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.

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

long and draped over her shoulders, with deep red lipstick. The dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off

a favourite teacher to begin the lesson. Or perhaps in the audience at

she says brightly. “What are

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

fold my arms, lean

it’s good to get

would you like to talk about? I’m guessing you have a selection of choice topics.” I pace a little, as much as the chain allows, unhinging stiff

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

Fake…

Extensions?

Exercise. You won’t do well down here if you don’t move about more than I’ve

Two days?

there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

to turn into a weapon or a tool? Finchby and Baxter were stupid, letting your

difficult to get a real drink that

your time? Lick it off the wall if you have to. I’m not

touched by your

you’ve lost. You’re mine

the police. By

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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

forward onto her knees, her smile widening. “Either way, Larry, they’re not looking for

you rigged that explosion just so you could plant a corpse to stand in for

have people wondering where you are, could I? That would spoil

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to