Dash turns and faces the window while dragging his fingers through his hair.
“Dash!”
He spins around again. “We were sneaking around because of your dad. When your parents found out about us, they forbid you from seeing me.”
“Why would he do that?” I ask.
“Because we’re rivals. You’re the competition. I race too. I come from a long line of race car drivers. We’ve raced in circuits against each other for years. From kart racing to dirt track to regionals. I applied to NASCAR. We both did. My application was accepted. And yours was too, except, we—Lennon and me—we participated in a race before our license could process. It wasn’t exactly a legal race. NASCAR found out because we were arrested, but the charges didn’t stick. I won the race and Lennon crashed her car. She walked away without a scratch because you’re… Lennon is an excellent driver and knew how to handle herself, but your dad always blamed me for tempting Lennon to race. I knew she couldn’t resist. The blame was thrown at me more after her car was gone over with a fine-tooth comb and found to be tampered with.”
“What?” I ask in horror.
It’s Hendrix’s turn to hang his head as he listens to Dash’s story.
“No one ever found out who tampered with it?” I ask.
“I’m afraid not. Lennon knew it wasn’t me, but the damage was done in your dad’s eyes because not only did I put you in danger, but NASCAR pulled your application. They didn’t want any type of scandal.”
“Are you driving for NASCAR now?” I ask.
“No. I withdrew. Then Lennon and I started Indy races. We both worked to get sponsors, and we just finished our first year of racing together but still competing for different teams. I race for Full Tilt Racing.”
He comes to my bedside. “That’s why when I saw the footage of the accident, I assumed Lennon had to be driving. I know what you look like behind the wheel.”
Hendrix interrupts. “But I had just seen London, and she was driving Lennon’s car.”
Dash stares at me like there’s more truth bombs to drop.
“London was driving Lennon’s car then. They went out together, dressed the same except London had on a white shirt and Lennon was wearing black. London dropped Lennon off at my truck parked down a street over from Tyler Motorsports, and then she came to see you here at the hospital while she waited on Lennon to call because you were working late and she wanted to bring you dinner,” he says toward Hendrix.
“So, London knew how to drive a stick? I thought Lennon was teaching her how,” I interject.
“It would seem London was better at it than any of us gave her credit for, but regardless, she couldn’t have handled that car the way the video showed,” Dash says.
“The twin they brought in alive was wearing a white shirt, Dash,” Hendrix says.
“I know. But they were trying to hide the fact that Lennon had been with me. I’ve seen them change into each other’s clothes over the years to keep what they were doing secret…to cover for one another. But I’m telling you, even though London could drive a manual transmission, there’s no way she could drive it the way Lennon could. I’ve watched her race and handle herself behind the steering wheel for years now. We’ve competed for a long time.”
Hendrix covers his mouth absorbing what he’s hearing. He leans against the wall like he needs something to hold him up.
“Hendrix,” I call for him. But he just shakes his head.
“Dash, get him a chair. Pull it over here beside me, please.”
Dash does as I say and tugs on Hendrix to get him to move and drop down into it.
“We still don’t know anything, Hendrix. If London was wearing a white shirt and it’s what I came in wearing, chances are that’s who I am,” I say as I squeeze his hand.
Hendrix stares at the floor and I feel him slipping away from me.
“Dash, what was Lennon wearing when you last saw her?”
He closes his eyes. “The black shirt.”
“Okay. Think. Did London come back to pick Lennon up?”
“Yeah, of course. It’s why you were together. They played it off as Lennon was teaching London to drive her new car. She hadn’t had the Hellcat for long. London always shared recipes and cooking tips with Lennon, and Lennon taught her what she knew about cars and how to drive them. To anyone else, it looked like they were out riding around.”
“My heart to shield, my heart to embolden,” I whisper.
