Chapter 18

 

 

At 10:05 a.m. the next morning, the introductions having been made, the only sound in Red’s office is the lapping of the Mississippi River against the hull of the Floating Fantasies coming in through the open windows. Both Popeye and Bill have become completely spellbound by Jillian’s looks and demeanor. Red has to laugh to himself because he went through the same process last evening. The lady is something else.

 

“How do I get the ball rolling without embarrassing anyone?”

 

Jillian unwittingly comes to his aid by breaking the silence with a couple of questions. “Has there been any direct communication between the Chameleon and you, Red, or for that matter anyone at the Palladian Palace or the Floating Fantasies? Has he tried any teasing or goading to increase the tension surrounding his actions?”

 

Red responded with, “Nothing. To date, he’s let his actions speak for him.”

 

“That doesn’t surprise me. If my assessment of him is correct, his shyness and awareness of how different he is from other people is jus too strong to permit him to expose himself that way. If we could come up with some way to open a direct channel of communication with him, the door would be open for us to present a scenario so tempting to him, so overpowering, that these self imposed restraints would be blown out of the water.”

 

“You know, Jillian, you don’t talk like an entertainment director. You sound more like a shrink.”

 

“Well, Red, that’s exactly what I was before I became an entertainment director. It only took me a few years to realize that trying to figure out what made people unhappy, what made them neurotic, wasn’t as rewarding to me as I had first imagined. I thought it would be a lot more fun trying to figure out what makes people happy, so I took a shot at the entertainment industry as a consultant and so far haven’t regretted it.”

 

“Well, your background and insight could be a big help to us. Guys, let me share with you a suggestion Jillian made yesterday about how we might get our hooks into the Chameleon.”

 

Red fills Bill and Popeye in on Jillian’s comments about the feeling she has about the Chameleon not having many friends and probably never having a girlfriend, but most likely being normal in this regard, yearning for one.

 

“If f we can open a channel of communication with this guy, using it to introduce Jillian into the mix, we might be able to maneuver him into taking one risk too many.”

 

Having listened to Jillian this morning and hearing Red’s comments about what she said to him and Joe yesterday, Bill and Popeye are reassessing their initial impressions of Jillian Prevot. There’s a lot more to this lady than her good looks.

 

“Okay, Red. I’ve known you a lot longer than these two, so I know you wouldn’t have invited Jillian here or brought this topic up if you didn’t have a plan forming in that noggin of yours. Let’s hear it.”

 

Popeye, being a man of action and few words, remained silent, but he slid forward in his chair, resting his huge forearms on the conference table, anxious to hear what Red has on his mind.

 

“Bill, if I’ve looked at the list you prepared on what we know about the Chameleon once I’ve looked at it a hundred times. Three things repeatedly stand out each time I review the list. He’s is highly intelligent, an excellent craftsman and keeps himself in good physical condition.

 

“I’m no psychologist, but it’s been my experience that people have a strong tendency to identify with, align themselves with and develop relationships with people who have the same abilities and interests as they do.

 

“The success of my plan hinges on three key factors; the selection of the most appropriate channel of communication, the creation of an image for Jillian that will immediately and irresistibly attract the Chameleon to her, and Jillian’s ability to reinforce whatever rapport she can establish on the web site and earn his trust during one or more face-to-face meetings. There’s no way we’re going to be able to spring a trap on him during their first face-to-face encounter. He’s way too cautious and smart for that.

 

“This guy is a computer guru, so I believe our best chance of making initial contact with him would be via the internet. We could arrange for an interview to be conducted of the new entertainment director of the Go For It casino with a reporter from a local TV station. On the surface, the interview would be for publicity purposes, getting the word out that the Go For It has a new entertainment director who has some innovative ideas for making the Go For It a ‘must place’ to be checked out.

 

“During the interview, however, Jillian would drop a bombshell. At the appropriate time, Jillian would say, ‘I’m looking forward to working at the Go For It and am hoping I’ll be there for a very long time. I just hope that the rumors I’ve been hearing about some sort of vendetta being carried out against the manager of another casino are false. If they’re true and the Go For It becomes a target as well, my stay might be a short one.’

 

“The reporter would obviously want to question her about what she has said, but Jillian’s reply would be, ‘I don’t have time to go into it now, but I’ll have more to say about these rumors on my website, funtimewithjillianprevot.com.’

 

“Hopefully, the Chameleon would see the interview or at least hear about it and go to the website. There would be a full length picture of Jillian on the website and a detailed account of everything that the Chameleon has pulled to date at the Palladian Palace and the Floating Fantasies and why. I would be identified as the target, Carl Carducci as the perpetrator and the Chameleon as the nickname we’ve given Carducci.

 

“Jillian would also state that she can identify with the Chameleon’s frustration because she has experienced something similar herself and that she understands his reasoning and wishes that she could help him in some way. She would explain that her feelings go deeper than just sympathy, that her experience as a practicing psychologist gives her a much deeper understanding of what the Chameleon is going through. She would explain how her painting, first with water colors then with oils, helped her deal with her challenges. We could even find some nice paintings to show on the website to reinforce her comments.

 

“The reaction I’m hoping for is that he will see this beautiful, intelligent, understanding woman as someone who understands him and wants to help him and his testosterone level will leap off the charts and drive him to make contact with her on her website. The revelation that we know who he is and why he’s doing the things he’s doing should also shake him up quite a bit and urge him to seek out a possible ally.

 

“If contact is made and a dialogue of some sort established, we can then create a set of circumstances that would encourage a face-to-face meeting.”

 

With an approving nod of agreement Bill asks, “And what might those circumstances be?”

 

“I haven’t a clue. I haven’t gotten that far in my thinking yet. They would depend on how the dialogue between the Chameleon and Jillian unravels”

 

Popeye has been listening intently to what Red has been saying and his gut

has begun to fill with a great deal of concern about the kind of risk this plan might have for Jillian. Glancing over at Jillian for any sign that she might also have some concerns and seeing none, voices his own. “Well, when we get to that point

we’re going to have to be very careful. Let’s not forget that this guy has engaged in armed robbery. If we mess up somehow and this nut finds out what we’re up to, things could get real dangerous for all concerned, especially Jillian.”

 

“Thanks for looking out for me, Popeye, but don’t you worry. I’m not walking into anything without my eyes wide open. What this is really all about is trust. Even if he is attracted by my appearance, for Red’s plan to work the Chameleon must believe what he reads on the website. If he has any doubts, we’ll lose him.”

 

Everyone nods their agreement and Red adds, “Before we do anything though, I’m going to get Joe Amato’s okay and through him the rest of the casino managers’ okay to spill the beans about the part they’ve played in trying to apprehend the Chameleon. My feeling is that this news should convince the Chameleon that he’s up against some very strong opposition and trying to get to me by sabotaging the other casino’s operations with the hope that this would either bring enough pressure to bear on me to force me to quit or enough pressure on my employer to fire me would be doomed to failure. If any of the other casino managers nixes the idea, we’ll have to come up with something else. I’ll also let Rex Spaulding know what we’re up to and get his input.

 

“I should have the casino managers’ answer one way or the other by noon tomorrow. Also, I should have a better idea about where we stand with our banking problems by then as well. Does anyone have a problem with meeting here again tomorrow for a luncheon meeting? Hopefully, we’ll be able to proceed with the plan and have the financial wherewithal to implement it if funds be needed.

 

“No problems? Good, and thanks, Jillian, for your willingness to get involved.”

 

“Your welcome, Red. The way I see it, the casino industry in Bettendorf is now my industry and I have a responsibility to do what I can to protect it.”

 

“I’m glad you feel that way. Okay, out with all of you. I’ve got a casino to run.”