Thanks for the reviews:
Oriana-I couldn't end it yet. I'm looking so very forward to updates on your stories!
Lauren Williams-Here's more. I'm so glad you like it!
Jenny-I'm glad there's enough romance in the story for you.
Anonymous-I was hoping everyone would like the conversation.
Dee-Wait till you see what I put in the chapter after this one. It might be funnier than a trial, though that's a good idea.
Joey's Girl-Thanks for saying it's good.
Chase M. Dakota-I'm glad you're enjoying it. That makes my day.
Aikiweezie-That dialogue was fun to write. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Stardreamer-You make a great announcer for each of my chapters.
Gold Angel-I'm so glad that you like the suspense and passion. I was worried that I might be over doing it.
Stephane-Keep reading. It's not over yet!
Silly Putty-Thanks for the nice complement! Hopefully next time will let you review.
Chapter 14: Time to Relax
"It's over," Speed whispered again to Trixie as he held her close.
His family was overwhelmingly relieved as they watched him console the sweet girl in his arms.
Spritle and Chim Chim were already running around the house like crazy after waking from the loud noise the look alike had made when Pops had punched him through the window. Mom Racer looked towards the door and forced herself not to yell at her youngest son and his pet. She couldn't blame them for being excited over the look alike being arrested while she watched Speed and Trixie still in their embrace. It wasn't long when Mom's hand moved to her son's shoulder to get his attention.
Lifting his face to hers, Speed knew that his mother wanted to take care of the bruise that had appeared on Trixie's face. He slowly released the young girl in his arms and sure enough, around her eye was red and inflamed. Recalling in his head when the look alike had hit her - knocking her unconscious, Speed now fought to control his anger.
Seeing where Speed was staring, Trixie touched her face and her voice trembled as she whispered, "I don't know what happened after he hit me."
Knowing he had to assure her that the look alike hadn't touched her, the young racer said, "I stopped him before he could do anything to you."
Still not knowing just what happened yet, Trixie was glad that Speed had managed to stop the look alike from hurting her. Having more control over her voice, she whispered, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said knowing he didn't cause any more serious damage to himself, except for maybe some minor bruises. He was more worried about her and quite blown away that she was more worried about him - like usual.
Mom Racer smiled at Trixie while saying, "Come on, Honey. Let's go take care of that eye."
Still a bit shaken, the young girl slowly stood up as Speed stood up with her and wrapped her robe around her.
Mom Racer then put her arm around Trixie and guided her out of the room.
Racer X excused himself so that he could go speak to the police while Pops held Speed back wanting to talk to him.
At first Pops just looked at his son and smiled. He was so relieved that he was okay and that the look alike would soon be behind bars. "Speed," he said calmly. "I'm sorry about the fight we had. I was wrong for telling you to just…toughen up."
"Forget about it," Speed said after seeing just how much Pops loved him by the way he punched the look alike clear through the window. "I know how you feel about me."
"Do you?" Pops asked seriously. The older man then looked down hoping his middle child didn't see the sudden tears he felt in his eyes. After lifting his face back to Speed's, he said, "I should have told Rex this too."
"What?" Speed asked looking worried.
"Speed," Pops said putting his hand on his shoulder. "I love you, son."
Speed slowly smiled then put his hand on Pops's shoulder. "I've always known. I love you too, Pops."
With that said, the two hugged. After, Pops said, "Let's go check on that girl of yours."
Speed liked how Pops referred to Trixie as being his girl. As they were leaving the room, the young racer said, "You must have read my mind."
Once downstairs, Pops was taken outside by Racer X to the police so that they could speak.
Remembering the feeling of Trixie trembling in his arms, Speed headed straight to the kitchen before he could find out all he wanted to know about the look alike.
In the kitchen Mom Racer was holding an ice pack on Trixie's eye as the two stood by the sink.
Speed walked over to them and took the ice pack from his mother. "I'll hold it," he said wanting to take over.
Taking the cue, Mom Racer then left the kitchen.
Tears started to run down Trixie's face once again as she said, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Speed asked softly.
"It's just that I hate him for what he did to you and...and I...I kissed him," she said not out of guilt, but rather out of disgust as she recalled the look alike's arms around her. "I kissed that...animal who tried to kill you," she said now sounding sickened.
"It wasn't for long...and you thought he was me," Speed said in a very understanding voice.
"Right away I knew something wasn't right and when I looked into his eyes, I knew it wasn't you. I became so scared of what he might have done to you, and then…" she said not able to finish her sentence.
"And then what?" Speed whispered feeling she had to get it out as he put the ice pack down and put his hands on her shoulders.
"I just knew he was going to...force himself on me," she said as her body involuntarily shook at the memory of the weight of the look alike on her. He had been much heavier than Speed.
Speed shook his head no. "I was there and would never have let him do that," he said in a strong voice. "I threw myself against him and knocked him off of you."
Trixie gave Speed a very heartfelt, gratifying look and whispered, "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me. There was no way I was going to let him hurt you," Speed said now giving her a gratifying smile. "Don't you see? It's because of you that I saved both of us."
"What do you mean?" the young girl asked not quite understanding.
After taking a deep breath, Speed began. "I'll admit I was scared at first, but then my being scared just…vanished instantly."
"How?"
"Because of you," Speed said pushing her hair behind her ear.
"Me?" Trixie asked somewhat stunned as she looked back into his serious eyes.
Speed's expression though serious already, now showed anger. His voice was even deeper with anger as he said, "I wanted to kill him with my bare hands." His voice then became calmer. "The thought of him hurting you gave me this…strength. I was too mad to be scared anymore. I decided right then and there that there was no way I was going to let him hurt you. You mean too much too me."
Speed's words spoke volumes to Trixie of his feelings for her. She couldn't help but wrap her arms around him and hug him tightly.
He hugged her back and couldn't help but think to himself, I'll never let anyone hurt you. You're mine.
"They're at it again," Pops said entering the kitchen with Mom Racer and Racer X following.
"Put a sock in it," Mom said happy that Speed and Trixie were safe and sound now. She didn't want Pops making them feel badly about hugging each other any longer.
"No, really," Pop's said. "I'm happy that they're at it again."
Both Mom Racer and the Masked Racer looked at Pops - Mom with shock on her face.
"No. You don't understand," Pops said so deliriously happy. "I'm just glad that they are both safe. I didn't mean that I want them to go make my first grand child."
Mom threw her arms up in the air giving up.
Trixie buried her face in Speed's shoulder embarrassed while Speed for the first time smiled at the thought of having a child with someone - further in the future that is.
"Maybe we should change the subject," Racer X said smiling as well.
Speed and Trixie released each other and walked over to Speed's family. Looking at his girlfriend, Speed said, "When I was uh...throwing myself against the look alike to keep him away from you, Racer X burst through my bed room door."
Looking at Racer X, Trixie said, "You knew the look alike was in there?"
Nodding his head, the Masked Racer said, "Yes. I did."
At the same time everyone said, "How?"
"I just came from his house," Racer X said folding his arms.
"What!" Speed exclaimed with everyone else looking just as interested in the answer.
Racer X looked at their questioning faces, knowing he couldn't tell them he was a secret agent so he just said, "It's a shame it took me so long to figure it out."
"Well please tell us how you did it because Inspector Detector never found out anything," Pops said with one eyebrow raised.
"The key word I'm going to use is clue. Inspector detector and his men had no clues to go on and I understand that. I couldn't find any on the look alike either. There was nothing in the woods and no finger prints on the stolen pick up truck either."
"So," Speed asked with a confused look, "how did you end up in his house?"
"After working and concentrating so hard on this for weeks, I don't think you'll believe me when I tell you."
"Try us," Speed said really wanting to know.
"He just looked too much like you," the Masked Racer said still sounding shocked about that. "I finally realized that it couldn't have just been a mask or make up on him."
"Do you think he had some kind of plastic surgery?" Trixie asked catching on.
"Yes," Racer X said nodding his head to the young girl. "Then I thought he'd have to have plenty of money to pay for a surgery that drastic, and one that came out so well."
"Yes. The doctor would have to be really good," Pops agreed. "And one who wouldn't rat on him after seeing him wanted on the news."
"Right," Racer X said. "Also, he must be around other people at some point so I think he must disguise himself not to look like Speed at times."
"It just sounds so unreal," Mom Racer said. "He gets plastic surgery to look like Speed and then he has to disguise himself so he won't?"
"Exactly," the Masked Racer replied. "People would have turned him in a long time ago if not."
Speed needed more answers so he asked, "Why wouldn't the doctor call the police and let them know about the surgery he had done after seeing what the look alike had done to me?"
"That's when it hit me," Racer X said. "The doctor had to be in on this with him."
"Oh no," Trixie said sounding scared. "The doctor's still out there?"
"No," Racer X said. "He's dead."
"What!" echoed from everyone in the kitchen.
"The surgeon was the look alike's father?" the Masked Racer said sending a chill throughout the room.
"Wait. Slow down," Pops said. "How do you know all of this again?"
"Okay," Racer X said knowing that this had to be getting confusing. "Let's go back to when I said it was actually easy to figure it out. I really just guessed."
"You're one hell of a guesser," Pops said not knowing about Racer X's talent as a secret agent.
The Masked Racer continued. "I got the name and addresses of every plastic surgeon in the city and started spying on them more or less."
"Don't tell me you just saw him walking out of one of the houses," Speed said with his eyes wide.
"I don't think I have ever been more shocked in my life, but yes," Racer X said. "At the thirteenth house I looked at, I noticed a bunch of cars, sports cars. Some even had numbers painted on them as if they were racecars. Obviously someone in that house was a fan of racing. I snuck around for a while and then late that night I caught sight of him when he was leaving. Except that he's bigger, he really does look just like you," Racer X said looking at Speed.
Speed felt a chill at the thought of a crazed maniac running around pretending to be him.
Still having everyone's attention, the Masked Racer said, "I broke into the house and found articles on Speed and pictures of him everywhere."
"How did his father die?" Trixie asked as she also wondered when he had died.
"Funny you should ask that now," Racer X said. "I walked into their den, and there he was on the floor with a knife in his back."
"The look alike killed him?" Mom Racer asked covering her mouth.
"That's what I figured as I pulled the wallet from the body," Racer X said. "After I found the identity and realized it was his father, I then had a gut feeling that Speed was in immediate danger. Like the father was trying to stop the look alike, but obviously didn't."
"That's how you knew he was here," Speed said shaking his head like he still couldn't believe it. "Why did he want to kill me?"
"I don't know yet," Racer X said. "But I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
Pops let out a relieved breath that it was over and said, "That horrible excuse for a human being does look like Speed."
"Not his eyes," Trixie said calmly as she stared out into space remembering when the look alike looked into hers. She then lifted her face and looked into Speed's blue eyes. "The look alike's eyes are blue, but not as blue as Speed's. And...there was evil in them."
There was silence in the kitchen as Speed stared back at the girl who meant everything to him.
Breaking in, Pops said, "The cops took him away already. Let's go to bed so we can get up tomorrow morning and talk about racing again!"
Speed began to feel sick to his stomach. The last thing he wanted to discuss was racing. Wasn't that what had gotten him into this mess in the first place?
Suddenly breaking into Speed's thoughts was Spritle screaming to Chim Chim to copy him as he tried to jump over the sofa.
"Damn it!" Pops exclaimed. "I'll get the monkey, you get...
"I know, I know," Mom said as they both began to leave the kitchen, "I'll get Spritle."
Racer X then turned to Speed and Trixie and smiled.
"Thank you, Rex," Speed said wishing there was a stronger way to thank his brother.
"Your welcome little brother," Rex whispered so glad that he could say that now.
Speed too was glad that the Masked Racer could claim him as his brother.
Trixie smiled at the two and then Racer X left.
Speed then took Trixie's hand and pulled her into the now deserted den.
"I'm sure Spritle and Chim Chim did not want to go back to bed," Speed said as he sat down on the sofa pulling Trixie to sit down next to him."
Trixie knew Pops and Mom were going to separate them, but she wasn't ready to be by herself yet. She couldn't help but still feel scared. She shuddered at the thought of the look alike's arms around her.
After feeling her shake, Speed kissed her softly and soon felt her calm down. "Are you okay?" he whispered.
In a low voice, she replied, "I don't mean to sound like a wimp but I just don't want to be alone right now."
Speed didn't say anything, but pulled her close to him making her put her head on his shoulder.
Pops walked downstairs and was about to tell them to go to bed but decided to leave the two alone.