Author's Note: Here it is folks, the eagerly awaited blessed event. I want to thank each and every one of you who have read this and especially those reviewing, it's been fun. It's your encouragement and insight that is helping this story to be completed so fast, you all are the best. Jen23 thanks for your feedback and help KSF!
CRUNCH TIME!
Against the azure spring sky, a black dot, which in actuality was one of the consigned helicopters from the National Guard used by Interpol was hovering as it patrolled the skyway, searching for the stolen red GTO. Since all IRC Formula 1 races are international, Interpol was the law enforcement organization that oversaw them even when taking place in the States. And being such, the full cooperation of state police and the National Guard was provided without question.
Officers Peter Reed and Dave Hutchens were flying above the interstate that snaked along the Mississippi River and they watched as the participants of the North/South Road Rally streaked along and turned into the truck stop in Dubuque that served as the first checkpoint. Everything appeared to be routine until Dave spotted a red car following the racers.
"Hey Pete, look at that," he handed his binoculars to his partner who was piloting the craft.
"Huh?"
"Down there. The checkpoint for the race. It's the hot GTO, the one we're lookin' for."
Pete took the binoculars and peered through them. As a muscle car enthusiast, he could spot a '69 Judge from a mile away. "It sure is. Man, that is one sweet lookin' machine!"
He picked up the radio mike. "Reed to IP 1, Inspector Detector, come in."
The pit area of the Go Team was nearly deserted, save for Pops, Mom, Sparky and Janine each one with worried expressions as they all contemplated as to what could have happened to Trixie, mother-to-be. The rest of the crew and supplies had been sent ahead to St Louis for the first scheduled pit stop for the Mach 5 but the foursome stayed behind to wait for Inspector Detector who had been summoned.
They didn't have a long wait as the tall burly bearded police inspector strode up to the silent group, his face a grim study as he approached Pops.
"Pops, everyone," he greet them all shortly. "How long has Trixie been missing?"
Mom spoke up, her cornflower blue eyes moist with tears. "For over an hour, Inspector."
He nodded as he asked, "And where was she last?"
Janine spoke up, "She had gone to the ladies room. I went in there to check and there was no sign of her but nearby the tires were strewn all about. And I found this." She held up the piece of rope she had found.
Detector took it from her, his keen mind already noting that it was hemp rope, not usually found in an automotive garage. His sharp sense of deductive reasoning was already figuring out who might have a motive and abducted Trixie.
Pops noticed Detector's thoughtful look and asked, "What do you think, Inspector?
Detector opened his mouth to reply when his walkie-talkie squawked and Reed's voice called, "IP-1 this is Reed in IP2, Inspector Detector, are you there?"
Detector took the receiver and held it to his mouth. "Detector here, go ahead."
"Inspector, Hutchens and I have found the hot GTO. We just spotted it. We're over the first checkpoint for the race and it also appears as if there's some commotion going on down there. Do you want us to investigate?"
The inspector agreed, "Affirmative. Find a place to land and check it out, I'll be there shortly. Over and out." He placed the receiver in the holder on his belt and addressed the group.
"Well it looks like your car's been found, Sparky. But I have to get over there, my men spotted something fishy going on at the race checkpoint."
"Then take us with you," Pops insisted. "If there's trouble at the checkpoint, I'm worried about Speed."
"What about Trixie?" Mom asked frantically.
"Mrs. Racer, I have an idea that once we find out what's happening there at the checkpoint, we'll be able to find out what happened to your daughter-in-law. So you all better come with me, my chopper's waiting outside." They all looked quizzically at the Interpol officer then hurried to the waiting craft and once inside the helicopter rose slowly and headed in a southerly direction toward Dubuque.
Once they got going Sparky spoke up, "You think my car getting swiped has to do with Trixie disappearing?"
"I have an idea. When I investigated the theft of your car, there was a '65 blue Chevrolet Impala that was abandoned not too far from where the GTO was last seen. And the registration of the Chevy was to a man named Bruce Trapezini, the fiancé of Speed's new navigator, Twinkle Banks."
"How'd you figure that out?" Sparky probed.
"Speed had alerted me to the man and his rather unstable behavior at the track the other day. It appears he was a bit concerned and wanted me to be alert to anything that might happen. He also suggested that the man might try something during the race."
"Leave it to Speed, there's no flies on him," Janine remarked as Pops and Mom glanced at each other and nodded. . .
Back at the checkpoint, a crowd had gathered at the barrage that took place between Speed and Bruce, mostly racers and their navigators as a tall masked man with a black "M" on his fire suit pushed through the crowd and came to where his brother was carrying his wife over to the IRC tent. He spotted Twinkle kneeling with her fiancé, who was bruised and still semi-conscious.
He strode over and demanded, "Twinkle, what happened and what is Trixie doing here?"
She looked at the mysterious racer and said, "Oh Racer X, I'm afraid it's all my fiancé's fault. He brought Trixie with him when he followed me and Speed in the race."
Racer X's stern visage became dark with a scowl. He glared in disgust at the supine ex-circus star in her lap and said, "It's a good thing he's still out Twinkle, because if he wasn't, I'd be sorely tempted to finish what Speed started. When he does come to, my advice is keep him as far away from me and Speed as you can, if you don't want him to be any more injured than he is." He whirled away and took off for the IRC tent, leaving Twinkle there in stunned silence.
Inside the tent, on the cot, Trixie was half reclined with her legs spread, covered with a sheet and a pillow behind her propped against the wall and she was breathing in short consecutive breaths, as she concentrated on relaxing her muscles during the excruciating pain of her contractions. Beside her, Speed had obtained a stopwatch and was timing each contraction as he peered beneath the sheet and offered her moral support and encouragement, even in the face of her less than civil responses.
"You're doing just great, baby. Keep breathing, three short and a long."
Trixie glared at him as she did as he directed, the pain bringing her almost to the edge of sanity. She snapped, "Stop telling me what to do. You have no idea what I'm going through!"
Speed took a deep breath as he replied calmly, "I know, Trix. Just do what I tell you and it'll be okay. You're dilated to seven centimeters, you're almost there. Remember what they told us in class."
"I remember." She continued to take her short and long breaths as she felt the pain come again. "It's another contraction," she hissed as a fresh wave of agony came.
"Okay just keep doing it, honey. Short, short, short, and long. You're doing terrific."
Trixie nodded and did her successive breathing as the birth passage opened fully. With that episode, Trixie became fully dilated and she began to push as Speed tried to coax her into pushing slowly, in spurts. As he was doing that, she was glaring at him as she felt pain like she had never experienced in her life and resentment toward him burst forth in wrathful comments and statements. But Speed, knowing where the angry statements and insults were coming from the Lamaze classes he and Trixie took, ignored the outbursts as he helped his wife in her ordeal.
Racer X entered the tent and made his way to the couple. He froze in his tracks and his eyes fell on his brother and sister-in-law as the two were engaged in the method of childbirth that would bring their baby into the world. He was wholly shocked as he then heard something he thought he would never hear from the always loyal Trixie's lips. . . .
"AHHHHH! Speed Racer, I swear if you ever come near me again, I'll castrate you!" she snarled, her eyes wild as she strained. "It's your fault I'm splitting in two and if I die, I'll come from the grave and haunt you!"
"Sure, baby. Anything you say, now keep breathing and when I tell you, push," Speed said soothingly, as he held her spread legs with his shoulders and bent forward with a sheet in his hands near the opening from which would come his progeny.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do! You haven't a clue as to the kind of pain I'm in right now!" Trixie railed as she panted harder.
Speed continued to ignore her fury as he spotted a black head emerging from her. He grinned and then noticing how Trixie was straining and said, "Okay, Trix now it's time to really push, honey. The baby's head is coming!"
"What else do you think I'm doing, you moron?" she snapped. "Sometimes I wish you had more brains than brawn."
"Just keep pushin' you're doin great."
Trixie needed no further prompting as she pushed with all her might, her hands gripping the cot frame, and she let loose a piercing scream. . . .
From the outside, Twinkle heard Trixie's shriek and she mouthed a silent prayer. But her attention was drawn to a groan from the prone man propped in her lap. Bruce's amber eyes flickered open as his blurred vision slowly cleared he gazed up into Twinkle's chocolate eyes.
"T-Twink? Is that you?" he asked weakly. "Where am I?" He glanced around, moving his head tentatively as the pain in his nearly broken neck shot through him.
Twinkle sighed deeply as she replied hollowly, "You're at the checkpoint for the race, Bruce. You and Speed just had a terrible fight and he almost killed you. The only thing that kept him from snapping your neck in two was that his wife went into labor."
Bruce's eyes widened as he said quietly, "I'm so sorry. What I did caused that, huh?"
Twinkle nodded as she lowered her head. "Well, it certainly didn't help."
"Where are Speed and Trixie now?" he asked contritely.
Twinkle opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by two police officers that came forward. "Mr. Bruce Trapezini, I'm afraid you're under arrest for car theft." They both reached down and grasped Bruce but Twinkle protested.
"Be careful, he's hurt!" she cried. "He was nearly strangled by Speed Racer!"
Officer Reed asked, "And where is Speed Racer?"
The loud whir of a helicopter landing made further communication impossible. The hatch opened and out streamed Inspector Detector, Mom and Pops Racer, Sparky, and Janine, who rushed forward.
Pops ran to Twinkle and demanded, "Twinkle, what happened? And where's my son?"
"And Trixie, where is she?" Mom Racer asked worriedly.
Twinkle pointed to the IRC tent where an animalistic screech sounded, piercing the air. Mom took off running to the tent while Pops and Inspector Detector watched as Reed and Hutchens hoisted Bruce to his feet. Sparky came forward with a scowl.
"Where's my car, you sleazebag," he said menacingly as he too made to grab Bruce by the neck but Officer Hutchens laid a restraining hand on the infuriated crew chief.
"Take it easy, Mr. Sabu. The car's safe and sound." He pointed to where the Judge was parked without a scratch on her.
Sparky released the ex-circus star and ran to his pride and joy with his girlfriend in tow. He ran his hand over the hood and said, relieved, "Hey, baby are you okay?" while Janine rolled her eyes. . .
Inside the tent, in the corner, the birth of the next generation of Racers was proceeding as Trixie panted, taking a short break as she strained to bring her child forth. Her husband was crouching beside her as he guided the baby, grasping the tiny head and shoulders as the infant slowly emerged from his mother's body.
Racer X watched transfixed by the miracle he was witnessing. He came to the cot and his eyes were trained on the way Speed was gently grasping his child, guiding its exit with a surgeon's precision. He was at a loss, as he breathed, "Wow, isn't that something? Speed, is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not at the moment but stick around just in case," Speed replied as he carefully grasped the tiny human
"Maybe we should just sell tickets," Trixie scoffed as she continued panting. She noted her brother-in-law gawking and said acerbically, "Why don't you take a picture, Rex, it'll last longer."
Speed said, "Don't mind her, Rex. She doesn't mean what she's saying."
Trixie skewered her husband with her eyes. "Don't you dare speak for me, Speed. You may be my husband but that doesn't give you the right to speak in my place!" she hissed as she kept panting.
Speed nodded as he said, "Okay, sweetheart, what ever you say. Now you need to push again, the baby's almost out, just one good push ought to do it. Now c'mon Trix at the count of three, one, two, three, push!"
"Don't you dare condescend to me!" Trixie threw her head back as she strained and pushed, screaming as the pain ripped through her. She bore down with all her strength and pushed, her petite frame locked.
"Okay here it comes! Keep pushing, Trixie, he's almost out! Woooo baby, we have a son! A son!" Speed cried joyfully as he held the tiny coal haired bundle. He gently cradled the baby as he laid him down on a clean sheet and began to clean him off, stimulating the baby to let loose a lusty cry.
"AHHHH, Speed!" his wife screamed again. "I'm not finished!"
"Huh?" Speed's eyes widened into cobalt pools of disbelief. He motioned for Rex to come over and after tying off and clipping the umbilical cord handed his son to his brother. He then prepared to receive the next one. "O-okay, just take it easy, honey and push," he guided as another dark head peeked through.
Trixie again bore down hard, and this time the second baby came out easily and into her father's waiting hands. "Ohh, baby, this time we've got a girl, a beautiful little girl! We've got twins!"
Trixie smiled in exhausted triumph as she leaned back panting while her husband proceed to clean his daughter as he did his son before and neither noticed Mom Racer come up to them.
"Oh Trixie, Speed, they're both so beautiful!" She came and took the tiny bundle that was her grandson from Rex and held the squirming infant as Speed clipped and tied off his daughter's umbilical cord and he cleaned her off as she began to cry. He then wrapped her in another clean sheet.
"Hand her to me, Speed," Trixie said softly holding her arms out to receive her daughter. She arranged her arms in place and when the tiny girl was secure she asked Mom Racer, "Now give me my son."
Mom placed the mewling little boy in his mother's waiting arms and Trixie deftly balanced both babies as she nuzzled their newborn softness, her heart bursting with love. "Hello my little loves. Welcome to the world."
Speed went to the side of the cot and knelt by his wife and new family. His eyes glistened like sapphires with unshed tears of joy. He reached and caressed Trixie's face with one hand as he gently stroked his children with the other.
"You did a groovy job, baby. They're both so beautiful, just like you, I'm so proud of you!" He leaned in and kissed her tenderly.
"Oh Speed, they're so perfect! And I'm so, so sorry I acted the way I did," she beseeched him but he laid a finger on her lips.
"Forget it." He nuzzled her neck as he said, "This was quite the ordeal for you, you have nothing to be sorry for."
A group had gathered around the little family, Mom, Rex, and Pops who had entered the tent just as the babies were given to their mother. They all circled the cot and just stared at the two new arrivals as their mother held them.
Pops wiped a paw across his onyx eyes and sniffled. "Congratulations, kids. They're just gorgeous."
Mom dabbed at her cornflower blue eyes as she nodded. "Beautiful little angels. Your son looks just like you did, Speedy."
Speed just gazed at his mother and grinned.
Sparky and Janine rushed in and stopped right at the group in the corner. Sparky just stared as he said "Wow."
Janine smiled at the new mother. "Oh Trixie, they're adorable," she gushed as she stepped forward to look closer. "Can I touch them?"
Trixie smiled at her friend. "Sure."
She reached her hand and held her finger out. The little boy's tiny hand encircled the finger as the little girl's cobalt blue eyes studied the action as she too reached out her wee hand. Janine was utterly enchanted.
"Ohhh, I just love them! And the eyes, ohh look at their eyes!" Janine pointed out, as both babies' eyes were wide open. Trixie's boy had his mother's forest green gaze while her daughter had her father's amazing azure orbs.
"There's one thing I want to know," Speed asked as he gazed at Trixie. "Why didn't you tell me we were having twins?"
Trixie met his gaze unflinchingly. "Because I didn't know myself. Dr. Infante said it was a possibility but wasn't sure."
"What are you going to name them?" Rex asked.
"I don't know," Speed replied. "I haven't had time to think about it. You have any ideas, honey?" he asked his wife.
She nodded as she answered without hesitation. "Victoria Ani Racer and Cameron Michael Racer."
"Why those names?" her husband wanted to know.
Trixie smiled lovingly at her husband. "Victoria Ani because her daddy is a winner and Mom you've been like a mother to me, and I just like the name Cameron and I wanted to name our son after my father. You don't mind, do you?" she asked her eyes going from Speed to Mom and Pops.
Her in-laws beamed as Mom replied, "Of course not, dear."
"Okay, then Victoria and Cameron it is," Speed announced. As if they approved of their names, the twins gurgled and cooed with tiny baby smiles as the adults erupted in laughter. . .
NEXT----EPILOGUE---LEARNING TO TRUST