HYDE ARRIVED OUTSIDE room 23 with a smile on his crooked lips and a raging pressure in his trousers. He raised a heavy paw to knock, then hesitated. No, he thought. I’ll surprise the trollop. He grabbed the cheap brass doorknob, twisted, and burst into the room.
“Ah-ha, slut!” Hyde said. “Looky who’s here?”
His announcement was met with a loud, wet snore. There she was, slumped over in the armchair, out cold, drool glistening on her acne-pocked chin. There was a gin bottle on the floor.
“Drunk again, ya gutter-smellin’ tart,” Hyde sneered as he removed his hat and pushed it down over her head. Half of her face was swallowed inside the chapeau.
Sybil sprang to her feet in a defensive stance. “What in the name of Hades?” She pulled a dagger from her garter and slashed out blindly. Hyde e
