Caught in the Web by Emmy Ellis (classic english novels .TXT) 📕

I’ll brain that fucker, so help me God.

To stop himself from doing that, Burgess jumped up and strode over to the grey metal filing cabinet where his Tassimo sat. He slapped in a dark roast pod, intending to drink it black and so hot it scalded his mouth, meaning it’d be too sore for him to blurt shit like he’d just blurted. Cup beneath the stream, he kept his back to Shaw, not wanting to turn around just yet and see the hurt on his face. And there’d be hurt there—always was—and Burgess didn’t need the added guilt.

But why should I feel guilty? It isn’t me who’s slack.

“I’m sorry, Burge,” Shaw said. “Really sorry.”

Burgess sighed, his cup filling painfully slowly. “Yeah, you’re always sorry. Problem is, it doesn’t change things, being sorry, unless you fucking well mean it.”

“I do mean—”

“No, you don’t.” Burgess swung round to face him, pointing in his direction. “If you did, you’d turn up on time. You’d give your job the proper attention. The victims your proper attention. This is the last time, all right? If you’re late again, I’m telling the DCI.”

“Oh, come on.” Shaw rocked in his chair, his heels sliding back and forth on the desk. “Don’t be like that.”

Burgess took his cup back to his desk. Sat. Fumed. Stared at the front of the file and hated that he’d be opening it shortly to read it out to Shaw instead of them discussing the case at the scene. So much extra work, time, and all because Shaw loved playing games.

“Since we’re mates,” Burgess said, “you use it as a reason to get away with things you wouldn’t normally.” He glared at the file again. “And being your superior, I’ve not done what I should—instead, I’ve let you get away with it. But, and I’m going to be blunt here, being a pal isn’t an excuse to do what you’ve been doing. No more, all right? I can’t keep covering for you.”

“Do you need to get your end away? Because you seem on edge today.”

Burgess held back from launching himself across the room at him. “Don’t.” He looked up at Shaw, who still rocked and lounged. Still sipped the stolen coffee. “Just don’t. I’m being serious. It ends. Now.” He paused for effect. “Otherwise, I’m putting in for a new partner.”

Chapter Four

Shaw stared at Burgess. He didn’t let his mouth hang open, but he was shocked enough that his jaw might sag any minute. Shit, something had crawled up his partner’s arse and squirmed there.

He lowered his legs from the desk. Thought it best to, seeing as Burgess wasn’t in the mood for his new brand of not giving a fuck. And he hadn’t given one.

Still, it was time to pack it in now. Not because of the threat that the DCI would be told, but because Shaw was tired of playing games. And Burgess had never been any good at them—a sore loser—so Shaw’s efforts had been wasted. As for Burgess asking for a new partner…

No. No fucking way.

“I had things going on,” Shaw said. “But they’re over. I’m serious. Back to work on time from now onwards. Want to bring me up to speed or—?”

The file being slung across the desk gave him his answer.

Shaw opened it, thinking he needed to keep his head down and his mouth shut.

He looked at the scribbled notes on the top page, Burgess’ handwriting hard to decipher. Something was going on at the zoo. A break-in. There was mention that CCTV footage was available about the theft of some spider or other, a copy of it on a memory stick forthcoming. He wanted to ask if it was available now but didn’t dare just yet. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Burgess sipping his coffee in earnest. He’d had a shitty morning then, if he was going at it like that.

So what had the theft got to do with the murdered woman?

He tucked the first page behind the others and got on with reading the second. This was more like it, already typed up, nice and neat, easier on the eye. Female victim, no marks on her face or body, seemingly just left in an alley—with a dead tarantula in her mouth.

“What the fucking hell?” he muttered.

“You’ve read about what was in her mouth then?” Burgess rose, moving to the coffee maker to slide another pod into the top.

“Yeah. And how did you deal with that?”

“I’m not in the mood for any of your jokes,” Burgess snapped and shoved his cup into place.

“I wasn’t about to make one. Phobias aren’t funny.”

Burgess lowered his shoulders. Tension bleeding out?

“I dealt with it. Not fun but…” Burgess added a small tub of creamer to his drink this time. “Not much fun in the sock room at the zoo, either.”

“Sock room? What the fuck is that?” Shaw frowned.

“Nothing. The kids there, the young lads who care for the…the creatures, told me the stolen one is venomous but couldn’t have been used to kill the woman. I have no bloody idea why it was put in her mouth. Some fucked-up reasoning only the killer knows, most probably. Just my sodding luck I land a case where my worst fear is realised. Coming face to face with one of those…things.” Burgess took his drink then sat on the corner of his desk.

“Oh, right. And it says here, from the preliminary findings, that the victim wasn’t sexually assaulted. Or assaulted in any way that would leave a mark.”

Burgess picked at what seemed to be an imaginary speck on his trousers. “That’s right, although I didn’t see the back of her body. I left Marla to it. Had to sit in my car for a while to, you know, calm down. Thought