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

clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off

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

brightly. “What are we going to

struggle upright. I’m fucked if I’m going to let her look down at me while we talk. She 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

my arms, lean back against the

but it’s good to get off

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

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

Fake…

Extensions?

that’s part of it, Larry. You must look after yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down here if you don’t move about more than I’ve seen you doing the last

Two days?

Is there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

And give you something to turn into a weapon or a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little bitch daughter get hold of a

to get a real drink

your time? Lick it off

touched by your

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

the police. By now they'll know I'm

Hughes isn't missing. What’s left of him 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. With

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

your passport not too far away, close enough to link you 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

not looking for you. You’re dead. Or the man

rigged that explosion just so

wondering where you are, could I?

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

then,” I spit back. “How many have you murdered? There were scores of people