CHAPTER 5
The next race was held at Willow Junction Speedway. As the teams and drivers were getting ready, Jim walked over to Danny.
“Told you Cole would win last week, didn’t I?” Jim asked Danny.
Danny looked Jim right in the eyes. “Yes, you did,” he replied. “You were very certain.”
Jim laughed. “I sure was,” he said. “You might say I knew that Harvey wouldn’t be able to finish.”
“Did you know Harvey Nickel was going to stall and get into a crash?” Danny asked.
Jim smirked. “Now, how would I have known something like that?” he asked. “I mean, I can’t predict the future or something, can I?”
Danny was about to agree. But then Jim winked.
Then, with another sly smile, Jim turned and walked away.
* * *
“Eddie!” Danny cried out. He ran through the infield toward Lou Dyver’s garage. “Eddie, where are you?”
“Whoa, there, Danny,” Eddie said as he stepped out of the Dyver garage. “What’s all the hollering about?”
“Eddie,” Danny said as he caught his breath. “It’s Jim Yolk.”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “Danny, have you ever heard of the boy who cried wolf?” he asked.
“I’m not crying wolf,” Danny replied. “I’m crying Jim Yolk.”
“Okay, so what happened now?” Eddie asked. He crossed his arms.
“Jim just strolled right up to me and admitted he knew for sure that Cole would win last week,” Danny explained.
“Didn’t we go over this last weekend?” Eddie said.
“There’s more,” Danny said. “When I asked if Jim knew that Harvey would stall, Jim said, ‘How would I have known that?’ Then he winked!”
Eddie burst out laughing. “Winked?” he said through his laughter. “That’s your big evidence? A wink?”
“Don’t you see?” Danny protested. “The wink meant he did know, but it’s a secret.”
Eddie glanced at his watch. “Look, Danny,” he said. “The race is going to start soon. You better get back to your brother’s garage.”
“You don’t believe me,” Danny said.
Eddie patted Danny’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t watch those detective shows on TV,” he said. “They’re messing with your mind.” Then he turned and walked off.
Danny was disappointed. He was certain Jim had something to do with the crash, but even Eddie didn’t believe him. Feeling low, Danny headed back toward the Mason garage.
As he was leaving, he heard Lou Dyver talking to Harvey Nickel. Harvey wasn’t in his racing gear.
“So you’re not racing today, Harv?” Lou asked.
Harvey shook his head. “Nope,” he replied. “The team doctor wants me to sit this week out because of the accident. It’s nothing serious, but he says I should take a week off.”
“That’s too bad,” Lou said. “Any word on what caused that stall? Really left us both in the dust, huh?”
“Sure did,” Harvey replied. “It looks like there was some water in the fuel line.”
“That’ll do it,” Lou said. “How’d you get water in your fuel?”
Harvey shrugged. “You got me,” he said. “But for that amount of water to get into my fuel, something funny must have gone on.”
Danny had heard enough. Now he was certain someone had messed with Harvey’s car to make it stall.
And I bet a million dollars it was Jim Yolk, he thought.