The Resident Eviloves : Connections (Lady Dimitrescu - Resident Evil)

Chapter 15 - Three Sisters

_"Hallo, Emily? It's Claire. I've already left you several messages but you're not answering. I'm very worried about you. Please call me back as soon as you can."

After recording this umpteenth message, Claire Redfield hung up and put her cell phone back in the pocket of her denim pants. Sitting on a bus driving through downtown Madrid, the young woman remained lost in thought as she watched the fine rain fall outside and slide down the window, forming small rivers on the glass . Following TerraSave's work in Canada, Claire had taken a night plane which had brought her to Spain. The reason? A message she had received from her good friend Leon S. Kennedy, asking her to come and join him as soon as possible in Madrid. It was during the flight that Claire had then learned the news of a fire in Oakville, but also the death of Doctor Gleen Shepard and the mysterious disappearance of his daughter, Emily Shepard.

With all her heart, Claire hoped she was okay. Emily was a good friend and had been a great supporter of the TerraSave cause, even though she wasn't a member. However, Claire was also more than curious about Leon's request. They had not seen each other since the incident at Havardville airport several years ago and in which they again had to face, as in Raccoon City, hordes of zombies.

Finally, the bus stopped along a sidewalk and Claire got out, her bag on her back and feeling the raindrops falling on her head. Dressed in her eternal red leather jacket, Claire began to walk among the passers-by and very quickly noticed the unusual number of police officers, but also soldiers who were patrolling the streets. With all these bio-terrorist attacks perpetrated by this organization, the Connections, in several capitals for several months, it was not so surprising, she thought. But as she walked past the entrance to a small, dark alley between two buildings, a familiar voice called out to her.

_"You took your time."

Claire smiled and entered the alley without fear. There, emerging from the darkness, a man stood before her. He had a square face with a slightly unshaven chin, a hard look with brown eyes, short brown hair. He was dressed in dark, denim pants, black t-shirt and a military-looking jacket with a hood.

_"I'm glad to see you too. It's been a while, Leon." Claire replied with a wink.

Leon cracked a smile, showing that of course he was glad to see his friend and shook his hand. 

_"I would have liked to come earlier, but I had obligations elsewhere." Claire said without trying to justify herself. "However, I would like to know what brings me here?"

_"Not here. Come, follow me." suggested Leon, glancing briefly at the sidewalk and the passers-by who were still too close, and being cautious, beckoned the young woman to follow him and disappeared around the bend in the alley.

Intrigued but trusting her friend, Claire followed him. She walked behind Leon for several seconds in the rain until she finally got out of the alley and came to a deserted and almost empty parking lot, in which was parked a utility vehicle, a black military-looking jeep. Leon unlocked the doors and climbed behind the wheel while Claire joined him inside, getting into the passenger seat. Immediately, she noticed the mess that reigned in this vehicle, food wrappers scattered everywhere. She didn't comment, not wanting to offend Leon but guessed that he had been living in that car for a while. He was even probably sleeping there, knowing his zeal. Besides, before closing his door, Leon, by reflex, checked that they were really alone in the parking lot and closed it.

_"So? Are you finally going to tell me what you want or are you going to keep playing the mystery?" Claire asked.

Leon opened the glove box in front of Claire and took out a file which he opened and began to rummage through the many files listed in it, until he found the right one. He handed several papers to Claire who looked at them, and then discovered a series of photographs taken visibly in secret and showing each a black van without license plate, which seemed to take the same lost road in the middle of a forest, but on different days judging by the dates written behind each photo.