Second Chance

Chapter 66

IN A DARK BAR, Chimera sipped his Guinness. The best for the best, he thought.

Next to him, a white-haired man with a blotchy red, dry-as-parchment face was downing Tom Collinses, glancing up at the TV. The news was on. An insipid reporter was giving the latest on the Chimera case, getting it all wrong, insulting the public, insulting him.

He kept his eyes peeled across the street through the bar's large window. He had followed the next victim here. This one he would relish. All those cops, chasing down the wrong leads. This kill would really set them on their heels.

“It's not over,” he muttered under his breath. And don't ever get the idea that I'm predictable. I'm not.

The drunk old-timer next to him gave him a nudge. “I think the bastard's one of them,” he said.

“One of them?” Chimera asked. “Watch your elbows. And what the hell are you talking about?”

“Black as the ace of spades,” the old man said. “They're combing through those hate groups. Ha, what a laugh. This is some sick jungle bunny minus one jar on the shelf. Probably plays in the NFL. Hey Ray.” he called to the bartender.

“Probably plays in the NFL... ” “What makes you say that?” Chimera asked, his eyes flicking across the street. He was curious about what his public was thinking. Maybe he ought to do more man-on-the-street interviews like this one.

“You think any motherfucker with a set of brains would leave clues like that?” the old man whispered conspiratorially.

“I think you're jumping a little fast, old-timer.”

Chimera finally grinned. “I think this killer's pretty smart.”

“How smart can you be to be a fucking murderer?” “Smart enough not to get caught,” Chimera said.

The man scowled at the screen. “Yeah, well, when it comes out, you watch. They're looking under the wrong rug. There's gonna be one big surprise. Maybe it's O.J. Hey, Ray, someone should check if O. J.'s in town.”

He had taken just about as much as he could of the drunk. But the guy was right about one thing. The San Francisco cops were lost in space. Man, they didn't have a clue.

Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer was nowhere on this. Not even close to him.

“I'll bet you something.” Chimera grinned at the old man.

He put his face close to him, his eyes wide. "If they catch him, I'll bet you he has green eyes.

Suddenly across the street, he spotted his target on the street. Well, maybe this will help Lieutenant Boxer focus. A hit real close to home. A little sidebar that he just couldn't resist. He tossed a few dollars on the bar.

“Hey, what's the rush?” The old man turned to him. “Let me buy you another brew. Hey what the hell, you got green eyes, buddy.”

Chimera spun out of his seat. “Gotta go. There's my date.”