Show of Evil

He wheeled the car into a U-turn and headed for North River.

'Lemme go first,' St Claire said, arcing a wad of chewing tobacco into the grass.

'How come you go first?' Meyer asked.

' 'Cause I got the gun,' St Claire said. He drew a .357 Magnum from under his coat and led the way inside. A poorly lit hallway was swallowed up by darkness and a flight of stairs on one side led to the second floor. A moment later the two patrolmen emerged from the other end of the hall.

'We're clear,' Bohane said. 'Her car's still back there.' The patrolmen led the way, followed by St Claire, Meyer, and Vail. Bohane knocked on the door.

'Ms Hines?' he called out.

Inside the apartment Rudi Hines was in the bathroom. She stood naked in front of the sink, scrubbing her hands, the water pouring off her hands tinged with red. When she heard the rap on the door, she hurriedly threw on a cotton housecoat and stepped from the bathroom into the living room.

It was sparsely furnished. A sofa with its springs sagging to the floor, a round kitchen table with two chairs, two easy chairs in the same disrepair as the sofa. The only light came from the 60 watt bulb in a floor lamp near the door.

'Is it you?' she cried eagerly.

She heard the muffled reply. 'Ms Hines, it's the police. We need to talk to you. It's about your car.'

She went back into the bathroom and emerged a moment later with a large carving knife clutched in one hand. She backed into a dark corner of the room.

'Look, ma'am,' St Claire said, standing near the door. 'We don't wanna have to bust up your door. Just open up and talk to us for a minute.'

 'Go away.'

In the hall, St Claire looked at Vail and shrugged. He turned to Bohane. 'Waste it,' he ordered.

The two cops drew their revolvers. Bohane stepped back and slammed his foot into the door an inch or two from the knob. It burst open. Somewhere down the hall a door opened and a dim face peered out. 'Go back inside,' Vail said. 'And stay there.' The face disappeared and the door closed. The two patrolmen jumped inside the room. Bohane first, Luscati covering him, then St Claire behind them. St Claire saw her first, standing in the shadows.

'Lemme do the talking,' he said softly, and to her, 'Now why'd you make us go and do that?'

'What do you want?' she said. She saw Vail enter the room. Her eyes blazed in the dim light. 'I know who you are,' she hissed.

'Ms Hines, I'm Martin Vail, acting district attor—'

'I know who you are. Why aren't you out there?'

'Out where?'

'What do you want?'

'Ma'am, do you also go under the name Rene Hutchinson?' St Claire asked.

She backed further into the corner, her eyes peering at them from the darkness. She lurked in the shadows, but Vail could see one hand in the spilled light from the lamp. It was still covered with dried blood.

' ''Vengeance with its sacred light shines upon you.' Sophocles,' she whispered.

'Miss Hines, do you also go by the name—'

'I am Hydra,' she said. She held the knife tight at her side, within the folds of the housecoat.

'Do you know Aaron Stampler?'

'There's no such person.'

'Do you know Raymond Vulpes?'

' 'Revenge is sweeter than flowing honey.' Homer.'

'Do you know the Fox?' St Claire said, cutting her off.

' 'Punishment is justice for the unjust.' '

'Listen here, ma'am…'

She glared from the darkness at Vail. 'What are you doing here?' she demanded.