George looked at her as he leaned back in the chair across the desk from her. They'd gone through the entire list of people they knew that she'd pulled boosts with regularly and come up with a big fat disappointment. They'd gotten in contact with Sweet and Flynn. Only two were left on the list and he wasn't sure if he wanted to call them.
"There's no one else. I told you, I got three rookies and Jake here."
Reluctantly, George gave in and Speed called them both. Both of them agreed.
"OK. With these four, my four possibly five, and me we got 10. Think we can do it in one night?"
"You better, or get used to being dead."
Jake just walked in on the last part after he'd met with Monica, Cody and Donovan. "Pardon...?"
"It's OK baby. George wouldn't hurt me. He was pointing out that I'm in a do or die spot. How'd it go?"
"He's still being stubborn."
"Figured. I got four from our phone calls. We're meeting here later, about an hour or so. George, we need something to put the list on."
As the three of them cleaned out the garage to make room for the others and hunted down a board large enough to put up the list, they were being watched.
"Zat dem Johhny B?"
"Yah, dat's dem. I can't believe Speed is back in town. L'il bitch betta not try and take mah business from Switch."
"Don't mess with Speed man. I heard the Feds sprung her from the Pen. M'sistah has sistahs on the inside and word came down that Feds came to her for help and she made a deal wif 'em to get her out."
"Oh shut up man! Speed ain't no Feds friend. She prolly jus' got parole."
Still, the idea was planted in Johnny B's mind. A few hours later when the rest of Speed's motley crew showed up, he knew without a doubt that Speed was going to make for a big cut into his profits. And being the business minded crook he was, Johnny B went straight to Switch.
----
LATER THAT EVENING...
"Alright boys and girls, time to play introductions. We got some new blood here, mixed with the seasoned pros. Monica can drive anything and is one hell of a smooth talker on the airwaves. Say hello Monica."
Monica chuckled and waved to everyone.
"Now, Mouse" she motioned to Cody. "Mouse is a compu-geek from hell. He tells me he can hack anything with a port and a connection. We're about to put him to the test." Cody grinned and restrained a giggle. He got to go undercover AND a streetname to boot. Although if it'd been up to him, it would have been a much tougher sounding name. Mouse was so wimpy...
"Jake here is my protege, teaching him the finer points of boosting. He's got the driving part down pat already." She winked at Jake who smiled and nodded to everyone.
"Now, my veterans - Sweet, Donny, Eric and Flynn. They ran with me back when I was in my glory days. But when I went up the river, they went straight. Ain't that a kick in the ass. Sweet has a knack for getting in and boosting the sweet rides without making so much as one hair scratch on the Lady. Eric and Donny are monster mechanics and know their way around engines and have forgotten more than I ever knew. Flynn is one hell of a driver, teaches driving for the DMV now." Everyone got a good laugh out of that, even Flynn. Speed was about to go over the list when the garage door opened and in walked, of all people, Donovan and Alex. Everyone's eye turned to them both and Speed grinned a million dollar smile. So Donovan wasn't all ass after all...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it's my honor to introduce to you Lexis and Sphynx. Alex, or Lexis, is a friend from the inside with a taste for the higher end Ladies... and Sphynx is an associate of hers with skills when it comes to the Italians. He doesn't talk much, if at all."
She winked at Donovan who looked like he was about to burst. With that nickname, he knew he couldn't talk much, if at all. That was going to kill him eventually... if he didn't kill Speed first. Alex laughed and said hello. "We're here for you, no questions. How can we help?"
"Funny you should ask, Lexis. I have in my hand the list. It's also going to be on a board for work." She handed the list to Sweet and Flynn. Everyone crowded around to see. Monica and Cody looked up at Speed like she was certifiable. In their minds no way, no how could anyone steal 50 cars in the next few days. They were brought back to the list by a long low whistle from Sweet.
"Whoooaaaaa have we got Christine here?"
"Yeah yeah, I know. I tried not to dwell on it too much last night when Switch handed me the list. Back to the list in general. Some of these aren't going to be a problem. The others, like the collectors and really exotics are going to be a pill. We're going to have to ... Wait, George, you explain this to them. You know better about this."
"Yeah right, you were MY protege and you know a hell of a lot more than I do. With a list this big, we're pinned for time. We've got three nights to do this - One to shop, One to prep, One to do it. Now, the lis-"
"Whoa, whoa... ONE NIGHT?? No way man, there is no way." Flynn shook his head even as Donny made the point.
"We don't have a choice." She looked at Jake, then at Donovan. Both of them shook their heads 'no'. "Switch is going to kill me if I don't. If you don't want part of this, then you know where the door is and I won't hold it against you at all." Speed held her breath, waiting to see how many got up and left.
When no one did, Speed blinked slowly, then smiled trying to keep from crying. Now she definitely owed it to them to keep them out of jail for this.
"Mouse, work your magic and get us addresses on as many of these you can from the insurance databases. Monica, you get to help George name the ladies. Flynn, those that Mouse can't find, I need you to go to the DMV and get the addresses. Lexis, Jake, Sphynx, I need to talk to you three privately." Everyone nodded and set to work on their assignments.
"I have a favor to ask."
"I think you've gotten more than your fair share Speed," Donovan hissed.
"Shh.... and I know. But these guys. They gave up a lot to come back and help me, help YOU with this. They deserve something in payment."
"I see where she's going with this Frank." Alex smiled. "Immunity from the theft rap when this is over."
Speed nodded. "I'll go willingly and without complaint back to prison if you promise me on your badge that these guys won't get into trouble over this - with the local police or even you guys."
Jake did a doubletake. What about him? What about them?? Speed saw his look, as did Alex and Donovan. She was sure that Donovan had told Alex about the night before... even so, she didn't care. If she wanted to sleep with Jake, then that was her perogative. She looked at Jake and smiled a half hearted smile even as Donovan nodded.
"Alright. You pull this off, we get this Switch and the cars back to their owners, and they get off of this rap and their records sealed."
"DEAL!!" She could have kissed him at that moment, but even as she stretched out to hug him, he backed up.
"Save it for someone who needs to cover themselves." He winked and resumed his silent demeanor as he went back to the rest of the group. Alex giggled and followed him, leaving a very pink cheeked Jake with a grinning Speed.
"He knows?"
She nodded. "Uh huh. I'm guessing we were tailed last night for our own safety and then under surveillance last night. And I'm sorry about springing this on you. But you yourself said that when this is over, I go back. I had thought about running, just taking one of the cars when no one was looking and making a run for it... but I got to thinking this morning and that wouldn't have been right. Or fair to you. I can't do that to you."
Jake pulled her close and kissed her, his arms sliding around her waist. He was so in over his head with her. Alex elbowed Donovan and pointed to them. Frank shook his head and chuckled...
****
"There's no one else. I told you, I got three rookies and Jake here."
Reluctantly, George gave in and Speed called them both. Both of them agreed.
"OK. With these four, my four possibly five, and me we got 10. Think we can do it in one night?"
"You better, or get used to being dead."
Jake just walked in on the last part after he'd met with Monica, Cody and Donovan. "Pardon...?"
"It's OK baby. George wouldn't hurt me. He was pointing out that I'm in a do or die spot. How'd it go?"
"He's still being stubborn."
"Figured. I got four from our phone calls. We're meeting here later, about an hour or so. George, we need something to put the list on."
As the three of them cleaned out the garage to make room for the others and hunted down a board large enough to put up the list, they were being watched.
"Zat dem Johhny B?"
"Yah, dat's dem. I can't believe Speed is back in town. L'il bitch betta not try and take mah business from Switch."
"Don't mess with Speed man. I heard the Feds sprung her from the Pen. M'sistah has sistahs on the inside and word came down that Feds came to her for help and she made a deal wif 'em to get her out."
"Oh shut up man! Speed ain't no Feds friend. She prolly jus' got parole."
Still, the idea was planted in Johnny B's mind. A few hours later when the rest of Speed's motley crew showed up, he knew without a doubt that Speed was going to make for a big cut into his profits. And being the business minded crook he was, Johnny B went straight to Switch.
----
LATER THAT EVENING...
"Alright boys and girls, time to play introductions. We got some new blood here, mixed with the seasoned pros. Monica can drive anything and is one hell of a smooth talker on the airwaves. Say hello Monica."
Monica chuckled and waved to everyone.
"Now, Mouse" she motioned to Cody. "Mouse is a compu-geek from hell. He tells me he can hack anything with a port and a connection. We're about to put him to the test." Cody grinned and restrained a giggle. He got to go undercover AND a streetname to boot. Although if it'd been up to him, it would have been a much tougher sounding name. Mouse was so wimpy...
"Jake here is my protege, teaching him the finer points of boosting. He's got the driving part down pat already." She winked at Jake who smiled and nodded to everyone.
"Now, my veterans - Sweet, Donny, Eric and Flynn. They ran with me back when I was in my glory days. But when I went up the river, they went straight. Ain't that a kick in the ass. Sweet has a knack for getting in and boosting the sweet rides without making so much as one hair scratch on the Lady. Eric and Donny are monster mechanics and know their way around engines and have forgotten more than I ever knew. Flynn is one hell of a driver, teaches driving for the DMV now." Everyone got a good laugh out of that, even Flynn. Speed was about to go over the list when the garage door opened and in walked, of all people, Donovan and Alex. Everyone's eye turned to them both and Speed grinned a million dollar smile. So Donovan wasn't all ass after all...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it's my honor to introduce to you Lexis and Sphynx. Alex, or Lexis, is a friend from the inside with a taste for the higher end Ladies... and Sphynx is an associate of hers with skills when it comes to the Italians. He doesn't talk much, if at all."
She winked at Donovan who looked like he was about to burst. With that nickname, he knew he couldn't talk much, if at all. That was going to kill him eventually... if he didn't kill Speed first. Alex laughed and said hello. "We're here for you, no questions. How can we help?"
"Funny you should ask, Lexis. I have in my hand the list. It's also going to be on a board for work." She handed the list to Sweet and Flynn. Everyone crowded around to see. Monica and Cody looked up at Speed like she was certifiable. In their minds no way, no how could anyone steal 50 cars in the next few days. They were brought back to the list by a long low whistle from Sweet.
"Whoooaaaaa have we got Christine here?"
"Yeah yeah, I know. I tried not to dwell on it too much last night when Switch handed me the list. Back to the list in general. Some of these aren't going to be a problem. The others, like the collectors and really exotics are going to be a pill. We're going to have to ... Wait, George, you explain this to them. You know better about this."
"Yeah right, you were MY protege and you know a hell of a lot more than I do. With a list this big, we're pinned for time. We've got three nights to do this - One to shop, One to prep, One to do it. Now, the lis-"
"Whoa, whoa... ONE NIGHT?? No way man, there is no way." Flynn shook his head even as Donny made the point.
"We don't have a choice." She looked at Jake, then at Donovan. Both of them shook their heads 'no'. "Switch is going to kill me if I don't. If you don't want part of this, then you know where the door is and I won't hold it against you at all." Speed held her breath, waiting to see how many got up and left.
When no one did, Speed blinked slowly, then smiled trying to keep from crying. Now she definitely owed it to them to keep them out of jail for this.
"Mouse, work your magic and get us addresses on as many of these you can from the insurance databases. Monica, you get to help George name the ladies. Flynn, those that Mouse can't find, I need you to go to the DMV and get the addresses. Lexis, Jake, Sphynx, I need to talk to you three privately." Everyone nodded and set to work on their assignments.
"I have a favor to ask."
"I think you've gotten more than your fair share Speed," Donovan hissed.
"Shh.... and I know. But these guys. They gave up a lot to come back and help me, help YOU with this. They deserve something in payment."
"I see where she's going with this Frank." Alex smiled. "Immunity from the theft rap when this is over."
Speed nodded. "I'll go willingly and without complaint back to prison if you promise me on your badge that these guys won't get into trouble over this - with the local police or even you guys."
Jake did a doubletake. What about him? What about them?? Speed saw his look, as did Alex and Donovan. She was sure that Donovan had told Alex about the night before... even so, she didn't care. If she wanted to sleep with Jake, then that was her perogative. She looked at Jake and smiled a half hearted smile even as Donovan nodded.
"Alright. You pull this off, we get this Switch and the cars back to their owners, and they get off of this rap and their records sealed."
"DEAL!!" She could have kissed him at that moment, but even as she stretched out to hug him, he backed up.
"Save it for someone who needs to cover themselves." He winked and resumed his silent demeanor as he went back to the rest of the group. Alex giggled and followed him, leaving a very pink cheeked Jake with a grinning Speed.
"He knows?"
She nodded. "Uh huh. I'm guessing we were tailed last night for our own safety and then under surveillance last night. And I'm sorry about springing this on you. But you yourself said that when this is over, I go back. I had thought about running, just taking one of the cars when no one was looking and making a run for it... but I got to thinking this morning and that wouldn't have been right. Or fair to you. I can't do that to you."
Jake pulled her close and kissed her, his arms sliding around her waist. He was so in over his head with her. Alex elbowed Donovan and pointed to them. Frank shook his head and chuckled...
****