Heart Of A Spider - Season 1 - Episode 27

Episode 4 years ago

Heart Of A Spider - Season 1 - Episode 27

LIGHT RAIN fell from midnight to dawn. By 7:00am the sky looked a patchwork of blue and
grey.

No sooner did Kendal sink his head into the pillow, the alarm clock sounded.

A quick warm breakfast of honey on toast then he and Claire dropped Tegan at school before
driving towards Police Headquarters.
“Already the streets are awash with business men and women making their way to work,”
mentioned Claire.




Kendal glanced at his watch. “8:50am.” He groaned before parking outside a large shopping
complex.


“Sugar, it’s too early to shop.”
Both detectives walked to the nearest jewellery shop. They stood outside the closed glass door
waiting for the owner to arrive. Kendal remained quiet by studying the few jewellery pads
displayed in the window.


“Sugar, Marg’s birthday is not for six months,” mentioned Claire looking over his shoulder.


“I know.”
“If you insist on waiting for the door to open, I’ll shout you a coffee.”


Kendal nodded before being whisked off towards the food court. Claire pointed to a round
table and marched to the first coffee shop she saw.

Kendal made himself comfortable at the four-seat table closest to an exit directly opposite the
jewellery shop. He wore a frown but amused himself by studying the people rushing past. In a few
minutes, Claire returned; two hot cappuccinos in hand. She placed them on the table and settled
into the seat opposite him.


“Do you mind, you’re blocking my view? I want to see the jeweler arrive.”

“Why?”
“I want to be the first customer of the day.”
Claire rolled her eyes. Under sufferance, she moved to the next chair.
“You’re acting strange this morning old man.”


Kendal twisted his gold wedding ring before wriggling it off his finger. Placing it in the top
pocket of his black duffel coat he grinned at his partner’s curious stares as she spooned the froth
from her coffee.

“He or she is late,” growled Kendal, glancing at his watch. “9:01am I thought the owner of
the shop would’ve been here well before opening time.”

“People do have a life outside of work. Unlike someone I know.”

Kendal grunted. He lifted the mug to his lips, swallowing half the steaming mug of coffee in
one gulp.

At 9:03am, a short tubby balding man wearing black-framed glasses stopped at the jewellery
shop door, placing a black briefcase on the ground between his feet.
“Claire, drink up, our man has arrived.” Kendal downed the last swallow of hot brew and
started tapping his fingertips on the table waiting for her to finish.

“Do you mind, it’s a hot drink,” she complained.

“You whine too much.”
“Do you want to wear the rest of my hot coffee?”

Kendal’s grin fell away when he moved his hazel stare from Claire back to the jewellery shop
glass door. He spied a young dark haired male approximately 185 cm’s in height king hit the short balding tubby man from behind. Snatching up the black briefcase he hesitated long enough to glance to his left then his right. He appeared to be searching for someone. Kendal flashed a
cursory glance around and spotted another young man loitering outside a florist shop off to their right.

“Got you,” he whispered. “Claire, you like flowers go catch the boy mauling the roses. I’m
going shopping.”

Glancing at her partner Claire didn’t have to ask questions. She stood and quickly marched
off towards the florist.

The boy started to move from the roses towards the mainstream of people pouring into the
shopping centre to begin their spending. Claire stalked the boy for nearly a minute before grabbing
him on the shoulder. He twisted, weaved and ducked before swinging a clenched fist at her jaw.

She saw the punch coming but jumped back too late. Five knuckles scrape across her chin. Claire
fell hard against the floor to ceiling glass window.
Early morning shoppers watched gob-smacked at hearing a mighty crack and witnessing a
woman in tight black leather pants, green top and matching French cap fall through the glass shop
front. Claire extended her arms and closed her eyes. Shards of glass rained down giving her a glass
shower. She heard a rip. Like a cat ready to pounce on its prey, she jumped to her feet ready to chase the boy when he tried to lose her amongst the peak hour shoppers. The boy ran fast, but he
wasn’t fit. He soon tired. Claire grinned. Her daily five-kilometer run paid high dividends yet
again. Hot on his heels she reached for her handcuffs. In a perfectly timed sweep, she cuffed his hands