CC Fiction: What If The Tables Were Turned?

Bill Dixon was a renowned professional driver and private investigator.  He had appeared in a few small movies as well as some TV shows as a stunt driver.  So when Steve King hired his friend to ferry him to some appointments in and around San Francisco, he did not expect Dixon would have to drive him to the hospital in his 2014 Chrysler 300C.  Still, when King’s car was violently T-boned by a big SUV, he had to call Dixon to come to the scene as he had multiple injuries.  The accident had seemed to be not quite an accident if you get my drift.  King had been around for many years in banking and investing, and had a few bucks behind him.  However, someone did not want this deal for a classic car to go down.

King had his eye on a classic Caddy for some time, and was aggressively pursuing a deal.  However, a former owner did not want to see the car change hands, as its unsavory past with mob involvement would come to light.  The cavernous trunk of the shiny ’66 Coupe de Ville had been used to carry more than golf clubs it would seem.

Dixon spotted a suspicious Mustang in the parking lot, and he parked next to it to get a good look at the suspects.  The guys had come to the hospital to see if King would make it or not, and to try to finish the job.  The Mustang was the GT model with a 5.0 litre engine packing some 420 horses and a 6 speed transmission.  Dixon knew this car belonged to Don Washburn, who was known to him as a nefarious individual.

The soon found they could not get near King in the Intensive Care Unit, so they headed out to plan their next move.  When Washburn’s Mustang pulled out, Dixon followed in his 300C.  He knew he would need all the 363 HP, 5.7 litre with the 5 speed transmission could muster today.  First Washburn drove up University Ave., then turned to go south on Bay St.  He wanted to ensure he would lose any tails.

Curiously, Dixon noticed that they passed the former site of Big City Chrysler, where he had once bought a used black 1968 Dodge Charger.  That baby had a 440 in it.  At the time, he was informed it had previously had some minor body damage from an incident in California.  That had buffed out nicely however.

Dixon recalled that Charger had been quite adept at some high performance maneuvers.  He had honed his driving skills in that car.

Dixon was well experienced in high speed pursuits, having inherited his Dad’s 1962 Polara.  He dropped a 413 big block engine into that car, giving it oodles of power.  Dixon had always been a Chrysler guy, he always said he got that from his Dad.  He got a few more years out of that Polara while he was in college.  As a former taxi, it already had loads of miles and rust on it from plying the downtown streets of the inner city.

Just then, Washburn made a run for it, having spotted Dixon’s black 300C.  He made a dash through some of the myriad downtown construction zones.  “It will be a nice city if they ever finish it,” they all said.  Dixon put the 300C through its paces, following the Mustang onto Lakeshore Drive.

Somehow the Mustang managed to do 120 km/h despite heavy afternoon traffic.  Dixon leaned hard on the Hemi to keep up.

The 5 litre moved the Mustang along to the I-10 just out of town.  Turning north, Washburn really stepped on it.  Dixon kept the 300C in sight of the pony car, as they ran a series of red lights at 140 km/h.

Dixon recalled having once owned a Mustang himself alongside his Mopar stablemates.  The 1966 was a sweet ride with its 289.  It was a summer driver only in the early 2000s that he had won on a radio call in show.  It was garaged in winters for protection from the ravages of wintertime salt covered roads.  He knew that Washburn had traded in his dark green Dodge Charger on the 2014 Mustang of which he was in hot pursuit.  He also knew that he was up against a car that handled quite nicely and cornered well in addition to its power.

The pursuit was nearing 60 minutes by this time.  Dixon knew he had to catch the Mustang soon to bring an end to the high speed chase.  Suddenly, the Mustang downshifted to third, and turned down a side road where he though he could lose the 300C.  The road was an unfortunate choice, it was the Snakes of the Credit River road.  Known for its sharp and hilly terrain, and tight curves, Dixon knew he would soon close the gap on Washburn.  Before he got close enough, the Mustang took a curve at 160 km/h, much, much too fast, and went careening into the woods beside the river, crashing headfirst into a tree.  Even the air bags could not save the passengers.

Dixon returned to the hospital and related the wild chase to King.  King thought about it, and replied, “Mustang you say, eh?  You know something…..” and gave a quizzical look just as he drifted off into his painkiller induced snooze.  It was as if he himself had perhaps been there, a long, long time ago….

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All characters are purely fictional.  Any appearance of similarity with any actual persons is entirely coincidental.  Names of places have been altered, for those familiar with the locations.