Page 17 of Race to the Beach

"Then you'll let me call a taxi."

Maxi hated her aunt spending more money on her, but she knew how important this was to her, so she nodded."Okay."

Twenty minutes later, Maxi was dropped off at the edge of the school parking lot.As time went by, Maxi felt the many aches and pains in some of the most unexpected places.

Her steps were slow but steady.She noticed people stopping and looking at her.Maybe she should have taken a look in the mirror before she left the hospital.

She ignored the curious looks and slowly made her way to the familiar white tent.When she reached it, she threw up the flap of the tent.

She gasped.The tent was empty.She blinked, but when she opened her eyes, there was still no car.How could that be?

Her heart raced as a million thoughts flew through her mind.Where would they have taken it?It wasn’t like there were car garages on the island since vehicles weren't permitted except for special permits that were issued at city hall.

She stepped farther into the tent and turned around in a circle as rapid thoughts filled her mind.Where did they take it?

It was then she noticed something on the table at the back of the tent.She walked over to find an envelope with her name on it.It hadn't been there earlier, or she would have noticed it.Hopefully, it wasn't some sort of bill for towing her car.

She picked up the legal-size envelope and held it in front of her.She'd already had about as much bad news as she could take for the day.Maybe it was best just to stuff it into her purse and open it another day.The thought was oh so tempting.

But she knew that it would weigh on her mind.She'd keep conjuring up what could be inside the envelope until she drove herself mad.It was best just to open it and get it over with.

She stuck her finger in the corner of the envelope and yanked.When it was open, she pulled out the piece of paper inside and unfolded it.

It wasn't a bill.She breathed a little easier.It was a handwritten note.

Maxi,

If you're reading this, I hope it means that you’re doing okay.I would have stopped at the hospital, but your aunt was with you, and I didn't want to intrude.

I know you're looking for your car, and I wanted to let you know that everything is okay.I had it towed to my garage.We can talk when you’re up to it.

Owen

At the bottom, he’d scrolled a street address and phone number.She read the note again.He’d taken her car?He’d taken her wrecked car?Why would he do such a thing?

She looked up the address on her phone, and then she set off in that direction.This time her steps came faster.Her irritation over her missing car overrode the pain from her bumps and bruises.The more she thought about Owen taking the liberty of towing her car to his garage, the angrier she got.

It wasn't even like they were friends.They were barely more than strangers.What would she call them?She thought about it for a moment.Competitors.Nothing more.

He had no right to do anything with her car.Unless he was planning to make sure the car was completely out of commission.Her stomach sank at the thought.She didn't want to think that he would stoop to something so low, but she didn't know him.

She recalled the way he'd been there to catch her when she'd almost fallen not once but twice.Still, that was a spur-of-the-moment thing.Maybe he was the type who had to win at all costs.

She consulted her phone again to make sure she was walking in the right direction.She stewed over him taking such liberties with the car that she’d invested so much of herself in.

Why would he take her car?It was the question she kept coming back to.It really puzzled her.

When she made it to the correct address, she was surprised by the beautiful house.It was a two-story white home with gray shingles.The shutters were teal with flower boxes on the first-floor windows.The blooms were in shades of pink, blue, and yellow.The front door was a coral color, but it was the big front porch that ran the full length of the house that caught her attention.There were a couple of white rockers, but it was the porch swing at the one end that drew her in.She could imagine curling up there at the end of a long day with a tall glass of iced tea in hand.

Bang.Bang.

The noise drew her attention.It sounded as though it was coming from behind the house.She moved to the driveway that led her past the house and toward the backyard.It was there she found a large garage.It looked as though it could accommodate at least two cars with room for a riding mower off to the side.

She found it odd that someone would have a big garage on an island that outlawed the operation of motor vehicles.But she didn't have time to contemplate it, because as she approached the garage, she noticed her car.

The backend was facing her.From this vantage point, it didn't look like it had been involved in a collision.Though the increasing throb in her shoulder told her that there had most definitely been an accident—one she hoped to never repeat.

The right side of the backend told a totally different story.She steeled herself as she took in the crunched-up metal.It reminded her of an empty pop can that had been smashed.The paint was lifting, and the bare metal beneath it was showing in places.

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