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 do with

from under his

“Yes.”

After he’d

him in the

“I want it known what will happen to anyone who makes any move against my

smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the people who

you stopped at

air. “I didn't want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and deciding

of the hall: Richard, watching,

“And how is your friend? Commissioner

blistered my ears before he settled

“I should have given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the money. I think most of it’s there, minus a…

the bag. “I assumed

his head. “You know what

*****

Klempner

want to see Jenny of course. Spend some

And the baby…

Of course…

see his

I pace the

corner, a Christmas tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard box

of anything else to do, I make up the fire. It’s not difficult. A wicker basket contains paper,

logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat

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

her new

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

to the fire, letting

fizz of activity, the buzz of

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play Happy

should be tracking

fire, leaning with both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames and where now, wood begins to

is

is Jenny alright? And the

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?”

“Richard was busy while he 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 shrugs. “I think he just kept shoving money at