Chapter Nine

Ice tipped the crab boat that brought him across the Atlantic, flashed his official identification to the British Customs officers for the first time in over two years, and made his way through the streets of the harbor town. Finn told him to look for Chief Montgomery, a well-known recluse, but Ice loved a challenge.

He drove out of the town and set his sights on London, his mind working through a plan and trying to solidify it. The first step entailed record-browsing and asking around, of course, but outside of contacting Finn, he didn't know where to go from there, if it was possible to do so. He took a deep breath and looked up at the road signs to get his beaerings. A few hours' drive would get him where he needed to be.

A few cars on the road gave him strange looks, but he didn't pay much attention. None of them looked like they knew anything, anyway.

A few hours after leaving the harbor town, true to his estimate, he found himself checking into a hotel and striking up some conversation with other patrons at the hotel's bar. "Who's that guy?" he asked the Toyota Camri next to him as a silver Scion tC rolled into the bar and scanned the scene.

"Name's Daniel Montgomery," the Camri replied in a thick accent. "Haven't seen 'im in months."

"Montgomery?"

"Aye. Sound familmar?"

"Yeah."

"Should. That bloke's a parts dealer."

"Parts dealer?"

"That's if you believe the rumors."

Ice settled onto his chassis in relief. "Still, it's a strange profession for a car to be in. Kinda macabre."

The Camri shrugged and turned toward the Scion, who approached them with his gaze fixed on Ice. "Maybe I should go," the Camri said, moving to leave.

"Please. Remain where you are," Montgomery said in an icy voice. The Camri scooted back into his seat.

As Montgomery ordered a drink, Ice used the opportunity to get a better look at him. The Scion tC looked like he was straight out of a psychothriller or spy movie, which struck Ice as ironic, considering this guy was the British spy chief. However, something about his appearance really put Ice off. "What's an American modified car doing in England?" Montgomery asked, turning too slowly toward Ice for the latter's comfort.

"I've got a job to do," Ice replied, struggling to keep his voice even.

"What sort of a job?"

"Some car hired me to find his daughter, and the talk is that this is about where she disappeared."

"You don't say. How were you paid?"

"Cash." This line of questioning is pretty weird, Ice thought. "Why do you care so much?"

"Call me too curious for my own good," Montgomery replied with a smirk. Ice surpressed the shudder that threatened to completely rock his entire frame. "I'm especially curious about Americans who find themselves here, regardless of the reason."

"You asked your questions, so now I want to ask you a few."

"By all means."

"You hear the rumors about you?"

Montgomery closed his eyes, shook his hood, and chuckled. Ice surpressed another shudder. "Yes, I've heard the rumors, but the truth is stranger than fiction." The Scion tC's tone was darker as he spoke the last half of the sentence, and he drove out of the bar without touching his drink.

CARS

Holley glanced at Electro to make sure he was still at least huddled in the corner, but he still looked like a half-crazed car who feared for his life. A beep drew her attention to the computer, and she pressed a button.

"Finn, it's Ice," the voice on the other end of the transmission said frantically.

"And this is Holley," she replied. "Anyway, talk."

"Okay, look, and record this." She pressed another button, and a red dot flashed in the corner. "Montgomery's first name is Daniel, and he asked a hell of a lot about me, mainly what I was doing there. I lied, of course, but he's too curious for my own good. There's some rumor floating around that he's a parts dealer, and when I asked him about it, he said he heard the rumors, but the truth is stranger than fiction. Exact words."

"The truth is stranger than fiction?"

"Exactly what he said. Isn't that weird?"

"Very."

"You've found Montgomery already? Where?"

"In the bar at the hotel where I'm staying. That guy scares me, really bad. Looks like he's straight out of a psychothriller, and it's freakish. He looks a hell of a lot like he wants to kill me. I dunno how long I can stay here."

"Stick it out as long as you can."

"I'll have to, but get to Finn, and make sure you play this for him."

"I will."

"How's Electro?"

"He claims Alan deCarteran and a few others are out to kill him."

"If deCarteran's working for Montgomery, I'd buy that."

"Be careful, Richard."

"I will. Tell Finn."

"I will, as soon as possible."

"Stay safe."

"Godspeed."

The line went dead, and Holley pressed the 'record' button again, turning it off. She drove across the cabin and knocked on a small door. Finn groaned and drove out of the room, "Do we need to leave?" he asked.

"I have something for you to listen to. Come here." She led him across the cabin and played the recently-made recording. His eyes widened as it played on, and they darted to Electro at the mention of his name. Electro crept back into the corner even further, though it didn't seem possible to either of the two spy cars.

The recording ended, and Finn looked over at Holley. "You get some rest," he said. "I'll take over." She nodded and drove to her room.

CARS

Axle awoke to the strange feeling that someone was watching him, and he began to swear mentally that if it was deCarteran again, somebody was going to end up a compressed cube, and it wouldn't be him. He drove to the window and pulled at the drawstring to pull up the blinds. However, try as he might, he couldn't find anyone waiting for him out the window. Then he drove over to the door, opened it, and scanned the surrounding area. Again, completely devoid of other cars, save the form of Sally doing work behind the front desk in the lobby.

He closed the door and rolled back into bed. Okay, Axle, maybe you're being too paranoid, he thought. Just relax and try to get some more sleep.

But sleep refused to come. Something was wrong, and he was one hundred percent positive of it. He drove out of his cone and down the road to where Siddeley was parked, wide awake. "Hello," the plane said.

"Hey," Axle replied. "Any word on Electro?"

"Still inside, freaking out, but not raving madly anymore."

"Good. Just have to be sure."

"Your instincts are kicking in, I see."

"Am I that obvious?"

"That or I'm that good."

"Thanks, though."

"No problem, none at all."

Axle nodded. "You know what time it is?"

"Around five thirty."

"Holy Ford, I am up early."

"Indeed, you are," a familiar voice said from behind him. Axle whipped around and backed up a couple feet, finding himself staring right at the black Aston Martin known as Alan deCarteran. Holy shit, I was being followed, Axle thought. A faint alarm sounded from within Siddeley's cabin, but deCarteran displayed no sign of hearing it.

"I get it. You think I'm gonna get you in there," Axle said. "You think after last night I'm just gonna give you what you want. Well, guess what, pal. I'm from Detroit, I'm a Redline, and I ain't givin' up that easy."

"And you think I will?" deCarteran asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm pretty sure you will much sooner than me."

"And why's that?"

"Why else? All you care about is getting what you want, and if you realize you won't get it, then you'll skip town."

"You forget that I am willing to kill you to get what I want, and I won't stop here."

"Stand down, deCarteran," Finn said, revealing and cocking a pair of machine guns in his side vents. He fired a few warning shots to the space between deCarteran and Axle, and deCarteran gave Finn a harsh look.

"You've won this round, but I'll be back for that car," deCarteran said, turning and driving away.

"I'd like to see you try, coward," Axle called after him. He turned to Finn and added, "We both need to skip town. We can only talk him down for so long, and if you haven't heard about last night's fight, you will, trust me."

"Where are you going to go?"

"Not Detroit, that's for sure, and definitely not L.A. Maybe an east coast harbor town."

"Somewhere where you can't easily be recognized?"

"Somewhere where nobody knows me."

"Either way. You should go. I have an errand to run and then I'll leave."

"Whatever you say."

Finn nodded and turned toward Radiator Springs. Axle heard Siddely start his engine and prepare for takeoff, and then he drove in the opposite direction Finn had taken.

CARS

"Yeah?" Boost asked when he answered the tapping on the door of his cone.

"Find the others," Finn said, "and make sure they get here as soon as possible."

"What's goin' on?"

"Electro's location has been discovered by the enemy, and transport is necessary."

"Uh, okay."

"Find your friends."

Boost nodded and drove along the curve to the next three cones, tapping on each in succession and telling the tuner inside to follow him. The four doubled back to Boost's cone and filed inside, where Finn sat next to the box.

"What is that thing?" Snot Rod asked.

"What's he doing here?" Wingo asked, ignoring Snot Rod's question.

"This package will explain everything," Finn said. "In the event that I don't return, which is more likely than you should allow yourselves to believe, I want you to open this package. All four of you must be present."

"Does it self-destruct?" DJ asked.

"No. It only plays the message once, so it is imperative not only that you all hear it, but that you all remember it and understand it. Am I clear?" After a chorus of yeses, he continued. "Pay close attention to what you are told when you open it, because odds are I might not return, but do not open it until you either hear from me or recieve word from either Holley, Siddeley, or Ice that I have been taken."

"Got it," the four said in unison.

"Perfect. I hope this isn't the last time I see you all, but be prepared nonetheless. Now, I must be off." The tuners parted, and Finn drove out of the cone without another word, leaving them to stare at the box in silent confusion.