Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 9

             Friday,April 29th,2024 | 8pm

It was finally Friday, the day the Bertelli brothers had been waiting for. They visited the NYC Breeze to meet Malcom Hayes, their possible killer. It was of course Tony's idea to dress to fit the occasion. As they walked in the bar, Tony had on well fitting black jeans with a light grey tshirt and his classic black leather jacket. He wore his hair down,showing off his curls. He had Tino to wear tight dark grey pants with a dark blue button down short sleeved shirt that had the first few buttons popped open,which showed off his muscles. His hair was in its natural short style, filled with curls.

"I think this is a bit wilder of a bar than what we're used to." Tino whispered as they sat down at a table,watching the crowd around them. Women were wearing cheap dresses,leaving with men for obviously prostitution. Some people were slipping drugs to one another. While there was a lot of drinking,there was a lot more other things going on besides drinking. And how fortunate the Bertelli brothers reminded themselves that they were to have went with every day clothing instead of dressing up. Anything to give them away to be cops would not be the best way to get what they needed tonight.

They both felt odd for ordering non alcoholic beverages. But they knew how much trouble they could get in for drinking while being cops.  Sitting at a small medal table in the corner, they were waiting to find their guy.Tino took a big drink of his glass of water he was shy to have."Show me a picture of Hayes again."

Tony took out his phone,showing Tino a picture of a scraggly guy that looked like he had a hard life. For someone who was in his 30's ,he looked to be almost 50. He was partially balding ,and what hair he had was dark blonde. He had dark eyes and a light moustache. On the side of his left face he had a small dragon tattoo that would easily give him away.

The bartender came around with Tony's Coca Cola. "Excuse me," Tony said showing the bartender Malcom's picture on his phone ", have you seen this man before? His name is Malcom Hayes."

The bartender looked at the Bertelli brothers with a very distant face."I just work here. I don't know anyone."

"Hey" ,Tino said staring him down as he flashed his badge. "This man could have done something very wrong. And if he did, you will be arrested for withholding information." While they both Tony and Tino knew that wasn't exactly true,they also knew how important it was to find out what they could about Malcolm Hayes."

The bartender's face started to soften."Okay. He comes in here every Friday."

"Has he ever seen strange to you? What do you know about him?",asked Tony.

"Not much", the bartender responded quickly, trying to go about his buisness.

"We can protect you", Tino said in a sincere,convincing voice."We're detectives. We can keep you safe if you have anything important to tell us." Tino stepped in front of where the bartender was walking, getting his attention. "Do the right thing", Tino said.

"What's going on? Why are you guys even here?",the man asked concerned.

"Malcom's girlfriend Jade is dead. And we'd -"
The bartender cut Tony off. "Oh no. I knew this was going to happen", he said dreadfully.

"What do you mean", Tony asked.

The man sighed."Malcom's always had a bad temper. And he beats on every woman he ever dates. Him and Jade came in here all the time,and usually I'd have to call the cops because Malcolm would start beating on her in front of everyone.And a couple weeks ago I overheard him talking on the phone. He said "I'm going to get rid of Jade for good." Now that's ALL I know."

The man started to turn away when Tony stopped him nodding across the room."One more thing. Is that him over there?"
"Looks like him", the bartender said before going off.

The Bertelli brothers gave each other a look before getting up from their table and grabbing their drinks. "Let's go for it.",Tony said.
Approaching the man sitting by himself drinking Rum with coke,both of the brothers' hearts started beating fast. They were both thinking and feeling similar things. Not only could this man be the murderer and they could solve their first case as sole investigators . But does this man know where Tia is? After 10 years could this be it? Could they really be close to seeing their sister again?
"Are you Malcom Hayes?",Tino asked ,approaching the man.
He glared up at the two brothers with an extremely leary look,giving off a rough attitude." Who wants to know?"
They both quickly flashed their badges." I'm Tony and this is my brother Tino. We are both NYP. ",Tony said trying to match the same attitude.

"Let me guess, you're here because of that bimbo Jade." Malcom said taking a drink of rum,acting like Jade was still alive and well." "Yes we are.",Tino replied.

"And I assume you know she is dead?",asked Tony.

"Yep" Malcolm stated with no emotion.
Tino put his hand on his waist, looking at the man with great interest, wondering why he is not afraid to act like he doesn't care that  there's someone dead, all the while the police are questioning him "I'm taking it that it doesn't concern you that your girlfriend was murdered?"

"Ex-girlfriend." Malcom quickly corrected him.
They were both taken back. "I have a lot of ex girlfriends too,and none of whom I'm heartbroken over any more.",Tony stated. "But I have to say, if I found out any of them were murdered, I'd be a little upset."

"Eh Jade was just a loud mouth woman that wanted her way at everything. Here she didn't want an open relationship,and I mean I know because I asked. But then I caught her sleeping with other men all the time. She just didn't want me to be with other women."

"Well Mr Hayes, "Tino said,"why don't we take you in for a little questioning? There's just a few things we'd like to ask."

Malcom smirked."How about we don't, you worthless cop?"

"What are you so afraid of Mr Hayes?", Tony said bluntly.

"I'm not afraid of nothing", Malcom mocked in Tony's face. "Go ahead and ask me right here. I didn't have anything to do with her turning up dead."

"Oh really? And where were you on Sunday night between 12:00 midnight and 12:38am?" Tino asked quickly, hoping to catch the man stumbling around on the question.

"I was right here", Malcom answered quickly. "Ask the bartender. Ask the sexy woman in the pink mini dress over there. Ask the messed up guy sitting over there.", Malcom said pointing to each person as he spoke ."Ask anyone. I was here from 10pm until 2am."