Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 17

Monday,May1rst,2024

Vanessa Gonzales had decided to go to a Councilor like she was talking to Tony about. She got a great recommendation from a close friend and decided to see Vincent Drake,a more mature,educated man that had studied psychology for a number of years.

"Hello Miss Gonzales it's nice to meet you", Dr Drake said as met Vanessa out in the lobby,leading her to his office."

"Hello. It's nice to meet you to."

Entering the office,the room was very plain,and had an old psychology feel to it. There were no paintings,and no real decorations."Please take a seat anywhere.",Dr Drake said.

"Thank you.",Vanessa replied,sitting down in a dark brown leather chair,trying to be comfortable even though the office wasn't designed in her taste.

"Let's start by getting to know each other first.", Dr Drake said kindly but a bit serious." I'm Vincent Drake. You can call me Vince or Dr or whatever you would like. I've been practicing psychology for 30 years. And anything you say will be kept in this room.",he reassured her.

"That's good to know",Vanessa said relieved to hearing that.

"Now, tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do for work? What's your home life like? And so on."

"Well I am a hair stylist at Rainbow Boutique. I do men and women's hair,and I'm trained to do African American people's hair as well. The boutique is where I met my boyfriend Antonio. He came in to get his hair trimmed and,well,it went on from there. So you could say my life is pretty good."

"Well that's good. So tell me. What brings you in today?", Dr drake asked,crossing his legs and taking notes.

Vanessa wasn't sure how she should answer that. It would be kind of complicated to tell someone that you seen a dead body inside your boyfriend's place of work, but yet he has no idea how the body got there."Oh. Well,it's my boyfriend. His name is Tony. I mean it's not actually about Tony. Well,I guess it is.

"Is this your first time going to therapy?",he asked with a slight smile

"Yes",Vanessa admitted.

"Oh I see. Okay,take a breath and tell me exactly what's wrong."

As Vanessa took a breath in,she said everything with one breath out."So my boyfriend Tony is a new detective and him and his twin brother just opened up their own business and well I was there when they had their big grand opening and their secretary was murdered and left dead in the office."

Dr Drake cleared his throat,trying to process everything."Oh my. I'm sure that was not a very good sight for you to see."

"No. It wasn't. It was so...horrid. ",Vanessa agreed,still being able to picture the gruesome murder in her mind.

"Tell me what was the most horrid part for you?",Dr Drake asked curiously.

"She was laying there,covered in blood.",Vanessa replied in disgust."Seeing someone that had been murdered,that was a sickening thing to see. I couldn't help her."

"Oh,I see.",Dr Drake replied."So it sounds like it bothered you that you couldn't do anything to help her."

Vanessa started to choke up."Yeah. It did. I mean seeing the woman lay there after being murdered...just left to lay there by herself...it was a horrible sight."

"Well and seeing a dead body is something most people find disturbing.",Dr Drake reassured her.

"Very disturbing. But that's what I don't understand. My boyfriend has seen probably a hundred dead bodies. I don't know how he does it . He says he wants to help people,but how do you stand to see someone that's been killed?"

"That's a good question. I'm not very keen to the idea of a dead body myself. But people are different. Everyone tolerates things differently. Tell me,how has this event affected you?"

"Oh my. It's affected me a lot. I've had nightmares every night. I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes,all I see is her. And it dominates the most of my day. They haven't caught her killer yet, but I just wish they would. It bothers me that the person out there could do this again."

"That's all very understandable . It means that you have a strong sense of justice. By the way," Dr Drake questioned her", have you ever watched a crime show."

"Yeah of course. My boyfriend wouldn't let me get away with not watching them.",she laughed.

"And what is your reaction to them? To seeing dead bodies on a crime show"

"Oh I'm perfectly fine with it. But, it's not for real.",Vanessa pointed out.

"Your right", Dr Drake agreed." It's totally different. But crime shows don't give you nightmares?"

"No."

"And they don't leave you thinking about what happened for days on end?"

"No."

Dr Drake tapped his pencil on his pad of paper, thinking for a moment."I think we're onto something. Tell me Vanessa,how satisfied are you with your current job?"

"You mean at the salon?",Vanessa asked confused as to why he would ask that.

"Yes."

Vanessa smiled in disbelief she was being asked such a question. 'Who would go to school for something they don't even like?' ,she asked herself.

"I've been a hairstylist for 3 years. I went to school for it."

"That's not what I asked",Dr Drake replied. He looked at Vanessa intently."I asked if you like your job."

"I do it full time. Were there the typical Monday through Friday from 9-5. I style hair,cash checks,do laundry,do inventory,and whatever else needs done. If I didn't love it I wouldn't be doing it."

"So what do you love about it?"

"Well,I love to style hair." ,Vanessa replied.

"Do you love doing all the other stuff? Like cashing checks?"

Vanessa thought for a moment." Well,no. I don't think anyone really likes that kind of thing. It's just something you have to do as part of your job."

"I think we're onto something.",Dr Drake said smiling."I love my job Vanessa. I love it because I help people,but I love all the rest too. I love filing papers,getting late night calls from clients that need my help,and having to type out endless amounts of notes. When you really love your job and are doing something you want to do, you love every part of it."

"What are you saying?" Vanessa asked as she was thinking deeply about what Dr Drake was saying.

" I want you to think about it for yourself."