Everything She Ever Wanted (May 1983)

"Isabella Corsetti."

It had finally happened. All of her hard work had finally paid off. Isabella had earned this. She had graduated high school early and then had been enrolled in Harvard where she had graduated with Honors. Then, she had gotten into the CIA Graduate Studies Program. Now, she receiving her badge after a year of training. She had finished her training at the top of her class and was considered to already be a rising star in the CIA. As she stepped up to receive her badge she looked out and saw her parents, her brother, and Noah. Her parents were of course proud of her, but she knew that they would have preferred for her to go to medical school and become a doctor, like they both were. They believed this job was going to be dangerous and wanted their daughter to be safe, but they knew that Isabella always went her own way. She had been wanting to work for the CIA since she was little and she had achieved her dream today.

After the ceremony was complete the group went out to dinner to celebrate. Isabella would be working at the New York field office, though she would likely be traveling regularly from New York to Washington D.C. She would not be able to reveal much about her work to her family or Noah, but her brother and Noah remained very supportive of what she was doing. After dinner, Isabella and Noah went back to his place to continue the celebration. Isabella and Noah met while they were both attending Harvard and they had been in an on again off again relationship for the past few years. Noah worked as an investment broker and had a nice apartment near the financial district. Isabella still had her own apartment, though she spent most nights with Noah now that they were together again. It had been almost a year now and she was starting to think Noah could be the one.

That night they went back to his place and broke out another bottle of champagne. He poured them each a glass and Isabella took her's with a smile. "You're really trying to get me drunk, aren't you?"

Noah was extremely proud and happy when he saw Isabella walk across that stage. Everything she had worked hard toward for years had now paid off. Now that she was done with training he wanted to focus more on the two of them as a couple. They both were going to be working in New York and tonight he was going to ask her to move in with him.

“Well, not exactly,” he said with a smile as he filled their glasses and handed one to her. He clinked his with hers then took a sip. “Now that your training is over,” he said as they settled back together on his leather couch. “I was wondering if you’d move out of your apartment and move in with me,” he said finally. “I know its a big step but it’ll be less of a commute for you and You practically stay here all the time anyway,” he said as he looked ar her. She had shorter hair these days and he missed the longer waves and curls she used to have. He shifted so he faced her. “How bout it Izzy, you should bring yourself up on charges. What your paying in rent for that place in positively criminal,” he said.

Isabella kicked off her high heels and took the glass Noah handed her. She smiled at him as he clinked glasses with her and she took a sip. She followed him over to the leather couch and took a seat. She sat with her legs curled up to the side. She was definitely feeling the effects of all the alcohol she had consumed that night. There had been drinks at the graduation ceremony and then as a table they had gone through two bottles of wine and now champagne with Noah. She was feeling happy and relieved now that her training was over. She would start her official job on Monday and she was so excited. There were not very many women working for the CIA, but Isabella was one of them.

When Noah asked her to move in with him she looked over at him. It was definitely a big step, but Noah did make some good points. It would cut down on her commute and the rent she was paying was ridiculous. Plus, they had been together now for close to a year. This would be a step forward for their relationship and she wanted to take it.

"Alright," she agreed with a smile. "I'll move in."

Noah leaned in and kissed her. “Well, that was easier than I thought. I expected you to balk at the idea. But Im glad that this is happening,” he said as he kissed her again and took her glass. He set both the glasses down ok the coffee table then leaned over and began to make out with her. “I love you Isabella,” he whispered as she shifted over and straddled him.

The next couple of days they spent moving. Her parents helped and they rented a large truck. Noah for the most part let her displace what she didn’t like and replace it with she had brought from her apartment.

The rest was put into storage along with the items of Noah’s that did not make the cut, as he put it. They were both fairly good cooks so they usually shared that responsibility. They usually got up together and though his job was more 9 to 5ish, he still had to field calls or hop onto his computer sometimes. As a new CIA agent Isabella was more or less relegated to informational activities. AKA a desk job for the time being but she still had to work late sometimes though she knew it usually before it happened.

It was actually all quite nice as far as Noah was concerned. He was with the woman he loved and their jobs were not so demanding where they didn't spend time with one another. Tonight was their one month anniversary and Noah had come home early to make a small surprise for Isabella. He had a rose petal path that led to the hot tub. He had champagne chilling in an ice bucket along with fresh strawberries and chocolate.

———

Isabella was called onto a meeting at 1600hrs(4pm)

Thomas Redding her supervisor was there along with other experienced agents and Lauren Pierson, the regional Supervisor who was in charge of the meeting.

———

11 hours earlier….

Alan Hickman who was the present New York DA has just announced his bid for the upcoming vacancy as a Republican New York Senate seat. He held a phone up to his ear as he sat in his easy chair in his living room. He was wearing a black and red jogging outfit and 2 security personnel were just outside waiting for him.

“So, is it done?” He asked in a low tone. He didnt want the 2 guards nearby to hear him. After a moment his brow furled. “Complications? What kind of complications?” He asked. Once the voice spoke his cheeks began to redden. “You were just supposed to kill Frank Castle. How do professionals fuck that up!?” He asked and did not quite keep his pice down. The voice explained that Frank fought them and his wife had seen a few of their faces. The boy was an accident and that Frank Castle was wounded and escaped.

“Well you find him! Put everything on him. The FBI, CIA, everyone!” He growled. The voice began talking to him then he cut them off. “I don't care about personnel problems, put some young idiot on it! then hung up the phone.

———

The agents quieted as Lauren approached the front of the room. The lights dimmed and a picture of Frank Castle appeared on the screen.

“Ok ladies and gentlemen we are looking for a man named Frank Castle. He murdered his wife and son and injured 2 FBI agents. He is believed to be wounded and heavily armed. There is no provision in bringing him in alive vor questioning, so if we see him, treat with maximum hostility,” she said and there were murmurs among those in the room.

Thankfully, Isabella's lease had been up and so she had not had to pay a fine for breaking it. With help from her parents, brother, and Noah they were able to pack up her belongings and get them moved over to Noah's place. Isabella had gone through what was now their apartment and had made sure it appealed to both of them. She had a mixture of both of their things and whatever was leftover went into storage. She and Noah both loved to cook and so most nights they ate in. However, Saturday night was always date night and they enjoyed going out to dinner and seeing a movie or show even going out dancing.

It was the one month anniversary of them moving in together and Isabella had been hoping to leave a little early that night, but at 4 p.m. she was called into a meeting with her supervisor, other agents, and the regional supervisor, Lauren Pierson. She sat in the meeting room and watched as an image of a man identified as Frank Castle appeared on the screen. She listened to what Pierson had to say about what happened, but something seemed odd about this entire thing.

"Is there a motive as to why he murdered his wife and son?" Isabella asked as she glanced at a copy of the case file. "Based on his file this seems extremely out of character for him. He has no prior convictions or warrants. He seems rather normal to me."

The case file had Frank Castle as a decorated Army special forces soldier who operated in Afghanistan.

“Ptsd,” she said them smiled as she looked at her. “And im glad you’ve taken an interest in this case Agent Corsetti, you’re running point on this one. Pick your team. I need you to head up this investigation. A good start would be getting you and your team to take a look at the crime scene. Maybe you’ll find something the police didn't,” she said. The rest of the meeting lasted for about another 30 minutes. Isabella selected a crime scene specialist Renee Carter, note taker Alonzo Williams. She sent Daniel Brighton to the morgue to examine the medical examiners findings. It was now 5:30pm and she knew she wasnt going to be able to come home soon.

Isabella was both surprised and pleased to find out that she was going to be running point on this case. She was a very new agent, but clearly Agent Pierson believed in her capabilities. With her team picked she gave out assignments and then glanced at her watch. She sighed when she realized what time it was. She was supposed to be getting home right about now. She excused herself for a moment and went to call Noah. She heard the phone ring a few times before he picked up.

"Hey Noah. Listen, I'm really sorry but I'm still at work and I'm not sure when I'm going to be home. Something important has come up that I need to help take care of."

Noah had been cooking all evening and he had everything planned and ready. He was stirring the pasta sauce when he picked up the phone. He blinked looking at the rose petals and the table setting but he knew who Isabella was. And he had to expect this at some point.

“Well if they need you they need you Izzy,” ill be here,” he said trying not to sound disappointed.

At the crime scene it was a typical house with police tape marking off the area. It was getting dark and Isabella and her team began to check out the crime scene. They had all the data from the police but as she began to look it over she might think it was odd that all of the deaths occurred in different places in the house. His wife was shot in the back in the downstairs hallway and his boy was shot in the chest on the stairs. Also his blood was found in the upstairs bedroom and hallway and near the upstairs window where he presumably escaped. The two FBI agents that were injured never filed injury reports and apparently the police didn't know their identities.

Isabella could hear the disappointment in Noah's voice despite his attempt to hide it. She sighed a little but there was nothing she could do. She promised to be home as soon as possible and hung up knowing that she needed to get to the crime scene as soon as possible.

She, Renee, and Alonzo arrived on the scene just as it was starting to get dark. They talked to the police first before they looked closer at the areas where the deaths had occurred. Something just didn't add up in her mind, but she wasn't the crime scene expert so she talked about it to Renee.

"Something just doesn't add up here. Why were there FBI agents here and where are they now? Nothing about this seems right to me. What do you think?"

“Well, actually it doesn't make sense. Frank was a trained killer and he didn't manage to kill his wife in their bedroom quietly then kill his boy? It looks to me as if the FBI tried to kill him and,” she began and then paused and stepped up to her. “It looks like they killed his wife when she tried to run from them and his son surprised them on the stairs. I think Frank was upstairs when all of this happened and then when they tried to kill him they exchanged fire and Frank was forced to flee.

“I cant really prove this, they removed all of the shells but i know a professional hit when I see one,” she said. Later Daniel called her and told her that the wounds in the wife and son were not consistent with the report. The report pointed to a pistol owned by Frank but the wounds were from an assault rifle. Again all of this was just her peoples opinions. All the reports submitted the the police shoed different findings.

By the times he got home it was 11:30pm. Noah had fallen asleep in his recliner. She stepped on several rose petals and the kitchen table was still setup for an elegant dinner.

Isabella was glad that her instincts were on point about this, but it also disturbed her. This whole thing was starting to point towards a cover up, which was incredibly serious. She needed to know that she was right before making such an accusation.

By the time she got home she was exhausted. It was just after 11:30. When she walked in she stepped on rose petals and she could smell the dinner Noah had cooked. Clearly, Noah had been hoping for a romantic evening and had gone to a lot of trouble. She sighed when she saw the table set and then walked into the living room and found Noah asleep in his recliner. The tv was on and so she picked up the remote and turned it off. The sudden change in the environment caused Noah to wake up and she looked at him.

"Hey. I'm sorry I'm home so late."

Noah got up with a start and then saw who it was and looked at the clock.

“Oh, no its alright, your in demand, I think that is a good thing,” he said as he yawned. “Are you hungry? The shrimp wouldn't keep but the pasta and sauce wont take no time to heat up,” he said as he took her coat. “You want s beer?” He asked as he moved to the closet and hung up her coat. He could see she was exhausted. “Or, maybe just some herbal tea and then bed?”

Isabella wished she was hungry, but she wasn't. She was too tired to be hungry at this point. She hated that Noah had gone to all his trouble for nothing.

"Just some herbal tea. I'm really sorry you went to all of this trouble. I will make it up to you I promise," she said and then yawned and rubbed her eyes.

Noah smiled. “Go get ready for bed sleepy head, ill bring the tea up,” he said. He made her tea but by the time he made it upstairs Isabella was already asleep in bed.

The next morning Noah had a very difficult time gettinf Isabella upnout of dead. He warned her twice than went downstairs filled a pot with ice water and brought it up stairs. He warned her one last time and as he was leaving he lifted the covers than giggled as he poured the ice water all over her.

Just as she entered the office Daniel came up to her. “We have a problem,” he said as Renee joined them. She presented Isabella with a large latte. Alonzo was already waiting in her office. He stood as soon as he saw them. He looked decidedly upset.

Isabella fell asleep quickly, but had to get up early unfortunately. It was rather difficult, but having Noah pour ice water on her caused her to get up rather quickly. She dressed and then headed into the office where she was immediately met by Daniel. She could tell there was a problem even before he spoke. She took the coffee Renee gave her and then they joined Alonzo in her office. She closed the door behind them and then sat down at her desk.

"What's the problem?" she asked as she braced herself.

Closed in her office Alonzo explained how he had taken all the notes he took from the crime scene, from what they learned from the police reports and the medical examiner and put them all onto his laptop. He organized everything into sections so that it made sense.

“When I came in this morning I think someone accessed my computer,” he said. “I didnt leave anything on it though, i keep everything on this flashdrive,” he said and showed them. He held up
a little silver flash drive. “I don't understand,” Renee said. “And why was that official autopsy report approved?” Daniel asked. “Its as if everyone’s closed this case already before we even got started,” Renee said. And they all agreed that Alonzo’s claim was troubling. Like someone inside their own office was looking over their shoulder.

Isabella listened to what Alonzo had to say and it was indeed troubling. What was going on here? It was starting to point more and more to a cover up and that troubled Isabella even more.

"I think we're dealing with a cover up here," she told her team with a little sigh. "I think the scene was meant to look like Frank killed his wife and child and then injured two FBI agents, but that's not what happened. I think what we need to figure out now is why someone would want to fame Frank like this. We should do some more digging into his background and see what connections we can make."