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

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

“Yes.”

he’d told me

in the

want it known what will happen to anyone who

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

This is Klempner…

done to some of the people who seriously upset

stopped at

Mitch reading something like that in the

of

him. “And how is your

would say. He blistered my ears before he settled

of the money. I think

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

his head. “You

*****

Klempner

want to see Jenny of

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his Beth, I

now, I

Close by, a

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

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

sound of laughter and chatter drifts. I can pick out

off her new

occasionally the nurse trots past

fire, letting the heat

activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression settles over

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

should be tracking

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

is soft,

“Mitch, is Jenny alright?

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

“An incubator? Here?”

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 it’s an emergency…” She shrugs. “I think he just kept shoving money at them until they agreed