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

regards me from under his brows. “You really want

“Yes.”

After he’d told me what

in the

His tone turns savage. “I want

again, his smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with me,

This is Klempner…

done to some of the people

surprised you stopped at cutting

or Mitch reading something like that in

at the end of the hall:

him. “And how

blistered my ears before

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 assumed I’d never see that

Klempner cocks his head. “You know what

*****

Klempner

They want to see Jenny of course. Spend some time

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see his

now, I

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

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

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

sound of laughter and chatter drifts. I can

her

too and occasionally the nurse trots past the door, uniform crisp,

stand, back to the fire, letting the heat bathe

of excitement fades. And

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

should be

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

is

is Jenny alright? And

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

“An incubator? Here?”

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