearing an amused smile on their lips, some even a knowing smirk.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

Robert pointed with his chin at Nicole who was working with the printer at the other side of the room. The woman gathered a stack of paper and looked up in everyone’s direction as if she had felt she was under scrutiny. Her face quickly turned red and with a ten thousand watts smile in stark contrast to her frown, flipped her colleagues the bird before walking away with a noticeable limp.

The whole precinct exploded in laughter.

Angela and Rebecca’s confusion prompted Robert to explain. “There were calls last night for a disturbance. Neighbours reported a woman screaming bloody murder in her home. It turned out to be Nicole’s house.” The other police agents around him laughed again. “It also turned out she wasn’t getting murdered but spending time with Agent Wald.”

Jaws dropped on the spot at how asinine the news was. Angela’s mind simply blanked, not computing the ordeal. Things with Rebecca were different however. An ugly beast made of jealousy roared inside herself, trying to get free of its cage.

The other woman in the force beside Nicole had a few words to share. “Damn it! I wish my husband was giving it to me that good.”

One of her colleagues snorted. “Have you gotten a good look at Nicole? She’s limping as if she had a clubbed foot.”

“Oh, he can put me in a wheelchair for all I care, did you see the smile on her face? It’s like it’s stuck there forever. I know I never had one like this, not even on my wedding day and God knows I smiled a lot that day.”

The whole group dispersed in a hurry when Rick entered the precinct. As if none of them have been discussing his sexual prowess. The subject of their talk gave everyone a silent nod of greeting and went to the interrogation room as if nothing had happened. It took everything out of Rebecca to not march in there and unleash all her frustration.

To calm herself down, she went to serve herself some tea. By the time the beverage had the expected and desired effect, all the BSAA members she had travelled with had entered the precinct and filled the room. Dropping her cup in the trash can she joined the obvious briefing. Not like it really concerned her.

“... Areas A, C, D are clear.” Rick, standing in front of the map of the region pinned on the wall, pointed at multiple zones. “Team 1, 3 and 4, will respectively deal with Areas E, F and G today. Team 2 will finish searching area B and link up with Team 1 once they’re done.”

One of the two members who were protecting Rebecca raised his hand. Rick invited him to talk. “What about Miss Chambers' escort?”

“Agent Miller and I will be with her. Why, want another go with the Hazmat suits?”

“No, no. I’m good, sir.” The man quickly waved his hand.

“Hazmat suits?” One of the policemen asked.

“Protective gear for viral outbreaks or pathogens.” Rick answered. “The Umbrella’s underground facility has an outbreak of T-virus. Thankfully it’s limited to the complex and presents no danger to the outside world.”

Rick’s reassurance didn’t stop many in the police to pale.

“Any BOW in the laboratories have either been dealt with or are inactive. Really, there is nothing to worry about.”

Rick quickly finished the briefing, giving last minute directives. He reminded everyone that per protocol, the chalet and its surroundings were off limits until further notice from him.

Everyone dispersed and went to prepare for their jobs. Maps, radios, weapons and ammunition. Angela was pleasantly surprised to see her gear had been cleaned and restocked. It couldn’t have been done by anyone but Rick and she thanked him for it as she loaded everything in the SUV’s truck.

Riding shotgun, she could see from the front mirror, Rebecca fuming in the backseat. It made her laugh inwardly. Everyone knew she wanted to jump Rick’s bones for months to no avail. Rachel, and Angela heard it from the woman’s own mouth, kept messing with Rebecca for petty reasons. In the blonde’s mind, if Rebecca had simply started a real relationship with Rick he wouldn’t have fallen in love with his ex and still be a total mess years later.

The protective rage Rachel felt towards Rick against Claire was astounding and Angela had long sworn she wouldn’t mess with the woman. Still she wasn’t that bad as while she was playing quite the obstacle for Rebecca, she mainly wanted to see how far the latter could take before exploding and going for what she wanted directly.

Discreetly, Angela sent a long text to Rachel about the current situation between the two. Rebecca’s discovery and scene to Rick’s secret, the part with Agent Thompson and her reaction to it. She bet that before they left Canada, Rebecca would have made her move.

“I bet she’d get dicked good before you guys leave Canada now that I’m not here to run interference.” Rachel had texted back.

“I don’t know. I think Rick is going to lead her on purpose.”

“Nah. Rebecca will just blow up on him and get what she wants.”

“That’s her type and she’s been thirsty for too long.”

“Apparently her last ‘date’ was in September.”

“I’ll keep you appraised.”

Rebecca’s long dry spell annoyed Angela a bit. Not because she felt for her but because hers had been even longer.

“Or you can take him for a ride yourself, you know?”

Angela nearly snorted.

“I’m good. I don’t want to get on Rebecca’s bad side and Rick wouldn’t go for it.”

“You’re kidding right? Girl, you’re as sexy as I am. There is no way he wouldn’t.”

“He told me himself, yesterday. Not like he wouldn’t, you’re right but he simply won’t. Not while we’re mentor and mentee at least.”

“It’s not a firm no. It’s also great you considered it. I was really getting worried about you. You need to get laid, girl.”

Angela frowned at this particular message. Not feeling like giving Rachel an answer she tucked her phone back into her pocket and turned up the radio. Her love and sex life wasn’t something she wanted to talk about with how empty it was.

In the driver seat, Rick was focused on the road, completely oblivious to the thoughts and feelings of his passengers.