100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 161: The Perks

Sunday, 7 Eastbourne Rd.

Marco walked into Levi’s flat that weekend; he shrugged his jacket off and walked in the kitchen, seeing his friend experimenting by the table. "Levi." He greeted, smiling, intrigued by how he was doing. He hadn’t heard from him since Sam, and he went to an exclusive ball in France. And he was also curious to know what it was like; Elle mentioned seeing the photos Sam had taken on her computer, and she almost gagged.

Levi turned to the bearded man, cracking into an enthusiastic grin. One Marco arched a brow at, seeing as he seemed to be in a good mood.

"Marco." the slicked blond greeted in return. Marco eyed what he was doing; he seemed to be examining something latex under the microscope—wearing an apron over his dress shirt and vest.

"How have you been? How was the Genius ball?" Marco asked after taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"Prometheus Ball." Levi corrected, getting back to work. "and surprisingly, it wasn’t... dull." He added casually, causing Marco to smile at this; at least he knew the psychologist had fun.

"Good. Good, and how was Sam?" he asked. Levi tensed, surprised with the question; he narrowed his eyes at the man discreetly sizing him up---wondering if he knew anything.

He and Sam decided it best to keep what they are little ’arrangement’ private. After all, it didn’t concern anyone, and he was also confident they would make a fuss and be against it. They were, after all, not really in a romantic relationship, not yet at least. But he knew it wouldn’t be long till his plans unfold. If she hadn’t fallen for him, however, he had a few tricks under his sleeve that will make it a reality.

Marco raised his brows, baffled at the blond’s sudden silence.

"Well?" he asked.

"Oh--Sam. She’s fine the last time I saw her." Levi replied honestly, tearing his eyes away from Marco’s. Not mentioning what circumstance it was that he last saw her.

Naked, that is.

In his flat. Just last night.

Marco watched him continue with his experiment, squinting his eyes at the item under the microscope--it was latex, rubbery---stretched out.

Marco suddenly turned to the kitchen sink, noticing the garbage, unused different brands of condoms labeled with specific test results.

His eyes widened,

"Levi, uh, what are you doing?" he asked, more creeped out than curious.

Why was he studying condoms?

Levi turned to him, "I’m studying the durability of each brand; by the way, in your experience, which brand do you prefer?" he asked casually like he would any other question.

Marco tensed, then calmed himself after taking a lungful of breath."Why are you studying its durability? Never mind! NEVER MIND! I don’t even want to know." He asked, then reconsidered, not wanting to know why. Why study different fibers? Why experiment on human body parts?

Why? Why? Why?

Why does Levi want to know these things?

Because.

Just because.

And Marco walked out, not even saying goodbye.

"You didn’t answer my question!" Levi shouted as he watched the man walk out the door after grabbing his jacket.

.....

Morgue, Guys Hospital

Sam stood with a chart in hand, writing notes on the body lying on the examining table. Stood a few feet away from her was none other than her trusted Assistant, Elle.

"It’s so nice to have you back," the brunette said, waiting for the redhead to finish writing her notes so she could sign the papers in her hand.

The redhead eyed her curiously, noticing the bright shade of lipstick she was sporting.

"I’ve only been gone for three days." She replied, arching her brow at the relaxed smile on her Assistant’s face. "And you were glad I left; you finally had that private time with your mystery man," she added, grinning.

Elle flinched. How did she know? she had kept the relationship secret. "Levi told me. It must be really serious; it’s been going on for almost half a year now." the redhead stated, noticing the gobsmacked expression on the woman’s face.

The brunette frowned, bloody Levi Jackson with his sleuthing skills.

Sam took the paper from the brunette’s hand and signed it. "Kudos, though, kept it low key; why are you hiding him anyway?" she asked, curious. Elle had usually been open to her dating life after all, but this current one she had been hiding from her. And for quite some time now, which she found curious. Seeing that the redhead was done signing what needed to be signed, Elle snatched the paper from her and marched out—not wanting to reveal anything.

Sam ran after the brunette, "Hey!!! ELLE!" she said, stopping just at the exit. "IS HE GOOD??!," she shouted, trying to get under her Assistant’s skin, which she succeeded, as the brunette simply walked away faster.

Sam chuckled, walking back in. "So serious," she muttered to herself as she grabbed a pair of latex gloves getting back to work. It wasn’t just her now with a clandestine relationship.

It was an hour later when Davies’ head popped in the double doors of the morgue. Stood across each other, clad in mask, apron, and latex gloves were Sam Gray and Janet Rivera. "Boy, glad you’re here," he said, entering the morgue. The redhead arched a curious brow at him, "What’s the craic?" she asked, her expression Davies noted came from their favorite or least favorite sleuth, depends on the day.

"We have a body, and I think you’d like to see." He insisted, earning not only the redhead’s full attention but also Janet’s, who was assisting the autopsy. Sam turned to Janet. "Janet, please clean up. I’ll continue when I get back.." She instructed, and the purpled-haired woman nodded in understanding.

Sam removed her disposable apron, gloves, and mask, then followed behind the short man.

"Levi insisted you come," Davies said, as he ushered her out and led her to his car waiting just outside the Hospital’s back entrance.

The two took a fifteen-minute drive to the crime scene; it was in a homey cafe in Westminster. Police cars were parked next to the yellow tapes, restricting any exit or entrance from the scene.

Sam turned to Davies, and he beckoned her to follow him, he held the yellow tape up for her, and she ducked down as she entered. "Who’s leading the Forensics?" she asked, "It’s Jones." the man informed, and Sam nodded in approval. She may not completely like Jones as a person, but he wasn’t a lousy Pathologist in her honest opinion. And most of all, he doesn’t make the typical mistakes some pathologists make. And that was Ego.

Too much ego to ask for someone else’s professional opinion.

Sam turned to Davies, "Still have no idea why that new one seems to hate my guts?" she asked, hinting at the Criminal Investigation Department’s newly hired Pathologist, someone named Dr. Windsor. Davies chuckled, he’d worked with Dr. Windsor before, and it was not fun.

Upon entrance, Levi and Sam exchanged looks, then continued in a business-like manner, nothing amiss. Neither one expressed anything different---as if the two were not shagging in his bedroom just the night before.

Jones handed her a forensic suit and gloves, and she entered after putting it on. She looked at the body, took note that it was a woman in her late 30’s with light brown hair. From her initial look, she couldn’t seem to pinpoint the cause of death since it wasn’t visible. There were also no signs of bleeding since her clothes remained spotless.

But Sam did arch a brow, and he looked at Levi. She knew he noticed it too, must be the reason he insisted Davies invite her.

"Some of the superficial skin is starting to fall off," she said, pointing to the side of the body’s chin and elbow. Davies and Jone looked at her in question what that would mean, "Possibly, this body had been frozen." she explained, "Although, I would advise having the tissues examined under the microscope. Distinct damage can be seen, ice crystals, and ruptures cell membranes. Frozen and non-frozen tissues when compared, the visual appearance is unmistakable." she said.

Jones audibly groaned, catching Sam and Davies’ attention while the slicked blond chuckled under his breath. Levi opened his hand at the Pathologist, and Jones begrudgingly fished out his wallet and handed the man 20 quid."

Davies rolled his eyes, knowing the two made a bet while he was gone.

Levi pocketed the money with a self-satisfied grin, and he turned to Davies.

"This means that all possible suspects alibi are all useless," he said, and Sam nodded in agreement.

"It would be close to impossible to determine the actual time of death." the redhead said, knowing this case would be a difficult case. She turned to Jones, "Break a leg." she said, earning a sigh from the man.

Levi turned to the redhead, "Heading back to Guys?" he asked, "yeah." she answered.

"I’ll drive you." he offered, showing his back before she could even reply. She waved to Davies and Jones, and she followed behind the slicked blond. The ball was in their court, and as Suzanne Collins says, ’May the odds be ever in their favor.’

Sam hopped on the passenger seat, turning to the blond after fastening her seat belt. He smiled; everything was back to normal--with just a few perks between them.