Raymond set his glass down and continued explaining the situation. "The presidential executive order gave us the authority to create the agency, but building an entirely new response system takes time. We need training standards, experienced instructors, reliable procedures, and a real body of knowledge, yet abnormal incidents are happening too frequently for us to spend years developing everything before putting agents in the field."
The problem went deeper than simple recruitment. Because the Abnormal Incident Investigation Bureau had been created so recently, it did not even possess mature training manuals or enough qualified instructors to independently prepare its first generation of operational personnel. From the beginning, the federal government had known that conventional hiring alone would not solve the problem, so the AIIB had been granted special authority to recruit civilians with unusual abilities or proven experience dealing with supernatural threats.
"That's why I'm here," Raymond said, looking directly at Ash. "People like you already know things our future agents will need to learn. Your methods may not be standardized yet, but your experience can eventually become part of that standard. Join us, Ash. The country genuinely needs people who can survive this kind of work."
After talking for so long, Raymond finally emptied the glass of orange juice in front of him. Ash immediately picked up the bottle and refilled it before asking, "So what am I supposed to be, some kind of federal contractor they send in when things get weird?"
Raymond shook his head. "No. We don't divide people based on whether they came through conventional law-enforcement recruitment or external selection. If you join the AIIB, you become a full federal employee under the same employment framework as everyone else in an operational position."
Ash actually looked a little disappointed. "That's a shame. 'Mysterious government contractor' sounded cooler."
Raymond ignored that. "You would receive standard federal benefits, insurance, retirement coverage, and the protections attached to your position."
Ash nodded thoughtfully before leaning back. "Alright, then let's discuss the important part."
Raymond already knew what was coming.
"How much?"
Ash immediately raised a hand before the man could respond. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm not obsessed with money. I'm interested in broadening my horizons, serving the public, learning more about the supernatural, all that noble stuff. It just happens to be a job, and people usually like knowing what their jobs pay before signing anything."
Raymond gave him a patient nod. "That is completely reasonable. Recruitment is voluntary, and our compensation is deliberately higher than equivalent federal law-enforcement positions because of the risks involved."
He then explained how the AIIB currently organized its operational personnel. The rank structure was still simple because the agency itself was young: Agent, Senior Agent, Special Agent, Senior Special Agent, Branch Deputy Director, Branch Director, and finally Director-General at the top. Administrative and technical staff existed separately, but Ash had no reason to pay much attention to those positions since Raymond was clearly recruiting him for field work.
An entry-level Agent received a base salary of roughly sixty thousand dollars per year. Because supernatural field personnel automatically qualified for a twenty-percent special-duty allowance, the normal annual compensation came to approximately seventy-two thousand dollars before mission-specific bonuses were added.
Ash raised his eyebrows.
That was better than he expected.
For an eighteen-year-old about to start college, seventy-two thousand dollars a year was already an excellent income. It was considerably more than many ordinary police officers earned and put a brand-new AIIB field agent surprisingly close to the compensation of experienced detectives in some departments.
The salary was only part of the package. Raymond listed hazardous-mission pay, housing assistance in qualifying assignments, federal medical coverage, insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, additional recovery time after dangerous operations, legal protection for authorized actions, and security measures for immediate family members when a case created a credible retaliatory threat.
External recruits received one more benefit.
"There is also a special recruitment incentive," Raymond said. "Once your contract is signed, you receive a one-time bonus equivalent to three months of your base salary."
Ash's eyes brightened noticeably.
Raymond immediately added, "It vests after one full year of service. If you resign before completing that year, you repay the unearned portion."
Ash reached over and placed a solemn hand on Raymond's shoulder. "Ray, I can tell this country has finally recognized the importance of investing in exceptional young talent. You don't need to convince me anymore. Where do I sign?"
Raymond stared at him for a moment.
Apparently the salary presentation should have come first.
He had spent all that time explaining national security, supernatural preparedness, institutional development, and the future of federal paranormal response when three months of signing bonus accomplished the job almost instantly.
"We can sign today," Raymond said at last.
He opened his briefcase and removed a prepared employment contract, placing it on the coffee table. "You should still read everything carefully. If you want to discuss it with your family before making a decision, you can. As I said, no one is forcing you to join."
"No need."
Ash picked up the contract and began reading.
Despite his casual attitude, he did not blindly sign. He checked the employment terms, confidentiality requirements, compensation, benefits, disciplinary provisions, operational authority, resignation conditions, and several pages concerning classified information. Once he confirmed there was nothing obviously unreasonable hidden in the paperwork, he took the pen Raymond provided and signed his name.
Raymond collected the contract.
Ash pointed toward another section. "What's this one-week onboarding course?"
"Mandatory orientation for externally recruited personnel. You may know how to fight supernatural entities, but that doesn't mean you know federal procedure."
That was difficult to argue with.
Raymond explained that the accelerated course covered the proper use of AIIB credentials, legal boundaries of field authority, procedures for requesting assistance from local police, standard language used when coordinating with other agencies, evidence handling, and post-incident reporting. It would not attempt to teach Ash how to fight ghosts or monsters in seven days; its purpose was to make sure he could operate inside a federal organization without creating administrative disasters.
Ash calculated the dates in his head. Hunter College would be starting soon, but a one-week course still fit neatly into the remaining time before classes began.
"Then I'll start tomorrow."
Raymond looked genuinely pleased. "Tomorrow?"
"Might as well get it done."
"I appreciate the enthusiasm." Raymond slid the signed contract safely into his briefcase. "The course is closed for the entire week, so let Gwen and Heather know you'll be away. You're allowed to tell them what agency you joined and the basic nature of the work. I'll come here tomorrow morning and take you to the training site."
Ash nodded.
Raymond finished what remained in his glass.
Ash immediately reached for the orange juice again.
"Here. Have another."
Raymond quickly covered the glass with one hand. "No."
"You've already had several."
"That is precisely why I'm saying no."
Ash looked disappointed. "I thought you liked it."
"I have been trying to be polite."
The amount of ice-cold juice Raymond had consumed over the past hour had already left his stomach uncomfortable, and the beginning of a headache pulsed behind his forehead. He stood, adjusted his suit, and picked up the briefcase. "I have several other matters to deal with today. Just make sure you're ready tomorrow morning."
Ash walked him toward the door.
Only then did he realize something.
"Wait. I never asked what your actual position is."
Raymond stopped.
Ash studied him. "Special Agent? Senior Special Agent?"
Raymond's mouth tightened slightly.
"I'm the New York Branch Director."
Ash stared at him.
Then his expression filled with genuine respect.
"Wow."
Raymond waited, perhaps expecting the young man to finally understand who had personally come to recruit him.
Ash nodded solemnly.
"You people really are understaffed."
Raymond closed his eyes for a moment.
That was his reaction?
Raymond Cross was the man responsible for the AIIB's entire New York branch. He was now officially Ash's superior, yet Ash had spent the whole meeting calling him Ray, pouring orange juice into his glass, patting his shoulder, and treating him like an older neighbor who had stopped by to discuss lawn care.
Not once had Ash called him Director.
Raymond suddenly suspected that expecting normal subordinate behavior from this particular recruit had been unrealistic from the beginning.
"You know," he said wearily, "most new employees become slightly more respectful after discovering they're talking to their boss."
Ash smiled. "I respect you."
"That somehow makes this worse."
Raymond sighed and stepped into the hallway. The AIIB had only recently been established, and running the New York branch already meant endless recruitment problems, administrative meetings, classified investigations, and supernatural incidents competing for limited personnel. Adding Ash Williams to that mixture promised to make his professional life considerably less predictable.
As the elevator doors closed, Raymond could only hope recruiting him had been the right decision.
Ash watched him leave before shutting the apartment door. He picked up the apron he had abandoned earlier, returned to the kitchen, and resumed the deep cleaning Gwen had assigned him.
While scrubbing the counter, however, his thoughts were already elsewhere.
He had just become a federal employee in a secret agency dedicated to investigating supernatural incidents, and tomorrow he would disappear for an entire week of closed training. Before Gwen and Heather came home, he needed to figure out how to explain exactly what had happened while they were gone.