restore me

Chapter Three: Shadow

Ellie parked a couple of blocks away from Roman's and was currently looking at a video on her phone. It was a news segment talking about a man named Zachary Lennox. A reporter was covering the story from outside a hospital. Mister Lennox sustained severe injuries from the accident, for which he remains in critical condition. He has been in comatose state for over three weeks. Doctors have yet to see how his situation develops. Meanwhile, the police department is still investigating the crash. A preliminary investigation suggests speed may have been an important factor in the accident.

Some footage showed on screen, it was Zachary's car completely wrecked. Ellie put her phone away and stepped out of the car. She had been reading about the case, gathering as much information as she could, but there were still several holes in it. If the police thought it was an accident, why was Roman involved in it? Ellie went around the house to the back door. She was a little unsure of ringing the bell, it seemed awfully casual. Like she was visiting an old friend to catch up and have a coffee with. In a twisted sense, she kind of was. She rang it, and a couple of moments later Mona opened the door to welcome her.

She looked almost the same, Ellie thought. Her hair was still impossibly black, but a little longer. And she had full on curtain bangs now. They look cute on her, very cute. Ellie almost smiled at her, but pursed her lips instead. She'd probably kill Ellie if she ever referred to her as cute, plus she still had that whole daggers-for-eyes thing going on.

Suffice to say it was a rich guy's place. All the furniture was square-shaped and there were spotless windows that ran from floor to ceiling. Basically, the clichéd modernist idea that you picture in your head when you think of a fancy house. The sunset light poured beautifully into the room, though.

"Finally. We were starting to get a bit anxious." She nodded to her left, where Roman was sitting on an expensive-looking couch. Really? That's all you have to say to me? Ellie wanted to tell her off, but there was something slightly urgent in Mona's eyes that stopped her from doing so. Not here.

"Ah, I see the great Tourist has finally deigned to join us." Every time he called her that, it felt like a threat. Like he could reveal her identity anytime he wanted to. Her name, her alias, were now his to use and speak and expose.

"I was talking to my dad." Ellie knew she'd had to tread very carefully the next couple of weeks. Watch her every word and action if she wanted a chance at getting out of Roman's grasp.

He clapped a couple of times, "Good, already getting ahead with your homework. A model student, if I ever met one." He had a special ability to taunt with every word he uttered, but Ellie was sure that his charisma and bravado were a mask. But she wasn't too excited to find out what he was really like underneath it. "Made any progress yet?"

"No." Ellie responded, and instead of complaining, Roman smiled even wider.

"That's okay, you'll find I'm a very patient person." He winked at Mona, which made Ellie's stomach turn. She grinned back at him, but it didn't feel genuine. Suddenly, he clasped his hands together and turned to her. "I'm a terrible host, aren't I? I haven't offered you anything to drink. I gave my staff the day off, but Mona can show you to the kitchen. I'm sure you girls have a lot to talk about. Mona, dear?" Dear? Ew. She obviously wanted nothing from this guy or his house, but she wasn't sure she'd get any more opportunities to talk to Mona alone.

"Sure thing, Roman. Do you want something?" She plastered a weird grin on her face and looked from him to Ellie. This wasn't the Mona she knew. She'd never let anyone call her dear and live to utter another word.

"I could have a beer."

"We'll be right back, follow me." Mona pointed to a large hall. They passed a couple of closed doors before turning right to the kitchen. It was, as expected, huge. Marbled counters and fancy white goods. All painted in metallic gray and too bright navy blue. It was a jarring and yet slick combination, much like Roman. He always came across as restrained, almost robotic. Like his every word and gesture was tightly calculated. Only ever showing exactly what he wanted them to see. It must be exhausting, trying to control the way other perceive him all the time, Ellie thought.

Mona opened the fridge and handed Ellie a beer, she took one for herself. After a couple of sips, she sighed. Relieved to finally be out of earshot and prying eyes.

"So, I guess I have some explaining to do, eh gorgeous?" This time, her smile was real.

"Mona, what the hell was that? Why did he call you dear? How the hell did you even find me? You sold me out?" Ellie couldn't help herself; the questions came out before she could organize them inside her head first.

Mona snorted at Ellie's outburst and had another sip from her beer before giving her a once-over. "You look different. Rougher around the edges. I like it."

Ellie just glared at her, clearly not in a mood for compliments. But there was only one thing she really wanted to ask her. "Are you okay?"

"But you still have that damned heart of yours, I see." At this, Ellie didn't know what to say. "Obviously, that was Roman Bright, in all his splendor. He calls me that because I hate it. I did sell you out, I had to. And no, I am not. But I will be." It stung to hear some of that, but Ellie's worry outweighed everything else. Mona didn't like the way she was staring at her, with what she thought was pity. "Will you stop giving me that look already? This is a shitty position, but I've been in much worse." She somehow managed to say that suggestively.

"How did you end up working for him? He sucks."

"Tell me about it." They both broke into a laugh. "I owe him." Mona dragged the words, like it physically hurt her to say them. Ellie had heard this one before.

"He bailed you out." She guessed and Mona nodded.

"About a year in, they told me I had a visitor. Came in with that smug, trust fund asshole face of his. Said he admired my and the crew's work and offered me a choice. Well, I guess it wasn't much of a choice. Work for him or rot in jail. Again. And let me tell you, orange does nothing for my complexion. So, I've been working on and off for him for the last three years." That's a long time to be trapped with him. Ellie had only known the guy for a couple of days and she already felt sick in his presence. She hated to think what it had been like for Mona.

"He said the same thing to me, about the Grapevine job. That he was impressed. Is he trying to get us back together?" None of it made sense, why would he want to "hire" the people who robbed his property?

"This is a game to him. We stole from him, so now he wants us to steal for him." But Ellie still wasn't sure of his reasons. Maybe this was his sick way of teaching them a lesson. A classic "no one fucks with me and gets away with it" kind of thing. But he had been waiting a while to do this. Biding his time and meanwhile toying with Mona. He obviously found her first because she was in jail, thanks to Ellie. She felt a pinch of guilt gnaw at her. "Why did you tell him about me?"

"He needed proof that I'm on his side." And was she? She didn't dare to ask her directly so she changed her question.

"Did he contact anyone else?" Did he find Logan?

"It's just us. Toby and X are still MIA, surprisingly, and Colt is still here but he's moved on to more serious business. And I only told him about you because you're a dumbass, you know? He would've found you either way." Ellie frowned and took a step back, clearly offended. She made a mental note to later ask what exactly meant more serious business.

"He asked where you went to school and I thought of pretending I didn't know, but you weren't exactly subtle, gorgeous. I found the videos." Oh no. Ellie always made sure her face was covered whenever she was recorded, but she guessed Mona knew her well enough to recognize her. "A rumored preppy college girl racing in the area? Plus, I spotted your Panther. He was going to track you down sooner or later, better it came from me." Better for her, she meant.

Ellie felt like giving herself a facepalm. This is why she didn't bring her car to the sideshows anymore, she only ever did it a couple of times at the beginning, but Jesse loves that car. Of course, he had filmed her racing in it. Now she felt like slapping him. "It's almost like you wanted to be found."

"Mona, it's time." Roman interrupted from the living room. Their beers still had some content in them, but they left them behind.

Before returning, Mona gently grabbed Ellie's arm. "For what it's worth, and I know it's not much, I really didn't want to get you involved, but your dad..." That was what really complicated this whole thing, wasn't it? That Detective Wheeler was assigned to the case. Of all the cases, this had to be his last. It was almost too convenient.

"I know. Guess we'll have to find our way out." Things were coming full circle, ironically. Like a big, cosmic, brilliant joke.

"Ellie, it's good to see you again and all, but you better not get in my way. You or your detective dad." A mischievous spark twinkling in her eyes. "I will find my way out. Always do." And with that she walked ahead, leaving Ellie beaming proudly. Deep down, she was still that same Mona who welcomed her into the crew with the promise of messing with her. And Ellie expected nothing less.

"There you girls are. We were waiting for someone else, but he's here now." Roman announced. Ellie's heart jumped in her chest as soon as she stepped back into the room. Standing right there was another guy. He had his back turned to them but Ellie knew right away who he was. "We weren't sure he'd join us, but the more the merrier. Right?"

As soon as he turned, Ellie and him locked eyes. Logan's chest heaved as he struggled to hide the shock on his face. She glued herself to floor and refused to take another step. So many thoughts flashed through her mind, but mainly she was mad. All the sadness she felt after Logan drove away from her that night –after she said goodbye to the whole crew– had turned into resentment over the years. And it was all coming back. Mona, on the other hand, was observing the scene with amusement. Which only angered Ellie even more.

"What's so funny, Mona?" Roman inquired. Both men turned to her while Ellie seized the interruption to appraise Logan, to really see him for the second-first time.

"I just- I didn't think he'd show." She replied with a mocking smile. "I'm legit surprised, is all."

Ellie's face flushed hot with anger and bottled-up feelings she'd kept restrained for way too long. She didn't know she'd see Logan that day, or any other for that matter. Many nights she had lied awake thinking of it, a reunion. She came up with hundreds of scenarios and things she'd say to him, ranging from insults to apologies. But as the years went by, they all seemed further and further away, like waking up from a dream and forgetting all about it. Trying to hold on and commit it to memory, only to have it vanish. Still, here he was in front of her. The boy who changed her life forever. He looked... different. That much was obvious, they hadn't seen each other in four years and change is the one thing you can count on, she supposed.

He had dark circles under his eyes, and his face was covered with the stubble of several sleepless nights. No doubt being here had put a strain on him, being a fugitive will do that to you. A small scar was visible on his right brow, Ellie wondered if it had always been there or if it was new. The biggest difference was his hair. No longer was it lush and full and untamed. It was much shorter and layered, parted to the side. It also seemed to have darkened a couple of shades. He didn't appear to have lost any weight but all of him looked, somehow, less. He was still so handsome, of course, and overall looked healthy –which Ellie had truly hoped for–. But where she had hardened, he had faded. The fire in his eyes burned just as brightly as in Ellie's eyes, though.

"Mona, what the hell? You promised..." Logan's jaw was clenched and you could still see him breathing unevenly. It occurred to Ellie that this was the first time she'd heard him speak in over four years. His voice sounded deeper, in a husky way, but just as witty and captivating.  She quickly dismissed the thought.

"You didn't tell her. Or him." Roman broke into laughter, making the whole thing even more surreal and embarrassing. "Oh, you're bad." Ellie averted her gaze from Logan and turned her back on them all.  

Mona had played them both. She'd always had the bad habit of only revealing information on a need-to-know basis, but this was a little low, given the whole hanging-by-a-thread situation. She must have thought one of them was going to refuse helping her, so she had to have a backup. She was so sure they would abandon her, once more. Ellie's temper quickly cooled down, if only a little, at this realization. The one thing Mona didn't expect was both of them showing up.

"Mona, I'm out of this." Logan rolled his shoulders back uncomfortably. "Whatever this is."

"She's neck-deep into this, Logan." Mona placed a hand on her hip while rolling her eyes with exasperation. Clearly already tired with the argument. "She was one of us, remember?"

"The Tourist is here to pay her debt, same as Mona. Same as you." Logan flinched at the way he referred to Ellie.

"Debt? I don't owe you-" Logan started arguing with Roman, and with Mona. Voices faded behind Ellie, she knew this was leading nowhere. Not a single person wanted to be in that room, yet they already were. Actions and consequences had led them there. So, there was no point in letting the quarrel escalate. And also, was he really that desperate to get away from her, again?

"No, you're not." Ellie finally turned back to face them. Holding her breath and willing her heart to stop racing, she stated commandingly. "You're not out. We have a job to do. And we don't need to get along or trust each other to get it done. That's what you always used to say, right?" Her chest still rising and falling brusquely as she addressed Logan, sizing him up. "We owe her this much, Logan."

He held her gaze for what seemed too long, unable –or unwilling– to break contact. Ellie wasn't ready for the sincere confusion and hurt she read in his eyes, which sparked a shiver that ran down her arms. Finally, he silently nodded.

Roman's lips curved in an insolent smile. They'd do the job for him, and he'd have his way. "Well, I do find it more comfortable to work in an agreeable atmosphere. We're all on the same side here, after all."

No one else said anything, and Roman took it as a sign to begin his most certainly practiced presentation. He pressed a button on a remote and a TV popped up from one of the cabinets. A blonde man's picture was displayed on the screen. The man from the news.

"This is Zach Lennox, a former associate of mine and the man who kicked me out of my own company." Zach's picture was replaced with a photo of a pristine building. Riviere Motors. Ellie had heard about this in the news some time ago, although she hadn't paid much attention back then. Some rich guy that was voted off his company for his erratic behavior in public and ethically ambiguous work ethic. That sounded like Roman, alright. That must have been years ago. There was a legal battle involved. Lawsuits, appeals and a lot of press coverage, not that she followed the case. Why would she?

"Did you lose?" Ellie spurted out the question, almost –but not quite– regretting poking at him. "The lawsuit, I mean. I saw it on the news."

Roman's demeanor shifted immediately, his brows knit as he glowered at her in cold disdain, the muscles in his arms tensing. He held onto the remote a little too tightly. "It's not over yet." So, this is a sore subject, Ellie noticed.

"I started a new company after that, but Zach and I maintained a friendly rivalry." Mona shifted ever so slightly, side-eyeing Logan and Ellie. "About three weeks ago, we agreed to race in our prototypes, a cordial competition to see what we'd come up with." He changed the slide to show two high-end, bright-colored, futuristic automobiles. "He accidentally crashed his." This he stated flatly, as if leaving no room for doubt. "He is in the hospital and, as you know, the police are investigating me because they suspect I was there that night, but they have little to no proof." He threw a conspiratorial grin at Mona. "I intend to keep it that way."

"This is where we come in." She said. "With the ongoing lawsuit, Roman needs to stay as far away as possible from Zach and his accident. We have to throw the cops off. Make them think someone has it out for him and the company."

"Which is why you're going to get something for me, from the Riviere storage plant. There's a second prototype." He announced nonchalantly. As if it were the easiest thing in the world.

"It has to look like someone is trying to steal company secrets."

"But won't they just assume it's him?" Logan nodded to Roman, arms crossed over his chest. "Both their companies are already in a fight over patents."

"Roman will have a solid alibi, and since the case has gone public, he wouldn't even dream of trying to rob Riviere's property. It'd be plain stupid." Mona counter argued. "After we get the prototype, we break it down to scrap and-"

"This is where I come in, I assume? To steer my dad's attention away from Roman, to other suspects."

"Look, the captain is already on your dad's ass, pressing him to close it. All we need is a little push. They all just want this to go away." All, but my dad, Ellie thought. She knew he wouldn't back down. He never did before and he certainly wasn't going to start now, with his last case.

Ellie simply nodded, she still wasn't sure why Roman would go for all that trouble if the police and press are already treating it like an accident. Something must have changed, something that made him reach out to her. Her dad had been on the case for nearly three weeks, why did he contact her and Logan until now? Why wait? It didn't add up. But she wasn't going to say out loud. The whole ordeal sounded a little easier than she had expected, picking up a car wasn't new for her. She hoped that would be the end of it.

"Mona will explain all the details." Roman instructed. "If all goes well, this will blow over in a matter of days. A week, at most." Then Ellie could return home, and forget once and for all about the MPC and that part of her life. "I leave you in her hands." And with that he excused himself and left the room.

"Come on, let's go. We can talk strategies back at my place." Mona cocked her head to the door. Both Ellie and Logan shared a curious look with each other, quickly averting their gaze elsewhere. Mona sighed in exasperation and strutted past them. "You're driving, gorgeous." Great.

Soon, it was just her and Logan in the room, which suddenly appeared to have grown bigger with all the self-consciousness. Ellie wanted to go, she should've rushed to the door, but instead remained in the same spot. He was the one to finally break the silence.

"Ellie." He called her name, and yet she couldn't meet his eyes. Stop. Don't say another word. Ellie's mask was cracking. Despite all her cold-shoulder attitude and her trying to act like she didn't care, she felt her eyes begin to water. "Ellie." He called again. Softer this time, quieter, like a plea.

Part of her wanted to run to him and throw her arms around him, everything and everyone else be damned. Tell him how much she had missed his voice and his face and his hair and his scent. How him walking away from her had broken something deep inside her, and that time hadn't fixed it. As much as people promised her it would. But she couldn't do any of those things because right then and there it dawned on her just how angry –and hurt– she still was about all the things left unresolved between them. And that's the thing about anger, it grows on you if you don't watch. On top of that, they were strangers to each other now. Who even knew how he felt about her? That is if he still felt any way about her.

"I didn't know you'd be here. Otherwise, I–" Despite her silence, he continued. Shifting his weight and digging his hands in his pockets.

"You wouldn't have showed?" She couldn't let him finish; it stung a little to hear him say that. All his words and gestures told her he really didn't want to be in her presence. He looked taken aback for a moment, like he wasn't expecting her to talk to him at all.

Ellie took a step back almost unconsciously. One of her hands moved protectively over her chest, where a pendant hung from her neck, a familiar spark plug made into a necklace that he had given her once upon a time. For luck, on top of it all. He had had pretty shit luck his whole life, he admitted to her one night. 

At some point she had truly believed one day she'd be able to think of him as an old friend, a good and distant memory. But maybe too much had happened for them to ever be any semblant of that. Then again, Ellie figured maybe he just felt guilty about seeing her again. The girl he had loved and hurt and put in danger. She had managed to go to college and get her life back on track, and now she was back here.

That something she was missing, call it closure or perhaps something more than that, she wasn't ever going to get it. Neither the big reunion nor the tears, the reassurance that it wasn't all for nothing and that she was finally home, that she finally belonged. Because maybe, and this is what rattled Ellie the most, he had moved on.

Nonetheless, they had a job to do and it was futile to rehash old wounds. Wounds she thought only she had, but Ellie couldn't have been more wrong.

"Logan, it's fine. I didn't know either. That's Mona for you, I guess." She tried to relax a little, rolling her shoulders and loosening up her arms. "Let's just- Let's just get through this. She's waiting." He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. Was she avoiding him? Or did she really didn't care? Ellie made it to the door with long strides, eager to get out of Logan's studying eyes.

Logan had also spent many nights thinking and fantasizing about seeing Ellie again. But, unlike Ellie's hundreds of scenarios, he knew exactly what he wanted to say to her. After he apologized for everything else, that is. However, when the moment came, he choked. Of all the things he was worried would happen –her not wanting to see him again or listen to what he had to say–, it never crossed his mind that they would meet under the same circumstances that pulled them apart the first time. He made a promise to her to make it up to her, however long it took. And yet, his past decisions kept dragging them both back.

Maybe she hated him, he was prepared for that. Time had possibly allowed Ellie to see him for what he truly was. Someone not worth all the trouble he caused her.

On the night they said their goodbyes, she assured him she'd never forget about him. He wanted to believe that, and he did. He was ready for her anger, but what he didn't expect was to accept she had forgotten about him after all. Ellie looked so different to him, so distant and cold and unreachable. Nothing like she was.

Chapter Two: Home, Sweet Home

Ellie's graduation felt empty. Obviously, she was proud of herself and her dad was too. The very first twice-valedictorian and summa cum laude graduate in the family. Riya and Darius were able to make it too. A few new friends she made throughout college were cheering for her. Even Jesse showed, but Ellie couldn't really introduce him for obvious reasons. But not everyone she cared for was able to be there, sharing this milestone with her.

The commencement speaker, a big shot judge, kept going on about all the great things that were to come and all the responsibility this generation has. Ellie sighed at the less than motivating prospect of working for the next 50 years until she's so tired, it'll be a miracle she can wake up and get out of bed. But she was still a couple of decades too young to be so pessimistic about her future and quality of her life. And the huge grin on her dad's face almost made her smile too.

She found a small apartment she could afford with the money she made from racing, but soon a couple of months had passed and she was struggling to decide what to do. She could do an internship, or continue her studies, or get a job. Except none of those really seemed that exciting. In fact, the beginning of adulthood wasn't particularly exciting either. You'd think it should be different from school, but really, it's just an extension of it.

Racing took her mind off of these thoughts but she knew she'd have to make a choice eventually. As if 23 is old enough to have your life figured out. But then, everything came to a halt when Roman Bright showed up in her city and pretty much coerced her into doing his –almost certainly illegal– bidding. And, oh yeah, there was Mona too. Whom Ellie hadn't seen or heard of since she left her at the doors of a hospital, bleeding out and about to be arrested. Mona was very clear she didn't want Ellie to contact her, but still, it sucked that this was their reunion.

They hadn't really exchanged more than a couple of sentences yet, but they needed to talk things out. Traitor wasn't a word Ellie would use to describe Mona, not after she took a literal bullet for her. There had to be an explanation. She had little time to go back to her apartment and pack a light suitcase before rushing to the airport. Jesse went to say goodbye to her.

"I still think this is the stupidest idea you've ever had, Wheeler. And you have plenty of those". Jesse was certainly trying –and failing– to put on a brave face. Cracking jokes and laughing to lighten his worry and Ellie's. "I don't get why you can't tell your dad-"

"No way. He's the reason I'm even doing this. If he found out, he would-" Ellie said abruptly and rubbed her eyes, they were puffy and irritated from crying and barely sleeping the night before. This was her mess, her past mistakes coming back to bite her in the ass, and only she had the responsibility to make things right –or ruin them for good–.

"I just don't want to put him in even more danger. Besides, he's retiring. The last thing I want is to drag him into my shit again."

Neither wanted to say anything else, but there was an understanding that passed between them. Ellie's mind was set and, so far, no one has ever been successful at changing it.

"I don't know when I'll see you again, Jess."

"Hey, at least you think there will be a next time. I like your confidence."

"Jerk." They hugged it out and stayed that way for a minute.

"See you around, Wheeler." Jesse gave her one last look and mock saluted her like a soldier. Then he walked away. It was time to go home.

***

Standing on her doorway, everything seemed to catch up to her. Was she really going down this path again? In a way, now she had more to lose. Above all, her freedom. Because she couldn't run back to dad and let him fix everything again. She wasn't a kid anymore, and this wasn't street racing either. One misstep and she could land herself in jail, for real this time. Four years ago, she let herself get whisked away and into a whirlwind of way-over-her-head events. A high school girl playing the part of a grownup, and a career criminal at that. She had to make this work, it was her chance to help her dad, instead of the other way around. Just a couple of days or a week, tops, and she'd be back in the east coast to resume her life.

Although she still had her keys, she'd feel wrong using them. So, she rang the doorbell instead. There was a loud sound, like a chair suddenly being dragged. Ellie heard footsteps approaching and not two seconds later, her dad opened the door and greeted her with a bone-crushing hug.

"Ellie, you're here. I told you to text me when you landed, I would've gone to pick you up." Mr. Wheeler was beaming. He had changed little in the last couple of years. Sure, time had wrinkled his forehead further, but he did frown a lot. He also looked slightly hunched and had the faintest of dark circles under his eyes. It was probably a good thing he was retiring in a couple of weeks. He could finally rest for a while. Although, knowing him, Ellie was sure he wouldn't stay put too long.

"Hi, dad." She sheepishly patted his back. Since her time with the MPC, they had found a way to trust each other again, but the truth is Ellie always felt that a wall had been built between them. It was as if their renewed relationship was hanging by a thread, and Ellie had come home carrying razor-sharp secrets.

"Come in, come in. How are you? Was the flight nice?" He bombarded her with questions, most of which Ellie had no clear answer for. "Is the internship going good? Are you sure it's okay to take a couple of days?" Yeah, about that, Ellie told her dad she had scored a very prestigious internship working for a pharmaceutical corporation. A lie, of course, but she bragged about it being so very exclusive; she couldn't really share many details. Confidentiality agreement and all. Bull-shit.

"Flight was good. And the internship is going great, I can miss a few days. It's not like I'm a lead chemist or anything." She bit her cheek on the inside, she hated lying to her dad, but anything was better than confessing to spending all her time street racing and doing stunts.

"Yet, but give yourself a few years and you'll be leading the projects yourself." He assured her with a smile so sincere it pained Ellie to look at him. He was so proud of her.

They went inside and Mr. Wheeler insisted on carrying her suitcase up to her old room. He then promised to make her the Ellie Special, a Belgian waffle he used to cook for her on her birthday and special occasions. She thanked him and said she'd be down in a bit.

Her room was exactly the same as she left it the day she jumped on her Chateaux Panther and drove it all the way to Langston. It was a freaky sight, the room and her belongings hadn't matched Ellie's personality in a long time. The wallpaper was a lilac shade and her bed was littered with plushie toys and a single teddy bear. The old Langston flag was still hung on the wall. A reminder of everything she had worked so hard for. The mirror on her vanity set had a couple of photos tucked on the edges of the frame. One of her mom and one of her and Riya and Darius at the diner they used to go to study. Her hands wandered over the drawer's handle to open it. Various makeup items, nail polish, an old notebook and other stuff; but on top of it all was her mom's bracelet, a silver chain adorned with several hearts. Next to it was a photo strip of her and Logan. The one they took on her graduation party. Ellie hadn't thought of him in a while. Even after seeing Mona, it was like part of her was trying to push his memory away. She closed the drawer abruptly. She lifted the heavy suitcase and tossed it on the bed, changed clothes and headed downstairs.

The kitchen smelt amazing; her dad had always been a great cook, even if work often kept him from home. Ellie sat at the table and soon Mr. Wheeler served her a plate with a couple of stacked fluffy waffles, some strawberries, blueberries and a little whipped cream to top it all. She took a generous bite and whispered to herself.

"Oh my god, I've missed this." Whenever she tried to make them, they just didn't taste as good. Her dad joined her on the table and they both dug in. If only she were here just to have breakfast and spend quality time with him... but she had a job to do. First up, she had to drill her dad for information on his latest case.

"So, how's the retirement party planning going?" Ellie would start slow; she couldn't let Detective Wheeler feel like he was being interrogated.

"It's ready to go. Margaret pretty much took care of everything, you remember her?"

"Yeah, I think so. That was nice of her. Especially with all the work you're still doing." Ellie arched a brow and pointed towards a set of papers and folders scattered on the living room. "You're supposed to take it easy, dad." Mr. Wheeler laughed wholeheartedly; no doubt Ellie had his well-being in mind.

"I am taking it easy, sweetie. But it's my last case, I really want to close it, you know." Oh, but she knew all about it. An investigation into Roman Bright, business tycoon and prime suspect of running a guy off the road and putting him in a coma. The billionaire told her all about it and what he needed her for: obstructing the case. Something only the detective's daughter could achieve on a short-term deadline. Another crime to add to Ellie's record.

I hear you have some experience in that department. Haven't you, miss Wheeler? Roman's taunting words were still on her head.

"Oh, anything interesting?" Ellie hoped she wasn't being too obvious.

"A little. Some spoiled rich kid who thinks he can get away with daddy's money." Mr. Wheeler scowled at the thought of him, and Ellie considered that was a too generous description for Roman. "Can you believe he tried to bribe an officer? It boils my blood, the entitlement... But you don't have to hear about all this. I'm sure it'll be over soon." He made a face and shushed Ellie. If she asked him anything else, he would be suspicious for sure.

"Well, I hope you get him, dad. Preferably soon, so you can go on that vacation you have planned." She was being honest, she really hoped things would work out for the best, but that wasn't likely. If Detective Wheeler put Roman behind bars, surely he'd come through with all his threats; but if he walked free, that meant Ellie will have successfully gotten away with betraying her dad, again.

"Don't worry, sweetie, I will. Cancún can wait a little bit." They both laughed.

Ellie looked down on her now empty plate. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was time to meet her newest partners in crime. They agreed they needed to "talk next steps", whatever god-forsaken thing that meant. Although she dreaded spending time with Roman, she had a pending conversation with Mona, and boy did she have a lot to answer for.

"I'm meeting some friends for coffee, to catch up." Another lie. Ellie wouldn't admit it out loud, but lying had become second nature to her, and she hated herself for it. "I'll be back in a while."

"Oh, sure thing. Have a good time, kiddo." He sounded disappointed but it was better not to press the subject. The last thing she needed was him asking her the questions. No, it was what he said. "My bad, not my kiddo anymore, eh?"

"I guess not." Ellie tried to smile, but her glistening eyes told a different story.

Chapter One: The Tourist

Ellie Wheeler never disappointed. From a young age she proved to be a very smart girl, a compliant daughter, a reliable friend and an outstanding student. Everything she set her mind to, she achieved. College wasn’t supposed to be any different, it was certainly not much of a challenge –she excelled at her classes and was constantly praised by her teachers–, soon she found herself settling once again into a familiar routine, into her old self.

Her dad was talking to her again, Riya and Darius called every now and then and she even made a couple of new friends. Everything was going great... except she couldn't remember the last time she had felt this lonely. What a strange thing it is, to be perfectly fine and completely broken down at the same time. Everyone around her acted like the past months hadn't happened, and soon she started to act the part too. Langston College and the west coast were supposed to be a bright and new beginning, the start of her promising future, a clean slate. That’s what she needed, wasn’t it?

She’d stopped driving.

Her valiant, flaming red 1969 Chateaux Panther XX was a painful reminder of L.A. and everything that happened there. Of everything she lost. On her way to the east coast, she felt so excited and euphoric with all the possibilities that the wind and open road brought her. But all that quickly came to a halt when her car’s engine went quiet and she finally arrived at school. After that, each morning was like waking up from a fever dream. Had she really done all those things? Steal cars in the dead of night, aid career criminals, betray her dad’s trust, kidnap a man, get her driver’s license, fall in love. Every day for the last few months she detached herself more and more from those memories until they felt foreign, like they belonged to someone else. But a tattoo sleeve made of bright red peonies always seemed to do the trick and pull her back.

You’ll forget all about me soon enough, Logan had said to her on the last night they saw each other. But in that moment, lying in bed and softly touching her inked skin, she remembered.

Driving became harder and harder because she neither wanted to look back nor to forget, and her car always fell somewhere in the middle of those things. Until one day she made a choice, the first one in a while. After a couple of weeks of digging up information and skimming through the local news and social media, she found a video; a crowd of people taking over the street and cheering on a neon green Crown Centaure, not a car to Ellie’s taste but that wasn’t the point. It was showing off, doing burnouts at a sideshow, a cloud of smoke growing and the engine roaring. Ellie thanked the idiots who possibly risked their lives filming the whole thing, because she was able to track down the original video and username –someone called JesseSpeeds777– who posted it. It took a little while but finally, after stalking their account for days, they tweeted a date and place. She stood up, looked at her phone with determination and scribbled down the address in a piece of paper. The post was deleted a minute later. Bingo. Tonight, she would go out, and she would drive.

Ellie arrived fashionably in her Chateaux Panther, wearing red lipstick and a black leather jacket she borrowed from Mona but never returned. The spot was next to a stretch of a highway currently under construction. She heard loud music in the distance and that calmed her down a little, at least she knew she was in the right place. Ellie wondered how long they’d had before the police came around. She parked the car and got out. She shivered as the cold air met her and smiled. The scene before her was alive with people chatting and dancing and drinking. Some had a beer in their hands, others were showing off their cars’ engines, a few couples snuggled up together and there was a guy with a camera. The road was lit up with the cars’ high beams. It wasn’t the biggest crowd, but it was enough to make her feel the littlest bit at home. A couple of people turned to look at her, but no one seemed to pay too much attention. Ellie approached the guy with the camera, figured that if she wanted information she should start somewhere.

Camera guy was wearing a hoodie and baggy pants, a DSLR camera hung from his neck. The lid was off and he was angling it to get a good shot of the Crown Centaure’s driver – the one Ellie saw in the video–, who was currently revving the engine to a scream. The car was going around in circles doing doughnuts, a cloud of smoke was raising up into the night sky and the concrete stained with tire tracks. Ellie cleared her throat before interrupting his shot.

“Hey.” He barely noticed her; all he did was give her a side-eye. After a moment of awkward silence, Ellie persisted. “Is it hard filming it?” She thought he wasn’t going to answer her and turned to go, but then he finally spoke.

“No”, he replied to her question in a toneless voice. “You just gotta know when to get outta the way.” Ellie scoffed; her dad told her something similar when giving her driving lessons. You have to leave enough room for stepping on the brakes, he advised, and know when to quit. Something she failed to do. She quickly brushed the thought off and continued the interrogation.

“What’s going down tonight?” This sideshow had a much more relaxed vibe than in L.A. Not a lot of action going on.

“Slow night, just an ‘08 Crown Centaure,” he pointed to the green car and then nodded towards a white one, “and a ‘17 Devore GT doing burnouts or whatever.” Ellie felt something sink inside her as she recognized the second car. It wasn’t exactly like Logan’s, his had different mods. Still, her heart went out to him as she imagined how long he kept on driving and where he ended up. Probably the furthest possible place from her.

“Do they race?” she inquired, changing the subject to what really interested her.

“Sometimes.” He crossed his arms in a slightly defensive manner. “You're an awful lot of curious, aren’t you? Who did you say invited you?”

Ellie froze in mild shock, were there really invitations or was he just messing with her? She decided to tell the truth, kind of. “JesseSpeeds777?”

“Oh, you know Jesse?” His brows raised in surprise; he smiled a little.

“Yes,” she stuttered. “I mean, I’ve been following him for a while. Saw him posting a couple of videos and an address, thought I’d come check it out.”

“Uh-huh, and are you from around here? That your ride?” He pointed to her Chateaux Panther. Ellie didn’t like the tone of his question, like he couldn’t believe she owned a car like that. She instantly stood straighter, as if to appear taller.

“I moved here a couple of months ago. And yes, that is my car.” Her voice was low and had a hint of indignation. She self-consciously leaned on the hood of her Chateaux Panther in a protective way.

“Sorry.” He noticed the shift in her friendly demeanor, took a step back and lifted his palms in a playful way. “It’s just- Well, you don’t look the type to drive that,” he sounded way too amused, “but I bet it’s not the first time you’ve heard that. Cool paint job, by the way," Ellie gathered that Toby would have loved to hear that, as if his ego needed more encouraging. "I bet it can seriously run.” A smile tug at her lips.

“Yeah, it does.”

Camera guy squinted at her with curiosity, now he was the one with a lot of questions. “You race?”

“Not for a while.” She stated softly, like a whisper.

The sound of sirens in the distance cut their conversation short. Camera guy was startled but didn’t look scared, if anything he was annoyed. He took his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud whistle. “Beat it, people!” Not two seconds later everyone began to run to their cars, flashes of movement and color passed in front of Ellie, she was too entranced to do anything but watch.

Everyone hurried to get to a car before they were left behind. It was a scene of chaos, almost a beautiful one. Their panic was all the action Ellie had come looking for. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound of the engines revving and horn blaring, she had missed this. Camera guy took his time walking to his car, a beaten down Voyage Encounter with a couple of dents. He didn’t look worried in the slightest. He gave Ellie one last look before getting inside, “You got a name?”

“I’m- just a tourist, passing by.” Colt called her that once, too much of a coward to either be part of the crew or go home.

He laughed. “Okay, tourist girl. I’m JesseSpeeds777, but just call me Jess.”

Ellie laughed too, in complicity, the kind you share with someone whom you’ve just met but realize you’re going to be good friends with. Ellie got in her Panther and started it; Jesse did the same.

“You plan on sticking around?” he asked from the driver’s seat.

“I think I will.”

She drove away, leaving the sound of sirens behind. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly and she pressed the gas pedal just a bit hard. The wind and open road embraced her once again with the promise of trouble, and this time she wouldn’t back down.

***

By her senior year, Ellie 'the Tourist' Wheeler was her city's underground celebrity. She would show up randomly at different sideshows across town, do a few stunts here and there and then disappear until the next time. The spots changed regularly to avoid the police, but Ellie always got the invites. But whenever she raced? That's when the crowds were the biggest. Everyone who was into racing or cars went out to see her.

There were rumors about her, who she was and where she came from. Ellie's personal favorite was one that claimed she ran away from a band of car thieves and was currently wanted by the FBI back home. Others said she had an auto shop and could hook you up with all sorts of cars. Someone even spread the gossip that she was a preppy student who dropped out of school to become a stunt driver. They all had a little bit of truth in them but either way, people knew better than to piss her off, in case she was involved in illegal stuff. That worked for Ellie, because she was able to continue her studies at Langston by day, and then go out and drive by night. The only one who was familiar with the full story was Jesse. They became good friends, as predicted, and eventually she decided to tell him the whole truth. It only made him like her more. Plus, he'd get a ton of views from filming The Tourist on the road, so he liked her alright. There were a couple of close calls over the last three years, when she had to escape police pursuit, but they both managed to get away.

It was the summer break before her last term and everything seemed to be alright, Ellie had found her little routine. Jesse invited Ellie to a meetup, a private one. Apparently, someone wanted to challenge her to a drag race. Over the years, Ellie's pride had gotten bigger, so much that she was intrigued enough to meet whoever wanted to dare her.

Ellie had been thinking a lot about what she would do once she graduated. Could she continue to live like this? She didn't see herself working a 9 to 5, but she also couldn't picture leaving everything behind to become a getaway driver. She hated the solitude that both options inspired in her. All Ellie knew is that she expected more.

Jesse and her arrived at the meetup together. A straightaway in the industrial district, a part of town that was abandoned a long time ago. If the cops were alerted, it wouldn't be a quick response. Very few people lived around, and the authorities didn't seem interested in protecting them. It was deathly quiet and Ellie didn't like this at all.

"You know you don't have to do this, right?" Jesse uttered, he too felt something wasn't entirely right. Ellie nodded gravely, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Soon, a couple of high beams showed up in the dark. The engine grew louder as it approached them, there was a distinct turbo sound that accompanied the machine. Once she was able to see a car with tinted windows, a little gasp escaped Ellie's mouth. It was a pitch black Revello Vipere hypercar. One of the fastest, mightiest, most exclusive sports cars built to date. Ellie read that they only made a couple hundred of them, and they were customizable. It was truly a thing of beauty; a lustrous and muscular display of what money can buy. Ellie and Jesse looked at each other in disbelief.

"Who's that?" he whispered.

A man in a matching black suit got out of the car. He straightened the lapel of his jacket as he walked towards Ellie. He looked like he was in his mid 30's, the yuppie type. His hair was gelled back and had an icy presence that left a trail of silence in his wake.

"Good evening, my name is Roman Bright." He saluted Ellie and Jesse, offering a handshake only Jesse accepted. "And I've been looking for you, Ellie Wheeler."

Ellie froze in horror, she felt like a thousand little needles pricked her from the inside. She hadn't thought of L.A. in a while. It took her a few seconds to recognize him. That name.... he was the billionaire who bought the Verratti Le Mans Sport cars. The same cars the MPC stole in order to get the Brotherhood off their backs, which didn't work out in the end. Ellie took a step back.

"I see you remember me." He added in a honeyed voice, with a cold and condescending smile.

"Why are you here?" Ellie questioned him. It had to do with the crew, she was sure of it. Why else would he be looking for her?

Jesse stared at both of them in confusion, but didn't utter a word.

"I wanted to meet the great Tourist, of course. I've heard so much about you, I feel as though I already know you." That didn't make any sense. If Ellie remembered correctly, Roman lived back in the west coast and even if she was street-famous, there was no way they'd hear about her all the way back home.

"Really? And how do you know my name?" Ellie's breath became unsteady and her heart leapt in her chest. "How did you even find me?"

"A pretty bird." Roman smirked, he was enjoying this, the distress on her face as she tried to puzzle things out.

"I just had to come out and meet you. I mean, that stunt you pulled at the Grapevine? I was impressed, but not so much that I forgot the ten million dollars that you stole from me."

Ellie's words failed her; she scanned the place for a way out. But even if Jesse and her managed to get to their cars, she wasn't sure they could outrun him. How could this happen? She hadn't felt at such a disadvantage in a long time, ever since she started racing again, she had been in control. Even when she had to make a getaway, she always knew it was up to her to protect her freedom.

"Why now?" That was all she could ask.

"Glad you mention it. As it happens, I'm in need of a big favor. And I believe you are the perfect person to help me." Roman emphasized the word 'perfect', taunting Ellie, as if he was preparing to reveal a big secret.

"Or what? You're going to charge me the 10 million if I don't help you? Go to the police after all this time?"

"You don't really think I'm here for the money, do you? I thought you were supposed to be a smart kid." Ellie didn't know when she started clenching her fists, but she could feel her body tensing by the minute. She was like a bomb's timer running out of time.

"Why don't we make a game of it? A race." Roman proposed nonchalantly, perhaps this is what he came looking for after all. An opportunity to get a sort of payback for his wounded pride and millions stolen.

"If I lose, I'll leave you be. You won't hear from me again, and we can just say I came to meet you as a fan of your skills." Ellie didn't believe for one second that he would really leave her alone. He had come to her with a purpose, and he was definitely the entitled type of person that wouldn't stop until he had his way. Still, she listened carefully.

"But if I win, you have to help me." Ellie was all but ready to tell him to fuck off, and he seemed to notice that. So, he added, "I'll even tell you how I found you."

That was enough to send her spiraling. He somehow knew this was only way she'd be tempted to accept.

"Ellie, wait-" Jesse intervened when he saw her face and realized what she was about to do.

"Okay. Let's do it."

Roman smiled widely, it was the first time it looked genuine. Jesse grabbed Ellie by the arm and dragged her a couple steps away, out of Roman's reach.

"Are you crazy? What the fuck is going on? Who is this guy?" She didn't feel like explaining. She was already high on adrenaline. But mostly, this was the first time in a while she acknowledged how badly she wanted to welcome back her old life.

"A job I did with the crew back home. You remember the one with the Verratti cars? That's the guy we stole them from, the Silicon Valley prick who bought them."

"No fucking way." Jesse rubbed his eyes and sighed. It was too early in the night to already be neck-deep in so much shit. "We could just make a run for it." It wasn't a bad suggestion. In retrospect, they should have. But even Jesse knew, in the time he'd known Ellie, that once she made up her mind there was no convincing her otherwise.

"I don't know what he wants, or how he tracked me down. It doesn't make sense, unless..."

"What?"

"Someone sold me out." That was what got to her, the prospect of finding out who gave her identity and location up. "It had to be someone from the crew. Besides them and my dad, no one else knows about that job." She was both furious and incredibly relieved to at least have some news from the crew. Whoever it was, at least they were alive and, presumably, well.

"I do." Jesse asserted as if he wanted to be a part of the suspects' list.

"Yeah, but something tells me you're not best friends with this rich asshole." They both cracked up and the tiniest bit of tension dissipated.

"I can win this, don't worry." Ellie assured him, whatever happened, she would make sure to keep him out of harm's way.

"Pfft, of course you can. It's just a supercar with a W-16 turbocharged engine, 1'500 horsepower and it goes up to 260 MPH. Definitely nothing to worry about." He did that every time, enlist a car's specifications as if it meant anything other than it can run really fast. Ellie rolled her eyes. Toby and him would have definitely hit it off.

"I'm messing with you, you got this. I got you." He gave her a grin and an awkward pat in the shoulders.

They walked back to Roman, more confident, and asked, "You ready?"

"So exciting." He smirked again, nodded and applauded in manic fashion. He and Ellie got into their cars and started them. Both engines roaring and screaming as they pressed on the acceleration. They lined up besides each other. Jesse stepped between them.

"When I give you the sign, you can go. First driver to make it to the lamp post wins." He pointed to a post that was something of a quarter mile away.

"Let's see what you're made of, Elizabeth Wheeler." She didn't bother to reply, one way or another, it would end fast.

"Go!"

Time appeared to slow down. A lot -and nothing- can happen in a 10-second race. Despite running against the Revello hypercar, she took the lead. Ellie knew there was little in the world that could compare to the thrill of racing. Her heart hammering on her chest so loud and hard it might actually burst out, the sheer force of gravity pulling her to the driver's seat, the blood thumping and rushing to her brain, the way the world becomes blurry and all that's left are streaks of light passing her by. She liked all those things, but the thing she loved the most was the silence that followed once she passed the 165mph mark. The wind drowned everything else out, and for a few seconds, she truly felt alive.

Right before reaching the finishing line, she released the gas pedal ever so slightly. Barely, but just enough for Roman to catch up to her and pass her by at the last second. Ellie always wondered if she did it on purpose.

When it was over, he came out of his car triumphantly. He slammed his fists on the car's hood. Jesse's face said he knew what Ellie had done, he understood. She was still inside her Panther when Roman strutted to her door and leaned on the window's frame, invading her space.

"Looks like you're coming back to L.A. with us, Tourist. I have a job for you."

"Us?" she slowly turned to really look at him, perhaps for the first time.

"Oh, didn't I tell you? My mistake. You'll be working with an old friend of yours. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do." He nodded towards his car; the passenger's door opened and a pair of boots became visible. She had no idea there was someone else in the car with him.

"Mona." Ellie muttered to herself, if only to say it out loud and make sure she wasn't hallucinating.