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.

afternoon, Larry. How

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

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

she says brightly. “What are we

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 of

I fold my arms, lean

it’s good to get

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

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

Fake…

Extensions?

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

Two days?

there anything

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

a real drink that

have something better to do with your time? Lick it off

your concern for my

you’ve lost. You’re mine

looking for me, the police. By

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

My chest tightens…

“What clues?”

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 love that kind

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

you rigged that explosion just so you could

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

“Juliana…”

“Sola!” she snaps.

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