100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 58: Erik Tarasovich V

"Do you trust me?" Sam asks Levi, aiming the revolver to the blonde’s forehead. She walked closer to him, and the two stood just at arm’s length.

Levi looked back at the redhead, there was that same certainty in her eyes. The confidence in them he found astounding, but at the back of his head was doubt. He could play this game if it was his hand in the trigger and his head on the opposite end of the gun.

But does he trust her enough to allow her to pull the trigger? He opened his mouth pausing for a moment, "Yes." he answers.

Sam sighs, removing the gun away from his forehead. "You paused. We both know what that means," she says.

Then she takes the gun to her temple, Levi recognizes that same look in her eyes, and before he could say anything, she pulls.

His body moved to reach for its barrel, pushing it upwards, but he came too late and he trembled at the sound the gun made.

His body shook against her as he pressed her body closer to his chest, his right arm clung around her waist desperately. His left holding the barrel of the gun. His fingers wrapped around the tip, gripping in a foolish attempt to stop the bullet. But he was too late.

’What a fool,’ he mentally thought of himself.

Sam tensed at Levi’s reaction, her eyes widened. She could feel his heart pounding against his chest, his hands shaking, and he expels a shaky breath of relief.

She was right.

"Don’t," came out of his mouth deathly threatening. And she could tell he was mad, clenching his jaw from where she could see.

He smelt like Creed Aventus Eau De Parfum mixed with his sweat, masculine with a hint of smoked wood and coffee beans, she thought.

She reckons he smoked a cigar days previous in his car again, the scent of it clung to the seats. And even though she knew he changed to a new pair of the suit before he came to see her for their supposed dinner that night, the faint scent still clung on to him.

"Don’t do that again," Levi says and Sam realizes just what it meant to him saying those words.

The man would risk even his life for the thrill of the gamble, yet he wasn’t willing to risk hers.

A muffled ’sorry’ passed her mouth. "I’m not planning on dying any time soon, Levi," she informs. And they remained like that for a few more seconds until he released her, taking the gun away from her.

Alpha watched the whole scene and he exchanged a look with Echo. Thank the gods she wasn’t dead, or else, they would be.

Their boss, Ivan Fredricksen is a generous man and a respectable man. But he also happened to be really dangerous and has serious anger management issues. The blond man in his 40’s only obsession was his younger sister’s constant safety.

The funding that is spent on the protection of Sam Gray could feed millions of starving children. Her security is strict enough that every window and door opening in her home is recorded. And break-ins, as what Levi had done months ago resulted in a gun aimed at his head.

However, it was loose enough for her to move around as she pleased with no one following her, most of all she had her privacy. As long as she was wearing that wristwatch.

A wristwatch that was specially created for her protection from the World’s leading multi-billion dollar Security Company, Fredricksen’s Co.

Each person she came in contact with on a daily basis was under some kind of surveillance. Background checks are routinely done, and those with a curious past are put under strict monitoring. And everyone working to ensure her safety receives a handsome paycheck monthly for their secrecy and loyalty.

Levi Jackson himself was under strict surveillance unbeknownst to him, just across his flat and office a ’couple’ had moved just to keep an eye on the place. Secret cameras were installed in their office without their knowledge.

All of this wouldn’t be necessary in their opinion, if the redhead would just return to the Family’s Estate. But the reason for the estranged relationship with her family is unknown to them.

Levi opened the cylinder of the revolver in his hand, he gazed at the five empty cylinders, it was indeed empty.

She really did get it right.

He turns to look at her conversing with Alpha for a moment about what to do with the Russians.

And it sinks in him.

’I remember everything’ she once said back in Virginia.

And that of which she had confessed to him before was true. She really could remember everything. And certain enough to risk her life for it.

She must’ve seen each gun prepared, and she could tell perfectly which was empty.

Alpha approached the two, handing over mobile and purse they had found in the site back to her.

"Dr. Gray, please inform us as soon as the abduction happens next time, and don’t wait so long to contact us. And please, Dr. Gray, avoid having the end of any firearm aimed at your head." he urged her, the way he looked at her tells her that she had gotten them in trouble because of this little episode. She reckons her security will be more rigid from then on.

She could have called them sooner, she knew that. A simple twist and pull of the crown of her wristwatch activated the GPS tracker, informing them of her location and the danger she was currently in.

"I will." Sam nodded.

Levi looks down at her, he turns towards the exit and says, "Let’s go, I’m famished."

Sam nodded to Alpha, and she

followed behind the blond. They hopped in his blue Shelby cobra outside and drove away.

Alpha watched as the blue Shelby cobra drove away, and said over his earpiece

"Cardinal is with Mr. Jackson, tail them."

"Copy that, Captain." echoed back.

Levi drove to the main street with a hand on the wheel and both eyes on the road, "The restaurant would be closed by now. Let’s just order delivery from your place." Levi says, earning an ’Okay’ from Sam.

Levi glanced at the redhead by the passenger seat, her eyes glued to the side of the road. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"So, you really can remember everything," he says.

"Yeah" she responds, feeling suddenly tired. The adrenaline that was running in her veins before had settled down and she’s experiencing it’s after effect. That abduction reminded her of her kidnapping when she was 14. Masked men had grabbed her while she was on her way to a Convenience store from College.

They kept her for approximately 21 hours, and then stuff happened, people died. On the good note, she was able to go back to class the next day as if nothing happened.

Levi realizes that must’ve been how she caught him cheating at card games every single time, even how slick he tried to be. He could never get a pass on her. She was able to remember the back of each card that she could differentiate all that was made to be identical.

Wouldnt that mean she was the one who had been cheating him this whole time? He really should change his deck of cards in their next game.

"Ghost Whisperer," Levi said, recalling the name the staff had dubbed her with. And everything that didn’t make sense before was now falling into place in his mind. Now he knew how she was able to give such a solid lead on that John Doe case.

Sam turns to him, curious as to what he was trying to say. "The John Doe the first day we formally met," Levi says. Sam thought back, she could perfectly recall what he was wearing back then. What Marco and D.I Davies were wearing and what that John Doe looked like on top of the examination table.

"You saw him before." he speculated, Sam nodded in confirmation.

"We bumped into each other as I was walking in a coffee shop, 2 years before, it was January 17th. He was wearing his uniform, carrying a bouquet of Tulips," she says recalling. She had a glimpse of the logo on his uniform then.

Out of nowhere, Levi laughs out loud, gripping the wheel with both his hands like a madman. He was thrilled, it truly was amazing. Her accuracy was more than just brilliant, she was remarkable.

A medical marvel.

If this was exposed to the world, knowledge about the human brain, its secrets, and everything about it as we know it may change.

Sam sends him a bizarre look, wondering if he had gone mental.

"What?" she asks.

"I’ve always seen you as this rare fascinating creature with such undeniable genius! But no, you’re an even bigger Monster!" Levi exclaimed. Sam could hear the thrill in his voice, she was slightly offended by his description of her being a ’monster’.

"Photographic memory had never been scientifically proven, and you, YOU! You’re right here!" he exclaimed.

Then he turned to her for a moment, tearing his eyes away from the road, "How accurate is it?" he asked, enthralled of the notion of it. Is it really ’photographic’ as the word implied? Taking pictures with one’s brain?

Sam sighed, they almost died and the blond seemed to have moved on already. "100% as far as I’m aware." she answered.

Levi raises his brows impressed, and a mischievous idea pops into his head and a shit-eating grin breaks into his face.

Sam narrows her eyes at him his lips spreading widely reaching his eyes.

"I don’t like that smile on your face right now, what are you thinking?" she asks him.

Levi turns to her for a second, "Can I experiment on you?" he asks, his eyes filled with desire. He earns an eye roll from Sam.

Growing up she had done a number of tests, both from child psychologists to even his Uncle Murdoch, but that’s another story. Bribing her to take their little Test. Just to see how her mind functions.

"I’ve had those Levi, I’ve had those many times when I was a young. They are all inconclusive."

"This is different now, you’re an established world-renowned forensic scientist! This will change the world as we know it," he says.

"No," Sam says giving him a stern look.

Levi’s eyes narrowed at her, confused.

"You’re keeping it a secret why?"

"Because it doesn’t matter"

Comprehending that she doesn’t want to share it with the world he then proposed, "Then just let me test you, simply for my personal satisfaction." he insists like a child finding an interesting toy.

She sighed, she could now see the street leading to her home.

"Fine," she said.