100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 145: The Reunion III

The Octagon, Queen Mary University

Levi walked in the vast and magnificent hall with an elegant dome with a fine central window, wrapped at his right arm was none other than Sam Gray. The Octagon measured over 23 meters in diameter, and its height rose to three storeys tall. Rich and beautiful acoustic filled the whole venue.

By the entrance, Levi helped the Pathologist remove her coat, and both walked around the reception venue. A number of circular tables with white, rich sheets greeted them, arranged outward creating an open centre in front of the stage. The two made their way to their assigned table; the Irishman had pulled some strings to get the table with the best view of the whole gathering. Best of all, the best view of the table where their targets were assigned.

Levi noticed the stares his date was receiving, both from men and women. Everyone knew she didn’t belong there; they would remember that brilliant shade of red anywhere. As they continued on their way, a few greeted Levi, recognizing his face instantly. He was hard to forget even years before, standing out of the crowd and now he was famous.

The blond Irishman shot them his signature smile and replied with either, "Sorry about the divorce." or "You should get that itch checked out, could be viral" And "Yes, your wife is sleeping with your friend." When the said wife was standing next to said husband.

Sam pressed her painted lips together, silently laughing as they chatted with a few people casually to blend in the buzzing crowd. She knew she shouldn’t laugh, but the fact that Levi was ruder than usual was entertaining. Why he was coarser than usual, she doesn’t know.

The redhead shot the slicked blond a look when they reached their table. He pulled the seat for her like a gentleman that he was, "Bad experience?" She asked, reaching to take a sip of the glass of water on the table. All that talking dried her throat.

Levi looked at her to his right, as she beckoned for a glass of wine to one of the service staff. Her green eyes roamed around the room as he did. "Did you enjoy College?" He asked her in reply as she took a sip.

"Only during my Doctorate, then, I was the same age as the University students," Sam admitted. Levi raised a brow, and looked at her "Before that?" he asked.

"I got picked on, tripped in the hallways, there was even a time a group of fraternity boys thought it would be hilarious to scare me," she said, looking back at the memory. "They placed a bag over my head and tied me to a tree", she added, after taking another sip. Levi arched a brow; he could only imagine what her brother did after.

"I was found 2 hours later, Ivan had them expelled, charged them of assault, kidnapping, child abuse--every shit he could charge them with making sure their lives is ruined." Sam revealed, her eyes darkening for a second, she didn’t feel bad for them, at all. They deserved it, they shouldnt picked on kids.

Seeing the concerned expression on Levi’s face, she added suddenly in a lighter tone; "Some just threw paper balls at my head during class."

Levi looked straight again, watching as the crowd started settling into their seats. "Someone poured pink dye to all my clothes in the washer." Levi deadpanned, his eyes focusing on his target. The couple, Carol Corden and David Fletcher.

"Which one?" Sam asked softly, but her tone held a subtle venomous edge, causing Levi to turn to her slowly. She had that look on her face, one that tried to hide the anger surfacing--she did have some violent streak in her. It was both fascinating and frightening.

Like a moth attracted to light, awed by its beauty, naive on its ability to burn, "Dealt with them." he said, recalling he and Marco got suspended for it, receiving their nickname Titans of room 106.

A memory popped in Sam’s mind, and she pursed her lips. "Wait, Didn’t Marco go to this Uni too?" she asked, earning a nod from Levi. "He has a pressing matter to attend to at the moment." the Irishman replied vaguely, then he grunted when he saw a familiar face in the crowd coming their way.

Robert Leon walked in with an obnoxious swagger, wearing an expensive tuxedo and a bow tie around his neck. His nose was subconsciously pointed upward, giving him that perfect snobbish look. He offered his hand to Levi immediately and smiled at Sam, who was seated beside him. He was clearly pleased at what he saw. Sam, on the other hand, had a bored expression on her face. She gave him a polite nod, but boredom was clear as day on her features.

"Robert Leon." He introduced himself to her, not even letting Levi make the introductions. He offered his hand to her, subconsciously her brow raised in both annoyance and intrigue. She took his hand, saying, "Samantha Gray." But instead of a shake, he lifted her hand and bowed his head, pressing his lips on the back of her hand.

Sam sent Levi an annoyed side-glance, as if wanting to say, ’great, I have to deal with this too?’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Fredricksen," Robert said, inviting himself by taking a seat beside the redhead. Sam’s eyes darkened; she was Sam Gray, didn’t she say that to him just seconds ago? She made that name herself and had the urge to assault his smug face; a black eye would go perfectly with his suit, she thought. However, she didn’t want to embarrass Levi by making a scene, so she held it in. The night was still young after all.

"And what do you do, Mr. Leon?" Sam asked, trying to make conversation. Robert smiled widely at her, "I work as Deputy General Manager at Lloyds Banking Group." he answered, sending her one of his signature glances that worked mostly on desperate older women, that Sam found rather creepy. He then turned to the slicked blond, grinning at him smugly. "I’m surprised you came with a woman and not Beanpole." he said.

Sam frowned, earning a chuckle from Robert from her evident confusion. "Marco Evans, and this one was known as Sasquatch. The two of them together are called the Titans of Room 106 but that’s another story." he shared, earning a nod from Sam. She wanted to ask more, but she knew Levi did not like the man before them.

"Dr. Evans is busy at the moment." Levi said, clearly fed up with the man’s presence already.

Robert laughed humorlessly, "So the rumours back then were false, and you have gotten yourself a girlfriend. Good for you!" Robert expressed to Levi.

The Irishman scoffed under his breath; he never liked the man. He was part of the group of cockroaches who ’tried’ to make his years in Uni uncomfortable.

"Must be hard for you, exhausting your whole vocabulary in one sentence"? The Irishman said, grinning at him.

Robert brushed off the Irishman’s insult and turned to the redhead; she was his goal after all. "How had he been?" He asked softly, "Performing his usual tricks? He sure as hell made a business out of it. It must not be enjoyable having to deal with it all the time!" The man continued to talk, "We hated his posh ass back then, but look at him now, famous and with an heiress for a girlfriend. Come so far, don’t you think, Dr. Fredricksen?" he added.

Levi opened his mouth to utter a retort that will embarrass the man, but Sam had beat him to it. "I quite enjoy his ’tricks,’" Sam stated with a sweet smile, one that made Robert think she was fond of him when in truth, she was everything but.

Levi listened to her recognizing her tone, "Tricks I learned from him just by observing, like how your eyes dilate just now staring at me--a sign of arousal. Flattered--not really, but having coitus with that wall sounds far more entertaining." Sam said, pointing at the walls around them, giggling at the end.

Her giggles caused Robert to think that she was only joking, admittedly with a vulgar choice of words, and he smiled awkwardly at her. "And I mean that with passion," Sam said, her mask of a smile dropping instantly. He had not only attempted to belittle Levi in front of her but also addressed her as Fredricksen, twice. "Also, for future reference, the name is Samatha Gray. I had my name legally changed years ago. And it would be idiotic to believe whatever the Press prints are accurate, don’t you think?" Sam asked, smiling.

"Last, I am not some ladder for you to climb on to get your greedy claws on my brother and secure a better security deal for the Bank you’re working on. And do have some respect, something I hope your average mind can grasp the idea of... It’s insulting to invade someone’s personal space and possibly transfer diseases from your mouth to my hand. Who knows what kind pathogens call your mouth’ home sweet home’." Sam added sweetly, smiling up at him condescendingly.

"Mr. Leon, you are a disrespectful conniving idiot, and I’ve known you for 5 minutes. How is that for tricks?" she added, opening her purse and pulling antibacterial wipes. She wiped her hand with it in front of him. For the first time in years, Robert couldn’t speak--ego torn in pieces. She was a coarse woman, he thought. Levi snorted amused at the expression on Robert’s face.