100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 191: The Skeletons XI

3 PM, Hope Valley Healthcare

Sam slowly walked through the hallway, greeting the staff as she did so. She did her usual rounds with Dr. Dawson, visiting different patients. It was around break time when she finally decided to see her’ favourite’ patient in room 16. She opened the door quietly as not to disturb the man lying on the bed. His breathing was shallow, clearly in some pain. The heart monitor beside him, beeping constantly.

The man had been paralyzed for over 13 years after an aneurysm burst in his head. Bedsores covered some of his bony parts, and even though the staff took good care of him, rotating him every few hours. Sores still developed after years of paralysis.

Holes on his flesh-eating away itself and the smell of him was horrid. The man was literally rotting alive; it was a painful life he was living trapped in his own body. Life ultimately depends on the care of medical professionals around.

Sam looked at him, unconscious like most days.

"Have you decided yet?" a voice came from the corner of the room, causing Sam to stiffen. She walked in, closing the door behind her gently while turning towards the source. She, of course, recognized the voice immediately.

Her eyes rested on him in the right corner of the room, and she could tell he had been waiting for her from the beginning. She bumped into one of the staff, Suzie, by the parking lot. And she graciously informed her that a couple of her’ colleagues’ dropped by early in the morning.

Sam scanned the whole room, noticing someone missing. "Where’s Marco?" she asked instead of answering him, well aware that the two would have come together.

Levi pushed himself off the chair, buttoning his suit jacket and making his way towards the redhead. He stood beside her, scanning her as he did. She was sporting a pair of maroon-colored scrub suits. And there were faint bags under her eyes; he could tell she also lost approximately 3 pounds, something he wasn’t at all surprised with considering she had been working her ass like she was on crack during the double murder case investigation, then suddenly disappearing to enact vengeance. "Outside, waiting." he replied, turning to look at the man on the bed.

"So..." the slicked blond trailed, as silence befell them. "this is the man." He added seconds later, gesturing to the man. Sam shifted, eyes focused on the man’s peacefully resting face. Her eyes narrowed at the all too familiar ring around his finger,

"Yes, this is one of them." she replied.

Levi’s brows rose, ’Ah, of course,’ he mentally thought. ’It couldn’t have been done easily alone’ "And the rest?" he asked, eyes bouncing from the man to the redhead beside him. He could see the hatred in her eyes, one she wasn’t afraid for him to see. She knew he knew. She knew Levi would be the last person to judge her if worse comes to worst in her vendetta.

"Taken care of. This one is Ivan’s favorite." the redhead revealed, her voice pulled the man from his dreams. Levi watched curiously as she took a step forward, her eyes held a light in it he has yet to name, but it resembled something akin to delight. But why was he elated that the man was stirring from his slumber?

She stood right next to the bed so that he could see her face, and like the first time, his eyes showed surprise, then shifted to fear. Levi quietly observed the scene; his brows rose when he noted the heart monitor beeping faster. And the man started to heave, his breath fogging against his oxygen mask. Eyes wide open in sheer terror.

Sam smiled down at him, reaching for his hand, holding it in hers gently.

Levi scowled at this. Why was she looking down at him like that? Why handle him with such gentleness? And most of all, Why was he so afraid of her? Then the realization hit him, and his eyes widened.

His eyes bounced at Sam’s hair, her stature, and the image of Lilian Fredricksen flashed in his mind. The two of them looked almost the same at that age.

So, to Tom Florence, he was staring back at the woman he raped, tortured, and killed.

To Tom Florence, he was staring at a ghost.

A ghost was haunting him at his deathbed.

Sam reached for the nurse’s button; seconds later, a nurse walked in. The two turned towards the nurse, Sam smiling at the woman kindly. "He seems to be in pain, please give him oxycodone." she said, earning a nod from the woman. She stepped out of the room, with Levi following behind her.

Sam led him towards a deserted rooftop, "So how did you find me?" she asked, turning to him.

Levi stood closer to the rail, looking at the view. Trees and greenery surrounded the Facility. "You weren’t exactly hiding, Sam." he said, looking him straight in her green eyes.

"Have you decided yet?" he asked after a pause. His question they both know meant so much. Have you decided to kill him? And if so, in what way?

She stared back at him with the same intensity, "Yes." she answered, walking away before he could reply.

It was 3 hours later when Sam made her way towards room 16, after getting paged. Following behind her was Levi, something she had to explain to the staff, saying he was one of her colleagues that would be helping her with her’ book’.

The two took note of the young woman with chocolate brown hair standing beside Dr. Dawson; the doctor turned and smiled. "Marie, this is Dr. Gray. and her colleague Mr. Jackson." he started, "She was the one who saved your grandfather last week." he shared, then excused himself so they could talk privately.

Levi quietly wondered what the man meant, saved? Why would she save him? He couldn’t help but wonder.

"I’m Marie, it is a pleasure to finally meet you." the young woman asked; from what Levi could tell, she was around 19 years old and based on the books spilling out of her backpack, she was a university student.

Sam accepted the hand Marie offered, "I’ve wanted to meet you and your family for a very long time." Marie said, earning a curious brow from the slicked blond, but he remained quiet listening to the whole exchange.

The young woman smiled widely at the redhead, adoration, and gratitude evident in her brown eyes. "I’m just so thankful to your family for taking care of my grandfather’s hospital bills all these years." she continued. ’Ah, now I get it.’ Levi mentally thought.

"And you saved him when he had an arrest last week. We truly appreciate it, if not with your help he wouldn’t have lived this long." the young woman said, holding on to the redhead’s hand with so much gratitude. She can do nothing more, but to say thank you.

"There’s no need to thank us, Marie. Anyone would have done the same." Sam smiled. Marie turned, noticing that her grandfather was now awake, and she looked down at him fondly.

"Look at him, he couldn’t stop looking at you, I bet he’s just so thankful like I am." Marie said, tearful, oblivious to the real reason why.

Sam smiled down at him, "I must remind him of my mother, they met briefly before my parents passed, but he has made such an unforgettable impact on our family." she said, Marie listening to her every word. She turned to look at Marie, "We’ll take care of him, so you don’t have to worry about his medical bills for as long as he lives." she assured her.

’And we’ll make sure he lives a very long life.’ she mentally thought.

The young woman couldn’t help but cry in gratitude; the Fredricksen had helped their family by taking on her grandfather’s hospital bills over the years. "Thank you. Thank you." she cried, grateful at her words.

"Don’t you worry Mr. Florence, we’ll take care of you." Sam smiled down at him. Her eyes filled with hatred, something the crying young woman missed.

Soon, Sam excused herself, and Levi followed behind.

"So, A long painful life is what you decided." Levi stated. "Would you prefer me to do the alternative?" she replied, turning to look at him as they paused in an empty hallway.

"No, I believe this choice is wise," Levi agreed.

"How long has your brother had him?" he asked.

"11 years." she answered.

"He’d been revived 3 times, the last time was a week ago during my first visit. My presence had caused him to go in cardiac arrest, the fear he had while he looked at me then was everything. I honestly considered not reviving him." she recalled, and he listened quietly.

"But then I realized just how miserable he had been all these years, always in constant pain. No way of expressing himself. No way of escape. Trapped in his own body, while it rots and destroys itself." Sam smiled to herself.

"I realized he deserved just that. So I gave him CPR that day. He should suffer for many more years to come." Her smile grew larger this time. This was the revenge he deserved. After all, she could always change her mind if she felt like it; she knew exactly where he was.