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 do with

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

“Yes.”

throat. After he’d told me what I

in

him found.” His tone turns savage. “I want it known what will

“If someone has a

This is Klempner…

done to some of the people who seriously

you stopped at

or Mitch reading something like that in the

end of the hall:

how is

I would say. He blistered my

nose. “I can imagine. Here…” He proffers the second bag. “I should have given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of

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

“You know what they

*****

Klempner

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

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see

I pace the

half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard box overflows with tinsel and

the fire. It’s not difficult. A wicker

couple of minutes’ effort produces a bright flame and I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat the stonework

drifts. I can

off her new

tones rumble down too and occasionally the nurse trots past the

to the fire, letting the heat

of activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play Happy

be tracking

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

The voice is soft, mellow…

Jenny

caught up on her sleep 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 working

“An incubator? Here?”

smiles. “Richard was 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 unless