100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 199: Puzzle Skin II

2008, 7 Eastbourne Rd.

Marco watched his friend take the file in his hand, his brow furrowed when he noticed how the Irishman gripped the file tightly and how he clenched his jaw. For a second or two, he wondered if he pissed him off for forcing him to look at the file, but the second he looked at the man’s eyes, he knew the rage in them wasn’t directed at him.

"Levi, what’s wrong?" he asked, concerned.

Levi turned to him seconds later, but he did not answer. He was too mad to speak, so he grabbed his phone and dialled his sister’s number.

Anna, who was busy signing papers in her office, paused for a second when her assistant’s voice spoke on the intercom, informing her that her sibling was on the line. She took her time grabbing the phone, "Oh, I thought you didn’t want it?" she teased, leaning back on her chair and crossing her legs under the table.

"I don’t have time for your teasing, Anna. Tell me this is not all you got?" the psychologist demanded on the other line. The seriousness of his tone surprised Marco; he sensed there was something more to that case, something he wasn’t aware of.

Levi gripped the phone tighter, causing his knuckles to turn white as he listened to his sister’s words in the other line, "Not at all; I have a few information I cannot share through mail or over the phone." she said, before ending the call. He glared at the phone for a second or two before putting it back in its original place. He turned to Marco, "Get ready, we’re heading out." he said before putting on his suit jacket and grabbing his coat.

"What’s happening, Levi?" the bearded man asked, noting the evident scowl on the man’s face.

"There are things you don’t know about me, Marco." the blond spoke, reaching to pull the front door open. His underlying tone caused Marco to tense, but he continued to listen.

"Jackson is not my real last name," he confessed, causing the bearded man’s brow to furrow together. "Then who are you?" Marco asked, anxious. A hundred questions were running in his mind. On top was why did he change his name in the first place? The second was, why was he telling him that now?

Levi’s eyes darkened, recalling the first day he met Jason Murdoch back in Doonbeg. He could tell him now, but that’s too long of a story to tell, and he’d rather not relive the past.

He turned away, pulling the door open, "This case would most likely be for revenge, Marco." the blond confessed, causing the man to frown. Revenge for what? "You don’t have to help me," he added.

"Revenge for what?" the bearded man asked, stepping forward.

"Revenge for all the souls that died back then, including mine," he said vaguely, stepping out the door before the bearded man could say another word.

Marco paused for a second. Should he go? Or should he stay?

He huffed, running behind the blond after locking the agency’s door.

Levi turned, noticing the bearded man trailing behind him as he walked towards his car; a sigh of relief passed him silently. He shot Marco a look as he stood by the driver’s side, the bearded man by the passenger side. A look that said he was serious.

"Shut up, I got your back," the bearded man said, pulling the door open and getting in before him.

As the slicked blond drove, Marco spared him a look, "Mind giving me more detail to this revenge?" he asked. Levi rolled his eyes, "What happened to ’I got your back’?" the blond Irishman shot back, suddenly amused.

Marco groaned, "I still plan on marrying Lisa, mate. I just want to know if we’re going guns blazing and all. We should ask legal advice from her just in case," he said, cracking a joke on the last bit.

"Guns blazing are for amateurs, Marco." the blond retorted, eyes on the road. Marco turned to him, scanning his face, it was calm as usual but his eyes from what he could tell were fired up. "When someone says the word revenge, killing is the first thing that comes to mind," Marco admitted watching Levi’s reaction. The blond neither denied nor admitted it.

"I’ll be leaving the second I see signs of you trying to kill someone," Marco said, tearing his eyes off him and back to the road ahead.

Levi glanced at him for a split second; if he were honest, he would have admitted to him that he wanted nothing more but to kill the guy for what he did. And if he explained what it was that made him hate the man enough to want to kill him, maybe Marco will understand.

But in the back of his mind, maybe he won’t.

And so, he kept his mouth shut.

He’d rather not deal with it now. He’d rather keep the man in the dark for as long as he could.

Either way, he plans on destroying Jason Murdoch, one way or another. Be it his reputation or by taking his life.

....

Soon after Anna ended the call, she pressed the intercom with a self-satisfied grin on her perfectly made-up face, "Valerie, prepare some tea and biscuits. My baby brother is coming." she said.

"yes, ma’am" was her assistant’s reply.

Fifteen minutes later, as the platinum blonde expected, her brother waltzed into her office. The slicked blond did not even bother to knock, ’Whatta a bellend’ Marco thought as he trailed behind the slicked blond, whispering apologies when they passed Valerie, Anna’s assistant, just outside the door.

The second the two men stepped inside the room, a soft floral and spicy scent filled their olfactory senses, one that Marco could only describe as ethereal.

Anna tore her eyes off the paper in her hand, removing her reading glasses as she did with a swag Marco thought only a glass commercial model was capable of.

"Levi, Dr Evans." the platinum blonde greeted, earning a nod from the bearded man in reply.

"Tea?" she offered, stretching her ruby red lips into a crooked smile, and Marco smiled sheepishly at her, not entirely sure what he should answer. He wasn’t sure whether or not they would be staying long enough for tea.

The slicked blond flopped on the armchair, crossing his legs. "Yes, please!" he answered, and Marco took it as his cue to take a seat opposite him on the sofa, a glass table separating them.

Anna pressed the intercom, "Valerie, please bring the tea and biscuits. Thank you." she said before walking towards them. Marco’s brows rose in surprise when the platinum blonde made her way towards them, and disbelief was evident in his face. His eyes darted from his friend across him then back to Anna. He reckoned that if the two stood beside each other, they would look like a page on some fashion magazine with how they were both fashionably clothed.

"Levi, how very unexpected." Anna teased, knowing full well they were both aware she had been expecting his arrival. The slicked blond rolled his eyes, "Let’s get straight to the point, sister." he said, clearly annoyed that he was there, yet again having to deal with his older sibling.

Anna clapped her manicured hands for effect, "Very well, what do you wish to know?" she asked her brother. "Everything." Levi spoked, and Marco listened quietly as the two siblings conversed about a man he only recognized as a Media Mogul and a philanthropist. Jason Murdoch. His eyes widened more and more with each juicy information; Anna was happy enough to share.

The man being involved in different shady deals, from illicit drugs, smuggling arms to factory slave labours, and prostitution. He wasn’t only close friends with corrupt officials but also rubbed elbows with the local mobs.

Marco listened in his seat, and he realized just how easy it was for men like Jason Murdoch to manipulate and condition the masses perception and mentality just with the use of the media. Not only for him, but he reckoned that the man used it to help his so-called ’friends.’

Levi scowled, listening to his sister; she trailed on about a charred body found in Oxted Circular months before, the case disappearing in the records soon after like it never even existed. Until two nights ago, another body was found with the same MO by a hiker who was doing a vlog at the time in Chess Valley.

Marco nodded listening; he had heard of this on the news not long ago about some vlogger who found a body while streaming live, it blew the internet until it was taken down.

Anna continued with her tale, then sharing some intel stating that Jason Murdoch was possibly involved, but how was not clear. Something she wanted them to investigate. However, in their misfortune, all the intel she provided could neither be proven nor denied ultimately. They both know the intel was real, but it was useless if they cannot prove it. Evidence was vital to nailing the guy, incriminating him for all the years of his hidden crimes.

One of which he was personally aware of.