Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 7

Wednesday,April 27th,2024 6pm

Tony's Scene:

Tony and his girlfriend Vanessa were snuggling up on the long,light grey,sectional couch at Tony and Tino's house in the cinema room they had. It was a nice cinema room with 2 sectionals and 4 chairs and an 82 inch TV that really made it a cinema.

They were watching a romantic-thriller, which neither of them could get in the mood to watch. Vanessa was all dolled up for the evening- her lips painted in the usual dark red color she always chose. She also worn long fake eyelashes and peachy blush. Her beautiful bronde hair was done up in a loose, sexy, bun. She wore a purple dress with no sleeves that stuck to her figure perfectly. Tony was well dressed also. His thick, curly, head of hair was down, neatly combed through, the curls laying in a beautiful way. He wore a white shirt that was rolled up to his elbows with a satin blue vest and pants that matched.

Vanessa couldn't stop thinking about the sight she seen the other day. She grabbed the remote from Tony's lap and paused the movie.
"What's wrong?" ,Tony asked,putting his big hand on her jaw and giving her a quick kiss.
"It's about the other day.",Vanessa said pouting.

Tony sighed,"I've been waiting for you to bring that up."

"Oh how do you stand that?", she snarled."Seeing someone dead?"

Tony thought for a moment how to explain that it doesn't bother him so much to work around a bunch of dead corpses day in and day out. Something not many people understand. "Well, I guess I know that because they're dead the only way I can hurt them is to not help them."

Vanessa scrunched up her face." But the sight of a dead body. It just seems so....grotesque."
"I mean I admit there are times some cases get to me. One time when I was a police officer, I found a dead body floating in a lake. The guy was all puffed up and decaying rapidly. The fish had ate on him and he practically had no face."

"Yuck what's the point you're making?", Vanessa said with a disgusted look.

"That I've just had to get over what bothers me so I can help these people. Because if I don't, then I can't be a detective", Tony said forwardly. "But this line of work is not for everybody", he added.

"Tony I don't know how to get through this. I've been having nightmares ever since I seen that woman's dead body.",Vanessa admitted.

"You've been having nightmares over it? I didn't know it was that bad", he said hugging her tightly. "It can be a very traumatic thing for a lot of people. I'm so sorry you had to see that. I wish you and mom hadn't walked in that building with the rest of us." Tony couldn't help but to thin it was his fault.After all, he wanted his close friends and family there.

"I've been thinking about seeing a Councilor.",Vanessa said, looking at Tony to get his reaction.

To y shrugged. "It might not be a bad idea. Some people do after something like this has happened."

Vanessa ran her hair fingers through Tony's hair, trying to get her mind off of everything. "So do you think you will find whoever killed her? It's weird she ended up in your office like that."

Tony had not yet talked to Vanessa about the note or what they suspected. It was hard for him to open up and talk about Tia to anyone but his brother, who he knew he could get emotional with."I don't know", he answered briefly, not telling her anymore than that. "We think we have a good lead."

"Well let me know what happens with it." Vanessa sunk her head into Tony's chest."For some reason ever since I seen her dead body I've wanted nothing more than to see that guy caught. It was just looking at her, so cold and helpless. It made me feel helpless."

Tony's face became sullen."I understand. That's what it feels like every time I see a dead body."

Tino's Scene:

With his brother at their house for a date night,Tino Bertelli decided to go out for a chance. He was single unlike his brother, and he was going to make every second that night worth while. He started by going to play poker with an old friend from high school.

"Great shot." Corey Anderson said patting Tino on the back as he knocked 3 balls in the pocket at once. Corey was kind of an average looking guy-medium sized build, with short, brown hair and a goatee. - But his personality was not so average. He was a loud mouth and would say whatever came to his mind.

"You still got it Tino. And it's about time you stop working long enough to hang out with your old friend."

"I needed a way to clear my mind so I can investigate with a new mentality."

"So what, are you a hippie now?", Corey joked focusing the pool stick on a ball.

"It would'nt be as fun."

"You know what would be even funner though?" Corey asked with his bad vocabulary. He focused on on the ball,shot it with a pool stick,and knocked 2 balls in the pocket."Meeting women."

Tino rolled his eyes." No. I've told you before,I'm interested in women. It's my career only right now."

"Tony doesn't let that stop him."

"No he doesn't. But I'm not Tony. I'm Valentino Mario Bertelli",he said in annoyance. It always ticked him off for someone to assume him and his brother should be just alike.

"Eh, you just like dead people too much.", Corey said leaning backing us pool stick ,waiting for Tino to make his turn."Have you ever actually been out on a date dude? I've never known of you being with a woman."

Tino felt even more annoyed at this question,quickly making a shot,hitting one ball in the pocket. He sat his pool stick down and looked at Corey with an aggrevated look. "I don't feel like I have to explain myself to anyone."

Corey took a step back ,putting out his hands. " Okay ,fine. You win. Just be lonely and miserable."

"I'm not miserable or lonely."

Corey looked at the table longingly, trying to see where he could make his next shot,knowing he had to get a head of Tino soon. "So,what about Tia? Can I ask about that girl? Have you gotten any closer to finding her?"

Tino's face sank."No,we haven't come any closer."

There were times that Tino wished people wouldn't mention Tia. It was hard for him to go through everyday without one of his triplets, and people could make it worse.

Corey kneeled down to the pool table,placing the stick on it and readjusting it."Don't worry, you will. Dang I remember her in high school. Hot thing she was."

Tino shot Corey a bad look from behind. "Thank goodness she didn't go for you."

"You know the last time I seen her, it was the day before she went missing. She didn't act totally normal. I mean she was telling me to buzz off and whatever like usual. But she acted like something was up."

Tino looked in shock. He never thought his sister acted strange before her disappearance."She did?", he asked suprised.

Corey shot the stick, not getting one ball in the pocket, shaking his head."Yeah, but I assumed it was something over Sammy. I still believe it was some little something. I'd never believe that girl would run away."