"S. D. Perry - Resident Evil 02 - Caliban Cove" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry S. D)

hell out of Raccoon City, heading into a new phase of her life as a S.T.A.R.S. biochemist. She pulled to a
stop at the end of the block in front of a huge, two-story remodeled Victorian painted a pale yellow,
checking all around for anything suspi-cious before getting off her bike. The Burtons lived next to a
sprawling suburban park, heavy with trees. Even a few weeks ago, she might have wandered through the
silent park, enjoying the balmy summer night, looking at the stars; now it was just one more dark place
for someone to hide. Shivering slightly in spite of the warm, humid air, she hurried up the front walk.

Dragging her bike onto the porch, she wiped sweat from the back of her neck and checked her watch.
SheтАЩd made excellent time, only twenty minutes since BarryтАЩs call. Rebecca leaned the bicycle against the
railing, praying that he had good news. Before she could knock, Barry opened the door, dressed in a
T-shirt and jeans, his heavily muscled body filling the doorтАЩs frame. Barry lifted weights. With a
vengeance.

He smiled and stood back to let her inside, taking a quick look out at the quiet street before following
her into the front hall. His Colt Python was tucked into a hip holster, making him look like an overgrown
cowboy.

тАЬYou see anybody?тАЭ he asked lightly.

She shook her head. тАЬNo. I took back streets, too.тАЭ Barry nodded, and though he was still smiling a
little, she could see the haunted look in his eyes, the look heтАЩd had ever since their narrow escape. She
wished she could tell him that nobody blamed him, but knew it wouldnтАЩt make a difference; Barry still
held himself responsible for a lot of what had hap-pened at the estate that night. He looked as though he
was losing weight, too, though she figured that had more to do with him missing his wife and kids; heтАЩd
sent them out of town immediately following the incident, terrified for their safety.

Just one more way that Umbrella has damaged our lives....

He led her through the spacious hallway past the stairs, the walls decorated with framed drawings in
crayon that his daughters had made. The Burton house was rambling and spacious, filled with the scuffed
and well-worn furnishings that epitomized family.

тАЬChris and Jill should be here any time. You want some coffee?тАЭ

He seemed tense, scruffing nervously at his short red beard.

тАЬNo, thanks. Maybe some water. ...тАЭ

тАЬYeah, sure. Go ahead and introduce yourself, IтАЩll be back in a minute.тАЭ He hurried off to the kitchen
before she could ask him if anything was wrong. Introduce myselj? WhatтАЩs going on?

She walked through the hallтАЩs arched opening into the cluttered, comfortable living room and stopped, a
little startled to see a strange man sitting in one of the recliners. He stood up as she entered the room,
smilingтАФbut she could see by the way his dark gaze narrowed slightly that he was sizing her up. Even a
few weeks ago, the careful scrutiny would have made her horribly self-conscious. She was the youngest
S.T.A.R.S. member ever to be accepted for active duty, and knew that she looked itтАФbut if anything
positive had come from the incident at the Umbrella lab, it was that she no longer cared much about
things like social embarrassment. Facing down a house full of monsters tended to put things in
perspective that way. Besides which, being stared at had gotten pretty routine since then.