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

me from under his

“Yes.”

he’d told me

him in

him found.” His tone turns savage. “I want it known what will happen to anyone who makes any

smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with me,

This is Klempner…

he’s done to some of the people who

stopped at cutting his

or Mitch reading something like

at the end of

regards him. “And how is your friend?

I would say. He blistered my ears

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

stares at the bag. “I assumed I’d

head. “You know what they

*****

Klempner

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

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his

now, I

by, a cardboard box overflows with tinsel

lack of anything else to 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

flame and I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat

and chatter drifts.

off her new

the nurse

the fire, letting the

fizz of activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression settles over

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

should be tracking

staring down into the flames

voice is soft, mellow…

“Mitch, is Jenny

They’ve put Cara in an incubator, but it’s just a precaution while they make sure

“An incubator? Here?”

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