Hot Revenge Box Set 2

*****

James

The message from Charlotte’s abductors…

Finchby…

Baxter…

… replays in my head…

Marsh Street under Barnbridge Road overpass 9pm

Bring the money

No police. No other people or she dies

If late she dies. So does the baby

Brandy and rage burn inside me.

The bag containing the ransom money swings heavy in my hand. I'm the decoy and at some level, I know I may not come out of this alive. Klempner's Kevlar vest gives me a little comfort, but it’s the fury inside that warms me against fast falling temperatures.

I should be afraid…

But I’m not.

Jade-Eyes…

My beautiful Jade-Eyes…

Cara… Your gift to

day I met Charlotte, my Virgin, we have helter-skeltered

her, ruling her, robbed her of what she deserves. None of it her fault, she has simply been the survivor of everything life has

I change any

No. Nothing.

Resourceful. Even in the dire situation she’s in, imprisoned in her cell, racked with pain, coughing

coming for

And me?

I’m the decoy.

cloud makes a haze of the stars but does little to blanket in what passed for

a mile to reach the rendezvous point, near enough to get

late, but the cold is keeping people indoors and, after all, Christmas is coming. Most folks will be with friends,

snow and Santa, Please Stop Here signs. In my own home, we never finished the trimming up. Charlotte’s abduction killed off any thoughts of celebration and our

I pass by.

a few minutes I’m leaving the relative safety of the residential zone and passing into more uncertain territory. This end of Marsh

built before the main highways were developed, a remnant of the old town, under the overpass which carries the modern road to Barnbridge. It's a risky spot for the unwary, noted for assaults

cautious. The area is noted for hoax calls of fire or medical emergency followed by

I'm feeling windy about being

Better than the alternative.

to do

reach my destination. The road lies straddled by two great concrete supports for the overpass, dim under inadequate sodium lighting. From the road above, moisture trickles down, streaking stark

the overpass, late evening traffic

“Hello?”

voice echoes briefly, then

here.” I

Nothing…