bullets and bouquets

22

"The Rhodes are here," the secretary says to the chief of police.

"Come on in," he says as the two Americans sit down in the Sicily police station.

"It's all over the news, you know?" Isla's father asks. The two found out only moments before it was broadcasted on national television.

***

"What? That can't be. She's not dead, she can't be. She can't..."

"Sicily police have found what they believe to be the body of study abroad student, Isla Rhodes. The twenty-two-year-old senior has been missing for over a month since traveling to Italy," a reporter says on CNN, "There are no reports on the cause of death or where she was found yet, more to come on this harrowing case as it develops..."

"As I was saying, the US Ambassador and our station have been talking. We will support you in a trip out to our station to identify the body..."

***

"I'm very sorry about that, Sir. It is hard to keep reporters and journalists away," the chief explains, "but you know we do have a body in the morgue. From pictures, it appears to be Isla, but we do need someone to make an ID."

"Where is she?" Isla's mother asks.

"This way," he stands up. He leads the two out of the station and to his squad car, along with the US Ambassador. They drive to the morgue, "I have parents here to make an ID on Jane Doe 1."

"Yes, give me a minute to bring her out," the mortician says. The chief nods and the mortician goes to prepare the body.

"Right this way," the chief leads them down the hallway and in front of a window. The blinds are down so they cannot see, "ready?"

The two parents nod, already teary-eyed. The chief knocks on the window. The mortician raises the blinds, a body covered up by a sheet. The mortician then pulls the sheet down over the body's face.

"Oh my god," her mother cries, looking away. The chief looks to the two parents. Her father nods, tears running down his face.

"It's her. It's Isla."

***

Sadie's been recovering faster than the average person, having been shot before. She's been preparing a surprise for Isla, something that the brunette is not expecting at all.

It's about dinner time when Isla comes out to an empty living room. She thinks Sadie is at the infirmary getting a check-up done on her shoulder, so she heads in that direction.

"Sadie? Carlo?" the brunette calls in the infirmary. Carlo comes out from his office, knowing the plan.

"What can I do for you, Miss?" he asks

"I'm looking for Sadie, I thought she was getting her check-up done?"

"Oh, she did. She left five minutes ago. Went to see Felipé I believe," he informs her

"Oh, thank you," she says. He nods and she leaves the infirmary. She walks back towards the living room.

"Surprise!"

"What the!" she yells, scared by people jumping out at her. She looks at the crowd of people, Sadie, Denmar, and the usual servants, but she doesn't recognize some of the faces, "what is this?"

Sadie steps forward toward Isla and grabs her hand, "I wanted to hold a celebration tonight. For you."

"For me? Why?" the brunette questions.