Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Klempner

My resources: The clothes I’m wearing. A notebook and the stub of a pencil: A book on herbal toxins. A small supply of sweet water. An infinite supply, for any practical purpose, of foul water, slime and garbage. And of course, one small potato.

I’d like to give in to despair. There’s something alluring about despair, something seductive. Perhaps I should simply not play Juliana’s game; let her kill me.

But if I’m dead…

Mitch…

My beautiful green-eyed Mitch.

So alive. So energetic.

So full of courage.

So vital.

Vitale

…

Stay alive...

So, eat the fucking potato…

I prise it out from its bed of sludge and slime with a slight sucking sound. It’s small; perhaps half the size of my fist. On the other hand, adhered muck aside, it seems sound; firm, mid-brown, no sprouts or green parts. I have a vague idea that I’ve read that green potatoes are unsafe to eat.

Hauling myself up from my concrete seat, lifting my chain in one hand, with the other, I hold my meal under the water inlet, thumbing away the dirt under the clean water.

Time to live…

And I bite in.

*****

With no warning, the light blinks on and without meaning to, I groan, hiding my eyes behind my hands.

the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do hope you’ve had the opportunity

with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which I suspect is being enhanced with well-chosen underwear. A clutch bag

hands neatly folded. She could be in school, waiting for a favourite teacher to begin the lesson. Or perhaps in the audience at some small town hall, for

brightly. “What are we going to

to let her look down at me while we talk. She watches me, a touch of wariness in

my arms,

but it’s good to get

topics.” I pace a little, as much as the chain allows,

bright little smile. “And…” She aims a long painted

Fake…

Extensions?

part of it, Larry. You must look after yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down

Two days?

there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

a weapon or a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little bitch daughter get hold of a glass bottle. I'm not making

get a real drink

have something better to do with your time? Lick it off the wall if you have to. I’m not giving you a

touched by your concern

you’ve lost. You’re mine now and we’re

be looking for me, the police. By now

explosion. And I made sure the police found some clues about you being near my apartment. With the number of bodies they’ll have

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

to the spot.” She sighs, stroking a hand over her hair. “I suppose they might decide you were involved with the gangs. But I think it's more likely they'll say you got caught in the war between the Wolves and the Nightshades. You know…” She makes air commas… “Innocent Tourist Witnesses Gang Murder And Bloodbath. Criminals Retaliate.” The

knees, her smile widening. “Either way, Larry, they’re not looking for you. You’re dead. Or the man they think

spins… “So… you rigged that explosion just so you could plant a

where you are, could I? That would spoil our

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to do with