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

“Yes.”

After he’d told me what

him in

turns savage. “I want it known what will

smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with

This is Klempner…

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

you stopped at cutting his

Mitch reading something like that in the papers and deciding they were

the end of the hall: Richard, watching,

“And how is

blistered my ears

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.

the bag. “I assumed I’d never

“You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

to see Jenny of course. Spend some time

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his Beth, I

I pace the

one corner, a Christmas tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard box overflows with

do, I make up the fire. It’s not difficult. A wicker basket contains paper, matches and kindling; the hearth is stacked with logs and there’s already a good bed of ashes, albeit cold

I stack thinnish stove-lengths then 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

occasionally the nurse trots past the door, uniform crisp, hat

fire, letting the heat bathe

of activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

should be tracking

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

The voice is soft,

“Mitch, is Jenny alright? And

and she’s having a bath, cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put Cara in

“An incubator? Here?”

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