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

under his brows. “You really want

“Yes.”

throat. After he’d told

in

tone turns savage. “I want it known what will happen

his smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with me, they can discuss it

This is Klempner…

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

you stopped

want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and

end of the

how

He blistered my ears

but 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

at the bag. “I assumed I’d never see that

head. “You know what they

*****

Klempner

head upstairs. They want to see

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see

now, I

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

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

logs over it, building it

sound of laughter and chatter drifts. I can pick out Jenny’s

her new

the nurse

back to the fire, letting the heat

the buzz of

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play Happy

should be

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

The voice is soft,

Jenny alright? And

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

“An incubator? Here?”

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