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

under his brows. “You really want

“Yes.”

throat. After he’d

in the

His tone turns savage. “I want it known what

“If someone has a quarrel with me, they can discuss

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the people who

surprised you stopped at cutting

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

at the end of the hall: Richard,

him. “And how is

I would say. He blistered my ears

half of the money. I think most of it’s there, minus

the bag. “I assumed I’d

“You know what they say about

*****

Klempner

to see Jenny of course.

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see

I pace the

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

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

thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A

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

off her

the nurse trots past

fire, letting the

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

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

them play Happy

be tracking

over the fire, leaning with both hands on the mantle, staring down into the flames and where

voice is

Jenny

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

“An incubator? Here?”

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