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.

the Click Click of heels on concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How

long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which

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 if Morticia Addams had ever joined the ‘Jam and Jerusalem’

says brightly. “What are we

watches me, a touch of wariness in her eyes. Momentarily, her gaze drops to her painted line, but she’s well to one side of it, me to the

arms,

good to get

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

right.” She gives me a bright little smile. “And…” She aims

Fake…

Extensions?

look after yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down here if you don’t move about more

Two days?

there anything

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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 hands. Use

a

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

by your concern

you’ve lost.

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

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

insist, I left your 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

her knees, her smile widening. “Either way, Larry, they’re not looking for you. You’re dead. Or the man they think

“So… you rigged that explosion just so you

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

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

scores of people caught in that explosion.