Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Michael

Mitch drives home. I’m exhausted. James and Klempner don’t look much different. From the back, it sounds as though Finchby has woken up. If he were still out, I don’t think he’d be squealing like a stuck pig.

After a while, Klempner speaks. “I need a little chat with Finchby there. Where would you like me to conduct his interview?”

There’s a thump from the trunk and he looks back then to Mitch. “It needs to be somewhere the women won’t hear. Is there one of your outbuildings I can use perhaps?”

Mitch glances sidelong. “Don’t worry about upsetting me. I’ll hold your coat.”

James, his expression savage, breaks in before I can reply. “We can do better than that.”

“Where?”

“Downstairs.”

It takes a moment for James’ meaning to sink in. “Downstairs? You mean…?”

“Yes. That’s what I mean.”

As we crunch onto the drive, Klempner produces another of the phial and syringe sets, pursing his lips as he draws the drug into the chamber, then tapping it. “James, Michael. Open the trunk and I’ll get him quiet again before we take him through your home.”

The trunk clicks open and the needle plunges into Finchby’s arm. The tape-masked shriek dies in his throat and…

“Give me a second,” I say. “Richard hinted he’d been up to something last night. Let me go see what’s happening.”

It’s as well I did. A blue-uniformed nurse is in the hall, discussing something on a clipboard with Richard. As he sees me, he steps smartly forward… “Ah… Michael…” He cups my elbow, easing me out of the door again. “Is everyone…?”

The question dies on his lips. “James. Klempner. I’m pleased to see you.” His gaze lingers on James damaged eyes, the slash, leaking red, on Klempner’s chest, then moves to the bound and unconscious Finchby. “Is that one of them?”

“Yes…” James heaves breath, then. “He was planning on prostituting Charlotte and selling Cara for organs. We need to ask him about where to find the other one. We’re taking him downstairs.”

Richard inhales. “You’d better bring him in around the back. We have a houseful here.”

Klempner reacts. “Police?”

“No. Medics. Doctors. Nurses. For both Charlotte and Elizabeth…. I… I had an eventful night too.”

“Is everything alright? Charlotte?”

“Yes, she’s fine. I’ll tell you later. Right now, she’s sleeping and I’d say likely to stay that way for some while yet. I have a nurse watching her and Cara while she sleeps herself out.” He glances back to the door, holding up a palm. “Give me two minutes to clear the hall, then come in through the back. Go straight down.”

a word, please. You

past. “I’m going to go see Jenny and the baby.”

him and we heft Finchby around the side of the house, in

*****

Klempner

down the cellar steps and along a basement passageway, rooms off to either side. “I’d

it.” James opens the door ahead of

shoulders, says, “You

you think of a better

He exhales. “But fuck’s sake, don’t ever

I don’t want her knowing about any

“Suits me.”

the unconscious Finchby through

Fuck me…

Don’t show surprise…

my eye. So does James. His mouth quirks and he drops me

It’s a torture chamber.

least at

Of course it isn’t…

is a blur of manacles, racks, whips and chains;

a hearth, the ashes cold; a glass-fronted cooler containing wine and beer, and a huge

of a

kind of way what kind of relationship my Jenny has with James, but I’d really

Until now.

Keep your cool…

Michael halts. “Where?”

for a start. Take his waistcoat off. Leave the

from the ceiling a kind of winch and pulley arrangement. While Michael and I manhandle the unconscious Finchby into position, James takes something from a

a moment,” he says, rummaging through a drawer, emerging with a second set of cuffs; these the real McCoy in steel. He fiddles with the

Finchby while James snaps the cuffs around his wrists, then clips a

over his head, Finchby’s going

our catch. “That do

I’m looking forward

set up a table where Finchby can see it. And another one behind him where he can’t.” He turns back and leaves the room, the sound of footsteps receding down the

arm.

table, placing it as James asked, squarely in front of Finchby. Then another behind

What the fuck?