Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Michael

The Ahhh marches across Klempner's face.

Footsteps sound outside, drawing closer and James re-enters.

In a few minutes, he’s changed. From the winter woollens, heavy jeans and boots he was wearing before, he changed into a fresh shirt, suit and polished shoes. His face is clean, barring the swollen eye, and he’s combed his hair. And under one arm, he’s carrying a wooden box. For a second, I can’t think what it is. Then I realise…

To me, this is just my old friend James.

But what will Finchby see?

He flashes a glance at the still unconscious man. “How long before he wakes up?”

Klempner rocks a hand. “I didn’t give him much. Anytime now. Within the next few minutes certainly.”

“Good. Michael…” He snaps fingers towards the cooler. “Ice bucket.” Then he aims a finger towards the table behind our dangling houseguest.

And now I know what he has in mind.

I grin. “My pleasure.”

Klempner, obviously bemused, watches in silence as I scoop ice into the bucket and add water. I place it on the table and James drops in his toys into the chinking mix.

A groan…

Finchby stirs. “What…?”

I eye-point Klempner to a chair. He’s sucking in a smile as he takes his place in the ‘viewing gallery’.

“What’s going on?” Finchby’s eyes blink open, hazy and unfocussed, then his face sharpens as realisation penetrates. His eyes fling wide, showing the whites. “Christ…” Struggling against the restraints, he writhes and twists. But he’s going nowhere.

His eyes settle on Klempner. “Hey… Larry…” He tries for a cheesy grin but fails.

Is he going to piss himself?

Klempner smiles pleasantly. “Afternoon, Finchby. Good to see you’re back with us. Comfortable?”

The man is pasty, his breath short and quick. “Hey, Larry, what are you playing at? It wasn't personal. It was business. You know how it is.”

Klempner lifts his chin, eyes narrowing. Standing, he stalks a few paces to stand by Finchby, speaking to the side of his face.

“Yes, I do know how it is. And for coming after me, I'd have simply slit your throat and called it evens…”

Finchby’s breathing shudders…

“… But it stopped being business the moment you took my daughter and chained her up in your dungeon of a cell. You imprisoned her in conditions calculated to make her sick and to risk her child. You made it your business to demean and humiliate her…”

He draws breath. Any trace of compassion slides from his expression. For the first time, the fury shows. His voice morphs to a hiss.

“… And you planned to sell my granddaughter for parts? This stopped being business some while ago, Finchby. This is very definitely personal.”

Finchby hangs, lungs jerking and juddering. He blinks rapidly, moisture gleaming at the corners of his eyes.

He tries to speak, his throat working, then tries again. “What are you going to do, Larry?”

Abruptly, Klempner’s pleasant expression pastes back into place. “Nothing. Nothing at all…”

Finchby pants, quick shallow breaths, eyes darting here and there…

watch what he does.” Klempner jerks his chin to James, currently lounging against a wall, arms and ankles crossed. “I'll admit, I'm quite intrigued to see what he

breaks. Weeping and

Tortured her. Humiliated her. Intended to use her. And you planned to sell his daughter for organs. Call me a sceptic, Finchby, but it’s my guess he doesn’t like

creaks open. “James, is everything…” It’s Mitch. Her words stall as she takes

The vein at her neck throbs.

an arm, propelling

“I

Gripping her at both shoulders, “I can't tell you what to do with your life, but I can tell you what you're not doing. And you're not staying here.

cast between me and James.

Finchby, then scratches him under the chin with a finger. “You won't wake the

quick pat on the cheek, then she sashays out of the door, throwing a comment back

her with his eyes,

then head for the cooler. Speaking loudly, “Want

up on the table. “Beer's

of bags, “Cashews or potato

“Whatever you’re opening.”

bags, tipping the contents into a couple of bowls, then stack everything onto a tray. “James?

table where Finchby can see him. Glancing up from where he is opening up his box, “Thank you, Michael, yes. A beer

beside James’ ‘work area’, passing around

knives: stainless steel, polished, they glint under the harsh lighting. One by one, he inspects the edges, testing them with his thumb. He chooses one, but

to Klempner, knocking back a glug of beer. Then I toss back a handful of nuts before passing the bowl to

sips his drink. “That's a wicked-looking set of knives, James. Well cared for, I can see. But

the blade up to the light, inspecting the serrated blade. “That's because these are my sushi knives. I brought them down from the kitchen for the

punctuate my speech with the bottle in my hand, waving it in the air as I

not had any for

while he's staying with us.” I turn back to Klempner, keeping my voice loud. “You know, forget these Japanese chefs. James here makes the best sushi. That knife he's sharpening... A

“Tuna.”

have been more than an inch thick when he started, but you know he sliced it so fine.

sushi knife held, apparently casually, between his fingers. “So, Klempner, what exactly did you want to

hand, stands, moving closer to Finchby. In a low voice, “Your building is a write-off. And the police will

his gaze fixed on the knife in James’ hand. “Really, I don't. Maybe he ran. Maybe he’s

takes his

table then chooses another. Not

the blade under the top button of Finchby’s shirt, then slices. The button pops off and he moves down to the next. One

please. I don't know

well… what use are you to

the shirt falls apart, so much waste fabric. He tugs it away, tossing

knife in hand,

memory coming on,

“Larry, I don't know.”

He waves in

original. Face impassive, standing square on, he

“No!”

move. You wouldn't want to jolt my hand,

he

lines, drawn from the clavicle, centred down the breastbone and stopping at the navel.

cut too fine,

to say?”

don't know. I

you, Finchby.” Klempner waves his bottle at me. “Do

“Nope. Carry on, James.”

screaming, panicking, shuddering man. “I told you. Don't move.” He meets my eye, holding it for a second then, putting down the knife, draws his next tool from

it down the back of the shrieking Finchby, following the line of the spine. As he moves,