100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 131: #TheKiss

Sunday|March| 8:30AM

Mrs. Whitehall slowly made her way out to her flat to the front door to get the daily Paper; wearing a long nightgown under her peach-coloured dressing gown. The temperature was chilly like usual, but there was a cheery undertone even with the usually grim weather. She had a smile on her face like most days, greeting her neighbour cheerily as she knelt carefully not to strain her hip picking up the newspaper.

She made her way back in, closing the door behind her and placing the unread Paper on her kitchen table. She made herself some tea and decided to read the Paper while she drank it.

"Oh my!" The older woman gasped on her seat, gawking at the photo on the Frontpage.

....

The Criminal Investigation Department

Detective Inspector Davies got in the elevator to his office; he hoped that it would be a typical day at work. Hopefully, he need not deal with more things that were way above his pay grade.

The slightly flabby man entered his floor and noticed that his subordinates seated in the bullpen were all gawking at him expectantly, he wondered if he had stains on his shirt or something.

Davies narrowed his eyes at them, annoyed; "What are you all looking at!?" He asked.

Leon and Jones stood by his office door; a newspaper was in Leon’s hand. Davies shot the two a look that said ’What do you want?’. Leon simply handed him the Paper, "You have to see this." he said while Jones had a shit-eating grin on his unshaven face. Davies took it and unfolded the Paper; his eyes widened in surprise. But his lips curved up noticeably, "Th--that Irish bastard!" He exclaimed, earning grins from the two men.

Jones had his hand open at his friend expectantly, and Davies’ eyes narrowed at it.

"I’m not paying you till we have this confirmed," Davies said, recalling their bet.

Jones scoffed in disbelief, "What kind of proof do you need? Pay up." he insisted.

"No. I’m going to call Marco." Davies shot back, entering his office then slamming his door close.

Marco rubbed his eyes, exhausted while he leaned back on his chair inside the clinic. He was assigned on the night duty since one of his colleagues was on Maternity leave. He turned when he heard his mobile phone ringing on the table, begrudgingly he reached for it and read the name before answering the call.

"Davies." he greeted on the other line.

His mind and body exhausted; he couldn’t hear all of the words Davies was saying, and he frowned,

"Paper? What Paper?" He asked muddled.

Davies expelled a sigh on the other line, "Get yourself a copy of today’s paper, Marco. Right now." he insisted. Marco, confused, got off his chair begrudgingly. Then trudged towards one of the nurses at the station and asked if they had a copy of today’s Paper.

One of the nurses handed it to him, and in an instant, Marco jumped from his spot. His eyes wide in excitement and he forgot just how tired he was as he cheered, "Yes! YES! YES!!" optimistically, surprising the staff present.

....

Sam’s Lab, Guy’s Hospital

Sam was focused on cataloguing three different primrose species on her Program when she was startled by the sound of Paper slamming loudly against the marbled surface inches from her. She shifted instantly, her eyes narrowed, a bit annoyed at Elle, disturbing her from work early in the morning. The redhead sent the brunette a questioning glare, and the P.A. simply cocked her head towards the Paper on the counter.

Sam stared down at it; her eyes widening for a millisecond, then she sighed. She knew this was coming, all thanks to Levi.

"You’re not surprised. At all." Elle observed her reaction. Sam shrugged, "Nope. I was there." she replied, getting back to analyzing her plant.

Annoyed at her boss’ response, Elle quickly took the Paper on the counter and started reading the headline out loud,

"The couple the Internet dubbed as Samson was caught lip-locking last night, outside Levi Jackson flat at Midnight. Though both had refused to comment on the gossip concerning their clandestine relationship, last night was a concrete statement from the two. Not a shame when they showed the World that they truly are MORE THAN FRIENDS." she finished, eyes resting on the redhead instantly after. Sam ignored her and adjusted the microscope 750x.

"You made out with him. In public." Elle stated, absolutely confused. Sam had not shared anything concerning her feelings towards the undeniably annoying psychologist-slash-private detective.

Sam turned to Elle, standing beside her, glaring down at her.

"It was just a kiss. It wasn’t a make-out session." she corrected, wanting that conversation over.

"Do you know this is all over the web? It’s trending on Twitter #TheKiss!" Elle informed, showing the woman her phone, Twitter on the screen. "Can you at least explain this?" she asked, then a flash of disgust and shock shrouded her face, "Are you two?" she asked, scandalized.

Sam rolled her eyes, "We are not." she interrupted, expelling an exasperated sigh.

"This is what happened okay--" the redhead started, and Elle listened attentively while Sam recalled what happened the night before.

....

8:45 PM, Last Night

"You’re late," Levi commented when she walked into his flat at 8:45 PM, 15 minutes late.

"Sorry." Sam apologized, hanging her bag by the door with her jacket. She marched towards the window, peeking outside, clearly annoyed at the press lurking about.

Her green eyes narrowed, and she scowled, "I’m going to start suing people for the invasion of privacy and harassment." she said, marching towards the kitchen to get some plates for the food she purchased from a Chinese restaurant.

Levi leaned back against the chair, legs placed on top of the center table comfortably. Shuffling a deck of cards in his hands, "The reporters are bothering you again, huh," he stated wearily. He was used to the attention, but clearly, the redhead hated it more than he even realized.

Sam returned with food, and she handed the slicked blond a plate. Then flopped down to the sofa opposite him, picking on her food. "They’ve been following me everywhere. It’s getting on my nerves," she complained, earning a curious brow at how affected she was by this. She never complained, never like this at least.

Levi watched as Sam’s eyes darkened a little, and she clenched her jaw.

"One of these days, I’m gonna snap and have them run over." She added in between chews, angrily. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Hours later, after a game of operations and chess, Sam decided it was time to leave. She took her coat and bag, noting that her other jacket was still there.

Usually, Levi would walk her to the front door and watched her get in the car. But this time, he walked her to the car and opened the car door for her. Sam raised a curious brow, he’d done it numerous times before, but this time felt different to Sam.

"Okay, goodnight." She said, tiptoeing to kiss his cheek, slightly uncomfortable at the fact that she knew some of the press are spying on them. Instead of her lips meeting his cheek, she paused, noticing he was facing her directly. He had an odd look on his face as he towered over her, one she couldn’t define. She hadn’t seen him make that kind of expression before.

"Levi?" She asked, looking up at his piercing eyes. Levi opened his mouth to speak, his tone gentler than usual, and said, "Now... don’t punch me."

Sam furrowed her brows at him in confusion, not knowing what he meant by that statement. Why would she suddenly punch him?

Levi’s right hand brushed her left cheek, and her skin felt warm under his touch; and the slicked blond leaned in, closing the gap between them. His lips touched hers longer than he planned. And her eyes closed automatically, unable to resist kissing back.

Sam froze on the spot, wondering what was happening, Flashes of cameras blinding her for a moment, and she wondered if she only imagined hearing a faint guttural groan escape Levi’s throat.

Levi tore himself away from her, and he untangled his left arm away from Sam’s waist, wondering when it even got there in the first place. He looked down at her green eyes, as she blinked up at him, lost for words, her mind blank in a daze.

"Goodnight." the Irishman said, ushering her to sit down in the backseat and closing the car door after her.

"Home, Dr. Gray?" Bill, her trusted driver, asked awkwardly. He saw the whole scene, and he pressed his lips in a failed attempt not to smile in front of his employer.

"Ah, Y--yes... please." She stuttered, embarrassed, and utterly confused.

One thing running in her mind as she watched the slicked blond walk back inside his front door, ’What the fuck was that?!’

....

Present, Guys Hospital

Elle gawked at Sam in disbelief, "So, he thought kissing you would stop the press from harassing you?" Elle stated incredulously. What a load of bullcrap.

Sam shrugged, "Yep. He was right. No reporters today." she replied cheerily, getting back to work. Elle stared at Sam’s profile for a short moment, wondering if she believed it. Her calmness said so.

"I can’t believe how stupid you can be at times," Elle said, shaking her head as she walked out of the Lab, leaving a slightly insulted Sam.

.....

7 Eastbourne R.D.

"Oh, Levi." Mrs. Whitehall said enthusiastically, carrying tea and biscuits. "Why are you so cheery, Mrs. Whitehall?" Levi asked, frowning; he didn’t like it. He was wearing his usual vest over a white long-sleeved shirt while he worked on the microscope, concluding his experiment.

"No need to be shy, dear. I am so happy for both of you. Finally." Mrs. Whitehall said, going on and on how happy and glad she was at their relationship’s development. Levi ignored her completely the whole time that she was there, too focused on his task.

A minute after the flabby older woman exited his flat, his phone dinged on the living room table, and he made his way towards it.

Received:

Marco: "Tell me everything. #TheKiss", he read, grabbing the Paper on the same table, next to the tea tray; he figured out what was going on. He stared down at the photo, wondering why he could still taste her lips against his. The feel of soft hair between his fingertips, and how brilliant her green eyes were as it stared back to his. He didn’t miss how her eyes dilated subconsciously when they parted.

Or how her breath was elevated.

His phone rang half an hour later, this time; he looked at the screen; Anna Jackson. Levi, deciding to ignore his sister, threw his mobile phone on the chair and opted to build tower cards instead.