Daffodil sat on the floor eating Jaffa Cakes and drinking Coke, while Frankie played salsa music through his computer speakers. Charlie was hunched miserably on the couch, shoulders slumped.
“Here’s to the Chazmeister.” Daffodil took a swig and belched loudly. “That was a pretty extraordinary scheme, even if it didn’t work out like we wanted.”
“That’s an understatement,” the boy moped. “It was an absolute disaster.”
“I know you’re upset but I couldn’t let the Spider hijack our van on some isolated country lane. None of the scenarios stemming from that looked good for your survival.”
Charlie was silent, staring at the ground.
“I might have hurt you, Mac,” he said finally.
“That was the serum, Chaz,” Daffodil replied soothingly. “You’re a big softie, really.”
But she didn’t sound entirely sure.
“All the same, we’re back to square one.” The boy looked forlorn. “In fact, we made things worse. Now there’s a maniac running around the countryside.”
“Your job was to break him out and you did that. I’m entirely to blame.”
“Besides, the Spider isn’t going to chuck his micro-chipped ID away,” Daffodil reassured him. “I bet Frankie is monitoring him right now.” She glanced at the screen. “Ain’t that right?”
“I’m keeping a very careful eye on the Spider’s whereabouts, yes.”
“Then we have to call the police,” Charlie said decisively. “We don’t want him murdering some family in their beds just so he has somewhere to hole up.”
“Oh, he’s not going to do anything stupid. The man is a master at hiding and if he kills anyone it’ll turn the search for an escaped prisoner into a nationwide manhunt. He’s way too smart for that, trust me.”
“It still don’t help us, though.” Daffodil finished off another Jaffa Cake. “How do we take on Manticorps without him?”
“I guess that’s up to me.” Charlie patted his thighs fretfully. “Frankie? Tomorrow I want you to give me every bit of information you have on their headquarters. How many men. What kind of defences. I need to formulate a plan of attack.”
“Then you better give that big brain of yours some rest.” A picture of a pillow filled the computer screen. “Beddy-bye time. You too, young lady.”
“You ain’t the boss of me.” Daffodil screwed up her face.
“Technically I am.”
“But I’m not tired.” She leapt to her feet. “Who wants a game of charades?”
“I’m not really in the mood, Mac.” Charlie rubbed his face wearily. “Anyway, Frankie will win every time.”
“Got that right. Maybe one go, just to prove you don’t mess with the best.”
“That’s the ticket!” Daffodil mimed swimming. “I’m a book but also a fish.”
“Moby Dick,” Charlie said flatly.
“Dead right! He beat you, Frankie!”
“Moby Dick is a whale, and whales are mammals. I demand another go.”
“Sore loser.” The boy got up and headed listlessly for the door. “Night, both of you. I have another plan to come up with.”
*
Charlie woke with a start. It was bitterly cold in his room and the clock read 10.00 p.m. As he snuggled under the covers, trying to get warm, he heard a faint snigger from inside the cupboard.
“All right, Daffodil. You’re not tired. I get it.” He struggled out of bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “But this prank is getting really annoying.” He went to the open window, pushing apart the flapping curtains, and looked down. Sure enough, there was a drainpipe right outside. “What do you expect me to do? Sing you a lullaby?” He closed the window, then walked over to the cupboard, grabbed the handle and yanked it open.
The White Spider was crouched among the coats, gore-coated teeth gleaming in the darkness.
“Surprise!”
A bony hand shot out and grabbed Charlie by the throat. He instinctively punched the man in the face, but the Spider hardly blinked. His grip tightened as the boy kicked and chopped, to no avail.
Seconds later, Charlie lost consciousness.
*
Downstairs, Daffodil finished brushing her teeth and came back to the living room.
“I can’t stop worrying about the White Spider,” she said. “What if he does decide to break into someone’s house? We’ll be too far away to stop him murderin an innocent family.”
“There’s no danger of that, I promise.”
“I know you’re good at predictin things, but you can’t be absolutely sure.”
“Afraid I can.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mac, the White Spider is in our house.”
“What?” Daffodil looked around in panic. “I thought this place had a security system.”
“I switched it off.” Frankie sounded ashamed. “I really am sorry.”
The screen went black.
“Frankie?” Daffodil tapped the lump on her neck. “Frankie!”
There was no answer.
She grabbed a poker from the fireplace and hid behind the couch as the living room door swung open. The White Spider entered with Charlie slung over his shoulder. He dumped his victim on the couch and straightened up.
“Come out, come out, little pig,” he taunted. “I can hear you breathing.”
Daffodil appeared, swinging the poker at his head. The man took a step back and the metal rod whistled though empty air. She swung again, but the Spider ducked under the arc of her blow. He reached out nonchalantly, pressed two fingers into her shoulder and Daffodil collapsed with a grunt.
*
When the pair awoke, they were tied to straight-backed chairs. The White Spider was sprawled on the couch, sipping a mug of coffee.
“Let’s have that little chat, now that I’ve calmed down a bit,” he said affably. “I came here to kill you for what you did, but I find myself overcome by curiosity instead.” He pointed a thin digit at them. “I’d like some answers.”
“You coulda just asked, bub.” Daffodil shook her head groggily. “Instead of comin over all Tarzan on me.”
“After you threw me out of a van then attacked me with a poker?” The man laughed humourlessly. “You’ll forgive me for being a little cagey.”
“Isn’t being set free good enough?” Charlie strained ineffectually against his bonds. “You could have got clean away instead of coming after us.”
“My temper often gets the better of me.” The Spider put down his mug. “But cycling is a very calming pastime and I had plenty of time to think while I was lurking in the cupboard.”
“Peaceful, ain’t it?” Daffodil agreed. “I should know.”
“Why did you think I’d be willing to help you fight Manticorps?” The Spider rubbed thin hands together. “I’m not exactly a… reliable type.”
“We don’t entirely know,” the girl admitted. “That one was Frankie’s idea.”
“Just as I thought. The question is, how did he rope two teenagers into assisting him?” The Spider tried a reassuring smile, but it made him look like a carnivorous frog. “Is he blackmailing you?”
“Sort of.” Frankie had let the Spider in, so Daffodil saw no point in being loyal to her absent companion. “We both have missin parents. He promised to tell us where they are if we helped him.”
“Has he given you the information, now I’m out?”
“That’s not the deal,” she said. “We don’t get it until Manticorps are beaten.”
“What a slippery customer. I shall interrogate him and find out the answers we all seek.” The Spider gave a grimace. “If I don’t like what I hear, I will kill him.”
“Eh… He seems to have gone.”
“Has he left the building or is the rotter hiding somewhere?”
“Either way, I guarantee you won’t find him,” Daffodil assured their captor. “I’m havin a little trouble contactin our mutual pal myself.”
“Shame. It means I’ll have to interrogate you two instead.” The Spider got up. “Back in a mo.”
“You think Frankie can get us out of this mess?” Charlie whispered, once he was gone.
“Chaz. He let that psychotic nut-job in.”
“He did what?”
“Frankie gave him access to the house. And now he won’t answer me. We need to play for time.”
“Naughty, naughty.” The Spider strolled back into the room. “I’d appreciate you not talking behind my back. I abhor rudeness.”
“I hope I’m wrong,” Daffodil groaned “But I’m guessing you ain’t about to challenge us at darts.”
In the man’s hand was a kitchen knife.