Did Not Finish

Lap Seventeen

On Monday, I went straight from work to Archway to finish the set-up on the new car. I’d booked a testing session at Brands Hatch on Wednesday to shake the car down. I was looking forward to it despite all that was going on.

Steve was hard at work on the Mygale. He’d bounced back from Saturday’s attack after taking Sunday off. The old man was tough.

When he saw me walk in, Steve grabbed a couriered package and handed it to me. ‘You’d better take a look at those. They came from Hancock this afternoon.’

He’d already opened the large envelope and I slid out the contents. It contained the decals to put on the car. It was the usual thing, the corporate logo and the firm’s name to go on the sides of the car as well as the nose. Sorting through the decals, I found the problem. Hancock had included two additional decals that proudly proclaimed, ‘Hancock Salvage salutes Alex Fanning, RIP, please support the Alex Fanning Memorial Fund.’ They were hardly sensitive under the circumstances.

‘Is he serious?’ I asked.

‘He’s just getting the bang for his publicity buck.’

‘And milking it for every penny. Do you think he’s told Alison or the Fannings?’

‘I doubt it.’

‘I’ll call them.’

‘Laura Fanning beat you to the punch. She left a message earlier. She wants you to drop by and pick up Alex’s tools and equipment. She’d like you to have them.’

Great. Dead man’s hand-me-downs. My feelings must have shown.

‘Do this, please. It’ll mean a lot to her.’

‘OK. I’ll go ‘round.’

‘Good lad. You want me to put the decals on?’

‘Yeah. Do it. You going to stick around here tonight?’

‘Yeah.’

Seeing Mrs Fanning created a dilemma. It left both Steve and me on our own. I felt safe visiting Mrs Fanning on my own, but I didn’t like leaving Steve alone, not after the attack. We still had Alex’s car, which meant I had something Derek wanted. Steve was no match for Derek’s crew.

‘If I go, I want Dylan here with you tonight.’

‘Good idea,’ Steve said.

I nodded and went upstairs to the office. I called Dylan to get him to come over then called Alison on her mobile. She sounded happy to hear from me.

‘Something’s cropped up that I need to talk to you about,’ I said.

‘It sounds serious.’

‘Not really, but it’s important. Can we meet up tonight?’

‘Sure.’

‘Is there a convenient place I can meet you?’

‘I’ll come over to your place.’

After the incident with Mr Balaclava, I didn’t feel safe with Alison being here. She might get caught up in a second attempt. ‘No, I’ll come to you.’

We agreed to meet at a pub called the Frog and Whistle at nine.

I took Steve’s van and drove home to change out of my work clothes before setting off to see Mrs Fanning. I cut across the evening traffic to Guildford and parked on the familiar street.

She welcomed me in like a long lost friend. I liked the night and day difference in her since the last time we’d met. She looked as if she was coming to terms with her son’s death and possessed the strength to weather the storm of grief striking her. She sat me down in the kitchen after she’d made us coffee.

‘I just wanted to thank you for what you’re doing for Alex. I think the safety fund is a fitting tribute to him. I also want to apologize to you.’

‘There’s nothing to apologize for.’

‘Yes, there is. I wasn’t very friendly to you when you came over last week and I didn’t even thank any of the drivers at the funeral. That was rude. None of you were to blame for my son’s death.’

That was debatable. ‘Apology accepted,’ I said.

Mrs Fanning smiled and we clinked cups.

‘I just wish it never happened,’ she said.

‘We all do.’

‘Eric told me about your parents. It must have been tough on you.’

I didn’t want to go down this road and I shrugged the comment away. ‘It was a long time ago. I was really too young to understand.’

Mrs Fanning seemed to realize I didn’t want to talk about my parents and nodded.

‘I wanted to let you know that I’ll be taking Alex’s place in the Formula Ford Festival. It’s part of the tribute Vic Hancock is putting together for Alex.’

‘That’s wonderful. I’ll let Eric know. He’s away on business at the moment. I’m sure he’ll want to attend.’

I hoped they’d think it was just as wonderful after they saw Hancock’s tactless decals.

Mrs Fanning finished up her coffee. ‘Would you like to see Alex’s things?’

I nodded and she led me to the garage. Amongst the usual clutter was Alex’s racing gear, equipment and tools. He had a comprehensive collection of everything someone embarking on racing needed from setting-up equipment and specialist tools to essential replacement parts.

‘Eric, Jo-Jo, Alison and her father emptied out Alex’s rented garage. Is any of this of use to you? You don’t have to keep it, but I’d like it if you’d take it.’

Obviously, she had a need to be rid of these final reminders of her son’s death. I smiled. ‘If I can’t use it, I know someone who can. Thank you.’

‘Please keep some of it for yourself. You deserve something for your time.’

She opened the garage door and helped me load the stuff into the van. I earmarked items I’d keep for myself. The wheels and tires were a must. Alex’s camber/caster gauge was a more professional one than I owned. The collection of bearings and CV joints would also come in handy.

Just as we finished loading up the van and I’d divided what I’d keep and give away, something occurred to me. ‘Where’s Alex’s petrol can?’

‘I don’t know,’ Mrs Fanning said. ‘I don’t see it. Are you sure we didn’t load it already?’

Another thought struck me, one that unnerved me. ‘What colour was his petrol can?’

‘Red, I think.’

The Frog and Whistle was a gastro pub not far from Alison’s home in Richmond. I arrived at nine p.m. as arranged and she was already waiting outside for me when I pulled up in the van. She smiled and waved. I liked seeing her happy and being responsible for it.

‘You didn’t have to wait outside. It’s freezing.’

‘I wanted to. C’mon.’

The Frog and Whistle was busy and loud inside, which made it easy for me to speak freely. The barman handed us menus. Alison went for the chicken pasta. They had chilli con carne, so I jumped on that. I’d developed a thing for Mexican food when Dad had flown us out to Mexico City for an invitational race the year before he and mum died. We’d gone out there as a family and I’d taken to the food like a burro to hard work. We grabbed a table next to the fireplace from a departing couple. The pub instantly melted the chill I’d gotten from driving the inadequately heated van.

‘Why so serious?’ she asked.

‘Confession time.’

This failed to dampen her good mood. She just eyed me with a you’d-better-tell-me look. I liked this about her. She was simple and straightforward. It made a welcome change from all the confusion that surrounded me.

‘Vic Hancock has asked me to replace Alex at the Formula Ford Festival and I’ve accepted.’

Alison’s expression wobbled, but didn’t fall. ‘Why are you telling me?’

‘The decals he wants on the car mention that the car is in memoriam of Alex.’

She said nothing.

‘His gesture came over as a little insensitive.’

Alison sighed. ‘Vic Hancock isn’t exactly Mr Sensitivity.’

‘So he hasn’t been in contact?’

She shook her head. ‘So you want my approval to go ahead?’

‘I just wanted you to know. If you don’t like it, I’ll tell Hancock.’

‘It’s OK, Aidy. I’m fine with it. You don’t have to ask. Look, you’re a nice guy trying to do the decent thing. That means a lot to me.’ Alison placed a hand on mine. ‘You don’t have to feel guilty about what’s happening. You didn’t kill Alex. Derek did. I’m happy to see something good come out of this.’

Our food arrived. I hadn’t eaten all day and I tucked in. The chilli wasn’t half-bad. Then again, I was half-starved. As I ate, the strange relationship between Hancock and Alex played over in my head and I wondered how far it stretched.

‘Alison, was there anything going on between Hancock and Alex?’

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know. A rift? An argument? Something like that.’

‘Not as far as I know. Why?’

‘I met with Hancock last week. He thought Alex had told me something about him or his company, like Alex had given away some secret.’

‘Alex never mentioned anything. I know he didn’t particularly like Hancock.’

I could see that. They were very different people. Alex was very self-contained. It hardly matched Hancock’s brash nature. ‘Did anything specific set this feeling off?’

‘I don’t know for sure, but I think something must have happened in the last few months.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘In the past, Alex played nice with him, but since the beginning of the season, he seemed tense around him. It wasn’t anything most people would pick up on, but I knew Alex. I tried asking why, but he wouldn’t say. He knew I didn’t like the racing world and he didn’t want to bother me with things I didn’t care about.’

‘How did Alex and Hancock hook up?’

‘Through Alex’s dad. Eric and Hancock know each other.’

Mr Fanning and Vic Hancock came over as unusual bedfellows too.

‘You should talk to Jo-Jo.’

‘Alex’s mechanic?’

‘Yeah. He’d know better than I would. He’ll be at the banquet on Friday.’

Suddenly, Alison lost interest in her meal, choosing to chase her food around the plate.

‘Anything wrong?’ I asked.

‘Why didn’t you want me to come over tonight?’

I hesitated too long before deciding on my answer.

‘Has something happened?’

‘It’s probably better that you don’t know.’

‘I’ll make my own decisions, thank you.’

As much as I didn’t want to tell her, she was right. ‘Someone tried to burn down our workshop Saturday night. Whoever it was wanted to destroy Alex’s car.’

The colour drained from Alison’s face. ‘Was it Derek?’

‘No, he sent someone on his behalf. The bastard was wearing a balaclava.’

‘Was anything damaged?’

‘No. Steve was there to stop it, but he took a beating.’

She shot a hand to her mouth. ‘God, is he OK?’

‘He’ll be OK, but he gave as good as he got. Steve thinks he broke the guy’s ribs.’

She shook her head in dismay. ‘This has to stop.’

‘It will when we prove Derek killed Alex.’

‘No. I mean you. You have to stop. You can’t get yourself killed over Alex.’

I expected this. It was the reason why I hadn’t wanted to tell her. ‘I think it’s a little late for all that. People know what we’re doing. They’re going to keep coming after us now.’

‘You keep saying they. Are there others involved besides Derek?’

‘Derek has a lot of friends helping him. Look, I don’t want to tell you more because I don’t want to put you in danger. Let’s talk about something else.’

And we did. We slipped into an easy conversation covering topics from music to movies and everything in between. It put distance between me and my problems, but it didn’t make me feel any better for being with her. I was enjoying her company, but I felt I was not only taking over Alex’s ride, but his girl too. After a second round of drinks, we called it a night.

‘I can drive you home,’ I said when we were in the van. ‘It’s late and it’s going to take you forever to get home by train.’

She hesitated for a second before agreeing.

Again, we fell into a comfortable conversation. I made her laugh from time to time as she directed me to her flat. We were laughing so much that I overshot the turn for her street.

‘Stop here,’ she said. ‘I’ll walk back.’

I parked under a street light. It bathed her face in an orange glow.

‘Thanks for tonight. It seems like forever since I last laughed and didn’t feel guilty about it.’

‘I’m glad I could help.’

She turned away and her face disappeared in the shadows. ‘I miss him, you know. I can’t stop thinking about what we had and what we should have had.’

‘It’s only natural. You’ll always miss him, but it’ll get better.’

She smiled. ‘That’s what I like about you, Aidy. You’re honest.’

‘I just know better, I guess. My mum and dad died over ten years ago. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about them. They’re my parents and I love them to pieces, but I don’t miss them the way I did back then. I always wonder how life would have been different with them still around. Steve feels more like a dad to me than a grandfather now. He raised me for just as long as my parents had, and he’s been there through all the hard times. It doesn’t mean my parents mean less to me. It’s just that I’ve grown to love someone else. And you will too in time.’

She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. ‘You’re one of the good ones.’

She climbed down from the van and I climbed out too. ‘If I’m one of the good ones, I should walk you home.’

It was cold and she leaned into me as we walked up the steps to her flat.

‘You want to come in?’ she asked.

‘No, I have to get back to Steve. I can’t have him doing all the work.’

‘OK. Thanks for tonight. I had a lovely time.’

She made it sound like we were on a date. I wouldn’t have called it that, but I wasn’t about to disagree.

‘When’s the Festival?’

‘It begins next Friday, but I’m out in the car Wednesday.’

‘Can I come?’

Her request took me a little by surprise. I thought she’d seen enough of racetracks for one lifetime. ‘Sure.’

‘Good. I’ll see you Wednesday.’

I waited until she was safely inside, then headed back to the van with her on my mind. I was really getting to like her and wanted something to happen between us, but it was too soon. Alex hadn’t been dead two weeks. It was no time to think about dating his fiancée. If something were to develop between Alison and me, I’d let it happen in its own time. Alison was worth waiting for.

I didn’t get far before someone called my name. I didn’t know anyone in this part of town. With all that had happened, I should have been on my guard, but with my mind on Alison, my guard was down. Reflexively, I turned around.

It was only Alison’s dad. I needed to be smarter in future. I waited for him as he caught up to me.

‘Hello, Mr Baker.’

He nodded in the direction of Alison’s flat. ‘Seeing Alison home?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you have a nice night out?’ His sarcasm turned the question into something ugly.

‘It’s not like that. I just had some questions for her.’

‘Oh, I see. Just questions. Look, I don’t like the way you’re trying to ingratiate your way into Alison’s life.’

‘I’m not.’

‘Of course you aren’t. You’re doing all this for very selfless reasons. You’re raising money for Alex, a man you didn’t know. You want his car in order to give it a Viking funeral.’

‘You’ve got it all wrong, Mr Baker.’

‘I don’t think so.’ He stepped forward, invading my space and forcing me to step back. I stepped off the curb and fell against a parked car. ‘My daughter has just lost her fiancée in a tragic accident. You’re probably aware that she lost her sister to a similar tragedy. My daughter is in mourning. She doesn’t need some lowlife like you trying to take advantage of it.’

‘I’m not.’

He poked a hard, mean finger into my chest. ‘I told you once already to leave my daughter alone. I won’t tell you again. Do I make myself clear?’

His face was an angry shadow in the darkness. He waited for my answer.

He was wrong, but I knew how it looked. ‘You’ve got it.’

‘You make me sick,’ he snarled, grabbed my arm and jerked me to him. ‘Just stay away from my family. You’re not welcome.’

‘Dad, what are you doing?’ Alison said, rushing towards us.