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Even though the party was now in full swing at the next trailer, Barbara, McCormick, Kiki and Hardcastle decided to turn in. Milt had decided hours before that he planned on camping out on the couch of the new car's trailer, giving Mark the sleeping area of the trailer. Barbara went to the Coyote's trailer and locked the door behind her. Kiki had headed to the sleeping area of Mark's trailer, while Mark and the judge checked the locks on the back doors of the trailers. Once inside, McCormick went to the back door of the trailer and wrapped the chain tightly around the door handles. Then at the side door he did the same but left the key in the lock. Looking at Hardcastle he said, "Just in case."

"Yeah." Hardcastle replied uncertainly.

McCormick tried to act innocent, but he knew Hardcase wasn't buying. "Night Judge." he said as he stepped through the bedroom door closing it without letting the latch catch. As McCormick entered the bedroom area, he scouted out his black shirt and pants that he had put out earlier, close to his side of the bed, as well as a certain black duffel back dropped seemingly carelessly by the door. He had no intention of using anything in the bag, but had brought it along as a 'security blanket' after the trouble that he, Barbara, and Flip had run into over the Coyote. As for the black outfit, he did have plans for that, if it was nothing more than to not be seen.

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The noise level of the track had quieted down considerably in last hour, as Mark lay awake. Kiki had fallen asleep earlier with her arm across his chest. McCormick hoped that Hardcastle was also asleep as he listened to the activity outside, which now was next to nothing. The only sounds he'd heard lately were that of a trailer door closing or someone returning to their own area. Mark slipped Kiki's arm off his chest, then slowly slipped out of the bed, he quietly dressing in the black clothes he'd laid out earlier. Relieved that Kiki hadn't moved, he silently opened the bedroom door, took out his set of lock picks from the black bag, stepped into the living room area, and closed the door again. As if on cue, the back door of the trailer rattled as someone attempted to gain entrance. McCormick eased by the couch, to the side door, took the lock in his left hand as he silently turned the key with his right.

"You take the right. I'll take the left and cut him off," Hardcastle said, as he moved silently to McCormick's side.

Feeling his heart skip several beats at the judge's voice behind him, McCormick whispered in annoyance, "Gees, Judge, I needed that ten years of my life!"

Hardcastle replied, "Go. Just go."

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McCormick went out the door to the right. Hardcastle to the left. As Hardcastle appeared around the back of the carrier with his gun drawn, he ran face to face with McCormick. They proceeded to check under, around, and even on top of both trailers and found nothing. Returning to the trailer, Mark checked on Kiki, who was still asleep like he'd left her. Only then did he ask, "You did hear what I did?"

Hardcastle rubbed his face, and said, "Yeah. I did. But, it seemed to me you were expecting it?" he questioned.

Mark nodded, "I expected something, but what we found ... wasn't it."

"Now, what?" Hardcastle asked.

McCormick replied, "You go to bed. I'm going to go out for a bit... If you hear something on the roof, it's not elves."

Hardcastle just groaned as McCormick was back out the door.

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McCormick silently shut the trailer door and simply stood outside for several moments, listening and watching for anything or anybody out of place. Mark knew someone had attempted to get in the back of the trailer. Reason told him it could have been a drunk crew member at the wrong trailer, but his experience with Hardcastle told him that was not the case. He quietly eased to the top of the car carrier where he scouted out the area from above. He hoped no one would be looking up if they were nearby. What he saw was what he should be seeing this time of night; there were only outside lights from one car carrier down the way. He knew that it was Pig's trailer even in the dark and from this distance. In Mark's younger days, Pig's had been the place to party.

He climbed back down to ground level and silently walked to the fence surrounding the track. He looked down at the deserted track, still lit by the track lights and a few lights from the smaller team's make shift accommodations. Far off in the distance, Mark heard a four wheeler slowly coming down from the drag strip. He figured it was Bonnie making rounds, which meant that she'd be by here eventually. Mark turned, walked around both of Barbara's trailers, before deciding to make his way down to Pig's for a bit. He silently walked in front of the rigs, not behind them where most people walked. Mark was interested in seeing who else was out and preferred not to be seen doing it.

Once at Pig's, he stood in the shadows, observing the scene. There was Pig, a girl that appeared to be Pig's latest woman, and several guys that Mark didn't recognize. Most appeared to still be wet behind the ears and only listening to Pig's stories once again, in order to keep drinking his beer. Mark listened as Pig recounted a race that he himself had been involved in. Pig was telling it the way it was, Mark stepped around the truck and and said, "Now, fellas, I was there and that's not the way it happened ..."

Pig turned to see who was discrediting his story. Seeing Mark, he said, "Now, Skid, you know that's the way it went down!"

"Maybe from your view, but not from mine," Mark replied.

"Well, just come on over here and refresh my memory, though I don't see how you saw anything from the back of the pack," Pig insisted.

Mark moved around to where he could see the backs of his trailers and said, "I'd be happy to, and I was a lot closer to the front than I was to the back."

Pig replied, "Well grab you a beer and pull up a chair."

Mark reached for a beer and grabbed a chair. He opened the beer and went through the motions of taking a drink.

Pig continued, "Fellows, let me introduce 'Skid' McCormick. He was one of the best drivers on the circuit several years ago."

Mark raised his beer, simply saying, "Fellas."

One of the guys, about Mark's age asked, "You're not the same 'Skid' McCormick that blew Sammy O'Connell off the line at Lancaster Raceway are you? I was there and that was some show!"

Mark remembered the race that the man was talking about. It had been when Sammy, Kiki and himself had all been racing. It was before any of them had a big sponsor and on any given night any of the three could have won. Mark simply confirmed, "The same."

The man continued eagerly, "Oh, man. You were really great. I started following you after that race but after that season I couldn't get a handle on you. You were right there at the end of the season. You should have taken that Championship."

Mark found himself biting his tongue, taking the first real sip of his beer, replied, "Right up until the last race, I'd had to agreed with you."

"So where were you the next season?" the guy boldly asked.

Mark shot Pig a look and said, "I kind of took a left turn and went back to school."

The man simply replied, "Oh, too bad. You could have been big." Then, totally confused by a combination of beer and limited IQ he asked, "So, what brings you here now?"

Seeing the man's confusion Mark replied, "I'm doing a favor for a friend. I still owe Flip Johnson a lot ... and his daughter needed a driver. Here I am."

"Oh, man." The guy replied, "So you are driving this weekend?"

Mark replied, "Afraid so."

The guy was satisfied, "Great! This is great!"

Mark was wondering just why this was so great. He had been watching the back of both of Barbara's trailers as he talked to the group of guys. So far he had seen nothing unusual.

Several of the younger guys had drifted away during the previous conversation. All that remained were Pig, his woman, the guy who was impressed by Mark, and Mark himself. The sound of the four wheeler was heard in the distance.

Mark said, "Well, that'll be Bonnie. I guess I'd better say goodnight."

The other guy said as he turned to leave, "Yeah, she won't like a party going on. Night you all."

Pig's latest girlfriend, said, "Yeah, I think its about my bedtime too. Night all."

Mark waited just a minute to let both the others get gone, and asked, "Say, Pig. Is anything out of the ordinary going on around here tonight?"

Pig looked surprised, "Not that I know why?"

"Well, we go way back," Mark began, "and someone was either at the wrong trailer or was messing around out here before I came down. Did you see anything unusual?"

Pig replied, "No, but now there was several guys wishing they had a better look at that machine you got up there."

"Anybody you figure that would try it?" Mark asked.

Pig replied, "Nah, just a couple talking."

Mark replied as Bonnie pulled up, "Thanks Pig. I'll see ya around," then he turned to Bonnie, "I'll make you a deal. I'll go in if you give me a ride back up the way."

Looking at Mark suspiciously, Bonnie asked, "Let me guess, you might not make it without me?"

Mark smiled guiltily, "Might not"

"Come on," she sighed. She thought Mark had drank a bit too much.

He climbed on the four wheeler with her and said as she pulled out, "Bonnie, believe it or not I'm totally sober. I've had like two drinks out of this beer," that he still held, "I just wanted the others to think I may have had more."

"Why's that?" she asked over the motor noise.

"Because I had someone snooping around the trailer earlier. If they think I'm drunk they may try it again," he explained.

"Do I need to keep an eye out?" she asked.

"Well, I'd say just keep it in mind if you see anything unusual, but if you act different it may scare them off. I'd like to catch who ever it was. Besides it could have been someone at the wrong trailer." Mark attempted to play off his concern.

Bonnie said as she stopped at the back of Mark's trailer, "Okay, I'll keep my eyes open. Let me know if you need anything else."

Mark waved as he said, "You can count on it."

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After seeing Bonnie off, Mark made his way quietly to the top of the trailer where he should be asleep. He took his position in the shadows and waited.

Dawn was breaking as Mark climbed off the top of the car carrier. He eased the trailer door open and slipped in, locking the chain silently behind him, then went quietly into the sleeping area where Kiki was still asleep, he stripped down to his underwear and slid back into bed.

Kiki automatically cuddled him, then sleepily said, "You're freezing."

"I'll warm up in a minute. Come back here," he said pulling her closer.

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All too soon McCormick heard Hardcastle stirring around in the other room of the trailer and fighting with the chain Mark had locked the door with. He opened his eye to find Kiki propped up on one arm watching him, "What?"

She smiled, "Nothing. Just enjoying the view."

Mark found himself enjoying a view of his own. He brushed her hair back as he heard Hardcastle.

"McCormick? You gonna sleep the day away?" Hardcastle grumbled.

Mark smiled and swore, "Damned his timing. ... I'll be right there Judge," he said throwing the covers off. He said to Kiki as he dressed, "Sorry."

"Say, just where were you to get so cold last night?" she asked as she also got dressed in something more fitting than the gown she had worn to bed.

"Let's just say that someone got awfully curious about our trailer or they were at the wrong trailer. I went out for awhile, walked down to Pig's. Hung out a little." Mark offered as a more detailed explanation than he figured Kiki needed, but he wanted his cards on the table with her. He knew that many of the ladies that he had gone out with in recent years would have wanted far more details than he had given Kiki.

Kiki only nodded knowingly at his explanation.

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Mark knew that Kiki would be racing most of the day, where as they wouldn't even start working the dirt track until late evening; he could give his undivided attention to her car. He knew the Coyote was in top condition as was the new car.

Barbara and Hardcastle had agreed to take turns watching the new car's trailer, with the truck drivers acting as the added security. Hardcastle would have been just as happy listening to his ballgame on the radio but figured to at least make an appearance at the drag strip.

Hardcastle knew McCormick and the kids would be busy in between Kiki's runs, making adjustments and rechecking every detail. He watched as the group left both of Mark's cars locked in the trailers as they walked to the drag strip.

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At Kiki's trailer, Mark talked with Mr. Jones, Danny, Pete, and Pat. All had confirmed that nothing had been seen or heard out of the ordinary. That didn't stop Mark from checking and rechecking every detail of Kiki's car. He pulled it on jack stands before time for Kiki to strap in and said, "Come here. I want you to look at this."

Kiki came over and crawled under the car with Mark. He showed her the tie rods, the steering, gas feed and anything else that could cause her to crash if it wasn't right.

By the time Kiki climbed into the car, both she and Mark were convinced that the car was as safe as it could be. She strapped in, put on her helmet and gloves, then pulled into the line of cars ready to race.

Mark waited on the sidelines with Barbara as Kiki inched her way through the line of racers.

Barbara opened a conversation that Mark didn't expect, "She means a lot to you?"
Trying to cover the shock on his face Mark replied, "Huh?"

"Kiki?" Barbara continued, "She means a lot to you?"

Looking at Barbara he saw a look that was full of emotions; caring, concern, and was there a bit of jealously in there? "Barb, you know that I love you. You are the sist..."

"Sister you never had. Yeah, I know." She put on a mask of her own as she continued, "That's why I worry about you. She hurt you once."

Mark cut her off, "Yes, and she may hurt me again. I can understand you not liking her. I'm probably the reason for that, " he sighed, "I don't know what the future holds, but I got to give this another try."

"Mark if that's what you want, I wish you the best. If she hurts you this time, though, she will have me to deal with," Barbara said.

Mark smiled at her, "Thanks, Barb, and in case I haven't said it before, thank you for this weekend."

She blushed as she replied, "I wouldn't have put another driver in a car of Dad's," then she almost whispered, "I just hoped that this time, maybe you wouldn't have thought of me as a sister."

Mark brushed her cheek and said, "If I ever don't think of you as a sister, you will be the first to know."

Barbara nodded and said, "I think I'll go let Milt come up for awhile. Good luck."

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Ok, so how am I doing so far?