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 are you? I do hope you’ve had the

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

don’t reply and she awards me a 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

says brightly. “What are we going

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 it,

I fold my arms,

to

would you like to talk about? I’m guessing 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

Fake…

Extensions?

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

Two days?

Is there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

were stupid, letting your little bitch

difficult to get a real drink that

Lick it off the wall if you have to. I’m not giving you a

touched by your

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

the

And I made sure the police found some clues about you being near my apartment. With the number of bodies they’ll have found around there recently, I’m sure that

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

not looking for you. You’re

spins… “So… you rigged that explosion just so you

have people wondering where you are, could I? That would spoil our fun

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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