Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 4

Mario, Tony, and Tino were all gathered in the small office that was going to belong to Tony. The office had a couple of black chairs and a simple desk, along with few posters of Mariska Hargitay hanging up. Some pictures of Tony and Vanessa were framed and sitting on his desk. He had a small bookshelf that made the office smell like the refreshing scent of old books.

The commissioner, a tall, chunky, half bald man by the name of Bain Ligman walked in, handing Mario a note left by the murderer, as Mario was sitting in Tony's desk chair in anticipation of what would be said. He read over the letter carefully, his hands starting to shake slightly and his eyebrows frowning.

Tony and Tino both had a horrible feeling in the pit of their stomachs. "What does it say dad?", Tino asked impatiently, his palms starting to sweat.

Mario's voice cracked as he read it:

"To the Bertelli brothers -

Let this be a warning. This time it was your secretary. The next time it will be your sister. You want to keep her alive? You better shut down your business before it even starts.

-Sincerely,

Don"

Everyone sat in silence for a few minutes. There was pain in the silence. "So, whoever killed Jade also has Tia apparently," Tino said surprised, his heart pounding as he thought about it.

Tony's face got red and hot with anger. He clenched his fists together until his knuckles turned white. The fact that someone had his sister, and he wasn't able to know where she was to protect her drove him mad. "We have to find him. We have to find whoever did this to our sister!"

"What are you thinking?!" Mario exclaimed, standing up and waving his hands angrily. "He will kill Tia if you two do any investigations! Please, I'Ive been looking for my daughter for so long. You can't let him kill her."

"Mr. Bertelli", Bain said gently, turning his attention to Mario. "If this really is the person that has your daughter, I don't believe he would kill her now after 10 years. He is getting nervous because he knows your sons are after him. They could still investigate, but they need to do so tactfully."

Tony looked at his dad consolingly, taking his man bun down to help himself relax. He hated wearing it up. The only time he did was either for work or on special occasions to look good. His long, curly, black hair rested on his shoulders like an old 70s rockstar would only wish. "Dad, we don't want anything to happen to Tia either. But if we back down now we'll never find her. You have to know it will be okay."

Mario rested his head in his hand and then threw it up in the air. "What am I supposed to tell your mother?! 'Oh, the boys are investigating the murder of their secretary. And by the way, the killer left a note behind saying that he would kill Tia in the process." Do you know how your mother would react?!"

"Don't tell her anything. Not now", Bain told Mario strictly. He stooped down to where he was and put his big hand on Mario's arm. " I'm a father too. You are thinking like a father, not a detective. You've got to think clearly. Tony and Tino are detectives. They know all the protocols to take stay safe. And while we can't promise Tia will be safe, it just doesn't make sense that they would hurt her all of a sudden; Not after having her for 10 years."

"Could I ask a reasonable question though?", Tino interrupted, raising his hand up. "There are so many detectives out there. Would it really be practical to have us to investigate? I mean, it could just make things worse if they find out e are investigating."

Bain put his hands together and glanced over Tino's head, as to think for a moment before speaking. "I think this one is important for you two to do. You talked to Jade for a bit and got her work records, whereas nobody else on the police force did. You might be able to find out more information. And you know more about your sister's disappearance than any detective we have. It would take hours to catch another detective up on what you guys know."

Mario sighed as he rested his hand on his mouth. "Okay, okay," he said accepting what the commissioner was saying. "What do we know so far about Jade's case? I am a detective too and I want to know what we are dealing with."

"So far this is what's on record", he said pulling out his large, black, iPhone, reading from an app the police collect files on for investigations. Bain straightened up in his chair and crossed one leg over the other and started to read in a bit of a monotone voice.

"Jade Thompson, 28 years old, 5'2" ,110lbs, blonde hair, green eyes, Caucasian. Clothing and accessories at time of death: Black sweater, yellow crop top shirt, jeans, black sneakers, and a diamond ring placed on left ring finger. Estimated time of death: 12:38am. Estimated to be dead 7 and a half hours before discovery. Probable cause of death: Gunshot wound to either the chest or abdomen, followed by two more gunshot wounds. NOTE: Autopsy results have not come back yet. No signs of breaking and entering found in the place the body was discovered.

Evidence:

Note left at crime scene (Still to be analyzed)

No key to the place the body was discovered found on or around victim, probably taken from the killer.

One missing shell casing from the abdomen, likely missing from outside the body (Still to be checked during autopsy) The other 2 shell casings are lodged in victim.

No fingerprints found.

DNA evidence still to be determined."

Bain cleared his throat after reading. "And we will have 24/7 police surveillance around the business, just in case the killer tries to come back. Do you have any alarm systems or cameras set up?"

"No because someone said that would be impractical out of a detective's business", Tino said giving Tony a sharp look, placing the blame on him."

Tony started to open his mouth when the commissioner cut him off. "Well now you have cameras, provided by the police department."

Tony leaned forward from the tan colored love seat he was sitting in. "So, if the last shell casing isn't found, that means someone really was trying to be careful not to leave behind any evidence."

Mario tried pulling himself together, taking a breath and holding back tears. "Just like with Tia. They never left any evidence behind when she was taken either."

Tino started pacing the floor and thinking. "They just think they haven't left any evidence behind. There is always something there. They always screw up somewhere. We just got to think of where."