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.

concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do hope you’ve

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

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

brightly. “What are we going

me while we talk. She watches me, a touch of wariness in her eyes.

I fold my arms,

good to get off

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

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

Fake…

Extensions?

You won’t do well down here if you don’t

Two days?

there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

“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 making that mistake. You have

difficult to get a real drink that

better to do with your time? Lick it off the wall if you have to. I’m

your concern for

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

me, the police. By now they'll

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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 air commas… “Innocent Tourist

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

you rigged that explosion just so you could plant

where you are, could I? That would

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

murdered? There were scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All