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

inclines. He regards me from under his

“Yes.”

he’d told me what

him in the

tone turns savage. “I want it

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

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the people

you stopped at cutting

Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and deciding they were

end of the

regards him. “And how is your

blistered my

of the money. I think most

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

cocks his head. “You know what they say

*****

Klempner

to see Jenny of

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see his Beth, I

now, I pace

one corner, a Christmas tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard

up the fire. It’s not difficult. A wicker basket contains paper, matches and kindling; the hearth is stacked with logs and there’s

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

upstairs, the sound of laughter and chatter drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s voice,

her

down too and occasionally the nurse trots past the door,

fire, letting the

of excitement

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

should be tracking

mantle, staring down into the flames

The voice is

is Jenny alright? And

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

“An incubator? Here?”

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 to set