Spider's Bite
Please see the disclaimer on the Synopsis page.
Karen Simms stormed into the 101st Precinct. As she drove to work, her thoughts kept drifting to what Kermit had said regarding Kelly Blake. She would also eye the folder and plastic bag that sat on the seat beside her. Both held crucial evidence in helping to clear Peter of the crimes that Kelly Blake would insist that Peter Caine was guilty of committing. It was time that the record was set straight before things turned into a media circus. As usual, Captain Simms stepped into a circus of her own.
"Kelly Blake, Jody Powell, in my office now."
Kelly and Jody both rose from their desks and followed Captain Simms.
"Close the door and take a seat."
Both detectives complied, but it did not go unnoticed that each had their own views just based on their body language. While Kelly seemed cocky and sure of herself, Jody was quiet and very reserved. It was going to be interesting to see how this little scenario was going to play out.
"Give me an update on the "Caine case" please. Karen did her best to keep her anger in check and not give away too much too soon of what she knew. She first wanted to hear what both Blake and Powell had to say before giving them an earful.
"Caine's not talking," Kelly stated. "He claims he doesn't know where Peter is, but I don't buy it. I've charged him with interfering with a police investigation. He's in lock-up. Maybe the thought of jail time will loosen his tongue."
'Not likely,' Captain Simms thought, but said instead, "Do you concur with this Detective Powell? Do you think Caine is telling the truth?"
Jody Powell was a bit embarrassed and not sure how she should respond. Up until now, she had tried to give Peter the benefit of doubt, but seeing him at the scene of a murder had thrown her for a loop. She no longer knew whom to believe. "I don't know Captain. Caine has always told the truth . . ."
"But there's a first time for everything," Kelly interrupted. "No one could be that goody two shoes. Besides, I heard a rumor several months ago, that Caine had gone nuts himself. Started threatening some of the locals. Someone said Caine had split himself in two and was doing some kind of Shambhala Master ritual, if you believe that sort of thing."
"That was true," Jody countered. "Skalany witnessed it. She said there were two Caines, one evil and one good. She watched Caine fight his evil side. That's when Peter came in with his arms branded. She also said she watched Caine reintegrate himself. Maybe Peter is going through something like that?"
"Jody, I can't believe you'd say that. You'd do anything to protect your former partner . . ."
"That's not true, Kelly. If I saw Peter committing a crime, I would arrest him, I just think we need to investigate this further."
"What's to investigate? We have witnesses that said he committed those crimes. Face it girl, your former partner is guilty of murder."
Karen smiled to herself as Kelly's words gave her the perfect opening.
"You're wrong Blake," Captain Simms stated. "And before you start in on me, remember whom you are speaking to. Here, I want you both to take a look at these."
Karen handed Jody the file and Kelly the plastic bag. Karen watched Kelly's face as she pulled out the remnants of what had been a disguise.
"What am I looking at Captain? Is this some kind of joke?" Kelly questioned, still unwilling to believe her eyes or let go of her own beliefs.
"Are you sure about this?" Jody questioned after reading the contents of the file.
"Yes."
"Then that means he was no where near the scene of those crimes, that Caine was right. Someone had kidnapped Peter and drugged him."
"Then what's this?" Kelly asked, holding up the remains of the latex mask and dark brown wig.
"Someone went to a great deal of trouble to make it look like Peter Caine was committing those crimes."
"Who?" Jody questioned.
Captain Simms then took a handkerchief and pulled from her purse the remains of what looked like a net and placed it on top of her desk. Jody started to reach for it, but Karen stopped her. "Careful, it's coated with a paralyzing poison."
"Who would want to do that?"
"Have either of you ever heard of a group called the Order of the Black Widow?"
Both detectives shook their heads.
"Well, I have. One of them threw that net over me and tried to kill Peter's grandfather."
"Wait, Caine tried to tell us that Peter had been kidnapped by someone called the Black Widow," Jody stated.
"Are you saying there is such a group?" Kelly asked. "I thought Caine was making that up."
"I suggest you ask Caine," Captain Simms suggested. "And this time, I'd believe him if I were you."
Thoroughly chastised, Kelly Blake bowed her head in shame, "I'm sorry Captain, I was so sure that . . ."
"Kelly, I know you blame Peter Caine for Jordan McGuire's death, but she is gone. And Peter had nothing to do with these current crimes. I think you need to learn not to mix your personal feelings with a police investigation, especially when the investigation involves a former detective of this precinct whom we all know. And one who's record is above board. I think you owe Caine and his family an apology. And the first thing you can do is have Master Kwai Chang Caine released and ask him to come to my office."
"Yes, Captain."
"Uh, Captain, can I ask you, how you got a hold of those things?" Jody asked.
"Kermit gave me the file and Matthew Caine gave me that disguise. He said he got it from the guy who was one of the members of the Order of the Black Widow, the one who actually committed those crimes."
"Caine said that Matthew had been kidnapped along with Peter. If he escaped does that mean Peter also escaped?"
"Peter's at Kermit's apartment, fighting for his life. I don't think he escaped. I think they let him go as part of their plan."
"What do you mean?"
"Just that, the Order pumped him full of drugs laced with black widow venom. If he doesn't pull through, he'll die. There was also something else that Kermit found on him. It was a suicide note. Obviously, it wasn't written in Peter's hand. Still it was supposed to give the impression that he had fallen from his Shaolin duties."
"Which would dishonor his father and grandfather, Poor Peter." Jody stated.
"We will have our work cut out for us, and that's stopping the Black Widow Order once and for all."
Continues with Part 31
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.
Synopsis / Previous Part / Next Part
Back to Temple Tales / Contact
Alisa