Spider's Bite
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"I have you know you got me out of a very important meeting with the Commissioner."
"You weren't talking about me were you?" Kermit quipped.
"Heaven forbid," Captain Karen Simms quipped then became more serious. "We were talking about the latest crime spree, and speculating on who it might be. The Commissioner seems to think it's our new resident Shaolin; that he's gone crazy from the reports we've been receiving. I didn't want to pass judgement until the investigation was finished."
"Well Kelly Blake seems to think so too. In fact she's become judge and jury. I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to be his executioner, too."
"I'm going to have to talk to her. Her judgement's been impaired since Jordan was killed. She blames Peter Caine for her death. I just wish I knew what the truth was here."
"Here's your chance to find out the truth." Kermit stated and handed Captain Simms the report he had received from Nicky Elder.
"What's this?"
"Read it. You'll find it very enlightening."
Karen Simms skimmed over the pages. "Peter Caine's blood is on the needle, but someone else's prints are on the syringe itself? What are you saying, that Peter Caine was drugged and then forced to commit those crimes?"
"Peter Caine wasn't even near the scene of those crimes. He'd been under the influence of a very addictive and highly hallucinogenic drug. Plus this drug isn't listed in our narcotics database. You'll also note there is one other toxic substance." Kermit pointed to the spot on the list.
"Black widow spider venom?"
"Oh yeah, there was no way he would have been able to walk let alone do what everyone said he did in the time that he did."
"How did you get this information?" Karen Simms questioned.
"Two days ago, our new resident Shaolin and his grandfather were kidnapped. Caine knew because he felt it happen. You know what he's like. He came to me for help. I went over to investigate. I happened to find that syringe at the scene where Peter and his grandfather were taken."
"Why didn't you call it in?"
"Because if I had, Peter and his grandfather would have been killed out right and the perps would have disappeared. We would be investigating a double murder instead."
"You don't believe Peter has been committing these crimes in Chinatown, including the murder of an old man?"
"No, I don't Captain. Come with me." Kermit led Karen Simms into the bedroom.
"Kermit, this is hardly the time for . . ." Karen's words were cut off as she saw who it was lying in Kermit's king-size bed. Sweat poured from the young man's face as he thrashed about. Suddenly Peter bolted upright, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"NO! FATHER!! NO!!"
Kermit rushed past Karen and tried to push the struggling Shaolin back into the bed.
"It's all right Peter. Your father's fine. Lie back. Everything's going to be fine. Just take it easy."
Whimpering, Peter crouched down into a fetal position and grasped the bed sheets as tightly as he could. His face was in a tight grimace as he tried to fight off the pain that lanced through his system.
"What's the matter with him?" Karen questioned.
"He's going through withdrawal," Kermit stated.
"How do you know?"
"Because I went through it with my own brother. Take a look at Peter's arms Captain. They're riddled with needle marks, at least four on each arm. They made sure he wasn't going to walk away from this in tact. Don't you see, there's no way he could have been committing those crimes. Someone was pumping him full of that crap while those crimes were taking place."
"Then who committed those crime and who did this to him?"
"The same people who tried to take over Chinatown ten months ago and who tried to destroy Kwai Chang Caine in France. It was why I went, to help Peter save his father."
"But who and why?" Karen continued to question.
"They're called the Order of the Black Widow. Remember that lady friend of mine, the one who had a poisonous personality? Well she was part of that order. It would seem Captain, that they're back in town and if they're not stopped and exposed, we're going to loose more than just Peter Caine and his family."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll loose Chinatown itself."
Continues with Part 25
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2002.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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