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…

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 has in mind

Weeping and

her. Humiliated her. Intended to use her. And you planned to sell his daughter for

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

close; staring him in the face. The vein

by an arm, propelling her back towards the door.

“I want to

but I can tell you what you're not doing. And you're not staying here. Not for this. I'll throw you over my shoulder and

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

jerks free, strolls back to Finchby, then scratches him under the chin with a finger. “You won't wake

on the cheek, then she sashays out of the door, throwing a comment back over her

eyes, then closes the door behind

the cooler. Speaking loudly, “Want a beer, Larry? Or

crossed, up on the table.

up a couple of

“Whatever you’re opening.”

tipping the contents into a couple of bowls, then stack everything onto a

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

beside James’ ‘work area’, passing around the

the contents of his box: a set of knives: stainless steel, polished, they glint under the harsh lighting. One by one, he inspects the

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

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

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

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

I've not had any for

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

“Tuna.”

It couldn't have been more than an inch thick when he started,

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

moving closer to Finchby. In a low voice, “Your building is a write-off. And the police will be all over it

knife in James’ hand. “Really, I don't. Maybe he ran. Maybe he’s just dumped me. Like he accused you of doing. He's done it himself to me. But I

takes his seat again. “All

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

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

I don't know where

that. And if you really don’t know where we can find him, well… what use are you to us? I don’t

shirt falls apart, so much waste fabric. He tugs

knife in hand, looks to

memory coming on,

“Larry, I don't know.”

He waves in a carry-on

Face impassive, standing square on, he sets the point to

“No!”

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

very slowly… he draws the blade downward, scoring the

breastbone and stopping at the navel. A

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

to say?”

know. I

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

“Nope. Carry on, James.”

shuddering man. “I told you. Don't move.” He meets my eye, holding it for a second then, putting

of the shrieking Finchby, following the