Chapter Seven

Holley drove up to the diner and pulled up next to Finn. "What's new?" she asked.

"Apparently Electro's gone insane, or cracked under the stress," Finn replied. "He claims he's being pursued by bad cars who want him dead, and among them is a black Aston Martin our records identify as Alan deCarteran."

"deCarteran?"

"Ring any bells? Our records are sparse."

"I think I've heard the name before, or seen a car matching the description." After a moment, turned her screen on and began browsing records. "Of course," she said. "At the Academy. He was in the same year I was, but he wasn't, oh, how do I put this? He wasn't known for his outstanding moral character. He was under a different name then." She closed the screen. "I believe it was Jackson Dalloway."

"Dalloway? deCarteran is Dalloway?"

"I take it you've heard of him?"

"The horror stories circulated throughout CHROME Britain for years after his expulsion."

"But if he's on our records, he must be working in some way for Chief Montgomery."

"Under his new name, and perhaps a refashioned personality, as there aren't any horror stories of Alan deCarteran specifically. He might've gone through the Academy twice, but he made sure no one would be the wiser. Oh, he's a sneaky bugger, a sneaky one indeed."

"But what could he want?"

"It doesn't matter what he wants, Holley. What matters what Montgomery wants."

"But how do we investigate the chief without being investigated ourselves?"

A knowing light flashed in Finn's eyes, and he said, "I know a way." With that, he drove off toward the Cozy Cone.

CARS

Ice was startled awake by the knock on the door, but he answered nonetheless. "Yeah?"

"I'd try to engage you in a conversation about how some Volkswagens lack radiators, but I think either way, you're an ideal car for the job I have for you," Finn replied.

"Why?"

"Your cover is a tuner who works a variety of odd jobs, correct?"

"Yeah."

"How would you like to take a 'job' from me, a friend of Starr's rich uncle?"

"To keep my cover, I'll have to be paid."

"Well, to negotiate that, I'll need to tell you your mission."

"Okay, fair enough. Whaddaya need me to do?"

"I need you to investigate Chief Montgomery."

"Too risky for you Brits?"

"Yes, it is."

Ice bit his bumper and after a pause said, "Okay, I'm in. Now, let's talk price."

Finn smiled. "Give me a number, Ice, P.I."

CARS

Holley felt her eyes widen slightly as Finn drove out of the Cozy Cone toward the diner where she waited. "Did you get him to go along with it?" she asked when he pulled up.

"I did," Finn replied. "For a price, which I know for a fact I can cover."

"Good. When does he leave?" She spotted the yellow tuner driving out of the Cozy Cone and down Route Sixty-Six on his way out of Radiator Springs. "Oh."

Finn chuckled and shook his hood. When he recovered himself, he said, "Our task now is to look after Electro."

"Roger that."