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…

his chin to James, currently lounging against a wall, arms and ankles crossed.

Weeping and shaking. “Oh,

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

It’s Mitch.

close; staring him in the face. The vein at her neck throbs. “What are you going to do

by an arm,

“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

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

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

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

his eyes, then closes the

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

sits, slinging his feet, ankles crossed, up

of bags,

“Whatever you’re opening.”

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

him. Glancing up from where he is opening up his box, “Thank you,

table beside James’ ‘work area’, passing around the bottles and the

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

another bottle, I set it on the table by James, then take my seat next to Klempner, knocking

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

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

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

yes, although I've not had

for Larry 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 couple of weeks

“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 slices, was

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

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

Maybe he’s just dumped me. Like he

takes

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 at a time,

please. I don't know where

well… what use are

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

pauses, knife in hand, looks

memory coming

“Larry, I don't know.”

James...” He waves in

up his original. Face impassive, standing square on, he sets the point to the hollow

“No!”

You wouldn't want

very slowly… he draws the blade downward,

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

too sharp, the cut too fine, to really

to say?” asks

know.

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

“Nope. Carry on, James.”

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

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