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.

seconds, the Click Click of heels on concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I

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

polite little smile, then sits, on her fold-up chair, 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 a talk on jam-making or how to grow dahlias. At least she could if Morticia Addams had ever joined the ‘Jam and

says brightly. “What are we going

if I’m going to let her look down at me while we talk. She watches me, a touch of

I fold my arms, lean

but it’s good to get

you have a selection of choice topics.” I pace a little, as much as the chain allows, unhinging stiff knees and hips, stretching

She gives me a bright little smile. “And…” She aims a

Fake…

Extensions?

won’t do well down here if you don’t move

Two days?

there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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

difficult to get a real drink

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

your concern

Larry. I’ve won and you’ve lost. You’re mine now and we’re playing by my

for me, the

has been found dead in his hotel suite after the explosion. And I made sure the police found some clues about you being near my apartment.

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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…

knees, her smile widening. “Either way, Larry, they’re not looking for you.

rigged that explosion just so you could plant a corpse to stand in for

where you are, could I? That would spoil our

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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