100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 123: The Artist XI

8 hours ago

Levi saw the flash of rage in Sam’s green eyes seconds after seeing the painting, and he knew she saw something he didn’t. He smiled at Charmaine, "Thank you so much for showing this to us. It’s magnificent." he said.

Then he turned to face Sam, "What do you think, Dr Gray?" he asked, getting her attention. They exchanged looks, and she knew what that look meant. He was telling her to stay calm; he was telling her she needed to think rationally. And that he knew the killer was among them, he had a hunch for quite some time now.

Sam faked a smile, something the slicked blond was quite proud of. At least she learned a thing or two from him. "It’s amazing. Michael truly was talented." the redhead said.

The group continued with the interview until it was time to depart. While standing by the door, Levi asked if they would come to the show in a few days. Mother and daughter confirmed their attendance, saying they will make time after making final arrangements for Michael’s funeral. They’ve delayed it long enough for the investigation.

The second Sam turned away, her mask fell, and her face morphed into rage. The three walked towards their vehicles; Sam paused in front of her motorcycle, "I’ll meet you guys at Eastbourne." she said, grabbing her helmet and putting it on. Leaving promptly before she did something she would inevitably regret.

Sam sat inside Levi’s office, her long coat forgotten on one of the chairs. She passed Joe before he left for surveillance for one of their everyday cases, leaving her alone in the agency. Not long after, Levi entered with Marco, the door dinging behind them.

The duo saw the fire in her green eyes. She opened her hand to Marco, "Camera, please." she said. And the bearded man handed it to her. She transferred the image to Levi’s computer, and she fiddled with it.

Levi and Marco stood behind, watching her work as she took all eight images and started connecting them. She was showing them how it all worked in her mind, showing them what she saw.

She flipped some of the images, for it was actually painted invertedly, which fascinated Levi and Marco. Michael’s mind was absolutely amazing. It was a real shame he died so young. Two of the paintings were even twisted, and she worked on arranging each, one after the other.

Images overlapped each other.

And finally, as a whole, they saw it.

Marco’s jaw dropped in awe.

It was truly an amazing thing that Sam’s mind could do, and he couldn’t help glance at her. Levi was right; she truly was Sublime.

It was beyond Marco’s imagination, and his eyes bounced from the image to Levi. And he saw the shock in them. Wait; what? Marco wondered to himself.

Why did he look surprised?

The eight paintings formed an abstract image of a woman’s hand, based on its size and feminine curve. A ruby ring around the ring finger and the hand was pouring wine into a chalice—some of the wine spilt over, creating waves of the sea in different colours and forms.

"It’s a hand," Marco said in awe. He turned to the two. He noted that Levi’s eyes were now scrunched up in confusion while Sam looked pissed.

The slicked blond then shifted to face the redhead, "I don’t understand." he said, bewildered with the result. He was certain of his suspicion. All Evidence was pointing towards her.

But how come? He thought.

"What does it mean?" the bearded man asked.

Levi turned to him, jaw clenched, annoyed. He got it wrong, didn’t he? But how could he have gotten it wrong? All the facts pointed towards her—the signs. He reevaluated all the clues. Did he read it wrong? He was so sure it was Diana Scott, so how come the image says otherwise?

...

Present time, Lindsell Rd

Diana dried the dishes in the kitchen when she heard a couple of knocks in the front door. She wiped her hands with the towel hanging by the sink and moved towards the door.

"A moment," she said, then she pulled the door open. Standing before her was a familiar Detective Inspector, which she spoke with in the Apartment building weeks previously. He was leading the investigation of the death of her stepson.

"Mrs. Scott," Davies greeted that evening. The moment he heard the news from Levi, he worked double-time to get the warrant they needed. He wanted the case closed, considering it was starting to catch some of the media’s attention, all thanks to the tenants’ chatty mouths.

However, he knew all too well it couldn’t be helped. The second he employed Jackson Detectives help together with Sam Gray; things were bound to get interesting. He hopes before the case flashes in everyone’s telly, he’d have good news to say in an inevitable press conference. The higher-ups would love that. Or he’ll be under great pressure yet again.

Diana looked at Davies with wide eyes, "Detective Inspector, How can I help you?" she asked, "Is your daughter present?" Davies asked, earning a confused nod from the older woman. Her daughter was indeed home, in her bedroom resting.

Davies held the walkie talkie in his hand and said, "Suspect in the premises." Daina’s eyes widened in fear and confusion. Then Davies handed her two pieces of paper: a search warrant, the other an arrest warrant for Charmaine Scott.

"I ask for your cooperation, Mrs. Scott," Davies said as he entered the door, followed by two uniformed officers. Another ushered Diana to the living room to sit, while more people entered their home and started taking photos and collecting Evidence.

Moments later, the two uniformed men ushered Charmaine out of the house, one on each side. While Davies followed behind them, "Mom, what’s happening?" Charmaine asked as she passed the living room. She was already in her pajamas; it was late after all. She just finished getting ready for bed when she heard knocks on her bedroom door. The next thing she knew, the flabby Detective flashed her a piece of paper warranting her arrest. He read her rights as the officers cuffed her hands behind her back.

......

An hour later, the CID Interrogation room.

Charmaine sat, confused and anxious, her left handcuffed on the table. A glass of water right in front of her. She turned towards the door when Davies entered the room, holding a laptop, file and a cup of coffee in hand. "Ms. Scott." he greeted her.

The silence was Charmaine’s only reply.

Davies pulled the chair across her, and he sat after placing the cup of coffee and the file on the table. And a clear plastic resealable bag with Evidence printed on it.

Davies started to read her Rights to Silence before starting his interrogation, "Ms. Scott, you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in Evidence." he said.

"Have you understood your rights?" he asked, she nodded in reply.

"You know why you’re here today Ms. Scott," he said, and her face contorted to both anger and confusion. "No, I don’t, Detective Inspector" she answered.

"I do believe you do," he insisted, then showing her the evidence bag. Inside it was a teacup one that she knew belonged to their house. She looked at it, confused.

"Yesterday afternoon, Levi Jackson, Dr. Gray and Dr. Evans revisited your home. Am I right?" he asked, "yes." she replied, wondering where he was heading.

"A few hours after that, Dr. Evans was admitted to the hospital," he revealed earning a surprised look from the young woman.

"I don’t understand, that’s unfortunate, but how does that involve me?" she asked.

"You know how, Ms. Scott." Davies insisted, then he gestured to the evidence bag in his hand, the teacup.

"Test results showed it was lead poisoning. Not only that, Dr. Gray was able to compare the isotopes in Dr. Evans blood to your brother’s blood. It matched perfectly." he said, and Charmaine tensed. Her jaw dropped, eyes wide.

"Which means, the poison that killed your brother was the same poison that was used by Dr. Evans."

"The thing about lead, Ms. Scott, it doesn’t go away simply by washing it. And we found traces of it still in this cup and a few other cups in your house. And our best people will be working on matching it with both victims’ blood."

"You’re making all these up. Is this a joke?" the brunette said.

Davies ignored her comment and proceeded, he popped open the laptop and showed her pictures of 8 different paintings. "Do you recognize any of these Ms. Scott?" he asked Charmaine. She pointed at the photo of the painting at the far end, a photo of the painting Michael has sent her. "This," she said, wondering what he was getting to.

"All these are painted by your brother five months before his death," he explained, watching her reaction.

"Within all these paintings is the clue as to who killed him," he revealed. Charmaine’s eyes widened in disbelief. "How could that be?" she asked, gobsmacked.

"He knew all along he was being poisoned, Ms Scott," Davies stated confidently.

Charmaine fisted her hand, her nose flared and her face flushed red. Her eyes started to water as he stared at Davies angrily, "If he knew all along, then why didn’t he do anything about it?" she demanded.

Davies paused, recalling what Levi said just a few minutes ago. "Because you’re his younger sister, and he loved you," he said.