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 of heels on concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How

today, long and draped over 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

streaming eyes, I 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.

says brightly. “What are we going

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, her gaze drops to her painted

I fold my arms, lean back against the

but it’s good to get off the

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

bright little smile. “And…” She aims a long painted fingernail

Fake…

Extensions?

well down here if you don’t move about more

Two days?

Is there anything

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

or a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your

get a real drink

with your time? Lick it off the

by your concern for

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

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

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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

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

so you could plant a corpse to

where you are, could I? That would spoil our

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

were scores of people caught in