100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 186: The Skeletons VI

7 Eastbourne Rd

Marco watched as the blond leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes, what was going on in his mind, he couldn’t even imagine, and silence passed them for hours. He too closed his own eyes, searching for anything to make the discovery better. How could it be better? All along, she had been going through that, and she didn’t say. From the beginning, she had been silent about her pain, agonies.

Is that where her will to provide justice for others came from? Was it her trigger? Most likely, yes. Living her life as a forensic pathologist when she could be anything she wanted to be. Anything at all. And she chose something most people wouldn’t be able to live by.

Exposure to nightmares in real life. All of which was nothing compared to the very thing she saw herself as a child.

"Oh!" Levi said out of the blue, reaching to Pattin’s journal on the table and flipping through the pages.

She was there; she knew the M.O because she had witnessed it, it had been engraved in her beautiful mind, Levi thought as he recalled how she reacted during Pattin’s arrest, she knew he wasn’t the guy. She knew because she saw him.

"What is it?" Marco asked, watching the blond skim over a particular page, reading.

"She knew the murderer. She knew who did it. That’s why she left, she was certain he was still out there." Levi informed, still searching. He knew there was a link with Pattin and Sam’s parent’s murderer. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"She knew Pattin wasn’t the man who killed her parents. But how did Pattin know the M.O? It can’t be a coincidence. So, that means Pattin knew her parent’s killer." He continued, fingers flipping pages.

Levi shot Marco a look, " And where do two murderers meet?" he asked, a little bit too enthusiastic in Marco’s taste after finding what he was looking for in the journal.

"An institution!" Marco exclaimed, finally getting the right answer. Levi grinned at him proudly, showing Marco an entry on Pattin’s journal. On it was written, ’Crowside Manor Healthcare Services.’

Levi stood from his seat after getting the address and grabbed his suit jacket, putting it on, and Marco knew they were on the move; he also knew that Levi wasn’t telling him everything he knew. He was keeping something from him.

The two left for Crowside Manor Healthcare Services immediately; the car ride was dreary and silent. Why? Marco didn’t know---but it spoke by the way Levi’s eyes remained on the road, how he stared but saw something else.

"Levi, why didn’t she tell us? At least, why didn’t she tell you...or Elle for that matter?" Marco asked in almost a whisper.

"The very reason you are whispering, Marco." the blond replied. He knew the information was sensitive. He knew, possibly there was more to it than what he had figured out. The Fredricksen Family indeed was like an iceberg; there was a lot more under the surface.

"Why now though?" the bearded man asked, bewildered by it. If she knew it all along why look for the assailant now?

Levi turned to Marco; he had a theory, of course. The question had crossed his mind seconds after the realization had set in the flat, like other questions in his mind at that exact moment. The car came to a stop, leaving Marco’s question unanswered when Levi stepped out of the vehicle.

....

Crowside Manor Healthcare Services.

The two walked towards the Help Desk, where a woman in light blue scrubs, her name embroidered on her left chest pocket. ’Elise’ sat with a mug of coffee next to the computer screen.

The dyed ravenette looked up from the screen, her eyes widening considerably at the two towering men. After the initial surprise at the two’s height, she cleared her throat, for a moment there she thought she saw giants. It must be the straight shift hitting her; she was tired.

"Sorry, sir. Visitation hours are over." She informed, slightly annoyed with the disturbance at midnight.

Levi swiftly flashed a fake badge from his breast pocket then closed swiftly. Impersonating a police officer? Nothing new there, they’ve lied many times before.

"Maam’, were currently investigating a missing person case." the Irishman started, his tone stern.

Elise frowned, she recognized him. She has Twitter after all, and she knew who he was, and she was sure he was not a police officer. And even if she didn’t recognize him, she’d be doubtful, considering how well he dressed. He looked like he could go straight to dinner in a posh restaurant.

Elise furrowed her brows up at the two, but her eyes narrowed at the slicked modelesque blond. "You’re-" she started to retort, only for Dr. Langley to walk in the hallway.

"Hello, good evening, Mr. Jackson, Dr. Evans." The man greeted casually.

The three turned to the older physician, who as well as the woman recognized the two. ’Gobshite’ Levi thought, frowning, being famous indeed had its disadvantages.

"Dr. Langley." Langley provided when Levi offered his hand to him, and they shook, followed with Marco.

"We are investigating a case, linked to Pattin, and based on your facial expression you’re familiar with him. He’s all over the news after all, and one of your previous patients. We want this investigation to be as quiet as possible, but if you’d rather have this in the papers, well have Criminal Investigation Department over in a few hours with a search warrant." Levi lied through his teeth; his conviction was believable---leading Dr. Langley to fall for it.

Marco could only silently revere the man’s ability to lie in a drop of a hat. If he wasn’t such a child, he reckoned he could have a career as an actor as to how well he played his parts.

"Not good for business." Marco added, earning a look from Langley, and the older doctor sighed, agreeing silently. He led the two to his office.

Langley gestured for the two to take a seat; the duo did so willingly. Langley pulled a box under his desk and placed it on top, Levi shot him a curious look and looked through it, after realizing what it was he frowned visibly.

"What is it?" Marco asked, concerned, but he was ignored again, as Levi looked through the papers in the box. All the information they needed was there. Every question he might ask answered there.

Levi turned to Marco, "She was here." he said seconds later.

Did she want to be found? He couldn’t help wonder.

Dr. Langley saw the two’s exchange, "If you mean Dr. Gray. Yes." he confirmed together with a nod.

"When?" Marco asked him. "10 days ago. She was investigating Pattin too." the older gentleman provided.

The bearded man watched Levi as he scanned the files, "That’s the same day she left." he thought out loud, earning a nod from Levi. ’She had been thorough’, the blond thought as he checked everything. ’Yes, indeed. Very.’

"Is Dr. Gray the one missing?" Dr. Langley asked, slightly concerned. She had told him she was investigating more than a decade-old case, linked to Pattin, and he so willingly answered all the questions she asked about Pattin and other patients he had been acquainted with.

He graciously even let her check the private files, knowing full well who she was and her work and was a fan himself. Her most notable one was breaking the Mysterious Death of Veronica Dupree 1979. However, he made sure she didn’t copy anything in his watch, for legal reasons, of course. She had simply skimmed each file and had stayed there for about an hour.

Marco turned to the older man, his mouth contorting into an awkward smile, "Not...really missing." he said.

"Oh, alright." the man replied in relief. Then turned to the psychologist, "She didn’t stick long though. She just looked at some old files, most of our records are now being transferred to the computers." he shared.

"Any specific questions she asked? People?" Levi asked. Dr. Langley shrugged, "Pattin’s routine, when he was admitted, and why. Who he acquainted with during his treatment." he recalled.

"He was transferred here from Hope Valley Healthcare 6 years ago, and he was a functioning young man when he was released 5 years ago." Langley explained. Levi nodded in understanding. He had read the transfer papers; their lead was now in Hope Valley Healthcare

Levi stood up and shook Dr. Langley’s hand and thanked him for his help and left the door, followed by Marco.

"We’re heading to Hope Valley?" Marco asked, speed walking right beside him. "Leads are pointing to Hope, Hope is also 5 miles away Somerset where the Cabin was." the Irishman explained, getting in his blue Shelby cobra.

"That’s in another city." Marco informed, shutting the car door behind him.

"Yes, that’s why I had us booked for a flight, 4 A.M tom. Don’t be late." he said, starting the car and driving back to Eastbourne.

"Also, Elle confirmed that Sam booked a flight there. We can go to Hope Valley and the cabin, check for any clues she may have left. She’s not exactly hiding as you can tell by how she just fed us information." the blond said, handing Marco his mobile phone where their flight booking confirmation was.

Marco scowled, turning to Levi. Something is bothering him. "If she’s not hiding, what is she exactly doing? If she does find this guy, what’s next?" he asked. They had 3 hours to prepare for their trip; hopefully, Lisa wouldn’t be pissed about their sudden trip.

Levi turned to a corner, "What do you think she’ll do? You can figure it out, Marco." he replied, looking at his left side mirror.

Marco thought for a second; it had crossed his mind, of course.

But come on, it was Sam.

Marco shook his head, "No, mate. She wouldn’t." he interjected, wanting to hope for the best.

"Will you blame her?" he challenged not sparing him a look, and based on his tone Marco knew full well that the slicked blond understood most of all what the redhead was going through. The need for revenge.

Marco opened his mouth and closed it again.

’Will he?; he wondered to himself.

’Will he blame her?’