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

under his brows.

“Yes.”

he’d told me

him in

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

sunny. “If someone has a

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the

you stopped at cutting his

want Jenny or Mitch reading something like

at the end of the

how

I would say. He blistered my ears before

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

“I assumed I’d never see that

Klempner cocks his head. “You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

to see Jenny of course.

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see

now, I pace the

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

window, fog swirls and inside, winter penetrates. The air is damp with chill, so, for 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

thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat the stonework and then the

chatter drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s voice,

her

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

back to the fire,

activity, the buzz of excitement

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

be tracking

with both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames

voice is

“Mitch, is Jenny alright? And the

and she’s having a bath, cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put Cara in an incubator, but it’s just a precaution while they make sure everything’s

“An incubator? Here?”

could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless it’s an emergency…” She shrugs. “I think he