100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 64: Erinnerungen

7 months ago

Levi and Marco sat waiting for the redhead, she was oddly coming in later than they expected. The woman was always early for everything, sometimes even too early.

Moments later Levi’s front door swung open, revealing Sam. "You’re late," Levi commented, seated on his armchair like a King.

Sam looked at her wristwatch, it says, 8:30 AM. She was on the dot. Thank god she made it, but she understood what he meant by his comment.

"Sorry, woke up later than planned." She apologized standing by the door waiting for them so they can head out.

She received a text from the blond the night previous stating she needed her to come with him and Marco for a case at 8:30 am. She agreed but for reasons, she’d rather not divulge. She woke up later than planned.

Levi looked at her, observing. His brows furrowed together, eyes narrowed at her yet he remained silent.

Sam and Marco exchanged looks, wondering why he suddenly acted that way. If he was in a hurry they could leave right at that moment, so why was he taking his time ’reading’ her that morning.

"What?" Sam asked while Marco said "Levi" noticing the blond’s strange expression.

As if snapping out of his own thought, he said, "Moving on! Let’s go!"

He rose from the chair and grabbed his coat, and walking out leaving the two behind. Sam and Marco exchanged looks, both wondering what has gotten in his head. Sam had an idea why, but she’d rather not speak a word of it, she knew it was highly probable that he knew what really made her late.

Walking behind the two tall men towards the car she asked, "Why am I needed again?" A yawn passed her lips before she realized it. Marco smiled, "An all-nighter?" He said. Sam just smiled at him in response not wanting to lie. No, she was doing something far more tiring that night.

Levi narrowed his eyes at her, "You are well acquainted with Professor Winslett, may need your help," he said as he unlocked the car door. Marco sat on the passenger and Sam took the backseat, leaning back comfortably.

"What’s this case about again?" Sam said, rubbing her neck and yawning. A move Levi took note of. She was tired. Very tired indeed, and he gripped the wheel tighter.

Marco shifted to look at her at the back, "A college student was found murdered in the Rink." He surmised.

"Oh. How..." She trailed, finding the death boring.

"Dull." Levi interrupted, fed up with the conversation. The two shut up after a sigh, noticing Levi’s shorter than usual temper.

The three made their way through the campus to the Professor’s lecture room, they arrived just in time. The class has ended and only Professor Winslett remained inside the room collecting his possessions.

Sam knocked on the wooden door, peeking her head with a smile on her face. The older gentleman smiled when he saw her, "Dr. Gray!" He greeted me. "Good to see you again, Professor. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. These are my colleagues, Dr. Evans, and of course, you know Mr. Jackson." Sam introduced, shaking his offered hand.

"Of course. How could I not recognize--" Prof. Winslett started, he’d seen the man in the news before.

"Perfect. Cameron Young was a student of yours. Where was he seated?" Levi interrupted, getting to business. Professor Winslett stared at his rude behavior oddly, he was after all a Professor of history, and manners mattered to him. Sam sent him an apologetic smile, and with a sigh, he answered. "Third seat up, last to the right."

Levi ran towards it, inspecting, counting, deducing as he went. While he did his thing Marco asked questions.

....

2 weeks later.

It had been a weekly basis when Levi would give her the look. She would pretend not to notice it but she knew exactly why he was looking, he can tell. And it was both embarrassing and awkward. She was glad though, he wasn’t blurting it out, like most things he observed.

Nevertheless, the look gave her chills. It was scrutinizing, like being placed under the microscope, to be observed and seen. It’s as if he could tell what went on the night before...exactly what went on.

And it unsettles her to the core.

Not that she would mind that he knows, it’s just private...it was too personal for even Levi Jackson to be aware of such ’circumstances’ in her private life.

Like who she shares the bed with on Friday nights after work.

Sam was sure she was bruised in places, she was sore, absolutely. It had been a rough night, too rough? Not at all. She was in control after all. She likes being in control. Danny, who had been her lover, yes, lover for more than a month now had been particularly enthusiastic. She enjoyed it, absolutely, would she do it again? Definitely.

Most people have hobbies to unwind, to relieve stress from work.

Elle has her boxing, Mrs. Whitehall has her cleaning, Janet has her baking. Levi, Levi has his secret stash of cigars. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

And hers was....to put it simply,

Sex.

She had known Danny, Daniel McAllister for quite some time now, brief conversations in seminars she had both attended and spoken to. He was a Biochemist, but he would rather be called a Pharmacist. They were not in a romantic relationship, they were not dating. But they are having sex, a lot of it even.

You could call it a mutual understanding, both parties are busy in their own field, life was hectic and they don’t have time for committed and time-consuming relationships. You could say, they understand needs. That understanding led them to this arrangement.

They were not a couple, Sam had been clear with it. He could date anyone, but once he does the arrangement is over. Not that she wants him to be faithful to her, no, she just wants him to be faithful to the woman he’ll date in the future. Sam is not a fan of infidelity, nor wish to be involved in one, she does not dream of being someone’s mistress.

She just wants to have sex, and if he does involve himself with another romantically, the arrangement must end. More so, the risk of sexually transmitted disease is also a huge factor, though the two are keen to use protection, Sam had always been paranoid with whom she had intercourse with.

It is a lifestyle most people would frown upon, friends with benefits some would call it. But they are not friends, they don’t hang out, they just simply have sex, and the relationship ends outside of the bedroom.

Has she done this before? You ask, Yes. She had 3 sexual partners in total. Her first was Brian.

Brian and she went to CalTech together, he was an Engineering student. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, and a body that turned her on completely. The relationship lasted for 2 years until it ended when he asked her to be official. She broke up with him that same day, ended the relationship like he breached a legal contract, which she believes he did.

Sam had known she was incapable of a romantic relationship, that’s why she shies away from dating. She learned it held too many complications; it involved commitment, a commitment she couldn’t afford.

Committing meant she would be responsible for the feelings of another, and it meant to fall in love. And falling in love, or being in love, meant to trust, to a point of self-destruction. To be in a position where another being has a hold of you, completely.

To Sam, it meant an End.

It meant Limit. Trapped in a box she can’t get out of. She didn’t like being trapped.

Sam didn’t like limitations, she could follow the rules with no trouble at all; but she always knew she could bend it when she needed to. And you can’t do that with people.

People break.

Levi watched her more often than usual today, she noticed. Yet, he never said a word about the bruises around her wrist, nor the hickey she knew he could still see under the makeup at the edge of her neck.

"What?" Sam sighed, annoyed at his scrutinizing gaze. Levi snapped out of his thought at the sound of her voice, he forgot he was looking. The two looked at each other, knowing full well what was going on.

He knew she knew he knew.

"You had it particularly rough last night." He commented.

Finally, Sam thought, stretching her neck to the side, which was sore as she flipped the page of a file. "Hmm." She agreed, "You noticed." She added shortly.

"Always," Levi says, watching her read a file at her seat. "You never did miss a thing." Sam complimented.

"Let me guess..." Levi started, wanting to speak about his assumptions. "You never guess." Sam retorted.

Levi nodded smiling, she was right "Never." He agreed.

"It started 6 weeks ago, most likely you met him at a Seminar you attended in Cardiff, but he was no stranger, you knew him, had been acquainted with him but not very well. You are not friends, you don’t like complicating relationships. So, it’s someone you knew, but not well enough. He wore suits, evident by the bruising around your wrists, a tie had been---"

"There’s no need to remind me, I was there." Sam interrupted, looking at Levi.

Levi cleared his throat realizing he knew exactly what went on the night before.

"Yes, he’s blonde, you have a particular liking for blondes." He said, grinning at her. "He’s well educated, but not to a degree that he could keep up with you in an intellectual debate. You like him though, in a physical way, but not to an emotional degree that you fancied him. That’s why its always in his place." Levi said.

"How can you tell?" Sam asked, how did he know it was his place?

"Compartmentalization. You don’t have sex at home like you would not bring work at home. And I had been there, 3 days ago, there were no signs." Levi explained. Sam rolled her eyes, not bothering to ask what he was doing in her flat in the first place.

"So, it’s not serious, then," Levi said out loud. "Aha," Sam muttered, actually relieved that he was not offended or disgusted with her form of stress relief.

"Most people would join a club, boxing perhaps," Levi said, insinuating on Elle.

Sam focused on the file said, "I’m not like most people."

Levi cracked into a wide grin, yes that was a fact.

"Clearly." He agreed.