Casino Capers

by Dan Kelly

  Popeye didn’t say anything, just nodded his head in acknowledgment, but just for a second he locked on to Tucker who returned his stare and then Popeye broke it off and walked over to the conference room table as Rex and Tucker left the office. Red’s thinking, “There’s definitely something going on between those two.”

  Red asked, “What did you want to see me about?”

  “I just wanted to let you know that I’m sending my buddies back home. Rex compensated them very well for their stint onboard the Floating Fantasies.”

  “I had no doubt that he would. Well, it looks like things are going to get back to normal thanks to Tucker.”

  Red threw that line out there just to see if he could get a reaction out of Popeye, but his face registered nothing and he only said, “That works for me.” then left.

  “I wonder if I should pry, perhaps talk to Rex about what Jillian and I observed. Nah, I don’t think so. What Tucker and Popeye have between them is nobody’s business but theirs. I can’t help being curious though.”

  Chapter 50

  As the next few days roll by, it’s back to business as usual. Popeye is readying the Floating Fantasies for its next cruise up the Mississippi, Red is checking out some new slots he’s considering putting in the casino and Bill is making sure security remains as tight as possible yet remains as unobtrusive as possible.

  Bill has learned a lot from his experience with the Chameleon and he’s putting this knowledge to good use. He’s been conducting training seminars on alertness, methods of observation, incidence response and teamwork. He’s implemented more frequent testing and maintenance of security equipment and has gotten on the mailing lists of the companies with the most sophisticated and reliable surveillance gear to keep abreast of the latest developments in that area. He’s arranged for handprint access only equipment to be installed in critical areas of the ship. He’s also in the process of arranging monthly meetings of the top security people from all the casinos in town to provide the means and opportunity for the sharing of ideas, experiences and challenges.

  Sylvia can now concentrate solely on providing the best entertainment for the guests of the Floating Fantasies and making sure that the word gets out. She’s got some stiff competition coming from Jillian and she knows she’s got to stay on her toes if she wants to keep up. It’s a friendly competition though as she and Jillian are becoming good friends.

  For Red, there’s another side benefit of things getting back to normal. He now has more time to think about Jillian and getting to know her better. He’s just called her and set up a date for dinner and dancing on the Floating Fantasies for eight this evening and he’s flying high with anticipation for the evening ahead. Some romantic somewhere purportedly said that love is an omnipotent healing ointment for the soul and right now Red wouldn’t argue with the sentiment.

  Unbeknown to Red, however, there’s a fly that’s started to buzz around overhead and it’s heading straight for the ointment. It’s a big sucker and it’s not only going to splatter the ointment, it’s going to shatter the jar.

  After Carl Carducci was Merandized, he was processed and booked. There were now on file photos and fingerprints of the elusive Chameleon. After being placed in an interview room and refusing to talk, he was put in a cell and told that a public defender would be in to see him shortly. Chuck said, “Hopefully, you’ll be more talkative with him than you were with me. You’re going to need all the help you can get.” The Chameleon said or did nothing but lean against the wall of the cell and stare at the floor.

  A couple of hours later, Chuck brought the public defender back to the cell to talk with the Chameleon, but the Chameleon literally threw him out of the cell.

  Three days later, a guard went back to the cell for a routine check on the prisoner and he was gone. The cell door was closed, but unlocked.

  The entire station was searched, but no Chameleon. A BOLO has been put out to all the patrol cars in the city, but so far he has not been seen.

  Chuck called Bill, who called Red, who called everyone else between outbursts of ah, nuts, nuts, nuts!

  As soon as Rex got word, he called Tucker who said he’d be on the next plane out of Dallas.

  At six that evening, Rex, Red, Bill, Chuck, Popeye and Jillian are sitting around Red’s conference room table still flabbergasted over what’s happened. Red’s just asked, “Chuck, how could something like this happen? Wasn’t he searched? He must have had something hidden on his person that allowed him to open that cell door.”

  “He was stripped searched, Red, and he was clean as a newborn baby. Whatever he used he got his hands on it at the station after the search, but what it was I have no idea.”

  Jillian said, “Remember, guys, the Chameleon is a master at miniaturization, extremely innovative and is brilliant with his hands. It looks like that cell door was nothing more than an inconvenience for him. From the time he stepped into the police station, he was probably pretty confident that he could escape when the opportunity presented itself. His silence and staring was probably a backup plan in case he was wrong and couldn’t break out.”

  “Well, what in tarnation do we do now?” This guy’s probably out of state by now.” This was from Popeye who’s more than a little agitated over the Bettendorf Police Department’s failure to keep its prisoner locked up. He blames the Chameleon’s escape on their incompetence and/or inferior equipment and security measures and hasn’t held back from saying so. This is not like Popeye, pointing the finger of blame at someone without having all the facts.

  Jillian has noticed that he keeps looking over at her and the concern on his face has deepened considerably since they all gathered in Red’s office. He’s really worried about her safety and the fact that the Chameleon is now on the loose isn’t making her feel very secure either.

  Rex said, “I’ve called Tucker and he and his men are on their way back here as we speak. He’ll resume his manhunt, but on a much broader scale because you’re right, Popeye. Things have gotten way too hot and sticky for the Chameleon to hang around here any longer. He could be heading anywhere, but Tucker is very good at picking up a trail. If anyone can find this guy, Tucker can.”

  Popeye didn’t say anything at first. He just scowled and rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. Then he said, “I think the Chameleon will continue to use disguises to make it difficult for his pursuers to spot him and he will stay on the move, using all kinds of diversionary tactics to prevent his pursuers from catching up with him. He’s going to have to get his hands on some cash somehow, either by stealing it or accessing some secret cache. Sooner or later, he’s going to return to Bettendorf and then on to Chicago to finish what he started. Whatever plan is put together, it will have to address these issues and incorporate countermeasures. Chuck, I hope you impounded the trailer home Carducci was using. He probably stashed some cash and other things he was using in it.

  Everybody, but Rex is staring at Popeye and thinking that there’s a lot more to Popeye than his size and ability to pilot a ship. Chuck’s remembering his observation and impression he got of the sailor during the ski resort stakeout. “Yeah, there’s a lot more in this guy’s background besides being a merchant marine.”

  Chuck said, “We impounded it as soon as Tucker told us about it. We found five hundred dollars rolled up in the tubes of two unopened rolls of toilet paper, but no credit cards or check book. The trailer was sparsely furnished, but there was a lot of makeup, some wigs and a variety of clothing and the fridge and some cabinets held enough food for a few days. That was it.”

  Popeye didn’t respond, but had resumed rubbing his forehead and was staring out the window of Red’s office.

  Jillian asked, “Red, how did your brother and Clyde Crowley react to the news of the Chameleon’s escape”?

  “I haven’t heard back from them yet. I had to hit them with the bad news by leaving a message on their voice mail.”

  As if he has been listening to the conversation in Red’s o
ffice, Red’s phone rings and before he can say hello the Commissioner begins to bawl him out for exposing his brother to the anger of a lunatic and bringing more bad publicity down on the gaming industry in Iowa. Evidently, Clyde has been keeping his brother up to date with respect to the Chameleon and word’s out about the latest Chameleon disaster. Red is not in the mood for any of the Commissioner’s temper tantrums and says, “I’m sorry. You’ve reached a number that’s no longer in service. Please check with the operator for the number of Jerks ‘R’ Us.” and hangs up.

  “That was the Commissioner calling to congratulate me on the success I’m enjoying in my dealings with the Chameleon.”

  Laughter spread throughout the room and even Popeye joined in.

  Chuck said, “Even though the Chameleon has probably hightailed it out of Bettendorf with Tucker and his crew soon to be hot on his heels, it would be smart to take some precautions in case he decides to circle back and come after any of us.

  “To begin with, until the Chameleon is recaptured, I think we should always try to be with someone, safety in numbers and all that. Next, we must discipline ourselves to be aware of our surroundings wherever we may be. Don’t let ourselves be surprised by anyone coming up behind us. Next, we should always carry a fully charged cell phone on our person in case we find ourselves in a tight situation thanks to the Chameleon. Next, we should always be extra careful when approaching our cars, checking under the car and the cars surrounding us to make sure no one is hiding under any of them. Also, check inside the car before getting in. Next, when at home don’t let anyone in we don’t know and don’t be lured out of our home by anyone we don’t know calling to say there’s been an accident and someone close to us has been hurt and is asking for us or saying something else that might possibly be a ruse. If we get such a call, we should verify it with someone we know and trust before reacting. Finally, we should avoid poorly lit places at all costs. These are smart things to do any way, but the Chameleon makes doing them even more necessary. If anyone has any other ideas about what we should do, jump in.”

  Bill concurred with what Chuck said and added, “No one’s said it, but we’re all thinking it. The Chameleon has tried everything he could conjure up to bring Red down and nothing he’s tried has worked. When he first started out on his vendetta, I don’t think he knew how far he was willing to go to get his revenge. With each failure, I’m sure his lust for revenge has grown and expanded to include everyone in this room and perhaps Joe Amato because we’ve all played a major role in frustrating him, in preventing him from getting his revenge. I believe he now knows how far he’s willing to go to get his revenge. I think he’s now willing to kill to get it.”

  Judging from the silence, Bill doesn’t think anyone disagrees with him. Chuck said, “We should make sure that Nate and Clyde get this information as well. The Chameleon could very well head for Chicago first.”

  Popeye has been quiet during this exchange, but he suddenly turns to Jillian and asks, “You’re now most likely one of his primary targets because of how you have deceived him. Is there anyone out of town you could stay with until this mess is over with?”

  Despite the concern on Popeye’s face and the affection she feels for him for caring so much she says, “I’m not going anywhere. This is my home town now and I’m not going to let anyone scare me away. I’ll be careful, Popeye. I won’t take any foolish risks.”

  Popeye grimaces, but says nothing more. Instead, he gets up and begins to pace.

  Rex says, “ There’s nothing else we can do here until Tucker arrives. Dinner’s on me wherever you want to eat on the Floating Fantasies. Tucker should be here by nine, so why don’t we meet back here then.”

  Everybody nodded and left the office but Rex and Bill. “Rex, who is Popeye really?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, Rex. I may not be a MENSA member like Red, but I’m not a moron either. Red, Jillian, Chuck and I have picked up on things that have us believing that there’s more to Popeye than meets the eye. He’s definitely more than a merchant marine and we think that Popeye and Tucker know each other, but are keeping that fact quiet for some reason. What’s up?”

  “Nothing. All of you are imagining things. We’re all under a lot of stress and aren’t acting like we normally would. Now, no more of this nonsense. Go get something to eat.” With that Rex left and went to his office.

  “I think I’ve just been given the brush off of brush offs.”

  Chapter 51

  Red and Jillian weren’t that hungry, so they grabbed a salad and some coffee at one of the snack bars and were lucky enough to find a booth by a window that gave them a beautiful panoramic view of Old Miss. The sun had set and it was getting pretty dark outside. The lights of other ships looked like floating cat eyes staring at them from out of the dark as they moved up and down the river, but the light from the full moon reflecting off the water created a romantic ambience that would have been ideal if the night had gone as planned.

  Red said, “Although the view is perfect, this is not the kind of evening I had planned for us.”

  “I know, Red, but as my grandma was fond of quoting, ‘Anything worth having is worth waiting for. When you do get it, you’ll appreciate it a lot more.’ She was quite a quoter my grandma. She had one for every occasion.”

  “Well, I think I would have liked your Grandma.

  “I think she would have liked you too, Red.”

  Their eyes locked and Red was about to lean over and kiss her when a little toddler sitting in the booth behind him runs her fingers through his hair and coos softly, “Nice.”

  Red slowly turns his head to look over his shoulder and sees this gorgeous little girl, about four years old with raven hair and dark blue eyes, studying him like she would a bug under a microscope. He smiles and says, “What is it with you little ones? You’re a treasure trove of preciousness, but your timing sucks!”

  Jillian bursts out laughing, getting the attention of the parents of Red’s little admirer and the patrons sitting nearby. The father apologizes for his daughter if she has done something to annoy him. Red says “No need to apologize. All kids are curious and like to explore, but you might suggest to her to hold off on running her fingers through the hair of strange men until she’s a little older.” This got a laugh from the parents and another outburst from Jillian as well.

  The magic moment has come and gone, so Red and Jillian finish their meal, engage in some small talk and then head back to Red’s office.

  When they get back, Tucker has arrived and is talking quietly with Rex in a far corner of the office. Everyone is back but Popeye and for some reason Red thinks there’s a good reason for that. They are ten minutes into talking about what Tucker intends to do to bring the Chameleon back when Popeye shows up and quietly takes a seat next to Jillian.

  Tucker is now talking about how he is going to deploy his team and other resources at his disposal.

  “There are six states that are contiguous with Iowa; Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. The Chameleon could be heading for any one of them. Illinois is the only state where two of his primary targets reside and it would be reasonable to assume that he’d head right for Chicago, figuring he would think that at this point in time it would be easier to take out Nate and Clyde than sticking around here to do the dirty deed. Another reason to assume he’d head straight for Chicago is because he has roots there and knows his way around. Anyone making these assumptions though would be barking up the wrong tree.

  “This guy is very smart, but he’s making an assumption too. He’s thinking his pursuers will head straight for Chicago for the reasons I just stated, so he’s going to head away from Chicago, looking for a place to hide until the heat is off, but he’s going to be wrong too.

  “The Chameleon has about a ten hour head start, but as far as we know he has no transportation and no money. With those limitations, he couldn’t have gotten very far no matter where
he’s headed. His first priority has to be to overcome those limitations. For transportation, he could hitch rides, ask for a handout for bus fare or maybe even steal some wheels. For money, he could steal it or earn it.