‹ Prequel: Race Against Time

We'll Be Okay

Mafia Style

Isabella walked onto the scene with her kit. She set it down and looked at the body.
"Her name is Hurley Bordeaux, 19 years old, single gunshot wound executioner style. Visiting her brother on holiday, no one knows where she's from. We called you in because I can't get to my translator and I don't speak French", Don said. Isabella gave him a look.
"What makes you think I'm so fluent?" she said.
"Because Spanish, Italian, and French are similar, so I'm told", he replied, giving her a smirk.
"Alright, I'll talk to them", she said, walking to one of the people, a woman.
"Bonjour. Mon nom est détective Pacino et je voudrais vous poser quelques questions", she said graciously to the woman.
[Hello. My name is Detective Pacino and I'd like to ask you some questions]
"Mon nom est Jenny. Je savais que Hurley de son frère, Pete. Je suis venu pour vérifier sur elle, et j'ai vu son corps sur le terrain", the woman replied.
[My name is Jenny. I knew Hurley from her brother, Pete. I came to check on her, and I saw her body on the ground]

"Avez-vous toucher le corps?" Isabella asked. The woman shook her head.
[Did you touch the body?]
"Il y avait tellement de sang, je savais qu'elle était morte", Jenny replied.
[There was so much blood, I knew she was dead.]
"Merci pour votre temps. Si vous besoin de quelque chose, le ministère sera en contact", Isabella said, shaking the woman's hand.
[Thank you for your time. If you need anything, the department will be in touch.]

"Mac's on his way, told me to tell you if you need to examine the body for evidence to go ahead and do it", Don said. Isabella nodded and bent down to the body. She checked the pockets for her wallet.
"Aha, victory thy name is Izzy!" she said to herself. She opened the wallet and raised her eyebrows. New Orleans.
"Miss Bordeaux came far from home. License here says she's from New Orleans", she said, holding up the wallet. She moved the body and saw a card fall from being stuck on the victim's back. It was a joker card. Isabella's hand flew to her throat as her eyes set on the card. It had a jester with a Harlequin mask. She looked up at Don.
"We have a Mafia hit", she said.
"I wondered about that, but I didn't say anything", he replied. Isabella held up the joker card.
"This is Hells and Harlequins' signature. Hells and Harlequins is a French Mafia gang in New Orleans. They tried to push in on Pacino territory about five years ago, but we ran them out of town", she said. Why hadn't she put two and two together before?
"Do you think they'll go after the Pacino family now?" Don asked. Isabella shook her head.
"Shadow's Blade has this. Quick and efficient. H&H won't be able to get anywhere near me or my family", she replied. Shadow's Blade was the gang name for the Pacino crime family.
"Just be careful. Look both ways before crossing the street and don't talk to strangers", Don said, smirking. Isabella rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Daddy", she retorted. He hated it when she associated him with her father. Neither man got along with the other.
"Nóiméad-mharú" he teased in Gaelic.
[Moment-killer]

"D'iarr duine éigin a fuair a choinneáil do cheann sa chluiche, Flack", Isabella replied.
[Someone's got to keep your head in the game, Flack] She flashed him her famous half-moon smile before returning to work. She bagged the card and had just finished helping Hawkes lift the body onto the gurney.
"Mac, we got an H&H hit", she called as her boss stepped under the crime scene tape.
"You sure?" Mac said. Isabella held up the evidence bag with the card.
"I don't want you on scene with this one, Isabella. If the H&H are behind this, there's no doubt in my mind that they'll go after you and your brother", he said. She nodded.
"I'll stay in the lab for this case. I know a lot about the H&H, and I could be of service for this", she replied. She picked up her kit and walked to her Tundra. After getting the evidence in, she found there was a case-to-case hit with New Orleans and LA. The H&H had been tracking down mobsters all over America. Isabella's breath caught in her throat when she read the third name on the list. The H&H had previously hit Wilmington, North Carolina, Isabella's hometown. No doubt, Armando Pacino Jr's police file would be on record. There would be a joint investigation between the four crime labs. And SB would get caught in the middle. The Russian mob was currently trying to press in on the SB territory and were growing more and more bold with their threats.

"Mac, we got three case-to-case hits on the H&H", Isabella said, trying to calm herself. She handed him the tablet wordlessly.
"Los Angeles, California, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Wilmington, North Carolina. We'd be working with the CSIs in all three cities if they agreed to the joint investigation", he said. He was shocked and sickened by the names. Six victims in each cities.
"I know Aria De Luca-Rossi will agree to a joint investigation. Jameson Knight and Stella Bonasera might be tricky", she replied.
"I've worked with Stella in the past. She'll want to get these guys. You contact Detective De Luca-Rossi, Jo will contact Detective Knight, and I'll call Stella. I want these guys taken down for good", he said.