Chapter Two

Lightning pulled into the pits, where Guido changed his tires and Fillmore hooked him up with his organic fuel. "Anything weird?" he asked Lexie.

"Uninvited guests," she replied in a low voice, glancing toward the nearest entrance. "Montgomery's, for sure."

"Think you can handle it?"

"Me and Miss Lexie got this one covered," Mater said, playfully shoving Lexie's fender.

"Okay, you're good to go, man," Fillmore said.

"Gotta go," Lightning said as he drove out of pit row.

"You sure about those guys?" Sarge asked.

"Positive," Lexie replied, glancing up at the lap counter. Four hundred eighty-eight laps. She looked at the screen following the racers around the track. "Keep holding the inside and you'll do fine."

"Okay," Lightning replied.

"And remember," Mater said. "You're awesome."

"Thanks, Mater."

Lexie glanced at Alex's seat, only to find it empty. Several other Pacers drove toward the entrance, where Gremlins and Trunkovs were already in a standoff with sportscars. "Guess the bubble's about to burst," she whispered, glancing up at the lap counter. Four hundred ninety-five. "Five more laps," she said over the intercom.

"Aww, I'm just getting warmed up," Lightning said, pretending to whine.

"We have the dirt track around Willie's Butte, and besides, isn't the Grand Prix next week?"

"Now that sounds like a challenge, and besides, I owe Francesco a whooping for last year."

"Dad, stay on track, but keep holding the inside. Don't try to beat yourself to the finish line, okay?"

Lightning chuckled. "Okay, baby girl."

The lap counter read four hundred ninety-seven. Alex and a few other Pacers, Trunkovs, and Gremlins, and possibly a Hugo or two, were still locked in a standoff with the sportscars and other agents. "What's goin' on over there?" Mater asked.

"Nothing good," Lexie replied. "It's making me nervous."

"Well, ya don't have to wait long. Look."

She looked up at the lap counter and then the live feed. Fourth turn of the last lap, according to the commentators. Two other racers were gaining on Lightning, and she thought, C'mon, Dad. You can do this.

Then, four hundred yards to the finish, a silver sportscar shot onto the track, attracting immediate attention. Lexie followed him, attracting even more attention. She pulled up next to the sportscar. "If you're after my dad, you can forget it," she said.

"We're looking for you," the sportscar replied in a heavily accented voice. He sped up, and she followed suit.

"I'm not gonna make it easy. I hope you know that."

"I read the reports."

"Do you know why Montgomery sent you after me?"

"He never tells us why he wants us to do anything. He just expects us to do as he says, or it will cost us our jobs."

"So what would you choose? Being employed, or having a clean conscience?"

The sportscar paused, his mouth slack. After a moment of staring at her, he looked down at the track. Lexie stole a glance at the screen showing the race. It took her a moment to realize that the race was over, and when she and the sportscar crossed the finish line, they were swarmed by security. They skidded to a stop. Lexie took a deep breath and asked, "What do you want to know, officers?"

CARS

After Lexie gave her statement, she drifted over to where the rest of Team McQueen waited for her. "What was that about?" Lightning asked.

"I thought he was after you, so I went after him," Lexie replied. "We got everything straightened out with security, and that sportscar George is a pretty nice car. He was just doing his job, even though he isn't sure exactly what it is."

"Oh, there you are," George said, driving up to them. "I am so sorry about what happened, and I do believe your daughter has a point," here he looked at Lightning. "Perhaps I'm in the wrong line of work and need to rethink a few things."

"It's okay," Lightning replied. "We've got this saying in America, 'no harm, no foul.' Everything's cool."

"Oh, good."

"Did Alex and his friends give you too much trouble?"

"Oh, no, not at all. Well, I must be off. I have a flight to catch and a job to quit, but it was nice meeting you."

"Same here. Good luck finding yourself."

"Thank you."

George nodded to them and drove off in the direction of the nearest airport. "You were right," Lightning said. "He does seem like a nice car."

"Not everyone on their side is bad," Lexie said, and Lightning nodded. "So, what did I miss?"