Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 2

Tony and Tino arrived at the place of their new business. They were riding in Tony's 2024 Black Hyundai Santa Cruz. It was a gift that he bought for him and Tino when they learned they were finally going to get their own detective business.

They met up with their parents and Tony's cute girlfriend of 3 years, Vanessa Gonzalez. With her silky, curly, blondish-brown dyed hair, her full figure, and her dark red lipstick she always wore, Vanessa instantly caught Tony's attention when they first met. And her loud-but-sweet personality made him fall in love with her even quicker. She was truly the love of his life.

As they all met outside, it was a cool, breezy spring day in April. Since it was early morning, it was especially cool, but at the same time enjoyable enough to still be outside. The city was loud like usual, with cars honking and people trying to yell to catch taxis. The air had a smoke-like dusty smell from all of the city's air pollution. Most people were either out walking their dogs, riding their bikes, or getting public transportation for work. It was a lovely day where anyone would want to be out.

They all met up at the small, house-like building that was soon to be the Bertelli's business. The building was chestnut brown and vintage looking. It looked exactly as the Bertelli brothers wanted it to.

"There's my boys that I'm so proud of," said a man with similar looks as to those of Tony and Tino all for the exception that his eyes were light blue instead of black. It was their father, Mario Bertelli, who had almost anticipated this day as much as his own twin sons. A father full of pride, Mario was happy to be there for that important day that would soon start off their careers.

Vanessa ran up to Tony and wrapped her arms around him, and gave him a kiss on his thick, Italian lips. "Oh, I'm so excited for you", she gushed as she smiled sweetly, her medium brown eyes staring into his. She looked quickly over to Tino. " And I'm excited for you too, of course."

"Thanks", Tino said quickly raising and lowering his eyebrows and using a sarcastic tone. He knew that Vanessa really was not as excited for him, but it was rightfully so.

Their mother jealously pushed Vanessa out of Tony's arms, shooting her an envious look. "I'm excited for them too, since I'm their mother you know."

"Oh, why yes of course", Vanessa readily agreed in a nervous tone.

It was always awkward for Tony to have his mother and girlfriend in the same place together. While Vanessa always tried to have a good relationship with her, Isabella Bertelli had a very strong, stern, personality and insisted on having things go her way. She particularly didn't like any girls hanging around her sons. She was also never afraid of using her mouth and saying just what she thought, despite being short and petite and not very intimidating. She could be a truly kind and loving women at times, but jealousy often overtook when Vanessa was around.

Tino scratched the back of his head nervously, always concerned that what his mom might say would start a fight. And today was not the day for that. "Mom, I think she knows", he agreed.

"But I'm also a girlfriend. And I am Tony's girlfriend," Vanessa pointed out.

Isabella stared at her sharply. Tony and Tino's eyes both got big, worried about what would happen next. "Anyways, come on over here, give me a hug," Tino said trying to shift the conversation. He held out his arms for his mother to hug him.

As his mother swarmed her arms into his brother, Tony pulled out a little golden key from his pocket, happy that he could always count on his brother to help him out when trying times came while dealing with their mother. Tony was trying to keep the conversation going another direction. "Here it is. Here's the gold of the day", he said with a big smile.

Their father looked at his two boys with the utmost pride." You two have worked so hard for this. Ever since you were little and wanted to become detectives, you both have put forth tremendous work to make your dreams come true. I really couldn't ask for better sons.

"Dad don't get soppy", Tino said with a slight smile.

"Well, it's not everyday a father can say that his sons are opening up their own detective business at only age 25. That's rare for anyone to do," Mario pointed out with a wide smile.

"Your father's right", Isabella agreed. "It takes a lot of talent and determination to accomplish all of this."

"Uhm, didn't you guys say you were expecting a secretary to meet us here or something?" Vanessa asked."Because it's 8:00 am. It's time to open, and she's obviously not here."

"Yeah, we have a secretary we hired in a few weeks ago for the job," said Tino." She is supposed to be here by now. Maybe she's just running late."

Tony rolled his eyes." Great she's running late on her first day. Guess that's what we get for desperately hiring from one of those employment websites for job hirings."

"Oh, who cares about her?!", their mother exclaimed. "She's nobody close to the family. Go ahead and open the business. You guys have been advertising everywhere. I'm sure you'll get allot of calls for jobs soon and you need to be in there to answer phone calls, with or without her."

"Your mothers right." Their father said rubbing his hands together in excitement." Go ahead and open."

The utter excitement built up in everyone. This was one of the biggest days of Tony and Tino's life. From this moment on, their whole lives would change. They were determined to become well-known investigators, and this was just chapter one.

"This is for you sis", Tony said kissing the key then starting to put it in the door, everyone smiling and full of joy and anticipation. With the key barely touching the lock, Tony pulled the key away. "Wait. No no no. Tino, here", he said handing the key to him."You honestly worked harder than I have for this. You go ahead. Open it."

Tino awkwardly chuckled and thought for a moment. "No, I haven't worked harder, I just haven't got as many distractions", he said glancing at Vanessa with a quick smile. "But dad is the one that taught us so much. He deserves to open it." Tino handed the keys to their dad, whose eyes lit up." Me? No. I couldn't. It's you guys who have done all of this."

Isabella snatched the keys out of Mario's hands. She threw her other arm up and grabbed her hair as if she would pull it out. It was thankfully curly and put back into a ponytail, so you couldn't tell it had been pulled at. "Well, someone has to open it. And I birthed you two. I deserve it, and I'll do it." Isabella jammed the key in the hole and quickly turned the lock, pushing the dark brown, hard wood, door open.

As they all hurried inside, their faces that were overwhelmed with excitement suddenly turned into faces overwhelmed with horror. They stopped at the entrance. The air was stale. The smell of metal filled the room. A sight was set before them that they would never forget. Not too far from everyone, maybe 20 feet away, laid a dead, bloody, body of a young woman sprawled out on the cold, hardwood, floor. The woman was dead for sure. There was too much blood around her for her to be alive.

Vanessa started screaming and hiding her face in Tony's chest. Isabella gasped for breath, frozen in shock. "You and Vanessa go outside and call the police", Mario demanded of his wife, trying to get her and Vanessa away from the horrific scene. "Tell them I'm here as well."

Tony and Tino stared at each other and back to the body, speechless and in shock. They could read each other's minds: "How could this happen?" Tino suddenly looked closer. He approached the body with a few more steps and studied her face. As he looked past the woman's pale skin with some of her hair thrown over her face, he recognized her: "Holy crap. It's Jade...our secretary."