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.”

you

regards me from under his

“Yes.”

he’d told me what I

him in the

turns savage. “I want it known what will

has a quarrel with me, they can discuss it with

This is Klempner…

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

stopped

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

end of the hall:

regards him. “And how

blistered my ears before

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

the bag. “I

head. “You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

see Jenny of course. Spend some time

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his Beth, I

I pace the

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

to do, I make up the fire.

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

drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s voice, excited and

her new

and occasionally the nurse trots past the door,

the fire, letting the heat bathe

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

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play Happy

should be tracking

both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames and where now, wood begins

is

Jenny alright? And the

She’s 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 everything’s working as

“An incubator? Here?”

everyone could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless it’s an emergency…” She shrugs. “I think