by Dan Kelly
“”He doesn’t have a history of stealing, if you exclude the two robberies of the casino which were committed for reasons other than raking in some loot, so I think his mindset and warped moral makeup would lead him to mooch and/or get a job. Using this as a platform for launching our search, this is how I arrived at the course of action I want to take.
“Because of his present limitations, if he’s thinking that he’ll settle the score first with Nate and Clyde, he’s most likely to take one of two routes, northeast to Wisconsin and then eventually south to Illinois or south to Missouri and then eventually east to Illinois.
“If he decides to focus on Red, Jillian or any of the rest of you first, there are also two routes he’s most likely to take, west to Nebraska or south to Missouri.
“If he’s undecided right now about whom he wants to hit first, and I think right now that’s probably the case, he’ll most likely head for a place that accommodates both scenarios, Missouri. He won’t waste a lot of time hemming and hawing over whom to go after first. He knows he has to make tracks fast to anywhere away from here. I think he’ll head for Missouri.
“No matter whom he decides to go after first, it’s a safe bet he’s going to take a very circuitous route to get there, hoping he can lose us somewhere along the way, leading us to believe he’s heading someplace else other than Chicago or Bettendorf. When he feels the timing is right, he’ll make his move on his first target.
“There are a couple of other things that would make Missouri attractive to him.
“One, there are a lot of casinos in Missouri and he could quite easily get a job as a dealer there using a counterfeit ID. He’s probably thinking he can hide out there and accumulate the cash he’ll need to acquire whatever gear will be necessary for him to resume his vendetta.
“Two, Missouri has fairly liberal gun control laws. No state permit is required to purchase a rifle, shotgun or handgun. There are no state licensing requirements for the possession of a rifle, shotgun or handgun and you are allowed to carry a concealed weapon with a permit. If you are caught with a concealed weapon and you don’t have your permit with you, it’s not a crime. You’ll just be subject to a small fine.
“Again, I think the Chameleon is on his way to Missouri and that’s where I’m going to focus my attention and resources. I’ll begin by seeing that copies of the sketch are sent to the state and major city police, casino managers, TV stations and gun dealers along with contact information, a heads up that he might be wearing a disguise and armed and dangerous. Depending on what develops, other types of businesses could be selected to receive copies of the sketch as well.
“Because the Chameleon will probably have to shop in a major city to find the gear he’ll need to surreptitiously carry on with his vendetta, he’ll probably select a hideout in one of them. He’s also probably thinking that it will be easy to get lost in a large city.
“Since it would be impossible to effectively cover every major city, I took a look at the five largest by population; Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence and Columbia. I decided to concentrate my efforts on St. Louis because it’s the closest to here and if the Chameleon decides he wants to be farther away he can hop on Interstate 70 and it’s a straight run west to Columbia, Independence and Kansas City. Heading for St. Louis first gives him a lot of flexibility to move about fairly quickly if he so chooses.
“I have a large work force which is spread all over the world working on various projects. I currently have one hundred people who are waiting for assignments and now they have one. I’ll be sending all of these men to St. Louis to hit the streets and do their thing.
“It’s going to take time for the Chameleon to settle in somewhere in Missouri, raise sufficient funds to find and purchase the gear he will need for the mission he’s on and obtain suitable transportation to get him back to Illinois or Iowa. I don’t think he’ll choose to travel by plane, train or interstate bus for fear that those modes of transportation might be under surveillance. He’ll feel safest in a personal vehicle of some sort. Now that I think of it, I should make sure that copies of the sketch and comments get into the hands of all the used car dealers in the five cities as well. I’m ready to move now. All I need is your okay.”
Popeye spoke up with, “How much time do you think the Chameleon will need to spend in Missouri before he’s ready to make his move and when he does move do you have any personnel that could be assigned to 24/7 bodyguard duty for the primary targets for as long as they’re needed? Chuck doesn’t have the manpower to provide that kind of protection.”
“Good questions. If the Chameleon has access to an emergency stash of cash somewhere large enough for his needs, he’ll probably lay low for a few weeks to let things cool off. If he doesn’t, it will probably take him at least a few months to save up what he needs. As for the bodyguards, can do.”
Rex said, “If there are no other questions or objections, I’m going to turn Tucker loose on this crackpot. Everyone remains silent so Rex says to Tucker, “Go get him.”
Tucker’s parting remark is, “The Chameleon is at a distinct disadvantage right now. He has no money, no immediate, reliable means of transportation and he can’t make any time getting away from Bettendorf and out of Iowa because his description has been spread throughout the vicinity. He can’t walk about in the open because he has no disguises at his disposal. Hell, we could get lucky and nail him before he gets out of the county.”
After Tucker left, Red looked around the table and said, “I’m sure glad that guy’s on our side. I wouldn’t want him on my tail. He’s quite a unique individual. His ability to rationalize, to think like the other guy thinks, his determination, his ability to deal with dangerous situations, finding all these attributes in one package is very unusual. The fact that the man he’s after may be planning to kill us and anybody else who gets in his way doesn’t seem to faze him. How did you meet him, Rex?”
When Red asked the question, Jillian noticed that Popeye became very interested in the answer.
“I was doing some consulting work for CITGO in Venezuela. They were having some production problems with the refinery operation there and they asked me to come down to uncover the cause. There’s a lot of anti-American sentiment there and it was difficult to get anybody to talk with me. Then one day Tucker showed up and said he had heard I was having some difficulty getting the locals to co-operate with my investigation and thought the influence he had in the area might open some mouths.
“I vaguely remembered his name from an incident one of my Belgian companies was involved in a few years before, but I really didn’t know anything about him or the kind of influence he was referring to. I was getting desperate, so I hired him on the spot to act as a liaison with the locals.
“Within a few days, the floodgates opened and I was inundated with information. I don’t know what he did and I didn’t ask. I learned a long time ago to never look a gift horse in the mouth.
“During our association in Venezuela, I found out that he owned a company that provided investigation and advisory services to governments and commercial enterprises around the world. He was used to dealing with politicians, business moguls, royalty and even the criminal element and had connections in some very interesting places. Over the years, we’ve developed a very strong relationship, both on a business and personal level and we’ve helped each other make a lot of money in the process. At times, I’ve thought that the company might be a cover for more clandestine activities involving the U. S. Government, but I never pried. It’s really none of my business.”
When Rex finished talking, Jillian noticed that Popeye seemed more relaxed, an expression of what she thought was relief on his face. “There’s a strong undercurrent of secrecy flowing between the merchant marine and the tracker. I can’t stop wondering about what the secret might be.”
Red said, “Well, to use one of your phrases, Chuck, he’s certainly a person of interest.”
With a tired smi
le Chuck said, “That he is. Yawning he added, “I’m beat. I’m heading out. I’m assuming that like the last time, Rex, you will act as go between, with Tucker contacting you about his progress and you passing the update on to Red who will pass it on to the rest of us.”
“There’s no reason to change that. Tucker is good at checking in. He knows our nerves will be working overtime until he catches this guy.”
“Alright then, I’m out of here. Good night, everybody.”
Chuck heads for the door as does everybody else. Popeye asks Jillian to hang back a second, but waits for everyone else to leave before explaining why.
“How’re you doing kiddo? I bet you never thought Bettendorf would offer you this kind of captivating excitement.”
“Let me tell you, big guy, I’d prefer a much more subdued menu of entertainment. I like kicking up my heels every once in a while, but this is ridiculous”
Nodding his head Popeye said, “Jillian, I asked you to stay a little longer because I have something I want to explain to you. I’m sure you’ve noticed that my concern over your safety is more than anyone would expect from someone who hardly knows you. That’s what I want to explain. I might have made you feel uncomfortable with my remarks in that regard and I don’t want you to have to deal with that along with everything else that’s going on. My motivation is rooted in something that happened in my life a long time ago”. When he finished telling her about his sister and how he blamed himself for not getting involved there were tears in both their eyes.
“You’re a terrific lady, Jillian, and I’ve gotten to like you a lot and sincerely hope we can be good friends. I just can’t sit back and do nothing again when someone I care about could get seriously hurt or even killed. Everything about you reminds me of my kid sister.”
Giving him a big hug she said, “Oh, Popeye, a girl couldn’t have a better friend than you.”
Popeye let out a big sigh of relief and said, “Boy, I’m glad that’s over. I’d rather take on a dozen Chameleons than have to go through that again.”
Laughing, they both headed out the door. On deck, walking towards the gangway, Popeye said, “I’ll follow you home just in case Tucker’s miscalculated and the Chameleon’s hanging around somewhere.”
“Thanks, Popeye.” Popeye notices that she didn’t hesitate to accept his offer this time. “She’s worried about the Chameleon and I’m glad. That’ll keep her cautious and aware of what’s going on around her.”
When they get to the gangway, Red and Rex are leaning against the railing talking about the possibility of a Floating Fantasies II somewhere else in the U. S., with Rex doing the talking and Red doing the grunting to let Rex know he was paying attention. Jillian’s thinking, “I guess that’s why Rex is so successful. He doesn’t let anything take him away from business for very long, even something like the Chameleon.”
Red offers to follow Jillian home and Jillian says, “Thanks, Red, but Popeye has already volunteered for that duty.” Good nights are said and everybody parts company, wondering what tomorrow will bring.
Chapter 52
Five days later, Tucker gets word from the Missouri State Police that a trucker has called in telling them that he had given Carducci a ride from just outside Bettendorf to the outskirts of St. Louis three days ago. He didn’t know who he had given a ride to until he saw the sketch on TV. The trucker said that he had no idea that the hitchhiker was on the run. Carducci was very friendly and told him he had lost his job and was heading back to his brother’s home in St. Louis for a place to stay while he looked for another one. He told the trucker he was a machinist.
Another week went by before Tucker gets another call, this time from one of his own men who has been passing out copies of the sketch to gas stations and security personnel covering shopping malls in downtown St. Louis. Tucker’s man figured Carducci was going to want to use a restroom from time to time to wash up to remain inconspicuous and address other bodily needs. With no money in his pockets, these places would be ideal for that purpose. Tucker’s man figured right.
A security guard in a mall noticed a man that looked a lot like the guy in the sketch using one of the restrooms, but he wasn’t sure so he didn’t notify his supervisor right away. The next day two more security guards at the same mall spotted a guy looking like the sketch coming out of one of the restrooms as well, one spotting took place in the morning and the other in the early evening. The last two spottings were reported to the supervisor. When the supervisor was notified, the first security guard got wind of it and he told the supervisor about his sighting. The three sightings were all the motivation the supervisor needed to call the St. Louis Police Department and two undercover policemen were immediately sent over to check things out. Uniforms weren’t sent because they didn’t want to scare Carducci off if he was the man spotted.
That was yesterday. Tucker sent a dozen of the men he had working the streets of St. Louis to the mall to assist the undercover policemen and mall security personnel by roaming through the mall and keeping an eye out for anyone resembling the sketch using any of the restrooms should he return again. So far, no additional sightings have occurred.
Someone spotting the Chameleon three times in the mall was a good sign that he had holed up somewhere close by and Tucker pulled more men into the area to do a more intense search. No such luck though. This guy was too smart to set up a pattern of behavior that could be detected. After two more days of patrolling the mall, Tucker concluded that the Chameleon wouldn’t be back and pulled his men off the mall.
Tucker is thinking, “Hell, this guy can attend to his toilette just about anywhere. He’s probably getting his food at one of the missions or shelters for street people and could even be sleeping in them on a rotating basis. It would be smart to see to it that these places get copies of the sketch. I’ll make sure that’s done tonight.
“It’s been almost three weeks on the run for Carducci. He must be getting desperate to resume his vendetta. To do this, he’s got to raise some money and the most probable way for him to do that would be to get a job in a casino. I’m pretty sure he’s still in the city, so I think I should try to draw the net a little tighter by having everybody concentrate on the casinos. Carducci’s probably feeling a little safer because he thinks no one knows he’s in St. Louis. He might even get a little careless and decide not to use a disguise. I think we should focus on the casinos closest to the mall first.”
Meanwhile, back in Bettendorf the Floating Fantasies has completed two more round trip cruises up and down the Mississippi, adding a pile of new money to Rex’s coffers and Jillian’s new entertainment programs are packing them in at the Go For It. Everyone should be ecstatic, but the shadow of the Chameleon is hanging over the successes, draining much of the joy out of their accomplishments.
It’s about seven thirty in the evening and Red, Rex, Popeye, and Jillian are being seated at a beautifully set table next to a window overlooking the huge paddle wheel of the Floating Fantasies and a bevy of cabin cruisers and sail boats docked nearby. Cherie’s Jubilee has become one of Red’s favorite restaurants anywhere and he’s looking forward to enjoying a splendid meal and the company of his new comrades in calamity.
After being seated Red asks, “Rex, have you heard anything new from Tucker?”
“Not since I gave you the latest update about Tucker zeroing on the casinos around that mall a couple of days ago.”
Popeye said, “That’s still going to leave a lot of ground to cover. Some of those casinos are 90,000 square feet or more.”
Raising her eyebrow with a smile Jillian asked, “So you’ve checked out a few have you?”
“I’ve had my moments in some of them. A sailor does get the chance to do other things besides sail you know. Mostly, I was just going back to visit my money and leave more to keep it company. Occasionally, I go back to keep up the tradition.”
Laughing Red asked, “When was the last time you were in any of the casinos down there, Popeye?�
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“Shortly before you joined the crew, about eight months ago.”
“Do you have a favorite or do you like to spread the wealth and drift from one casino to another?”
“I’m a rover. I like the change in scenery.”
Red turned to Rex and suggested, “You know, it might not be a bad idea to send Popeye to St. Louis. His familiarity with the layouts of a lot of the casinos there could be a big help to Tucker and his men.”