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

under his brows. “You

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me

him in

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

smile sunny. “If someone has

This is Klempner…

he’s done to some of

stopped at cutting

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

at the end of the

regards him. “And how is your

say. He blistered my

the second bag. “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… um… finder’s

bag. “I assumed I’d never

Klempner cocks his head. “You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

Michael head upstairs. They want to see Jenny of

And the baby…

Of course…

see his

now, I pace the

stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard box

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

I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn will heat the stonework and

laughter and chatter drifts. I can pick

off her new

the nurse trots past

stand, back to the fire, letting

of activity, the buzz of

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play Happy

should be

the mantle, staring

The voice is

“Mitch, is Jenny alright? And the

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

“An incubator? Here?”

could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless it’s an emergency…” She shrugs. “I think he just kept