Frank Russo's Questionnaire

I've lived in Trenton my entire life, never bothered to move out. Apartments a few miles off from where I grew up and within walking distance from work so it's surprisingly nice. I've thought about moving across the river to Pennsylvania a couple of times, never committed to anything though. It's hard to beat the convenience of an hour train ride to NYC. Makes picking up jobs fairly easy, missing persons cases are disturbingly common nowadays.
I've seen some pretty sights on my travels. Seoul was nice, don't speak a lick of Korean though. Canada's not my type of place, nor is England. Don't think I'll ever be let back into London after my last job there, not happily at least. 

I'm a private investigator. I've got my own office here in town, maybe a 10-20 walk from home. Ads in the paper and online are how I find most of my work, pays well enough that I've got funds to spare. Only worry is the lack of stability, there's been a few rough months where I haven't made as much as I'd like. Been meaning to hire a secretary for a bit, just someone to handle calls and whatnot. They'd have to be down to mess with the supernatural though, can't risk having any of my particular specialties getting leaked. 

Could be good for business I suppose. "Supernatural Investigator for Hire" adds on an extra layer of trust I'd imagine, gives some confidence that you ain't hiring some schmuck. Would put a massive target on my back at the same time though. If I get to a point where I'm more confident in my abilities, I might consider advertising myself that way, who knows.

There was this nasty string of murders here back in the late 2000s, real gruesome. Saw some national attention, headlines of an invisible man slipping in and out of homes, carving up young girls. Go fucking figure, guy never got caught. This friend of mine, Jimmy, knew him from middle school, yeah? His sister, Maria, was one of the girls that the bastard ended up getting. Drove him crazy trying to find him, got all paranoid thinking that he'd be next. 

He never got Jimmy, of course. Jimmy didn't catch him either though. Spent 5 years trying to hunt him down, calling up families, trying to beg the cops to look more into the case. Not a thing. Invisible man was humble, it was like the fucker never existed in the first place. One day, Jimmy got tired I guess. He gave up on his hunt. He uh... He leapt off the Lower Trenton Bridge. Washed up a few days later.

I went to the guy's funeral. We didn't attend high school together, but we kept in contact, hung out a few times with mutual friends. It was a tragedy for fucks sake. He was a good guy, didn't deserve any of it. His poor mom, she sobbed that entire ceremony. She couldn't even give the eulogy, couldn't manage to get it out between cries.

What I want most is for sick fucks like the ones who take people, good people like Maria and Jimmy, from us to pay. I don't want any more cold cases, any more investigations that come up with a whole lotta nothing. Maybe cops don't have the drive to do it all the time. Hell, maybe they're stretched too thin to take on every case. I'll do it though. I'll find these assholes and make them feel every horrible fucking thing they deserve. It's the least I can do. If that kills me or winds up with me in a cell, so be it. What type of man would I be to pussy out now? 

Aside from that whole mess from my twenties, I've solved a good number of cases in my time. I've been fairly good at it, only ever had a few slip through the cracks. Might as well get into one of my old jobs, had to do with a series of stranglings back in Trenton.
Real messy gig. I was still new to the job when I took it, didn't know diddly about procedure and how to work properly with law enforcement. I had the perp, name, face, his daily route, everything I needed to get the sick fuck. I could've, I should've just handed the case off to the cops. I uh.. I chose to follow him though.

Got led straight into a trap. Must've picked up that I had been tailing 'em and played me like a fool. Pulled out a knife and got me right between the ribs before I could even react, fell like a sack of potatoes. I'm lucky I made it outta there alive, could've been a lot worse for me. Perp ended up running, got picked up by the feds trying to flee the country. Evidentiary failures on my end meant that they only got the bastard on attempted murder, ended up taking a plea for 2nd degree, got a decade. Bastard's probably out now, been about that long.

Might pay him a visit sometime.

I used to have a lot more friends than I do now. I've lost a lot as of late, barely even live as "Frank Russo" anymore. I guess the closest person to me right now is my neighbor slash roommate, Kanni. She's been taking care of me during the uh.. the hellscape I've found myself in as of late. She pays for my life, watches crappy movies with me, and accompanies me on the occasional job. Worked with her last month actually, saved each others asses.

Been getting the occasional visit from one of my old friends, Carp. Went with her to Seoul a year or so off on a job, was a good time. After a crab dimension a few months later, we've become thick as thieves. Came over for bagels one time, that was real nice. Discovered how disappointing a walnut bagel can be, think I'm gonna stick with cinnamon raisin.

'Side from them, I've had a bum break into my home. Calls himself Pete, John too actually. Fair enough fella, a real free spirit at heart. He stole my bed, killed me one time, and threw like a billion beer cans at me. I guess I'm indebted to him now? He keeps trying to remind me about that, can't seem to let it go. Wish me luck I guess.

Childhood wasn't anything special. Feels weird to compare myself to others on that front. I've met folks that've been in far worse positions than me, feels real selfish to complain. 
But yeah, Frank Russo, son of Stanley and Gabriella Russo. Born in Trenton, grew up there too. Only ever moved when I got forced to, even then I hope to come back someday. Maybe when I'm done with the shitshow that's become my life as of late, it'd be nice to retire back there. Eh, don't matter too much.

Went to a nice little public school, made a good few friends. Haven't really kept up with any of them as of late, been way to busy with this dead horse I've been beating. Fit in fine, didn't really struggle too much either. Lived the ideal life I guess? It wasn't really anything exceptional. Not too sure what more you want me to say man.

Love's weird. I mean I like people, I like my friends a whole lot. I'm not too sure how you'd define love though. If you mean platonic love, I'd probably define that as "I'd be willing to die for you". If that's the criteria, sure, I love plenty of people. Made plenty of friends I'd be willing to give it all up for if it meant it kept them safe and happy.

A brief pause.

Romantic love's different. I can't really say that I've loved like that before, been way too busy. I've been busy for years now, I guess I missed my chance, y'know? If we're talking tropes, I guess I could say I've had a half dozen "ones that got away". Maybe some people aren't born for that, maybe that's what I deserve. I'm fine where I stand now, I'm content with that part of me. It's just who I am, who I've gotta be for now.