100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 154: Prometheus Ball
Jackson Detectives Agency
Levi and Marco sat in the slicked blond’s office; Mrs. Whitehall stood by their table pouring them their afternoon tea when out of nowhere, the door swung open, causing the older woman to jump and spill some of the tea.
The three turned to look to the person at the door, Sam.
Levi scanned her immediately, recognizing the expression on her face.
"Is there something wrong, Sam??" Marco asked, concern evident by his tone. While Levi raised a curious brow at the woman, her eyes were filled with excitement, and she couldn’t help the silly grin spreading on her lips. She was ridiculously happy for some odd reason, Levi thought.
"Good afternoon!" Sam greeted cheerily, entering the room and bee-lining to the slicked blond. She handed him an envelope, which he inspected immediately.
"And nothing’s wrong, Marco," Sam assured while declining Mrs. Whitehall’s offer for tea. The older woman made her way slowly to the office, closing the door behind her.
Marco nodded, relieved, and turned to watch the slicked blond inspect the envelope. He noted that Levi’s eyes widened for a second in surprise as he read the glossy paper. "What’s in the envelope?" the bearded man asked, curious as to what caused such a reaction from the usually indifferent psychologist.
Levi reinserted the tickets and turned to look at the redhead,
"Congratulations," he said casually, earning a wicked grin from Sam. She leaned forward, looking at his chiselled face, "So, do you want to join me?" she asked excitedly, smiling from ear to ear.
"Are you inviting me?" the Irishman asked, surprised by her offer. He noticed there were two in there, but the event’s exclusivity caught him off guard. While Marco frowned at the two’s exchange, what the hell was in the envelope?
"Absolutely!!! If you’d join me!" She stated, voice squeaking in sheer excitement. "Will you come? Will you come? Tell me you’ll come?!" she said, standing from her seat and jogging excitedly in place, waiting for the blond’s reply.
Marco scowled, ignored yet again. He should be used to it by how often it happens, but he never will. "Can someone please tell me what’s going on? Coming where?" he asked, eyes bouncing back and forth from Levi to Sam, who in truth wasn’t ignoring him on purpose; but were merely too focused on their exchange.
Levi stood from his chair, buttoned his suit jacket casually as he took a few steps away from the table. He was trying to act as cool as possible about the offer. When in fact, he felt like Christmas.
Sam spared Marco a look,
"The Prometheus Ball," she said, causing the bearded man to grow more baffled.
"Pro-- what?"
"It’s an exclusive ball for the greatest minds in the World, an event where experts all over the world gather together. To the public, it’s simply a fundraising ball to raise more money for scientific projects. But within its exclusive walls, it was literally a mind Blowing Science Exhibition, yes, to raise more money." Levi explained, lips cracking into a smile reaching his eyes.
"The ball is an excuse to raise money, but for people in the World of Science, it’s an event that happens once every 3years, where they can screw ethics over and do what they want. This year involves a bunch of explosives. One of my Anthropology Professor and also this year’s Speaker sent me two invitations. I have received them since passing their qualifications ages ago. But this year, he’s assured me they will literally blow bodies up." Sam said, grinning like a child left in a candy factory.
Then she turned to look at the blond, "Will you come?" She asked, back to business.
Levi pretended to consider, when in fact, he had already decided to come whether or not she offered. He was going to force his participation if he had to.
"How about Ms. Hart?" he questioned, although in truth he didn’t care. Screw Elle Hart.
"Well, I am certain she wouldn’t appreciate it as much as you would. So, will you, Levi Knight Jackson, join me witness a number of ethically and morally unacceptable, controversial and outright illegal experimentation; like dead bodies getting blown up into smithereens for the sake of Science?!" Sam proposed cheerfully, her statement loud enough that the boys on the other side of the door paused in their work and stared at the door wide-eyed. Did they just hear her, right?
Levi cracked a smile; one Marco found terrifying considering the proposition was clearly unethical and illegal.
"YES!" Levi answered, jumping excitedly in the air, breaking his cool facade altogether.
Sam cheered and ran to his arms, jumping to him in an attempt of a bear hug; Levi then spun her around the room, almost knocking Marco over with Sam’s leg in the air, thankfully he was able to dodge it just in time.
Marco was torn between freaking out to happiness about how excited the two were in the notion of ’breaking ethical boundaries and laws.’ Why does he have peculiar, possibly mentally unsound friends? Oh, well.
"I really should be concerned with you two," he commented when the two relaxed a bit. Levi’s arm wrapped around Sam’s shoulder, this is when the realization hit Marco, one side of his mouth quirked up--happy to see his best mate in that state of bliss. The two had grown far closer than Marco initially thought, maybe even surpassing the friendship he and Levi shared. And all because of their unimaginable love for Science.
Sam responded with a laugh, looking at her mobile phone after hearing it buzzing in her pocket. "Well, I’ve got to dash. I have a date with a cadaver that’s been meticulously dismembered and stashed in garbage bags," she said, turning to look at Levi beside her. "And the Ball’s two weeks from now, it will be in a private estate in Annecy. I’ll get Elle to book us a flight, and the Hotel, keep the invitation."
Levi’s hand found its way on both her cheeks; the feel of his hand on her face reminded her of what happened in the reunion, and she tensed for half a second. He bent over and kissed her forehead, and she relaxed visibly. "I’ll borrow one of Anna’s private planes." the blond offered jokingly, earning an amused laugh from the redhead.
"Well, enjoy your tea, boys," she said, tiptoeing to kiss him on the cheek before running out the door and ruffling Marco’s hair on her way out.
....
Two weeks later.
Sam climbed up the stairs to the Irishman’s flat that morning, greeting the flabby older woman when she saw her in his living room.
"Hi, Mrs. Whitehall." she greeted, entering Levi’s flat and mentally taking note of the small suitcase by the door. The old woman turned and smiled at her, "Hello, dear. Levi tells me you two will be gone for three days." she said, earning a nod from the redhead.
"Yes, it will give us enough time to rest and prepare before the event. Though it’s a one-night event, we’re planning on visiting some research centres in France", she informed, earning a smile.
"That sounds nice, Dear. Just you two spending time out of town." Mrs. Whitehall commented, enthused at the idea. The woman’s underlying tone, Sam, did not miss, and his mouth dropped for a moment in surprise. Was she insinuating something? Sam thought.
"Don’t mind, Mrs. Whitehall. She’s just excited to have the whole building with Mr. Whitehall after dark." Levi commented, walking out of his bedroom. His statement caused the older woman to blush beet red,
"Levi!" she scolded, covering her mouth.
The corner of Sam’s lips curved up cheekily,
"Oh. Mr. Whitehall. You and Mr. Whitehall seemed to be very steady on your feet." Sam teased, wiggling her brows as the three made their way down the stairs.
"Stop it, dear!" The older woman shushed, blushing. Sam laughed in response as the older woman playfully slapped her on the shoulder.
"Oh, you two are out now. Let’s not miss your flight; Levi would be positively monstrous. He’s been talking about this for weeks."
Levi rolled his eyes, opening the main door. "We’ll be using Anna’s private plane. It’s impossible to miss our flight.: he said, then turned to the older woman, "Do slow down, Mrs. Whitehall; we don’t want to call Marco because your hip is aching!" the Irishman insinuated, earning a playful shoulder slap from her.
The two arrived in Annecy, France. Sam stood in front of their accommodation, she had expected that they’d be staying in a hotel, but her brows rose in surprise at the view, something Levi did not miss.
"It’s a townhouse Anna prepared for us. She insisted," he said with an annoyed undertone; his sister had been prying in his private affairs again, something he never enjoyed.
After knocking on the wooden door, the door swung open, and an older man greeted them both.
"Mr. Jackson, my name is Anton." He spoke in English, with a strong french accent. The Irishman accepted the man’s hand, "Yes, and Dr. Sam Gray." he said, gesturing to the redhead. After Anton gave them a short tour of the townhouse and informed them that they could call the number he left behind, if they needed anything, he left.
Sam flopped on the maroon coloured divan in the parlour, staring at the high ceilings and expansive tall windows. Both their rooms were located on the second floor across each other, separated by the lounge. The place was fully furnished and decorated extravagantly, but it had a homey feel to it. The touch Sam loved most was the two tall windows separated by the fireplace.
Sam kicked her maroon Doc’ Martens leaving her socks on as she laid down the red divan. "Do send my thanks to Anna." She said, looking up to Levi, who just walked in. He looked down at her, just noticing her state on the divan. She had her mobile phone on her stomach, short ginger hair hanging on the edge of the divan.
She was sporting a white v-neck t-shirt and faded skinny jeans; anyone could have mistaken her for a college student.
"Dinner?" he invited, hinting at eating out for dinner.
Sam’s eyes snapped open at the mention of food, and she swiftly sat upright, went to her room, and returned carrying her jacket then putting on her boots all in 1 minute flat.
"Allons-y!" She said, running to the door.
