Chris Wilson

Chris Wilson is a character created by George Pelecanos. He appears in Right as Rain. He is a Washington DC police officer who is fatally shot by fellow officer Terry Quinn.

Quinn was cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting and the department initially characterised it as self defence. The media painted Wilson as a rogue officer who was killed while attacking a citizen.

Wilson's shooting was actually orchestrated by a drug gang - the Cherokee Mob. Wilson had been investigating the gang looking for his missing sister Sondra Wilson. She had become addicted to heroin and had ties to drug dealer Ricky Kane. Kane had supplied Sondra during the early stages of her addiction. As she became increasingly desperate for drugs Kane delivered her to his supplier Cherokee Coleman. She lived with Coleman's gang for a time, trading sex for drugs. As her appearance deteriorated they lost interest and she turned to prostitution, moving into a squat with other addicts.

Wilson tracked Kane and followed him to the Cherokee Mob's base of operations. He identified that corrupt police officer Adonis Delgado was working with the Cherokee Mob. Wilson photographed Delgado at the Cherokee Mob headquarters. Coleman and Delgado conspired to have Wilson killed to prevent him interfering in their operation. Delgado assigned the task to Eugene Franklin a corrupt police officer who he had introduced to the Coleman Mob. They had Kane lure Wilson out by claiming that he would reurn his sister to him. They plotted to drive Wilson over the edge by failing to deliver on the promise, creating a pretext for Franklin to kill him.

Franklin was partnered with Quinn, who was unaware of the plot. As predicted Wilson was enraged when Kane turned up without Sondra. He pulled his weapon and pinned Kane to the ground. When Franklin and Quinn came upon them Quinn Drew his weapon and ordered Wilson to disarm. Wilson shouted out his badge number to identify himself as a police officer. Franklin shouted over Wilson to prevent Quinn from understanding. Wilson recognised Franklin and went to fire at him. Quinn shot first, killing Wilson before he could fire at Franklin.

Chris' mother Leona Wilson hired private investigator Derek Strange to investigate the shooting. Strange determined the truth and the department posthumously honoured Wilson. Franklin killed himself when the truth was exposed. Strange took it upon himself to retrieve Sondra, with help from Quinn. Strange killed Delgado in the process.