Show of Evil

that picture of Johnson in the airplane taking the oath of office.'

'Passing of the mantle, Marty.'

'I'm not a hand squeezer and I'm too blunt in social gatherings. I don't want the mantle.'

'No, cowboy, but you sure got it.'

Chief Hiram Young sat behind his grey metal desk and drummed his fingers, staring at the phone message lying in front of him. Rose, his impressionable secretary, always responded to long-distance phone calls, especially those from big-city police departments, as if each was an omen of pending national disaster. Young even found her careful, impeccable, Palmer-method handwriting annoying, but she was the mayor's sister, so he couldn't complain. Even worse, she underlined words she felt required emphasis.

You had an urgent phone call from the District Attorney in Chicago (!!) at 1:30 PM I tried to reach you in several places. You must call Mr Ben Meyer as soon as you get in. I took Charlotte to the dentist. Back at 3. Call ASAP. I promised!!!

The phone number was written double-size across the bottom of the memo pad.

Warily, he dialled the number and asked for Meyer.

'This is Ben Meyer,' the deep voice answered.

'Chief Hiram Young returning your call, sir,' Young replied.

'Yes, sir!' Meyer responded enthusiastically. 'Thanks for getting back to me so promptly.'

'My pleasure,' Young answered. He cradled the phone between his jaw and shoulder and leafed through the mail as they spoke.

'I hate to bother you,' Meyer said, 'but we're working a case up here you may be able to assist us with.'

'Glad to help,' Young said, opening the phone bill.

'It's in regard to the Balfour murder case.'

There was a long pause. A long pause.

Finally, 'Yes…?'

'We think it may relate to a case here.'

'Uh-huh.'

'Uh, would it be possible to get some additional information from your department, Chief? We have the IBI report, but it's pretty skimpy.'

'Our information is pretty skimpy.'

'Have you had any further developments? Suspects, new information…'

'Not a thing.'

'As I understand it, you suspect Satanists may have - '

'That was speculation,' Young said tersely.

'I see. Was there anything specific…'

'You seen the pictures we sent over to the IBI?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Self-explanatory, wouldn't you say?'

'So it was the nature of the crime that led you to that conclusion?'

'I said it was speculation. Some of the city fathers and local ministers came up with that idea.'

'You don't agree then?'

'Didn't say that. What's your case about?'

'Some unidentified bodies. There are some similarities. Did Mrs Balfour have any enemies? Any - '

'Nothing like that. I knew Linda since she married George up in Carbondale and came here. Three, four years ago. Nice lady. No problems. George is the salt of the earth. Bringing up that little boy all by himself. He's had enough trouble.'

'Do you have any background on Linda Balfour - you know, from before she moved to - '

'I didn't feel it was necessary to snoop into her business. Like I said, she was a nice lady. No problems.'

Meyer was floundering, trying to strike a nerve, something that would open the chief up. Meyer said, 'And there were no suspects to speak of?'