AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She forced a tight-lipped smile. "Yeah, just... we need something to go on, Jake."
Their shared history of loss, of unsolved family tragedies, bound them in silent understanding. It wasn't just about solving cases; it was personal. Each victim was a mirror to their past, reflecting the pain of unanswered questions that plagued them since youth.
The forensics team entered, weary from hours of meticulous labor. Their expressions said it all even before they spoke. "We've run every test twice," the lead technician reported. "No DNA. It's like he was never there."
"Damn it," Jake cursed under his breath, raking a hand through his hair.
Fiona felt the weight of despair settling on her shoulders. All their advanced techniques, all their dedication, and yet they were no closer to catching the killer than when they'd started. The orb-weaver spiders seemed to mock them with their silent presence, an enigma wrapped in silk threads.
Fiona lingered over the glossy photos of the crime scenes, her gaze fixating on the orb-weaver spiders that lurked in corners like silent witnesses. Common in gardens, their presence inside was a stark anomaly. A detail too specific to be a coincidence. She chewed on the end of her pen, the wheels turning in her head.
"Red?" Jake's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Orb-weavers," she said, tapping a photo. "Why are they here?" Fiona stood up abruptly, pushing back her chair. She paced once, twice, then grabbed her phone from the desk. "I have an idea."
Her fingers hovered over the screen before pressing down with resolve. She dialed, the sound ringing out in the quiet lab.
“It’s late, so Caleb might not pick up,” she said, “but I have to try.”
"Who's Caleb?" Jake asked, his brow furrowing.
"An old friend from Harvard," she replied as the phone continued to ring. "He's into bugs. Spiders especially."
"An entomologist?" Jake guessed.
"Yep," Fiona confirmed, just as a click signaled the call's connection. She quickly switched to speaker.
Fiona tapped her foot impatiently as the phone rang a third time, casting a sidelong glance at Jake, who was hunched over his own set of case photos. He gave her an encouraging nod just as Caleb's voice, scratchy with sleep yet tinged with curiosity, crackled through the speaker.
"Hey, Fiona Red," he mumbled, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Hi, Caleb. Long time," she said briskly, her voice professional but warm. "I'm with the FBI now, working as an agent."
"Wow, that's impressive," Caleb answered, sounding more alert. "Interesting time to call and tell me that. What's up?"
"Strange question for you," Fiona began, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Know anyone who deals with orb-weaver spiders in the Portland, Oregon area?"
"Orb-weavers?" Caleb repeated, and Fiona could almost hear the gears turning in his head. "Why are you asking?"
"Can't say much, but they're part of a pattern in a series of murders we're investigating," she replied, eyes locked on the spider silk evidence bagged on the table.
"Murders, huh?" There was a shift in Caleb’s tone, from sleepy to sharp. "Hold on."
She heard the rustle of sheets, the faint sound of papers being shuffled. Fiona waited, her gaze fixed on the dim reflection of their faces in the window.
"Barry Fink," Caleb announced suddenly. "He's got a place, a spider farm. Deals with all kinds, especially the obscure ones."
"Barry Fink," Fiona echoed, reaching for a pen. She scribbled down the name on a notepad. "You think he'd sell orb-weavers?"
"If it's spiders in Portland, Barry's your guy," Caleb confirmed. “He’s got everything, from household spiders to the weirder ones. I’ll text you the address.”
There was a pause on the other end until Fiona’s phone buzzed with a text from Caleb.
"Got it," she said, her voice a mix of gratitude and resolve.
"Look, Fiona," Caleb's voice crackled through the speaker, tinged with caution. "It's late, and this guy... well, he's an oddball. You might want to hit him up in the morning."
"Thanks, Caleb. We'll do that."
