Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Chapter 39

Back in the lounge, Cara is sitting on Mitch’s knee. “Getting into practice?” I ask.

Hope and tears war in her voice. “I suppose.” Then as Cara stretches chubby arms out to me. “I think she wants a hug.”

My baby daughter gives me a gummy smile as I pick her up, cradling her to my chest and bouncing her a bit. “You been a good girl then?”

A burble is my only reply, but Georgie looks at me a little oddly. “You never used to do that with me.”

“In fact, Georgie, I did. But your mother didn't like it. She always took you away from me when she could.”

She frowns. “Mom stopped you picking me up?”

“That’s right.”

“But…why would she do something like that?”

I shrug. “I suppose she wanted control of you.” I speak off-handedly, but suddenly, the conversation is uncomfortable. “Mitch I’m making tea. Peppermint for you?”

*****

 

Klempner

Nightmares…

The world spinning…

A face… Juliana, grinning at me… Her teeth sharp and pointed, like a cat’s.

Pain… Something gnawing at me, some monster biting at my ankle.

I know I’m in a nightmare, but I can’t jolt myself out of sleep. Sickeningly, the world spins and wavers around me. I want to retch, but my sleep-bound body won’t let me.

*****

Harsh white light filters through my lashes to stab at crusty eyes. The world still revolves. Or is it me that’s turning?

Consciousness returns only slowly, one sensation after another settling enough to make sense of them.

The spinning around me slowly dies and my world settles. I’m chilled and numb. Pain stabs behind my eyes and as I move, my stomach threatens rebellion. Gradually, it comes to me that, while my shoulder muscles burn, my hands are free.

A male voice: “He should be awake now, shouldn’t he?”

A female voice: “Yes. I didn’t give him much. He should be awake by now. He’s probably faking it.”

Just lie here…

Eyes closed…

Listen…

I’m lying on some cold, hard surface, slick with damp, coated with Christ-knows-what unnamable muck. And for some reason, I’m stretched out full-length, one arm reaching out above my head.

The male voice again: “Wakey, wakey, Larry.” And something plants itself in my ribs, whoofing the air out of my lungs.

Instinctively I roll, snatching for a foot, a leg, a fist: but I catch only empty air. Then I pull up short, with the clink of metal and something biting into my ankle.

What the hell…?

The air stinks. A fetid smell; stagnant water and the rank scent of decay, washes over me. All without meaning to, I react, covering my mouth and nose with my hand before realising that my hand is part of the smell, foul with slime and muck.

Somewhere close by: a trickling sound, and the slap of water against hard sides.

Where the fuck am I?

Oddly out of place, the smell of fresh paint tickles my nostrils.

The male voice again. “He’s awake for sure. He opened his eyes just then, but closed them again.” The words sound far away, as though carried through a tunnel. My eyes won’t focus properly. Nor my head: stuffed and unclear.

it’s going?”

with the rebellion of my stomach. My guts heave and the sad remains of my last meal spill over the ground beside

my mouth and spatters my chin. Wiping it away with the back of my hand succeeds only

Someone giggles.

face, I realise my fingertips too are sticky with something besides the filth: white, already drying, crisping at the edges.

?

cloudy, achy. My thoughts too. Nothing makes sense. Every part of me screams protest as, stiff-muscled, my

at my ankle again,

a padlock. With leaden fingers, I feel at the metal, probing sluggishly: it’s good quality, the steel polished and new. My feet

finally I look up and

harsh and white, But it quickly fades, illuminating only a

chair. Jose stands beside her. Between them and me,

playing over her lips. “You won’t escape that padlock, Larry.

dully: a small brass key: She passes it to Jose, who hangs it on a nail banged into the concrete wall, clearly visible, but well beyond

will pass… Or…” She sweeps an arm around… “Or maybe it won’t. I’d like to think you get the benefit of the accommodation I’ve chosen for you.” She pauses, I assume for

The smell says that. The walls and floor are concrete. Beside me, the floor drops away to a channel containing an uncertain depth of oozing water. Rusted metal grates obstruct narrow

Sewers?

And set in the wall behind

some saliva from my cheeks before I speak, “You’re consistent, Juliana. I’ll say that for you. You imprisoned Jenny

I’ve done it.” She squats down, noticeably well to her side of the painted

your cellars at Blessingmoors, whenever you or that bastard Jenkins…” Her lips curls…”That fucking perv you put in charge… Whenever either of you felt like handing it out to a lot of helpless

that about you. I remember those cellars so well. We all spent time there; with the rats for company and knowing the bodies of the ones who disappeared were down there

pauses. I don’t comment, don’t move,

eyes slanting down to me, then continues…”That’s good. I can see you do remember. Since you’re so fond of tunnels and dark places, this is your life now… for as much of it as you have left.” She

words at her, trying to inject some venom, but it’s false bravado

still have his gun in your

“Of course.”

“Give it to me.”

though she has never seen such a thing before.

She won’t shoot…

She’s a gloater…

she doesn’t want me

Not yet….

But my breath holds…

one way,

now, Larry. What am I going to do with you? I haven't decided properly yet, you know.” She aims at my forehead. “I might just shoot you

were a genuine question, as though, waiting for an

stares upward, as though addressing the ceiling. “What

force myself to

In… Out… In… Out…

all about these games: making the victim collaborate

feet. “Which will it be, Larry? Left or

Fuck this…

Larry?

Keep calm…

Don't panic…

Baxter…

her eyes at me… “… It's not as though you’re going to need it again. I'll leave you the other one for a bit. You’ll want to stand up

cold. “Leave me with gunshot wounds down here, Juliana, and they'll be infected within hours. I'd be dead of sepsis or gangrene within days. I'm guessing that would spoil your

of the Glock. “Quite right, Larry.” She gives a quick, sharp nod. “It's good we understand each other...” She looks toward Jose, “…What do you

machismo. “All your enemies are dead

chin toward me… “You’re only alive as long as Solana chooses to keep you that way. I don’t think you have more than a few days. And they’re not going

in trouble, Jose? If your only use to Juliana was to make me her

rolls his eyes like some teenager told he can’t stay out late. “… Sola can do what she wants with you. No

to him, slides one hand over his cheek, then

can he not

arms around her, smiles in his belief that

Dumb bastard…

“Hey, look out. She's...”

he’s too wrapped up in

and I’m too

of the Glock pressed into his

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