Heart Of A Spider - Season 1 - Episode 15

4 years ago

Heart Of A Spider - Season 1 - Episode 15

“I can smell the changing of the seasons. There is a definite change in the air. Yes, a definite
change.” He swiveled his head. Staring down his nose he blurted. “We have a deal?”
Upp called Burrows to enter the room.
“Is there trouble?”
“None Sir,” stated Pat. “I’ve been told of the plan. I am happy to confess I won’t be giving
any trouble. I know what’s at stake if I do. I’ll do everything you or Mr. Upp says. I won’t
question a letter of a single word.” He faked a grin before sitting on the bed.
“I don’t like this situation. I don’t like either of you. I don’t care how long it takes you to be
ready. I will have you back by 2:00pm. Four and a half hours from now,” snarled Burrows
checking his watch.
Pat walked to the door, grinning. “The smell of freedom is divine.”
“Your freedom is only for a short time,” warned Burrows. He pointed his finger at Upp. “I
clock off at 3:00pm. By that time this charade will be a distant memory.”

“Yes indeed. The clock is ticking,” whispered Patrick. “Tick tock, tick tock.”

BURROWS PARKED his car in the underground car park at the local shopping centre.
Imitating a chauffeur he opened the rear passenger door.

“If there’s any funny business-?” he growled, wagging his finger at Pat and Upp’s faces.

“I know,” groaned Upp, interrupting “You have my permission to take us back to the
institution post haste. My dear man, you have the right to warn us. I stake my reputation on the
fact there won’t be any trouble.”
“Pat, it’s my decision if this fiasco goes ahead or is instantly cancelled. If one incidental thing

even starts to go down the wrong path, I’ll have you back in your padded cell so fast you won’t
know we even left this car park.”
“Mr. Burrows, Sir, please trust me, nothing will go wrong,” insisted Upp. “Come, partner, let
us begin our journey.”

Pat stepped down from the car, glaring at the shoppers rushing past. Sending Burrows a
snappy smile Upp and Pat joined in the influx of people.

Inside the complex, people were too busy to notice the trio wandering about.
“Don’t forget, I’m watching every move you two make. All I need is one wrong flinch of a
finger to have you two back in the car.”
“Please, Sir, if my theory is to be proven, I have to ask you to keep your tongue leashed. You
don’t want to be written in my report as the one who hindered Pat’s healing process?” He gave a
second snappy grin. “There is one thing. It’s a small minuscule detail. I’d like to be given your
permission to remove Pat’s handcuffs.”
“The handcuffs stay on,” jeered Burrows.
“Only for now,” hinted Upp. “Come, follow me. The clock’s ticking.”
Burrows portrayed an unhappy man. Entering the stream of the many elderly shoppers who
were arriving from a number of local retirement villages, he walked at the rear of their group.
“Don’t forget, Pat, I’m watching. You so much as cough, the wrong way, this outing will be
terminated.”

“Trust me, I’m a doctor. I’ll do exactly what I’m told at all times. There is one thing I’d like
to ask.”

Both Burrows and Upp froze in mid step.

“Guard Burrows, since you insist on me being handcuffed, is it possible to cover my hands?
Your coat will make them disappear. I’m seeing a few surprised expressions.”
Upp slipped out of his coat, draping it over Pat’s wrists.

“Thank you, Mr. Upp. You are indeed a courteous man.”

Burrows grumbled incoherent words. He took to shadowing the duo while they walked from
shop to shop. His eyes scoured every shopper who stepped their way.

Upp and Pat browsed through the fiction rack of the first bookstore they found before entering
a small clothes shop. Upp circled the racks of clothes picking out two pairs of pants and matching shirts.

When Burrows momentarily turned his head he slipped a small rectangular object into the
pant pocket and walked over to Pat.

“Here, try these on. They should fit. Be sure to check the pockets for worn edges. I’ll buy one
for you and one for me. The change rooms are over there near the middle of the store. Enter the
first cubicle.”

“Hold it,” boomed Burrows. He wore the look of a storm. “Why the first cubicle?”
Upp grinned. “No reason. You choose.”
“Take the middle one.”

Pat thrust his wrists under the guard’s nose. “I can’t change while tethered.”
Burrows surveyed the shop before marching towards the cubicles. Stepping into the middle
cubicle, he pushed, tapped and kicked the walls.
“What are you doing?” whispered Upp. “The young lady behind the counter is glancing this
way. She doesn’t look happy.”
“I’m trying to detect a hidden door.”
Upp smacked the guard on the shoulder. “I love the thoroughness. Even if there is a door,
we’re in a clothes shop in the middle of a shopping complex. How can Pat possibly escape? He’d
have to be invisible. If it makes you feel at ease stand outside the door.”

For the umpteenth time, the guard’s eyes narrowed.
“I insist.”

Burrows pushed his hand into his back pocket and produced a brass key. Reaching out he
began to unshackle the handcuffs.

“Don’t forget my warning?”
“I like keys,” whispered Pat. “I like different shapes and colours. Do you like keys, guard
Burrows?”

He grunted before housing the handcuffs in his back pocket.

“I don’t like any of this.”
“It’s the main part of the healing process,” hinted Upp. “You don’t want the head of the
mental institution to find out you were the cause of Pat’s deterioration. I promise this shopping trip will extinguish his appetite for arson. Lighting fires will soon be a thing of the past.”