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 opportunity to fully

is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which

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

she says brightly. “What are we going to

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 it, me to

I fold my arms, lean back against

it’s good to

have a selection of choice topics.” I pace a little, as much as the chain allows, unhinging

a bright little smile. “And…” She

Fake…

Extensions?

do well down here if you don’t move

Two days?

Is there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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

difficult to get a real drink that

time? Lick it off the

touched by your concern for my

grouchy, Larry. I’ve won and you’ve lost. You’re

be looking for me, the police.

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

“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 And Bloodbath. Criminals Retaliate.” The papers

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

just so you could plant a corpse to stand in for

shrugs, looking away. “Couldn't have people wondering where you are, could I? That

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

There were scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to do with