Race to Redemption (8 page)

“I never noticed it until now but you really like metaphors and figures of speech and such, don’t you?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Not at all; I think it’s cute.” He kissed her nose.

“Just shut up and get us to the garage.”

He was chuckling as he grabbed his jacket.

* * * *

Rueben had been running all afternoon. Brant had him hitting up possible sponsors, Seth had him tracking down tools and parts, and Chloe had him chasing ghosts and whispers. Sponsors were easy, they were his job after all, and Rueben knew exactly how to play that game. On the other hand, he knew nothing at all about automotive mechanics but he’d found that if he called a service desk and said, ‘I need this, that, or the other thing,’ they said, ‘no problem, come pick it up.’

As long as he quoted Seth exactly he was in the clear. Chasing rumours was turning out to be the most challenging, tiring, and distressing part of his day.

He’d found most drivers, managers, and fans were more than willing to pass along the juiciest bits of news about Trey Williams, racing bad boy, including the hot brunette he’d taken clubbing two nights ago. He’d made a mental note to talk to Chloe about that one, in private of course. After an hour of over-the-top stories he noticed that no one mentioned how Trey’s manager fit into the picture. Curious, he asked another manager about Boyd Stellens and got a lot of wishy-washy, non-committal avoidance. With renewed purpose Rueben had gone back out to pump the rumour mill for information.

Now, with too many possibilities swirling around in his head Rueben went back to look at the car to check that nothing had been touched since Seth had finished up just before dinner. The lights were off but he could hear the distinct sound of someone rummaging through a tool box. Moving cautiously he came up to the tool bench and clicked on the lamp. Trey looked up, startled, his hand in Seth’s tool box. Rueben’s heart hit the floor. Everything he’d learned today had convinced him that there was something more complicated going on. He shook his head. “I was really hoping it wasn’t you behind all this.”

Before Trey could answer there was a squeak of little wheels and Chloe appeared from under the car. “Did you find that flashlight yet? Oh, Rueben, I didn’t hear you come in.”

Rueben looked from Chloe to Trey, pieces clicking into place faster for him than they had for Seth. “I should have pressed for more details this morning. Clubbing, Chloe?”

She flushed. “I guess you’ve been asking around.”

“Oh yeah, I’ve got lots of stories.”

“Most of that is pure rumour, or at least blown completely out of context,” Trey said, defensive. “I’m not a bad guy.”

“I’m inclined to believe you, but you two shouldn’t be here, or at least Trey shouldn’t be here. It doesn’t look good.”

“We can’t just leave the car. Someone is trying to hurt Brant.” Chloe got up from the creeper. “Please Rueben. Trey isn’t behind this. Someone needs to watch the car tonight.”

Rueben sighed. “All right I’ll stay here and watch the car. You two should get lost before Trey Williams and his mysterious brunette are accused of sabotage.”

“Thanks, Rueben. And make sure Seth gets here early enough to check the car. I didn’t get a good look and it was unattended long enough for someone to fuss with it.”

“You got it. Now go.”

Chapter Ten

The alarm was set for seven. The phone rang at five. Brant shut his eyes tighter and rolled over, which of course did nothing to stop the persistent ringing. Finally Seth sat up and grabbed the phone from the table between them.

“Yup,” he mumbled.

“Brant Bye?”

“This is his brother, Seth. Can I help?”

“This is about Rueben Mills. I understand he and Brant are business partners.”

“We’re all travelling together,” Seth said, more awake now. “What’s this about?”

“I’m with the New York City police. Mr. Mills is in the hospital. The man who brought him in said he was in business with Brant Bye at the Plaza Hotel. Are you available to answer a few questions?”

“We’ll be at the hospital as quickly as we can.”

“What is it?” Brant muttered. His foot was starting to throb and it was making it hard to stay asleep.

“Rueben’s in the hospital, get out of bed. The cops want to talk to us.”

Brant say up. “Cops? What for? I’ll bet anything that this has to do with Trey Williams.”

* * * *

Dr. Fisher was used to race car related injuries. As the closet hospital to the stock car track they were the primary drop point. He’d seen everything from little, quick stitch, mechanic’s injuries to the rare but tragic crash victim. Never in eight years of practicing had he ever had two managers in his care, and with a police officer hovering nearby.

“Well, it looks like you’ll have quite the goose egg but so far that looks like the only damage. I’d like to keep you here for the rest of the day, just in case you do have a concussion.”

The cop strode up. “If you’re finished I have a few questions that need clearing up.”

The doctor nodded and stepped aside. “He’s all yours.”

Before the officer could speak again there was a disturbance in the hallway that caught their attention. A moment later, Brant barged into the room with Seth in tow. “Where’s Rueben?” he demanded. “And who’s this guy?” He jabbed a finger in the direction of the man sitting on the exam bed.

“Are you Brant Bye?” the cop said.

Brant opened his mouth to give the cop a piece of his mind but Seth jumped in. “Yes, he’s Brant, and I’m Seth, and we’re looking for a friend.”

“Well, I’m Officer Stewart Minol and I’m in charge of the investigation into your friend’s assault. I’ll have a few questions for you as soon as I’m finished speaking to Mr. Sellens.”

“Please,” the man said, holding an ice-pack to the side of his head. “Just Boyd is fine.”

Brant’s jaw dropped a little. “You’re Trey William’s manager?”

Boyd nodded.

Officer Minol stepped in. “Why don’t you start by telling me what you were doing in a garage at four in the morning.”

Boyd shrugged. “Rueben called me, he said he wanted to talk about the sabotage. When I got there Rueben had some pretty compelling, and damning, evidence against Trey Williams, the driver I represent.”

“I knew it,” Brant said, rubbing his hands together. “Trust Rueben to figure it all out. I hope you’ve arrested Trey.”

The officer frowned at Brant. “Mr. Williams was taken into custody based on the initial statement of Mr. Sellens when he brought Mr. Mills to the hospital. He’s being questioned right now. Would you please let me do my job?”

“Of course,” Seth said, forcing Brant to take a step back.

“All right, Boyd, why don’t you tell me how you got that bump?”

“I got whacked with something hard, probably a tool or a car part since I was standing between a car and a tool bench. I hit my knees and everything went stars and flashes for a moment. I heard Reuben say ‘Trey, what are you doing?’ as someone stepped past me. There was a struggle and Reuben went down. When I could see straight Trey was gone and Rueben was out cold. I hauled him to the entrance after calling a cab on my phone and I brought him here.”

“You didn’t call an ambulance?” Officer Minol asked.

Boyd’s eyes went wide. “Now that would have been a good idea. Rueben was heavier than he looked. I guess I wasn’t really thinking too clearly.”

Dr. Fisher frowned. “We might want to do a few more tests just to confirm you don’t have a concussion though initial confusion isn’t uncommon.”

“So, where’s Rueben?” Seth asked as Brant stood sulking beside him.

“He’s just down the hall,” Dr. Fisher replied. “He’s still unconscious. Now, don’t panic. He took a bit of a beating, mainly around the head, but he’s not in a coma. He’ll likely be asleep until after dinner or even until tomorrow morning. He’ll probably have a severe concussion and a splitting headache. You can see him but he definitely can’t talk.”

“I’ll have an officer posted here to get his statement as soon as he’s able to give it,” Minol said.

“Why?” Brant demanded. “Boyd’s statement is pretty damning.”

“Unfortunately Boyd didn’t see who hit him and he wasn’t seeing clearly when your friend was attacked, he admitted as much. We’ll just need Rueben to confirm Boyd’s story. It won’t take long.”

“Until then you’ll hold Trey in custody?” Brant said.

“You will not!” shouted a familiar feminine voice.

“Chloe, you have a plane to catch, you’re already running late,” Brant snapped, turning to face the door and his sister.

“I’m not here to talk to you, Brant. I was told the officer who requested Trey be brought in for questioning was here.”

“That would be me,” Officer Minol said. “And you are?”

“Chloe Bye—Brant Bye’s sister and Trey William’s girlfriend. I’m also Trey’s alibi.”

“Get out of here Chloe,” Brant hissed. “This doesn’t concern you. Go home.”

“I’m very interested in what she has to say,” Officer Minol said.

“Trey Williams was with me, all night.”

“Sleeping is a great alibi,” Brant said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

“Except that I have a female bladder and the coffee I drank around eight hit me at three-thirty. Trey was sound asleep beside me when I finally dragged myself out of bed five minutes later and was still in bed when I got back. So unless he’s Superman I don’t think he could make it to the track in under twenty-five minutes—especially since he still needed to get dressed and find a cab.”

“How can anyone be so exact about the time?” Brant snapped.

“Because I was lying in bed staring at the clock for five minutes debating  whether I should get out of my nice warm bed or not. Since I didn’t think peeing the bed was overly attractive I got up.”

“Your bed? You mean Trey’s bed?”

“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”

The officer frowned. “Obviously there’s something going on here.”

“Sibling rivalry,” Seth said.

“I get that. I have three sisters myself.”

“Can we see Rueben?” Chloe asked the doctor.

“Of course, follow me.”

“But don’t run off,” the officer called after them. “I have to make a phone call and then I’ll need some contact information from each of you.”

A second officer stayed close to Boyd and the siblings followed the doctor down the hall. Reuben was tucked in a hospital bed wearing a faded blue gown. There was an IV in his arm and an oxygen mask over his face. He’d been washed and bandaged so they couldn’t see how bad the bruising was, just how many bandages there were and that was scary enough.

“There’s nothing broken?” Chloe asked her voice hushed.

“No, he got lucky. He got hit with something pretty hard but he must be one hell of a tough man. I can’t say whether he can hear you, he’s right out cold, but I say it never hurts to talk to a patient in this state. Buzz me if you need anything else.”

Chloe covered her mouth with her hand, tears springing to her eyes. “Oh, Rueben, I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Sorry?” Brant snapped. “Sorry doesn’t even begin to cover it. You’ve missed your plane home. You betrayed your family. Rueben’s in the hospital. And you’re still sticking up for that…that animal.”

“Brant, maybe you should…”

“Shut up, Seth. Chloe, do I need to die in a smoldering wreck before you’ll open your eyes! Rueben has proof! Trey was behind all of this all along. He played you.”

“You don’t know Trey and you obviously don’t know me. We’re done, Brant. Brother or not, blood or not, you and I are done.”

“Chloe, don’t say anything rash.”

“No, Seth. I’m done.” She turned back to Brant. “Rueben is in the hospital. He may have a concussion, and you’re too busy yelling at me to give a damn if he’s okay. You’re so goddamn full of yourself that you actually think you have the right to ship me off when I displease you. You even think you have the right to tell me who I can be involved with. Not even Dad has the right to tell me who I can and cannot fall in love with.”

“It’s a fling, Chloe.”

“I love him, Brant. I didn’t want this to come between us. I thought family could be stronger than this. But you are so stubborn and closed-minded I can’t get through to you. It’s not worth it anymore.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Officer Minol said, coming into the room. “Trey Williams was released since he couldn’t have beaten up your friend. Until we have evidence stronger than Boyd’s clouded memory Chloe’s alibi is all Trey needs. One of the officers was going to give him a ride back to the hotel but then Trey wanted to go to the stock car track.”

“The track,” Brant said. “The race! We have to go, now, or we’ll miss the check in.”

“I’ll drive you,” he said. “Then I can get your contact information at the same time.”

* * * *

Chloe burst from the front seat of the car and rushed off in the direction of Trey’s parking spot. Trey was already suited up and was reviewing plans and tactics with his spotter, a boy of maybe nineteen.

“Trey!” she shouted and crashed into his chest.

He rocked a little with the force of her and held her tight. “Thanks for getting me out of there. It was like being eighteen all over again. What do cops have against race car drivers anyways?”

“You drive too fast. Oh, Trey, don’t ever do that again.”

“Do what?”

“Get arrested!”

He chuckled. “Those days are behind me.” He pried her off. “Chloe, this is my kid brother, Jake. He’s been spotting for me this season. You can sit upstairs with him, unless you’re still spotting for Brant.”

“As far as Brant’s concerned I’m not even supposed to be here. My plane has left for home.” She kissed him just hard enough to make Jake cough and Trey blush. “Good luck.”