100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 135: The Practical Joke

Two weeks later, Levi’s Flat.

Levi wasn’t oblivious to the Change in Sam. A change that had started after she had a girls’ night with Janet, Lisa, Elle, and his ’ex-girlfriend’ Lea, nearly two weeks ago.

The changes included the constant texting, the lunch out of work. Or the noticeable cosmetics on her face, the scent of perfume and hair products, and her wearing dresses and heels at work. Which normally, she could not be bothered with.

He could still recall her wearing pajamas, and bunny slippers the first day he saw her in the main Lab. So, Levi did mind. He didn’t like Change, and she was changing at a dramatic speed. It reminded him of what Marco said before, weeks previous after their so-called #theKiss. They were having their usual banter after work regarding his relationship with the redhead. "Things are bound to change," Marco told him, and Levi dreaded that that Change was coming.

But what he found most annoying about that Change was her coming late to their Game night.

"Sorry about that." Sam apologized, entering and hanging her newly bought coat, with an alarming shade of red that matched her lips. Levi’s eyes narrowed at her dangerously, something she didn’t see. He had smelt her before she even entered, reminding him of his sister Anna. "You were on a date." he sneered.

She was on a date again, he thought.

Sam simply ignored his comment and took off her heels, diving on the couch and raising her tired feet, relieved to be out of the contraption. Why she wore it for hours was beyond him, she was not complacent, at all, and that Change he didn’t like. "Tea?" She asked, "I’m done; thank you." Levi replied, annoyance clear in his voice. She could clearly see the empty teacup on the centre table. "I could use one." She said, walking to the kitchen bare feet.

She was clearly tired, massaging her neck and stretching her back while she waited for the water to boil in the kitchen. Even though he said no, she still made a cup for him and placed it across him. Levi glared at her, he could smell not only her perfume, but there was another scent mixed around her. It was the scent of a man’s cologne.

Levi loosened his tie, subconsciously clenching his jaw. "You’ve been late twice," he complained, not at all afraid to verbalize his discontent at her. "I would’ve been late only once if you didn’t insist the other day when I told you I have another appointment." Sam reasoned, too tired to have a row.

"You’ve been with a different man today than the other day." He commented snidely, noting the scent that clung to her then was different from the other day. Sam groaned, he had been in a bad mood lately, and she honestly didn’t know why she wondered if he spilled something on his suits again or if his housekeeper used the wrong laundry detergent again. And at times, like that day, Sam felt like he was displacing. Little did she know she was the leading cause of his foul mood.

"It’s a date. Don’t get your panties in a twist," She replied, typing on her phone, which drove Levi insane. "I don’t have panties." He replied, glaring at her hand, fiddling with her mobile. "Could have fooled me." She said, surprising Levi for a second; she was getting mad at him when it was him that was supposed to be mad for her being late, twice.

The Irishman glared at her, but what pissed him off more was the fact that she wasn’t even paying attention to him. She wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she was typing on her phone again!

Infuriated at the things he’s reading on her body, he stood up, looking down at her.

"Thank you for your full attention." He said, words dripping with sarcasm, then walking away. Sam watched the slicked blond walk towards his bedroom, slamming his door closed loudly. Loud enough that Mrs. Whitehall jumped on her seat downstairs.

"Levi!" Sam called, following behind, knocking twice at his door, but he refused to answer. "Having a domestic dear?" Mrs. Whitehall peaked through the front door minutes after, with a worried look on her face. Sam smiled sadly at her, and the woman walked back down to her flat.

It was two hours later when Sam stood in front of his bedroom door again,

"Levi-- I’m--I’m... leaving." She said, loud enough for him to hear on the other side. He heard her sigh behind the door and made his way towards the door, reaching to grab the door handle. Then he stopped halfway when he heard her phone ’ding.’

With his jaw clenched, he vowed he’ll find out who was distracting her.

Receiving no answer from the Irishman, "Goodnight." Sam whispered sadly to herself, getting her coat and leaving Eastbourne.

.... 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Next day. Jackson Detectives

Marco stood at the foot of Levi’s office door, "Hey, Levi?" he said, tearing the psychologist’s attention from his computer. "Hey, I heard--" the bearded man started, earning a scowl from him immediately. He knew where the lanky man was heading and who was responsible, "MRS. WHITEHALL, YOUR GOSSIPS ARE NOT APPRECIATED!" the Irishman shouted, knowing the older woman could hear him on the other side of the wall.

Marco entered his office, closing the door behind him in an attempt to privacy. The boys all sat at their tables exchanging looks; they all knew what happened. Mrs. Whitehall has no secrets with her boys. They all know the two had a fight, and if the boys were honest, based on Mrs. Whitehall’s story: this one would be worse than before. They reckon they will be the casualty of this ’war.’ They always were the ones to suffer most in their boss’ bad mood. Be it a spilled drink on his suit, or a client refusing to pay their services, or his sister visiting his office during work hours.

But even with all that, nothing compares to when he and the redhead fought.

Marco sighed, taking a seat across the slicked blond’s table, "It ’s--normal to have fights." he said.

Levi groaned at his friend; he felt like he had this talk too many times. His life was nobody’s business. "Don’t force your opinion to the World, Marco. It’s annoying." Levi said, causing Marco to purse his lips in annoyance too. He was displacing on him.

"Lev-" Marco started, "She’s been acting strange. Out of character. Makeup, perfume, dresses, heels! There must be a valid reason behind it." Levi interrupted his attempt at a speech about relationships. Marco looked at him with pity, one Levi noticed. "What?" the Irishman demanded.

Marco recalled a conversation he had with his wife, "Lisa-- Lisa, told me that Sam met someone in the pub when they went out last time. That may explain her ’strange’ behavior." the lanky man shared.

Levi rolled his eyes, "What’s that have to do with the problem in hand!?" he asked, confused; she meets a lot of people in pubs all the time. She goes there more often than his Irish ass does, and she enjoys a drink or two during her days off. That wasn’t the problem; the problem was her being late and texting when he’s talking to her.

....

Marco took a deep sigh, he can’t believe how stupid the slicked blond could be at times, and he leaned forward, "Women tend to doll-up when they are attracted to a man. And dating men." Marco hinted.

Then realization dawned on Levi, "No, no, no, no," he scoffed, followed with a laugh. "Marco, normal women do." He stated, emphasizing each word. When he said normal, Marco was slightly offended on behalf of every woman in existence. He made half the population sound like a joke.

"She’s not like other women; she doesn’t flaunt her feathers like peacocks does to impress a prospective mate," Levi stated, but his tone didn’t have as much conviction as it usually had. It was as if he was convincing even himself. "Are you sure?" Marco asked, brows raised at him in a challenge. Sam was a woman, after all.

Levi thought for a moment, then looked back at him, "No. But we’ll find out." He said in a more cheery tone. The slicked blond stood from his chair and walked towards the corner where his suit jacket was hanging by the hanger. "We?" Marco asked, watching him.

"Yes, Marco. Clearly, you’ve come here to ease what you think is my burden, as nonexistent as it may be. I need you to distract her." Levi said, pulling his office door open and walking out. Marco followed behind him with his brows furrowed together, the way he sounded Marco didn’t like it.

"Distract her for what?" the bearded asked, shooting the three men a bewildered look. Levi grabbed his coat by the rack at the back of the door, and he turned to look at the bearded man. "So, I can get her phone!" Levi replied, walking out. Marco followed after the blond, attempting to reason with him.

"That is an invasion of privacy, Levi. She’ll kill you," Marco warned, as the slicked blond unlocked his blue cobra by the side of the road.

Levi looked at Marco from the driver’s side, his eyes darkening for a second, "The problem is the person on the other line; we need to deal with it." he stated, his tone Marco didn’t like. He sounded like a reckless teenaged boy, without a sense of reason.

Marco fishes his phone from his pocket to warn Sam, but Levi marches towards him and grabs it before he could even unlock it. The bearded man looked at Levi as he pockets it, then swiftly gets in the driver seat. Marco bends over to the passenger side, glaring at the psychologist from the window. Levi gestured for him to get in, and he did so, knowing full well he wouldn’t be getting his phone anytime soon if he refused.

"Give me back my phone, Levi," Marco said, as the blond started the car’s engine. "Relax, Marco. It’s only a phone", he replied, driving towards Guy’s Hospital. Marco shifted to look at the street ahead, "One of these days I’m going to pour paint in one of your suits and say, ’It’s only a suit, Levi’" the bearded man thought out loud.

The blond’s eyes widened for a moment and shot his friend a horrified look.