Chapter 21

Trixie knelt down beside the tub, scouring the inside. It was already spotless. Still, she couldn't help giving it another once over. From the other room, the latest Star Trek movie was being shown on one of the Pay Per View channels. She wasn't even that big a fan of the series, but the constant replay of the movie assured her that she wouldn't see any reminders of Speed and Dallas, which seemed to be major stories on the networks and even some of the premium channels.

"There," she said rising, her right hand on her lower back to ease the stress that bending over had cause it, "it looks as good as when I first moved in." She glanced about the bathroom. None of her things were left, just soap, shampoo and conditioner.

With a sigh, she left the room and inspected the rest of the apartment. She noted with a twinge of sadness how sterile the place looked without her personal items. "It's as if I never lived here," she said.

Trixie still had until the end of the month, which was nearly two weeks away, before she had to be out of the apartment. She figured it would be easier to have the major part of the cleaning up out of the way. "I'll only have to give this place the once over, and be on my way."

She sat down on the couch, and drank the coffee which had been sitting on the table since early that morning. It was now cold, but she barely noticed as she stared ahead, not even realizing that the movie had ended and was about to start again. She had turned her mind inward as she thought about the monumental change she was about to make in her life. She wondered what Janine and Sparky would think when she told them she was leaving. Her mind focused on Speed. "He probably won't even notice I'm gone," she said sadly.

---

"Darlin', we have to stop here, this place has the coolest things…" Dallas grabbed Speed's arm and pulled him into the shop.

He glanced up at the sign, "SPUR!" it proclaimed in bright red neon. "I wonder how much I'll end up spending here…" he said to himself, mentally calculating all the charges that had been made to his credit card since they had first arrived at the mall.

"Ohhh!" Dallas exclaimed as she let go of him and ran towards the latest item that sparked her fancy.

"What now?" Speed asked with a groan. He had thought this shopping trip was supposed to be for him. But so far, except for two shirts, jeans and a pair of sneakers, every purchase had been for Dallas. He wouldn't have minded so much if she hadn't insisted on using his credit card because, according to her, boyfriends were supposed to buy nice things for their girlfriends

She showed him a pair of beige cowboy boats with dark brown piping in the shape of leaves going down the side. "Aren't these cute?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah, but I don't think they'll fit me, they look kinda small," he replied.

"They're not for you, silly goose," Dallas giggled as she sat on one of the chairs and tried them on. "Perfect!" She walked across the room, admiring herself in the full-length mirror. "Don't you just love them, Speedikins?"

"They're fine, but do you really need them? You just bought those black boots at that other boutique we were in…not to the mention three pairs of sandals, red platforms…and…"

"Huh!" she exclaimed, cutting him off. "Those boots aren't even the same style as these. Ah don't even see why you bought up the other shoes. Ah needed them, you know that!" Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, her lower lip jutted out. "Ah think you're just tryin' to be mean, Speed Racer! Ah guess all those stories Ah read about you being cheap are true."

Speed closed his eyes, trying not to get angry with her. "I'm not cheap…I'm frugal. Pops made a point of teaching us kids the value of a dollar. My parents got all of us savings accounts when we were kids, we learned how to budget our allowance and save money. It was a very valuable lesson, too, because I learned to never carry a balance on my credit card," he told her. "I pay up my bill every month and have an excellent credit rating." He had a feeling, though, that his pristine credit rating was about to be ruined.

"Well, your daddy certainly didn't follow his own advice, wasting all that money on that stupid garage," she said bluntly.

"That garage is his lifelong dream, something he's always wanted. Besides, once your father's money comes through, he'll be doing fine."

"Oh, yes, Daddy's investment…Ah'm sure your father will be pleasantly surprised when he gets what's coming to him," Dallas said with a sly smile on her face as she turned away from Speed and carried the boots to the cash register.

Without even being asked, Speed handed his credit card to the cashier, flinching when she rang up the charge on the boots. "Three hundred bucks," he said to himself. "Don't know why she needs to spend so much money on a stupid pair of shoes…"

Dallas left the store with her latest purchase, followed glumly by Speed who was becoming sorry he had agreed to this shopping trip. His feet were aching, his head was ready to split open. All he wanted to do was leave. But unfortunately, Dallas wasn't through.

They went from store to store, Speed handing her his credit card without saying a word. He trudge along, his arms ladened with bags and packages. Finally, they got to the last store, a little shop called"Baby World." He couldn't help but smile. "Here's one store where Dallas won't be able to spend my money," he thought smugly.

"Ohhh! How adorable!" Dallas exclaimed as she pointed at an infant-sized pair of designer sneakers. "Won't those look adorable on our baby?"

Speed gulped. "Our baby? Maybe some day, yeah…" he said sure that Dallas was just teasing him.

"Maybe sooner than you think, sweet pea. The women in mah family are very fertile…and you haven't always been careful in your passion," she said. "Ah've also been feeling nauseous the past couple of days."

"Uh…maybe you've just got a stomach virus or something," he said. It seemed awfully soon for her to be experiencing symptoms of pregnancy. Though, what did he really know about things like that?

"Maybe…or maybe not," she said with a wink. "Ah guess we'll find out soon enough, right?"

Speed didn't answer her as she led him out of the mall. His mind was reeling. What if Dallas really was pregnant? He tried to push that thought away, but it kept nagging at his subconscious.

Dallas smiled inwardly at the pained expression on Speed's face. She knew that his life was starting to spiral out of control and things were going to get worse before they got better.

She sauntered out of the mall, chattering happily about her new purchases. Speed walked a few paces behind, his head down. The mood he was in was at polar opposite to Dallas'.

"Oh my!" Dallas cried out as they approached her car. "Looks like some of those nasty ol' reporters found us."

"Shit," he muttered in disgust as three members of the press stood by Dallas' car. "Can't those vultures ever give a man a moment's peace?"

He started to walk away, but Dallas pulled him back and dragged him towards the waiting media. "Dallas, what the hell are you doing?" he asked.

"Facing the enemy. You're not afraid of them, are you?"

"Of course not. I just don't want to deal with them right now," he explained.

"Well, Ah do and Ah expect you to stand up to them with me!" she pronounced angrily.

"No!" He was about to pull away from her, but realized it was too late as the reporters ran towards them.

"Speed… What do you think of the latest charges against you?" the first reporter to arrive asked breathlessly.

"Latest charges? I have no idea what you're talking about," he answered, his voice filled with the growing disdain he was feeling towards the media.

"Sure, you do."

Speed shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I honesty don't."

"Oh?" A puckish grin crossed the man's face. "I'm talking about the results of the drug test you took…and the fact that an illegal substance was found in the sample. According to my source, the racing commission is about to levy some pretty heavy punishment towards you.

"You're making that up!" Speed exclaimed. "The results aren't even gonna be in until tomorrow."

"According to my very reliable source they did a rush on the test and got what they were suspecting, a positive reading."

Speed shook his head. "The test is wrong. I don't do drugs."

The first reporter was joined by the other two. "That's not what we heard."

"Yeah, tell us truth, Speed. How long have you been using?" the second reported asked.

"I already told you that I don't do drugs!" He pushed passed them and leapt over the passenger side door of Dallas' car. "Your source is wrong!" he bellowed. "I'm not a drug user!'

Dallas opened the car door. Before getting in she turned to the reporters. "He's lying," she mouthed, smiling. Sitting in the car she started it and drove off. "Ah hope they don't follow us home."

"We're not going home," he told her. "We're going to the Racing Commission. I want to find out what the hell's going on."

---

The Go Team, along with Mom Racer, waited in the hall of the Racing Commission offices.

"I hope Paladin managed to give Speed the message about the drug test findings," Pops mentioned to Sparky.

"Let's cross our fingers that he did. Janine and I went to the mall on the way here to see if we could find him," the Go Team's mechanic responded. "There was no sign of Speed or Dallas."

At the mention of Speed's new girlfriend Trixie made a face of disgust. Mom put a sympathetic arm around her. "I'm so glad you came here today, dear. I know it's not easy for you."

Trixie shrugged. "I'm still a member of the team and have to show my support for one of its members…no matter how poorly he's treated me," she said in a soft voice.

Mom sadly shook her head. "I'm sorry for what my son's done to you, Trixie. You know I don't approve of his actions at all."

Trixie managed a little smile. "I know that." She wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm going to miss you and the rest of the family so much."

"I'll miss you dating my son, but you know you're always welcome in our home, Trixie," Mom said.

"Thanks…" Trixie didn't mention that soon she would be living far away, clear across the country.

"Hey, they're here!" Sparky said, pointing out the window where they saw Dallas' car had pulled into the lot.

"Guess Paladin got the message to him," Pops said.

Speed, holding Dallas' hand, quickly walked through the door. "He looks pissed as hell," Sparky noted.

"He's probably mad because the meeting interrupted a rutting session with the she-beast from hell," Janine muttered just loud enough for Trixie to hear.

"Good one," Trixie said in an aside to her friend.

Speed seemed surprised to find the team waiting outside the main meeting room. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked.

"Same as you, buddy, waiting to find out what they found out in your drug test," Sparky explained.

"So, it's true?" Speed paled and sat on the long bench that ran along the wall. "I thought the reporter was making it up…"

"Nope," Janine said almost gleefully. "The test came out positive, I bet the commission nails your ass good!"

"Janine!" Trixie exclaimed. "That's not a nice thing to say, especially with Speed's parents having to hear it."

"Sorry," she apologized.

Mom Racer was about to comment when the meeting room door opened.

"Good afternoon," Andrew Coretti greeted them. "I'm glad you all could make it on such short notice," he bowed slightly at the women and offered his hand to each man to shake.

Speed reluctantly shook it.

Coretti's expression was grave. "Hello, Speed," he said. "I'm sorry that, once again, we must meet under less than desirable circumstances."

"Yes sir, me too," he said nervously. "I just want you to know that I'm going to cooperate fully with the commission."

"I'm sure you will since you really don't have much of a choice," Coretti reminded him. "Now please, if we might all go inside," he motioned them through the door.

They filed into the room. A heavy weight descended upon Speed as he viewed the stern faces of the other two presiding officials of the Racing Commission.

The usual formalities were shared and then the meeting started. Jonathan Leadfooter rose and spoke to the team. "As you were informed, we received the results of the test that had been administered to Speed Racer at yesterday's meeting. I know that originally the continuation of the hearing was to have been tomorrow, but after viewing the results of this test the commission felt that it was best to address the situation immediately."

Speed nodded and straightened. He gripped Dallas' hand tightly under the table. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it was going to burst out of his chest. "Stay calm..." he said to himself.

"Speed," Leadfooter continued, "the results of the urine test administered yesterday revealed a substance in your system that has been banned by the FDA."

"I don't do drugs sir," he whispered.

"I'm sorry son, but the test was run twice and is quite conclusive. You had traces of valcintryptocite in your system."

"Huh?" Speed asked, confused. "What's that?"

"It's more commonly known as V-gas." He leaned forward. "You have heard of V-gas, haven't you?"

Speed shifted uncomfortably. Of course he knew what it was. His experience with the substance had nearly ended his racing career. He closed his eyes as he remembered the time nearly two years ago, when he inhaled the gas and drove the GRX into near insanity. "Yes sir, I know what V-gas is."

"Good. Then you also know that the FDA found it to be a hallucinogen which can cause psychotic episodes in certain individuals, which is why they banned it."

"Sir, I think I'd remember if I inhaled V-gas," Speed said.

"There is a solid form of the gas...which is commonly used in pill form. You mentioned yesterday that you took some pills to help rid you rid yourself of symptoms of illness," Leadfooter said.

Speed nodded. "Yes, but the person who gave them to me said they were harmless headache pills. I'd have never taken them had I known the effect they would have on me."

"Who gave you the pills, son?" Mr. Leadfooter asked.

"A friend," he replied with a quick glance in Dallas' direction. She didn't say anything. "A casual acquaintance, actually. I don't know her very well..."

"Do you think this person will be able to verify what you're saying?"

He again looked over towards Dallas, She averted her eyes from his gaze. "I'm not sure...I don't know where she lives and I don't have her phone number. I just kinda know her from the neighborhood…"

"Hmmm...Since you seem to have no way to contact your friend I'm afraid we will have no choice but to assume that you knew what was in those pills when you took them," Leadfooter told him.

"No sir, I didn't! Please... you've got to believe me!" Speed proclaimed as he turned to his girlfriend. "Dallas tell them about the pills!"

Dallas blinked innocently. "Me? Ah don't know anything about those pills. Ah didn't even know you took them until later when you acted all stoned at the motel. When you told me about them, Ah was shocked. Ah never thought mah boyfriend, Speed Racer, would do drugs!"

The color drained from Speed's face. "Dallas..." he said through gritted teeth, unable to believe that she was betraying him.

Dallas slowly sat down. "Sorry pumpkin', but Ah can't lie to the commission."

"Thank you, Ms. Maverick," Leadfooter said. "You've given us some very enlightening information which just makes our case against Mr. Racer that much stronger.

Speed pulled away from Dallas, too furious to even look at her. "The commission is really going to give it to me now, thanks to her," he thought.

"I knew that witch would screw Speed," Janine whispered to Trixie.

"What a rotten thing to do," Trixie whispered back. "I wonder what the commission will do to him?"

"I don't know, but we'll find out soon enough."

They turned their attention back to Jonathan Leadfooter, who was looking through a small stack of papers. LeMans said something to him and he nodded. "We will take a five minute recess," he said rising from his seat.

"Why are they doing this, making me wait? It's like a form of torture," Speed said.

"Honey, we need to talk," Dallas said softly, touching his arm.

Speed recoiled from her. "Leave me alone!" he cried getting up from his chair and walking across the room.

Dallas quickly followed him. "Speed, please…let me explain..."

He stood tall, arms crossed. "I doubt any explanation will be good enough to excuse you for what you just did."

"Baby…darlin'…Ah got those pills from a friend of mine who lives in London. She knows Ah get dreadful headaches at that time of the month. So, when Ah visited her last year, she got me a bottle of those pills. At the time Ah didn't know they were illegal in this country. Heck, Ah went through customs without any problem… Ah have to say, they helped my headaches so much."

"How nice for you," Speed said coldly. "It still doesn't explain why you lied to the officials."

Dallas moved closer to him, he backed away. "Pumpkin…Ah only found out that the pills were illegal today…Ah tell ya, I was really surprised…"

"So? Why didn't you tell Mr. Leadfooter that?"

Dallas closed her eyes and sighed. "Because Ah was afraid if I told them Ah gave you the pills Ah'd end up jail." She scanned Speed's face for his reaction to what she said, noting that his expression wasn't one of anger anymore. "You see…back when Ah was in boardin' school, Ah hung out with kind of a wild crowd. Ah didn't know just how wild they were until one night when we got pulled over by a cop for speeding. The girl who was drivin' the car, Amanda, got smart with the cop who got really mad. He was so mad, that he told us to get out of the car while he and his partner searched it for lord knows what…"

"Did they find anything?" Speed asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Uh huh," she nodded. "Inside the glove compartment was some marijuana and two grams of cocaine. Oh baby, Ah had no idea she was doin' drugs. If Ah had…well, Ah'd never have given her the time of day…Anyway, the cops found the drugs in her car and Ah guess you know what happened after that…"

"Guilt by association, right?"

"Yep. Ah was lucky, though, that Ah got off with just probation. But the judge warned me that if Ah was ever to get into that type of trouble again the book would be thrown at me. Goin' to jail scares me so much, but leavin' Daddy all alone would be even worse." Her eyes welled up with tears. "Now do you see why Ah had to lie Speed?"

"Yes…Yes, I do." He pulled her close. "Oh Dallas, my poor sweet Dallas…I had no idea of the hell you went through…"

"Ah'm so sorry, darlin'…if there was any other way…" she sobbed as he held her and stroked her flaxen locks.

"No…it's okay…I understand…I couldn't stand the thought of you being locked up…away from me…" He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her, not caring that the Go Team was watching in astonishment at his sudden change of heart towards Dallas.

The officials returned to the room, their eyes trained on Speed who still stood with his arms around Dallas. Mr. Coretti cleared his throat.

"Shoot!" Speed declared as he released Dallas from his grasp and flew back to his seat. "Sorry…" he mumbled, his face scarlet from embarrassment.

"Yes I suppose you should be," Andrew Coretti said with a hint of amusement in his voice while Speed suck low in his chair.

Leadfooter picked up the conversation. "After a final review of the all the facts we have come to a decision. Mr. Racer, please rise and approach the committee."

"Yes sir," Speed said, knowing full well the he was the Mr. Racer in question. Stiffly, he made his way to around the table to face the racing officials.

"As we all know, you were disqualified from your last race for flagrant rules violations. Because of dangerous track conditions, and your interference with the other drivers, the race is being rerun on Sunday. This in no way reverses our decision of disqualification."

"I understand, sir," Speed said.

"Good. Now, normally the disqualification would only count for the race in question. However, because of extenuating circumstances, namely a complaint filed by Mr. Ace Deucey of the Alpha Team and the presence of an illegal substance in your system, we have no recourse but to suspend you from the remaining races this season."

"What?" Speed cried out. "You can't do that…racing is my life!"

"I'm sorry, but you should have thought of that before you ran afoul of the rules." Jonathan Leadfooter admonished him before continuing, "If I may proceed...Speed Racer, you must submit to random drug testing for an indefinite amount of time. There is also the matter of a ten thousand dollar fine that is to be levied against your team…"

Speed could feel his father's eyes shooting daggers into his back. Ten thousand dollars…Pops would hate to part with that much money.

"Finally, you are to never use any of the special mechanical enhancements made on your car in a race ever again. With your skill and talent, I don't see why you would even need such devices."

Speed wiped the tears that fell from his eyes, not caring right now about having talent. All he knew is that for the rest of the season he was out of racing, that his team was being penalized for his lapse in judgment. Not to mention, he must succumb to random drug testing, and Pops would most likely have to make radical changes to the Mach Five in order to meet the Racing Commission's demands.

He scanned the distraught expressions of the of each member of the Go Team, Sparky seemed to be in shock, Janine's expression was one of accusation...with a bit of satisfaction. His gaze met Trixie's, there was sadness...sorrow, but oddly not an ounce of hatred was to be found. Guilt shot through him and he promptly moved his focus onto his mother. His heart broke when he saw the look of the pure, total love that his mother felt for him. He knew, right then, that she could never be angry with him, no matter what he did. "Mom..." he said softly, his heart breaking at the rift that had come between them. He moved to his father. Pops' face was filled with disgust, anger and heaven knows what else. All Speed knew was that he had never seen that particular expression on Pops Racer's face before. Did his father hate him? Could he blame him if he did? He realized the gravity of the situation, that his reputation might very well be ruined beyond repair. He couldn't take it any longer and ran from the room.

"Oh my God…What am I supposed to do now?" he wailed.