Chapter 1: Rosalie Frances Lorenzo
Five o'clock in the morning arrived way too fast. Usually an early riser, Rosie hit the snooze on her phone alarm without opening her eyes. A late-night study session to prepare for her last Final of the semester was probably a bad idea. She groaned, thinking about the work ahead of her today. As much as she was fascinated by microscopic anatomy, having a test on it at 8:00 a.m. was torturous, even for a highly ranked medical program. She threw the blanket over her head and shivered. She still couldn't believe she left the warmth of Palm Beach for the sub-freezing temperatures of Buffalo, New York. Her parents couldn't believe it either. However, the University at Buffalo had an esteemed Pathology and Anatomical Sciences program, and the Jacobs School of Medicine had a direct partnership with Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Not only was this world-renowned center located steps from the medical school, but it was also where her Aunt Jillian now worked as a medical director after spending almost 20 years in Boston. She knew these opportunities would lead her to her dream job, following in her Aunt Diana's footsteps as a medical examiner. While Jillian tried to steer her into a surgical specialty, Rosie had always been fascinated by science and knew her path would lead her into something research-based and investigative. She did have an emotional attachment to surgery because Jillian saved her father's life after a shooting before she was born, but after completing an internship with Keisha at the ME's office in Palm Beach, she was 100% sold. Underneath her medical mind, there was a detective in her blood, just like her parents.
Rosie smiled as she slowly blinked her eyes open, thinking about Palm Beach and her family. As the clock inched towards the ten-minute snooze, her thoughts drifted to the typical morning routine at home. Mom's alarm would have also gone off at five, and she was probably out the door already completing a quick run before starting her day. Many mornings Rosie would join her mother; it would be their chance to get some one-on-one time in before heading back to the bustle of family life awaiting them back at the house. Even with Rosie dorming in Tallahassee for four years and now living hundreds of miles away, they would still run together and chat, different paths connected by Smartphones and Airpods. Dad would also be awake soon, putting coffee on and grabbing a quick shower before getting Sam up for her early morning basketball practice before school. Knowing Benji, he was probably out the door of his loft already, heading to the Academy for another day of physical torture. Technology eased the homesickness, but she still couldn't wait to go home for a month to be with her family and friends.
After the second snooze alarm went off, Rosie grudgingly got out of bed and checked her weather app, gasping at the fact that the outdoor temperature matched her age. Even though this was her second winter in Buffalo, the stereotypical weather was just now settling in after an unseasonably mild autumn. While it was only 23 degrees outside, there was no snow on the ground: a bonus for early December. Rosie knew that when she returned from Palm Beach at the end of January, she'd be immersed in a winter wonderland. She had a fondness for the snow- there was something about the city that made winter magical. She and her Buffalo pals went skiing and ice skating, the college bars always had a Bills or Sabres game on, and there was always a feeling of camaraderie over chicken wings and beer. Right now, however, she was grateful to not have to run in ice and snow. She threw on her running shoes, pulled her long brunette locks into a messy ponytail, and sent her mom a quick text: Late start. Call me if you are still on your run. Luv u! ;)
Chris and Rita: the dynamic duo. While Rosie adored hearing the old stories about her mom and dad, she never really saw that side of them during her childhood. By then, they had advanced in the ranks to roles that were more prestigious and less dangerous. Dad was a captain in a specialized role, working primarily for the mayor organizing community police outreach programs. His job, while she was growing up, seemed very traditional; he drove Rosie and her siblings to school and was home in time for dinner every night. He coached Ben's Little League baseball team for years, and now was assistant coach to Sam's travel basketball team. It was hard to even picture him as a cop, let alone the hotshot police detective he once was, but the tales were legendary and you could still see the glimmer in his eye when he talked about those early years of his career. He missed the action, but not enough to ever jeopardize his life or family to be in those situations again. Going out in a blaze of glory was a fool's logic, something he told her brother often as he prepared for his career following in their parents' footsteps. Her dad learned too many tough lessons and constantly preached to his children the importance of both family and safety. And, while she learned some secrets about him over the years, she knew that he always acted in the best interests of his family.
Mom's job was a bit more unpredictable. For the first ten years of Rosie's life, she was a lieutenant for Palm Beach Homicide and then became the first female captain in Palm Beach Police history when her grandfather retired from the force. The job came with long hours, calls in the middle of the night, and mountains of paperwork, but her mother handled it all with intelligence and grace. She'd chastise herself for missing an occasional school event or for getting home after everyone was asleep, but to Rosie, Benji, and Sam, their mother was their hero. They all possessed her strength and wisdom in their own ways, along with their father's moral compass and sense of pride.
Rosie was off to a sluggish start. She took a quick look around the college bike path, examining her surroundings as her parents taught her years ago. There were always security vehicles around, but Rosie learned at a young age to never rely on others for protection; it could be too late. She was no stranger to self-defense, knew how to fire a gun with ease, and could break a man's nose in two seconds flat if needed. Her parents taught her well. The area was empty, except for the occasional familiar face running past. The 5 am winter runners were all pretty familiar with each other. Taking in gulps of sharp, icy air, Rosie finally found her stride and briskly jogged her usual route.
Mom hadn't called or texted her yet, which usually meant one of two things: she either had to go into work early, or she hadn't left work yet from the night before. Unfortunately, 'Silk Stalkings' rarely happened at appropriate times of the day; getting a midnight call or an early morning wash up with the tide was par for the course. Rosie constantly asked her mother why she didn't delegate more to her detectives, but she already knew the answer. Captain Rita Lee Lance always felt like she had something to prove and someone to teach. Being a trailblazer came with great responsibility. She wasn't just a female doing a traditionally male job, she was paving the way for so many others as well. Now that it was a more modern world, several women had risen in the ranks at PBPD, but Rita always made sure there was equity and fairness regardless of gender. Rosie was so proud of her, but also constantly worried. Mom made it a point to let her detectives take the lead, but there had still been a few close calls over the years that her father wasn't too thrilled with. Rosie didn't learn about them until she was older, but Dad seemed to get upset anytime Mom had to pull her gun for any reason. Old wounds run deep is how the saying goes, and for her father, that was a literal statement. She knew that before she was born her parents came dangerously close to losing one another, and neither ever wanted to travel down that road again. A faded scar on her father's torso traced the tale of coming back from the brink of death. If that didn't prove it, her mom's 'car bomb' and 'getting shot at while pregnant' stories had been told so many times in their house, Rosie could recite them verbatim. She was glad that the official countdown to retirement had begun. One month to go before her parents turned in their badges for good. She was excited and relieved.
Just as Rosie was completing her run, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and smiled.
"Morning, Dad."
"Hey, kiddo. How many times did you hit the snooze this morning?"
Rosie chuckled. Her father knew her better than anyone. "Two, although I wanted to go for more. I went for a run instead- I take it mom's not home?"
"She had a floater this morning. Wanted to check in on her new detectives."
"Figured. I want all of the details later. Hypothetically speaking, of course." Rosie loved hearing about dead bodies, considering it was her future career path. Her mom would share "hypothetical" autopsies with her over breakfast, and Aunt Diana would frequently text her questions based on real cases she encountered. Rosie learned so much just from sitting at the kitchen table.
"Of course. Your final is at 8, right?"
"Yep. I'm going to hit the shower and head over to school soon. I'm on the first flight out tomorrow morning."
"We can't wait! Everyone misses you. Especially Sam."
"I know." Rosie blinked back a tear thinking of her kid sister. Even though there were ten years between them, they were an inseparable pair. Sam was just turning eight when Rosie left to dorm at Florida State, and now Buffalo seemed light-years away compared to the four years she spent in Tallahassee. They always FaceTimed and texted, but it wasn't the same. Sam was kind of an only child now, with two much older siblings already grown and off doing their own things. Rosie always made a mental note of that and checked in with her daily, although lately, Sam was busier than she was now that basketball season was in full swing. "I'll text you when my final is done."
"Sounds like a plan. See ya, squirt."
"See ya!" Rosie smiled as she ended the call. She would always be 'kiddo' and 'squirt', no matter how old she was. While she was thinking of it, she sent her siblings a quick text.
Rise and shine, Sam! Good luck at your game later. Wish I could be there. See you tomorrow!
Hey Benji- going to Sam's game tonight? Take some videos for me. Have a good day.
When she emerged from the shower, her phone had blown up with messages. Everyone in Palm Beach was up and moving, and wishing her luck on her last final. Ben and Sam had texted back, Aunt Dee sent her a bulleted list of reminders; and her grandparents, now in their 80s but remarkably tech-savvy thanks to Sam's weekly tutorials, sent her several heart emojis. Life was good. Just as she was leaving her apartment to head into school, her phone rang and she grinned.
"Hi, Mom!"
"I'm so glad I caught you! Sorry, got stuck on a case and just got to the office. How was your run?"
"Freezing. Can't wait to hit the beach tomorrow."
"I'll be right there with you. Good luck today!"
"Thanks. How are your new detectives?"
"They give me a headache. Now I know what your grandfather meant when he talked about me and your dad."
Rosie giggled. She always got the best dish about her parents from her grandparents. Harry and Fran delighted in telling Rosie and Ben all about the olden days. Now that Sam was a teenager, she was starting to lean an ear into the stories with interest. Her parents were troublemakers but had the best record in the Department. To this day, no one has topped their stats.
"Maybe they'll surprise you. I mean, you and dad became legends."
"Yeah, yeah. Text me when you're done with your final, ok?"
"Sounds good, Mom. See ya!"
Rosie hung up, her excitement catching in her throat. What no one knew was that she was booked on an afternoon plane to Florida, and would be home in time for Sam's basketball game. She loved surprises, especially when she got to be the mastermind.
