Spiders Don’t Always Win

It was mid-morning. Toby stood, his mind clogged with fear and anticipation of what was to come; but, stuck where he was, looked up above the door of the cell-like room. There in her happy hunting ground; also referred to as a web was an enormous spider teasing her prey. If the fly were free, Toby judged he would be considered enormous; but against the beady eyes and long legs, whatever breed she was, the spider towered over the fly. He was trapped. She tantalised her prey. Toby knew how he felt. He had just been there; it was an experience he would not wish on his worst enemy, but he dared to hope that, somehow there was light at the end of the tunnel. Prior to the incident that changed his life, he was eighteen, going on ten. On paper, he was still eighteen, but he had aged, overnight. Never again would he take people at face value, particularly if… He looked round at the officer monitoring proceedings; that was how it was phrased. In essence, it was a foretaste of things to come if the spider got her way; oh, how she mocked him.

Sit down, mate.” the voice was not stern.
‘Oh, the big boy speaks.’ thought Toby with just a hint of mockery.
“Am I bothering you?” asked Toby
“Not in the slightest, but you will get a better view of the spider if seated; besides, you will get a crick in your neck at your height whereas, at mine, there would be no problem.” the officer, checking a message on his mobile went back to his admin work.

Why was he suddenly so friendly? Toby looked at the clock. The waiting was unbearable.
Suddenly the door opened, and a burly sergeant of police came in. Nodding to the other occupant in the room the sergeant addressed Toby, with just a hint of a smile.
“Do you know a Patrick John Slater?”
“Yeah, my brother, Sir.”
“There has been a development.” he said, “come with me.”

As brothers, Pat and Toby Slater were reasonable friends. Two minutes apart in age with Pat being the elder, one would assume that Pat would be the leader. It was a rarity for Pat to lead; Toby took charge where needed, but, he did not push himself forward for anything unless there was cheesecake in the offing. By and large, they were described as good kids, although there were times when risks were taken. Boys will be boys until they are men, apparently, but Toby was not wholly convinced. The camaraderie changed when Pat met Eva at a party. Tall, blonde with an endearing smile; it was soon obvious to Toby that Pat was smitten, but there was something not quite right about her. He could not put his finger on it but something did not ring true. After a while, Toby began to think he was wrong and let them get on with living.

He did notice that Eva was demanding. As an only child, she valued her friends by their service, that is the number of errands they would do for her; and wherever possible expressed her opinions freely, particularly where it was none of her business. Sometimes if Eva was telling a story, she had a strange look in her eyes. Pat found all this endearing; Toby could not hack it. There were times however when he enjoyed Eva’s company. When she put her mind to it, she was caring and generous, as she was on the night of his ‘maturity.’

It was approaching dinner time. Toby was listlessly watching the football and the game would soon be over. Pat and Eva approached him.
“Hey Jug.” it was Pat’s nickname for Toby “are you gonna be on your lonesome tonight?”
“Looks like it, why?”
“Eva and me, we thought we’d go to the pizza joint for tea. Wanna come?”
“You sure?” Toby was genuine.
“Sure, we are.” Pat smiled “besides I can always bring you home when we have finished, and then togetherness can follow.” Pat turned to face Eva “okay, hon?”
“Excellent,” said Eva smiling. Toby looked at her, then back at the game.

As Toby did not drive, Pat did the honours. It seemed odd to be sitting in the back seat but special ladies get the best places. It was a short drive but being fairly early they had their choice of parking spots. Toby wondered why Pat chose a spot a little way from the restaurant. It did not matter; ostensibly they were all fit and healthy but most folk would have taken the spot closest to the venue. Toby kept silent. Checking his wallet for ID and cash, he followed the lovebirds and sat opposite them. Pat ordered a G and T, Eva the same, wondering why Toby chose a soft drink.
What’s up with you?” asked Eva “you are of age now.”
“Nothing, I just wanted something soft.” Toby answered, “I might indulge later.”
Soon the place erupted, with customers. It was quite a crowd, most of whom were known to the Slaters. Old Guido was in his element, advising of a new menu but also saying:
“You lot, you come in here and you eat my pizzas as well as drink. You get drunk you get told to leave. Okay?”

No one ever argued with Guido. Though it looked like chaos, Guido and his staff took it in their stride. The pizzas were delicious, the place was humming, the alcohol was flowing and Pat and Eva imbibed shamelessly. Toby had a glass of red with his meal.
Later, Toby looked up at the wrong moment seeing Pat make a facial expression to Eva.
On cue, Eva, gulped her G and T down, polished off the remainder of the red wine in Toby’s glass and sat on Toby’s knee, ready to smooch.
“Hey steady. I am not Pat.”
“Ah, but you are identical twins, a rarity yes, but oh so handsome,” said Eva, ready to pounce again.
“Thank you, but I am not interested,” said Toby trying to extricate himself, much to Eva’s annoyance. She moved to join the crowd, then turned back to address Toby.
“You don’t wanna mess with me buster,” whispered Eva. Her eyes spoke volumes, which Toby chose to ignore to his detriment.
Suddenly, a fight broke out in the shop. Fists flew, the demon drink fanned the flame. In an effort to retain calm Guido came out to speak, but Pat lunged towards him kicked him in the gut then whacked his face; while Eva opened the cash register and took the takings. They ran out of the shop. Before leaving, Eva poured the remainder of the bottle of wine over Toby, blowing kisses. No wonder the getaway car was parked where no one could identify it. It did not take long for the police to arrive. Toby looked up at the wall closest to the window There was an enormous web and a fly buzzing intent on flying out the door as soon as possible. It did not have a chance, the spider hovered, the fly was stuck. No one noticed the spider except the supposed drunk who was pursued by the police; intent on solving the riddle. Grim-faced they took Toby to help them with their enquiries. Guido was rushed to the hospital; the only one, outside the family, who could tell the twins apart and solve the riddle.

“I did not do it,” said Toby for the third time “my brother…”
“Your drunk.” accused the female officer “tell me again what happened. Who else could have done it?”
“The driver of the car. Hey, can I ask you a question; if I had done this I would have driven away! So would you not be looking for me?” he had the satisfaction of seeing her confused
“Show me ID,” she said haughtily. “clearly we are not satisfied.”

Silence. Toby looked down at his wallet then realised the problem He had Pat’s wallet with the licence on one side of the inner panel, and a picture of Pat and Eva in the other
Meantime, another young officer entered
“Ma’am,” he said
“Yes.”
“He’s not over .05, technically he is not drunk he just stinks.” he placed something on the table “someone’s dropped a wallet …”
It was Toby’s, identical to Pat’s complete with proof he needed. There was no reason to hold him but where would he go? He was not walking home at two o’clock in the morning.
Eva and Pat were silent. They had driven for hours, but as luck would have it there was a long queue at the main road. Police staff redirecting cars towards what was referred to as “the booze bus.” They were stopped. Pat was asked for his driver’s licence. He felt for his wallet realised the lack thereof and drove the car on a U-turn. heedless of oncoming traffic.
“Phew that was close,” said Eva as Pat continued driving erratically, no destination in mind, but, anywhere limited petrol could take them. He turned the radio on wishing he hadn’t. The news bulletin announced the incident focussing on the burglary and the proprietor’s injuries. Pat was only half listening to Eva’s prattle. Then a police siren sounded, heralding the necessity to stop. There was no need to worry about petrol now.

The following morning Guido Gaetano knew he was to be discharged. His son Mick arrived early grinning.
“Hi, Dad. Doctors are saying you are to be discharged, but there are two coppers waiting to speak to you.” Mick sat down “the news says they caught Toby.”
Guido stared at Mick in disbelief.
“Have you got rocks in your head, Mick?” asked Guido.
“Why? The news said…” there was a knock at the door the police entered Guido continued to speak, aware of his visitors
“You think it was Toby? Nah not Toby, he not that kind of kid. His brother, he’s different, he the one; he kicked my gut.” he looked over at his visitors “Look at my face.”
“Are you sure?” asked the young constable
“Sure, I’m sure; Toby too clever to go around with Eva! Pat the idiot.”
“Eva?” asked the constable “tall blonde?”
“Yes” Mick nodded
“She took my money,” said Guido. “Toby no deserves jail. In fact, Toby he can work with me any time” Guido smiled “mark my words. Old Guido will be back.”
The formalities began in earnest.

Word had got around that the true culprits were on their way. Toby followed the sergeant down the corridor, unaware of the update. He watched as a group of people entered the building. Behind them were two policemen with Pat and Eva. Pat caught Toby’s eye, the look was long. Pat clearly embarrassed, just nodded. Eva stared at Toby, in defiance. Pat and Eva were ushered into separate rooms. The third room, with the open door, was where Toby was invited in, to hear the news.
A confession had been made a statement would follow. He breathed a sigh of relief. A familiar buzzing began. Yes, yet another spider’s web, but this time the fly broke free. The spider now trapped in her web saw it escape on Toby’s back. The two left the building together and went their separate ways.