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.

“Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do hope you’ve had the opportunity to fully appreciate

with deep red lipstick. The dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure

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

says brightly. “What are we going to talk

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

fold my arms,

to get

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

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

Fake…

Extensions?

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

Two days?

there anything

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

a real

something better to do with your time? Lick it off the wall if

touched by your concern

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

realise they'll be looking for me, the police. By

wrinkles 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 the police found some clues about you being near my apartment. With the number of bodies they’ll have

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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 Witnesses Gang Murder And Bloodbath. Criminals Retaliate.”

her smile widening. “Either way, Larry, they’re not

“So… you rigged that explosion just so you could

“Couldn't have people wondering where you are, could I?

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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