100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 180: The Wilson’s Double Murder Case IX

Present-day, Lab, Guy’s Hospital

Sam collapsing in her Lab after three straight days of work was something she expected. And she remained on the floor, just breathing, closing her eyes for a moment longer. She had been working her ass off like she never did before, but all for a good cause. She had found semen days before on the victim, and after performing such a long delicate task, she had successfully replicated enough DNA to perform other tests. Now the only thing missing was a possible suspect that they could investigate. The ball was now on the three musketeers as she’d like to call Levi, Marco, and Davies’ court.

"Rough day?" She heard Levi’s voice, and her eyes snapped open. There he stood, looking down at her pathetic state, how he got in without her noticing she blames on her fatigue. Compared to her, though, the psychologist was freshly washed and dressed as slick as usual. She, well, she did take a short shower in Guy’s Staff Washroom.

"You can say that." She said, not making any effort to get off the floor as she looked up at him with her tired eyes. "When did you last sleep?" He asked, noticing the bags under her eyes and her above normal breathing.

"Who cares? I’ve got these." She said, showing him her forearm with Nicotine patches attached. Levi frowned, "Where did you get that?" He asked, though he already had an idea. She shot him a look, "Your secret stash." she answered, closing her burning eyes again, longer this time. He watched her try fighting off sleep on the floor, and he scowled down at her. "Get up." He demanded, causing her to flinch at his tone. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment but followed instructions anyway. Pushing her body off the floor felt heavy; her knees gave out eventually, almost falling back down if it wasn’t for Levi’s arms holding her firmly. He ushered her to a chair and helped her sit.

Satisfied that she seemed stable on the chair, his hazel eyes narrowed at her. "’For now’ is over. Now tell me what else you know." He said, recalling their last meeting. She looked at him, he looked a bit pissed, but that’s nothing unusual.

"I’ve got the DNA evidence; just get me the bastard." Sam retorted, annoyed.

"You are attached to this case; I want to know why." the Irishman said, knowing full well, there was more to this for her. This was personal, but why?

"I hate Rapists. I think they should burn alive." Sam spat, mood turning sadistic. There’s nothing wrong with that, he thought. Most people hate rapists. Sometimes, even rapists hate rapists.

"I do recall we have talked about this--" he reminded her; it was weeks ago when they ’reached an agreement.’ And that agreement involved matters like that, about keeping secrets.

Her green eyes narrowed back at him, and she clenched her jaw, "I also remember we agreed on not pushing too much." She retorted, not in the mood to ’talk’ as he so kindly put.

"Did you know the victims before the case?" Levi interrogated. "Nope," She said, popping the ’p’ as she leaned back and closed her eyes, rubbing her aching sinuses.

He decided to continue, "Do you know the killer?" He asked. This time she paused, looked up at him, and said, "No, but I want to. I’d also want to be there when they catch him. I want to be there while they cuff him. I want that image to play, over and over again in my head, Levi." she confessed.

"That would be the pinnacle of my year." she continued, gritting her teeth in a fury. In her mind, there’s a face playing. If only the United Kingdom hadn’t abolished the death penalty, she would have loved to have the front row seat to the culprit’s execution.

Levi saw the honesty in her eyes, the raging fury she was trying and failing to rein in. "Good. Let’s go," the blond said, grabbing his phone from his pocket and calling Davies. He wrapped his hand around her upper arm and pulled her out of the Lab. The redhead almost tripped, just trying to keep up with his long strides.

"Where are we going?!" She demanded, annoyed, while he continued to pull her out of Guy’s, heading towards his parked car. She was tired; she wasn’t in the mood for one of his weirdness.

They both got in the car, with Marco already sitting on the passenger seat. Marco turned to look at Sam on the backseat, "Hey." he greeted, frowning seconds later. "Ugh...you look....awful." He added.

"Thanks!" the redhead spat sarcastically, and Marco pursed his lips, noting the woman was in a foul mood.

"Where are we going?" Sam asked minutes later, as the slicked blond took a turn, "We are going to make your dreams come true. Merry Christmas!" Levi replied cheerily.

She took note of the streets outside the window; the sun was setting. Moments later, the car stopped in a corner, and she took it as her cue to follow the two who were stepping out of the vehicle. Levi led the two towards an apartment building.

"About time," Davies said the second they walked in, his arms crossed over his chest. Eyes remained on the computer screens; three more officers were with him watching the scene behind the screen. Sam turned, looking at the same view Davies’ eyes were glued on.

He took the walkie-talkie off the table after turning to Levi and earning a nod.

"Team on Go, I repeat, Team on Go," he said.

Several uniformed men in helmets, kevlar, and semi-automatics started to move towards a house across the street. They watched as the scene unfolds through one of the body-cams. They began by taking down the door, and ruckus and shouts echoed.

Sam turned to the slicked blond who was standing beside her, "What’s happening" she asked, seemingly lost. She had a few ideas in mind, causing her to ball her fists. But she needed the confirmation.

Marco turned to the redhead, "We had an anonymous tipper, and when I say, Tip. This... was sent to me, at work." he explained, showing her a flash drive and a file. Sam took it from his hand, and she inspected it and read the file. It was a file of a man named Alex Pattin, complete with all his information, even the address. All these caused Sam to turn to the three musketeers, confused.

"The flash drive contains the CCTV video of him going around Kentish Town the night of the Wilsons’ Murder." Levi started, gesturing to the flash drive. "That, I mean, is a compilation from every private and public CCTV camera, following him around town, recording the exact time and place where he was. Including him purchasing the rope from a shop." he continued, observing every emotion crossing her face.

"Rope that he used to strangle the couple with. And following where he threw it away after he used it", he added, intrigued by the package Marco received that morning. But he had an idea of who it was from and who it was actually for.

Davies turned to the redhead, a satisfied grin on his face. "Someone hates this guy, someone who wants him caught," he commented cheerily. To him, it didn’t matter how the bad guy was caught; that’s why he employs Levi even with his knowledge that the blond man performs borderline illegal things to get intel at times. But he’ll never say that out loud, of course.

"The video won’t stand on the court, though," Sam stated anonymity doesn’t work in court.

"Already ahead of you, Doc," Davies said, pleased with himself. He knew he did good work.

"We just need an official video of him purchasing and getting rid of the evidence from the crime." he continued, pulling an evidence bag from under his coat and showing it to her. Inside it was the rope. "And we got that, the very rope itself," he added.

Davies turned to the monitor, seeing his team tackling down Alex Pattin. "Someone went through all that trouble, so we’d catch this bastard," he added, making his way to open the door and walking out so he could make the official arrest. Sam, Levi, and Marco followed behind, watching as Davies himself read the suspect his rights to silence.

Even though they don’t know who helped them out, Davies was thankful for it as long as the right guy goes to jail. Preferably life in prison.

Levi continued to watch Sam from the corner of his eye. It’s not the reaction he expected; she didn’t seem to recognize the guy. But he was sure they have the right guy; the DNA result will cement that. So what did he miss? Was there something more that he didn’t know about?

Marco turned towards the redhead, standing next to him. "It’s over then." he thought out loud, shutting up immediately when he saw the expression on Sam’s face as she watched Davies cuff Pattin.

It was a hint of confusion; then it morphed into fury.

Seconds later, she walked away, not saying a word with balled fists.

This wasn’t her man.

He was at least two decades younger.

Levi rubbed the back of his neck, catching Marco’s attention. "No, it seems it isn’t over yet, Marco," he said, seeing the question in the bearded man’s face. And the two watched as the redhead continued to walk away.