Chapter 109: When Worlds Collide

They were walking with urgency through the corridors of the White House. Rick had two days to resolve the case and he had a lot to uncover. The first thing on his agenda was to get information that he purposefully didn’t request in the oval office. While he trusted Hunt, he didn’t trust Adam Benford. It didn’t matter that Graham did. Two moles and traitors in the Whitehouse in less than two years was a black mark on the man’s ability to judge character and people.

“I want every file on the people close to the president and interested in Penamstan's situation, ma’am. Just between you and me.”

Teresa’s face stayed neutral like it usually did on the job or in public. The only exception was one of her brow raising up and arching in surprise.

"You were the only person I trusted fully in that room. Until I determine otherwise everyone is a suspect no matter how low the odds.”

“Even…”

“Yes, even him.”

It didn’t take a genius to know Rick was referring to President Graham. It didn’t make any sense but people rarely did in his experience. Especially politicians. His opinion about them was they all had a twisted mind. No exception.”

No comments were made for her part. Teresa agreed wholeheartedly with Rick on this. Feelings and trust should not get in a way of being thorough. Not when War may be the result of failure.

“I also want the full dossier on our mission to Penamstan. We got there to clean up the mess but the mess came from somewhere. And we both know our country was involved but I need to know the details. A Unit name is not enough.”

“You’ll have it. I don’t see the president withholding the information.”

“I need to go to Shanghai as soon as possible. Legally.”

She slightly frowned. “That’s not a problem but why?”

“To get back without trouble for one and because if I take our usual way, I’d be flagged. There is a traitor in our midst and I don’t want them alerted of me being in play if that’s not already the case.”

It made sense to her and nodded in understanding. “What about resources? Weapons, gear, money?”

“You know me, ma’am. I’ll find everything on location. I need a direct line to you or the president or someone who directly has access to him. With a two day deadline I might not be back to report before the peace talks.”

“I’ll give you my private number, as for the President or someone close to him I’ll see what I can do.” After one last turn, they arrived at the entrance of the Whitehouse. “Where can I drop the files for you?”

Rick didn’t even think about it. “Rachel’s flat.” He didn’t even consider if Teresa knew or not where his best friend lived. It was a given she did.

“You’ll have them within two hours.” Acknowledging his answer with a nod, she left him right there and went back inside the building.

As he walked outside, Rick made a mental check list of what to do.

‘First, I need to buy a ticket for Shanghai. That’s an 18h flight then 18h more for my return to the states. Adding to that two hours of movement. That’s a total of 38h. That leaves me 34h to find the truth. Less since I might have to wait a while for a plane to leave. Talk about—’

“Secretary Wilson, I work for a NGO in Penamstan.”

‘God dammit!’ Rick thought to himself when he heard her voice. ‘It’s just a coincidence, Rick. Just a coincidence. Don’t pay attention, let it go.’

“What do you want?”

“I want to know the truth about the Mad Dogs Unit!”

Rick internally screamed in rage and despair when he heard that. ‘WHY?! WHY IS SHE HERE?! AND WHY THE FUCK IS SHE INVESTIGATING THIS?!’

Her voice and even her tone were almost a part of him now and he could recognize them anywhere. Turning around, the sight a few feet away was what he had feared but expected. Silently cursing, he walked towards her with long strides.

“I found a note from one of the soldier who committed suicide!”

‘Oh, my god! Shut the fuck up!’ Rick was by her side in a flash. Before a member of the Secretary of Defense’s protective details could placate her, he grabbed her by the arm forcefully. “I’m taking care of this. Ma’am you’re creating a disturbance and I’m asking you to leave.”

Claire turned her head to see who would dare treat her lack that and froze when she saw Rick and recognized his voice. She was so stunned that she didn’t resist being dragged away. When she recovered she frowned and took a deep breath to, in his opinion, no doubt shout at him or something like it.

“Quiet, you meathead. You’re going to get yourself killed.” He whispered loud enough for her to hear.

She closed her mouth but tugged away her arm, freeing herself from his hold. Scowling now, she followed him outside the White House, questions burning at the tip of her tongue. A tense and uncomfortable silence settled between the two. It lasted until they were out in the street. Right there, Claire opened her mouth again but once more Rick stopped her from talking.

“Not here.” This time he was speaking at normal volume.

Unhappy about this, she still listened to Rick and simply followed him. He hailed a Taxi and signaled her to get on. She didn’t. Instead she glared at him with intensity. Not having the time for this, Rick got in the car and moved to the opposite side of the backseat. It was clear to Claire that he knew something and in her quest for truth realized she had no choice but to go with him.

If the walk out of the White House has been an ordeal between them. The ride to their destination was even worse. The poor driver could feel the tension and kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to get between two people who clearly had a complicated story with each other. It was with relief when he dropped them off and he didn’t wait a second more once he was paid and they were out of his car.

Rick moved inside Rachel’s building as if Claire didn’t exist. She either followed him or she didn’t. It was entirely up to her. For her part, she was surprised with their location. Washington DC was unknown to her. In fact it was her very first time being in the city. From the building’s appearance and the others around it, however, she could tell it wasn’t the poorest part of town and by a mile. That got her curious for a moment. Rick wasn’t the kind of person to pay for luxuries. No one she ever met was as practical as he was. Utility first, comfort second could be described as its way of life. A stark contrast with what she was seeing now.

Her mind was even more jumbled when after an elevator ride she stepped inside Rachel’s flat. The bare and empty condo she had in mind was actually well furnished and decorated.

Claire couldn’t hold herself back anymore. “Who’s place is this?”

“My best friend.”

It was a short and concise answer. That was Rick, she recognized. She was also surprised he had friends. From what she knew of the people surrounding him from her brother’s words, none had the money for such a place nor were they the kind to live in it. Then again. She wasn’t much aware about Rick’s life and the kind of people in it. She knew he was in the Black Ops for five years after their separation and doubted the military paid that well to rent this apartment. The BSAA paid well but again not enough for it. It puzzled her how he could have met someone having the means to live here and also being his best friend.

Entering the kitchen, Rick went to the fridge and served himself a glass of water then one for Claire.

“What is this about? You said I was—”

He interrupted her right there. “Like always you’re putting your nose where you shouldn’t. This time however, you ended in serious business. Government’s business and I might not… be able to pull you out of it.”

It sounded ominous. For most people that would get them to back off but Claire Redfield wasn’t most people. She would just dig deeper until she got what she wanted and was looking for.

“So it’s about the Penamstan. Do you know anything about—”

“Claire.” Rick’s firm and authoritative tone made her pause. “You don’t want to get entangled with this. Not now. You will get yourself killed.”

That wasn’t an answer she liked. Not one bit. Her hands clenched into fists, her eyes narrowed and her brows knitted together to form a deep frown. “What did our Government do in Penamstan? I was there. I got testimonies from multiple sources and got pictures. There was a T-virus outbreak. Is our government involved? Is our country using—”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Claire. For once in your goddamn life can’t you just let it go and do what you’re—”

Rick suddenly stopped talking. His body tensed, his posture went rigid. He closed his eyes and his brows creased as if he was focusing hard on something. Claire didn’t miss the obvious change but wondered what this was about.

“What is—” She was silenced by a single finger he raised.

“In here, Rach!” He suddenly shouted.

“Paying me a surprise visit? Good because I need to get laid!”

The obviously feminine voice surprised Claire a bit. She had understood that it belonged to the owner of the place but hadn’t expected them to be a woman. Nor that the said best friend was sleeping with her ex. The sudden knowledge was like a knife stabbed into her heart. It had stopped for a second and she felt like she died. Rick’s stoic face didn't reveal anything about the truth of the matter.

“God, Danemark was such a waste of—” Rachel appeared at the kitchen’s door frame and stopped talking when she saw Claire. In a split second of recognition, she realized who she was. “Oh, hell no!”

Rick’s favorite big tiddied blonde, in a movement that surprised him, immediately got into Claire’s face, arm cocked and delivered a punch straight onto her nose. Claire yelled out in pain, her head recoiling and her body taking a step back to handle the strength of the impact.

Closing his eyes again, He took a deep breath and exhaled longly through his nose. Things were already complicated with Claire snooping around the subject of his mission, he didn't need on top of it a catfight between ex and best friend.