Wraith Cars: Part III
Marco was asleep in the hotel. Despite Antonio's distressing appearance, the night had gone very well and it looked to be a very promising expo for Luganotti Auto. Deep in a dream, Marco was awoken by his cell phone ringing.
He looked at the time; 4:03 AM.
Marco went to turn off his phone, but it was then he noticed where the incoming call was coming from. It was from Maggie Fazaralla. Something was up, Marco sat up and managed to hit the answer button just in time.
"Hello? Yes?" Marco said, still half stuck in his dream.
"We have a problem. Get dressed and get to the garage at the track." Maggie said in a very somber and monotone voice. Marco could tell there was something else there, but he was too tired to try to distinguish it.
"Does it really need my attention?" Marco asked, rubbing his head and hoping it was all just an overreaction.
"Antonio Augustino has committed suicide in the garage. There’s blood everywhere. We need to know how to proceed here." Maggie's words jolted Marco into an upright position. He moved quickly to get some clothes out of his suitcase.
"I’m on my way." Marco replied seriously. He hung up and got dressed as quick as he could. Taking one of the company cars, he got to the track within minutes.
Marco pulled up and found a few other supercars parked in waiting around the garage. Everyone always arrived in style, and Marco was just the same. It might have just become a habit of social appearance, but it was undeniable as he came to a stop and got out of the car.
A small congregation of the big minds stood in a circle near the entrance of the garage. Now the heads of Fazaralla, Luganotti, Bosconi, DeRigossi, and the newly merged Gunthrom-Voshagen were all face to face in the quiet darkness before dawn. Maggie brought Marco up to speed as he joined up with them all.
"When the guards went for a shift change, this one over here couldn't find the guard he was replacing. After a stroll they found the man, on the other side of the garage, dead from a nasty head wound. Our heroes then entered the building to find Antonio dead in the middle of the garage, his wrists cut." Maggie said all of this, and Marco responded only with nods as he took in all the information.
"Did the bastard damage any of the cars?" Marco asked, his heart now revving up as if a drag race was to begin. Maggie looked back into the garage then back at Marco.
"No, for some reason it seems he cut himself, then simply walked by all the cars. Perhaps a final tour of all he had lost, I don't know, I'm no poet. But he did nothing but bleed everywhere and then die." Maggie said as she took a drag of a newly lit cigarette.
Marco surveyed everything for a moment, and then a plan came to him.
"Take his body, and the guard too. Put it in one of the trailers and leave it locked and away from the expo. After today, we can work out the best way to deal with the bodies, but I'll be damned to let that cursed man ruin all we have built." Marco said, his voice beginning to raise in volume.
"He was acting a bit strange last night, did you see him at all?" Maggie asked.
"He came right up to me, talking in cryptic threats. He must have planned to do something like this, hoping he could ruin one last thing before he goes. I will not stand by and let him get that morbid satisfaction. Get his body out of here, and quick." Marco said. The others in the congregation nodded and murmured.
"What about all the blood?" Emilio Bosconi, the young new head of Bosconi Manufacturing asked. Marco thought on it for a moment.
"Take the rugs and carpeting we use for the winner's circle and post-race media scrums at the track. Create a nice covered alleyway, and keep all media on the outside, just to watch the cars leave for the parade. Tell them we had safety concerns about too many people being inside, and that should suffice." Marco said. Everyone came to agreement this was the best way to proceed. Most of the group split then to make the proper calls and arrangements, and some went to get a little more sleep before the big day.
A few hours later the sun finally rose over the track, and the garage had been readied for the events in the day. The first on the docket was a parade around the track. All the supercars brought in for the show would be on the track at once, doing several laps for fans and media alike. Television crews would be set up to record the amazing shots, and there would be fans scattered alongside the edges of the track.
The cars all began to leave the garage at 10 AM, just as planned. It was no issue keeping the media out of the garage, and as each car filed out into the road leading up to the track, the energy level began to rise. It became an electric atmosphere as drivers took the cars out and the parade started on its path to the racetrack.
By the time the cars all had hit the track the noise of each high powered engines became deafening. As was planned, each car had its chance to put some speed on the track, and to satisfy the fans.
After five successful laps, the cars left the track towards the winner's circle, where there was a display stage set up for all the vehicles. The drivers maneuvered the cars into position and then they each left the stage, waving to the crowd as they went.
There was a huge crowd of fans now and a large amount of media front and center, the flashes from the camera's beginning to bombard the stage.
Marco Luganotti walked out to a podium set up on the center of the stage. The crowd reacted with cheers, and Marco soaked it all up. He looked along the stage, all the top supercars his backdrop.
The Fazaralla Predatore, a sleek, low to the ground, absolute beast. Its curves mirrored the old wedge designs of the past but with a modern flair.
The Bosconi Squalo, an aerodynamic masterpiece. Boasting a large back fin, it had come close to setting records on a few tracks earlier in the year.
The DeRigossi Paradiso XV, luxury defined. The fastest luxury car to date, it was a supercar for the elite. More modern on the inside than on the outside, but it still was a fan favorite.
The Gunthram-Voshagen Koloss 3, a German marvel with the largest engine in a supercar, and the power to boot. Not a comfort car with its interior, but a true giant on the raceways.
And, of course, the was the Luganotti Tempesta. Its modern wedge design was finely crafted for speed and handling. To date, it was the best selling supercar, surpassing old records with ease.
There were several other cars from other well renowned makers, each one a piece of art. Marco smiled and felt great pride in how far he had come, to be at the top of this elite group.
He reached the podium, and started a simple speech.
"Today is a great day for European automotive history. Today, we have come together, united, to make a dream event become a reality. All of the top models from all of the top European manufacturers are here today, here on this stage right now. This is a celebration of hard work, history, and ingenuity. I hope that you all can..." Marco's speech had faded into the background of the sound of engines revving and idling. Marco turned and found all his senses questioning what was happening before him.
Every single car on stage had turned on. With no drivers, no keys, nothing. Marco looked back at the crowd, then back to the cars, hoping an answer would be there.
All Marco saw was the headlights of every single car transition from white to red. Marco suddenly felt as if he had found the eyes of the devil staring down upon him.
The cars began to rev louder, their bodies almost lurching forward, as if they were taunting a burst of speed to all around. Marco then caught glimpses of panic happening along the sides of the stage, and organizers were trying to frantically figure out what was going on.
A chill ran down Marco's spine as one name crossed his mind.
Antonio.
And on cue, just as Marco thought his name, every car on the stage began to move. Fast. Very fast.
The cameras continued to flash as carnage erupted at the expo.
STAY TUNED FOR THE FINALE ON MONDAY
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