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

head inclines. He regards me from under his brows. “You really want to

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me

in the

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

again, his smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with me,

This is Klempner…

to some of the people

you stopped at cutting

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

at the end of the hall:

how is your

say. He blistered my ears before he

this before, 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 was appropriate. I’ve not recovered Baxter’s half, I’m

“I assumed I’d never see

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…

too. To see his

now, I pace the

by, a cardboard box overflows with tinsel and paper

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

stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat the

drifts. I can

her

and occasionally the nurse trots past the door, uniform

stand, back to the fire,

activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression settles

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play

be tracking

staring down into the flames and where now, wood

is soft,

“Mitch, is Jenny

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

“An incubator? Here?”

facility up there. If they needed to, everyone could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless it’s an emergency…” She