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

He regards me from under his

“Yes.”

he’d

in the

turns savage. “I want it known what will happen to

smile sunny. “If someone has a quarrel with me, they can discuss it

This is Klempner…

what he’s done to some of the people who seriously

surprised you stopped at cutting

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

end of the hall: Richard, watching,

regards him. “And how is your

would say. He blistered my

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 fee to Hickman. I thought that was appropriate. I’ve not recovered Baxter’s half, I’m afraid,

“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.

And the baby…

Of course…

too. To see his Beth,

now, I pace the

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

the window, fog swirls and inside, winter penetrates. The air is damp with chill, so, for lack of anything else to do, I make up the fire. It’s not difficult.

I stack thinnish stove-lengths then thicker logs over it, building it high. A good burn

drifts. I can pick

her new

and occasionally the nurse trots

to the fire,

fizz of activity, the buzz of excitement

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play Happy

should be

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

voice is soft,

turn. “Mitch, is Jenny alright? And the

They’ve put Cara in an incubator,

“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 set up here for