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.

from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you?

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

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.

brightly. “What are we

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 line, but she’s well to

I fold my arms, lean back against

it’s good to

to talk about? I’m guessing you have a selection of choice topics.” I pace a

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

Fake…

Extensions?

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?

Is there anything

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your little bitch daughter get hold of a glass bottle. I'm not making that

a real drink

time? Lick it off the wall if you have to.

by your concern for

and you’ve lost. You’re mine now and

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

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,

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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 air commas… “Innocent Tourist Witnesses Gang Murder And Bloodbath. Criminals Retaliate.” The papers love that kind of

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

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

looking away. “Couldn't have people wondering where you are,

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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