100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 101: Aftermath II

California, USA

Sam stepped out of her en-suite bathroom wearing a blue sundress, two months after the whole debacle.

Elle smiled at her, satisfied at the dress she chose for her.

The redhead scowled at her attire but she can’t exactly complain. She had lied to the brunette, and hurt her just to complete her plan. And after her Explorlap surgery, and 4 weeks of recovery, she was sent home to recuperate.

"You look lovely." Elle complimented, handing her pain medication. Sam popped a pill in her mouth and hand returned the bottle to Elle. Her short crimson hair swayed as she tilted her head back. She was still getting used to its length. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Sam walked towards the familiar backyard of the house she grew up in California with Elle walking beside her.

"Did you book my flight back?" the redhead asked the brunette for the nth time that week.

Elle looked at the redhead, she was really lucky that the head injury she obtained during the attack, resulted only in an open fracture. And only needed stitching, antibiotics, and some pain meds for it. However, she needed to go through an Explorlap because of the stabbed wound she received from her cousin. .And during her induced 3-day coma, she was sent to the US, without her consent by none other than her evil grandmother Denise. Away from the eye of another Media Storm after Ivan decided to go public with her abduction.

Suing Czar Murdoch and taking over Hidden Truth in the process as one of the top shareholders. The horrendous abduction and attempted murder were covered up by the well-written story of ’Hostile Take Over.’

Elle sighed, well aware of how much she wanted to return to England, her life was there after all. She too wanted to return to her very English flat in the center of London. The busy streets, and even the gloomy Weather she had learned to love.

"Denise wouldn’t allow it," Elle replied sadly. The old Witch, as Sam dubbed her, had not only froze her accounts to avoid her flying private but also blacklisted her from every airline.

Sam groaned exaggeratedly for effect, annoyed. She grabbed a seat in the living room, and reached for her laptop on the coffee table,

"When did we start caring what grandma Denise said?" she stated while fiddling with her laptop. Planning to edit her thesis for her Anthropology Ph.D. Another coming appendage on her belt.

"Samantha." Monica, her grandmother chastised as she walked in from the garden, hearing her talk.

Sam smiled at her grandmother,

"Sorry, Nana," she apologized, too sweetly that her grandmother saw she wasn’t really sorry for what she said, and only apologized for her sake.

Moments later, Sam huffed fanning her face with her hand.

"It’s awfully warm here isn’t it?" she stated absentmindedly. Elle nodded while checking her emails on her phone. "Compared to London, it is." she agreed easily.

After Sam finished editing her thesis and had it printed and mailed to her Professor.

She then ate lunch and drank her meds, and just basically groaned the next hours out of sheer boredom. She wanted to go home, London was now her home, with all her friends and her work.

Speaking of Friends, Levi had not returned any of her messages, calls, and emails. And after that call with Marco a few days ago, she got the message.

Levi was ignoring her, ’duh’ she could hear his voice in her head say.

Why? She doesn’t know. She can only imagine he was not in the mood. He was a moody childish prick after all.

...

2 days ago, Crime Scene in Westminster

Marco offered his mobile to the slicked blond, on the other line was Sam, making a long-distance call from America. Levi and he were consulting on a case with Davies.

"I’m busy," Levi told Marco, with an edge of annoyance in his tone. Marco scowled at the psychologist, "Just talk to her, it’s not like she left on her own. She was in an induced coma crying out loud!" Marco said in a hushed annoyed tone at the psychologist.

Levi turned to glare at the bearded man, "We are in the middle of a case, Marco!’ was his response.

Marco narrowed his eyes at the back of the stubborn man, then placed the mobile back to his ear.

In a fake cheery tone, he said,

"Hey, Sam--sorry. Levi’s a bit busy. We’re on a crime scene right now." He apologized.

Little did the bearded man know, Sam heard everything. Sam sighed on the other line, and her shoulders sagged while she remained seated on her bed.

"It’s okay, Marco. I get it. Take care." She said.

"You too. See you when you get back!" Marco stated, his voice louder in a faint attempt to get his friend’s attention. Unknown to Sam, Marco pressed the speaker on his mobile just in time for her response.

Levi flinched the moment he heard the familiar voice, "Yeah, I’ll see you, boys, soon. Please do tell Levi to give me a call in this number when he’s available. Goodbye Marco. Good luck with the case." Sam said.

And everyone present in the crime scene heard the sadness in her tone, each one of them shot the slicked blond stink eye.

Levi crouched down looking at the scene, with his gloved hand, he inspected the body on the floor ignoring everyone. Yes, he heard her, but he wasn’t planning on returning her calls anytime soon.

The flabby detective approached Marco, "Are they fighting?" He pried.

Marco turned to him and shook his head, frustration still present on his bearded face.

"He’s just being a dick because he’s secretly upset that she was sent to the US to recover instead," he said out loud, enough for the slicked blond to hear.

Davies watched the psychologist skim through the victim’s work table pretending to ignore them. But he knew the slicked blond was listening to them.

"Well, when is she coming back?" Davies asked, he was concerned himself. A lot of shit had happened the past months, so much drama for his lifetime.

Marco shrugged, he had no idea himself. "Don’t know. She’s still recovering, and the Media’s still up to get her. Damn Press people." He said, watching Levi move across the room.