Free Taking the Chequered Flag by Pam Harvey

corner.’
    ‘How does she do it?’ Gabby wondered aloud, fiddling with the zoom on her new silver video recorder. Teagan certainly was an incredible rider. The lime-green bike surged forward along the back straight. Teagan’s shoulders were hunched as she crouched low on the bike. She approached the next corner hard, hitting the brakes at the last minute. The back wheel swerved neatly, sliding up the small embankment of the hill. She stuck her left foot out briefly to maintain balance, then suddenly the bike was tearing away from the corner, wobbling slightly but then solid again as Teagan soared through the air at one of the jumps.
    ‘I guess it’s a race for second,’ Hannah said, turning her attention to a group of bikes that were only now entering the long straight before the curve that Teagan had just left. ‘She should race against the boys.’
    ‘Hey, shove over,’ Angus said, plonking himself half on Gabby’s knees. Gabby and Hannah moved left to allow Angus some space.
    ‘Isn’t she incredible?’ Gabby said to Angus as they watched Teagan speed past them along thefinishing straight. ‘She’s going to lap some of them.’ Angus didn’t say anything. ‘Hey, you in love or something?’ Gabby elbowed Angus gently in the ribs.
    ‘That’s not Teagan,’ he said finally.
    ‘Don’t be stupid, Angus, of course it’s Teagan.’ Hannah leaned forward and turned her attention to Angus. ‘What makes you think that?’ She had picked up something in Angus’ expression. Angus bent his head to the two girls next to him and spoke quietly.
    ‘I’ve just been with E.D. We saw Jack at the Proctors’ van and then Teagan came out to race. When me and E.D. split up, I went back and had a bit of a closer look at the van until this security guy told me to nick off.’
    ‘Security guy?’ Hannah’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why would there be a security guy around there?’
    ‘Well, that motorbike stuff is going to be pretty expensive,’ Gabby said.
    ‘Yeah, well, whatever. But I could hear shouting from inside the van. Teagan and her dad—screaming at each other.’
    ‘Well, that wouldn’t be the first time in history a daughter has shouted at her father.’
    ‘It would be if the same daughter was out riding a motorbike.’ For a few moments the threeof them watched the race. The green bike was now at least 30 metres in front and didn’t appear to be letting up.
    ‘You’re saying that Teagan is in the Proctor van and not on that lime-green bike?’ Gabby whispered.
    ‘That’s what I’m saying. I didn’t hear exactly what was said, although I heard her father say “keep your bloody voice down”.’
    ‘Well then whoever the girl is out there now is a damn good rider,’ Hannah said, leaning back in her seat.
    ‘Like I said—she should ride against the boys,’ said Gabby. ‘If I was that good a swimmer I’d race against boys.’
    ‘No, you wouldn’t, Gab,’ Hannah said.
    Gabby folded her arms and turned to Hannah. ‘No, actually you’re probably right,’ she said, grinning to herself. ‘They wouldn’t like me beating them.’
    Hannah opened a small packet of biscuits she had brought and chewed thoughtfully. She turned to Angus and passed the biscuits to him. ‘Angus, from what you and E.D. told us this morning about the things that have happened in the last few days, I reckon I can smell something rotten.’
    Angus went red. ‘Sorry. Couldn’t help it.’
    ‘No, not you!’ Hannah rolled her eyes. ‘I mean, you met those rough guys at Proctor’s then E.D. sees boxes being loaded in the dark from Proctor’s—by the same guys. And Tony is in some sort of trouble where someone is going to bury him. Now we have Teagan shouting at her father and someone riding in her place. It’s all very suspicious.’
    ‘You reckon?’ Gabby bent over her bag. ‘Found them!’ She sat up. In her hand were three drink cartons. She handed them out. ‘I think the worst thing is what was said to Tony. I