100 Ways to Solve a Murder

Chapter 90: The Calm Before the Storm II

Guys Hospital

Sam dropped the signed papers on Elle’s table, making her assistant jump on her seat. Sam looked down at the brunette, "Anything else?" She asked, almost challenging her to say yes.

Elle shook her head, knowing full well Sam was in that mood. It was a rarity, it nearly never happens, but it does. Once in a blue moon, she turns into a red-haired beast barking order, slamming things, and basically turning into a Tornado of destruction.

She was a force to reckon with, all because she has Dysmenorrhea.

Sam huffed, "Finally, I’m going home." She said, turning to leave, she paused mid step and turned to her. Eyes narrowed, "Don’t call me." Sam said, taking the brunette silence as an acceptance she walked away.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling it out she read,

Received: Levi

Where are you?

She rolled her eyes, not bothering to type a reply. She slings her bag on her back and walks towards the Exit.

Pulling the backseat door, she got in the car

"Home, Ms. Fredricksen?" Bill, her driver playing a cabbie asked.

"Yes, Thank you," she muttered, tiredly.

The drive didn’t take long, the second she walked in her flat she knew someone else was there. She scowled knowing who it was when she opened the closet rack next to the door to hang her jacket. She saw the familiar black coat of Levi.

Levi stood by the shelves in the parlor, checking her collection of books. A hand on Mozart’s head as the dog asked for affection. He turned at the sound of her footstep.

"Really?" She stated incredulously, removing her shoes and throwing her bag on the sofa. She headed to the kitchen not waiting for his reply, to get herself an ice cream.

She just wanted some peace and to end the day in her pajamas watching crap telly with a pint of ice cream. She was planning on ordering pasta and pizza too.

Levi scanned the redhead,

"I originally thought that I had offended you this afternoon." he started, watching her get a spoon.

"But based upon Janet’s explanation you had been in a foul mood since you came to work. And upon further observation, you’ve also been eating more than usual," he says pointing at the ice cream in her hand.

Sam glared at him, warning him to not proceed with the words about to come out of his mouth. She wasn’t in the mood for his antics, she had no patience for it now.

The slicked blond shit her his signature smile, his chin tilted upwards proudly.

"Leads me to come up with a conclusion that you are shedding uterus lining," he said. Sam’s eyes darkened and she fisted her hand.

"Explaining the mood swings, the eating, and the obvious bloating," Levi stated confidently. Oblivious of the deadly look she was giving him.

Needless to say, Levi went home nursing a bleeding lip that night.

.....

Present,

Christmas Eve, Storage Unit Levi followed the droplets of blood,

"He takes her by the hair and drags her to the car. She didn’t fight back, she can no longer fight back." Levi added, pausing outside and looking at the tire marks.

"Two men, 6’3 and 5’11 tall, both well built and armed," he said, then he turned to Valerie.

"What did you get from the tire marks?" he asked, gesturing at the trail.

"They’re currently attempting to find a match for its made and model," Valerie informed.

Levi moved back inside, taking the doll sitting on the chair with his gloved hand.

"And the doll?" he asked, examining it.

The doll had red hair, green eyes, and was wearing a white lab coat. It was a customized doll based on Sam’s image.

Levi sniffed the doll,

"What about the doll, Mr. Jackson?" Anthea asked.

"It’s a message. Acrylic." He answered by identifying the paint used on the doll.

He sniffed it again, this time his jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. The scent was familiar, too familiar.

He could smell Sam’s shampoo on the doll’s hair, on further examination, the hair was real and human.

Levi stared at the doll’s head, rubbing the hair between his fingertips.

"They’ve cut her hair," he informed while staring towards the strands on the chair.

Marco’s mouth hang agape,

"That’s... Wrong...on so many levels," he says, looking at the doll that was created in Sam’s image.

"Hand made, right-handed. Sew with precision and expertise, based on the craftsmanship this person had been customizing dolls for years. Look for a doll maker located in the 10mile radius who customizes dolls, with practiced expertise." Levi stated, inspecting the craftsmanship.

His eyes meet Valerie’s, "Test the hair too, but I’m certain it will match Sam’s DNA. Now take me to the Facility." Levi instructs handing Anthea the doll, she ushered them to a car.

A mobile pressed against her ear, she instructed the driver to take them to the Facility.

The two leave not wasting time,

"Levi, tell me what’s going on," Marco asked, while he sat beside his best friend. It was a 15minutes drive to the Facility. They have enough time to talk about what’s really going on.

Why Anna was involved.

"It’s a long story Marco-- complicated and--"

"It’s a 15-minute drive, shorten the story," Marco demanded, not liking being ignorant of the things happening around.

Levi sighed, better inform him now.

"Sam had her suspicions, suspicions about her attack, involving her brother’s business and the people behind it. She takes this suspicion to Anna, and they...she," he corrects himself.

"She decides on a plan of action to get the truth," Levi explained briefly.

Marco furrowed his brows,

"Anna? She shared this suspicion with Anna and not you? Why? And what suspicion?" he asked.

"That her brother may be linked to her attack. And she didn’t come to me because she knew I wouldn’t agree with her plan." Levi answered, eyes glued on the passing streets.

Recalling his confrontation with Sam, months before. It was a week after her last visit, when she told him "I’ll see you as soon as I can" She never came back to 7 Eastbourne Rd, he never saw her since then.

Until 3months ago when Lisa dragged him to visit her,

"Why not?" Marco baffled, there was more Levi wasn’t telling him he knew that. The slicked blond was filled with secrets himself.

"Because her plan will destroy her if it doesn’t kill her," Levi revealed.