Two days later, after Speed had set Monica and Cody to their homework assignments, she had Jake out in the garage. She was wearing a typical greasemonkey's uniform and the hood was up on Donovan's BMW Z70. Jake was on one side, Speed on the other and bent over the side. Donovan walked in to a perfect view of her rear end and Jake paying more attention to that than what she was trying to tell him over the blaring music.
"Jake, are you paying attention? This wire here is what BMW uses on their 'kill switch' mechanism. If this is cut, the engine is gone, useless. The wire travels up through the dashboard and into the ignition where a special laser cut key with a transponder chip embedded into it. The transponder chip tells the receiver that it's alright to start the ignition. No transponder chip, no go. Jake... JAKE!"
Jake snapped his head back to Speed's lecture. Frank shook his head and went up to his office. He was beginning to regret this more and more.
Jake leaned over on the edge of the engine compartment, arms folded in front of him. "Where did you learn so much about engines and cars?"
Speed chuckled and proceeded to tune up the BMW as she talked. "You want the truth or what you think you want to hear?"
"The truth of course."
She looked up and grinned, then reached for the socket wrench. "I grew up in society. My parents were wealthy enough, I never wanted for anything. If I pointed to it, Daddy bought it for me. So began my love affair with cars. I watched my dad drive his own speedster when I was little and several times he sat me on his lap while he drove. At the tender age of thirteen, I took his keys and went for a joyride. As I was a juvie, and Daddy didn't think it was necessary for me to be punished, I got off. So began my long career as a boost. When I was arrested again 6 months later for speeding, the magistrate suggested that my parents put me towards a creative use of my talents and ambitions. Enter the mechanics. The man who worked on my father's cars taught me everything he knew about cars and engines. What he didn't or couldn't, I learned on the streets. I was boosting other people's cars by the time I was 16."
"And the name?"
"Hmm? Oh, how'd I wind up with the name Speed?"
Jake nodded, watching those ice blue eyes closely. If he wasn't careful...
"George gave it to me. He bailed me out one time while my parents were gone. It was my third arrest for speeding."
"And here I thought it was something more exotic."
"No, Jake..." she stood up, a smudge of engine grease across the bridge of her nose. "Nothing that exotic. I'm a speed freak. Plain and simple. So, where did you learn to drive like you did that night?"
"Chicago, that night. I just had to keep up with you or I'd never hear the end of it."
Speed looked at him, arms folded just under her breasts. She wasn't sure if she wanted to smack him or just laugh at him. "Whatever." She did neither and turned away to drop the socket wrench. She looked back long enough to tell him to get cleaned up and meet her back here in 20 minutes.
"Where are we going?"
"To reintroduce myself to the neighborhood. Mama's been away for far too long." The smile that curled her lips was eerie.
Jake wasn't sure anymore if letting her out on the streets was such a good idea.
****
Speed was down in the garage 20 minutes later and waiting on Jake. She'd changed into a pair of red leather pants that sat on her hips, a black tank top and a black short leather jacket over that. The boots she was wearing were much like she'd been wearing when Frank backed her up against the wall for lipping off to him. Again the heavy black eye makeup was around her eyes and her hair was twisted into long bleached white ropes away from her face and down her back.
Frank was about to leave for the night and was looking for his keys. The sound of someone clearing their throat drew his attention. Speed was leaning against the BMW with the keys dangling from one finger. Frank just held out his hand for them. Speed smiled and held out the keys. When he reached for them, she snatched them back.
"Jake got caught up with something at home and won't be back here tonight. Give me the damned keys Speed."
"No. Jake's obviously running late, so I have to amuse myself somehow."
"I'm going home, give me my keys!"
"You want 'em? Come for a ride with me."
"Do I have a choice?" In truthfulness, he was itching for a ride with her. Just to see if she was all that she said she was on the streets. So, he shrugged and gave in, sliding around the front end of the BMW and into the passenger seat. Speed sank into the leather seat behind the wheel and cranked the ignition.
As she pulled out of the garage, she handed Frank a CD and told him to pop it in. At the redlight, she put the top down and the volume up...
'the way you're bathed in light
reminds me of that night
god laid me down into your rose garden of trust
and I was swept away
with nothin' left to say
some helpless fool
yeah I was lost in a swoon of peace
you're all I need to find
so when the time is right
come to me sweetly, come to me
come to me'
"You can't find good music anymore. Too much noise and not enough soul. Put your seatbelt on." When the light turned green, she laid on the gas and put rubber down on the road as the BMW jumped and took off. Speed managed to keep it to just 5mph over the speedlimit. Frank was impressed... so far...
'love will lead us, alright
love will lead us, she will lead us
can you hear the dolphin's cry?
see the road rise up to meet us
it's in the air we breathe tonight
love will lead us, she will lead us'
"I mean, I know it's progression and all, but I miss the good old rock music. THAT was true rebellion, true soul. Excellent driving music." She smoothed around one corner, her right hand working the stick shift like she was stroking a lover's neck or chest.
'oh yeah, we meet again
it's like we never left
time in between was just a dream
did we leave this place?
this crazy fog surrounds me
you wrap your legs around me
all I can do to try and breathe
let me breathe so that I
so we can go together!'
Everything was going alright so far. The CD had switched through three tracks and Frank had relaxed a bit, enjoying the night air ruffling through the car. When speed brought the car to a stop at a red light, he found his voice.
"Speed..."
"yeah Frank?"
"Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you hadn't been arrested all those years ago?"
She just turned and looked at him. The light turned green and the first notes of the next song were softly starting.
'oh desert speak to my heart
oh woman of the earth
maker of children who weep for love
maker of this birth
'til your deepest secrets are known to me
I will not be moved
I will not be moved'
Horns behind them were beginning to honk. Speed ignored them and turned back to the road in front of them. Her face had taken on a hard look as she slammed the shift into first and peeled out wildly...
' "don't try to find the answer
when there ain't no question here
brother let your heart be wounded
and give no mercy to your fear" '
Frank had to grip the dashboard as best he could. Speed threw it into second and blew through a light that had just turned red...
'adam and eve live down the street from me
babylon is every town
it's as crazy as it's ever been
love's a stranger all around
in a moment we lost our minds here
and lay our spirit down
today we lived a thousand years
all we have is now'
Frank's palms were sweating and he was sure that there was going to be two hand prints in the dash by the time Speed got the car stopped. What did he say? Speed just kept her mouth pressed into a tight, thin line as she threw the shift into third...
'run to the water
and find me there
burnt to the core but not broken
we'll cut through the madness
of these streets below the moon
these streets below the moon
and I will never leave you
'til we can say, "this world was just a dream
we were sleepin' now we are awake"
'til we can say'
They blew through another red light, causing a four car pile up in their wake. Frank had closed his eyes roughly 10 miles ago and hadn't opened them since. The wind had gotten cold in their higher speeds. Speed paid it no attention, she just kept going. As she zipped past a parked police car, the red and blue lights blinked on and it took off in hot pursuit.
'in a moment we lost our minds here
and dreamt the world was round
a million mile fall from grace
thank god we missed the ground
run to the water
and find me there
burnt to the core but not broken
we'll cut through the madness
of these streets below the moon
with a nuclear fire of love in our hearts
yeah, I can see it now lord
out beyond all the breakin' of waves
and the tribulation
it's a place and the home of ascended souls
who swam out there in love!'
"I see you......" Speed grinned and threw it into fourth, dodging and swerving in and out of traffic, careening around corners - sometimes hard enough to ever-so-slightly lift onto two wheels. After about three turns and five intersections, the police car had been shaken and Speed smiled.
'run to the water
and find me there
burnt to the core but not broken
we'll cut through the madness
of these streets below the moon
with a nuclear fire of love in our hearts
rest easy baby, rest easy
and recognize it all as light and rainbows
smashed to smithereens and be happy
run to the water (and find me there)
run to the water'
Suddenly Speed threw the shift into neutral and slammed on the brakes, twisting the wheel and then hitting reverse. She turned the ignition off and pulled the key out. The click of her heels on the concrete told Frank that she was walking around the car. He hadn't worked up the nerve to open his eyes yet. But when she folded her arms and leaned down on the edge of the door, he peeked one eye open and looked at her. They were back in the garage. Speed simply dropped the keys in his lap.
"I think about it every damned day." Speed turned and walked away, going into the room she was given in the ops center during this assignment.
Frank barely got the door open before he leaned over far enough to fall out of the seat. When he hit the floor, he actaully kissed the ground - What in God's name was he thinking letting her drive??
(( First song is titled "Dolphin's Cry" Second song is titled "Run to the Water". Both are by LIVE and on the "Distance to Here" CD. ))
****
"Jake, are you paying attention? This wire here is what BMW uses on their 'kill switch' mechanism. If this is cut, the engine is gone, useless. The wire travels up through the dashboard and into the ignition where a special laser cut key with a transponder chip embedded into it. The transponder chip tells the receiver that it's alright to start the ignition. No transponder chip, no go. Jake... JAKE!"
Jake snapped his head back to Speed's lecture. Frank shook his head and went up to his office. He was beginning to regret this more and more.
Jake leaned over on the edge of the engine compartment, arms folded in front of him. "Where did you learn so much about engines and cars?"
Speed chuckled and proceeded to tune up the BMW as she talked. "You want the truth or what you think you want to hear?"
"The truth of course."
She looked up and grinned, then reached for the socket wrench. "I grew up in society. My parents were wealthy enough, I never wanted for anything. If I pointed to it, Daddy bought it for me. So began my love affair with cars. I watched my dad drive his own speedster when I was little and several times he sat me on his lap while he drove. At the tender age of thirteen, I took his keys and went for a joyride. As I was a juvie, and Daddy didn't think it was necessary for me to be punished, I got off. So began my long career as a boost. When I was arrested again 6 months later for speeding, the magistrate suggested that my parents put me towards a creative use of my talents and ambitions. Enter the mechanics. The man who worked on my father's cars taught me everything he knew about cars and engines. What he didn't or couldn't, I learned on the streets. I was boosting other people's cars by the time I was 16."
"And the name?"
"Hmm? Oh, how'd I wind up with the name Speed?"
Jake nodded, watching those ice blue eyes closely. If he wasn't careful...
"George gave it to me. He bailed me out one time while my parents were gone. It was my third arrest for speeding."
"And here I thought it was something more exotic."
"No, Jake..." she stood up, a smudge of engine grease across the bridge of her nose. "Nothing that exotic. I'm a speed freak. Plain and simple. So, where did you learn to drive like you did that night?"
"Chicago, that night. I just had to keep up with you or I'd never hear the end of it."
Speed looked at him, arms folded just under her breasts. She wasn't sure if she wanted to smack him or just laugh at him. "Whatever." She did neither and turned away to drop the socket wrench. She looked back long enough to tell him to get cleaned up and meet her back here in 20 minutes.
"Where are we going?"
"To reintroduce myself to the neighborhood. Mama's been away for far too long." The smile that curled her lips was eerie.
Jake wasn't sure anymore if letting her out on the streets was such a good idea.
****
Speed was down in the garage 20 minutes later and waiting on Jake. She'd changed into a pair of red leather pants that sat on her hips, a black tank top and a black short leather jacket over that. The boots she was wearing were much like she'd been wearing when Frank backed her up against the wall for lipping off to him. Again the heavy black eye makeup was around her eyes and her hair was twisted into long bleached white ropes away from her face and down her back.
Frank was about to leave for the night and was looking for his keys. The sound of someone clearing their throat drew his attention. Speed was leaning against the BMW with the keys dangling from one finger. Frank just held out his hand for them. Speed smiled and held out the keys. When he reached for them, she snatched them back.
"Jake got caught up with something at home and won't be back here tonight. Give me the damned keys Speed."
"No. Jake's obviously running late, so I have to amuse myself somehow."
"I'm going home, give me my keys!"
"You want 'em? Come for a ride with me."
"Do I have a choice?" In truthfulness, he was itching for a ride with her. Just to see if she was all that she said she was on the streets. So, he shrugged and gave in, sliding around the front end of the BMW and into the passenger seat. Speed sank into the leather seat behind the wheel and cranked the ignition.
As she pulled out of the garage, she handed Frank a CD and told him to pop it in. At the redlight, she put the top down and the volume up...
'the way you're bathed in light
reminds me of that night
god laid me down into your rose garden of trust
and I was swept away
with nothin' left to say
some helpless fool
yeah I was lost in a swoon of peace
you're all I need to find
so when the time is right
come to me sweetly, come to me
come to me'
"You can't find good music anymore. Too much noise and not enough soul. Put your seatbelt on." When the light turned green, she laid on the gas and put rubber down on the road as the BMW jumped and took off. Speed managed to keep it to just 5mph over the speedlimit. Frank was impressed... so far...
'love will lead us, alright
love will lead us, she will lead us
can you hear the dolphin's cry?
see the road rise up to meet us
it's in the air we breathe tonight
love will lead us, she will lead us'
"I mean, I know it's progression and all, but I miss the good old rock music. THAT was true rebellion, true soul. Excellent driving music." She smoothed around one corner, her right hand working the stick shift like she was stroking a lover's neck or chest.
'oh yeah, we meet again
it's like we never left
time in between was just a dream
did we leave this place?
this crazy fog surrounds me
you wrap your legs around me
all I can do to try and breathe
let me breathe so that I
so we can go together!'
Everything was going alright so far. The CD had switched through three tracks and Frank had relaxed a bit, enjoying the night air ruffling through the car. When speed brought the car to a stop at a red light, he found his voice.
"Speed..."
"yeah Frank?"
"Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you hadn't been arrested all those years ago?"
She just turned and looked at him. The light turned green and the first notes of the next song were softly starting.
'oh desert speak to my heart
oh woman of the earth
maker of children who weep for love
maker of this birth
'til your deepest secrets are known to me
I will not be moved
I will not be moved'
Horns behind them were beginning to honk. Speed ignored them and turned back to the road in front of them. Her face had taken on a hard look as she slammed the shift into first and peeled out wildly...
' "don't try to find the answer
when there ain't no question here
brother let your heart be wounded
and give no mercy to your fear" '
Frank had to grip the dashboard as best he could. Speed threw it into second and blew through a light that had just turned red...
'adam and eve live down the street from me
babylon is every town
it's as crazy as it's ever been
love's a stranger all around
in a moment we lost our minds here
and lay our spirit down
today we lived a thousand years
all we have is now'
Frank's palms were sweating and he was sure that there was going to be two hand prints in the dash by the time Speed got the car stopped. What did he say? Speed just kept her mouth pressed into a tight, thin line as she threw the shift into third...
'run to the water
and find me there
burnt to the core but not broken
we'll cut through the madness
of these streets below the moon
these streets below the moon
and I will never leave you
'til we can say, "this world was just a dream
we were sleepin' now we are awake"
'til we can say'
They blew through another red light, causing a four car pile up in their wake. Frank had closed his eyes roughly 10 miles ago and hadn't opened them since. The wind had gotten cold in their higher speeds. Speed paid it no attention, she just kept going. As she zipped past a parked police car, the red and blue lights blinked on and it took off in hot pursuit.
'in a moment we lost our minds here
and dreamt the world was round
a million mile fall from grace
thank god we missed the ground
run to the water
and find me there
burnt to the core but not broken
we'll cut through the madness
of these streets below the moon
with a nuclear fire of love in our hearts
yeah, I can see it now lord
out beyond all the breakin' of waves
and the tribulation
it's a place and the home of ascended souls
who swam out there in love!'
"I see you......" Speed grinned and threw it into fourth, dodging and swerving in and out of traffic, careening around corners - sometimes hard enough to ever-so-slightly lift onto two wheels. After about three turns and five intersections, the police car had been shaken and Speed smiled.
'run to the water
and find me there
burnt to the core but not broken
we'll cut through the madness
of these streets below the moon
with a nuclear fire of love in our hearts
rest easy baby, rest easy
and recognize it all as light and rainbows
smashed to smithereens and be happy
run to the water (and find me there)
run to the water'
Suddenly Speed threw the shift into neutral and slammed on the brakes, twisting the wheel and then hitting reverse. She turned the ignition off and pulled the key out. The click of her heels on the concrete told Frank that she was walking around the car. He hadn't worked up the nerve to open his eyes yet. But when she folded her arms and leaned down on the edge of the door, he peeked one eye open and looked at her. They were back in the garage. Speed simply dropped the keys in his lap.
"I think about it every damned day." Speed turned and walked away, going into the room she was given in the ops center during this assignment.
Frank barely got the door open before he leaned over far enough to fall out of the seat. When he hit the floor, he actaully kissed the ground - What in God's name was he thinking letting her drive??
(( First song is titled "Dolphin's Cry" Second song is titled "Run to the Water". Both are by LIVE and on the "Distance to Here" CD. ))
****