A fairly short and boring chapter, but hey, that's how the story goes. Read on, suckers.


Chapter Three: Whodunnit?

The Delinquent Road Hazards were sent to the Impound, and kept in silent captivity. The four punk cars did not speak to each other about what had happened; they were too wary of the glares and insults they were constantly receiving from cars outside of the Impound. So they remained silent, feeling too beaten down inside to say anything. They had also become horribly suspicious of each other, which didn't help their usually tightly bonded friendship at all.

Doc Hudson, meanwhile, was working on Sheriff for all of the next day. Because Sheriff was in such a poor condition, general clinic service was being temporarily put on hold, until Sheriff would become well enough to rest without any means of urgent medical attention.

It was eerily quiet throughout town the next day. By this, I mean that nobody wanted to talk about what had happened, as they were all fairly shaken up – and yet, the words couldn't contain themselves any longer and escaped their mouths, whispering and muttering from here to there like a ghostly breeze.

'Who would be so heartless to do such a thing?' Sally whispered, looking worried.

'Anyone who's stupid enough to mess with the law,' Sarge growled.

'Actually, I reckon their leader is pretty damn sneaky when it comes to that,' Ramone muttered.

'One of them tried-a to steal my tyres!' cried Luigi indignantly.

'Not coooool, man,' Fillmore drawled.

As the residents of Radiator Springs sat at Flo's and talked about the situation rather than concentrate on their fuel beverages, Doc Hudson finally emerged from the clinic nearby. Everyone suddenly went quiet and all eyes turned to the old former racecar, waiting with bated breath for the verdict. Lightning was the first to act. He slowly rolled over to Doc and automatically asked him on behalf of everyone else, with a slightly trembling voice.

'Is he going to be all right, Doc?'

Doc Hudson nodded gravely. 'Yes, he'll live. Had he been injured any more, his life may have just been taken away.'

Sally sighed. 'Oh, thank Chrysler.'

'You may come in and give him company if you like,' replied Doc. 'He's asleep… boy, does he need it. I'm not sure the poor man could take many more years of doing his job.'

Lightning and Sally followed Doc into the clinic. When they saw Sheriff, they were relieved, but a mixed feeling of anxiety and sorrow seemed to tingle inside both of their engines. Most of the old police officer's wounds had been welded and fixed back into his natural body shape, and there was no sign of any splattered oil. But Sheriff still looked like he had been caught up in a tractor stampede as he rested unconsciously on the raised pillar.

A fair amount of frail silence passed while the two cars sat by Sheriff's side and sadly took it all in. Radiator Springs' only police officer, beaten down for what seemed to be no reason at all…

'Oh, Sheriff,' whispered Sally as tears formed in her eyes. 'If only you knew how much everyone misses you.'

Only the shallow sound of Sheriff's breaths followed – and then his eyelid twitched. After blinking weakly a few times, his eyes found those of Lightning and Sally, who felt reassured smiles spreading on their bumpers.

'Hey, you're awake,' Lightning said softly.

Now it was Sheriff's turn to take everything in. After noticing the shiny metal and marble objects around him, he realized he was in Doc's clinic. Of course… the last thing he remembered was being attacked by someone… after attempting to shift uncomfortably on his axles, he found himself wincing in pain and felt fire shoot through the gashes in his frame. Wow… and to think, only one car had done all this to him?

'Sheriff?' Sally's worried voice rung out.

He opened his eyes a little wider, returning from his thoughts. 'Sally… Lightning?' he croaked. It was painful even to talk.

'We've been so worried about you,' Lightning whispered. 'How are you feeling?'

Sheriff sighed heavily. 'I've had better days… but at least I'm lucky to be alive.' He smiled faintly at Doc, in spite of his condition. 'Thank you, old friend.'

'But of course,' Doc murmured softly, sadly smiling back. He lightly touched the tyre of his long-term companion. The two cars had known each other for at least 30 years, and their own friendship was unbreakable to date. 'We've had the delinquents impounded, by the way. They must have been crazy to attack you like that. You can give them a good old thrashing – in fact, prison in the city should hold them.'

Sheriff looked at him. 'Doc… I… I'm not sure who did it, to be honest.'

Lightning blinked. 'What do you mean?'

'They didn't all attack me. You see… it was only one of them. And I never saw their face.'


'The Radiator Springs Traffic Court will come to order!'

Doc Hudson's voice rang out through the hall. This was instantly followed by a lingering hush of all voices in the courtroom. Everyone in Radiator Springs was present, while Sheriff stayed in Doc's clinic for additional rest.

As Doc Hudson spoke, the double doors opened – and the silence turned from cold to positively frozen. The four Delinquent Road Hazards ambled slowly into the room, surrounded by twelve icy gazes, and took their place in front of the judge's podium. This was it. It was time… time to find out who had attacked Sheriff.


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