100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 72: Murder of the 15th XVII

The Criminal Investigation Department

The glass window shattered and the next thing Levi knew he was tackled to the ground by Marco.

"GET DOWN! GET DOWN!" Davies’s voice echoed through the panicked hallway, everyone’s head was down. Away from the windows, waiting. Thinking that whoever was brave enough to shoot inside the CID was either crazy or exceptionally skilled. A couple of painful seconds passed, but no other shots were heard. Levi stood slowly, patting his clothes for a moment. He looked down at Marco crawling towards Clark. The GP checked his pulse, then he shook his head in a no.

Levi looked at the shattered glass window, and back at the hole in Clarke’s head, creating a pool of red on the tiled floor.

.....

20 minutes later

Davies stood scowling beside Marco and Levi, watching as two uniformed men placed Clark inside a black body bag after pictures and evidence were collected by the forensic team.

Davies turned to Levi, "I can’t believe he’s dead." He spat, annoyed. Levi cracked his neck, feeling tired. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Shot in the head, by a sniper. Impressive angle," he said pointing at the hole in the window. Impressed with the skill to kill. Marco shot Levi a look, after noticing some of the forensic team looking at the slicked blond oddly, disturbed by his statement. He really should avoid complimenting killers in front of others, Marco thought. It was socially unacceptable.

"Levi..." the bearded man chided. Levi scoffed not giving a shit what others thought, "Sorry if you’re offended, Marco. But I’m glad he’s dead." He admitted, not bothering to mask his tone. Of course, everybody else there was glad he’s dead, they just won’t say it out loud.

Levi started to walk away, wanting to get away from the crowd, his work was done, after all. For now.

"How about conclusions?! Anything?!" Davies yelled as the slicked blond walked away. Levi paused halfway in the hallway and turned to the detective, "I have one, simple. Someone doesn’t like him, Davies. Enough to shoot him dead." he deadpanned then continued on his way.

Marco followed behind,

"Levi, where are you going?!" he asked, as the slicked blond got in the elevator.

"Take a cab, Marco." the Irishman simply said before the doors closed shut.

....

Levi opened the wooden door slowly, in an attempt not to wake her. The staff had informed him that she was resting. He took the seat next to the bed, not bothering to remove his coat. He was tired, after all, he couldn’t be bothered.

He looked at her, eyes shut close with a book on her lap. He scanned her face, and he knew she was awake.

"Can’t sleep?" He asked, leaning back. His back was killing him. Sam sighed, not bothering to open her eyes she said,

"Insomniac"

She opened her eyes, but she saw nothing but darkness. And she shifted towards the source of his voice to her right. "Caught him just in time I see," she said.

He sighed, "Not exactly." he said.

Sam tilted her head, waiting for an explanation.

"He was killed during the arrest," Levi said. Sam hummed, "You still got him though. Who was he?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"It was your intern."

Sam’s eyes widened, and then she frowned.

"How? Why?" she muttered, confused.

Levi pulled a folder from under his coat, it was Clark’s file, one he asked from Anna hours before. Background checks she could do faster than his boys would have. He placed it on her lap, and she touched it, waiting for an explanation. Normally she would just read it. But she can’t. Levi took note of the bags under her eyes as he explained.

"He thought killing your dog walker and dog would bring you closer to him in your investigation. His real name is Robin Baxter, you met him once in Dublin 6 years ago. He attended one of your seminars and he must have thought you had a special connection." he said.

"I didn’t even live here 6years ago," Sam recalled, she was still working in America back then.

"It was a special one, Elle recalled, one of your colleagues invited you to be a speaker. He was ecstatic when he heard you took the job at Guy’s more than a year ago, he presented Elle with an impressive resume. Spoilers! He got hired.." he explained.

Sam furrowed her brows, confused, that would be impossible for her to not remember him from 6 years ago. It was her curse.

"That can’t be. I never forget a face, you know that" she replied.

Levi nodded, "Plastic surgery. He was aware of your talents. He was fascinated with it. It’s all written in his journal. You should read it when ..." ’When you get your sight back,’ he was about to say but he stopped after recognizing the sadness in her green eyes. She didn’t know if she’ll ever have her sight back. And he certainly didn’t either, he hoped though.

"I see. I liked him like a teacher would a student," she replied.

"He wanted more. He felt left out when you started working on the Murder of the 15th, obsessing with it. Especially since you created a team that will work with you, and that didn’t include him. No more assisting lovely Dr. Gray in autopsies." Levi recalled one of his journal entries.

"He wanted to spend time with you, he wanted to make his fantasy into reality--his demented mind thought you two could share something. So, he killed your dog walker and dog. It was a twisted romantic story he created in his head so he could have you." Levi said, leaning back.

And silence befell them for a moment.

"How did you figure it out?" She asked, brow raised.

"Because he kissed you," Levi stated, earning a raised brow from the redhead.

"It meant he fancied you, it meant this case wasn’t about scaring you at all. Love is a more powerful motivator," he explained, his eyes landed on the book she was reading, the one Marco mentioned after his visit.

Sam took a lungful of breath. "And we still haven’t figured out the other one," she said, hinting on the Murder of the 15th. Levi simply stared in response.

"One-shot. In between the temple, the timing was incredible, as well as the angle and distance. A professional hitman." he concluded, both of them were aware of who could have hired the shooter. Sam hummed, "He’s not a forgiving man. I know." She mused out loud.

....

3 hours later

Davies stood in front of the reporters for a press conference regarding the shooting that occurred hours before and the murder of Sam Gray and Rona Sharpe.

Davies cleared his throat,

"We will not be answering any questions, just an official statement. Miss Rona Sharpe was found dead in her employer’s house, Dr. Gray 5 days ago. Together with Dr. Sam Gray. Luckily Dr. Gray survived the attack, and she is recovering as we speak. Regarding the rumors of her death, it is false, not to create a scene but for her protection during the investigation. We knew that if the public was aware of her survival she would be targeted again." Davies said, pausing for a second.

"Our sincerest condolences to the Sharpe family, we are sorry for your loss. The attack in the Doctor’s home was not related to the case of the Murder of the 15th, and the suspect had been caught. Robin Baxter a forensic pathologist who had a history of mental illness. And this would not be possible without the help provided by Levi Jackson." camera flashed, the video continued to record.

"Unfortunately during the capture, Mr. Baxter had been killed by an unknown assailant, he was shot and died immediately on site. We will investigate this, together with the Murder of the 15th and the other crimes out there, and we will not stop till the victims had received the justice they deserve. Thank you." Davies ended the statement and left immediately. He did not bother answering any of the questions thrown at him. And that ended the case of Sam Gray.

An hour later, Marco turned to Davies seated on his right, nursing a pint of beer in their regular pub. Together with Jones, they were all leaning against the bar counter, sitting comfortably.

"That was a well-crafted speech," Marco complimented Davies hours later

"You knew all along?" Marco asked Davies.

"Of course, I did," Davies claimed, but drunk Marco cocked him an unconvinced brow. "Okay...maybe a day after." He admitted.

"He told you?" Marco asked, "No, I figured it out. Anna’s people taking over Dr. Gray’s body, saying it was official business before we even arrived at the scene. I smelt something was fishy." Davies said eyes narrowed recalling the memory.

Jones swayed slightly on his seat, turning to the two. "It was easy to figure out," he claimed, and the two men gave him a look. Davies scoffed, "That’s why you cried when I told you she was found dead," he said, earning a chuckle from Marco.

"I didn’t cry. I didn’t." Jones insisted, making a smug face. Then chugging his beer.

.....

Next day, 7 Eastbourne Rd

Mrs. Whitehall stood by Levi’s kitchen, Levi sat at the kitchen table eating the breakfast she made for him. On his left hand was a folded newspaper of the day.

"I still can’t believe it’s her Forensic assistant. Why would he do such a thing?" she asked in disbelief.

"He’s insane," he replied in a duh tone, reading a newspaper with his and Sam Gray’s face printed on the front page.

Headlines read, ’Samson: Faking Deaths!’

A self-satisfied grin spread on the Irishman’s face. He expects that the agency will be busy once again, media exposure was good for business.