Chapter 30

 

 

At 5:30 Monday morning, everything and everybody is in place at the Pompton Ski Resort, Popeye included. When Popeye showed up around 5 a.m., Chuck was adamant about him going back to the Floating Fantasies and waiting until everything had gone down. Chuck promised him that he would be called when it was all over, but Popeye was having none of it. It would have taken at least six of his men and an eternity to get him out of there, so he finally relented and let him stay, but he wouldn’t let him hide in one of the sheds. It was a snug fit for two normal sized men to hide in one. If Popeye were to hide in one, nobody else could join him. Chuck wants to have as many men as possible as close to the cabin as possible, so Popeye had to be content with hiding in the woods.

 

What happened to Popeye’s kid sister was in the forefront of Popeye’s mind and would stay there until the meeting was over, the Chameleon captured and Jillian was safe and sound. Nothing was going to make him budge until then.

 

Unbeknown to Chuck, Popeye has also come armed with a Sig Sauer P229 9mm handgun concealed in a holster on his belt in the middle of his back and under his black car coat and he always hits what he aims at. . He also has a British Fairbairn-Sykes combat knife strapped to his leg under his black chinos. This is a mean looking sucker that looks more like a dagger and Popeye keeps it razor sharp.

 

Having given his men their final briefing and making sure that everybody’s

communicator is working properly, Chuck is leaning against a big elm tree, intently watching Popeye. “I’ve got a feeling that the big guy has done this before. He knew how to dress and he’s extremely disciplined in his conduct; not talking, smoking, making noise of any kind and remaining keenly alert and barely moving. Bill told me he spent a lot of years in the merchant marines before signing on as the captain of the Floating Fantasies, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that was just a cover for something a lot more dangerous.”

 

Back in Red’s office, Red, Bill, Sylvia and Jillian are going over one last time the list of suggestions she’s going to bring to the meeting. Red is the one pacing this time and he’s saying, “I think we’ve put together an impressive list that will convince the Chameleon that you are really putting a lot of effort into helping him, Jillian.

 

“I just wish Bill and I could be part of the surveillance team. Chuck didn’t want us to be in the woods with his men. He said we would only get in the way. Does anybody know where Popeye is? I thought he’d be here with us making sure that we’ve thought of everything to keep Jillian safe and sound.” Not waiting for an answer he continued to vent his frustration with, “I wanted to have Bill and me hide in one of the adjoining cabins, but Chuck nixed that idea. He said that he wants to keep the surveillance under wraps with as few people as possible knowing what is going on. Less chance of leaks that way and if he asked Sylvia to get keys to more cabins, her friend would start to ask questions which he didn’t want to answer. He also feels that the fewer people around the less chance for someone getting hurt if something goes wrong.”

 

Realizing what he just said, he paused, stopped his pacing and walked over to where Jillian was sitting and said, “Nothing should go wrong, Jillian. There will be cops all over the place listening to every word that’s said. At the first sign of trouble, they’ll surge in like the New Orleans Saints blitzing a quarterback. Are you still mad at me for suggesting that you back out?”

 

“No, I’m not, Red. In fact, when I cooled down I realized it was kind of nice to have someone worrying over me. I know this meeting isn’t going to be a walk in the park and that it’s going to take all of my skill to get him to open up and talk about his attempts to bring you down.

 

“If all goes well and the Chameleon and I agree on a combined list of suggestions to present to the arson investigators in Chicago, that will be the appropriate time to try to get him talking about his vendetta against you. Once he’s admitted to the things he’s pulled, I’ll end the meeting by standing up and saying something like, ‘We now have a game plan. Let’s not push our luck by staying here any longer. Even though it’s off season, someone could come by, spot my car or us and get nosy. I’m going to use the bathroom then stay in the cabin a little longer to compile my notes before I call the arson investigators. I can’t spend too much more time here because I’ve got a job to get back to at the Go For It.’ I’ll walk him to the door, lock it when he leaves and the surveillance team can then arrest him. I know there’s some risk involved, but I’m willing to take it.”

 

“Okay then. Bill, Sylvia and I will sweat it out here. Call us as soon as it’s over. When do you plan on arriving at the resort?”

 

“I told him I’d meet him at eight o’clock, so I plan on getting there a few minutes before. Hopefully, I won’t have any traffic problems.”

 

Jillian got up, walked to the door, turned, smiled and said, “Curtain time. If someone says break a leg, I’ll break their neck.” She waved and then she was gone. When the door closed, all three of them began to pace.