The Good Race

Chapter 23

DANNY SAT IN the stands of Ryan and Jackie's new track with his heart in his throat and his body tensed. He couldn't watch and yet, he couldn't look away. The two cars raced around the track at impossible speeds, getting so close Danny felt sure they'd collide. One car would overtake the other. The car in second rode right on the bumper of the car in front. Danny knew if the front car hit its brakes, the other would be in the trunk.

That is, if there was a trunk.

They also didn't have mirrors. How the hell did they drive that fast and that close without mirrors? This was dangerous. This was very, very dangerous and the woman he loved was in one of the cars. He'd long since lost track of which one. He'd like to ticket them both for reckless driving. When Jackie got out of that car, he was going to shake her and yell at her and hug the ever loving shit out of her.

Then he was going to ban her from getting into one of those death traps again.

How could she do it knowing that her father died in a race car? Did she think about it when she got behind the wheel? Clearly from the skill Danny saw on the track, this was something the two of them have done before.

Danny had followed Jackie and Ryan as they gleefully showed him around their new venture. It seemed obvious that they would eventually stumble across something like this and he knew they could do a lot with the place. From what he understood, it had done a good business before it had to close.

What he saw was a place that needed a lot of work and maintenance. The buildings were worn, the paint faded. The bathrooms were one step up from a porta john. There was graffiti on some of the buildings and bleachers. The little playground off to the side by the snack bar was rusted and run down. Jackie didn't seem to care. She talked about the sounds and smells of summer with stars in her eyes. Greasy burgers and hot dogs, cotton candy and cheap beer.

Danny saw overtime for his police officers. Did that factor into the place's budget? Surely they had police on hand? Where there was alcohol and competition there were fights. How many sound complaints would he start to get? He made a note in his phone to have Norrie pull any and all police records pertaining to the race track. He wanted to know what was coming down the pike.

A man standing with his arms crossed over the fence below him caught his eye. He wore a baseball cap and sunglasses. He stepped back and left one hand on the fence while putting the other on his hip. He seemed to be studying the cars closely. Was he a resident coming to check out the noise? But then he crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. He was definitely watching the cars closely. Maybe he was one of Ryan's employees. But then Ryan hadn't mentioned anyone would be coming up from New York, and he hadn't converted the barn space yet.

The man then started looking around the track. To Danny's eye, it looked like the guy was scoping the joint. His gaze literally traveled over the entire complex.

Until it rested on Danny.

Then the man started up the bleachers until he was in Danny's row then took a seat right next to him.

"You McKenzie?" The man asked.

"I am."

"Toby Willis." The man held out his hand.

Things made sense now, Danny thought. The man was studying Ryan and Jackie's new investment and probably Ryan's new cars. Now, that Toby was up close, Danny could recognize him a little easier. Jackie had pictures of him around the house, of course, but Toby had retired from racing and was now a television commentator for the sport.