Frankie's Adventure, Chapter 3

By Simahoyo

The American Car and Truck Show was an annual Boston event, where cars and trucks were crowded together, surrounded by a sea of people dressed in Red, White and Blue. Frankie was wearing blue jeans, and white shirt and a Red Sox hat. Adela was in a woman's Miami Hurricanes T Shirt that left no doubt that she was all woman, she was also decked out in white jeans, and a blue sash around her hips. Frankie could barely take his eyes off her. They went over to the experimental cars, where Adela suddenly was all excitement.

"Look, alternative fuels, and electric cars. Cool. I love this kind of stuff." Adela was actually bouncing on her toes. She pulled Frankie closer to the car as if it was a magnet. "Wow, this one runs on either recycled cooking oil or an electric motor." She stuck her head in the window, checking the dashboard. It was a great view for Frankie. "Hey, it gets 75 Miles a gallon. It's the future." As Adela pulled her head out, Frankie noticed a familiar face behind the car in question.

"Hey, Mr. Isles. How are you?", said Frankie.

He turned and grinned at Frankie. "Great. I'm thinking of investing in this. But, I'm not entirely sold, because my brother told me about it. Maura liked it, and your friend seems impressed."

"Oh, oops, I forgot to introduce you. E.G. Isles, this is Adela Osceola. Adela, this is Mr. Isles, our friend Maura's dad. I'd say she was family, but he only let's us borrow her."

E.G. laughed. "At the rate she's going, you'll all be living there, at least part time."

Frankie decided it would be a good idea to explain before Adela got the wrong idea. "Ma lives in her guest house, and my kid brother stayed there for a while before he found a place. The rest of us are in love with her huge screen TV. That's a lie. She's great, and we all like her a lot."

"Sounds like our family. We have my dad, my brother, my sister, aunt Mary and Grandma. When I was a kid, we also had a cousin or two, plus the man across the river. It's all normal to me."

E.G. shook his head. "My brother drives me crazy and Connie doesn't get along with her sister. I don't know how your families do it. More power to them."

"Hey, Frank-EE.!"

Frankie knew that voice. He excused himself, and lead Adela off toward the voice. "That's my brother, Tommy. He's waving both arms over by that tree."

Tommy was making a fool of himself, flapping like a chicken, and using his fake New York City accent. It was nothing new, but Frankie sure hoped Adela would survive Tommy at his most hyper. And he'd better not turn on the charm.

Adela took one look and grinned. "Is there a factory someplace where they turn out younger brothers? So far he's just like Mike. Only he fakes a Redneck accent."

Frankie was breathing easier. Adela was looking more and more like a keeper. They threaded their way through the mob, finally getting close to Tommy.

"Hey Frankie. How's it hanging?"

Frankie wanted to strangle him for asking that. It was rude in front of a woman. Janie would have yelled at him. "Would you say that in front of Janie?"

"No. She'd tear me–uh, she'd yell at me. So whose your friend?" He turned on the charm, aiming it at Adela.

"Tommy, this is Adela Osceola. She's a Nurse Practitioner, it's like half-way between a nurse and a doctor."

"Hello Tommy.", she nodded at him. He leaned in to her, smiling. She leaned back just enough to make her point. "I have a brother about your age."

Now Tommy changed his tune. "Yeah, what's his name?"

"Mike. He's been working as a tourist guide in the Everglades. The pay isn't great, because, you know, the economy..."

"Yeah, I've been looking for something better too. So, you're from Florida? What's a nice Italian girl doing living in Florida?"

Frankie smirked. Adela's voice was gentle. "I know Oscela may sound Italian, but we're Seminole Indians. You know, we beat the US Army?"

Tommy looked impressed. "Cool. I read about you guys in middle school. Yeah, that some history you've got there. Something to brag about, huh?"

"Oh yes. My grandma drummed it into our heads from the time we could talk. We never shut up about it. Kinda like Italians about the Renaissance. "

Frankie and Tommy both laughed. "Oh yeah both Ma and Pop all the time." They blended the sentence together.

Frankie suddenly felt his mind fill with questions. "I never thought about it, but how else are Seminoles and Italians alike?"

"Both Italy and Florida are a peninsula sticking into a sea mostly surrounded by land, with a big island underneath. "

Tommy's eyes got big. "Yeah, like Sicily and Cuba."

"Both traded with a major ancient superpower. Italy with Greece, and Florida with the Mayans."

"Italy is still known for fishing. Florida too. Both are major tourist destinations.", added Frankie.

"Hey, if you have a nosy mother who is a great cook..."

Adela's eyes teared up. Frankie gave Tommy a warning look. "What's wrong?"

"My mother died when I was ten. " Tommy looked contrite. "Oh God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"You didn't know. She wasn't too nosy, but she could cook up a mess of garfish and palm hearts into a great meal. Add some grits and beans, and yeah, that was a banquet. "

Frankie looked at Tommy, shrugged, and said, "I don't even know what half of that is."

"Okay, grits is polenta, beans are like baked beans only not sweet, more bacony and salty. Garfish is a fresh water fish and palm hearts are kinda like fennel, without the licorice flavor."

Both Rizzolis nodded. "Oh." Tommy turned to Frankie. "She's a great translator."

There was a silence, and to fill it Frankie asked, "Is Janie here someplace?"

"Nope. She went to the Sox game with Agent Dean."

"Oooh, Gabriel Dean. She's back with him, huh?" It was then that Frankie noticed Adela grow pale. What was this about? When he looked at her, she looked away, and then waved her hand, fanlike, under her face.

"Hot, isn't it?", but she sounded phoney. His detective sense was buzzing. Something about Gabriel Dean upset her. Was it personal, or work related? All his initial suspicions came flooding back. Something was off about this woman.