The Revenge Scam

The Plan

"Okay where do we start?"

Sophia thought for a bit before answering.
"How do I word this? Well okay...my family is quite wealthy and let's just say powerful in some places."

Her eyes glared around as she was thinking how to explain what exactly happened.
"So one day I was online...and I fell for a scam."

"A scam?! That's stu-"
She looked up at Charles and he froze.

"I-I mean sad. That's sad..."

Phew didn't give that away he thought as he looked back at his notepad.

"Well they took a fair bit of my money, as well as my family's. So I need that back or I will be in big trouble with my mom."

"What about your dad?"

"He's dead."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up."

"It's fine, he died a few years ago. I'm over it now. What about yours? Any of them dead?."

"Both actually."

"Shit! I definitely shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's fine, they died a few years ago also. Just like you I've gotten over it."

Charles looked down at his paper and finished writing down something.

"Hmm...this is obviously a scam case. Those aren't too hard...that is if you know who they are. Do you?"

"Of course I do, I know this is all for revenge. This group has been going after my family's business for years now. It was about time they finally took something. It was getting a bit boring with nothing happening."

"Alright, so this is certainly a start. May I ask, who are they?"

"The Mafia."

"The-the what?"

Charles sat back and looked back down at his paper. No, there is no way. The mafia?! She has to be joking with me.

"I know you think I'm just some weird detective kid, but you better not be joking with me."

"I'm not. I said what I said, it's the mafia."

"May I ask what your family does?"

"Uh...just money transfers. The mafia just loves money and such."

She laughed and he felt fear go over him.
He's never, in the many years he's known her, heard her laugh.

Something about that laugh felt off. And it wasn't just because it was her doing it.

"Okay so...care to give me anything you know about this group."

"For starters..."

For the rest of lunch they talked about everything she knew.
As Charles was writing down everything he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his chest.

'Some asked me to do a real case! And one with the mafia in it! This day couldn't be cooler!'
He thought as he started to finish up on writing down everything.

"Great! I'm very excited about this. You did say they are based in Italy, and as wonderful as my internet is, I'm not sure how I can get to them."

"Obviously you won't be doing it from here. We are both going to Italy."

"We what?"

Charles felt as if during this conversation his comprehension skills have died down.

"Don't worry about school. My family will have that covered."

"But won't people be skeptical if we both leave."

"No they won't. No one notices you and well for me no one cares."
She took the last bite of her sandwhich and stood up to leave.

"This was a great talk but I have to go to my next class. Can't be late."

"But didn't you say you don't care about your classes?"

"Oh I don't. I just want to be first so my teacher thinks I put in effort."

And with those final words she parted from the table. And Charles sat there alone once more.

"Go to Italy with a person like her and solving a case? Or staying here and trying to make friends?"

He knew in his mind there was only one right answer.

"Siri, how do you say detective in Italian?"