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?

dress is long and clingy, with a low cut neckline; designed to show off a figure which I suspect is being

a polite little smile, then sits, 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. At least she could if Morticia Addams had ever joined the ‘Jam and Jerusalem’

she says brightly. “What are we going

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 one side

arms, lean back against the

but it’s good to

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

you’re right.” She gives me a bright little smile. “And…”

Fake…

Extensions?

won’t do well down here if you don’t move about more than

Two days?

there

I pause…

Seriously?

“How about a cup?”

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

a real drink

Lick it off the wall if you

by your concern for my

be grouchy, Larry. I’ve won and you’ve lost. You’re mine now and we’re

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

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 recently, I’m sure that will perk

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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 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.”

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

you rigged that explosion just so you could

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

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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