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

under his brows. “You really want

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me what

in the

savage. “I want it known what will happen to anyone who makes any move against

again, his smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with me, they can discuss it with

This is Klempner…

to some of the people who seriously upset

stopped at cutting

air. “I didn't want Jenny or Mitch reading

end of the hall: Richard, watching,

how is your

would say. He blistered my ears before

you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the money. I think most

the bag. “I assumed I’d never see that

cocks his head. “You

*****

Klempner

and Michael head upstairs. They want to see Jenny of course.

And the baby…

Of course…

see his Beth,

now, I

Close by, a cardboard box overflows with tinsel and

do, I make up the fire. It’s

bright flame and I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it

drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s

her new

the nurse trots past the door, uniform crisp, hat

to the fire, letting

the buzz of excitement fades. And depression settles

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

be tracking

fire, leaning with both hands on the mantle, staring down into

is soft, mellow…

Jenny alright? And the

She’s caught up on her sleep and she’s having a bath, cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put Cara in an incubator, but

“An incubator? Here?”

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

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