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.

again. How it’s going?” The female voice

upright. But a stab of pain at my ankle competes with the rebellion of my stomach. My guts heave and the sad

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

Someone giggles.

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

?

makes sense. Every part of me screams protest as, stiff-muscled, my body torpid, I try

ankle again, something

as my vision clears, I see a padlock. With leaden fingers, I

finally I look up and around,

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

Jose stands beside her. Between them and me, trickled

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

key: She passes it to Jose, who hangs it on a nail banged into the

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

away to a channel containing an uncertain depth of

Sewers?

from a single overhead bulb, marks out the confined space with sharp dark shadows. And set in the

that for you. You imprisoned Jenny below ground in primitive conditions. Now you plan to do the same with

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

at Blessingmoors, whenever you or that bastard Jenkins…” Her lips curls…”That fucking perv you put in charge… Whenever either

you like cellars. I remember 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

I don’t comment, don’t move, try

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

you.” I spit the words at her, trying to inject some venom, but it’s false

to Jose. “You still have his gun in

“Of course.”

“Give it to me.”

across grip first. She turns it over in her hands, examining it, as though she has never seen such a thing before. Then, holding it loosely, almost negligently, she waves it through the air, the muzzle almost-but-not-quite aimed at

She won’t shoot…

She’s a gloater…

doesn’t want me

Not yet….

But my breath holds…

way, then the other, but

I haven't decided properly yet, you know.” She aims at my forehead. “I might just shoot you dead. Bang! Bang!…” She mimes firing… Fake recoil with each Bang… “…Just like that…” Then she

it were a genuine question, as though, waiting for an answer.

stares upward, as though addressing the ceiling.

myself

In… Out… In… Out…

know all about these games: making the victim collaborate

feet. “Which will it be, Larry? Left or right? If you don't choose, of course, it will be

Fuck this…

right, Larry?

Keep calm…

Don't panic…

Baxter…

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

with gunshot wounds down here, Juliana, and they'll be infected within hours. I'd be

her nose, lowering the muzzle of the Glock. “Quite right, Larry.” She gives a quick, sharp nod. “It's good we understand each other...” She

stands, arms folded, legs akimbo; radiating machismo. “All your

long as Solana chooses to keep you that way.

trouble, Jose? If your only use to

eyes like some teenager told he can’t stay out late. “… Sola can do what she wants with you. No one else knows you’re here. She has her revenge. And

but Jose doesn't see the knife in the smile. She moves closer to him, slides one hand over his cheek, then around his neck, as though to kiss him. “As you say, Jose, only we know

can he not

arms around her, smiles in his belief that

Dumb bastard…

“Hey, look out. She's...”

too wrapped

and I’m

the muzzle of the Glock

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