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 with

inclines. He regards me from under his brows. “You really

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me

in the

want it known what will happen

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

This is Klempner…

some of the people who seriously

you stopped at cutting

didn't want Jenny or Mitch reading something like

the end of

“And how is your

would say. He blistered

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

“I assumed I’d never see

head. “You know

*****

Klempner

upstairs. They want to see Jenny of

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see his Beth, I

I pace the

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

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

logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat the stonework and then the

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

her new

occasionally the nurse trots past the door, uniform

to the fire, letting

buzz of excitement fades.

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

should be tracking

both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames and where

is

Jenny alright? And the

up on her sleep and she’s having a bath, cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put

“An incubator? Here?”

There’s half 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 shoving money at them until they agreed