July 21, 1998, 4:05 PM
Jill Valentine felt Eddie's eyes on her as she walked into the huge, opulent living room. Everything in that house screamed money and power, from the marble floors to the paintings on the walls that looked suspiciously like originals. It was a world away from her small Raccoon City apartment.
"Make yourself at home," he said, gesturing toward a white leather sofa. "Can I get you something to drink? Water? Coffee? Something stronger?"
"Water is fine," she replied, sitting on the edge of the sofa, her back straight. She didn't want to get too comfortable. She was here for a reason, and it wasn't a social call.
Eddie returned a moment later with a glass of iced water. He sat in the armchair opposite her, crossing his legs. He was wearing a simple white shirt and dark pants, yet he managed to look like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. It was irritating.
"So," he began, his voice smooth as velvet. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Jill took a sip of water before speaking. "I want to know what you're up to. I saw you at the S.T.A.R.S. office, talking to Irons. And I know you have ties to Umbrella."
Eddie's smile was unreadable. "I'm a businessman, Jill. I talk to a lot of people."
"Don't play dumb with me," she snapped, her patience already wearing thin. "Something is wrong in this city. First the incidents in the Arklay Mountains, the 'cannibal attacks'… then my team's mission. The mansion. The monsters. You know something."
"I know many things," he admitted calmly. "But why should I share them with you?"
"Because people are dying!" Jill's voice rose, filled with frustration. "My comrades… Chris, Barry, Rebecca… we saw things that night. Things that Umbrella created. We tried to report it, but no one believes us. Irons buried our report."
Eddie leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. His expression became serious. "And what do you think you can do? Go to the press? The government? Umbrella has its tentacles everywhere. They'll discredit you. They'll make you look like a lunatic."
"I don't care," she said stubbornly. "I have to try."
He studied her for a long moment, a strange glint in his eyes. It was a mixture of admiration and something else, something she couldn't quite decipher. "I like your spirit, Jill. Really. You have fire. But fire can be extinguished."
"Is that a threat?" she asked, her hand instinctively moving toward the gun on her thigh.
Eddie chuckled, a low, deep sound. "No, no. Far from it. In fact, I want to help you."
Jill narrowed her eyes, skeptical. "Why?"
"Let's just say I have my own reasons for disliking Umbrella's management," he said vaguely. "And I don't like seeing a beautiful woman in trouble." He winked. "I can give you information. Proof. Things that will make your report impossible to ignore."
"And what do you want in return?" she asked, suspicious. Nothing was free, especially not from a man like him.
"A small favor," he replied, his smile returning. "I'm putting together a small private security team. I need someone to train them. Someone with your experience."
Jill was taken aback. "You want me to train your mercenaries?"
"They're not mercenaries. They're… specialists," he corrected. "And it would only be for a few weeks. In exchange, I'll give you a file that details Umbrella's illegal experiments. Names, dates, locations. Everything."
It was a tempting offer. Too tempting. It was like making a deal with the devil. But what choice did she have? She was alone, hitting a wall of silence and corruption at every turn.
"Alright," she said finally, after a long silence. "I accept. But on one condition."
"Name it."
"I want to know everything you know. No more secrets, no more half-truths."
Eddie stood up and walked to the large window overlooking the garden. He stood with his back to her for a moment, his silhouette framed against the afternoon light.
"You're asking for a dangerous truth, Jill," he said softly, without turning around. "Once you know it, there's no going back."
"I'm ready," she replied, her voice firm.
He turned, a dark smile on his lips. "Very well. Training begins tomorrow. And in exchange for your… consultancy, I'll give you something more than just a file." He walked over to a safe hidden behind a painting, manipulated the combination, and took out a small, sleek black device. He tossed it to her.
It was a state-of-the-art satellite phone.
"This will allow us to communicate securely," he explained. "And it contains a direct line to me. Use it if you find yourself in trouble."
Jill looked at the phone, then back at him. "Why are you doing this, Eddie? Really."
He came closer, his voice dropping to a confidential whisper. "Because a storm is coming to Raccoon City, Jill. A storm that will wipe everything away. And when it's over, I want to make sure the right people are left standing."