100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 127: Daniel McAlister

East Ham, London

Daniel McAlister buttoned his cuffs, and slipped on his dress shoes. He then made his way towards the mirror, adjusting the necktie before knotting it around his neck. After deeming his appearance acceptable, he moved to leave but paused suddenly when he noticed a pocket knife peeking under his bed.

He bent over and picked it up, knowing full well the knife didn’t belong to him, and he knew exactly who it belonged to.

Sam Gray.

He put his suit jacket on and pocketed the pocket knife; he thought he would come by Guy’s and give it to her since he was on his way to work anyway.

After almost half an hour’s drive, at 9:48 AM, Daniel reached Guy’s Hospital. He had a Starbucks to-go cup filled with Caramel macchiato on his left and a blueberry muffin on the other. And he strutted in the hallways elegantly, asking for direction once in a while.

......

Guys Hospital

Sam sat in her laboratory while analyzing a video and audio evidence from the CCTV camera from the street across a crime scene she was currently consulting on when the landline rang. She paused the recording for a moment and pushed her chair towards the location of the phone, grabbing it in one swift motion, then rolling back towards her original position and playing the recording again.

She clicked the answer button then pressed the phone between her left cheek and shoulder.

"Yep?" she said, knowing it was her assistant on the other line.

"Mr. McAlister is here to see you." Elle’s voice spoke on the other line, and the redhead felt the edge in her voice. Elle clearly disapproved.

Sam’s eyes widened, and she paused the screen; she was glad Levi left 10 minutes before, knowing full well he would read every inch of the man’s body. "Okay, I’ll be right there," she said.

Elle looked at Daniel McAllister standing before her little cubicle; he was a tall man, well built, and was reasonably good looking. She smiled at him as she ushered him towards her boss’ office, telling him she was on her way.

Sam made her way to her office, wondering what was wrong.

Did he need her for something?

Elle cocked her boss a brow while the redhead walked into her office. She knew who Daniel McAlister was; in mind, she was her boss’ boy toy. However, Sam had defined him as an associate. Elle admits Daniel was a good looking man; he was tall, 6’3", blonde hair and blue-eyed. He was intelligent and successful, too, based on the background check she had of him.

But Elle knew that the second the man stepped in Guy’s, his and her boss’s relationship would not be the same anymore, and she felt terrible for him.

Elle sighed, shaking her head. "Shouldn’t have come here," she whispered to herself.

Daniel turned when he heard the door open; he smiled at the familiar redhead entering the room.

"Danny, is something wrong?" she said the second she walked in. Ignorant to the smile on his face while he looked around the awards and certificates displayed in her office. She never really cared about those. "Oh, no." He said, taking note of the weary tone in her voice. She didn’t want him there, he noted.

Embarrassed, he pulled the pocketknife from his right pocket and handed it to her; Sam took it from his hand in understanding.

"You forgot it--" Daniel said, earning a polite smile from her.

"You could have given it to me next week. But thank you, I appreciate the gesture," she replied. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"I didn’t know if it was of the sentimental value of sort--so, sorry if I bothered you at work. I’m going to go now." Daniel said, heading for the door. Sam followed after him; not wanting to be rude, she escorted him out.

Daniel paused halfway to the door; he almost forgot to give her the coffee and the muffin. "I bought this for you," he told her, and Sam smiled at him awkwardly accepting it and thanking him politely.

And just at that perfect moment, Levi came into view in the hallway; CID sent a new body, and he needed her initial read on it, also. He forgot to ask her about joining him and the boys for dinner later.

Elle’s eyes widened when she noticed the slicked blond standing there in the hallway, hands inside his coat pocket.

"Oh, my---feck," Elle cussed at her table. She never exactly shipped the two as Marco did, but she did see what everybody else (except them) saw. Right then, she watched the show as a spectator in a scene.

As Daniel stepped out of the door, he noticed the slicked blond standing a few feet away, eyes studying him. Sam shifted to look at what her visitor was looking at when she saw Levi.

The Irishman approached the two shortly, wearing his signature grin. He offered his hand to Daniel and said, "Levi Jackson."

Daniel shook his hand with his firmly, "I know, Daniel McAlister." He said, earning a curious look from the psychologist.

"The newspapers." Daniel explained that he had first become aware of his identity when his face was plastered all over the news after solving a high profile case, and the media had dubbed him as the ’Hot detective.’ And even recently, he helped in solving a lead poisoning case of an artist.

Daniel became more familiar with Levi when he started sleeping with Sam Gray, not from conversations; of course, she rarely speaks of him, never really, but he was aware of their close relationship in the media.

The only time they spoke about Levi was when he asked Sam if they were dating like the media claimed; because part of their deal was to not be in a romantic relationship. She had told him they were not dating and that he was just a very good friend. Yet, Daniel knew there was more to it. And by the way, the Irishman was sizing him up; there was more.

Levi nodded in understanding, turning to Sam, "Davies brought another body; it’s in the morgue. I need your take on the cause of death." He said; Sam nodded.

"I’ll be there shortly; I just need to walk Daniel out." She said, "He can walk himself out." Levi replied, finding the notion idiotic. "I’ll be at the morgue in a few minutes," Sam said more firmly, waiting for Levi to leave. But he remained standing beside her, oblivious of how he was making things awkward with his scrutinizing gaze, studying the man without a care in the world.

Upper class

mid 30’s

Natural blonde

Biochemist

Drove here

Late for a meeting

"I’ll see you in the morgue, Levi," Sam repeated, this time stating his name to catch his attention. Levi looked down at Sam, knowing her tone. "Right." He said adamantly. He turned to look at Daniel, offering his hand again. "Good to finally have a face on the name Mr. McAlister," he said.

"Pleasure, Mr. Jackson," Daniel replied, shaking his hand awkwardly.

"Do hurry." the Irishman insisted as he looked at the redhead before turning on his heels, making his way towards the morgue.