Author's Note: Here's the next chapter and the theft of Pops engine is discovered. Thanks for all the encouraging reviews and those reading I hope you're having as much fun reading as I'm having writing this.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARENCE

The twin beams of the headlights of the Mach 5 split the cool October night as Speed and Pops rushed to the Pops Motors Factory. As they roared into the parking lot and screeched to a stop, the flashing lights of two police cruisers and an unmarked car that could only belong to Inspector Detector met them.

Both Racer men hopped out of the cockpit and sprinted over to where Detector and the night guard were in conference. Both men were startled from their talk by the two generations of Racer men coming to them.

"Hank, tell me what the hell happened," Pops demanded between huffs as he was catching his breath.

Speed watched his father with concern as Hank Hopkins, night guard for the factory since its inception held an icebag to his head as he regarded his employer in misery.

"Well, Pops, I was doing my rounds, checking the gates to make sure they were secure for the night and the test facility when I saw a light on in Test Stall #3 where you had the Dragonfire. I had seen you leave and Speed said goodnight to me when he left so I knew nobody was here but me. I drew my gun and went up to the building when someone hit me on the head to knock me out. When I came to, the engine was gone."

"DAMN!" Pops exclaimed. He examined his night guard in concern. "You okay, Hank?"

The guard managed a shaky grin. "Yeah, I'm fine. It'll take more'n a knock on this hard head to kill me. I'm just sorry that I didn't stop the bastards from swipin' the engine."

Speed patted the guard on the shoulder. "It's okay, Hank. As long as you're okay." He turned to Inspector Detector and demanded, "So what're you gonna do, Inspector?"

"Well, I have a radio call into forensics to dust the place for prints. Then I plan to get some more information to go on so I can start an investigation." He turned to the guard. "Hank, did ya happen to see their car?"

Hank frowned in concentration. "I saw a panel truck parked near the stall door but by the time I got near enough to identify it, I was knocked out. Sorry."

Detector persisted, "Did you at least get to see what color or make the truck was? That would be a big help because we can track it down based on that."

"I'll try," Hank said weakly as he continued to press the ice to his head as the police inspector began to gather information.

Pops clapped him on the back and then motioned for Speed to follow him back to the Mach 5. He addressed his son in a grim fashion.

"I hope Hank's gonna be okay."

Speed watched the night guard as he was conferring with Detector. "Yeah." He examined his father closely. "But somehow I get the feeling you didn't pull me over to discuss Hank's condition. So what's up, Pops?"

Pops sighed as he said in a hushed tone. "I assume Sparky filled you in about the IRC decision concerning us using the Dragonfire in the race next Sunday."

"Yeah, he mentioned that according to them the specs were not regulation. That's a load of bull, you're no amateur and you've built racing engines for years," Speed stated indignantly.

Pops shook his head. "I took another look at the blueprints to make sure I didn't miss anything and I found out something."

Now Speed's curiosity was piqued. "What?"

Pops spoke in a tone of self-depreciation, "I made a fatal design flaw in the generator, I made it too small. Plus the wiring was all wrong for the electrical system and caused a major short circuit when I tested it this afternoon. I wondered why it was burning out the battery and I realized that the electrical overload was going into the battery causing it to burn out."

Speed's eyes were wide cobalt pools. "You gotta be kidding, Pops."

"I wish I were, son. But the saving grace was that the engine wasn't tested at top speed or the electrical system could cause the entire thing to explode. So, the letter from the IRC was actually a godsend before I installed the Dragonfire in the Mach 5."

Speed made a long low whistle. "Wow." He then regarded his father in dismay. "So who ever swiped the Dragonfire now runs the risk of having the thing blow up on him."

Pops nodded as he said, "And that's why we gotta get it back. It's dangerous to put it in any car and I don't want anybody to get hurt."

Speed gave his father a slight grin. "Only you Pops, would be worried about a thief's well being."

Pops shrugged, "Yeah well I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt because of my mistake." He gazed at his son and asked bluntly, "So what had you so upset earlier? Did something happen between you and Trixie at her birthday party?"

Speed's slight grin faded to a deep scowl. "Not really," he said cryptically.

Pops noted his son's closed yet furious manner and said with a sigh, "It's okay, you don't have to tell me."

Speed sighed deeply as he said, "Sorry, Pops I really don't want to talk about it." He folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes.

He was saved by further inquisition by the approach of the dark suited bearded police inspector. "Well Pops, Speed. Hank Hopkins has given us a description of the panel truck that we can work with even though he couldn't give us the license plate number."

Pops snorted, "You think you can find who did it?"

Detector nodded as he replied, "We can search down leads based on the description Hank gave. It would help the investigation and I plan to ask questions of the factory staff."

"Why?" Pops wanted to know.

"Because the ease of how this happened doesn't smell right. It seems it might have been an inside job."

"Huh?" Speed expostulated.

"You're nuts!" Pops said hotly.

Detector explained patiently, "There was no forced entry, and it appeared as if whoever did it knew exactly where to go to get the engine. Nothing else was out of place like as if someone was searching for something like in a typical break-in."

Speed just looked incredulous as Pops shook his head stubbornly. "Uh-uh, no way. Nobody who works for me would ever stoop so low."

"I know you want to believe the best of your staff, Pops. But with what we've seen so far, it looks like you've got a rotten apple in your basket."

Speed and Pops looked at each other in shock, neither wanting to believe Inspector Detector's words. Speed glanced at his father significantly as Pops nodded.

"Listen, Inspector I have to tell you something that will hopefully expedite your investigation."

Inspector Detector arched a brow as he waited. Pops took a deep breath and told him about the generator. At the end of the explanation Detector nodded as he said, "Based on what you told me, I'll have an APB on the air to get the engine tracked down ASAP. If you find anything, give me a call and I'll call you when I find anything." He headed to his dark, nondescript sedan to leave.

Speed watched Detector drive away and was beset by a mixture of emotions ranging from frustration to outrage. He sighed heavily and frowning, stared off in the direction of the track and Trixie's airfield. I wonder if the party's still going on, he mused glumly. I bet that creep Lighening's still there with her. Sheesh, what a night!

He was shaken from his brooding thoughts when Pops placed a beefy hand on his shoulder. "C'mon son, let's go home. Your mother's probably worried about us."

"Yeah." He got behind the wheel of the Mach 5 and started the motor. He took a last backward glance in the direction of Trixie's before he peeled off. . . .

"Wow, Grandpops must've blown his top," Cam said to Speed. "Did you guys ever find the Dragonfire, Dad?"

Speed shook his head. "Wait till you hear the rest of the story. The whole thing with Lighening and your mother was connected to the engine getting ripped off."

The twins were spellbound as Victori asked, "Mom, what happened when you found out that Daddy left your party?"

Trixie continued, "While your dad and grandfather were at the scene of the crime, my party began to wind down…."

Back at the party, the last of the guests were leaving, giving final birthday wishes to Trixie as they exited. She smiled cordially as she waved goodbye and then went inside her nearly empty cottage, her heart heavy with the realization that Speed had left the party earlier without even letting her know he was going. That fact was cutting her like a dull knife in her chest. During the party she had finally finished her dance with Gary and then combed through the crowd, searching for her boyfriend. She looked far and wide throughout her domicile and not seeing him around, finally went outside and with a pang saw that the Mach 5 was gone. She went back to the party and pasted a fake smile on her pretty face for her guests but inside she felt a cold emptiness. What had happened to make him leave so abruptly and without a word?

Once inside, she decided to busy herself to take her mind off her hurt and began to numbly go around and clean up when she realized she wasn't alone. The tall figure of a curly haired racer suddenly came from the bathroom, startling her.

"Ahhh!" Trixie screeched as Gary rushed forward to soothe her.

"Take it easy, Trixie, it's just me," he assured her, his hands on her shoulders.

She broke away from his grasp. "Gary, what are you still doing here?" she demanded hotly.

He replied evenly, "I hung around to help you clean up."

Trixie sighed wearily, wanting to be alone. "Thanks, but I can handle it by myself. You can go home, I'll be fine."

Gary regarded her in concern. "You don't look fine. Is something wrong?"

She sighed again as she said, "I'm just tired. And I'm wondering why Speed took off without telling me."

Gary nodded in understanding. "Yeah, that's kind of strange. I would've figured he'd stick around till the end. If I were your boyfriend, that's what I'd have done."

Trixie snapped, "Are you going to start on Speed again? Because if you are, I'm not interested. He may have gotten a call on his radio from Pops about something and he had to leave."

Gary raised his hands in supplication. "Okay, okay. So let me help clean up, okay?"

Trixie sighed and shrugged. "Fine. But I don't want to talk to you about Speed, is that clear?"

Gary held up his right hand. "Crystal."

They wordlessly resumed the cleanup save for occasional queries about certain cleaning tasks and about a half hour later the large part of the job was done. Trixie then approached Gary with a wan smile.

"Thanks so much for your help, Gary. I'm sorry I snapped at you before." She lowered her head shamefully but he took her chin and raised it to gaze into her fathomless eyes.

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad I could help, it was the least I could do since you invited me to your party." He lowered his head as he added, "I know Speed wasn't too pleased about me being here. I hope it didn't cause trouble between you."

Trixie sighed as her heart constricted, hoping that what Gary suggested was not so but considering Speed's attitude toward Gary, it seemed more and more plausible. "I don't know," she said sullenly.

Gary ascertained Trixie's desire to be alone so he said, "I'm gonna split. Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

She managed a slight smile. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

He headed for the door and blew her a kiss. "I'll see ya then." He exited, closing the door firmly behind him.

Trixie sighed as she went to the door to put the chain on. After she secured the chain, she turned and her eye spotted the long box with bright paper and a pretty pink bow.

I thought I opened all my birthday presents Trixie said to herself as she picked up the box and began to tear the wrapping off. A long jewelry box covered in royal blue leather opened up and Trixie gasped as she saw the beautiful gold locket on the bed of velvet. She fingered the delicate 14-carat chain and let the locket dangle on her fingertips as she turned it over, reading the engraved words and with growing dismay remembered what had happened while a certain song was playing during the party. She then flopped on her sofa as her eyes welled up and the reason for Speed's mysterious disappearance from the party became clear. On the back were words that rended her heart into shreds…

Forever My Girl,

Love Speed

Warm rivulets ran down her cheeks making tracks through her makeup as Trixie began to weep as if her world had ended. His words earlier rang in her ears.

"That's not the only gift I brought, angel. I have another surprise for you."

"Oh Speed," she whimpered as the sorrow of loss overtook her.

Gary drove the Silver Streak to the fashionable garden apartment complex in the wealthy section of town and slowly made his way toward the unit that was his. He pulled into the reserved spot with his apartment number etched in bas-relief lettering and cut the motor. Shutting his lights off, he then climbed out and noticed the dark shadow of a long limousine parked in the nearly deserted visitor's lot. He took a deep breath and strode over to the sinister looking vehicle where the rear door opened and his nostrils picked up the pungent scent of cigar smoke.

"Come in, Lightening," Flywheel Flatte's smooth voice invited cordially. Gary did as he was bade and the limousine door closed as he sat across from his employer.

Flatte drew a leisurely puff and the coal of his cigar glowed orange red in the darkness. "I've been waiting for you. Been out on the town?"

"I was at a party at a friend's," Gary replied shortly annoyed at the intrusion to his private life.

"Well, I hope you had a good time," Flatte said as he reached and tapped the end of his cigar in the ashtray. "I'm sure you're wondering what brings me here at this hour."

"The thought did cross my mind," Gary countered.

Flatte answered, "We are now in possession of the Dragonfire."

Gary blinked as he asked, "Pops Racer's new motor? You mean it was stolen tonight?"

"Precisely. The information you supplied along with what we derived from the bugs planted enabled the team to move tonight. And with the exception of having to take care of the night guard, it went off without a hitch." He leaned back and puffed his cigar in preening self-satisfaction.

Gary reached and cracked open the window to allow the acrid clouds to escape. "So where do we go from here?"

Flatte replied smugly, "Bring the Silver Streak to the factory tomorrow and we'll install it with Racer not knowing a thing. For the remainder of the week you don't practice in the Silver Streak, use the backup car, they're almost identical. We'll unveil the new Silver Streak on raceday."

Gary nodded as he said, "Okay. I'll bring the car tomorrow." He made to exit as Flatte's voice stopped him.

"Remember, you need to take care of your part, Lightening," he reminded.

Gary thought of how bereft Trixie looked as he left her cottage and answered almost savagely, "I know. Leave it to me." He got out and closed the door as the limousine's engine turned over and the car crept off into the night.

NEXT---IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES