Heart Of A Spider - Season 1 - Episode 8

Episode 4 years ago

Heart Of A Spider - Season 1 - Episode 8

The bin lid flew
up revealing its contents. A small plastic bag lined the bin and two pairs of neatly folded black
socks were at the bottom. Reaching in, he picked up the socks. Underneath the socks, he found a
small brass key. The moment he heard voices downstairs Kendal buried the key deep in a side
pocket of his duffel coat. He replaced the socks and watched the bin lid fall back into place before
stepping towards a dark stained wooden chest of draws. The shiny antique brass handles on each
draw matched all the other handles in the house. He pulled open the top draw, studied its contents,
moved some undergarments and socks, and closed the draw. He repeated the procedure on the other three draws. The bottom draw opened easily. He stared at its emptiness.

“I’m sure this draw should have something in it,” Kendal mumbled, pulling it out till it tilted
down, touching the pale green carpet. “An empty draw is not possible for any woman. They have to fill it.” He grinned at the thought of his wife, Margaret, looking at an empty draw. “My eyes spy
something beginning with--.”


“Are you mumbling in your sleep or are you going off your brain?” questioned a voice from
the doorway.
“It’s about time you finished your search. Did you find anything?”
“Seeing how you weren’t looking at the doorway how did you know I’d returned?”
“Claire, you’re too noisy.”

Kendal started to grin while he pushed his hand deep inside the draw.
“You have too good a hearing.”
“I like to hear what you call me behind my back.”

“I’ve never been so insulted.” Claire pushed the back of her hand against her forehead,
grinning.

“Welcome to the room in the house of mystery.” Kendal beckoned Claire closer. “Do you believe in ghosts?”

“There’s no such thing.” Claire’s expression changed to serious. “What’s the Goss on the
ghost thing?”

“I’m only thinking out loud.”
“Has it got anything to do with the so-called secret you’re hiding?”

“Maybe,” replied Kendal. “Time’s short, Erving has arrived.”

“This room matches the rest of the house,” reported Claire. “What a mess.”
Kendal nodded, continuing his search.
“Did you notice someone set the alarm clock for 6:00am?” questioned Claire.
“Yes.”

She placed both hands on her hips and huffed. “Not much else to go on.”
“I’d have to disagree.”

“Do tell, teacher, I’m all ears. This ought to be good.”

Kendal wagged his index finger at Claire’s face.
“If you don’t retract the tone in your voice I’ll keep the wisdom to myself and send you to the school principal.”

“Okay, if you must speak your wisdom?” Claire giggled at her partner’s pouting lip. “I’m
teasing.”

Kendal stopped searching the room to look his partner in the eyes “I’m teasing you too. The
burglar was a kid. A female, any questions?”
“Yes, I’ve got a few.”

Puffing out his chest, Kendal leaned back against the chest of draws “I thought you might
speak.”

Claire marched up to her partner and stood almost nose to nose. “Okay wise arse, why don’t you think this house isn’t part of a murder scene as reported? Just because there’s no blood, weapon, or body, you can’t rule out the possibility. There are still two outstanding facts.

One: two missing people.

Two: You can’t dispose of the fact the house is a mess.”

“I’ve inside information.” Kendal uncoiled his fingers. “I found this.”
“You found one plain old silver earring and you think you’ve solved the case?”
“Not yet. This, as you put it, plain old silver earring, has a mother of pearl in it. Mrs. Brown,
first name Daisy, has silver earrings in her ears in the picture hanging on the wall. This one and the
one in the photo are identical, what’s left of it. So this one earring in my hand must belong to her.

All I have to do is find the other.”
“How do you know Daisy is the name of the woman in the picture?”
“Her name’s on the back of this photo I found ripped on the floor.” Footsteps on the stairs
interrupted Kendal’s analysis of the case. “Before the forensic boys arrive to invade our picnic
there’s one more thing. Take a closer look at the carpet. You’ll see small traces of dirt?”
Claire studied the exact place where Kendal pointed. Before she could comment Gorilla arms
grabbed her around the waist, flinging her towards the door.

“Hey,” she yelled.
“Get out,” growled the man, waving his gorilla arms in every direction.
“Erving, it’s okay, we’re on our way out,”
,” advised Kendal calmly, stepping towards the door.

“Lucky for you,” he yelled.
Claire stepped forward curling her fingers into a tight white knuckle ball. “I call it a blessing.”
“Kendal, put a lead on the puppy before I throw her down the stairs.”
“Claire, he’s only joking,” he blurted quickly, stepping between Claire and Erving.
“Am I?” growled Erving.
“Don’t you ever call me a puppy again?” screamed Claire. She gave him an iced stare before
marching out of the room.

“When she wears a murderous expression, never argue,” whispered Kendal.

A tall thin man boasting wire shaped eyebrows smiled at Claire. She pushed him aside like he
was a cardboard cutout.

Peeling himself off the wall the man began to massage his shoulder.

“It’s good to see you again, Miss. Ambroso. Erving gets a little excited when he sees someone
too close to police evidence.”

“Don’t talk to me,” yelled Claire.
Leaning over the balustrade the man called after the woman like a lovesick puppy. “I don’t
care about the bruise you gave me. Can I buy you dinner sometime soon?”

Stepping next to the man Kendal watched the top of Claire’s head moving in rhythm with her
feet as she trotted down the stairs.
“Leopold, I know you’re relatively new and wet behind the ears to the field of forensic
science, take my advice whatever you do don’t let Erving put fear in you, he’s really not a bad
bloke when you get to know him.”

“Thanks for the warning. I do want to live to see my twenty-first birthday next week. Is there
a chance I might be able to obtain Miss. Ambroso’s phone number?”

“Between you and me, forget about the woman, she’s beyond your league. What you need is a quiet woman not a feisty one. One more thing, call her Claire. Miss. Ambroso sounds less like a teacher and pupil relationship.”
“I heard what you said,” called Claire standing at the front door.

“It’s your birthday next week. Are you having a party?” Kendal glanced sideways at the man
waiting for an answer.

Leopold nodded. His lips burst into a schoolboy grin.

“I sure am. Detective Kendal is there any chance you can talk Claire into coming to my party.

I’m scared to ask her. She sure is the best looking young lady I’ve ever seen.”
“Interesting,” whispered Kendal rubbing his fingers across his chin. “If you want Claire at the
party you know what to do. I’m not game enough to ask her.”

“Kendal, get out of the house. Kid, if you can’t stop thinking about girls, you can leave too,”
growled Erving stepping into the hallway.
“Erving, lighten up, I promise, I touched nothing,” called Kendal.

The big man grunted, baring his teeth.
“See Leopold, he won’t bite.” Kendal walked back to the doorway of the room he’d been
searching. Hovering over the photo on the floor he began to study the broken glass picture frame.
“I told you to get out,” yelled Erving in a strong Russian accent.

Kendal raised his hand at the big fellow, stooped and studied the small broken picture frame.
“What are you doing?” asked Leopold.
Kendal ignored the question. Picking up the photo his frown changed into a sly grin. He
slipped it into his pocket.

“I’ll leave you two guys to your work. I’m not sure what you’ll find, there’s no murder here.

It’s a simple burglary.” Kendal strolled down the hall then down the stairs. “Partner, when you’re finished talking to Gladys I’ll see you outside?”

The moment Claire finished jotting down the old dear’s details of the morning she walked to
the front door. Stepping out into the fresh air she closed it in her wake.

“Partner, where are you?”
“I’m standing at the dead side of the house,” Kendal called.

“The tone in your voice is telling me you’ve cracked the remainder of the case,” advised
Claire.


“Not yet, but I’m close.”
“Do you want to ease my curiosity?”
“You know me. I don’t want to table my ideas too soon. All the facts aren’t in.”
“I’m sure you only say those particular words to frustrate me so you can get one hundred
percent of the glory.”

“Of course,” Kendal chuckled.
“I have ways of making you confess.” Claire grabbed her partner by the collar, puckered her
lips and swept them close to his.
“Knock it off, I’m happily married. I have two daughters.”

“I know.”
“What do you think Marg might say if she found