Here's the next chapter for those of you who are following. Thank you very much for the feedback letting me know you're enjoying it! I found some mistakes in the first two chapters and fixed them in case anyone was bothered by them.
This chapter isn't very exciting but it was fun to write Sally doing her thing as a lawyer instead of her just being Lightning's girlfriend or a resident of Radiator Springs.
By the time the gang from Radiator Springs arrived, it was already late morning of the next day. Through some miracle, the press hadn't discovered the missing racers yet, too busy reporting on the trial of one of Axelrod's minions in England.
Sheriff, Mater, Sally, and Ramone all rolled off the small plane they had paid to fly them over. It had taken a beating out of the town's budget, and Sheriff silently vowed to himself that if McQueen was only goofing off, he was going to earn back every penny through community service.
Mater and Sally were both mostly worried, Mater constantly asking Sally questions about ninjas and Sally trying to assure Mater that everything was ok. Ramone, while worried as well, had mainly come for emotional support. He only wished Flo could come, but his wife was busy running the cafe for tourists.
All of them drove through the big streets of Dallas to the race track. Most of the cars who rushed by them didn't seem to recognize them, or if they did, didn't bother to stop for a picture. When they reached the track, a Ford Raptor with a security badge showed them in to the Dinoco tent. Sally had to gently tell Mater to focus as he looked around with wide eyes.
In the tent were Doc, Tex, a car they had never seen before, and the rest of their friends.
"Luigi! Guido!" Mater rushed over to them. "Is it really true? Is McQueen and the King really gone?"
"Si, si!" Luigi cried out. "They have simply disappeared into thin air!"
"Can't you use your fancy helicopter to find them, Mr. Dinoco?" Mater turned to the oil baron.
"Son, he's been out since sunrise," Tex replied. "Came back negative. He can't see too much from that high."
"Sheriff," Doc rolled forward and nodded to his old friend. "This is Robert Scott Marshall. He's Dinoco's head of security."
Marshall was a grey Chevrolet Silverado with a small Dinoco logo printed on his side.
"Sheriff," Marshall nodded.
"Marshall," Sheriff replied. "I assume you've contacted the local authorities?"
"We did this morning," Marshall replied. "We've urged them to keep this quiet in case the carnappers demand secrecy."
"Think they'll be able to keep it quiet?" Sally asked.
"I hope so, Miss," Marshall replied.
"Marshall, Tex, this is Sally, Lightning's lawyer. That there is Ramone, and you probably already know Mater." Doc did the necessary introductions.
"Scott here'll be organizing the whole thing from our headquarters here in Dallas," Tex replied. "That means coordinating our security forces, communicating with the police, and anyone else should the need arise."
"Have you contacted the racing board?" Sally asked.
"Right after the police," Marshall replied.
"For all the good that did," Doc muttered.
Ramone in the meanwhile had gone over to Fillmore and tried to cheer him up. The minivan had taken the kidnapping really hard and Sarge was onto to relieved for Ramone's help on the matter. Luigi and Guido were also not extremely emotionally stable so Sarge had felt a little frayed at the edges.
"Hey, Fillmore, man," Ramone said, lifting himself up so he could look the minivan in the eye. "Don't look so down. McQueen would want us to be happy!"
"Sorry," Fillmore sniffed. "It's just... We don't know what got him... Or what they're doing."
Sarge rolled his eyes and bit back a bark of 'pull yourself together, soldier,' and instead focused on what Sheriff was saying.
"Standard protocol says we wait for a random note or message. Unless we have reason to believe that this wasn't a carnapping."
"Unfortunately, no such evidence has appeared," Marshall said. "There was a sign of a scuffle at McQueen's last known occasion. Neither him or Strip Weathers were fighters."
"Is there a chance that the two cases aren't related?" Sheriff asked.
Doc groaned.
"I hope not."
"That would make a search and rescue much harder," Sarge agreed from the side.
"I've inspected the scene of the crime and I would suspect some security guards are responsible for this," Marshall replied. "The tire tracks roughly match the build required for the position."
"How many security guards are working here?" Sally asked.
"Over 200," Tex replied, a little miserably.
"And the track is brand new, as are most of it's employees."
"Then that's where we'll start," Sheriff concluded. "We'll need access to any files concerning this track's employees and their records."
"Good luck," Doc muttered sarcastically. At Sheriff's look Marshall elaborated.
"It seems the racing board is... unwilling to grant us access to their employee contracts."
"Wait, what?" Sally asked. "But you're the law, aren't you?"
"I'm not, technically speaking," Marshall said. "And out here you need a warrant to access something like that."
Sheriff's lights flashed angrily.
"So we're stuck here, unable to do anything," Doc snapped, angry at the whole darn situation.
"That's... That's," Sally stuttered for words. "Unacceptable. I'm not going to sit here while two cars might be in danger because the racing board is uncomfortable about a few contracts."
"Doesn't look like there's anything else, Miss," Tex replied sympathetically.
"Don't you pay for most of the Piston races?" Sarge asked. "Can't you convince them to turn over the paper with a few threats?"
"Or... We could steal them! Just for a short while of course," Mater cut in.
"I'm afraid the public won't look too kindly on me using my position as a threat," Tex shrugged.
"He's right, Sarge, let it go," Doc sighed. He might have been angry at Tex earlier, thinking the billionaire was just trying to duck out of helping a friend. But his anger was mostly directed on the racing board, and the voice of reason inside of him was winning when it came to the oil baron.
"So, you're saying all we can do is sit around and wait?" Ramone asked.
"I'm afraid so," Marshall replied. "We should receive a note or message by tonight I suspect."
There was a moment of silence as all the cars absorbed this information. Having two race cars disappear was bad enough. However, not being able to do anything about it was so much worse. The grim reality of most carnappings were not lost on any of the cars (except perhaps Mater) but the knowledge that the two cars that disappeared were celebrities stirred a little bit of hope inside of them.
Sally broke the silence.
"Well, I'm going to do something," the Porsche turned sharply.
"-Sally," Doc tried to interrupt but the lawyer turned towards him.
"Listen, Doc. I've dealt with these kinds of people before. I just need to look up a few things and then I'll confront them. I can't do nothing if Stickers is in danger."
The two cars looked intently at each other for a whole before Doc nodded and stepped back.
"Marshall, why don't you lead the lady to head office," Tex suggested to his head of security. "I'll meet you back at the office."
"Sure thing," Marshall replied, but glanced around at the other cars before adding in a low voice, "I'm starting to suspect this wasn't a carnapping. It could be to make us sweat, but no note was left on the scene. You two might have to start thinking if you have any enemies that are using your racers to get to you."
The words sent a cold shiver through Doc's engine block, and set Tex's mouth in a frown. Marshall's brown eyes were sincere, however, and both cars found themselves nodding in agreement before the head of security drove out with Sally.
"Alright," Tex cleared his throat and turned to the Radiator Springs group. "Why don't y'll go for a drive through town? I know some of you ain't been here before and there sure is a lot to see."
"But what about McQueen?" Luigi asked.
"Yeah," Mater was quick to agree.
"Go on, you lot," Doc knew Tex was trying to get the group's mind off McQueen's disappearance and agreed with the idea. "It'll take your mind of things. The rookie wouldn't want you to sit around here all day."
Sarge took charge, albeit with a reluctant feeling, and the group slowly made their way out of the tent. Sheriff lingered behind.
"If it's all the same to you," he said, looking at the other two cars. "I prefer to stay with you. I don't want to see you two go missing as well."
"That's awfully kind of you, Sheriff," Tex replied. "And there'll be plenty of room in my office."
The Dinoco tent was left deserted, ready for the cleaner to come as the three cars rolled out.
Sally was a little surprised to arrive at the racing board office (not the head office of course, but one to the side of the track) and to see Lynda Weathers there. Marshall had shown her where the Dinoco head office was and she had done some research on the legal documents, rules and regulations concerning the Piston Cup. She was well versed in the Piston Cup legal technicalities after she started dating McQueen, but a quick brush up boosted her confidence.
"Mrs. Weathers," Sally called out and smiled softly at the light blue car turned to face her. "Hi, I'm Sally. Lightning McQueen's lawyer."
"Oh, Miss Sally," Lynda smiled. "So nice to finally make your acquaintance. Lightnin's told us all about you."
"It's nice to meet you to. I only wish it was under better circumstances," Sally's mouth turned into a tight frown.
"As do I," Lynda sighed. She looked tired, as if she hadn't gotten too much sleep the night before. "The racing board is gonna go public and announce the Strip and Lightning are missin' sometime later today. Seeing as both of em are celebrities, they're hopin cars'll keep an eye out for em." Lynda's accent tilted and it was clear to Sally that the she was upset, even if she was hiding it well.
"Well, I just wanted to let you know that the Radiator Springs crew are going to do everything we can to help find your husband as well as McQueen," Sally said earnestly. "I'm actually here right now to convince the racing board to let us see the employee records. Marshall thinks one of the security guards might have been responsible."
"Good luck with that, hun," Lynda said. "They can be quite stubborn when they think trouble could arise from budgin'."
"I have to try, Mrs. Weathers," Sally said determinedly.
"I wish you well," Mrs. Weathers said. "I'm sure if anyone can convince them, it's Lightning's sweetheart."
Sally blushed ever so slightly.
"Thank you," she said, and headed for the big double doors, having already made an appointment (meaning demanded) to see the board earlier.
"Oh, Sally," Lynda called out behind her and Sally stopped. "The.. Honda Accord, Diego..." the car said slowly. "His sister Alexis went missing once... Found safe and all, but I heard it really shook him... Maybe that'll help you convince them."
Sally nodded her thanks.
"I'm sure it will," she said, and steeling herself, she pushed through the doors. Lawyer mode ready.
"And by law, you would therefore be protected even if you release employee records," Sally made her closing statement. "And I am confident, that with your cooperation, the search and rescue of Lightning McQueen and Strip Weathers will be sped up. Our only concern is their safety."
The board, consisting of 10 cars, looked at Sally in the middle of the room. She was good at reading expressions but these board members all had excellent poker faces.
"Thank you, Miss Sally," said a female red car. "We will take your words under consideration."
"Under considering?" Sally rolled forward. "With every second we spend talking, our missing racers are being taken further and further away. They could be out of the country by now."
"Miss Sally," the head of the board, a 1971 Chevrolet Corvette started. "We are, of course, most dedicated to our racers, old and new. But releasing employee records to the police make us most uncomfortable."
"Is releasing them to the police your only concern?" Sally asked, pushing the board into a corner.
"What are you suggesting?" The head asked suspiciously.
"You're worried about discretion," Sally stated and caught a flash on one of the younger car's face. "And that's ok, I get that. So, give the information to someone you know you can trust."
"And who would that be?" A black Toyota Camary asked.
"The head of Dinoco security," Sally said cordially.
The name of the biggest (and richest) sponsor, caused the board members to glance at each other, except for the head of course.
"That's an interesting proposal," he said.
"It's the only proposal," Sally turned to look at the rest of the board. "Two cars are missing. You are withholding valuable information. Robert Marshall will be able to collaborate with police without compromising your employee's personal information."
Two of the cars glanced down on their tablets, already researching the Dinoco head of security. Sally knew he would come up clean. She wouldn't have made this proposal otherwise.
"This is my final offer," she said. "I know some law enforcement officials who are very eager to start on this case. I wouldn't want them to have to apply for a warrant."
"If you'll give us a moment," The head of the board said and all of the cars left their place to crowd around him. Sally left them to talk and headed to the huge window set in the wall. She looked out onto the bustling, bright city. For a moment she saw a flash of brown that looked like Mater, but seeing as she didn't see any other cars she recognized she realized she must have been wrong.
It took the board 10 minutes to return to their previous positions at the table. Sally was quaking inside but maintained her cool exterior expression outside as she waited for their answer.
"Our records will be forwarded to Scott Marshall," the head announced and Sally sighed in relief inside. "The terms and conditions will be included in the email."
"Thank you," Sally said. "You won't regret this." She glanced at Diego, the Honda Accord, who sent Sally a tiny smile.
"If you'll excuse us," the head of the board said. "We have an announcement to prepare for the media."
Sally took this as her hint to leave and rolled out of the room. As soon as the doors closed she raced towards the exit. She had to reach Dinoco's head office and see what the board had sent Marshall.
