This is just a brief flashback on how Icky's mother and Chick Thunder Hicks got hitched. It's a little off subject, I apologize. I just had to get this off of my chest.

Warning: Some strong words.

Chapter 12

Karma

Present:

An olive-green Jaguar made her way up to the small group with Chick Hicks right next to her. She and Chick both parked right next to Prince and Doc. These two showed up but others were still to arrive. Monarch, Guido, Doc and Prince turned to greet the two. "Thanks a lot for coming guys. This means a lot." Monarch addressed them. "No problem kid. You know we wouldn't miss this. King, Lightning and Sal are all on their way, they're running a little late." Chick told him. "Sal" was the nickname he had created for Sally who actually preferred it to her real spelling. "Chick. Mercy. " Doc spoke their names in greeting, nodding his head at each individual. "Hey Doc. Prince." Chick returned in classic Chick Hicks style and Mercy, the Jaguar with him. "Welcome." was Prince's only response, as she was so focused on how happy her newest girlfriend seemed, with her new fellow at her side. She couldn't help but grin. As somber as an event this was, it was still a wonderful thing to see Mercy's life back on track after what she had been through in the past three years. Her son was Icky Blazer. When
she thought her world had finally collapsed at his sudden loss, Chick was one of the ones who was always checking up on her aside from Prince, and a year later, he found himself increasingly attracted to Icky's mother. For good reasons he kept those feelings to himself for the longest, as it was simply not the proper time to come on to her considering what she had gone through. And like everyone else, he knew about her ex-husband and her fear of ending up in another violent relationship. But no car deserved to live out the rest of her life in loneliness like she had sentenced herself to. So Chick decided to wait. That's what he told Monarch.

That wait receded quickly when 14 month's after Icky's death none other than Boss Blazer, his estranged father suddenly turned up in Radiator Springs.

The incident re-imaged to Monarch as if it happened yesterday. Mercy was talked into moving to Radiator Springs by Doc and Prince and she did, to begin what she had hoped would be a new life after the death of her son. She had no reason to stay in the big city now that he was deceased. As Radiator Springs newest addition to the population, everything was going fine until "Boss" came. He came into town, and immediately started accusing her of losing everything he had.

It was a bizarre scenario to say the least. At first no body knew who he was. Someone lost for hours now was taking it out on the first local he saw? Clearly he had a lot of money from his looks; he was Mercedes Benz eight-door limo with shining gold-plated trim up and down his body. So much bling that even the Delinquents, known for their flashiness, thought it was over the top. It DID look good on him though. Even his side views were diamond-studded. Boost and Wingo were the first to hap upon the scene of catching the stranger alone with Mercy who had her cowering against the edge of the tires Red often knocked over in one of his crying fits.

Not that they were trying to be nosy, but the two of them were minding their own businesses when they heard shouts coming from Mater's lot. What was an angry car and a female pleading for him to leave her alone, to get out of town and never track her down again. Now sensing something was very wrong, the Delinquents hid around side and watched. The limo appeared drunk, and was ranting about how he lost millions in the stock market (due to bad investing on his part), blamed her for it. He was in an enormous amount of debt, he had become the laughing stock of Las Vegas, the Feds were after him for tax evasion. Incredibly, somehow it was all Mercy's fault because if he had never met her, he said, but had someone else like "Prince", and if Icky had a different mother, like Prince, maybe he'd still be alive. She got blamed for Icky's death, according to Boss, because if someone else had been his mother, he'd still be married to her which meant Icky never would have left to enter sports racing. None of it made sense because it was clear that the high-end car was in a drunken fit of rage and came here to settle a score. How he managed to find out where his ex-wife lived was not important at the moment; right now Mercy appeared to be in extreme danger. She couldn't scream because he had extracted a mounted gun barrel from under his front bumper and threatened to shoot her if she did. His plan was to 'take her on a little ride' as he put it…..

That's when the two Delinquents decided to act.

Having heard and seen enough both of them screeched out of their concealed places with a maelstrom of screaming tires and burning smoke and surrounded the startled limo. The looks in their eyes spoke pure murder and there was no doubt in the limo's mind that at one of these guys had seen a lot of crime in his life. For the bespectacled green and purple one with the simple black spoiler, his rap sheet did include murder. There was no questioning that he and the transluscent-purple one meant business if he made any move toward Mercy again. Boost was the first to reach the limo and when he did he rode the car almost down the embankment and pinned him there, vowing to "run his bitch ass over" until no one could tell what kind of car he used to be. The fact that the limo was twice as long as Boost didn't phase the Mitsubishi eclipse, Boost being a dragster had twice the power the limousine had. Not knowing what hit him at first Boss initially was in fear of his life. It started to wear off somewhat as the alcohol he consumed once again took over his senses. He started talking shit to the Delinquents, about their honor of being Mercy's bodyguards when he was promptly warned to shut the fuck up by Wingo. Immediately resurrecting his gang member persona from the days of old back in California, and he wasn't playing either. The sudden commotion of noise brought many to the scene, including Doc, Prince, DJ's and Tia's daughter Stacey, Monarch, and a visiting Chick Hicks racing out. As well as the entire police department of Radiator Springs.

"What's happening here?" Four Wheel demanded. "Mercy's guest was just leaving." Boost answered sarcastically, his glare never leaving the limo. The cops were ready to do their jobs, but the Delinquents beat them to it. The police had another job; playing the peacemakers. Realizing who was held down, Doc and Chick immediately went off the deep end, both of them wanting pieces of Boss Blazer. It took all five cops plus several other strong vehicles to hold BOTH of them back. While Prince stared in disgust at Boss, she cradled Mercy still shaking from the whole ordeal, while Chick hurled all the pent up hatred he had for the limo. Chick cursed the very roads Boss drove on and let the car have it about screwing up his ex's and son's life. Not to mention never tried to make amends with Icky, didn't even have the decency to pick up the phone and call the mortuary where his son's body lay. No one had ever seen Chick this angry, not even Lightning.

It was certain had Chick been able to get at Boss, he would have torn the car to shreds. "Dad.. STOP IT! HE'S NOT WORTH IT!" Monarch blocked the Hornet with his own body. Doc fared barely better, being talked to his senses by his son. Doc listened to his son's words. So he choose to not make a scene in front of his young wife and Mercy, but he couldn't blame Chick Hicks. Chick didn't care who heard what he said. Right then and there he let everyone know how he felt about Mercy, had felt for her for months and told Boss where he could go. The Delinquents backed off as the cops moved in to arrest Boss. He was held at the impound until the FBI came the next day for him to transport him.

x

It came to light what unraveled Mr. Blazer's world; some of the sexy show girls he had been romping with played him like a deck of cards. They never really wanted him, but just wanted his money. He was so stupidly in love with one of them that she talked him into signing one of his biggest bank accounts over in her name, then she took the money and ran. Then one of his accountants turned out to be crooked; instead of doing Boss's taxes he had been pocketing large sums of money for himself, and he too upped and got out of dodge. He had been bilking Boss Blazer for over a period of years until, unbeknown-st to him, he had racked up nearly a billion in back taxes to the IRS. Taxes he thought were paid of course. The accountant who had worked for the Blazers for years, was disgusted with how the Boss treated his wife Mercy and his son, so he decided to exact some justice of his own in the form of screwing Boss over with the IRS. As a tax advisor he knew the game, and whatever he did, he fixed the books without leaving anything to trace back to HIM, to make it look like Boss was evading his taxes. He made sure that Mercy was never held accountable for any of it as well, and large amounts of the money he stole from Boss he donated to various foundations including one for domestic violence. They were unanimous so none one could trace the donations.

Rumors flew that even the Mafia was after him now. Blazer had Mafia ties, it was a secret. He was a cousin to one of the Dons on the east coast. He managed to piss that Family off somehow, so it went, about his treatment of his son and wife. Among other things.

The Italian Mob may have been thugs, crooks, and criminals that infiltrated even the highest levels of government but they still had a sense of honor. They scowled on those who abused women and children. Mafia code stipulated real men honored their wives. And only their wives. They loved only their wives. And they cared for their children who were to carry their bloodline, notably sons. Daughters were equally loved and were especially nurtured, mainly to become suitable Mafia wives to both other families and outside men. Wild romps were expected from bachelor sons and other male relatives while daughters brought shame on a Family if they lost their virginity before marriage. It was a double standard, yes, but even Mafia men had a sense of dignity. Once a male in a Family took an interest in a particular female and courtship began, he became loyal to her. Upon marriage he was expected to give up his infidelity remain devoted to her only. He was a husband now, so he was expected to act like one. One of the mob Families only learned recently that this bastard was even related to them. Blazer managed to keep his abuse of his wife and son secret, besides, he was only a distant third cousin to one of the Families. He probably assumed falsely that they wouldn't care if they knew, or that they "had his back". It just showed how woefully ignorant he was of mob honor. Beating your wife was blasphemous to any of the known mobs, including the non-Italian ones. On top of all this Blazer apparently tried to screw some other mob guy over in some casino-buying deal. With the mob on him, he was not likely to even survive a prison stint. Supposedly they were after him now, having discovered how abusive he was and now the casino thing. Being related didn't spare one from the Italian Mafia's wrath. Especially one like him that registered low on the blood-relations scale.

This accountant also turned out to be a hacker in his spare time so he knew computer hacking like a genius. He fixed the IRS systems to wherenothing would ever trace back to him, nor lock Mercy into the legal loophole that would ensnare her former husband. This car had been looking out for Mercy all that time in secrecy and vied his time to get back at her husband for his treatment of her. Yes he was a licensed tax accountant, and he was a con artist, but in this case, in a GOOD way. He had been planning this for years, little by little so as not to look too suspicious. He took his share of the booty and finally split a few weeks ago. Then , he called up on an untraceable phone from another country to let Boss know what he did to him.

"I did this for me. But I also want you to know that I did it for your ex-wife, for how you treated her when she was married to you. And for your dead son. This is for those pretty show girls who DIDN'T want you chasing after them whose careers you've ruined, because they wouldn't bow to you. Yeah...that Lambo one. This is for her, for the wife and kid. This is for all those you caused to get fired. This is all payback, MY way. You mistreated both of them...mistreated others...and now you get a dose of it. I hope you like the country club you're going to. They REALLY love big-headed billionares there you know. I hear even the Mob's after you now. You may not even make it to trial. Have fun. "

And then he hung up. Boss was left screaming curses at him into the phone. The Feds were coming for him for tax evasion, he lost all of his hotels, including the Mirage in a stock market fiasco. Angry Investors had decided to buy him out against his will and any money he would have received all was going to go to back taxes. He was in a financial mess, got very drunk and set out on a strange mission to hunt down his ex-wife, and give her a piece of his mind. Maybe even kill her. His intoxicated state was causing part of his behavior, the rest was unclear. What was clear was that alcohol and guns under one's front fender never mixed. Especially with a grudge like the one he had against Mercy. It was big news all over the television and newspapers for months to come, and as well the horrible relationship he had with professional racer Icky Blazer as well as his ex-wife all came out. IT ALL CAME OUT into the public, further fueling the loathing many in the public already had for him. Almost over night he became the most hated car in America. To say it was bad karma was putting it nicely. Before Boss Blazer could go to trial he killed himself in his cell. And almost no one came to his funeral.

Yes, karma was a bitch.

x

"Good riddance." was all Doc said when he was told, and Chick didn't even so much as snort a grunt. The nightmare for Mercy had finally ended, which meant now, he could start trying to build up her trust in romance again. And he succeeded. Chick was everything Icky's father wasn't. He also knew Icky would have had no issue with him going after his mother. And he was very grateful that Icky wasn't alive to see what went down in Radiator Springs when his father showed up because no one knew his the estranged son would have reacted to his mother being threatened by the one soul he never wanted to see. It was morbid to be "glad" Icky was dead to miss that, but it was also a relief. His mother was happy now, very happy, and that was the main thing. Monarch had to grin as he studied Mercy and Chick. What a couple they made. As the group continued to wait for the rest of the party Monarch turned his attention now to the small crypt of his little daughter, thinking back on her and the disaster that took her live and that of Jane's.