49 Murder of the 15th V
Present-day.
It's been a week since the impromptu announcement from Criminal Investigation Department, and Sam Gray has been the apple of the media's eye.
Unlike Levi who for the past months had been mentioned numerous times in the newspapers and the local news channel. Nothing much is known about the private life of the redhead, other than what was written in her CV.
She grew up in America, acquired several degrees under her belt, and used to work with the FBI before taking the Directorial position in Guy's Hospital two years ago.
And due to the lack of what is considered 'juicy' information by the media, reporters had been invading her privacy. To a point that they waited outside Guy's Hospital for a statement from her. Of which she had not once responded, simply walked towards the waiting cab while security guards cleared the way for her.
She had never been a fan of the Media, for several reasons, top of the list is how the news can be manipulated, and how it can condition the public on what to think. Something she knew all too well.
Sam sat in her Lab studying the case files from CID, usually, she wouldn't allow people to touch the instruments and machines in her lab. Other than Levi, and occasionally her assistant Clark of course.
But at present, there are 3 people in the lab. Clark, Janet, and a blond forensic technician from CID Jimmy who will be assisting her with Jones, since she had officially taken over what the public had known as 'Murder of the 15th'- Case. Another favor from the Chief of Police.
Jones knocked on the door carrying an evidence box, Jimmy grabbed the remote and opened the door for him. The thinly-bearded man entered, huffing. "There's a bunch of the Press outside," he said, placing a box filled with labeled evidence on one of the marbled counters. He shrugged his coat after and hung it on the rack.
"Shut up, Jones" Sam snaps looking at the files. Clark and Janet exchanged a look, it was rare to see her in such a foul mood.
And for Clark, it was the first time he'd seen his mentor genuinely pissed. He had seen her annoyed, irritated, he'd seen her talk back to other residents, seniors even with no problem.
He'd seen her call out mistakes, reprimand people in her office. She had berated students, even those who were older than she was. But after she did all that, she was back to her calm self. Her anger dissipates instantly.
She had never been that pissed for that long.
An hour and a half later, Sam interrupted the silence. "He's still pissed with me," she said, nose glued on the case files. Green haired Janet shifted to look at the others noticing they were too busy to respond. "Who?" she asked, confused.
"Levi." Sam breathed out the name.
Janet frowned, she heard from Marco that the two had a row. A very quiet row. No screaming involved, but a lot of glaring from Levi's part.
Since their little visit to her home, Levi had been giving her the silent treatment. Which in Marcos's opinion was so much worse, having to bear witness to it for the VERY FIRST TIME. He always thought that the blond had no issues yelling and cursing when he was cross.
But this pattern was new and unfamiliar making it scarier.
Marco wished he would just yell at the redhead, for whatever reason was it that he was cross at her.
"Oh," Janet commented, her tone sad. While Jones on the comparative microscope snorted, "He has every right to, he comments.
Sam tore her eyes off the crime scene photos in her hand and whiplashed to Jones on her right. Her eyes narrowed at the annoying man. "And how would you know?" she retorted, her tone had an edge to it, everyone noted.
Jones rolled his eyes and turned to face the redhead. "You've known about this case for months and you didn't tell him. The world's most obsessed puzzle solver. I mean, why didn't you?" he challenged.
The two pathologists glared at each other, they were forced to work together during the investigation. And to everyone's surprise, they were both mature enough not to kill each other during their dreadful time together.
Sam shifted back to the crime scene photos, "I was...busy," she replied.
Jones scoffed, then chuckled like a dying walrus. "Even I can see the lie in there, and I'm not even Levi bloody Jackson, the man who can read people." He said, amused at her poor attempt at a lie.
Sam narrowed her green eyes at Jones, "Please, don't go all high and mighty on me, Jones."
Jones tore his eyes away from the microscope for a moment to look at the redhead, "You knew all along. How? I don't have the faintest idea. But you did." he added, mirroring her glare. If he was honest, he'd say he was a little pissed with her too.
Days turned to weeks, and the attention on Sam Gray finally died down, after the reporters realized that they would get nothing from the woman.
3weeks later-Jackson Detectives
Marco felt like he was walking on eggshells around the blond psychologist. There was an obvious tension in Levi's jaw, and on his brows,. Although he was good at concealing it, having known him well, Marco noticed.
Levi Jackson was angry, and he rarely was. The only time Marco saw Levi mad was back in Uni, the two of them had been dorm roommates in Queen Mary University of London. Where Marco studied Medicine and Levi Psychology.
Even back then, Levi had dressed quite posh compared to the majority of the students. And people assumed that he came from some rich family.
And the way he presented himself to the world, with his suits and shiny leather shoes had made him a target to bullies.
Levi never minded, didn't really care. He considered others to be below him, 'Why would a Man concern himself with the opinions of cockroaches?', he would always tell Marco who was bothered by it. He considered the blond his friend after all.
The funny thing though that Marco found was, they would never really get physical with him. For two obvious reasons, one was Levi was taller than them at 1.98m. The second was, Marco was freakishly TALLER at 2m. They've been called sasquatch and beanpole, respectively.
The two of them walking out of their dorm at night was a startling sight, to say the least. What are the chances of the two tallest men in school rooming together?
After months of verbal jabbing and made up stories in the dorm, entered the ear and exited the other.
But one single time, whilst they were doing laundry one Saturday evening, the two had stepped out to get something to eat. Upon their return to pick up their clothes, they realized that someone poured pink dye on the blond's clothes.
After studying the 'crime scene', Levi had figured out who the culprit was. Let's just say, the blond man clapped a few young men in the common room, and Marco was forced to join the fray. Thus, the two's nickname changed into 'The Titans of room 106'.
They did get suspended, of course. But nobody messed with them again.
And now, the blond had been in that awful mood for the past three weeks. His usual fake smile was nowhere to be found.
He was impatient and irritable.
Generally, in everyone's opinion, he was being an even bigger dick than usual.
The past week Levi and Marco had visited families, interviewed them trying to figure out what they had in common. But to no avail, they were simply strangers.
They had nothing that connected them, not banks, not the same commute, or group of acquaintances, not the same bar, or insurances. Nothing.
Nothing yet, Levi would say.
Marco sighed as he watched the psychologist seated in his office chair throw the tennis ball against the wall, then and catch it in his hand. Over and over again, through the open door.
And Sam, she had been working her ass off as Janet graciously informed. If she wasn't in the Lab, she was in the mortuary checking if she missed anything on the body.
Today, the redhead only left for an hour to take a shower.
She had refused to rest, rest Elle had been insisting she take.
She wanted the case solved ASAP.
She wanted this event over.
Marco turned when he saw movement in his periphery, he craned his neck and saw Levi grabbing his coat. The blond stepped out the doors, not bothering to say a word of goodbye or to inform them where he was going. Joe and Mike exchanged looks at their boss' antics, he really should make up with his 'girlfriend' soon they thought.
After hearing the main door open and closing, Marco vacated his seat and tiptoed to the window. And peeked out, watched the Detective get in his blue Shelby cobra parked on the street and drive away.
Marco grabbed his phone from his pocket and sent a text.
