100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 192: The Skeletons XII

Hope Valley Healthcare Facility

Marco saw them in the distance, Sam and Levi. The two stood just outside the Facility, and their silence gave him the idea that a decision had been made. And he contemplated what it was, did she kill him? Or did she forgive him? 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Forgave him? Marco scoffed to himself. The things the man had done, his cruelty. Did he even deserve forgiveness? He couldn’t say. And like Levi had asked him before, ’Will you blame her?’, he could not answer honestly, cause if he did, he’d be in a way supporting the fact of what she might do for vengeance. The man did not only take her parent’s life; he had taken her innocence away. And from his knowledge, after the incident, she also lost the chance to grow up with her own brother.

His heart hammered against his ribcage, and he prayed to God that she chose the right path as he moved towards Room 16.

Marco paused in front of the door, and for the first time, he saw the man. The man known as Tom Florence was a small business owner from what they had gathered over the few hours they had been there. He had a family, a wife named Michelle, who had passed a decade ago. And he had children of his own grandchildren too.

He had friends, and from what they told them. He was a good, diligent man. None of them know the monster he actually was.

And there she was then, on the bed, Marco scanned him with his eyes. He looked like a person who could not hurt a fly, frail and weak. Who would have thought that before he had hurt so many? Causing Marco to stare at his unconscious state with no ounce of pity. The bearded man turned and looked at the heart monitor beside him, its beeping filling the silent room, and he expelled a sigh of relief.

Does this mean she chose to spare him? Maybe let life take its course? Mercy perhaps? He doesn’t know. But for whatever reason it might be that she decided to let him live, Marco was glad. He wouldn’t want to see her as a murderer after all. She was far better than that.

Marco made his way towards where he last saw the two. He smiled when the two turned, he smiled more so to Sam, and she smiled in return. "Hi." She greeted softly, and he enveloped her in a hug, surprising her for a moment or two, but she embraced him in response seconds later.

"I’m so glad to see you." he said, and Sam patted him in the back. Levi, on the other hand, rolled his eyes, watching the two’s exchange. "Stop that." the slicked blond said, noticing some of the staff staring in their direction.

Sam smiled at Levi’s expression, the classic dissatisfied look on his face as he looked at Marco’s back. "She didn’t kill the bastard, congratulations." he told the bearded man, causing Marco to shoot him a glare, his eyes darting around to check if anyone was too close to hear.

"Watch it, Levi." he warned, of which the blond simply scoffed; he wasn’t that careless after all. Then he turned to the redhead, "Although I’m honestly curious how you would have killed him." he said. "Levi!" Marco hissed at him.

"I sometimes wonder if I can solve the murders you decide to commit." he confessed, and Marco continued to glare at him.

Sam’s lips broke into a grin, "Only time will tell." she stated confidently, earning a scoff from the blond before he walked away. "We’ll wait for you in the car, your shift is almost finished. Say your goodbyes." he said.

....

The next day, the Hotel

Sam sat on the chair comfortably as she watched the psychologist finish his packing inside his hotel room, Marco doing the same across the hall. Out of the blue, a knock came from the door. The slicked blond paused to look, "I got it." she told him, as she made her way towards the door. They had decided the night before that they would fly back that afternoon together after getting lunch, of course.

She swung the door opened, revealing the tall bearded man, grinning, excited to return home from what she could see. She stepped to the side to let him in. "Hey, we should eat lunch before we leave, yeah?" Marco said, earning a nod from Sam while Levi turned to look at him. He had his backpack in his hand, ready to head out.

"Yes, I’m starving." the redhead replied after turning to Levi, who was almost done from what she could see.

Levi stepped forward, looking at Marco. "Why don’t you go ahead and get us a table downstairs Marco. We’ll follow shortly." he said, earning a nod from the bearded man. He turned to his heels and left the room with his bag hanging on one of his shoulders and shutting the door close behind him. Sam stared at the psychologist curiously; he had completed his task seconds after the bearded man left. And she wondered for a second why he asked him to go ahead instead of saying he was almost done?

Levi felt her staring at him curiously as he placed his suitcase on the carpeted floor. Then he turned to her, stepped closer, too close for it to be innocent... which did not go unnoticed by the redhead. It had been three weeks since they last kissed, and she smiled up at him in a teasing manner. His hand brushed against her waist, and he leaned in even closer that his face hovered centimeters away from her.

His lips brushed lightly against hers, and she tilted her head to give him more access causing him to smile. He knew she missed it just as much, if not more than he did.

Just as he was about to eliminate the distance between them, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Marco. His mouth dropped to the floor, and his eyes widened in sheer surprise at the sight of them.

The two turned to look at his confused state, "Ahh...do you want me to order ahead for you?" He asked, slightly embarrassed. They were clearly about to kiss, and it confused him, he didn’t know what else he should say, and so he turned his back to leave when he spun again to look at the two, earning curious looks from the two, who were still clearly going to kiss.

Finally, finding the words he wanted to express, he looked at the two. "Uhm, I’m sorry...I don’t understand, weren’t you---?" he trailed, rubbing the back of his neck while Levi glared at him.

"I mean didn’t you ’reached an agreement?’" he asked, confused. Levi shot him an annoyed look, "Yes, this is clearly our agreement." the slicked blond explained, wanting him to leave. He wanted to kiss her, and he didn’t care that they had an audience.

Marco’s eyes widened in glee. Did he hear him right? That they are actually dating?

"You mean-- you’re a--- you two are properly dating, for real?" he rambled ecstatically at the news. Sam raised a curious brow at him; she thought he already knew; after all, she had been gone for weeks. Levi looked at him like he was stupid, "Obviously." he replied obnoxiously.

And Sam nodded in confirmation.

Then it dawned on Marco, "Wait---why didn’t you tell us?" He asked; the two exchanged looks. At first, they decided not to tell them, but she assumed he had informed at least his best friend when she left.

Levi groaned, annoyed at the delay. "First week we deliberately decided not to tell you.so you’d all wallow in your own self-hate." he informed, "Then we had the double murder case, we got busy. Then she left for revenge---I forgot." he spat sarcastically, earning a scowl from Marco.

But his confession did not dampen the bearded man’s mood at the least, and he cracked an even wider smile at the two before him. He was so pleased that he just stood there for a second too long, pondering on how thrilled Lisa would be when he informs her of the terrific news. Elle, on the other hand, who knows, really. He imagined she was mature enough to congratulate them, even though she wasn’t mainly a fan of the so-called ’Hot Detective.’

Levi widened his eyes at him, "You were just leaving!" he informed his best friend, who was still standing there looking at them adoringly. The blond’s tone caused Marco to snap out of his reverie, "Oh! Sorry, I’ll just---!" he exclaimed only to stop and just turn his back immediately in embarrassment when Levi didn’t give a damn anymore and just grabbed both of Sam’s cheeks and pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers right in front of him.

"Don’t be too long." Marco said as he exited the room with a grin on his face.