Amos and the Chameleon Caper by Gary Paulsen Page A

truck?”
    “Used to have?”
    Amos nodded. “Last time I saw it, the top scoop was still sticking through Mrs. Johnson’s windshield. My dad gave me a choice: Either get a night job or come to Des Moines and baby-sit.”
    “Did you ever answer the phone?”
    “That’s the worst part. It turns out it wasn’t a phone after all. It was just a bell Sergio rings to attract customers.”
    “I think you made the right choice—about coming to Iowa, I mean.” Dunc looked at his watch. “I wish they’d hurry up and get here. It’s getting late.”
    “It may be a while. Tiffany’s dad is some kind of big-shot politician. He said he’d come for us as soon as his last meeting let out.”
    A man in a badly stained suit who hadn’t had a shave in days sat down beside Amos. “Hey, kid. Got a quarter? I need it to buy coffee.”
    Amos scooted to the other side of his chair and whispered to Dunc. “This guy smells, and I don’t think he’s ever seen coffee. Let’s get out of here.”
    They picked up their bags and moved to the window at the front of the lobby.
    Amos stared out at the metropolitan buildings. “I didn’t realize Iowa had any big cities.”
    Dunc cleared his throat. “Des Moines is the largest city and also the capital of Iowa. Its population is approximately two hundred thousand. Chief exports are—”
    “If I wanted a rundown on vital statistics, I would have—Dunc, look, that grandma is crossing the street in front of traffic.”
    A small, bent, elderly woman was attempting to fight her way between oncoming cars to cross the street.
    They heard the squeal of brakes and saw the woman fall. Her cane flew into the air and landed near the bus depot.
    The boys raced outside. A cabdriver was already helping the woman to her feet. Amos handed her the cane.
    “Thank you, sonny.” She tried to take a step and fell back against the driver. “Oh my. I can’t seem to get my bearings. I must be a lot worse off than I thought.”
    The cabdriver pulled out his wallet. “Here, lady. Take this, it’s all I have.” He shoved a wad of money at her. “I can’t be part of no lawsuit or I’ll lose my job.”
    The woman looked at the money. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll use this money to go to the doctor and we’ll pretend this little accident never happened.”
    “That’s fine with me.” The driver hurriedly stepped back into his cab and drove away.
    Dunc picked up the woman’s purse and brushed it off. “Can we help you get some-place, ma’am?”
    “Goodness no. I’m on my way to see my doctor. His office is just up the street.” The woman took her handbag and tottered down the sidewalk and out of sight.
    Dunc rubbed his chin. “Hmmm.”
    Amos looked at him. “Now cut that out. Every time you make that stupid sound, it’s a sure sign you’re gonna get us into some kind of trouble.”
    “Amos?” Dunc led the way back to the curb. “Did you actually see the cab hit that woman?”
    Amos shook his head. “No. I hate the sight of blood. I’m pretty sure I had my eyes closed.”
    “I don’t think it hit her. I think that woman fell after the cab had already stopped.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “Lots of things. Her bright green eyes,for one. It’s hard to explain. It was like they were laughing at us. And another thing …” Dunc looked through the bus station window. “Amos, that man has our bags.”
    A thin man with tattoos covering both arms had their suitcases and was moving quickly to the back exit of the bus station. Dunc started running after him.
    “Hiii-yaaa!”
    A girl in a white karate
gi
raced past them. She gave the man a vicious kick in the middle of his back and a quick chop on the side of his neck. He dropped the bags and crawled out the door, groaning.
    She turned to Dunc just as he got to her and stuck out her hand. “Hi. I’m Tiffany, Amos’s cousin.”

Tiffany led them to the entrance of an elegant apartment complex. The doorman held the glass door open.