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…

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

breaks. Weeping and

use her. And you planned to sell his daughter for organs. Call me a sceptic, Finchby, but it’s my

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

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

across, seizing her by an arm, propelling her back

“I want to

can tell you what you're not doing. And you're not

then dimples. Her eyes cast between me and James.

then scratches him under the chin with a finger. “You won't wake the baby, will you. I've just got her to

the

follows her with his eyes, then closes the door behind

to one of the chairs, then head for the cooler. Speaking loudly, “Want a beer, Larry? Or there's wine if you'd prefer

crossed, up on the table.

a couple of

“Whatever you’re opening.”

then stack everything onto a tray. “James? A beer? I imagine you'll

Glancing up from where he is

James’ ‘work area’, passing around the bottles

one, he inspects the edges, testing them

on the table by James, then take my seat next to Klempner, knocking back a glug of beer. Then I toss back a handful

a wicked-looking set of knives, James. Well cared for, I can see. But

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

bottle in my hand, waving it in the air as

yes, although I've not

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.”

when he started, but you

knife held, apparently casually, between his fingers. “So, Klempner, what exactly

hand, stands, moving closer to Finchby. In a low voice, “Your building is a write-off. And the police will be all over it now. So, where's

gaze fixed on the 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.

takes his

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

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

sobs. “Larry, please. I

really don’t know where we can find him, well… what use are

then the other. A slash across the shoulders and the shirt falls apart, so much waste fabric. He tugs it away, tossing

in hand,

your memory coming

“Larry, I don't know.”

James...” He waves in

his original. Face impassive, standing square on, he sets

“No!”

want to jolt my

slowly… he draws the blade downward, scoring

from the clavicle, centred down the breastbone and stopping at the navel. A thin trickle of blood dribbles down through scattered body

cut too fine,

say?” asks

know.

Klempner waves his bottle at

“Nope. Carry on, James.”

my eye, holding it for a second then, putting down

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