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 do

me from under his brows. “You really want

“Yes.”

throat. After he’d told me

him in the

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

smile sunny. “If someone has a

This is Klempner…

done to some of the people who

stopped at cutting his

want Jenny or Mitch reading something like that in the papers

of the hall: Richard, watching,

“And how is

would say. He blistered my ears before

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

stares at the bag. “I assumed I’d never see

head. “You

*****

Klempner

to see Jenny of course. Spend some time with

And the baby…

Of course…

vanished too. To see his Beth,

I

stands, half-decorated. Close by, a cardboard

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

thicker logs over it, building

and chatter drifts. I

her

deeper tones rumble down too and occasionally the nurse trots past

the fire, letting

of activity, the buzz of excitement

Now what?

Perhaps I should go?

play Happy

be tracking

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

is

“Mitch, is Jenny

cleaning herself up properly now. They’ve put Cara in an incubator, but

“An incubator? Here?”

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