Chapter 10: Top Gear

Without another word I headed to the parking lot and slipped in my car breaking every speed limit to my house. I parked in the garage locking up and broke to a run for my room. There, on my dresser, was the object of my need. The small cactus that Alison brought me last summer. She had made a pit stop at Phoenix and thought it would be a nice reminder. I had taken it to Forks with me but never bothered with replanting it to a bigger pot. I tore off it's pot and a flash drive fell off. I took it with shaking hands and plugged it in my laptop. It was filled to the brim with videos and photos. The proof for all of her meddlings and blackmailing. I made a copy and put the original back in its hiding place.

Next day, a Sunday, I woke up early, pulled my hair back with pencils, opened the curtains and immediately attached the phone to my hand. A sleepy Charlie answered on the fifth ring

"Morning dad"

"nngngn"

"rise and shine daddy"

"coffee"

"go to the kitchen and make some. I need you wide awake and alert here. Chop chop"

he hung up on me. I went downstairs to make me a pot of coffee and some fruit and yogurt while he woke up as well and would call me back. Which he did the moment I sat down on the patio table with my laptop, cell phone and evidence.

"I'm awake now"

"good job daddy"

"enough mocking young lady. What is it?"

"She's alive and I can prove it. I also remember what happened that night"

"wow. all that from a funeral?"

"har har. Remember when we spoke yesterday?"

"yes, you wanted to know if I know anyone good with computers outside the system. I found you just the guy. Got a job protecting a rich guy but is willing to help you."

"Great! Next, I need to change the security system. The one mom installed is pretty basic and easily penetrable if I'm right. Also I need to find out some things about a few people"

"Give me the names and I'll run background checks"

"Off the record dad."

"I know my job sweetie"

I told Charlie the names and hang up, a serial killer in a small island near Forks a few years ago had him helping the local sheriff and the FBI. He had been asked to join the Feds but refused liking the small town feel. He kept in contact though. Then I called the hacker and he agreed to meet me tonight at New York where I would meet my uncle as well as they would arrive at noon. Tomorrow I'd mend some bridges and accept my new role.

New York was two hours away so after a shower (which I hadn't bothered with last night) and got dressed in a beige skirt and a light blue tank top. A pair of grey boots and a warm denim jacket just in case I was out till late. I made the normally two hour drive in less than one, making good use of what dad loves to call 'the Clarckson gene'. I pulled in the parking lot of Newark airport and showed my ID. I was led to a private airway where my uncle would land soon. I got a coffee and waited. Who ever said that English are punctual needs to have a chat with the pilot. The flight was delayed for 25 minutes. Finally they arrived. First out of the private jet was the infamous captain Slow. Followed by Richie 'the Dwarf' with Jer 'the oaf' bringing the end.

I hugged them all fiercely. The last time I saw them was over two years ago and I had missed them all. I found myself twirling around by Jeremy Clarckson himself.

"Miss Colonist"

"Jeremy! How long are you going to resent dad for giving you that ticket?"

He made a non committal tone and I shook my head. He and dad love each other deep down. Very deep down.

"Look at you, you're so grown up"

"Thank you James. You know most people tend to grow up"

"It's ok Richard; you'll grow up too someday"

"uncle Jer, don't be mean"

"Where is Ben?"

"He resigned. We don't even know who the new Stig is"

Richard answered and was interrupted by the unusually exuberant James May.

"Wanna see our choices?"

"Sure"

I was told to wait while they went to bring the cars. I held my breath as three cars rolled in. A Hyundai, a VW Rabbit and a Volvo. I rolled my eyes shaking my head. Oh boy! They parked in front of me.

"What do you think?"

"A rabbit, a volvo and Hyundai"

"Well?"

"Wanna see our modifications?"

"Please"

The first three tasks had taken place in England and had left the cars violated.

James showed me his Rabbit that had a great radio in and one heck of cracks and scratches. A hip hop song was blaring and the two partners in crime were giggling like schoolgirls.

Richard had the Hyundai which had some extra body (for some reason) and a lot of dact tape. Jeremy of course had the Volvo that had a 'shag bed' in the back seat because that is the ideal extra for any teenager. A mental image of Edward in it had me dropped on my knees laughing hard.

"So who's winning?"

I asked when I was able to breath again. Jeremy puffed up much to the chargring of James and Richard. I hid a smile at their antics and sit back to enjoy their fourth and last challenge. They had to let their inner 17year old boys free and try -not to- bumb in a lot of objects and make a handle break turn. Three girls would judge them. Jeremy hit every obstacle available - typical Jeremy, Richard managed not to hit one and executed the turn while James managed to kill his car while hitting the first obstacle.

After a lot of debacle the winner was crowned. The Volvo 850 Estate. Jeremy was grinning like an idiot wiggling the keys to my direction. I used my perfected English accent

"You idiots! You bloody quaks. My best friend built the VW Rabbit by himself so it doesn't really mean a thing to me, James. I'm not an airhead teenage boy wanting to get laid, Richard. I'm also not a soccer mom Jeremy. Not to mention that's my ex's car."

"You dated your Geography teacher?"

"No Richard. My ex had a volvo. I'm gonna stick with the Alto"

"An Alto? You, my niece, my flesh and blood, rented an Alto?"

I rolled my eyes and made to walk away but a cat whistle had me dead on my trucks. I turned around to see The Stig tossing me a set of keys. I caught them easily. I lifted an eyebrow at his direction and he pointed to a car that I hadn't paid attention to. A Jaguar XK. Jeremy whistled and started listing the car's features - something I never paid any attention to - while Richard immediately took a seat in and started stroking it. James was flabbergasted and started throwing off accusations. The Stig just stood there.

"We were told to only use 2.500 pounds"

The Stig moved to the passenger seat of the Jags and took a legal pad and a pen from the glove compartment. He returned to my side, wrote something and handed me the legal pad.

"Next time try telling the company that you work for the BBC and you wish to run an editorial on convertibles. They gave it for free"

"How about the insurance? The limit was 2.500 pounds"

The Stig wrote something on another page

"one word: BBC"

"Basically you lied"

I asked and he nodded

"How much?"

I asked but I was stopped short.

"I wanted to get you your first car but your stupid cop father insisted he had a good deal without me meddling. We all know how that went down so this car is from me"

"I can't accept that Jeremy"

"You don't really have a choice Bella. Believe us he won't change his mind"

Richard supplied and I had to smile at that

"Hey, don't hate the truck. When I had a collision in it, it simply got a dent while the other car was sold for parts"

"How fast is it?"

"Doesn't go above 50"

"Enough said!"

All three BBC presenters said in one voice nodding their heads. I rolled my eyes and turned to thank The New Stig. Instead of using my words though I went up to him and planted a kiss on his visor.

"Some say he the outline of his left nipple is exactly the same shape as the Nurburgring and that he urinates 98 RON petrol. All we know it's he's called The Stig"

I turned to look at Jeremy and couldn't help my retort.

"As long as some don't say his heart is quieter than a cat's purr and he sparkles like a diamond in the sun, he can be My Stig"

A/N: Am I the only one that has ever wondered whether Stig is a Twilight vampire?