100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 177: The Wilson’s Double Murder Case VIII

20 years ago. Dr. Martin’s Office.

Sam lay there, on the couch during therapy--- a treatment that generally consisted of talking. The teen was well aware that the therapy also uses other techniques, including free association, exploration of the transference, observing defenses and feelings the patient may not be mindful of, and interpreting dreams.

Something she had been ongoing for weeks but still no sign of improvement. And like what she read from several critics, experiencing it herself, she had to agree that psychoanalytic therapy is too time-consuming, expensive, and generally ineffective.

They need another move. Another choice that will help her remember, she thought.

After a few weeks, she’ll have to go back to school, not that it bothered her; she enjoyed school---generally when they weren’t throwing paper balls at her in class.

On the couch, the redhead pouted, and she gave her psychologist the stink eye. "This isn’t working." she huffed, dissatisfied.

"You just need to be patient," Kevin said, writing down notes of her behaviors. "Patience," Sam whispered to herself, loud enough that the doctor heard of which caused his lips to tug up a bit. At least she was listening to him, he thought.

He looked at her, still lying on the couch with a determined look on her young face. Admittedly, she had surpassed his expectations; after all, it was often for genius children to not grow into genius adults, but from what he could see, with her, that wasn’t going to be the case. He had always thought her remarkable, since the moment she first spoke, with a British accent too. Which freaked him out a bit, and after almost ten years, she still had it---she was one tough cookie. She didn’t budge or tried to fit into society.

Sam turned to him with a glint in her eyes, and she proposed another means for them to get results. One that involved hypnotism.

It was a few days later when she returned for her session, by the way Dr. MArtin was looking at her, she knew something happened.

"What happened? Tell me,", she demanded, looking at him. Kevin sighed, "Your legal guardian didn’t consent to the hypnotism." he said, disappointment also evident in his voice, causing her to frown. "No, they did. You can call them yourselves!" she stated, confused; she had given him the signed consent form. Her Grandad even drove her to their therapy sessions-- So why the hell was he saying her legal guardian didn’t consent for the hypnotism?

’Unless....’ she thought, realization hitting her.

Her eyes narrowed at him, "Did he come here?" she asked.

"He called, threatened to have my license removed if I didn’t stop with the treatment. He had every legal right; he had the papers sent to me too." Kevin explained, showing her the legal papers.

Sam grabbed the paper from his hand and read it,

’Minor: Samantha Camille Fredricksen

Legal Guardian: Ivan Gregor Fredricksen’

She gritted her teeth and balled her hands. Then turned her heels immediately, not even bothering to say goodbye to Kevin. She grabbed her mobile and dialed his number. "Where are you?" She spat, not even greeting him properly. "Good afternoon to you too, dear." her brother answered on the other line—his tone cheery, too cheery for her liking.

"Where the--"

"Oh! don’t cuss." He reprimanded, causing her to tighten her hold on the mobile as she stepped out of the building. "Look behind you." He added, seconds later. And she did. Sam’s eyes rested on a silver car; its driver seat window rolled down, and there she saw her brother grinning like a schoolboy. He was sporting trousers and a dress shirt, with a tie wrapped around his neck. He looked professional even at his young age of 23.

She marched toward him, and he gestured for her to get inside as he ended the call. She frowned but did so willingly. Ivan smiled at her as he watched her put her seatbelt on. "Surprise!" He cheered before starting the car and driving.

"I need you to sign this," Sam stated firmly, showing him a consent form. He took one look at it, grabbed it, and threw it out the car window in one swift motion.

"I don’t understand." Sam spat, her eyes narrowed at the side of his face. "I’m your brother, I’m doing what’s good for you", he claimed.

"Oh, shut up!" She spat, earning a glare from him. "Is that what you learn in college?" he asked.

"Don’t assume you know what’s good for me. You don’t even know me! You didn’t have the chance to get to know me! You are far more of a stranger than that man driving that bus!" Sam yelled, exasperated, pointing at the bus driver on the other side of the road.

She had asked him numerous times to take her home, home being London when she was younger. But every time, he answered with ’maybe next time.’ She was now 13 and had experienced enough rejections to understand when she was not wanted. She had stopped asking people to accept her. She had grown tired of it. She had grown tired of the disappointment.

Ivan’s hand tightened on the steering wheel, but she was too focused on her frustrations to notice. "You’re taking Chemistry and ComSci; you are on top of your class. Your favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla; you prefer chocolate cakes, though, and would rather drink coke than water, an awful habit, by the way. I know you spend most of your free time in the Library, or your dorm room, alone." he started, causing Sam’s eyes to widen for a split second.

"You have no friends, other than your dog. I know your classmates throw paper balls at you; I know last Semester you got pushed down the Hall. I also know that you hacked Dr. Martin’s records. And I also know that you’ve been digging about our parent’s death." Ivan enumerated, and Sam’s mouth dropped, finding his knowledge of her both creepy and intriguing.

He turned to look at her, eyes softening. "I also know you are brilliant, beyond even my understanding. And I know that the safest place for you is here", he said.

"Even if I’m not here all the time, do know that I worry about you constantly. And I watch out for you wherever you may be. And all that I do, I do, to keep you safe." Ivan confessed, eyes filled with concern. Though he had not grown up with her, he loved her dearly. Sam was the only living reminder of their parents. Her hair, her eyes. And in her, he sees them, still living in some way.

"You’re too young; you wouldn’t understand. I won’t consent to it. That’s final." His tone turned suddenly cold, and her brows furrowed together in annoyance. Realizing he had driven her home, she walked out and slammed the car door shut.

"5 years. Just five bleedin’ years, and I’ll still get what I want. Now go away! I don’t need you!" She shouted, walking into the house.

Her grandparents heard this and walked out to the porch to investigate, bumping into the angry redhead and seeing their oldest grandson stepping out of the car.

Ivan walked towards the house, smiling at both of his grandparents.

"Teenagers." He commented, hugging the two.

.....

After a silent dinner, Ivan and his grandfather sat in the backyard drinking beer.

"She wants to be more. That’s what she told us." Carl told his grandson. "She’s too young, she may not handle it." he started, "No, she didn’t handle it, that’s why she forgot. It’s better that way." the blond corrected himself, earning a nod from Carl even though he was but a boy in his eyes, the son of his son. He was still his sister, and as always, he only wants what’s best for her.

Out of the blue, they heard the sound of a car starting, then driving away. Ivan stood abruptly, causing his chair to fall, and he sprinted towards the garage. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped to the floor, finding his car missing.

The couple follows after him; realizing what just happened, Monica called for Sam. But they received no answer.

"Blimey," Ivan said, frowning. How she was able to start the car without the keys, he found impressive, but at the same time, he was concerned. Monica turned to her husband,

"Does she even know how to drive?" Monica asked, and he shook his head

"Looks like she does," Ivan said, a smile on his face. He fished his mobile phone from his pocket and dialed a number, swiftly reporting a minor driving without a license to the authorities. He then provided them the license plate. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He turned to his grandparents, who were filled with concern. "There’s no need to worry; the police will take her in when they locate her," he told them before making his way up the stairs to his sister’s room. He needed to figure out where she might have gone. He knew it wouldn’t be friends; she didn’t have any.

He scanned her room, noticing her mobile phone on the bed. That was a bad sign, he thought. If she got into trouble or wanted to come home, she would have difficulty reaching them. And so, he made a mental note of giving her a gift with a tracker on it, better safe than sorry, he thought.

However, she took Ludwig, which was both good and bad, in his opinion. Good, that she had her guard dog. Bad, that she may be gone for some time.

He also knew she had enough cash saved, but he’d still have to give the bank a call in case she withdraws money so he could locate her. Ivan looked at the laptop on her desk, and he pulled the seat and sat down. He swiftly broke into her computer, and he reviewed her last logs. Who she last called, or the sites she had visited earlier.

One entry on the screen caught his attention,

’Hypnotist’