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.

emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry.

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

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

she says brightly. “What are we

She watches me, a touch of

my arms, lean back against

but it’s good to get off

selection of choice topics.” I pace a little,

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

Fake…

Extensions?

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 the

Two days?

Is there anything

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

snorts. “What? And 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

your concern

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

the police. By now they'll know I'm

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 found around there recently, I’m sure that will perk their

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

passport not too far 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

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

rigged that explosion just so you could plant

shrugs, looking away. “Couldn't have people wondering where you are, could I? That would

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

murdered? There were scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to do with