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“Very well,” I mutter. I watch as Hunter escorts the officials out of the shop. I look over at Bud and Drake. “I know you two were involved in this, and I will find proof,” I warn as Mac grabs my shirt to direct me out of the shop.
“Listen, Saint, serve the week suspension, and the crew and I will work on gathering whatever we can. Don’t the garages have cameras?” he asks as we reach my truck.
“Most of them do. I’m not sure how we would be able to get the footage though,” I answer.
“Let me work on that. I have a friend who knows someone that works at the course. I’ll see what I can do,” he tells me as I nod and open the truck door.
“Alright, I’m going to go back to Haisley and see if she agrees with me or not.” I smile and jump in the truck.
“We’ll hold down the fort.”
“Make sure the car for Nashville is ready. I’m hopeful she’ll be cleared to race that week,” I inform him.
Mac nods. "I will see you later at the house. Elle invited me over for dinner.”
“Sounds good, man. See you then.”
I watch him walk back into the shop, and I pull out of the parking lot. The trip back to Haisley’s was quick, as was the trip here.
I open the front door and find Haisley sitting on the couch next to her grandmother. “Well, I’m glad that she listened to me for once,” I say as I close the door and look at Grams.
“She can be rather stubborn, this one,” Grams replies as I offer a smile.
“Yes, which is why I want her to rest, follow doctor’s orders, and then go prove herself the rest of the damn season,” I remark as I sit on the couch next to Haisley. “How’s the head?”
“It’s fine now. No light sensitivity, no motion issues. Light headaches yesterday, but I swear nothing today,” she reveals as I interlace our fingers.
“Good.” I smile.
“So, how was the meeting with the officials?”
I run my other hand over my face. “Frustrating. Neil and I are suspended for at least one week as we appeal the suspension.”
“What did they say about the crash? Wait, you’re suspended?”
I nod. “Yeah. They realized that one of the bolts on the control arm had been stripped, which had to have been exchanged before warm-ups. The motion and turns eventually snapped the control arm. So, due to the mechanical failure, Neil and I were suspended. They can’t prove malice, otherwise we’d be facing charges.”
“Holy shit, Saint! This is serious!” Haisley shrieks.
“Haisley Marie, you need to calm down,” Grams calmly tells her.
“Grams, he could have been arrested if they really thought he did this or did it on purpose,” Haisley informs her.
“I know, Haisley. Let the man talk,” Grams reiterates.
I chuckle. “Thank you, Grams. Yes, Hais, they don’t think we did it on purpose, but I’m pretty sure I know who might have. It couldn’t have been Neil or me. I was with you the night after qualifying, and Neil was with the crew. But since we are technically the only ones allowed access to the car after inspections, we were suspended.”
“That’s bullshit,” she mumbles under her breath.
I sit back on the couch and place my hand on her thigh. “It truly is, but I’m pretty sure either Bud or Drake, or both of them, have a part in this.”
Grams gasps. “Drake? Your Drake, Haisley?”
“Yes, Grams, the same one. He showed up at the beginning of the season and has been a thorn in my side since then.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Grams questions almost hurt.
“It wasn’t anything to worry you about, especially with your heart and stuff...” Haisley responds. “Back to your theory, Saint.”
“I’m pretty sure Bud changed out the bolt. It’s an easy thing to do if you know how to, and he would know how. It would pass inspection and then appear as if it was driver error,” I explain.
“How are you going to prove he had something to do with it?” Haisley asks.
“I haven’t figured that out yet, but Mac’s contacting a friend to see if we can get the garage footage from Ohio, which would be a start.”
