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.

darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do hope you’ve had the

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 is being enhanced with well-chosen underwear. A clutch bag in black satin

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

“What are

her look down at me while we talk. She watches me, a touch of wariness in

fold my arms, lean back against

but it’s 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

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

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 doing

Two days?

there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little bitch daughter get hold

a real drink

off the wall if you have to. I’m not

by your concern for

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

for me, the police. By now they'll know I'm

explosion. And I made sure the police found some clues about you being near my apartment. With the number of

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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…

leans forward onto her knees, her smile widening. “Either way, Larry, they’re not looking

just so you could plant a corpse to stand

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

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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