Seven o'clock came earlier than Strip was expecting. He barely had time to tumble out of bed and wash his face before a horn sounded outside of their makeshift holding cell. Lynda was less than happy about having to get up at such an early hour. She made sure both Lightning and Cal were ready before hustling the group out to the waiting squad car.
"Good morning Sheriff." Lynda's voice was warm and cheery, Strip was sure it would melt butter.
"Too early." Strip actually grumbled causing Lynda to stifle a laugh behind her hand.
"Quit dragging your feet hotrod." Sheriff grunted, his voice floating through the open window.
"You'll have to forgive him he's not had his coffee." An overly chipper Cal piped in as he slid into the back of the car.
"You're never this excited this time of the morning when we get up early." Lynda narrowed her eyes at her nephew teasingly.
"This is different! Uncle Strip is getting into trouble…instead of me."
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're enjoying all of this." Lightning grumbled sleepily. "Now, that wouldn't be very nice."
"Oh, please, I know you want to see what's gonna' happen to him." Cal giggled.
"Shh, boys," Lynda shook her head and slid in the front beside the Sheriff. "They mean well."
A grunt was Lynda's only reply. It seemed that Sheriff wasn't in the chatty mood so she limited the conversation and buckled herself in. She listened to Lightning and Cal discussing the possible punishments that Strip might face and she couldn't help but smile to herself. Lightning was a missing piece in the family puzzle. He was clicking perfectly with Cal and finally warming up to Strip. All she needed was for him to relax around her.
In the early morning light the group got a better look at Radiator Springs. The little town was bathed in a layer of dirt it seemed, but Lynda found it a quaint place…she liked it. Silently she cataloged the buildings in her mind. With a lurch the squad car finally pulled to a sharp stop in front of what Lynda assumed to be the courthouse.
"Out with ya." Sheriff opened the back doors of the car while sending Strip and the boys a stern glare.
"Come on Uncle Strip! Times a wastin'!" Cal grinned and shot out of the car to avoid a whack to the back of the head.
"Now, don't get testy." Lynda pecked Strip on the cheek while smoothing out a wrinkle in his shirt.
"Hard to do when you got Mr. Sunshine in the backseat with you." The racer looked embarrassed at the sight of the courthouse.
"Be glad the paparazzi aren't here."
"Not helping Lightning." Strip muttered, cutting his eyes at his newfound nephew.
"I'm just saying," He raised his hands. "It could always be worse."
"Better get inside. Judge don't like to wait." Sheriff grabbed Strip by the arm and ushered him up the stairs into the building. The rest of the Weathers entourage shuffled in behind the two.
The courtroom was appropriately small for the size of the town, but it seemed stuffy and crowded to Strip. He shuffled nervously as the sheriff semi-pushed him into a hard wooden chair. Strip was sure that the sole purpose of those wooden chairs was to make those on trial as uncomfortable as humanly possible. Carefully he leaned back in his chair, he was aware of all the eyes on him.
When he first walked in he had noted the few chairs in the room were already occupied by various people. None of them looked very happy, it made him cringe internally. The previous night was not one of his best moments. He was sure that he heard muttering in a foreign language, it was combined with two very angry looking men, both with dark hair and apparently violent tempers. Strip slumped a little in his seat. Maybe he could hide.
"Hey, you got a lawyer? Sheriff says you got to have a lawyer." A mop top nine year old plopped down beside Strip. His hair was a rusty color and was sticking up in every direction, oil stained overalls that were a couple sizes to big hung on his small form. Hazel eyes paired with a lazy grin caused Strip to smile briefly.
"No, haven't got a lawyer. You trying to represent me?"
"Shoo, no. Sheriff wouldn't let me no how!" The child grinned goofily at Strip.
"Tommy -I mean Mater- what have I told you about talking to the prisoners?" Sheriff's stern voice caused the young boy to jump up and the chair clattered to the floor.
"Um, you said …not to." He scuffled his feet and stared at the ground.
"What am I gonna do with you boy?" Sheriff sighed and tugged him to the side. "You got to listen to me. You're my responsibility now."
"Ok…"
"Now go sit with Flo and Ramone while I deal with this prisoner." The officer ruffled the child's hair and urged him towards a couple sitting side by side.
"Boys, come on." Lynda turned to find that both Cal and Lightning weren't behind her.
"I don't feel good. I'm just gonna walk back to the cozy cone…" Lightning groaned a bit and glanced at Cal to see if he was convinced. He'd almost stepped into the courtroom when he heard the voice of Tommy. He couldn't let his brother blow everything. It was too soon, and he hadn't planned on finding Tommy all the way out here.
"I don't know." Cal sounded unsure. "Can't you wait till after the trial?"
"Nah, I don't think I should."
"Lightning are you alright?" Lynda stepped into the conversation carefully. Her brow furrowed as she looked over Lightning and Cal. Her younger nephew seemed fine, but Lightning seemed to be extremely pale. "If you're sure you don't feel good…"
"I don't."
"Alright then. Just be safe walking back."
"I will be." He turned on his heel and bolted off.
"What's wrong with him?" Cal muttered under his breath.
"Probably nothing too bad. Come on." She put a hand on his back and ushered him inside.
Lynda and Cal hurriedly found seats and remained standing. A door banged open and a distinguished looking man stalked into the courtroom. His hair was black with a hint of grey beginning to touch the temples, sharp blue eyes glared at those in the courtroom.
"May Doc have mercy on your soul." Sheriff muttered behind Strip.
"He doesn't even have a lawyer!" Cal piped up helpfully.
"Anyone here want to represent this hotrod?" Sheriff practically yelled.
"What'd he say?" An older woman with gray hair held an ear horn to her ear. "He needs a date? Well he does remind me of my Stanley." She muttered to herself and shuffled up towards Strip.
"Congratulations you got yourself a lawyer. Mrs. Lizzie." Sheriff carefully guided her over to stand beside Strip.
"Hello Ma'am." Strip sent her an uncertain smile.
"What was that?" She raised her voice at him.
"All rise, the Honorable Doc Hudson presiding."
"I wanna know who's responsible for wreckin' my town, Sheriff. I want his head on a platter! I'm gonna put him in jail till he rots! No, check that." The judge settled into his chair. "I'm gonna put him in jail till the jail rots on top of him, and then I'm gonna move him to a new jail and let that jail rot. I'm…" His gaze landed on Strip and his eyes narrowed. "Throw him out of here, Sheriff. I want him out of my courtroom. I want him out of our town!"
Strip's eyes went wide at the exclamation of the judge. What had gotten into him? It was an accident, but he wasn't a true criminal! He didn't even have a lawyer. His eyes darted from the judge to those in the chairs behind him. Outraged yells echoed through the courtroom.
"Someone want to fill me in on what's happening?" Strip was utterly confused, he looked at his elderly lawyer.
"He said he's guilty!" Mrs. Lizzie whacked him upside the head with her ear horn. "You broke Stanley's statue!"
"Hey! Don't hit me?" The Dinoco racer covered his head defensively.
"Case dismissed!"
"Hey! You can't do that!" An angry female voice burst from the back of the courtroom.
"Sally…" Doc sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
"You can't just let him go! Didn't you see the road outside!?" The girl planted her hands on her hips and glared up at Doc.
"Ramone! What did he do to your shop?"
"He scratched the paint on my car man! I should take a blow torch to him!" An angry Hispanic man stood from his seat.
"Luigi? Guido?" She swiveled on her heel and stared down the two Italians.
"He made a mess!" Luigi stood to his feet enraged.
"And if that keeps you from selling tires?"
"I will lose…everything!"
"Exactly!" The blonde teen marched to the front of the court. "Your honor. I suggest that Mr. Weathers fix our road!"
"I want him out of here!" Doc stood from his seat.
"Come on! The town needs this! It would help with business!"
"The food at my café won't sell itself Doc!" Flo stood and grabbed Ramone's hand. "Ain't that right honey!" The loud roar of outraged citizens caused Doc to set back in his chair again.
"Well. Looks like your fixing a road. Hope you know how to pave." The gavel fell, and Strip felt like crawling under his chair. The day was getting worse and worse.