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

head inclines. He regards me from under

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me what

in the

savage. “I want

sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with

This is Klempner…

he’s done to some of the people who seriously

you stopped at cutting

reading

of the hall: Richard,

him. “And how is your friend? Commissioner

I would say. He blistered my

given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of

the bag. “I assumed

cocks his head. “You know what they say

*****

Klempner

upstairs. They want to see Jenny of course. Spend some time with

And the baby…

Of course…

see his Beth,

now, I pace

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

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, building it high. A good burn will heat the stonework and then the

drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s voice,

her new

occasionally the nurse

stand, back to the fire, letting the heat bathe

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

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

should be tracking

hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames

voice is

turn. “Mitch, is Jenny alright? And the

up properly now. They’ve put Cara in an incubator, but it’s just a precaution while they make

“An incubator? Here?”

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