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

under his brows. “You

“Yes.”

he’d told me what

in the

left of him found.” His tone turns savage. “I want it known what will happen to anyone who makes

has a

This is Klempner…

done to some of the people who

stopped at cutting

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

the end of the hall: Richard,

how is

He blistered my ears

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 assumed I’d never see

his head. “You know what they say

*****

Klempner

upstairs. They want to see Jenny of course.

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see his Beth,

I

Close by, a cardboard

the window, fog swirls and inside, winter 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 good bed

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

drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s voice,

off her new

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

stand, back to the fire, letting the heat bathe

fizz of activity, the buzz of excitement fades.

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

should be tracking

staring down into the flames and where

The voice is soft, mellow…

“Mitch, is Jenny alright?

her sleep and she’s having a bath, cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put Cara in an incubator,

“An incubator? Here?”

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