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.”

did you do

under his brows. “You

“Yes.”

slit his throat. After he’d told

him in

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

“If someone has a quarrel with me, they

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some

surprised you stopped

want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and

end of the

how is

blistered my ears before he settled

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

bag. “I

“You

*****

Klempner

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

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see

now, I

stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard

lack of anything else to do, I make up the fire. It’s not difficult. A wicker basket

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

the sound of laughter and chatter drifts. I can pick out

off her

the nurse trots past

the fire, letting

buzz of excitement fades. And depression

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

be

to stand over the fire, leaning with both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames

The voice is

turn. “Mitch, is Jenny alright? And the

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

“An incubator? Here?”

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