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 with

He regards me from under his brows. “You

“Yes.”

he’d told me

him in the

“I want it known

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

This is Klempner…

to some of the people who

stopped at cutting his

again. Heaves air. “I didn't want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that

at the end of the hall:

regards him. “And how is your friend? Commissioner

I would say. He 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

bag. “I assumed I’d never

head. “You

*****

Klempner

see Jenny of course.

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see

now, I pace the

a Christmas tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard box overflows with tinsel

penetrates. The air is damp with chill, 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

flame and I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat

chatter drifts. I

her

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

to the fire, letting the

of excitement fades. And depression

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

be

the mantle, staring down into the flames and where now, wood

The voice is soft, mellow…

“Mitch, is Jenny alright?

and she’s having a bath, cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve

“An incubator? Here?”

facility up there. If they needed to, everyone could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless