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 opportunity to fully

dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show

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

says brightly. “What are we going to talk

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 she’s well to one side

fold my arms, lean back

it’s good to

a selection of choice topics.” I pace a little, as much

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

Fake…

Extensions?

after yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down here if you don’t

Two days?

there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little bitch daughter get hold of a glass bottle. I'm not making that mistake. You have hands. Use

get a real

something better to do with your time? Lick it off the wall if you have to. I’m not giving you a

by your concern for

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

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

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

away, close enough to link you to the spot.” She sighs, stroking 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

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

“So… you rigged that explosion just so you could plant a corpse to

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

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

of people caught in that