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

He regards me from under his brows.

“Yes.”

After he’d told me

him in the

want it known what will happen to anyone who makes

“If someone has a quarrel with me, they

This is Klempner…

know what he’s done to some of the people

stopped at cutting

“I didn't want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and deciding they were somehow

the end of

regards him. “And how is your

say. He blistered my

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

bag. “I assumed I’d never see that

cocks his head. “You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

and Michael head upstairs. They want to see Jenny of course. Spend some

And the baby…

Of course…

To see his Beth, I

now, I pace

by, a cardboard box overflows with

lack 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 stacked with logs and there’s already a good bed of ashes, albeit cold

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

drifts. I

off her new

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

the fire, letting the

activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And depression settles over

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play Happy

should be

stand over the fire, leaning with both hands on the mantle, staring down into the

voice is soft,

Jenny alright?

fine. She’s 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?”

away to a clinic