100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 147: The Reunion V

The Octagon, Queen Mary University

Levi stood next to Sam, watching as their target led his fiancée to the dance floor. "I received new information from Marco," he said. Sam took a sip from her third glass of wine that evening, "So, that’s what you meant with ’pressing matters.’" she said, smiling at him. He smiled back, acting the part they were both playing. Pretending they were only discussing trivial matters and nothing serious.

"We received intel that Mr. Fletcher had sexual relations with both victims, thanks to gossipy housemaids," Levi said, earning Sam’s attention. "Doesn’t he have a fiancée? So he was cheating. Did he kill them, so his fiancée won’t find out and call off his only chance of paying off his debts by marrying her? Or did the fiancée kill them instead?" she asked. Levi shook his head, "Unlikely Carol, she was more than 30 people could vouch that she was with her father Elijah Corden in Edinburg during Evelyn’s estimated time of death." the Irishman disputed.

Carol Corden supported one of her Father’s philanthropic work of opening a new health facility in Edinburg and was even photographed and posted in a local newspaper. Her alibi was airtight.

"Besides, we also received an update from Davies that digital forensics saw a man matching Fletcher’s profile in the CCTV recordings days before the estimated time of death of both women," Levi added.

Sam raised a brow recognizing the name, "Elijah Corden? The Secretary of State for International Trade?" asked, surprised. Levi nodded, "The very same." "Holy fuck" Sam muttered, then emptying her glass of wine in one swing. She wondered if things just got more complicated.

"The drugs, do you think he’s involved?" she asked. Levi shrugged, it was too early to decide anything for sure, and to him, it didn’t matter. His main priority was solving the case, catching who was responsible for the death of Oliva-rose MIles and Evelyn Wallace.

What skeletons were hiding behind the cabinet of the Secretary of State was really none of his business.

"So, what’s the plan?" the redhead asked, watching as David Fletcher led his fiancée out of the dance floor, the two separating. "There, distract him while I speak with his fiancée," Levi instructed. "How?" She asked as she watched the slicked blond move; they didn’t even discuss his full plan.

"Improvise." He replied, abandoning his glass on a random table as he followed behind Carol.

’Feck’ Sam mentally cursed and did what she was told, and she headed to where David disappeared to.

Levi followed behind the brown-haired woman; Carol Corden was sporting a long empire-cut gown discreetly; her hair was in a ballerina knot, neck adorned with a spectacular necklace embroidered with diamond and a green gem at the center. The woman retreated to the loo to fix her makeup, reemerging minutes later. She passed through the hallway, and Levi made it his point to bump into her ’accidentally.’

Levi wore his mask of surprise, "My apologies, Miss." he apologized, eyes wide in feigned embarrassment. Carol gazed up at his towering height, his wide apologetic eyes catching her off guard. "I wasn’t paying attention; I’m sorry, are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand in his softly. Heat crawled to Carol’s cheeks; it’s Levi Jackson! How could she forget?

Levi mentally smiled, but the concerned mask on his face remained intact. He knew she recognized him; how could she forget? She invited him to dinner ages ago, which he declined, stating he was busy. He was glad he wasn’t a complete douche to her back then, or his little performance at that moment wouldn’t work.

"It’s okay, I’m fine," she said, flustered. Levi furrowed his brows, and then his eyes widened in feigned recognition, "Carol?" he asked, and she gasped, surprised that he remembered her. "Yes, I’m surprised you remembered me, Mr. Jackson," she said, tucking a stray hair away from her face and giving him a shy smile.

"How could I forget we had Biology together. You used to sit behind me", he said, earning a zealous nod from the brunette.

"Yes!" she said, too enthusiastic for her liking, blushing seconds later in embarrassment.

"How have you been?" he asked, "I’m doing good, how about you? Oh, what am I saying, of course, you’re doing great. I’ve seen you on tv!" she said, wearing a sheepish grin.

Levi downplayed his achievements, playing the humble card. It always worked on women, after all. He wore a mask of awe, "But look at you, you’re as beautiful as I last saw you." he flirted, catching her off guard, and her face turned red as a tomato; he knew that crush she had on him was still alive. He continued to flirt with her, inviting her to the balcony for a more private conversation, of which she gave in easily.

Levi scanned the woman, taking notes on her body. She seemed a bit anxious in his observation, and the slicked blond reached to tuck her hair behind her ear, and her cheeks reddened. He frowned; this time, it was genuine. Hiding under the foundation under her jaw was a bruise. He had noticed she had bruises around her wrist before, when he held her hand, signs that she had been tied down, not just once based on the degree of bruisings.

"Who did this?" he asked, and the danger in his voice caused Carol’s knees to grow weak. And she stepped back and averted her eyes away from him; the anger reminded her of her fiancé’s anger. And bad things happen when David is angry.

"Don’t be scared," Levi beseeched, his mask back in place. He reached to hold her hands assuringly.

"You don’t deserve this," he said, and he wasn’t lying. Realizing that he knew what she went through and still going through, Carol’s eyes started to water, tears streamed down her face, and her shoulders shook as she sobbed silently as if afraid someone would hear. Levi took her in his arms in a comforting embrace.

It didn’t take long for Carol to see him as her confidante; she was afraid yes. But she needed to confide in someone, anyone, for the sake of her remaining sanity. And the second she spoke, more words came out, and she shared more than Levi expected she would. And things started to get more precise in Levi’s mind; David Fletcher wasn’t just an abusive bastard; he also happened to be a manipulative con man and a blackmailer.

Levi’s eyes shifted inside the hall for a moment; seeing Sam dancing with David Fletcher, she seemed to be doing what he asked her to distract him. He pulled Carol away from anyone’s view on the balcony, making sure they won’t get interrupted, especially now that the woman was vulnerable. He planned on exploiting that weakness.

Carol revealed that she was still in a relationship with the monster because she was being blackmailed by her fiancé with some compromising videos of them in the bedroom and threatened to release it in public that may cause her Father’s position in the Parliament. Upon closer inspection, he took note of her gait, and the way she walked, the concealed grimace in every step--meant he did not only forced himself to her but also Marriage.

Levi persuaded the woman that he has ’friends’ (in CID) to help her. He made it all sound like he was doing it all for her, using his connection to assure her safety; she had no idea that he was actually working with the Bobbies from the very beginning. Levi assured that they would do all that they can to retrieve said videos.

"If you don’t do this now, you’ll have to live the rest of your life with him. It pains me just imagining what else he could do to hurt you, Carol." Levi said, taking her hand in his. His eyes filled with so much care, so much worry that it touched her.

"I’ve seen too many cases like this. I’d hate to have to find your name one day on the cover of the newspaper, Carol. Please, accept my help." he insisted, putting reason in her mind; the possibility of her death wasn’t far from reality, and she knew that most. David had been more and more violent lately. And he wouldn’t tell her why.

"Please. Let me help you." Levi pleaded, he could see that her walls were about to break, that she was now finding Reason, but something was keeping her from completely surrendering her fate to him. He mentally rolled his eyes, ’damn it’; he thought, she was frightened of David.

Her fear was even beyond logic and reason, something not unusual to people that had been abused. There had even been a case of a woman who suffered domestic abuse; she killed her husband and cleaned the house spotless after. And during the interview, the investigators asked why she bothered to clean up when she planned on confessing to the crime initially. The woman had said, "Because Roger hates it when there’s a mess, I had to make sure everything is clean."

The same thing must be happening in Carol’s mind, and even though her abuser wasn’t there, she was scared he could still hurt her. She was worried that he’d getaway, and she’ll be back home hurting. The fear in her, Levi knew, was enough to prove how deep and how long the abuse had been going. So, Levi pulled Carol towards him in a tight embrace, "I swear, he will never lay a hand on you again." he said, and her wall collapsed, and her eyes watered yet again.

"Just let me help you." Levi insisted, looking in her eyes and unlike his previous lies. This one was true; David Fletcher will not be hurting her again. And she saw that in his eyes. Carol nodded, "Tell me everything you know." Levi said.