Show of Evil

St Claire returned to Vail's office, his face clouded by a frown.

'We got another one.'

'What!' said Vail.

'Where?' asked Stenner.

'Hilltown, Missouri. About thirty miles outside of St Louis. A white, male, age twenty-six. UPD man, delivering a package to a private home, was cut six ways to Sunday. Harris says St Louis Homicide is handlin' the case and they're playin' it real tight. Don't wanna give up too much to the press yet. Buddy says he was talkin' to a cop in East St Louis this mornin' about a drug case, the cop mentions they got a butcher job across the river. So Buddy calls the St Louis PD and they didn't wanna talk about it. They finally told him this UPD delivery man got sliced and diced. Buddy says it sounds like a repeat of the Gideon case.'

'Did he tell them about Balfour?'

'Nope. Didn't tell 'em anythin'. Just listened.'

'Any name attached to this victim?'

'Ain't been released yet. Can't find a next a kin. Buddy says they're obviously riled up over it.'

'Well, surprise, surprise!' said Naomi.

Vail was leaning back in his chair without moving. He stared at Stenner without blinking, deep in thought. Finally he said, 'If Stampler's behind these killings, how does he find these people? Gideon, Illinois? Hilltown, Missouri? You can barely find these places on the map.'

'And if he is involved, how the hell's he doin' it from maximum security at the State Hospital?' said St Claire.

'Maybe Stampler isn't behind it,' Stenner suggested. 'Perhaps it is a copycat who found about the Altar Boys.'

'And waited ten years to move on it?' Vail said.

'Maybe he's lazy,' Flaherty said with a smile.

Vail leaned forward, put his elbows on the desk, clenched his hands, and leaned his chin on his fists. He stared at St Claire for several seconds.

'Harvey, I want you to grab the red-eye to St Louis first thing in the morning and get everything you can from St Louis Homicide.'

'I can't, boss, I'm in court in the morning. The Quarries case.'

'Abel?'

'I got two depositions tomorrow.'

'I'm between engagements,' offered Flaherty.

'Okay, you're on. Naomi, book Dermott on the early-bird, arrange for a car at the airport. Dermott, call Buddy and get some names of people you can talk to.'

'Right.'

'Naomi, get me Bascott at Daisyland. I want him personally. I don't care if he's in a conference with God, I want him on the phone now.'

It took Naomi ten minutes to get the director of the state mental institution on the line. Vail had forgotten how disarmingly gentle his voice was.

'Mr Vail,' he said after the usual salutations, 'Dr Samuel Woodward has been handling the Stampler case for the past, oh, eight years now, I guess. Uh… Stampler… is his patient and I would prefer that you speak to him directly if you have any questions regarding -'

'What's Stampler's condition now?' Vail asked, interrupting Bascott.

'Once again, I prefer to - '

'Dr Bascott, I have a problem down here and I need some questions answered. If Dr Woodward is the man to talk to, then put him on the phone.'

'He's on vacation, fishing up in Wisconsin. He'll be back tomorrow night. I'll have him call - '

'I'll be up there day after tomorrow, first thing,' Vail said, and there was annoyance in his tone. 'Please arrange for me to interview both Woodward and Stampler.'

'Mr Vail, you were, uh… Aaron's… lawyer. You haven't even been to visit him in ten years. I don't see that -'

'Day after tomorrow,' Vail repeated. 'I'll see him then.' And he