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The other man nodded. “Hardly a coincidence, much like this young woman being here.” He turned his face toward me and I shrank beneath his accusatory eyes. “What seems to be the problem, miss?”
“There’s no need to use your official voice on her, Alastair,” Ben teased as he slid around his companion and over to my side. “This is my friend, Miss Millie Lucas. Millie, meet Alastair Rask, one of the best drivers to ever drive around these tracts.”
Alastair’s expression softened and he moved his clipboard to his other hand and held out his left to me. “You’ll have to pardon the unusual handshake I offer, Miss Lucas. An old injury prevents me from using my cane hand.”
I smiled and shook his hand. “No problem, and please call me Millie.”
“You’re a different lass than Ben’s usual tag-a-longs,” Alastair mused as he looked me over.
I cast a bemused side glance at the count. “Am I?”
Ben cleared his throat. “Yes, well, that isn’t important right now. What will happen to the rest of the races?”
Alastair nodded at the debris that still littered the raceway. “It’ll take some time to pick up all these parts to the satisfaction of everyone, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the day’s races are canceled.”
My heart sank. “Damn. . .”
Ben looped his arm around mine and looked around. “Then in the meantime, let us see if we can’t find my future investment.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
My heart gavea leap as I’d completely forgotten that Grant had been in the race. We meandered our way through the dispersing crowds and much was my relief when I noticed Boastful parked at the next curve of the track among many of the other surviving leader cars. The trio stood close to the crowds and their dusty hands showed they’d helped move the broken parts and thunders.
Grant noticed us first. He wore a round ill-fitting helmet and his face was covered in dried but still glistening sweat. His attire consisted of a gray-striped jumpsuit and heavy black boots. He flexed his hands which were covered in thick black gloves that featured rubber grips on the fingertips. His face was dusted in a brown coating of dry dirt and his clothes likewise showed the stain of sweat and grime.
“So you did come,” Grant commented as we joined the trio. “I was starting to think these two idiots had been pulling a prank on me.”
“Not this time,” Ben told him as he looked the three over. “How’s the thunder?”
Chase glanced at the vehicle and nodded. “A couple of scratches from all the debris, but she runs just fine.”
“Not for lack of trying on the part of that spirit,” Grant chimed in as he looked over the mess. “I thought my tail was going to be ripped off. It took one of the thunders right behind me and tossed it around like it was a toy.”
Ben turned his attention to Mouse. “The first time we met, you mentioned there were problems that only your lucky piece of wood could solve. What were they?”
Mouse shrugged. “Just the odd things here and there. Nothing serious.”
“Until this,” I pointed out.
“What are you getting at?” Chase wondered as he looked between both of us. “That this tyke is right about everything that’s been going on the last couple of tracts?”
“Whathasbeen going on?” Ben inquired.
The trio stared at each other a moment before Grant pursed his lips. He looked down at Ben and shook his head. “Not here. We’re staying at one of the inns. We can talk there.”
“How far is it?” Ben asked him.
“About a half hour closer to Pernix,” Mouse answered.
“Then would a villa closer than that work for you gentlemen?” Ben suggested.
Chase shrugged. “Yeah, but they’re all rented out. We tried getting one a month ago and they were already taken.”
“Or ridiculously expensive,” Grant chimed in.
“This one happened to be unavailable at that time,” Ben explained as he turned his face to me. “That is, if you don’t mind missing out on the rest of the tract today. They might still hold some showings of the thunders.”
I glanced at the wreckage and shook my head. “I think I’ve had enough today.”
