100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 116: The Artist IV

Sam’s Lab, Guys Hospital

"This is a homicide," Sam said, earning an intrigued look from Levi and she proceeded to explain her logic.

"I was able to time his exposure, although it’s impossible to determine the exact date. I can narrow it down to a two-week benchmark." the redhead stated, "His hair was bombarded with radioactive neutrons, the tips of his hair had a trace of lead. My estimate shows he’d been exposed to it in high amounts for the first time 5 months ago." Sam said as Levi scanned the paper again.

"He’d been exposed to it numerous times, all of them coinciding to the two-week benchmark with all his hospitalizations," she added, walking towards her table. She then picked up the victim’s medical records on it and handed it to the blond psychologist.

Sam looked at the slicked blond, grimly. She knew her reaction to this case was more than expected. She felt like Michael Scott was one of her own.

No, she felt like she was seeing herself in him. They shared the same experiences, he’d gone through the same things that she’d gone through. He too had been considered autistic when he was young, and he too felt alone in a crowd all his life. For a long time, she too felt that way, she had no one to relate too. Not on the same level as she was, until Levi.

But for a time, Michael Scott felt so alone that he felt the need to kill himself.

However, this time, right now, this wasn’t suicide.

Someone did this to him, and she won’t stop till she figures it out.

"This isn’t suicide, Levi," she said, knowing full well no one would have taken that long amount of time just to kill themselves. If he wanted to die, he would have done it once or maybe twice and succeeded. He was smart enough to do it, she reckoned. But in that long amount of time, approximately 5 months... it would have been torture. Constant joint and muscle pain, headaches, abdominal pains, and difficulties with memory or concentration.

"Someone did this to him," she said

clenching her jaw, "This might just be the most patient murderer I’ve seen," she stated in conviction.

Levi stared at her in understanding, he knew she was taking this case personally. But even so, she makes a fine point. And she didn’t need much explaining for him to understand why she declared it as such.

He was leaning on the same hunch and he had a name in mind that stood out over the rest. All thanks to Alex’s sleuthing skills.

They both knew this wasn’t just a simple case of murder, this was months of torture.

.....

Next day, Linsdell Rd, London

Levi sat in his Shelby cobra, a hand on the wheel. Beside him sat Marco on the passenger seat.

With Sam’s professional opinion on the case, he decided to give Michael’s remaining family a little visit in hopes of learning a thing or two.

Maybe they should look more at his old friends, and lovers. Maybe they haven’t dug deep enough.

Levi recalled briefly seeing Diana during their investigation in the apartment building. She was an old woman in her late 50’s with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Based on Joe’s background check the woman lived in Linsdell Rd. But a question remained unanswered, why wasn’t she living in the same place as his stepson? The apartment building had enough empty rooms.

Was there more to the story that the family was willing to share?

The slicked blond stepped out of his car, Marco followed behind like a dog to its master. He smoothened his black suit as they made their way towards the front door, making sure he looked presentable like usual. He tilted his head to Marco, hinting that he should knock on the door, the bearded man rolled his eyes at his best friend’s antics. But did so anyway.

Moments later Diana Scott opened the door, a smile was on her face as she greeted the two gentlemen. And her eyes stayed longer on the slicked blond, she recognized the tall good looking man. She’d seen him on the telly and the tabloids before. The man is known as the Hot Detective, and the tabloids did not lie.

After serving them tea, the woman took a seat opposite Marco, while Levi slowly walked around the woman’s living room, subtly observing everything around him.

It doesn’t take a genius like himself to figure out that the woman favored her birth daughter, Charmaine Scott’s photo adorned every corner of the room.

While the only photo she had of her stepson was a family Christmas photo that was taken approximately 6 years ago with the still living Mr. Jeremy Scott sitting in the middle.

Body language on the photo showed Charmaine and Michael the step-siblings had a close relationship.

While Diana’s body language showed a forced kinship towards the man.

And by the lack of photos of Michael in the house, it seems like their relationship died with the old man.

Levi turned towards the old woman, wearing his signature ’charming’ smile.

"Mrs. Scott, thank you for having us on such short notice," he said softly.

"I understand Mr. Jackson, anything to help figure out what really happened to Michael," she replied, her voice filled with sorrow.

Marco nodded where he sat, taking a sip of tea, "We appreciate anything you can tell us, Mrs. Scott." the lanky man said, earning a nod from Diana.

And he proceeded with their routine questions.

’When have you last seen him?’

’Any trouble he might have been involved in?’

’People he’d mentioned?’

And so on, seeing us it’s more likely that the person who might have killed him was someone he knew.

Then he continued with the questions Levi instructed he ask.

Questions about suicide, he mentioned formulating a more in-depth psyche profile on the victim. And interviewing family members was vital.

"I’m sorry to ask this, but did Michael mention anything about taking his life?" the brunette asked.

"No, nothing at all. But he had been silent more than usual like something was bothering him but he never said anything." the woman said, earning a nod from Marco while Levi silently observed the whole exchange.

He wondered, if not anyone his mother knows, then who? Was Michael possibly living a double life? It was also possible it was someone living in the Apartment, one of his tenants, or old tenants he didn’t get along. His old flame? Or was he involved with anything shady? Levi wondered to himself and decided to make the boys do a more thorough check on his past.

"We know Michael had a history with depression, self-harm, and suicide..." Marco trailed, it was a sensitive topic after all.

"Yes, 11 years ago...Charmaine found him in his bedroom, he overdosed with some sleeping pills. And we had him admitted after." Diana confirmed, recalling it in her memory.

"He had always been a special child growing up... but he was different, he said things and did things no normal kid did. But he wasn’t a bad man." She added, brows furrowed together.

"Another question, I’m curious." Marco started, earning the woman’s full attention.

"Mrs. Scott, your stepson has a lot of vacant rooms in the building. Why aren’t you living there instead of paying monthly here?" he asked, and Diana sighed.

"After his father died, we argued. But that was all in the past, we had been spending more time together since Charmaine moved to study abroad," she explained.

"Mrs. Scott, your daughter, Charmaine..." Levi trailed, earning the woman’s attention.

"She’s taking architecture isn’t she?" the blond asked, his tone seeming genuinely curious to the untrained eye.

Diana’s eyes held a glint of glee at the mention of her only daughter and she smiled at the dashing consultant, "Yes, she’s studying very hard in Germany." she said. Then her face darkened for a second, "but she’ll be coming back for Michael’s funeral." she added in a gloomier tone.

"Would you mind giving us a call when she arrives? We’re hoping if we could interview her, as to create a more extensive profile on suicide" Levi said.

"She’ll be arriving this Wednesday," Mrs. Scott informed him. Earning nods from both gentlemen, that would be three days from then.

"Well, we appreciate all the help, Mrs. Scott," Levi said, and Marco took it as his cue to stand from his spot. Levi approached the woman, then offered his hand to her to shake, but instead of shaking it, he placed his other hand on top of hers in a reassuring way.

"I understand this must be a really difficult time," he said, his tone filled with sympathy.

"We’ll do our best to solve this case as soon as possible," he said, patting her hand with his. The sicked blond even milked the woman’s reaction by offering a hug, which surprised Marco. While the woman held him in relief.

She found him to be not only incredibly good-looking but very caring too.

Releasing the woman, he pulled a business card from his breast pocket and handed it to her. "Please give us a call when Charmaine can be interviewed," he said, smiling down at her.

"I will." the woman agreed, and they parted after bidding their thanks and goodbye.

After stepping out the door, the two walked towards the car parked on the street.

Marco made sure they were away from earshot when he spoke in a hushed tone,

"What was that about?"

Levi turned to look behind him with a raised brow, "Pardon?" he asked.

"The hug?" Marco said the gesture surprised even him. He knew too well how the slicked blond avoided physical contact unless completely necessary, or if it’s Sam.

Levi chuckled amused, unlocking his car with a click of his key.

"Oh Marco, why do you sound so surprised? The woman was looking at me like her soon to be son in law." the blond claimed, he could see a golddigger from a mile away.

They got in the car and the blond started the engine, "She’ll be calling me as soon as her daughter arrives." he claimed confidently, that’s what the hug was for.

"And did you notice her eyes and skin?" Levi asked as he drove, "What do you mean?"

"The obvious sign of anemia," Levi said, earning a nod of agreement from Marco, he did take note of it but he took it as just a sign of someone that had been tired, grieving for her son’s recent demise.

"Well, it’s looking like its suicide after all." Marco thought out loud getting in the car.

"It’s homicide, Marco."

"What? but he had a history..." the brunette retorted, as Levi turned to a corner.

"Sam and I both agree that this is homicide. The question now is who, how, and why." Levi said, and the confidence in his voice didn’t give Marco any chance to argue.