Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Chapter 20

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

from under his brows. “You really want to

“Yes.”

throat. After he’d told

in the

savage. “I want it known

someone has a quarrel with me, they can discuss

This is Klempner…

know what he’s done to some

stopped at cutting his

or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and

end of

regards him. “And how

say. He blistered my ears before he settled

before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the money. I think most of it’s there, minus a… um…

bag. “I

his head. “You

*****

 

Klempner

They want to see

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his

I pace the

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

fire. It’s not difficult.

effort produces a bright flame and I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs

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

her

occasionally the nurse trots past the

fire, letting the

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

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play Happy

should be

the mantle, staring down into the flames and where

The voice is soft, mellow…

Jenny alright? And the

now. They’ve put Cara in an incubator, but it’s just

“An incubator? Here?”

whisked away to a clinic

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