The Dead Caller from Chicago

Forty-three

I was down the block from Robinson’s bungalow by five the next morning. His lights went on at six, and he left for city hall at seven. The streets were mostly empty, and I tailed him from far back. No one else did.

I turned around and went back to the turret. I called Jarobi before I went inside. “I don’t like this one damned bit. The kidnapper should have called by now.”

“I want to think he’s just being careful.”

“No one’s tailing Robinson, or they backed off, if they saw me.”

“Mr. Phelps will concentrate on the one who calls.”

“Give me something to do.”

“Back away. Mr. Phelps wants you clear away from all this. For now, we wait for a call from our man.”

“Or our woman?”

“California’s a long shot, Elstrom. Don’t get your hopes up.” He promised me he’d call with news and hung up.

I called the Bohemian. “What do you hear about my friend Mr. Smith?”

“He’s not so agitated. He quit drawing pictures as soon as you left. Now he’s eating and leafing through magazines.”

“Still in no shape to leave?”

“Not even close, they tell me.”

I called Endora next. “Leo’s improving,” I said.

“Then we’re coming home.”

“There’ve been two more murders, plus a corpse found bobbing in the Willahock. Amanda was helping me, trying to puzzle through what Leo might have gotten caught up in. She’s been kidnapped.”

“My God, Dek!”

“I’ve got to go away later,” I said. “I can’t worry about you returning to Rivertown while I’m gone.”

“Leo’s safe; you’re sure?”

“Hidden away from the world.”

“Call me soon?”

“As soon as I know something,” I said, which didn’t sound like anytime soon at all.

The burgundy Escalade passed beneath my windows an hour later. I grabbed my coats and ran to the Jeep.

Robinson drove to the same Denny’s Jarobi and I had gone to, just the day before. He and another man went in. They sat at a booth by the window, as Jarobi and I had. I watched them eat what looked like omelets. When they came out, I followed them back to city hall. Cars and trucks got between us, but again I spotted no one following Robinson.

My landline rang as soon as I got back inside.

“Did you get hungry, watching us?” Robinson asked. He sounded calmer.

“How was breakfast?”

“Excellent, like every morning. I spotted you following me home last night as well. I appreciate the thought, but if I noticed you, chances are my secret friend did, too. He’s probably backed off for a while.”

“Maybe you should ask the police for help.”

“Rivertown police? You’re kidding, right?”

“I’ve got to go out of town for a little while. I think you’ll be all right.” I made sure he had my cell phone number and told him to call me if his tail reappeared.

Jarobi called as I was walking from the indoor garage.

“Anything?” I asked.

I lost his words in the chatter of a group of people walking behind me, happy folks on their way to happy times.

“Tell me, Jarobi: anything?”

“I said-” His words vaporized as the nattering group passed by.

“Any word?”

“What the hell are you doing at the airport, Elstrom?” he shouted.

“Chasing the only idea I’ve got,” I said, riding the escalator up to the ticketing area.

“There’s a man less than fifty feet behind you. See him waving?”

I turned. Down at the base of the elevator, a man waved.

“You’re wasting manpower tailing me.”

“It’s the only idea I’ve got,” he said, mimicking my words. “He wants to stick a gun in your ribs before you can buy a ticket. What shall I tell him?”

“Tell him security people will frown at his gun, but if he’s got a cop ID, he can come along.”

“Those divorcing people?”

“I can’t just sit.”

“Your L.A. lovebirds won’t tell you anything. They’ve got the money to hire professionals.”

“I’ll agitate. I’ll fuss, I’ll fidget, I’ll look like I know more than I do. Tell me what else I can do. Tell me why the kidnapper hasn’t called. Tell me how Amanda’s feeling, right now.”

“Wait here, be bait. Maybe our kidnapper thinks you still have the picture.”

“He knows better if he’s already contacted Wendell. You can put a man on my turret, though, to see if anyone comes. Or you can pick my lock like the last time and wait inside.”

“As I remember, it’s too cold inside your place.”

“I’m hoping I’ll heat things up in L.A.”