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.

on concrete, then Juliana emerges from the darkness. “Good afternoon, Larry. How are you? I do hope you’ve had the opportunity to fully appreciate

black 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 in black satin completes

teacher to begin the lesson. Or perhaps in the audience at some small town hall, for a talk

she says brightly. “What are we going to talk

me, a touch of wariness in

arms, lean

but it’s good to get

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

gives me a bright little

Fake…

Extensions?

well down here if

Two days?

Is there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

snorts. “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 hands. Use

difficult to get a

time? Lick it off the wall if you have

your concern

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

the police.

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 the number of bodies they’ll have found around there

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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

Larry, they’re not looking for you. You’re dead. Or the man they think you

that explosion just so you could plant a corpse to stand

wondering where you are, could I? That would spoil our

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

have you murdered? There were scores of people caught in that explosion. All innocent. All nothing to