Fast and the Furious: Diesel Queen

Chapter 5: The Lady in Leather

I was told by Dom that there is a gun-running operation going down between the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The problem was we don't know who the ringleader, but we know he is using rigs to get his shipments across the state highways. So what do you do? You send a trucker to go where the truckers go. That's why I am in the Bay Area.

I did not want to make myself to be an inviting target with my Peterbilt 379. So I decided to take my other rig out onto the road, my other Peterbilt 379 extended hood with a 70" ultra sleeper in a nice shade of copper to help it blend in, "Breaker 1-9, this is the Lady Lioness, you got a copy on me, Dom, come on?" I said into the trusty CB radio.

"You truckers got your own language, don't you?" Dom asked on the other line, "10-4, Lioness, now stay on this channel, and let us know if you get any leads at the Produce Terminal," He instructed. With a 10-4 back at him, I was rolling down US-101 South not far from SFO. I was wearing my Reptile Alligator Leather Leggings my friend got me from Germany, my steel-toes, and a fitted black tanktop for the road trip. With a spread axle flatbed hitched to the rig, I parked the rig outside, and went inside the Terminal.

There was only one guy I know that would know something about this. His name is Kyle Cade, goes by the CB Handle 'Crazy Horse'. He is around my age, a real young gun trucker. He has been in and out of prison for convoying. He is handsome, but a bit immature, "Well, well I haven't seen you around the terminal in ages," said Kyle leaning against his pride and joy, a 1994 Kenworth W900L in black with a classic-style sleeper and turbo-wing. He was giving me that fox grin he's known for. I am not interested.

"I am looking for a rig," I said simply, and added a wink to keep it between us and the crew. A guy with his track record is bound to have some connections. Kyle lightly smiled, and gestured with his neck for me to follow him. Still sticking to the plan, I walked with him to the Produce Alley Sports Tavern for a bite to eat, and information.

"Dom said you would be coming around here," Kyle said to me, "last I saw, there was an Autocar that came around here, an AT64F, not two days ago, the driver didn't come out with any logbook or pick-ups or anything like that, something about that rig didn't sit well with me," Kyle had a point, you don't see rigs like that on the road anymore.

I was munching on a Mushroom Swiss Burger as I heard the information he was giving me. After I swallowed a bite, and wiped my lips, I had some questions for him, "Do you know what kind of trailer the rig was pulling?" I asked, Kyle shook his head 'no' to me. I nodded in understanding, and I had another question ready for him while still keeping my voice to a conversational tone, "do you know what color that rig is?" I asked with a sigh, this time I struck some information as he nodded 'yes' to my question.

"Yeah, like a dark red or burgundy, something like that," He replied, cutting and taking a bite of his Fish and Chips, "look Lioness, I know I've been on some hauls with you, and I have said some real stupid shit through the CB, but why are going along with this? You're not the type that hangs around the dangerous crowd, you know," He said out of concern. I first started out being the replacement to Han's '69 Chevy. Now I am actually on assignment with this crew even if Letty is firmly against me being on the crew.

"Look Cade, there are some things on the road that shouldn't be on the road," I said finishing my dinner, and paying for my half as we were splitting the bill, "thanks for the meal," I headed out the door of the tavern and headed back to my rig. I tuned to Dom's private channel as I got back on the road, "breaker, breaker, this is Lady Lioness,"

"I got something you might want to hear, the informant said to be on the look out for a dark red or burgundy Autocar AT64F, it was at the terminal two days ago, do you have a copy on my, Dom, come on," I said relaying information from 'Crazy Horse' as I saw his black Kenworth pulling out of the terminal with a trailer filled with his cargo.

"Nice work, Lioness, meet us back at Terminal Island, and we'll go from there," Dom radioed back to me. The trip back from San Francisco to Los Angeles is a good five to six hour trip on a good day. Still I had my questions about this mystery truck that is running illegal arms across the state. Who would take such a rare rig for that kind of a job? I did not know at first, but something was not sitting well with me about the information Kyle gave to me. I would have to talk to Dom and the guys about this matter at hand.

After the long trip back to Los Angeles, I parked the rig back in the garage and met back up with Dom and his crew. I got a hug and a little kiss on the lips from Roman. I am really glad I can make that guy happy, "Ugh...someone get me a lunch bag, I think I'm going to be sick," Letty groaned, but I paid no mind to it. I often take the Freightliner when the Pete breaks down, but I called on the trusty Peterbilt 379 because they are everywhere. Now that I am back in the garage, I can take the 379 out on the tarmac.

I got down to business with the guys, "Now that we have an objective, we need to find a way to track the rig," I explained to them, "for all we know, these rig could be going anywhere, we truckers can cover a lot of ground in two days," they all nodded in understanding, "if you guys want, you can send me out again, I will see if I can find the rig,"

"Alright Marina, but on one condition," Dom said, looking at Letty, "you have to take Letty with you," I nodded to tell him I was fine with the set-up, but Letty looked less than stellar about Dom's decision. I could hear Letty's knuckles crack at her side. Dom is the boss around here. I looked over at Letty. She glared at me, and flipped me off.

"I love you too, sweetheart," I sassed back, and went back to the helm of my rig, and went with the crew back to Dom's place. I slept in the back of sleeper since there wasn't much room in the house. It is kind of odd seeing a full-size rig parked in a neighborhood. Things were going through my mind about that rig. I suspected something was a little off about that information I got from Cade. That was until I heard a knock at the passenger's side door. I opened it to see a smiling Roman with a couple beers.

"Hey Marina, I thought you could use a beer," said Roman as he climbed into my Peterbilt. I smiled back, and gave him a wink as I led him to the sleeper in the back, "listen, don't let Letty get to you, to be honest we're more used to hijacking you than working with you, but we need you on the crew for this job," Roman assured me, I trusted him. Hey, you got to do what you got to do. Roman touched my cheek with the back of his hand, and as for what happened next. I will leave it to your imagination to decide that.