100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 153: The Rabbit

His heart pounded against his tiny chest; cold sweat dripped down the side of his face making his blond hair stick to his pale white skin, and soaking the collar of his school uniform. Little twigs snapped under his feet, leaves rustling in the cold breeze. Branches danced from side to side as the wind picked up that late afternoon. The wind screamed to his ears, muffling the sound of two large feet coming after him.

His legs burned, chest ached for air, but he continued to run.

.....

Levi leaned and sat in the little cell inside the Criminal Investigation Department, his arms propped on top of his thighs. A hand over his face, putting pressure on his nose. He turned when he heard the officer approach, and he caught the ice pack the man just threw his way.

"Thanks," he said, placing the cold pack against his hot palpitating face.

It was half an hour later when Marco stood on the other side of the bar; disappointment and anger were evident on his bearded face. "What’s the craic, Marco?" the slicked blonde asked, leaning comfortably against the wall as he sat on the cold wooden bench, his legs spread on the floor. His usually impeccable suit wrinkled and torn in places and his hair sticking out of its usual place.

The officer unlocked the steel door, and Levi stepped out casually. The two best friends walked out of the police department. To Marco, it was one too many times, and it was just a few weeks ago when he had to bail the psychologist out. Today was the last time, he decided. Next time he will let the man rot.

The second the two drove away, Marco started his lecture. "What the actual fuck, Levi!" he spat, earning a groan from the blond sitting on the passenger seat. He had to get off the warm comfort of his bed to get the blond out of jail, driving there using his car.

"It’s 4 in the morning, shut up," Levi responded, tired. Marco stepped on the break out of the blue, causing the slicked blond to jerk forward and hit the windshield. The blond’s eyes narrowed at the bearded man, "That’s for not wearing the seatbelt, dumbass." the bearded man spat, continuing forward as the blond fastened his seatbelt before Marco decided to slam on the breaks again.

"And You have no right to tell me to shut up cause it’s bloody 4 in the morning. When it’s you who forced me out of bed just to bloody bail you out. You bleedin prat." the bearded man roared, angrily.

Receiving no response from the bond, he continued his rant, and he turned for a moment to look at Levi’s face. It was swollen, from getting on a fistfight and based on his whole appearance, he was outnumbered.

"We’ve talked about you staying out of the underground poker. You know what happened last time," Marco said, reminding him of the episode between him and Erik Tarasovich. However, he wasn’t completely aware of what unfolded that night. He knew enough that not only the blond was in danger but also Sam’s. What came after he genuinely doesn’t know

...

Levi scowled, his head was pounding. "YOU talked about staying out of underground poker." he reminded him. He wasn’t a willing participant in that decision, but he was forced to. His sister had even frozen his bank accounts to avoid any significant losses, all thanks to his best friend and business partner’s snitching.

"And this wasn’t from underground poker, this is on horses," he said, earning a scowl from Marco.

"You’ve been doing so well before! I don’t understand why you got back into gambling Levi!" Marco said, bewildered at the man’s sudden change. It had started two weeks previously, a couple of weeks after David Fletcher’s case.

Everything was running smoothly, their business was thriving, and he had enough; interesting; cases for him to be entertained. Most of all, he had Sam when he was free. He’d drop by and help her update her Program. But out of nowhere he just started self-sabotaging himself. It’s like one day he woke up and just decided to gamble.

Marco wondered what triggered it? He knew the blond, and the redhead was doing good for he would have complained about it the second it happened, but he hasn’t spoken a word whatsoever. Nor had he been chucking knives on her photo or anyone else’s for that matter. So what happened? No one knows but him. With a determined look, Marco shifted to the blond for a second, "This is the last time, I’ll let you rot in jail next time." he warned.

The second the GP’s car stopped in front of his home, Levi stepped out and walked directly to the door, slamming it close before the bearded man could say a word. Not even saying a thank you.

Marco would have followed after him and continued his lecture if it wasn’t for the fact that he was tired and that it was 4 in the morning, and people are still sleeping.

It was around 10 in the morning when Marco dropped in the office, expecting shit to have hit the fan but to his surprise, everything was running smoothly. Clients sat on the sofa, waiting for their turn. At the same time, Alex and Mike interviewed each one.

Marco turned to look at Levi’s office door when it swung open, and Joe stepped out, and the two of them exchanged a look. The second the man took his seat, the bearded man leaned towards him.

"Level?" Marco asked, an inside joke between him and the boys. They’ve levelled the slicked blond’s mood depending on how foul it was. Seven was considered the level where he starts cursing in Irish. Eight and above are a danger zone.

"Seems like a 4 to me," Joe said shrugging after, this caused Marco’s brows to rise in surprise. He expected worse if he was honest.

Surprisingly, in Marco’s Relief, the slicked blond worked normally as usual without any complications. He had, of course, informed his sister of his little episode that early morning and Anna had assured him that she’d be watching just in case.

A few days later, Sam dropped by the Agency after work, walking in the psychologist’s office after greeting and handing the boys take out. Her eyes widened at the healing bruises on his face, and the boys and Marco watched eagerly waiting for her reaction.

"How many?" she said, not even bothering to ask what happened, she can tell what happened.

The slicked blond turned to her as she placed a Take-out on his table.

"5," he said, earning a nod from the redhead.

Marco and the boys exchanged looks; they were expecting that she would say something negative about it at least. Maybe a lecture like Marco usually did. Sam grabbed a take out and took a seat in one his office couch. Placing a bottle of water on the coffee table.

"Poker?" she asked.

Levi closed the file in his hand and picked up the food on his desk.

"Horses." he shared.

"Hmmm. Did you win at least?" she asked, earning a frown from Marco.

"Sam!" the bearded man chided, earnings shrug from her. She knew he expected better from her, but she wasn’t the type to a pick on someone else’s troubles.

"I’m not his mother." she simply told Marco.

"That she is not." Levi agreed, grinning to himself.

"Anyway, to answer your question. I did." the slicked blond said, proudly. The pride that ticked the bearded man to his core.

It was after eating that Marco turned to Sam when the slicked blond excused himself to use the loo.

"Sam, at least say something to him." Marco insisted, hoping she could convince him seeing as the slicked blond had valued her opinion more than his. Sam sighed, understanding where the man was coming from, but she also knew what he wanted wasn’t easy.

"Marco, we both know that Gambling addiction is a complex condition. It can affect reward, reinforcement, motivation and memory systems of the brain." earning a nod from the bearded man.

"Relapse is not the end of the world, Marco" Sam reasoned, relapse was quite common in many cases.

"Although biological or genetic factors may contribute to someone’s vulnerability, many psychological, social and even environmental factors also have a powerful influence. Don’t worry too much, and we are ALL here for him after all. We’ll be here even if he doesn’t want us to." Sam assured, of course, she was. He was her friend, after all. And she knew based on the bags under his eyes; he was going through something he’d rather not share. Addiction was just his way of release.

She knows that everyone has their demons, to battle. And some battles can only be fought alone.

"And if it makes you feel better, Relapse, nowadays, is being regarded as part of the process of recovery," she added, earning a sigh from Marco. At least he wasn’t smoking, he thought.