100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 75: Mozart III

7 Eastbourne Rd.

"How about I bring you two tea?" Mrs. Whitehall suggested the moment she saw Levi and Sam walking in the front door.

She knew the redhead ran away hours ago causing everyone to fear for her safety. But fortunately, Levi found her before anything bad could have happened to her.

The old flabby woman was well aware of Sam’s current state, she was blind and boy did she feel sad.

"Thank you, Mrs. Whitehall. How are you today?" Sam replied, earning a sad look from the older woman. "I’m fantastic. I’ll be right up with tea, that will warm you up." She replied cheerfully.

She watched as Levi led Sam up the stairs to his flat, and she frowned. Seeing how careful the redhead was taking her every steps. It was different from before, at times she would run up the stairs after saying a quick hello to her and the boys.

Now, she can’t see a thing. And the green eyes that used to shine with joy were now replaced with sadness.

The old woman noticed she lost weight, and she fully understood why. She was attacked in the safety of her own home, someone was killed, together with her beloved pet.

Poor Mozart, Mrs. Whitehall thought.

The stick in Sam’s hand didn’t go unnoticed by her either, there used to be a leash on its place before, poor Mo.

The way Levi was assisting her, Mrs. Whitehall didn’t agree. He walked ahead of her, just watching. He didn’t hold her hand or stayed by her side. He just took a step ahead of her, leaving her to walk on her own.

Mrs. Whitehall furrowed her brows at the psychologist, as she stood at the foot of the stairs looking up at him.

"Levi..." she started.

"Do put a kettle on Mrs. Whitehall," Levi interrupted her, he shot her a stern look and the older woman left. Someone should really teach him some good manners, she thought.

Sam felt the older woman leave, and she also felt Levi’s watchful eyes, she wondered what was going on in his mind. It was difficult now, she can’t read him like she used to. She actually can’t read anyone now. She can’t read their facial expressions, but she could still hear them when they speak. But it was a lot harder to tell with him.

Holding the stick in her left hand, she placed her foot one after the other with her hands placed on the railing for support. Till finally she heard him open his door and he walked in not saying a word.

She heard him remove his coat, and she copied him.

"On your left is the rack." Levi simply said, and she heard him walk away.

She sighed slightly, she couldn’t see the rack but she remembered where it was. She took a slow step, tapping her stick on the floor carefully, till she felt it hit something. She raised her hand feeling the space in front of her, she felt his coat hanging, and she hooked hers beside it.

Levi watched her discreetly from the kitchen, as he checked the earwax in the freezer briefly. She made her way towards the sofa and sat down slowly.

He frowned in the distance, fisting his hand silently. He wished Robin Baxter didn’t die. At least not that soon. Maybe a push down the stairs a couple of times would be good, not a fast swift death he didn’t deserve, it was way too easy.

Minutes after she remained seated on the sofa inside the psychologist’s living room, quietly drinking the tea.

Sam felt tired suddenly, sleepy. Every time she blinked her eyes, she felt it grow heavier.

"Why don’t you lay down," Levi said, noticing her lidded eyes. Sam nodded once and she leaned back and laid on her side on the sofa. Maybe she needs a nap, but why did he sound so nice?? she thought, dozing off completely.

It was half an hour later when Mrs. Whitehall walked in to pick up the dishes.

"Hello!" she greeted, swinging the door open. "Do shut up Mrs. Whitehall," Levi said in a hushed tone, gesturing to the sleeping redhead on the sofa with a book in hand. He sat by the window, reading with soft music playing in the background.

Mrs. Whitehall raised her brows in intrigue, "Oh." she muttered, looking at Sam comfortably lying with a blanket on her. The older woman silently collected the cups and slowly made her way out of the flat, making as little noise as possible.

Levi let the calm melody fill his flat, scanning her once in a while.

He drugged her tea, yes, not that Mrs. Whitehall was aware of it. She would make a fuss if she knew, and Sam wouldn’t drink the tea.

.........

16 hours later

It was that dream again. That dream that kept playing in her head, the funny thing about dreams, Sam thought was in her dreams she could still see.

And it was that same old dream that kept playing in her mind over and over again. It was her being dragged towards her bathroom, but every time it was clearer.

That feeling enveloping her, the water filling her lungs. How something so cold burnt inside her, filling her with every breath. That was the part where things didn’t make sense. It was clear she was going to die, and every time she saw this play in her mind she became more and more convinced she should be dead.

The drug, whatever it was paralyzed her, she couldn’t even shut her own eyes close while she drowned wide awake staring through the water shimmering.

So, how, did she pull the drain? Did she blackout? Went to auto-drive?

Her own loud gasp of breath was the one that woke her. She trembled in fear, eyes blinking rapidly wanting to see where she was but her vision was black. She bit her lip in fear.

Where am I?

This isn’t my bed. Sam thought, feeling the sheets around her in panic.

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. She coached herself.

She tried to ease her own hammering heart. She heard the door swing open and she froze in her spot.

She tried to recall her last memory.... tea with Levi.

"Levi?" she questioned, anxiously.

Levi looked at her, as he stood by the foot of his bedroom door. Her shoulders were tense, she looked afraid. He didn’t like that.

"Who did you think it was?" he answered. And her body visibly relaxed at the sound of his voice. But Sam remained silent, not acknowledging his inquiry.

She slowly got out of his bed and made a logical move. By the source of his voice and knowing he stood by the door on her right, she made a mental map of his bedroom based on the picture she had of it in her head. She had been there before.

She moved towards him, hand in front of her so that she won’t hit anything face first.

Her hand reached him, touching his chest. She felt his tie under her fingertips.

Levi observed her move, fascinated, he found it quite impressive. She had formed a mental map and was moving like she could see, still cautious. She clearly hadn’t done this before but she stood directly in front of him. Yet even handicapped as she was then, he can’t help but be fascinated with her.

Sam gripped his blue necktie and she pulled him towards her slightly "You drugged me." She said, figuring it out. She felt sleepy after tea, and he graciously suggested she lie down. She knew something fishy the second Levi acted too nice.

Levi cracked a grin, looking down at her. She had no idea just how close they actually were, enough that he has a close view of how her lashes curled.

"Yes," he answered dismissively. She sighed, releasing his tie and pushing him with her hand gently, then moving forward. "You are hopeless." She said as Levi shifted to make room for her as she continued to walk forward.

"Where’s my stick? How long have I been out?" she asked.

"On the table. 16hours." He answered, following behind her. He made his way towards the sofa, picking up the newspaper on the center table that he was skimming moments before. finding nothing interesting as usual.

"Can you call me a cab, please. I want to go home." Sam says, putting her coat on.

"There’s a car waiting for you outside." He informed. The black car had been waiting since they came back from the park. He had noted it parked a few meters away from Sam in the park, watching her quietly. He figured it was one of her brother’s people, someone keeping an eye on her.

"Great. Thanks. I’ll go now." Sam says, pulling the door open.

Levi eyed Sam, as she took her first step out the door stick in hand.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Levi asked, knowing something was in her mind.

Sam paused, then turned. She has to get used to it, seeing as there’s no sense turning anymore towards him to look him in the eye. "No. Not really. Good day, Levi." she lied through her teeth, shutting the door closed and walking out.

Levi moved towards the window, looking down at the street below. He watched as Sam stepped out of the main door, and a man from the car stepped out as well. He looked like a bodyguard, and he was packing a pistol he could tell. Definitely her brother’s people.

The two spoke, she nodded and the car rolled closer. The man opened the door for her, Sam knew he was watching, and she waved as to tell him she’s good with this fellow but he knew that already and she got in the car.

He sat back down infront of his laptop. Something was brewing, he could tell.