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.

awake again. How it’s

my ankle competes with the rebellion of my stomach. My guts heave and the

with the back of my hand succeeds only in

Someone giggles.

sticky with something besides the filth: white, already drying, crisping at

?

screams protest

bite at my ankle again, something clinking as

snapped closed. And as my vision clears, I see a padlock. With leaden fingers, I feel

short gasps, finally I

it quickly fades, illuminating only a small area around

a fold-up wooden chair. Jose stands beside her. Between them and me, trickled over muck and slime,

her lips. “You won’t escape that padlock, Larry. I chose it especially for

dully: a small brass key: She passes it to Jose, who hangs it

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

are concrete. Beside me, the floor drops away to a channel containing an uncertain depth of oozing water. Rusted metal grates obstruct narrow black unknowns: some dry,

Sewers?

space with sharp dark shadows. And set in the wall behind

my cheeks before I speak, “You’re consistent, Juliana. I’ll say that for you. You imprisoned Jenny below ground in primitive conditions. Now you plan

teeth. “There’s no plan about it, Larry. I’ve done it.” She squats down, noticeably well to her side of the painted line, fastidiously

where d’you think I learned it, Larry? Locked up in your cellars at Blessingmoors, whenever you or that bastard Jenkins…” Her lips curls…”That fucking perv you put in charge… Whenever

well. We all spent time there; with the rats for company

don’t comment, don’t move, try

her chin, 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…

the words at her, trying to inject some

“You still have

“Of course.”

“Give it to me.”

examining it, as though she has never

She won’t shoot…

She’s a gloater…

doesn’t

Not yet….

But my breath holds…

barrel swings, apparently randomly, first one way, then the other,

with you? 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…”

head at me, as though it were a genuine question, as though, waiting for an answer. She

take you a piece at a time.” She stares upward, as though

myself to

In… Out… In… Out…

know all about these games: making the victim collaborate in their own

will it be, Larry? Left or right? If you don't

Fuck this…

or right, Larry?

Keep calm…

Don't panic…

Baxter…

splits into a pumpkin smile and she widens her eyes at me… “… It's not as though you’re going to need it again. I'll leave you the other one

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

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

arms folded, legs akimbo; radiating machismo. “All

his chin toward me… “You’re only alive as long as Solana chooses to keep you that way. I don’t think you have

think I’m the one in trouble, Jose? If your only use to Juliana

told he can’t stay out late. “… Sola can do what she wants with you.

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 he’s here.”

he not see

smiles in his belief that

Dumb bastard…

“Hey, look out. She's...”

too wrapped

and I’m too

the Glock pressed

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