Chapter 65

 

 

The rest of the day and all of the next go by uneventfully. If the Chameleon wasn’t in the picture, their stay at Rex’s penthouse would have been like a dream vacation, being waited on hand and foot, but all good things do come to an end and their situation was no exception.

 

Mid-morning of the third day they were in Chicago, Rex gets a call from Tucker. One of his men just spotted a thinly disguised Carducci getting off a Greyhound bus at their main terminal. “He’s wearing a White Sox baseball cap, shades, jeans, black sneakers and a dark blue sweat shirt under a black jacket that zips up the front. He is clean shaven and has his left arm’s in a sling. My guy said that the sling and the chinless puss of the Chameleon were dead give aways.

 

“That’s the good news. The bad news is my guy lost him inside the terminal when three guys started fighting. As the police stepped into break it up, people were running all over the place to get out of harms way and prevented him from keeping the Chameleon in sight. Apparently, the Chameleon walked to the other end of the terminal to catch a city bus. By the time my man got outside, the Chameleon had hopped a bus and split.”

 

When Rex relayed the news to the rest of them, Red reverted to his reliable old standby, “Ah, nuts, nuts, nuts!”

 

Popeye said, “Well, at least we know he’s in Chicago now, so our game plan for driving him out of Bettendorf evidently worked.”

 

Jillian wonders out loud, “I wonder where he got the money for bus fare and where did those clothes come from?”

 

Popeye replies with, “Whatever scruples the Chameleon had when he started his vendetta have long since been obliterated by his hate and lust for revenge. Theft is no longer beyond the realm of possibility. His vendetta is consuming him and he’s liable to do anything to get what he wants.”

 

Jillian said, “I’m sure Tucker has contacted Vince who will have contacted his people with the news that the Chameleon is in town, so Nate and Clyde know what’s going on. I think it would be a good idea though if Red were to call his brother and you, Rex were to call Clyde. Just being able to talk with somebody about the situation should significantly reduce the tension that must have built up when they heard that the Chameleon was in town.”

 

Rex said, “That’s a great idea. Red, you can use the phone in the library. I’ll use the one in my office.

 

Red’s thinking, “She must have been one hell of a psychologist.”

 

Nate picked up after the second ring. “Arson, Borman.”

 

“Hi, bro, you have a couple of minutes to talk?”

 

“Yeah, now hold on. If you’ve gotten yourself into another jam, I can only handle one catastrophe at a time.”

 

“His sense of humor is still up and running, so he’s probably got his nerves under control.”

 

“I just called to see how you were holding up under everything that has come down the pike with the Chameleon.”

 

“Thanks, Red, for being concerned, but I’m cool, well lukewarm would probably better describe my mental state right now. Do you remember when we were kids and we’d get into fights with other kids. You remember how you’d be a little nervous before you got hit the first time then temper took over and you were ready to beat the tar out of anybody that messed with you?”

 

“Yeah, I remember.”

 

“Well, that’s the way I feel right now. The jitters should go away when the action starts.”

 

“Just remember, Nate, this isn’t a schoolyard fight where the worst that usually happened to you was a black eye, bloody nose and a bunch of bruises and scrapes. Occasionally, if someone got in a real good punch a nose got broken or a tooth chipped. The Chameleon is another matter. Someone could get killed, so watch your back, hear me?”

 

“I hear you, Red. Uh, oh. Duty calls. I’ve got to get out of here. Thanks for checking up on me. Later.”

 

Jillian had joined him in the library when he placed the call to Nate and when he hung up she inquired, “How’s he holding up?”

 

“Like the tough guy that he is. I learned a long time ago that it’s a real tough chore to rattle his cage, but he’s not taking the Chameleon lightly either.”

 

“That’s good news. Say, since we’re back to waiting for the Chameleon to make his move, how about a game of eight ball? I’m a pretty mean chick with a stick.”

 

“That sounds like a dare to me. You’re on.”

 

Heading for the game room, they run into Popeye. Jillian said, “We’re going to play some pool. Do you want to join us?”

 

“Sure, why not?”

 

It turns out that Popeye is no slouch with a cue stick either. They played for two hours and finished about even in the win column. As Red and Jillian were cleaning up the snacks they had been chowing down and Popeye was brushing off the felt table top, Rex came in and announced, “It looks like it might be Nate’s turn at bat. The Chameleon was briefly spotted outside the fire station where Nate’s office is. He was riding a motor scooter which enabled him to weave in and out of traffic and Tucker’s man lost him. He doesn’t think the Chameleon knew he was being followed though.”

 

Red said, “He could just be casing all of the places he might find both Nate and Clyde. After he’s done that, he might decide to go after Clyde first.”

 

Nodding his head Rex said, “You could be right, but so far the Chameleon hasn’t been spotted anywhere near any of Clyde’s haunts.”

 

Red said, “Rex, as much as I’m enjoying the surroundings and your hospitality, this sitting around and waiting for the hammer to fall is beginning to get to me. Nate could use another pair of eyes to help him watch his back, so I think I’ll head over to his office and hang out there. I hope you understand.”

 

Perfectly. You watch your back too. If the Chameleon finds out you’re with your brother, it would be a tempting two for one situation for him. He’s a creative bastard and who knows what he’s liable to dream up.”

 

With clear concern on her face, Jillian sidled closer to him and said, “Be careful, Red. I’d like to spend a lot more evenings with you at the Crestmont Country Club.”

 

With a wink and a smile, Red was out of there.