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

from under his brows. “You

“Yes.”

slit his throat. After he’d told me

in

found.” His tone turns savage. “I want it

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

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the people who seriously

you stopped at cutting

or Mitch reading something like that in the

the end of the hall:

how is your

He blistered my

should have given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the money. I think most of

“I assumed I’d never

head. “You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

want to see

And the baby…

Of course…

see his Beth,

I pace

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

so, for lack of anything else to do, 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 a good bed

thicker logs

of laughter and chatter drifts.

off her

tones rumble down too and occasionally the nurse trots past the door, uniform crisp, hat

back to the fire, letting

fizz of activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play Happy

should be tracking

hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames and where

The voice is

is 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

“An incubator? Here?”

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