Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 22

The weather had cleared up and it was a nice sunny day out now. The sun beat outside warmth down, without being overly hot.. It was about 5:00 pm,and it was a great time for Tony and Vanessa to go for a walk at a nearby park. They really hadn't got the chance to talk in a couple of days due to Tony's schedule, so they took the opportunity to be together. And Tony definitely needed a break.

Tony and Vanessa were holding hands as they walked Vanessa was wearing a white, floral, sundress that matched the time of year, and Tony had on a plaid shirt and black shorts that was comfortable enough for after work. They looked like a perfect match when anyone seen them together. There was no denying their love.

Tony shook his head, unable to get Jade and Tia's case out of his mind."I just don't know Nessa. This case is so weird. We get evidence, then everything turns out wrong. It's like a never ending cycle."

Vanessa knew him pretty well. She knew that a case simply did not bother Tony this bad. "Why do I feel like there's more to this case that's bothering you then what you are telling me?"

Tony knew that as a detective, he couldn't release any information about their being a connection to Tia. He couldn't tell Vanessa. Besides, he didn't feel like talking about it anyways. "There's not. I'm okay. I just really want to find this guy", he said stuttering a bit.

Vanessa knew there was something else going on, but wasn't going to press him. "I know you do. And you will. I know you. You are a great investigator. It's just going to take time."

"I guess. Look im sorry I've been abandoning you lately."

"No,I understand. It's okay." Vanessa was always a very sweet,understanding,person. The kind of woman that Tony needed to put up with him.

Tony stopped walking briefly to look at Vanessa."It's not okay. You are a beautiful,wonderful,woman that I love. I shouldn't let anything, not even my job, get in  between us." He gave her a quick but passionate kiss on the lips, adding proof that he meant what he said.

"What have you found out so far about the investigation?", Vanessa asked.

Tony had to make sure to not let anything slip about the connection to Tia. He couldn't say anything about the note. "Basically Jade was kissed sometime before or after she died,giving us dna for the murderer. But there is no sign of sexual consent. She was only kissed."

"Why does that sound odd?",Vanessa asked curiously.

"Because it is. Usually before a murder,a woman is raped,not just kissed. Also she had a ring on when she was found, and now we have to find that ring and match it. It could be at her ex boyfriend's house,at her husband's house,thrown into the dumpster somewhere,we just  aren't sure. It looked like a wedding ring. Oh and we found out that she was actually murdered in her own home, then dragged to our business. "

Vanessa became stiff in shock. "What?! That's insane! Why would someone do that?"

Tony held back from telling her the truth. It killed him to lie to her."It's gotta be something personal they have against us. But there's no connection between anyone Jade knew and us. I mean they even took the keys to the business."

"That is weird. So what are you guys going to do?",she asked in a worried tone.

"First of all,we're going to try to find that ring. My head already hurts just thinking about it."

Vanessa couldn't stop thinking about her therapy session. She needed to talk about it, and she knew that Tony needed to get this case off his mind."Tony can I ask you something?"

Tony was taken aback . Him and Vanessa shared everything together." Since when do you ask if you can ask me something?"

"Since I have some questions about life.",she answered with a serious tone.

"About life? Oh yeah",Tony suddenly remembers she went to a therapist on Monday ,and he hadn't asked about how it went."You went to that therapist didn't you? How did that go?"

"It went well. He made me think about a lot."

"Like what?"

"Tony do you love your job?",Vanessa asked, wanting a true honest answer.

"Of course I do!", he laughed,surprised at the question.

"But I mean...what about when you have to do paperwork and other things you don't like to do?"

"You mean like being stuck and not knowing who the murderer is?", he mumbled.

"Yeah like that."

Tony smiled."Well I still love my job. Even the things I don't like about it makes me love it."

Vanessa was a bit confused."How so?",she asked.

"Well even though I'm stuck right now in this case,I love to think. I love to put my brain in action and try to figure things out. It's like I want to catch this killer so bad,and it's driving me insane. I hate it so much it makes me love it. And after we catch this guy,all of our hard work will be payed off."

"So you do love everything about your job?",Vanessa asked, wondering if what her therapist said was really right,that you love everything about your job when you truly love your job.

"Yes",Tony replied automatically."Or I wouldn't be doing it, that's for dang sure.So this Dr you went to see, what did he tell you?"

"Well he's helping me find out why seeing a murderd body bothered me so bad. I mean,it's normal to feel that way. But maybe there's more to it with me."

"If it helps at all,it used to bother me when I first started doing police work.",Tony admitted reluctantly."The one thing that helped me was to know that no matter how badly the person had been hurt,they're not hurting now."

"That's actually really good way to look at it.",Vanessa agreed.

"By the way why did you ask me if I love my job? Because if you think I love it more than you, you are very much mistaken my dear."

Vanessa smiled as she loved how much she Tony told her he loved her."No that's not why I asked. It's just",she paused."I'm not sure I love mine."

"Being a hair dresser? I thought you adored it.",Tony said shocked.

"I thought I did too. I mean, I think I do. I'm not sure."

"Maybe your burnt out", Tony said trying to reassure her. "Everyone gets burnt out."

"Maybe", Vanessa said trying to agree. "I think I'm going to take my vacation at work early this year so I can figure this all out."

"Well, whatever you want to do, you know I'll always be here to support you."