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.

heels on concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do

hair today, 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 figure which I suspect is being enhanced with well-chosen underwear. A clutch bag

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. At

are we going to talk about

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

my arms, lean

it’s good to get off the

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 knees and hips,

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

Fake…

Extensions?

Larry. You must look after yourself. Exercise. You won’t do well down here

Two days?

there anything you

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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 hands. Use

difficult to get a real

time? Lick it off the

touched by your concern

lost. You’re

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

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?”

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 know…” She makes air commas… “Innocent Tourist Witnesses Gang Murder And Bloodbath. Criminals Retaliate.” The papers

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

so you could plant a corpse to stand in

wondering where you are, could

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

“How many have you murdered? There were scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to do with