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

from under his brows. “You really want

“Yes.”

his throat. After he’d told me what I

him in

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

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

This is Klempner…

some of the people

you stopped at cutting his

want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers and deciding they were somehow

end of the

“And how is your friend? Commissioner

say. He blistered my ears before he

“I can imagine. Here…” He proffers the second bag. “I should have given you this before, but we were rather busy. It’s Finchby’s half of the

“I assumed I’d

head. “You know

*****

Klempner

want to see

And the baby…

Of course…

To see his

I

corner, a Christmas tree stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard

the fire. It’s not difficult. A wicker basket contains

thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it,

and chatter drifts. I can pick out

off her new

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

back to the fire, letting the heat

activity, the buzz of excitement fades. And

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play

be

the mantle, staring down into the flames and where now, wood begins to

is soft, mellow…

“Mitch, is Jenny alright? And

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

“An incubator? Here?”

everyone could be whisked away to a clinic or hospital, but unless it’s an emergency…” She shrugs. “I think he just kept shoving money at them until they agreed to