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.

Click Click of heels on concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do hope you’ve had the opportunity to fully appreciate your

long and draped over her shoulders, with deep red lipstick. The dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to

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

brightly. “What are we going to

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

arms, lean

but it’s good to get off the

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

me a bright little smile. “And…” She

Fake…

Extensions?

You must look after yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down here if you don’t move about more

Two days?

there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

something to turn into a weapon or a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little bitch daughter get hold of a glass bottle.

a real drink that

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

your concern for my

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

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

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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

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

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

wondering where you are,

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

“How many have you murdered? There were scores of people caught in that