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.

from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you?

low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which

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

“What are we going to talk

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,

fold my arms, lean back against

good to

“What 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

know, you’re right.” She gives me a bright little smile. “And…” She aims a long

Fake…

Extensions?

You won’t do well down here if

Two days?

there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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 glass bottle. I'm not

difficult to get a real

Lick it off the wall if you have

your concern

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

realise they'll be looking for me, the

her nose. “’Fraid not. You see, Harry Hughes isn't missing. What’s left of him has been found dead in his hotel suite after the explosion. And I made sure

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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 Witnesses Gang Murder And Bloodbath.

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

you rigged that explosion just so you could plant a corpse

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

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

I spit back. “How many have you murdered? There were scores of people caught in that explosion.