Hot Revenge Box Set 2

James

But downstairs in my playroom, Klempner is nowhere to be seen. Neither is he in the laundry, the boiler room or anywhere else.

Finchby has vanished too.

Michael regards the empty spot. Clicking a thumbnail against his teeth. “There’s only one way he could have gotten out.”

“Yes, there is. Michael, Klempner knew the tunnel existed. How long d'you think it would have taken him to find it if he was seriously looking?”

Hissing through his teeth, he marches across to the hidden exit at the far end of the chamber.

A click, the concealed door opens and he vanishes inside.

Re-emerging a minute later. “There’re drag marks where the floor turns to earth. You want to follow them?”

“I don’t think I do. I’m not sure I want to be responsible for whatever happens to Finchby. Besides, I have more immediate things to do.”

“Such as?”

“I have a hard drive to clean up before I deliver it to the police.”

Michael scratches at forty-eight-hour stubble. “I suspect Finchby may not be our problem anymore.”

“I suspect you’re right. Klempner wanted to question him some more. I doubt he’ll survive the experience.”

“And Klempner?”

“He'll be back.”

“You think?”

“Mitch.”

*****

The following evening, the front door opens and Klempner breezes in as if he had not a care in the world.

“James, Michael, sorry to leave you so precipitously. I'm sure you understand why.”

He’s changed, wearing fresh clothes which look new and fit him well; trousers, a roll-top sweater, jacket and shoes. And he carries a pair of bags, offering one to me.

“Yours. Thank you for the loan. I had them laundered of course.”

“Finchby?” I ask, cautiously.

“... Will trouble you no more.” His gaze is direct. “Or for that matter, anyone else.”

you do with

me from under his brows. “You

“Yes.”

he’d told me

him in

turns savage. “I want it known what will happen to anyone who

has a quarrel with me,

This is Klempner…

I know what he’s done to some of the people who

stopped at cutting

air. “I didn't want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and deciding they were

the end of the hall: Richard,

him. “And how

I would say. He blistered my

his nose. “I can imagine. Here…” He proffers the second bag. “I should have given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the money. I think most of it’s there, minus a… um… finder’s fee to Hickman. I thought that was appropriate. I’ve not recovered

at the bag. “I assumed I’d never see

his head. “You

*****

Klempner

and Michael head upstairs. They want to see Jenny of

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his

now, I pace

tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard box overflows

is damp with chill, so, for lack of anything else to do, I make up the fire. It’s not

thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat the stonework

upstairs, the sound of laughter and chatter drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s voice,

off her

the nurse trots past the door, uniform crisp, hat

back to the fire, letting

the buzz of excitement fades. And

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

should be tracking

the fire, leaning with both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames and where now, wood begins to drop into

The voice is soft, mellow…

“Mitch, is Jenny

cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put Cara

“An incubator? Here?”

was busy while he was here. There’s half a medical facility up there. If they needed to, everyone could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless it’s an emergency…” She shrugs. “I think he just kept shoving money at them until they agreed to set up here for