Morningstar Manor

Charlie had been as organised as it was possible for him to be and, so far, things appeared to be going according to plan. ( Read more... )

Langham was outraged. Davis deserved everything he got for being stupid enough to have tackled Ferrell.

The original plan was that Davis was to have crippled the co-driver, hopefully badly enough that Ferrell would pull out of the race. Since the little fag stayed in company all night long, Davis was supposed to have made sure that Ferrell wouldn't have been driving anywhere.

A broken arm or leg would have done it, but no the stupid son of a bitch had gone for a kill and now Langham was left to finish the race on his own.( Read more... )

Midsummer's Day and, as usual, Charlie was awake well before dawn. Only this year instead of being out in the cool misty greeness of home he was in the starkly lit aridity of western Arizona. ( Read more... )

Sleep had been disjointed at best and so tempers where high the next morning. Deacon had grumbled with the rest of them but after a huge cup of coffee had calmed down. They were getting close to the end and now was not the time to lose focus.

Today they had one of the longest stretches to go - and one of the last that would be in more rural areas and on long stretches of straight roads. Now was the time to really push it because it was a qualifying round. There were eight of them left - and only three would be on the last stretch tomorrow. So by the time they had gotten a few hours out of town everyone was beginning to really push the speed limit.

Charlie checked the mirrors and turned round in his seat to look behind them. Behind the road narrowed to a pinpoint, ahead it did the same. This was going to be a test of raw power and resilience.

And of bladder capacity, he thought. He was being very careful with his fluid intake.( Read more... )

More driving shenanigans. Nobody dies.

Davis was up early next morning and went down to the diner to get coffee and breakfast for them both. Actually he needed some time away from Langham as well. God that man could bitch.
( Read more... )

Again a summary: more driving and ballistic donuts

With a race of this nature there could be no advertising, no sponsors, no audience. The starting line would have to be well away from unfriendly eyes or the race would be over before it had begun. Consequently the organisers had set up in the enormous parking lot of the Gulfstream Park Racetrack, one area of which they had carefully cordoned off.

Careful they may have been, secret they certainly were, but people had come to see the racers off and a party atmosphere prevailed.

Even Mike Langham, with a barely healed hole in his knee and considerable worry for his daughter in the back of his mind, found himself grinning at his co-driver as a couple of giggling girls teetered by in high heels, long tanned legs lovely to behold.

"Whaddya think, boss," Davis asked, nodding to the opposition. ( Read more... )

Summarised for those of you who have lives: Deacon and Charlie survive the first day of the race.

June 18th early morning





They did it - just.

By nine a.m. on the eighteenth they were able to step back and looked at Car then at each other wearily but with a great sense of achievement.

"Okay," Charlie said, blinking at Deacon with a sleepy smile. "I'll get the supplies inside, you get yourself ready. Then I'll inhale some more coffee and get myself sorted."

Deacon caught Charlie before he could get back to work and hauled him close, kissing him deeply. "Thank you," he said. "For comin' out here. For doin' this. I'll make it up to ya."

And then he hurried back into the office to the small bathroom there that had a very primitive shower.

Charlie licked his lips and watched Deacon heading for the bathroom. "I'd go a lot further than this for you," he said softly then went back to the car.

Food, drink, plastic bags to pee into! They'd put a lot of thought into it.

The air was thick and muggy when Charlie drove Car down the ramp and followed the sign posts to the building where, he knew, Deacon would be waiting for him. Car's engine missed and stuttered as she crawled along and the heater puffed a gust of exhaust smelling air into his face.

"Not long now," he said then stifled a yawn. "Not long at all - I hope." Driving Car was a strain. No matter how he adjusted her seat he always seemed to end up straining to reach the pedals.

Deacon was waiting at the entrance to the building and the moment he came into view Car suddenly went faster, skidding to a stop in front of Deacon. Deacon patted her hood and opened the door.

"Hey, Mouse," he said, looking grubby - he was covered in grease and oil from working on what was left of the Astin Martin - and very tired.( Read more... )

Charlie left the lift to the parking garage at a fast walk, speaking into his phone equally quickly.

"Unavoidable, I'm afraid," he said. "Yes I have to leave now. My mother will be staying to look after Nia but if Amarie could do some extra hours I'd be very grateful. Oh, I'll leave that up to my mother. If Amarie could give her a call when she gets in? Thanks Vinnie. No, I hope not. No more than a week if everything goes as planned. And if you could let Jason know for me as well? Thanks, you're a star. Okay then, see you when I get back. Yeah, you too."

He finished the call, last of several. Andy had been scathing but Seth had been supportive. By that time he had reached the black car and took the key from his pocket. He looked at Car and Car looked back.

Knuckles white on the straps of his bag, Charlie stepped into the space between the Dodge and a rather nice Mercedes and tried to get the key in the lock. Inevitably it didn't fit.

He tried again and it fitted but wouldn't turn.

Charlie looked at his watch then looked around the garage. Nobody was watching.

"Now listen," he hissed. "I'm taking you to Deacon, you superannuated pile of rust and if you waste time we'll miss the flight and he'll be in BIG trouble. Do you want that?"

The door flew open cracking him on the hip.

"I didn't think so," he snarled and dived into the driver's seat. The engine was running before he had even got the seat belt fastened and they took the ramp at speed.

Nia might not have her actual grandmother close to hand but Mary-Ann Baker (who had always been motherly to Deacon and Charlie) was the next best thing. And when she had a day off from cleaning apartments and showed up at Deacon's door all but kicking him out so she could spend a few hours with Nia - well who was he to argue.

So down he went to the Manor garage, starting up Car and moving her into the mechanic's garage. She was done really, completely rebuilt, but he kept messing with her from time to time, adding this and that, making the engine more powerful, faster, hell he even had a mind to add a nitrous booster. Just for the hell of it.

As it was he was happily covered with grease and humming along to the music on the radio as he poked around under the hood.