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

and shaking.

his ear. “You kidnapped his pregnant wife. 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

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

standing close, very close; staring him in the face. The vein at her neck throbs. “What are you going

arm, propelling her back towards the

“I want

tell you what to do with your life, but I can tell you what you're not doing. And you're not staying here.

Her eyes cast between me and James. “Larry, I do believe these

strolls back to Finchby, then scratches him under the chin with a finger.

she sashays out of the door, throwing a comment back

eyes,

to one of the chairs, then head for the cooler.

crossed, up

of bags, “Cashews or

“Whatever you’re opening.”

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

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

set the tray on the table beside James’ ‘work area’, passing around

glint under the harsh lighting. One by one, he inspects the edges, testing them with

by James, then take my seat next to Klempner, knocking back a glug of beer. Then I

cared for, I can see. But they look a little delicate

the light, inspecting the serrated blade. “That's because these are my sushi knives. I brought

bottle in my hand, waving it in the air as I speak. “You

not had any for a

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 couple of weeks back, he was slicing up...

“Tuna.”

yes, tuna. It couldn't have been more than an inch thick when he started, but you know he sliced it so fine. Four

turns to the violently trembling Finchby, the sushi knife held, apparently casually, between his fingers. “So, Klempner,

low voice, “Your building is a write-off. And the police will be all over it now. So, where's

don't. Maybe he ran. Maybe he’s just dumped me. Like he accused you of doing. He's done it himself to

head and takes his seat again. “All yours,

face impassive, places the knife on the table then chooses another. Not one of his ‘specials’, this one is

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

please. I

find him, well… what use are you

inside sleeve of one arm, then the other. A slash across the shoulders and the shirt falls apart, so much waste fabric. He tugs it away, tossing it to one side, leaving Finchby naked to

knife in hand, looks to

memory

“Larry, I don't know.”

James...” He waves

impassive, standing square on, he sets

“No!”

wouldn't want to

very, very slowly… he draws the blade

down the breastbone and stopping at the navel. A thin trickle of blood dribbles down

too sharp, the cut too fine, to really hurt, but Finchby

to say?”

I don't know.

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

“Nope. Carry on, James.”

you. Don't move.” He meets my eye, holding it for

slow gestures, he draws it down the back of the shrieking Finchby, following the line of the spine. As he moves, slowly,