100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 102: Aftermath III

California, USA

That same day, Sam lied on her bed, stirring from her nap. Something she’d been doing a lot lately, an adverse effect of the meds she was taking. She reached for her phone on her bedside table and decided that she was ready to go home.

She scanned the names on her phone book and looking at one she pressed the call. Then she pressed the phone against her ear, waiting for him to pick up.

"Sam." The familiar baritone said on the other line.

"Ivan, I want to go home." Sam simply said, earning a few seconds of silence on the other line.

"Denise would be displeased." He told her.

"And I will be pleased." She replied. She had not spoken to him for 3 years, not directly since their fight. And her calling him was enough to tell him that he was not as estranged as he used to be. And she was basically using emotional blackmail on him so she could go home.

"I will have it arranged. Pack up." Ivan conceded easily, knowing her full well. And he wasn’t one to dent the things she wanted unless it was for her safety.

"I am packed," Sam replied smugly, looking at the small backpack with just her passport, meds, wallet, and laptop inside.

......

12 hours later, Tuesday

Sam arrived at 7 Eastbourne Rd, the next day, at 7 in the evening, a Tuesday.

She used the spare keys she had and walked in the front door.

She came to Mrs. Whitehall’s front door and knocked, but the older woman was not present.

Only to realize the day moments after, and she knew the older woman was in her weekly baking session with her friends. Her husband must also be at work. She rarely sees Mr. Whitehall anyway, he was the quiet type. Liked to be left to his own devices, while Mrs. Whitehall liked taking care of everybody.

Sam climbed the stairs slowly, it felt weird to her. The last time she was there, she basically said goodbye to Levi.

Her heart raced against her chest, and with both fear and excitement she knocked on the familiar wooden door but no one answered.

Using her keys, she swung it open, revealing the flat empty.

"Levi?" She called but received nothing but silence. She checked the coat rack and found that his black coat wasn’t there.

Forming the conclusion he was out on a case, Sam dropped her bag on the floor and sat on the couch to rest.

She scanned the flat curiously, it was a mess, his books and newspapers littered the floor below his table.

And cards scattered on the center table, with unwashed cups. It’s been a while since Mrs. Whitehall tidied up there, she reckons he didn’t want her to. For the older woman enjoyed cleaning up after him and the boys like it was her life’s mission on earth.

Tired from her flight, Sam made herself comfortable by laying on her side only to realize she was a bit sore. Her stomach wound still ached from time to time, so she went to the kitchen to get some water for her meds. She fished the medicine bottle from her backpack and popped a pill, placing the bottle on the coffee table with the glass of water.

Maybe she should have called, but that would have ruined the surprise.

She laid back down, thinking a nap wouldn’t hurt, and dozed off easily.

....

It was an hour later when Levi climbed the stairs one step at a time, Dull. He was on a case with Marco, it was too simple, nobody bothered to suspect the younger sister, sexism he mentally scoffed at.

After the case, Marco took a cab and went straight home to Lisa and Liz, while Levi stayed at Guy’s for 3 hours practicing his ballistic skills in the main Lab.

On top of the stairs, he noticed his door slightly ajar. He arched a brow, he closed it when he left and he was certain Mrs. Whitehall was not present in the building, it was a Tuesday after all. And she was a creature of habit.

Levi slowly swung the door open, vigilant. Expecting an assault or burglary. He froze immediately at the sight of red hair, she was on the couch unconscious.

By the way, she looked, he could tell she just recently got off a plane.

Blinking twice he examined if the woman was really there or was he imagining it. Like, too many times in his kitchen lab during his experiments, he would hear her voice, as if she was there experimenting with him.

"Can you pass me the Buret Clamp?"

"The Gas inlet is slightly defective."

"Do we still have some Ammonium Sulfate left?"

He would turn, passing the Buret Clamp or Ammonium Sulfate only to realize he was alone. Her goggles on the kitchen counter reminding him constantly of her.

He had also refused to use the AmScope she gifted him for Christmas and decided to store it under the sink for it also reminded him of her. He has messed up the lab set up for the same reason too.

Yet, a pint of ice cream and a can of coke stayed in the refrigerator. Like her Caltech mug, notepad with the protective goggles on the kitchen counter.

Slowly Levi approached her and knelt next to her, still in his coat. He placed his hand a few inches over her nose. She was breathing, he could feel her breath fan over his hand.

He studied her, she gained weight which he thinks was good considering her state the last time he saw her. She looked well enough, but not back 100% physical-wise.

Slowly, he got up and removed his coat, hanging it on the rack, but his eyes remained on her. He debated whether to wake her or not, but decided not to. She was clearly tired, too tired that she didn’t remove her black boots, telling him she wasn’t planning on sleeping. And she was so tired, not even stirring when he started to remove it from her feet.

Levi went to his room and returned a minute later with a blanket in his hand.