A few minutes later, Speed came into Trixie's room, carrying a tray. "Hi there, pretty girl," Speed said.
"Hey, handsome guy," Trixie said back, causing Speed to smile broadly.
"Mom said you were hungry, so I fixed you a tray."
Trixie laughed. "I would not want to argue with Mom, would I?"
"I wouldn't," Speed laughed as he placed the tray over her lap. Trixie looked down and saw that Mom had made roast beef and gravy with green beans. "If you eat all of that, she's also got a chocolate pie. Of course, you'd better hurry because Spritle and Chim Chim had their eyes on it."
Trixie smiled, and quietly ate for a few moments. She looked at Speed. "How are you doing, Speed?"
"Me? Oh, I'm fine," he said easily.
Trixie took a bite, looked at him and raised her eyebrows, challenging him.
"Well, obviously, I am worried about you," Speed started and Trixie nodded.
She finished her bite. "Mom outdid herself. But besides being worried about me, how are you?"
"Trixie, I didn't get hurt."
Trixie nodded and looked down at the plate. The thought of food was starting to make her physically ill, but she'd promised Mom she'd eat. "I know. But, well, I'm not exactly at my best, and I don't want to add any stress to you."
Speed nodded. "Okay, truthfully, I'm worried about the future." As soon as he said it, he saw Trixie practically wilt. "No, not our future. I have no worries about that. I love you, remember?" Trixie nodded. "I mean, my future as a driver."
"You wouldn't really give up racing, would you, Speed?"
"I don't know, Trixie. I mean, every racer has to end his career some time. And I'd rather do it on my terms than after a bad crash and serious injury." Speed shrugged.
"Well, I'd rather that too. But you're not there yet," Trixie exclaimed.
"Would you love me any less if I didn't race?" Speed asked nervously.
"Of course not. I just don't want you giving up something you love because of me."
"I'm not holding any press conferences to announce my retirement just yet," Speed said with a grin.
"Good."
"But I'm not going to race in the TransAfrican."
"Speed…"
"No, really, my focus would not be what it needs to be for the race, and my focus is where it needs to be right now. On you. And don't you feel guilty about it. You're worth my time, Trixie. And I do want to share picnics with you. Okay?"
Trixie nodded.
"Now, your food is getting cold and you need to eat."
Trixie smiled and started to eat. As she was finishing up, there was a knock on the door and Inspector Detector and Racer X walked into the room.
"Hi Trixie," X said. "I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing."
"I've been better, Racer X."
Racer X smiled. Speed stood up and looked nervously at them.
"What's going on?" Trixie asked.
"Oh, the Inspector wanted to ask Speed some questions, and found out I was coming over to say hi, so he tagged along."
Trixie narrowed her eyes, sensing that there was something else. "Speed, what are you not telling me?"
Speed tried to pull off an innocent look and failed miserably.
"Speed, look, I was injured. You can't always protect me, and that's not your job."
"Yes, it is," he protested.
"Speed. I don't blame you for this in the least bit, but I'd like to know what is going on. I'll just worry if you don't tell me," Trixie protested.
"She does have a right to know, Speed," Inspector Detector said.
"While we were on the plane, someone put something in your drink. Fortunately, the stewardess saw it and told me. She gave me the drink to have analyzed."
Trixie was shocked.
"And we have had it analyzed. And it was the same poison used to kill another team just before the Ice Race."
Speed's knees buckled and he sat down heavily on the bed next to Trixie, trying to catch his breath.
"But we were a DNF. I mean, I can understand disabling the navigator for the Ice Rally," Trixie said. "But, why would they want to kill me?"
Speed reached over and pulled Trixie tightly to him.
"Because it would destroy Speed," Racer X said.
"Well, I obviously can't have a body guard around me all the time. I have a life to live. And Speed has a racing career, and most times the races do not require navigators. He can't be focusing on whether I'm safe or not when he's in the middle of a race. That could get him killed," Trixie said strongly.
"I'm going to quit racing," Speed said.
"No, Speed, you can't do that!" Trixie said.
"Actually, we think we know who is behind it," Inspector Detector said, "thanks to your tip."
"The CarMichaelangelo Team?" Speed asked. He had not let go of her yet. Trixie was certain that Speed had an idea what would have happened if she had drank that poison, but hearing it said aloud had unsettled him. Oddly enough, because he needed her, she felt stronger. She kissed his cheek and he turned to her and smiled.
"They are our prime suspects. We got prints from Bane, and they match up with several of the mechanics on the payroll for CarMichaelangelo. But these mechanics have long rap sheets and no history of working with cars. But they might be considered his clean up crew."
"And the CarMichaelangelo team had to win both the Ice Rally and the TransAfrican to qualify for the Prix." Racer X said. "They've won the Ice Rally. Of the field competing in the TransAfrican, you're the only driver who has a chance of beating them. The only teams expected to contend on the Ice Rally were Speed…whose navigator was shot, taking him out of the race: Grant Bane...who was killed: and Plugger Sparks…the driver of the CarMichaelangelo car, who won the race."
"So they want me out of the way. They tried to kill Trixie during the Ice Rally, but until I drop out of the TransAfrican, and possibly the Prix, she's not safe." Speed concluded. "So I'll drop out of the TransAfrican."
"No!" Trixie said. "Let the Inspector deal with him legally, but someone has to show them they can't do this and get away with it."
"Trixie, I can't lose you. And I'm not going to be able to concentrate on the race because I'll be worrying about you."
"Then I'm going to have to navigate, so you won't have to worry about me," Trixie concluded.
The three men looked at her. Speed smiled gently at her. "Trixie, we both know you're not ready for that. You can't even ride in the Mach 5 right now."
Racer X looked at them. "Then take her for a ride in the Shooting Star."
Speed and Trixie looked at him. "You'd let me drive your car?"
Racer X nodded.
"What do you think, Trix?" Speed looked at her.
"If I don't try it, we won't know if I can beat this."
Racer X took his keys and tossed them to Speed, who caught them with his left hand.
Both Trixie and Speed stood up just as Mom was coming into the room with several pieces of pie on a tray. "Where do you two think you're going?" she asked.
"Speed's going to take me for a ride in the Shooting Star," Trixie said.
"Oh, I don't think so. Not today at least. Trixie, you've already been through a lot today. If you want to try tomorrow, try. But if you push yourself like you did this afternoon, you may end up back in the hospital."
Speed looked down. "Mom's right. We try driving again in the morning." He handed Racer X back the keys to the Shooting Star. "Thanks anyway, X."
"I'll be around in the morning first thing so that you can use the Shooting Star then," Racer X said.
"Really? We don't want to put you out!" Trixie said.
"I want to help you too, Trixie. You're right. Speed has to race in the TransAfrican, and he won't do it without you." Racer X smiled.
"Before you boys leave, I've got some chocolate pie for you," Mom said. Racer X smiled. "I've heard about your chocolate pies, Mrs. Racer. Thank you."
She smiled at him. "Well, I don't usually feed masked men, but I'll make an exception for you."
-5-5-5-5-5-Mach-GO-GO-GO-5-5-5-5-5-
Later that night, while the Racer household slept, three men crept into the house and entered Trixie's room. They covered her face with a rag, waking her up. Trixie kicked out and tried to break free, but they were too strong for her. With Trixie struggling, the men had a hard time leaving the house silently, but they managed to do so without disturbing anyone else.
When Speed checked in on her the next morning, he found an empty room and signs of a struggle. But no Trixie.
"Pops!" Speed shouted.
A few moments later, Pops ran into the room. "What?"
"Trixie's gone," he looked around, hoping to find some kind of a clue. Instead, he found a small amount of blood on the sheet. Speed sat down hard on the bed. "I don't know where she is. She's hurt and I can't help her!"
Without another word, Pops called Inspector Detector and let him know what had happened.
Sparky soon came in the room. "What's going on, Speed?"
"Someone took Trixie last night. No one but the doctor even knew she was here." Speed stood up. "I think I need to pay him a little visit."
Sparky looked at him. "That's not exactly true. I ran into Plugger Sparks yesterday at the Carmart, and he was really worried about Trixie. I told him she was with you, so she'd be safe."
"You did what?!" Speed practically shouted. "He's with the CarMichaelangelo team."
"Yeah, so? Besides I bet a lot of people know. I mean, they all know how protective you are of her, so they wouldn't expect her to be recovering at home by herself."
Speed looked at his friend in horror. He had not told Sparky what he had seen, or that the Inspector had reason to believe that the CarMichaelangelo team was behind Trixie's shooting.
"What?" Sparky asked.
"The CarMichaelangelo Team is responsible for the death of Grant Bane, and, we believe, shooting Trixie. And trying to kill her on the plane ride home."
Sparky looked horror struck. "And I told them where she was. And now she's gone. Speed, I had no idea. I'm…if anything happens to her," Sparky stammered.
"I know, Sparky. I was not sure Plugger Sparks knew anything about what the team he was driving for was up to. Now, I have no doubts he is in on it. And I'm going to take him down. But first, we've got to find Trixie."
Racer X walked in with Inspector Detector. "We think we know where they'd keep her, Speed," Inspector Detector said.
"We have a team assembling right now, and I'm going to go get her myself," Racer X said.
"I want to come with you."
"No. It's too dangerous. You're not trained. But more importantly, they may try to contact you and you need to be here. Whatever they ask for, agree to."
"But—"
"Trust me, Speed. I know how much she means to you. I'll bring her home to you."
-5-5-5-5-5-Mach-GO-GO-GO-5-5-5-5-5-
Meanwhile, Trixie was not having a good time. Once they had left the house, the men had tied Trixie up and thrown her in their trunk. She landed on her left side, the side that had been shot. Pain coursed through her, but she was determined not to cry out. She had to find a way away from them. Soon the engine started and the car was speeding away. Trixie felt dizzy and nauseated, terrified. Between the pain in her shoulder and the terror, she soon blacked out.
When they opened the trunk, hours later, it was to find that their hostage was staring blankly and non-responsive. They lifted her out and carried her into the building. Considering how much of a fight she had given them before they put her in the trunk, they were a bit suspicious. But Trixie seemed to not even notice anything.
"Set her down there," Mr. Carmichael said, indicating a chair in front of him. They dumped her in the chair, and Trixie just slumped over. "Good lord, what have you buffoons done to her?"
"Nothing, boss."
Mr. Carmichael looked at his watch. By the way he figured it. Speed Racer had known his girl was missing now for about four hours. He should be very well primed to do whatever he was asked to do. "Get out of here. I have a call to make."
-5-5-5-5-5-Mach-GO-GO-GO-5-5-5-5-5-
Speed jumped as the phone rang. Pops held up his hand, indicating he should let it ring a couple of times, not jump on it immediately. Then Pops answered the phone. "Racer household."
"I need to talk to Speed Racer."
"May I tell him who's calling?"
"Stop being an idiot old man, and put Speed on the phone. Or do I need to give you a demonstration of why I am calling!"
Pops handed Speed the phone. "This is Speed."
"I have your girl. If you want to see her alive again, you'll do exactly as I ask."
"What do you want me to do?" Speed asked.
"You're going to go to the TransAfrican race and do everything you can to make sure that Plugger Sparks wins. If Sparks does not cross the finish line first, your girl doesn't make it home."
"Can I talk to her?" Speed pleaded.
There was a pause.
"No." The phone went dead.
"He has Trixie," Speed said. "And he wants me to make sure Plugger Sparks wins."
"So that confirms it," Pops said.
"I better start working with Sparky. He's going to have to navigate for me."
"Don't count X out yet, Speed," Pops said. "He'll get her back, before the race."
"Yeah. And then I'm going to take Plugger Sparks out. I want to make sure that the CarMichaelangelo Motors does not qualify for the Prix. And I want Trixie by my side to do it."
Pops shook his head as Speed turned to go to the garage. "I'll call the inspector and give him an update."