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

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

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me

in the

“I want it

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

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the people who

stopped at cutting

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

end of the hall:

regards him. “And how is your friend? Commissioner

He blistered

“I should have given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the money. I think most of it’s there, minus a… um… finder’s fee to Hickman. I thought that was appropriate. I’ve not recovered Baxter’s half, I’m afraid,

stares at the bag. “I assumed I’d

cocks his head. “You know what they

*****

Klempner

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

And the baby…

Of course…

To see his

now, I

tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a

damp with chill, so, for lack of anything else to do, I make up the fire. It’s not difficult. A

and I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it

drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s

her

much deeper tones rumble down too and occasionally the nurse trots past the

back to the fire, letting the heat

activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

be

hands on the mantle, staring

voice is soft, mellow…

is Jenny alright? And the

They’ve put Cara

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