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.

Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How

black hair today, long and draped over her shoulders, with deep red lipstick. The dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which I suspect is being enhanced with well-chosen underwear. A clutch bag in black satin

in school, waiting for a favourite teacher to begin the lesson. Or perhaps in the audience at some

are we going

watches me, a touch of wariness in her eyes. Momentarily, her gaze drops to her painted line, but she’s well to one side of it, me

arms, lean back against the

but it’s good to get

like to talk about? I’m guessing you have a selection of choice topics.” I pace a

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

Fake…

Extensions?

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

Two days?

Is there anything

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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

a

better to do with your time? Lick it off the wall if you have to.

touched by your concern

don’t be grouchy, Larry. I’ve won and you’ve lost. You’re mine now

for me, the police. By now they'll know

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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

way, Larry, they’re not looking for you. You’re dead. Or the man they

rigged that explosion just so you could

“Couldn't have people wondering where you are, could I? That would spoil our fun

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

back. “How many have you murdered? There were scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to