Original subtitles

Hold On tight, folks.

It gets a bit bumpy up ahead in Brokenwood Forest,

one of the main locations used for filming the trilogy.

- Oh! - And coming up on your right,

a great photo opportunity for Rivendell... a.

It's very small.

That's the magic of the movies.

Too small to be Rivendell.

In the movies, they film things small

because they get blown up bigger for the big screen, right?

If this was actual size, it wouldn't fit in the cinema.

This is insulting.

Oh. You speak English?

Ja, of course.

And I think "rings" is not spelled with a zed.

Well, Kiwi is an evolving language.

In New Zealand, the use of a zed is commonplace.

- Maybe go closer. - Oh, no, no.

No, no. No, no, no.

- You wouldn't want to do that. - Yes.

Not with possible landslides,

- Orcs. - Orcs are not real.

If that's your attitude, why'd you come on the tour?

- For the lunch. - Mm!

Yeah, all right.

And giant spiders.

Right, then.

Back in the van.

Next stop -- an excerpt from Helmet's Deep.

- Ha! Ha! - Ha! Ha!

Ha!

Huh!

Ha!

Thanks, folks.

Feel free to come and take photos.

Helm's Deep was not in a glade.

It was a big battle across varied terrain.

I want my lunch.

All in good time.

Satisfied customers.

You should try it sometime.

Next stop, Mirklewood.

Whoa!

Gifford, you mad bastard!

Gotcha.

You've blown it this time, fella!

Nothing to worry about, folks.

Just a Black Rider.

Mein Gott.

Mirklewood?

- This is simply not correct. - Calm down.

This is the best bit.

And it was about here...

well, over there, actually,

that Bilbo Baggins encountered the giant spider.

Can I have a volunteer

to see if, in fact, that spider still lurks here in Mirklewood?

Great. Step forward.

Come.

Don't be nervous.

It won't kill you.

Well... it might.

And that's the end of the show, folks.

Gets them every time.

Pretty scary, huh?

Please, tell your friends -- Ray's Tours...

a full 3-D experience.

This is my wife, Debbie. Debbie, say hello.

- Hello. - Debbie's the brains

of the organization.

- I'm the looks. - R-Ray.

Okay, Debbie. That's enough.

Debbie?

Debbie.

Oh, my God.

Sweet Jesus.

Debbie, I don't know what you saw,

but it was obviously unexpected.

Something very, very frightening?

You'll be out of here soon.

I promise.

You nodded.

What?

As if she answered your question.

Did I? That's weird.

It was rhetorical.

- Isn't it always? - No.

Thanks.

Given the amount of web, maybe it's possible

there is actually a giant spider of some kind living in here.

Are you serious?

Science has only scratched the surface

of known species on the planet.

Have you got a thing about spiders?

What? No. No. Not at all.

She was a diabetic.

I see.

She would have gone into a diabetic coma

and not made it to her insulin on time.

- I guess that's one possibility. - That's the only one I can see.

It was always the Sword of Damocles hanging over her.

We used to joke about it --

the Sword of Diabetes.

Do you remember her taking her insulin this morning?

I wouldn't know.

Wasn't something we did together.

We get lunch now?

Hey, Ray's just lost his wife.

Serving lunch isn't really a high priority at this time.

It was part of the outrageous ticket price.

- I know. - Then maybe you do it.

Um...

It's okay, boys. Take them back to the Frog and Cheetah

and get them some burgers and chips.

No! Not burger and chips.

What you say.

We do a great London Pride sausage.

Please. I'll meet you there.

Everybody! Come on!

You needn't go out of your way.

I'm a businessman. Word of mouth is everything.

Still, this is an extraordinary situation.

Well, I can't risk bad reviews on TripAdvisor.

Ray, I'll need a statement.

After I've dealt with these clients.

I'll meet you at the station.

Ray seems to be holding it together very well

for a man who just found his wife dead.

Mm.

- Shepherd. - Mike.

Simon. Thanks for calling me back.

- How's the vintage? - Ah, we'll know soon.

That case of rosé went down well last year.

- It was Merlot. - Oh. Sorry.

Am I still on your Christmas list?

We'll see.

Your wife, Linda...

Oi, keep your hands off.

Don't you think you've had enough wives

to last several lifetimes?

She's a diabetic?

She is. Why?

Has she ever fallen into a coma?

Uh, once. Messy business.

She forgot her shot.

Went quite la-la before I realized and managed to jab her.

And if you hadn't?

I'd be a widower. And pretty bloody sad about it.

Where are you going with this?

An unexplained death.

Just getting some background.

- Give my love to Linda. - Like hell.

Are we treating this as a homicide?

- An unexplained death. - Coffee's made.

- I'm good, thanks. - Here's the thing.

I spoke to Nigel Medlock and Billy Franks.

It was a doubly whammy.

Not only did they get freaked out by the spider...

But then they'd be confronted by a web-bound corpse,

and it would really tip them over.

Like, it would totally freak them out.

- Worked every time. - Well, that is, until today.

It wasn't meant to be a real corpse and...

not, like, Debbie.

- Debbie was a great boss. - Totally the best.

Debbie was always planted ahead of the group.

Planted?

Put in her cocoon of spider's web.

Fake. Notable by its Velcro seam.

But she's trapped, right?

Waiting for the tour group to arrive,

she slips into a diabetic coma and can't reach her insulin,

which surely makes it a workplace accident.

Yeah, which means that the only actual crime committed

was the fleecing of non-English-speaking tourists

with the ruse that "The Lord of the Rings" was actually filmed

- in Brokenwood. - Pretty much.

Except that Ray Neilson's response

was very matter of fact.

Grief hits people

in different ways.

- Gina. - Mike.

- Ready when you are. - On my way.

Take Ray's statement when he comes in.

Roger that.

And I'll type up my notes...

on a workplace accident.

This insulin pen -- This was in her pocket?

- Right-side trouser. - Mm.

Is there anything at a glance to suggest a diabetic coma?

I won't know that until I get inside.

But the pronounced rigidity is unusual.

- Isn't that rigor mortis? - Maybe.

But there are the edematous eyelids.

- Edema what? - Swollen, Mike.

They are unusually swollen.

This is more like latrodectism.

- Which is? - Usually caused by venom.

Perhaps snake, stonefish, or the poisonous golden dart frog.

None of those live in New Zealand.

Or a spider.

I think we have found the culprit.

It is a black widow.

No. That would be a katipo.

I can't find any site of a bite mark.

What about these?

The thigh -- a common site for an insulin injection.

Evident here, too --

the abdomen.

You checked the mouth?

In soft tissue like the mouth,

there would be noticeable swelling.

What I can tell you is, the time of death

was less than six hours ago.

Which puts it close to the time of discovery.

The level of rigor mortis

is perhaps enhanced by the spider venom, but...

But you can't locate the bite mark.

I'll keep searching

while I wait for toxicology to report.

Until then, I can't attribute the death to the spider.

What about a diabetic coma?

We will know more soon.

Thank you, Gina.

Mike.

What do you know about the katipo?

The katipo spider?

One was in Debbie Neilson's mouth.

Wow.

Um, it's venomous, right?

Black with red hourglass markings.

New Zealand's deadliest spider, I believe.

That's what I thought.

As a matter of interest, there's a research project

based out at Brokenwood Beach --

a PhD student studying katipo.

Good. Find out everything we can.

Yeah. I'll get Breen onto it.

Did Ray Neilson have anything useful to say?

No. He hasn't shown up.

I'm just about to head down to the Frog and Cheetah.

I'll meet you there.

Chandra Singh. Arachnologist.

Meaning someone who loves spiders?

Mm. Do you have a problem?

No. Not at all.

I'll give them a call. No problem.

Best to visit.

Scientists are usually useless over the phone.

Sure.

Ah. Yeah.

Hi. Is Ray about?

You the cops?

D.S.S. Mike Shepherd. Detective Sims.

Trudy. Ray's sister.

Got the news and drove over from Riverstone.

That's good of you to step in.

Family. You do what you have to.

You might want to leave Ray alone for a bit.

He's a bit sad.

- Yeah, that's understandable. - I gave him a Valium

to take the edge off.

Is he sleeping?

No.

Well, then a quick word would be helpful.

- For him or you? - Perhaps both.

The idea was, they weren't supposed

to be able to speak English.

Well, there was a German bloke

whose English was better than mine!

Yeah, thanks.

No, no. Business as usual.

Ray. It's the cops.

Oh. Right.

- Ray. - G'day.

- Yeah, all right, Trude. - You sure?

Sister.

A bit overprotective.

Well, it's good of her to step in.

Yeah, well, needs must.

I'm sorry I didn't come by earlier.

Things went a bit mad.

Mixing whiskey and Valium may not help that.

It's just the one.

Surely you wouldn't deny a man a drink.

It's not every day your wife dies.

I'm I'm sorry.

- That didn't come out right. - It's okay, Ray.

Look, the postmortem has suggested --

Diabetes?

It's inconclusive, but there's the possibility

that Debbie's fatality may be the result of a spider bite.

What?

A katipo? No way.

A katipo was found on her person,

but, as of yet, there's no evidence of an actual bite.

Well, if there was no bite, then it wasn't a spider.

Well, we're still waiting to hear back from toxicology.

Obviously, we'll keep you updated.

- You been burning the midnight? - What?

Oh, yeah. Busy times.

When was the last time you saw Debbie alive?

This morning.

Why?

What time exactly?

What does it matter?

Why? Did Billy say something?

About what?

Billy, Billy, Billy.

Look, we had words.

It was nothing serious.

- You and Debbie? - Well, how much bloody longer?

I've spoken to Damo, and there should be another van

- by the end of the week. - End of the week?!

Well, it's better late than never!

I could strangle you sometimes, Ray Neilson.

Hiya.

Uh, you know what? I'll just, um, wait in the van.

We're missing out on serious cash.

- I know. - We could be doing three times

- what we're putting through. - I know!

And if we don't take it, Gifford and Davis

will be rubbing their hands with glee.

Damo is?

From Real Cheap Cars on Teeling Street.

I was after another van to expand the business.

And Gifford and Davis are?

They're other tour operators.

Sounds like Debbie was quite competitive.

Don't get the wrong idea.

She rubbed people up the wrong way,

but she had a bloody good heart.

It's always the way.

You fight. They die.

Oh, hell. Evening rush soon.

Ray, you should take it easy.

Yeah, well, life goes on.

I mean, it has to.

We need that statement, Ray.

Not now. I should help Trudy.

First thing tomorrow, then?

First thing.

The mattress.

Do you think that Ray and Debbie were sleeping apart?

Looks that way.

And what do you think Ray meant when he said,

"You fight. They die"?

Well, it's not uncommon.

When people lose a loved one, they beat themselves up

that the last time they spoke was in anger.

Is that what happened to you?

When your wife drowned?

Me?

No.

I was lucky.

- Hey, dude. - Chandra Singh?

Do I look like a Singh? Or a Chandra?

It's a girl's name, bro.

Sorry.

DC. Breen. Brokenwood CAB.

I'm after some expert information on spiders.

- Arachnids. - Yes. Arachnids.

Yeah. You're after my fiancée, bro.

Right.

I left a bunch of messages, but she never returned my calls.

Don't take it personally, bro. She never answers her phone.

Too busy out in the field with her eight-legged friends.

That's her jag.

You're a spider expert, too?

Oh, no. No way, man, no.

- Elasmobranchology's my thing. - Okay.

I'm a shark scientist.

Dr. Byron Cotter. At your service.

So, Chandra?

Oh, right, yeah. Follow me.

Living out here suits us both.

My subjects are out there.

Chandra's are right here amongst the driftwood and tussock.

You must go out pretty deep with your work.

No.

My research is the study of sharks in shallow water.

So everything I do is within 100 meters of shore.

Really? They come in that close?

Yeah.

Right now, I'd say there'd be 35 out there.

- Wow. - Yeah, I know them all by name.

Cool job, huh?

If you like sharks.

Like? I love them, dude.

Ah. There she is.

- Hey, babe. - Shh.

Damn it! Lost her.

Sorry, babe.

Hey, this is, um...

Detective Constable Breen.

Hello. Chandra Singh.

What did you lose?

A female katipo.

Ripe with venom.

Ah, cool. Uh...

That's actually why I'm here.

There's a possibility there's been a fatality

from one in Brokenwood Forest.

Whoa. Heavy.

I doubt it's true. Katipo aren't forest dwellers.

Yeah, true.

Well, as part of a workplace accident investigation,

we need to understand more about them.

Get out of here, you monster!

- Didn't see you there! - You have no right!

I will report you to the authorities!

You have to understand -- She's very passionate about her work.

Horses have no place in this fragile habitat.

No place. Nobody understands.

Hey. I do, babe. You know that.

So, you think you can help the detective?

- Yep. - Sweet.

Surf's pumping.

I might get one in before dark.

You really like to get amongst your subjects, huh?

They're not my subjects, dude. They're my friends.

Catch ya!

Would you like to meet my friends?

This is where I work.

- Okay. - Do you know Delena cancerides?

Delena. Does she run the Greek restaurant in town?

The Latin name for the Avondale spider.

Whoa! That's... a big one.

And completely harmless.

This is where we do the milking.

- Milking? - Of the venom.

I send it away to a company that produces an antivenom.

It funds my research.

You can milk something that small?

Mm. With the help of a microscope.

I have Esther here ready and waiting.

- Take a look. - No, I'm okay.

It's perfectly safe.

Whoa. That's really...

Uh...

You fainted?

I hadn't eaten, okay?

It had been a long day. The blood sugar dropped.

And you saw a spider.

Yes, I saw a spider. I was in a spider lab.

It wasn't the spider.

- The lab was very warm and... - And?

What did you learn?

Before the ambulance came.

There was no ambulance.

Chandra's adamant a katipo couldn't have killed Debbie.

They're demonized, but pretty harmless, really.

But they are venomous?

Yes, but their potency is overestimated.

You could say that their bark's worse than their bite.

So their venom isn't lethal?

It is, but they only bite if they're startled, agitated,

or... trapped against your skin.

And even if Debbie was bitten,

it's unlikely to have killed her.

There hasn't been a fatality from a katipo since 1901.

But more importantly, katipo don't live in forests.

Their habitat is strictly coastal.

You feeling better?

But there was a katipo.

- It was in her mouth. - Whoa.

So, then how did it get there?

Huh.

Senior. A Mr. Zeigler to have a word.

- Hans, isn't it? - Ja.

- I wish to make a complaint. - Against?

“The Lord of the Ringz" Tours.

It was ridiculous.

- That is your complaint? - I have watched the DVD.

None of this was filmed here. None.

And there were motorbikes driving through the scenery,

silly people with wooden shields...

- Ha! Ha! - Ha! Ha!

...a dead woman.

This is not fun.

The lunch was not what was promised.

They gave us burgers.

You don't like burgers?

Why would I travel halfway around the world to eat burgers?

They were invented in Germany.

- Not America? - Nein.

Hamburg, of course. But this is not important.

I want it recorded that this Ray Neilson

- is a rip-off merchant. - Who has just lost his wife.

This is sad, yes, but this is not my fault.

- You said there were motorbikes? - Ja.

And there were no motorbikes in "Lord of the Rings.“

Why is this there? Nonsense.

So I wish to lay a complaint.

D.C. Breen will take your details and follow up.

I hope he does.

Zeigler reckons there was a motorbike up there.

Ray never mentioned a motorbike.

Maybe he would have

if he'd given us a proper witness statement.

I've tried all his numbers. He's still not answering.

What about Billy or Nigel?

It wasn't a trail bike.

A quad bike. A red one.

It was Lance Gifford blatting down the track.

- Whoa! - Almost took out the van.

Ray was pissed off.

Gifford can't accept he's got no permit to be in here.

Then he goes and pulls a stunt like that.

It's our exclusive right for health and safety reasons.

I mean, we're running a blimmin' professional operation here!

Lance was always giving Ray the finger any chance he could.

Oh, come on.

Come on.

- Lance? - Yeah?

D.S.S. Mike Shepherd. Detective Sims.

Nah, I won't shake.

What do you want?

You run tour groups with these?

Yeah, when I can.

Were you riding through Brokenwood Forest

yesterday around 11:15?

What do you mean, "riding"?

Riding, racing, going fast on one of these.

No.

We have a witness who believes you were.

You just about took out Ray Neilson's tour van.

Is that right?

Well, I would loved to have been blatting through the forest

while Ray was poncing around with his tours, but I wasn't.

I'm not allowed.

Because you have no permit?

That's right.

Even though I have every right to.

Despite what Debbie Neilson believes,

that forest is not theirs

to colonize with their fake film sets.

Are you aware that Debbie Neilson

Passed away yesterday?

Right.

That's too bad.

But, you know, it couldn't have been me.

- That caused her death? - No, it couldn't have been me

riding in the forest.

My bikes weren't working.

All of them?

Yeah. They all had sugar in their petrol tank.

Sabotage?

Ray bloody Neilson no less.

Well, if you're so certain, why didn't you lay a complaint?

No proof.

Excuse me.

Which doesn't mean he didn't do it.

Hello?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Um, well, the bikes are off-road -- literally.

Maybe they'll be good to go in a couple of days,

so then we could...

Yeah, righto.

That's bloody typical.

The calls come in when the bikes are broke.

Did any other tour operators

feel the same way about Ray's tours?

No. I stick to myself mainly.

Are you sure about that?

Oh. Nicole Davis.

Maybe. I don't know.

Okay. Thanks.

I'll track down Ray,

get him to verify that it was Lance Gifford on that bike.

Happy horse riding.

I tell you -- me, "horses, “ and" happy“

don't belong in the same sentence.

Hey, um...

if you don't mind me asking, why were you lucky?

- Hmm? - You said you were lucky

the day that your wife drowned.

Ah, yes.

She contacted me.

You mean after she was dead?

Yeah. So I felt lucky.

- Right. - Better go.

Jared.

Mike.

This is where you get to when the grapes are picked.

Well, I've always had a soft spot for horses.

I moonlight for Nicole whenever I can.

And where might I find her?

Follow me.

You after some lessons?

Ah, no.

I prefer Holdens to horses.

Yeah, well, can't go wrong with Nicole.

She's the best in the business.

- And she's a horse whisperer. - Mm.

Nicole. This is Mike Shepherd.

- Hello. - Hello.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shepherd.

- Yes? - I have a couple of questions

about Debbie Neilson.

Oh, well, I'll leave you to it.

I don't really know Debbie.

Debbie was found dead -- yesterday.

That's a shame.

I've got to exercise these two. I hope you can ride.

It's a shame about Debbie. She was a nice person.

Some people say she gave local tourism a bad name.

If that were the case, her tours wouldn't have been so popular.

Popular at the expense of yours?

Well, people who want to ride horses

aren't necessarily interested in tacky Hobbit tours.

You got on all right, then?

Well, I admit when her and Ray got into the game,

things were a bit tense, but we're still in business.

Lance Gifford feels a bit more passionate about it.

Why? What did he say?

Mm, very little.

That's why I'm talking to you.

Everything Okay?

Something urgent's come up. Excuse me.

Uh... Nicole?

Giddyup.

Go... that way?

Brokenwood CIB. Detective Sims speaking.

- This is Mike's phone? - Gina. Hi.

He's not here. Can I take a message?

But it is important. I prefer to speak to Mike.

Gina... I can pass it on.

It's urgent.

- Got it. Shoot. - What?

What is the message?

Hyah!

Ya-hoo!

Yo.

You're a sight for sore eyes.

Looks like you left the hand brake on.

I've never really related well to horses.

Yeah, well, horse riding's a great way to get fit, Mike.

You think I'm unfit?

Well, there's fit, and then there's fitter.

Ah.

- Is that Lance Gifford? - Yeah.

Must have got his bike working.

He's had troubles.

So he said.

Why did Nicole take off?

Yeah, sorry. We got a tour booking.

There's a group of people want to go for a trek up the forest

the day after tomorrow.

It takes a bit of organizing with the float transport.

Nicole rides in the forest?

Yeah. Used to be a popular trek

before the “Lord of the Rings“ thing cut them out

and had them banned.

I guess Ray's shutting down, so Nicole's allowed back in there.

Kristin.

Mike, the toxicology report confirms that Debbie's death

- was a result of spider venom. - Right.

But 10 times the lethal dose.

We're dealing with a homicide.

Got it.

Oh, my God.

They're stunning.

I'm glad you think so.

Most people have an irrational response.

Ah, I've always thought they were beautiful.

The thing I like most is, unlike birds,

- in arachnids, the female -- - The female is the bigger

and more beautiful of the sexes.

Right?

Right.

You've done your homework.

Chandra, you told D.C. Breen

that one bite was unlikely to be fatal.

Unless the person has a pre-existing condition,

such as asthma, heart problems.

But 10 bites could be?

Yes. But one spider couldn't do it.

They don't carry enough venom.

So, Chandra, you collect venom.

Yes. To make antidote.

Mm, and I presume you store it in vials somewhere safe?

Well... yes.

Any gone missing?

When you say "any," you imply that there are many.

Well, how many do you have?

One.

There's only ever one, and it is barely half full,

and it is right here.

You need to understand that to collect 1cc of venom

takes thousands of milkings.

It's a laborious process.

This...

is eight weeks' hard work.

- So, it's all there? - Yes.

And no break-ins

- or unusual activities recently? - No.

There's no conspiracy, Detective.

Everything is where it should be.

Do you make the antidote here?

No. I send it off to a lab, which finishes the process.

They like my venom because I harvest most of it

from outdoor-raised spiders.

I farm them in their natural habitat.

Free range.

It's better quality.

But I bring them in to milk them.

You said there were 15 in here?

Yes. I know them all by name.

How many out there, free-ranging?

Currently 142. I run a breeding program.

Is this one familiar?

- Is she the one in question? - Ah.

I can't tell by a photo.

I identify most of them by personality.

You said their natural habitat is the coast.

Yes.

Have you ever known one to migrate?

As in wander 2 kilometers into the forest? No.

- There are 14 in here. - What?

You said there were 15 in here, but I can only count 14.

That'll be Amber.

Sometimes her and Tara go walkabout.

They just return to the wild.

After all, it's where they belong.

Are you sure this isn't Amber?

Like I said, I can't tell from a photo.

Rather than walkabout,

is it possible someone could have taken her?

No one comes here.

Okay. Uh, thanks for your time.

A spider gone AWOL.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yep.

But with 142 out there in the wild,

the katipo on Debbie's body

could just as easily have come from out here.

Hmm. And who would have thought that the dairy farming model

could be applied to spiders?

It's kind of curious.

As is the fact that she's a diabetic.

The insulin pen. On her desk.

How did I miss that?

You were too busy flirting with the spiders.

G'day. How's it going?

Nice day for it.

Oh, yeah. It's beautiful out there.

4 1/2 foot offshore.

You the other detectives, eh?

Mike Shepherd.

- Kristin Sims. - Hi.

Pleased to meet you both.

I'm Byron Cotter, Chandra's partner.

So, Byron, you share a love of arachnids?

No way, dude.

No, I actually have a bit of a thing

about spiders, but don't tell anyone.

Much happier swimming with sharks.

Oh! Look at this girl.

3-1/2-meter bronze whaler.

Just off the beach here. Eh?

- Impressive. - Yeah. Her name's Kitty.

Chandra wasn't too down, was she?

No. She was very helpful.

She just worries the katipo

will be demonized through the publicity.

The cause of death hasn't been confirmed or released.

Sweet. Let's just hope people don't get the wrong idea.

- As they do with sharks? - Exactly, dude.

- Whoa. - You take care out there, Byron.

Yeah. You too, dude.

What do we know?

Debbie Neilson was murdered,

but how the venom was administered and by whom

is still unclear.

Lance Gifford.

Had a genuine problem with Debbie.

Was seen in the vicinity, but denies it.

Nicole Davis.

Also felt aggrieved by Debbie's dealings with the council.

Used that portion of the forest for trekking.

She was familiar with the crime scene.

Chandra Singh certainly has access to the venom,

but has no known connection to the deceased.

But...

...Ray does.

And Ray and Debbie argued that morning

about expanding their business.

But was that all?

I mean, was this whole thing an elaborate plan by Ray

to kill his wife? We have to ask the question.

Where are we at with Ray?

He's still being elusive.

He's a witness, for God's sake.

I've left him half a dozen messages.

Perhaps there's something he doesn't want to say.

Keep calling him.

Meanwhile, I'll have a meeting with a giant arachnid.

We'd come by after the LARP'ing

while Ray had them over at Mount Doomed,

and we'd make sure the spider was rigged

and then put Debbie in place as the corpse.

Why didn't you use a dummy?

Well, Debbie wanted maximum effect,

and a dummy would just sit there.

Which is a little bit scary.

But with her as the corpse, she could...

...give a little lunge and really ramp things up.

She really went that extra mile to give value for money.

Yeah, well, she believed in word of mouth.

Show them a good time, they'll tell two people.

They'll tell two people.

The ticket price was high, though.

Well, it included lunch.

Gold-plated sausage rolls?

Maybe. We don't know.

Well, that was Debbie's department.

She took them off to a glade further down the track,

and she wined and dined them.

We were left to pack up.

Although apparently what she did serve them was crap.

Debs, we can't do this.

- They've already paid for it. - We can't serve them that crap!

It's wrong!

Would you mind trussing me up in that suit?

Yeah. Why?

I like to play the victim.

She always perched here.

Hmm.

Once Debbie was trussed up, she was a sitting duck.

So the killer could have easily stepped up

and administered the venom.

Yes.

But how, we still don't know.

At that dosage, only would have taken a few minutes

for her to lose consciousness.

Whoever it was, they must have known the timeline she worked on

to be ready to take advantage of that window of opportunity.

Lance knew.

And he was supposedly there during the time frame.

Nicole Davis.

Hmm. Possibly.

Ray, of course.

And Billy and Nigel were the last to see her.

Not on this day.

So, you'd set up the rig

and help Debbie in and out of this each tour?

- Yep. - So on the morning of her death,

you would have been the last to see her alive.

- Normally, yeah. - But not that morning.

Something came up.

We're running late.

We need to head across and rig up the spider and Debbie.

Don't worry. It's all been done.

Oh.

Debbie was a bit antsy about the schedule.

She wanted to get away early for a hair appointment.

Right.

I've just been up there. It's all sorted.

So, Ray was actually the last to see her alive.

It seems that way.

Not something he's mentioned up until now.

Then again, he hasn't really mentioned anything much at all.

Nice set of wheels.

Business must be booming.

It was.

You're a hard man to track down, Ray.

Got a lot going on.

You get that when your wife dies.

Yeah, about that.

You forgot to mention that you were probably the last person

- to see her alive. - Sorry?

You were the one who put her in the web suit.

I was.

Which was not the usual way of doing things.

We were behind schedule.

Sorry. My mind was fuddled.

Which is why it would be good

to get that statement from you...

before anything else gets fuddled

or, even worse, forgotten.

- I will. - Well, now would be good.

I've got to get down to council to sort the permit issue.

I'll be down straight after.

Ray, don't fob me off.

I'll be there!

What is the permit issue?

Lance Gifford wants to buy my permitting rights to the forest.

He doesn't waste any time.

Well, he was never one to pussyfoot around.

And you're being very accommodating.

He's a fellow businessman.

Or are you trying to make amends

for putting sugar in his petrol tanks?

What? He said that?

He seemed pretty clear.

That's bloody libelous.

- So you didn't do it? - No! Why would I?

He had no permit. He wasn't a threat.

Any idea who might have?

No.

But it wasn't me.

Anyway, what does it matter?

They've got what they want now.

- They being? - Lance and Nicole.

Peas in a bloody pod.

But I'm shutting down.

The forest is theirs.

He wouldn't have done it.

Ray's not like that.

Right. Well, thanks.

But Debbie might have.

She wasn't above that kind of nonsense.

She could be a ruthless cow at times.

This insulin needle that was found on the deceased --

Did you test it for venom?

Of course. It was negative.

But she could have been injected with the venom

via one of these or something similar?

It's possible, but unlikely.

Why?

That needle, it's 8 millimeter, 30-, 31-gauge.

Around the abdomen, the scar tissue

is consistent with regular injections.

As you can see, many sites,

and all the holes consistent

with the size of the insulin needle.

But if one was penetrated with the venom,

wouldn't the tissue swell and harden, like a beesting?

The insulin scarring makes it impossible to differentiate.

Wait.

Okay.

There is one which is slightly bigger than the others.

Maybe a 16-...

18-gauge.

I will need to re-examine the body.

You do that.

“Katipo delivers a fatal bite.“ Front page.

How the hell did that get out?

Cushla at the Brokenwood Courier won't reveal her source.

Chandra won't be pleased.

Well, especially as it's not technically true.

Debbie was injected...

if not with something like this, then with a needle of some kind.

Someone planted the spider to hide the fact

that the venom had been administered.

They must have known she was a diabetic.

And had access to needles.

Perhaps a fellow diabetic.

But also someone who had access to spiders.

Chandra Singh, of course.

What about her partner, Byron?

Unlikely.

- He's a kindred spirit of yours. - Meaning?

Byron has a thing about spiders.

I don't have a thing.

He has a thing.

- You didn't do it. - Lance.

You said you'd sign over the permit.

- Yes, I did say that. - But you didn't.

I've got a group booked for 3:00 p.m.

But then, as I was driving to the council

with the words of Detective Sims ringing in my ears

of you accusing me of tampering with your precious bloody bikes,

I thought, bugger you.

I'm not handing you anything on a plate.

- Well, didn't you? - No, I did not.

- But you know who did. - Do I?

Sign the bloody form.

When you retract your accusation.

Call Detective Sims and tell her you had it wrong.

Kristin Sims.

Yeah, this is Lance Gifford.

Lance.

I just wanted to say that...

I'm not 100% sure it was Ray Neilson

who buggered my bikes.

Right. Well, you did say you had no proof.

Yeah, that's right. I didn't.

But all I know is, someone did.

Well, if you do find out anything more substantial

- and want to lay a -- - Okay, thanks.

Happy?

Having just lost my wife,

"happy" isn't a word that springs to mind.

“Vindicated“ will do.

Do they know what really killed her?

What do you mean?

The mean-spirited attitude you both had.

What the hell are you talking about?

How many people have you pissed off in recent months, Ray?

That forest was for everyone, and she had to block us all.

Shut it, Gifford.

You can't come in here and talk crap like that.

Oh, say what I think? Why not? It's a free country.

You're an asshole. You know that?

Takes one to know one, Ray.

Get the hell out before I take your face off.

All right.

Just take it easy, lady.

This is just a little disagreement, huh?

We're all done.

We're done.

So, what are we focusing on?

Ray Neilson said that Lance or someone on a quad bike

was seen racing away from this area of the forest

just prior to the discovery of Debbie's body.

So if they were involved, there should be tire tracks nearby.

Yeah, well, given that this area

has been out of bounds for months,

any tracks should tie back to that quad bike.

Match the tread to the tires, tires to the bike -- Bingo.

Mike.

Good work.

Get the SOCO team up here to take a cast.

What have you found?

Not what I was expecting.

Horse hooves.

They lead in here...

and out the same way.

Get me a specimen bag.

Oh. It'll need to be bigger.

Given that the forest

is strictly off-limits to horses,

that dung could tell a story.

Whoa!

On.

Kind of glad that was in plastic.

Okay.

And this is apparently where they filmed Mirkwood.

And you can see the big spider over there.

Lance seems to be back in business.

And pretty pleased about it.

So...

this place is nice.

- And the coffee's very good. - Mm.

I thought we should meet off-site

because I've got something to give you

that may not be appropriate at the mortuary.

- Something? - Mm.

For me?

What is this?

Manure. From a horse.

Mike, this is horse shit.

Probably best referred to as “manure."

Why have you brought me this?

Is this a message?

I think so.

That you think my work is like horse manure?

No. Gina, on the contrary.

I think you're so good at your job

that you should be able to tell me how old this is.

You know how to age human remains.

Of course. That is my job.

So surely you could tell me whether this is one day old,

two days, or more?

So this is a compliment?

I could send it to ESR, but that might take too long.

Then why did you not say that?

Kiwi men.

You are strangely romantic.

Romantic?

I'll get to work.

Chandra. Hi.

Look at what they've written.

- It's not true! - I know.

Did you tell them this?

No. We're not sure how they found out.

But it's not altogether untrue.

Spider venom was the cause of death.

No Latrodectus katipo is capable of 10 times the lethal dose.

- I told you that. - Well, the how is still unclear.

Now there'll be a witch-hunt going on,

people out on the dunes wreaking vengeance on innocent spiders.

Have you seen evidence of this?

It's only a matter of time.

I demand police protection.

Of the spiders?

Well, why not?

I don't think that's actually possible...

unless D.C. Breen was free to stand guard.

Should any unusual activity take place,

you let us know, but until then,

it's only a perceived concern, not an actual threat.

They will come.

You mark my words.

Keep in touch.

So unfair.

You know the other thing that will happen?

Spider bites will increase.

Big day at the office.

Yep. Happy customers.

You don't think your high jinks in the forest

- are a bit insensitive? - To who?

Ray Neilson. Exploiting his props.

It's fair game.

If he wants to leave his rubbish out there, I'll use it.

Given his circumstances,

he's hardly had time to pack up his business.

Look, I'm just trying to make an honest buck.

He and Debbie had that place to themselves for too long.

I'm just... reclaiming what's rightfully mine to use.

Was that Nicole Davis riding away?

Yep.

Just passing by?

Just dropped off some more brochures

'cause I was running low.

On the morning that Debbie was found dead,

are you sure you weren't riding through Brokenwood Forest?

I told you -- My bikes were stuffed.

Ray's adamant he saw you. Backed up by his offsider Nigel.

Well, they're mistaken. End of story.

You wouldn't happen to know who owns one of these close by?

Every farmer, orcharder, surf lifesaver has one.

It was a red quad bike, if that's of any help.

Mate, they're just about all red.

Mm. Do you mind?

Where'd you get that?

Mirklewood.

It's trail pattern.

Cross-ply. 25x10-12s.

This is pretty standard issue

for every quad bike off the shop floor,

so good luck with that.

Happy cleaning.

I want to see the ginger man!

He's very busy right now, sir.

This is of the utmost importance.

Hmm?

Can I help?

This gentleman wants to follow up on his complaint.

I do not understand why you will not take me seriously.

Mr. Zeigler, come through.

The tour you went on actually broke no laws.

Nonsense.

We've spoken with the lawyer who set up the company,

and due to the spelling of the word "Ringz" with a zed,

it meant you were partaking in a tour

of a film that didn't really exist.

Oh, I agree. "Lord of the Rings" with an “S“

was never filmed around Brokenwood.

- So it's illegal? - No.

Because a trilogy of films

called "Lord of the Ringz" with a zed may have been.

Possibly an obscure franchise. Straight to DVD.

People pay you to come up with this?

Ah. As much as I'd like to claim it as my own, I can't.

Mirklewood. Rivendella.

Mount Doomed. Helmet's Deep.

All in all, seems pretty legal to me.

This is technical.

Technically legal, according to his lawyer.

- But misleading. - It could be seen that way.

- I agree. - And dangerous.

One minute, we are taking photos.

The next, we are almost killed by a madman on a motorbike.

- We're aware of that. - And what about the lunch?

He said there would be soup, and I got burgers.

Soup, burgers. The point is, you were fed.

The point is, I was misled, and you won't do anything about it.

I can't.

What do you call this Mickey Mouse house of a town?

Brokenwood. It's called Brokenwood.

Exactly.

Trudy. Hi.

- You looking for Ray? - Yes.

He's not here.

Okay. Well, he's obviously not asleep.

He's at church.

Making a confession?

I wouldn't know.

Which church?

St. Judas on Dunphy's Rise.

Thanks.

Uh... did many people know that Debbie was a diabetic?

Was she?

You mean you weren't aware of that?

- Should I have been? - I just thought that,

as Ray's sister, you might have...

Debbie and I weren't close.

If she had medical issues, I guess she kept them to herself.

Right. Well, I'll head up to St. Jude's.

Um... you hold the liquor license for the Frog and Cheetah?

I do.

What happened to Ray's?

Been temporarily suspended.

Oh, so that's why you're here.

I thought it was because of Debbie.

Two birds with one stone.

So, why was it suspended?

Ray got himself into an altercation

with the licensing inspector.

He flies off the handle sometimes.

But he'll be cleared. He wasn't in the wrong.

The inspector's an uptight moron.

There's nothing to see here, Detective.

Ray's a good man.

Poor taste in women, but a good man.

Ray.

On, boy.

- Reverend Greene. - Kristin.

Nice to see you.

You stood me up again, Ray.

Sorry. Have a lot going on.

Funeral arrangements.

On that note, when will Debbie be made available

for us to do what we do?

As soon as the coroner releases the body.

A spider bite, I believe. A terrible thing.

Rubbish. It was a diabetic coma.

Spider venom was found in her system, Ray.

The scientists don't always get it right.

I see.

There may yet be further toxicology tests to be done.

To tell them what I already know.

Well, what you know, Ray, we'd like to know, too.

So your witness statement would be incredibly helpful.

- Yes, yes. - Now?

Would that be okay?

I'll meet you at the station.

- Thanks again, Reverend. - You're most welcome, Ray.

Such a tragedy, losing his wife.

Indeed.

Especially with the tours going so well.

The "Lord Of the Ringz"?

Enterprise is good for the local economy.

But somewhat dishonest.

There's nothing wrong with a little suspension

of disbelief and role playing...

especially with such a marvelous story.

Regardless...

the movie wasn't actually filmed in Brokenwood.

Christ wasn't born on the 25th of December,

but that doesn't stop us calling it Christmas.

Swings and roundabouts, Detective.

- Mm. - God bless.

Mike.

Ray Neilson is on his way through the door.

Coffee? Tea?

It won't hurt a bit.

I wasn't avoiding you.

It's just a hell of a thing.

It's all a bit much, really.

We appreciate that.

Thanks for coming in, Ray.

Sorry, Ray. One more question.

Uh, you said you saw Lance Gifford on his quad bike.

Like I said, he nearly took us out in the van.

- Lance denies it. - Well, he would.

He shouldn't have been there.

Gifford, you mad bastard!

I have him on my phone.

- Gotcha. - I don't see anything

- resembling what you describe. - Give it here.

At 11:12 a.m., there are a few photos of you.

Bloody hell. The camera's bung.

You must have had it on selfie mode.

It was him, I tell you.

Ray, did Debbie have life insurance?

No. We didn't believe in it.

The Frog and Cheetah is my life's work

and my life's insurance.

Which is in Debbie's name.

For accountancy purposes.

So the ownership of the Frog and Cheetah reverts to you

once Debbie is dead.

Of course.

Because she's my wife.

Who has been murdered.

What are you saying?

Debbie was murdered, Ray.

- How? - The effects of spider venom.

Nonsense. She was a diabetic.

It's all there in the toxicology report.

For Debbie to have received 10 times the lethal dose

of a spider bite, it can only have happened deliberately.

Well, who would do that?

That's what we're trying to find out.

She was a bloody good woman just trying to get us ahead.

- Everyone loved Debbie. - Come on, Ray.

Your tourism business rubbed a few people up the wrong way.

I mean, Nicole Davis, Lance Gifford.

And jealousy is ugly. What can I say?

Have you talked to him about the threatening notes?

What notes?

Here's another one.

"What you are doing in the forest is immoral.

Cease and desist. You have been warned.“

Bloody, Lance.

Why didn't you report it?

We thought it was just a bit of business rough-and-tumble.

Have you still got the notes?

We have cleaners, you know.

And you're sure it was Lance?

No.

Because?

Because Debbie wasn't universally liked, was she, Ray?

So it could have been a number of people.

That's your opinion.

Just like it's your opinion that it wasn't a diabetic coma.

It's not opinion. It's fact.

The pathologist is clear.

Debbie was injected with spider venom,

and you need to be more forthcoming

with reasons why someone might have done that.

Or what?

Or we might start thinking you're hiding something.

If I have to accept that she died from a spider bite, I will.

But not that she was murdered.

It makes no sense.

Strange.

He's in total denial.

Well, if Debbie was murdered,

that would mean there's a murderer.

And maybe that's something Ray doesn't want to face.

Lance Gifford is adamant he didn't send any of the notes.

- You saw him? - Mm.

As I say, it wasn't me.

I mean, what they were doing up there wasn't immoral.

It was just plain rude.

Innocent by turn of phrase.

Interesting.

Gina is in your office.

- She's brought you a present. - What?

I'm guessing it's a Russian cultural thing.

- Gina. - Mike.

Look at that.

I have the results.

48 to 72 hours.

Plus now 35 minutes.

You were late.

So up to three days, more or less.

Yes.

I hope you are happy.

Very.

Is there anything else you would like from me?

What?

I enjoyed this task.

It was unusual.

You challenged me.

I like that.

Good. Well, no.

That's all for now.

Okay. You know where to find me.

I do.

Thanks, Gina.

You obviously liked your gift.

Just what I always wanted.

- Boss. - Mm-hmm.

Get this.

Chandra Singh earns $1,500 U.S. per cc of spider venom.

How much is 1cc?

One mil. 1/5 of a teaspoon.

There's money in arachnids.

Check this out. Ray's TripAdvisor feedback.

Most of it's in various Asian languages,

but the few compliments that are in English

are signed "R.N." or "D.N."

- Ray Neilson. - Debbie Neilson.

Not exactly subtle

about stacking the deck in their favor, right?

Yeah. I'll get the rest translated.

Smells like horse crap in here.

- Nice day for a ride. - Every day is.

Do you have a trek?

Yep. Busy morning.

I won't hold you up.

I just wondered when the last time you rode in the forest was.

Awhile ago.

Can you be specific?

Well, the place is off-limits unless you're a permit holder.

No one's allowed up there.

So you haven't been up there in the last three days?

Like I said, the place is off-limits.

Have you ever been to the giant spider site

that Debbie and Ray Neilson had up there for their tour?

Why would I? I'm not into Hobbits.

Do you mind? I'm on a really tight timeline.

Of course.

Do other people ride up there?

I told you -- The place is off-limits.

Debbie Neilson had a special deal with the council.

And other horse people adhere to that?

Well, better than paying a $1,000 fine.

You obviously don't have a problem with spiders.

What?

Well, some people get a bit, you know, thingy about spiders.

Well, I've no feelings either way.

There's plenty 'round these parts.

Have you ever encountered a katipo?

No.

Not even the polythene one in Mirklewood?

Oh, that thing is pathetic.

I thought you'd never been up there.

Oh, I heard about it.

Everyone's heard about it. It's a joke.

Huh.

These look interesting. What are they for?

Control of ticks and intramuscular issues.

That's all.

I'll let you get on.

I just wanted to be clear that this didn't belong to you.

- Me? - Well, one of your horses.

You brought me a bag of dung.

Manure. We found it at the spider site.

I wasn't sure what to do with it.

Well, keep it.

Put it on your garden. I got plenty.

I might just do that.

Have a good ride.

You know, I'm not the only person

with a horse in the district.

Gruss Gott!

- Good morning. - Mr. Zeigler.

- Welcome. - Thank you.

Come this way.

You after those lessons, Mike?

Three days ago, Wednesday morning, were you working here?

- Uh, yeah. - With Nicole?

Yeah, I was holding the fort.

So she wasn't here, then?

Is this, like, one of those official questions?

Nicole's a good lady, Mike.

It seems that way.

Yeah, she was out riding.

- Do you know where? - She didn't say.

Hmm.

Hey, what time do you want

- to go for that run tomorrow? - What run?

Well, you said you wanted to get fitter.

Did I?

Yeah, I'm pretty positive you did.

What do you reckon?

Mrs. Marlowe. You shouldn't have.

Sam. Nice to see you.

No, these are for Ray Neilson.

I always believe that flowers

are the best on the third day of mourning.

The adrenaline's gone,

and those left grieving need a bit of a pickup about then.

They're red and black.

Yes. Nice and masculine, don't you think?

They're, um...

They're the same color as the... katipo.

Yes.

Could be a little insensitive.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

It's best to talk about these things.

Get them out into the open.

It's like vaccination.

A little bit of what hurts does you good.

Well, that's one way to look at it.

Have a nice day.

It's especially tragic...

given that Ray's first wife went the same way.

Breen.

Ray Neilson's first wife, Lara,

was killed by a spider bite in Brazil.

Get me all the background you can on it.

And get Ray back in.

Yep.

Why didn't you mention Lara's death?

Perhaps because it's none of your business.

Trude.

Look, Lara was the love of my life.

This was 30 years ago.

Do we need to drag up bad memories?

It's okay. We were on our big O.E.,

seeing the world as Kiwis do in their early 20s.

He wanted to go to Rio. She wanted to go to the Amazon.

Trude! I've got this.

We argued about it.

She stormed off into the jungle near where we were staying --

straight into the web of a Brazilian wandering spider.

It bit her in the face.

She was dead in two hours.

Two excruciating hours.

The Brazilian wandering spider

is 10 times more deadly than the katipo.

- 10 times? - Yes.

Well, you seem to know a fair bit about it.

When you go through something like that, you learn a lot...

whether you want to or not.

It makes sense why you weren't keen

to accept that Debbie was bitten by a spider.

What are the odds, eh?

Debbie's death is karma for Lara.

Don't think that, Ray.

Lara's death was not your fault.

Interesting.

Trudy didn't say that Debbie's death wasn't Ray's fault.

We're going back out to Chandra Singh's.

Want to come?

Oh, I should probably translate the rest of the TripAdvisor.

Yeah.

Are you here to stop the thugs out on the dunes?

Have there been some?

Not yet, but I know it will happen.

- Well, let's hope not. - Hope's not enough.

Latrodectus katipo are an endangered species --

less than 2,000 left in the world.

Once they're gone, they're gone.

Do you really want that on your conscience?

We'll let our staff know to keep an eye on the area.

A police presence should be a deterrent.

Thank you.

Now, how can I help?

Do you know Ray Neilson?

The fisherman?

No. He's a publican.

He owns the Frog and Cheetah.

Oh, he's also a fisherman.

We met on the beach. He's a nice man.

He told me he'd had a bad experience with a spider once.

They're shy. They're polite, sensitive.

This one's Phoebe.

Phoebe, meet Ray.

The weird thing is, I was never afraid of spiders.

Still aren't.

You've got to admire those webs.

- Mm. - They're artists.

Others might be tempted to seek vengeance

on an innocent soul like Phoebe, but not Ray.

Chandra! It's happened again!

It's still goddamn happening.

Oh, no, baby.

Can't you do something?!

You've got to do something!

You can't just cut off the fins and throw it back to die.

I've alerted the Ministry for Primary Industries

about the shark incident.

- Noel Cleland? - Yeah.

Man, if he catches the culprit,

they'll be roasted in the fires of hell

- with extra brimstone. - Well, it's over to them.

It's more Fisheries' domain than ours.

Ray's waiting.

Is Buchanan with him?

Mm-hmm. You coming?

No. Let them think they can divide and conquer.

- Gentlemen. - Detective.

Let's keep this brief, shall we?

My client's under a lot of strain,

and he's fully cooperated with his witness statement.

There really must be little to discuss.

Chandra Singh.

- What about her? - You know her.

I met her once or twice.

And you're aware of what she does?

Yes, I know.

That depends entirely on what “does" means.

She breathes. She eats.

She may collect stamps in her spare time.

Be specific, Detective.

All right. She's a spider scientist, Dennis.

An arachnologist. So?

And a nice girl.

I met her when I went fishing.

Can't a man go bloody fishing

without being accused of murder?!

Whoa. Slow down, Ray.

Right. No one's accusing anyone of murder.

Aren't they? Isn't that what this is all about?

Is it, Detective?

Because if it is, it's a game changer on how we must proceed.

You think I killed Debbie.

But I didn't do it. It wasn't me.

But someone did, and we need to clarify a few things

to help us focus on who that might be.

Such as?

So, you met Chandra at the beach and anywhere else?

I took some photos of her spiders.

Phoebe and Cindy and Anushka, if I can recall.

And this was inside her laboratory?

Mm.

Come on, girls.

Show me some leg...

all eight of them.

The shots were for the model maker

to construct the giant spider in Mirklewood.

Which is why it looks so accurate.

Please. It's polythene and foam.

From which many tourists have been delighted through terror.

I'm sorry, Detective. Are you maligning my client

for being an entrepreneur?

For getting off his chuff

and creating one of the most successful tourist operations

- in the country? - All right, Dennis.

Now you're really sounding like a lawyer.

Which is what I am.

Protecting my client

from leading questions and insinuation.

I know where you're going with this.

I did nothing to harm Debbie.

Nothing.

Which is probably all that needs to be said.

- Long black, two sugars. - Ta.

- Business meeting? - Mm.

Is there a problem with that?

I wouldn't have thought so.

Unlike other operators,

we can see the benefit in working together.

I guess there's only a certain amount

of money to go 'round.

Exactly. You know, we're happy to share it.

I need another coffee.

Unfortunately, others weren't.

Or they may still have been in business today.

Meaning?

Well, it makes you wonder, right?

How a crappy, poxy business like Ray's Tours

could do such a great trade.

I mean, what else was going on up there?

What's the soup today?

Oh, it's seafood chowder. It's pretty good.

But you're too late 'cause I got the last serve.

Fair enough.

Good luck, Lance.

- Nice car. - Thanks.

Then why aren't you driving it?

Anywhere in particular?

No. I prefer to be moving.

That horse dung --

It's from my horse Milly.

I had a hunch.

So, you went to the spider site?

To sabotage it?

I thought it was Lance I heard on the bike.

But it didn't make sense.

I panicked.

So, why didn't you report it?

I was going to, but by the time I got back,

the news had already broken,

and I just didn't want to get involved.

And risk a $1,000 fine?

Horses are expensive to keep.

I know it was the wrong thing to do.

It was.

Did Lance know?

It was his idea.

So it was him on the quad bike, then?

No. I don't know who it was.

His bikes were stuffed,

thanks to Debbie and her packet of sugar.

That's why you were on horseback, then.

Yeah.

I presume I'll be charged with something, but it's a load off.

- I knew you'd find out. - Why's that?

Well, word is, you're good at your job.

I figured you'd take that dung

and have it tested for DNA on my horse or something.

I'm flattered.

Actually, I was gonna put it on my garden, like you suggested.

After I got it back from the lab.

I'm gonna need your statement.

And you're gonna need a lawyer.

Boss.

Translations of Ray's TripAdvisor fans.

Almost unanimous in praise for the experience,

but mostly about the special lunch.

Ray's Tours would have to be the first New Zealand tour operation

famous for its cuisine.

Debbie and Ray must have really mastered

the filled roll and custard square.

Their M.O. was more than sharing the love of Hobbiton.

Ray visited Chandra's lab.

So, if Ray wanted to knock off his wife with spider venom...

He had clear access to source it.

Better than that...

You're a diabetic?

It's such a pain.

Mm. My wife's diabetic.

Hm.

Which means Chandra knew about Debbie's condition.

And according to a friend

who works in the university research department,

Chandra's funding was cut off three months ago.

So selling the venom to the antidote producers

was all that was funding her own precious research.

But demand is small now.

Supplies are replete because no one is getting bitten.

So she wouldn't be adverse

to a little hysteria to create demand?

You could argue that Chandra

needed the katipo to make headlines.

Not a bad effort, Mike.

- How long was that? - 6 1/2 minutes.

Which given there's 23 hours and 54 minutes left in a day

leaving time for improvement, eh?

Yeah. I'll take your word for it.

You seen this?

Yeah. Sick.

Oh!

Yeah, I think I might take up horse riding after all.

At least you get to sit down while you're getting fit.

- And lunch. - Lunch?

Yeah. Nicole's thinking of providing lunch for the punters.

Big spread.

Seems it's the way to go.

Why?

Well, market pressure.

This vanload turned up yesterday.

Gave her a hard time.

They want the special lunch.

Like the “Lord of the Ringz" tours.

Maybe it would be good for business.

Special lunch.

No! Not burger and chips.

What you say.

Well, it makes you wonder, right?

How a crappy, poxy business like Ray's Tours

could do such a great trade.

So, coffee at mine?

No. I'll get one at the station. Yeah.

Oh, uh, Jared.

Hey, thanks for the pain and suffering.

Mike. Have you seen the paper?

- Yeah. - If Chandra is after headlines,

her boyfriend is upstaging her.

He sure is.

Get Ray Neilson back in.

I'll be there in 20 minutes.

What were you serving your tourists for lunch, Ray?

Detective.

Menus now? Please.

- How is any of that relevant? - It's completely relevant.

I never served them. Debbie did.

There you go. Not relevant.

Then what did Debbie serve?

He might not know what Debbie served.

- It's okay. - Maybe it's not okay, Ray.

- I advise you to stop -- - On occasion,

when it was up to me, they got fish and chips.

Nothing more.

Nothing more from the sea?

No.

Then they weren't happy about it, were they?

No.

Not when they expected and have paid handsomely

for shark fin soup, right?

I request some time alone with my client.

- No, it's not necessary. - My client was unaware --

Stop it, Dennis. I've got this.

All right, I knew about it.

But, believe me, I detested it.

I refused to serve it.

Debs, we can't do this.

- They've already paid for it. - We can't serve them that crap!

It's wrong!

But Debbie was stubborn.

She believed the customer was always right.

I felt it was wrong.

It should be noted here

that serving shark fin soup is not illegal.

True. Which is not to say that it's not completely immoral.

Yes, but it is not a crime

unless Ray finned the shark himself in New Zealand waters...

...which I take it you didn't do?

Of course I didn't bloody do that.

I flat-out refused to have anything to do with it.

I took the bookings. I drove the van.

But there was no way I'd do the lunches.

Why didn't you mention this before?

Because she was my wife.

And even though she's passed on, you don't want to be disloyal.

And any association with murder

would count against me getting my liquor license back.

The Frog and Cheetah is everything to me.

Thanks, Ray.

Tuesday mornings.

At daybreak.

I believe she met a boat down at the wharf.

That's where she got the damn stuff.

I'll call Noel Cleland.

See if he can bust those finners this Tuesday.

- Ray's off the hook? - Saddle up, Tonto.

- Where are we going? - To sample some spider venom.

Now, that just sounds plain foolish.

Actually, you probably don't need all three of us.

I'll scout around.

- For? - Important stuff.

Test the vial? Why?

To be sure there is venom in there.

Of course there is. I put it there.

- Well, we need to be certain. - You don't understand.

There are thousands of milkings in there.

- Even so... - To test the vial

will destroy all of my hard work.

Even with Byron's help, it'll take months to catch up.

The thing is, it may already have been destroyed.

Do I have a choice?

Hello?

H2O and sodium chloride.

It's nothing but saline.

How could this happen?

That's a question better asked of Byron.

Another one!

When will it end?

How do you stop this?

I don't know.

But killing people

is never a great solution to anything, Byron.

What do you mean?

When Ray Neilson mentioned his wife was a diabetic,

it all fell into place, didn't it?

You're a diabetic?

It's such a pain.

Mm. My wife's diabetic.

Hm.

After you'd warned Debbie several times,

you decided to take it further.

Much further.

Far from having a fear of spiders,

Chandra explained that you were a great help around the lab.

What was your theory?

Cut off demand to stop supply.

Who the hell are you?

Are you with Lance?

I warned you, but you wouldn't listen.

No. Please. I-I didn't know.

I thought it was about the bikes.

You're lying.

No! What are you doing?

How could you?

- I'm sorry, babe. - How could you?!

You monster! You selfish monster!

Okay. It's okay, Chandra.

Come on. Come with me.

Dr. Byron Cotter, you're under arrest

for the murder of Debbie Neilson.

You have the right to remain silent.

The people who did that --

They're the real criminals, right?

It's just another terrible way to die, Dr. Cotter.

No different to latrodectism.

Let's go.

You have the right to consult a lawyer.

You don't need to tell me, but, um...

how did your wife contact you after she died?

She gave me a shopping list.

Before she died.

It was the last thing she said before I left for work.

She gave me the list and said, "Don't forget this."

Well, of course, with everything that happened, I did.

Completely forgot.

Until a couple days later when I pulled it out of my pocket.

And it wasn't actually a shopping list.

What was it?

It was a note saying “I love you.“

Like I said, I felt lucky.

We may have thwarted something even more sinister, you know?

What's that?

Two scientists. One laboratory.

What's to have stopped them trying to cross a katipo

with a shark, creating a poisonous, eight-finned,

10-eyed great white?

You should worry about more tangible things...

like the spider that just crawled under your lapel.

- Seriously? - Mm. It's just there.

Lucky he doesn't have a thing about spiders, though.

- Mm. - Did I get it?

Is it gone? 'Cause I can't see anything.

No, no, no.

It's on your head.

It's on your head.

Ripped & Corrected By mstoll April 2017

Ripped & Corrected By mstoll Released on www.Addic7ed.com