September 16th, 1998, 5:35 PM
"Amateur," Eddie murmured to himself, a derisive smile touching his lips as he walked away. He had changed quickly in a nearby shop, tossing the stained shirt into a bin as if it were contaminated. Now, with a fresh coffee in hand, he felt back in control. Sienna's plan had been so clumsy, so utterly lacking in imagination. Did they really think he was that easy?
He was rounding the corner toward Jill's apartment building when it happened again.
Bump.
This time, it was different. Not a deliberate impact, but a lighter, more awkward collision. He managed to keep his balance, the coffee sloshing precariously in the cup but not spilling. On the ground, however, was a young woman, knocked backward by the surprise.
"Oof!"
Before Eddie could say a word, another figure appeared, rushing to help the woman to her feet. It was Jill.
"Rebecca, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. Then her eyes lifted and met Eddie's. Surprise registered on her face. "Eddie? What are you doing here?"
The young woman, Rebecca, was getting up, brushing off her pants. She had short hair and a remarkably young, intelligent face. She looked more like a college student than a S.T.A.R.S. member.
"A little sore," Rebecca said, rubbing her back with a wince. Then she turned to Eddie with a sweet, disarming smile. "I'm so sorry, sir. I was in a hurry. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Eddie replied, his own smile returning, genuine this time. There was something refreshing about the girl's innocence. He held out a hand. "Eddie Cai. Jill's… boyfriend."
Rebecca shook his hand, her eyes widening slightly at his declaration. "Rebecca Chambers. Bravo Team." She looked him over again, a light blush coloring her cheeks. "Wow. You're Jill's boyfriend? It's… a pleasure to meet you."
"You're quite charming yourself," Eddie replied with a nod.
Jill just shook her head, an expression caught somewhere between embarrassment and amusement. She didn't correct his statement. In a way, it felt true. "Alright, that's enough of that. What are you really doing here, Eddie?"
"I wanted to see you." His tone grew more serious. "And to tell you not to come to the mansion anymore, if you can help it. I won't be there much myself. My security team is away for training, and I've started working at the Umbrella lab here in the city." He dug into his pocket and handed her a set of keys. "But if you ever need it, these are for the house. Consider it a safe zone."
Jill hesitated, then took the keys. The gesture was more than a simple handover. It was an act of trust. "But the Arklays are getting more dangerous. You shouldn't be there either."
"I'm living at the lab, for now," he said. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, "But if you don't mind, I could always just move in with you."
Jill rolled her eyes. "Don't even think about it."
"Well, I'll leave you two to it then!" Rebecca chirped, giving Jill a quick wink. "Have fun!" She darted off, a faint giggle trailing behind her.
Jill sighed, looking back at Eddie. "That girl… Come on in. You can stay for coffee. But you're sleeping on the couch."
"Irons is stonewalling every official inquiry into the Arklay Mountains," Jill said a few minutes later, seated on the couch in her small but tidy apartment. "He says we don't have enough evidence. But that dog… that thing we saw… that was goddamn proof. They're hiding something."
Eddie nodded, sipping his coffee. "Be careful, Jill. The closer you get to the truth, the more of a target you become."
"I know." A shadow of frustration crossed her face. "Thanks for worrying." A genuine smile lit up her features.
"Keep those keys safe," he said, his tone turning serious again. "There's a dirt bike in the mansion's garage. And a locker with some heavy-duty weapons inside. You might need them." He leaned forward. "I need to finish my research project. There's a big bonus on the line. As soon as I'm done, we're leaving this shithole city. We'll buy a house somewhere, somewhere quiet. Get married."
He said it all in a rush, with a certainty that left her speechless.
"You're… you're not joking, are you?" she stammered, completely blindsided.
"Do I look like the kind of man who jokes?" he replied, a smirk so self-assured it was almost infuriating. And for the first time, Jill wondered if he was genuinely insane. Or worse, if that was precisely why she was starting to like him.