Knight Rider 2000

Flash II

The Season Premiere

Written by

Scott Kirkessner

Based upon KNIGHT RIDER

Created by

Glen A. Larson

Original KNIGHT RIDER 2000 Concept by

Rob Hedden

New concept by

Scott Kirkessner

In the second season opener of the series, this episode resolves the cliffhanger originally left in Flash, last season’s finale. The Knight Foundation teams up with the FBI to continue the extensive manhunt for the serial killer, as well as begin a new manhunt for Shawn McCormick, the killer’s latest victim.

Rated R for strong violent content, strong profanity and suggestive dialogue.

Last time on Knight Rider 2000:

“What have the investigators found?” asked Sheriff Mason Kerber asked.

“Just the usual signs of a struggle, and something else.” Replied Deputy Jason Mackenzie walking back into the room.

“What?” Kerber asked.

“Written with a magic marker are the letters J-J-F, right on the carpet.” Mackenzie said, pointing.

“There’s something wet in there.” Kerber said, reaching down and touching it. He smelled the liquid on his fingers. “It’s gasoline.” He said.

“Hell of a calling card.” Mackenzie said.

=====

“Have we had a crime like this before?”

“No, not like this, but I do remember reading about it somewhere. It was in a crime report from 1989, a similar crime to it in Los Angeles. Some guy would kill people and leave the letters JFK by the bodies. Turns out the guy was a Kennedy freak.” Kerber explained.

“So this could be a copycat crime.” Mackenzie said.

“More than likely. I guess I should call the people who wrote the report.”

“And who wrote the report?” Mackenzie asked.

“A corporation called the Knight Foundation.”

=====

Maddock sat up. “I’m sorry, your name again?”

“Sheriff Mason Kerber, of the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department.” Kerber replied.

“All right,” Maddock said, when he finished writing down the name, “a copycat crime you said?”

“Yes. Although we don’t have a confirmed murder just yet. The intruder, left a calling card, much like the 1989 murder. The letters J-J-F were written in magic marker on the carpet, and were soaked with gasoline.”

“Wow, that sounds too much like a coincidence.” Maddock said. He leaned back in his chair. “Well, Sheriff, what I can do is fax you the report, see if you can get some clues from that. Also, keep in touch as well and let us… hello?”

“Sorry Mr. Maddock I was talking to my deputy. They just found a body.”

Maddock looked at his screen. “Let me guess… a body with all its clothes on, with its arms tied behind its back with electrical cord and legs crossed and tied together with industrial strength electrical tape. Broken jaw, broken neck, broken wrists.”

The other end of the phone was silent. Maddock could hear Kerber murmur ‘holy shit.’

“Mr. Maddock.”

“Yes?”

“We have a problem.”

=====

“Where was the body found, Sheriff?” Shawn asked.

“In one of Brown and Williamson’s tobacco crops.” Kerber replied. “B and W security found it when cameras found tire tracks inside the farm.” He said, walking out with everyone.

“Hold on,” Bonnie said, stopping them. She flipped through the 1989 case file she had with her. “Did you do a black light exam?” she asked the coroner.

“No, why?” the coroner asked.

“Just a hunch,” Bonnie said, walking back into the room, with the others following. “You do have a black light back here, right?”

The coroner nodded and produced one from a desk. He handed it to Bonnie.

“Shawn, get the lights, will you please?” Bonnie asked.

Shawn nodded and turned the lights out. “What are you getting at, Bonnie?”

“Something,” Bonnie said, uncovering the body and turning the black light on. Everyone looked at Lacie’s face, which had the letters JJF written on her right cheek. “Oh shit.” Bonnie said.

“The same initials from the room.” Kevin said.

“The same God damn style from the 1989 murder.” Bonnie said, looking at the letters.

=====

“Shawn, the FBI is calling.” KITT said.

“Put it through, KITT.” Shawn said.

“Hello, this Special Agent Natalie Markins from the FBI, to whom am I speaking with?”

“This is Agent Shawn McCormick of the Knight Foundation, thank you for contacting us.”

“I understand that you are investigating a murder in Salyersville?”

“That’s right. The murder is a complete mirror of a 1989 murder in Los Angeles which the Foundation investigated as well.” Shawn explained.

“Would you be able to fax both case reports over to my office?

“No problem at all.” Shawn said.

“Excuse me, Shawn, but I believe you should take a look at this.”

Shawn looked at the screen. “Agent Markins, I think you should listen to this…” she said, turning the volume up.

“Police in West Carrollton tonight are baffled as to the discovery of a body in a construction site. Ironically, the grizzly discovery follows another one in Salyersville, Kentucky, about 12 hours ago. Police representatives in both cities are keeping a closed-lid on the murders, only revealing that they are both similar in nature. We’ll keep you informed of this recent discovery as more news comes in…”

“Agent Markins?” Shawn asked.

“I’ll meet you at the crime scene tomorrow morning.”

=====

“Shawn, it’s Russell.”

“What’s going on?” Shawn asked.

“Shawn… Lima PD just called us, they got wind that we were handling this case.”

“Go on.” Shawn said.

“There’s been another one. A female, again, in her mid-twenties, same MO, same signs.”

“Shit.” Shawn said, pushing down the antenna and closing the cover. “We got another one!”

=====

“We have to think long and hard here. This guy has just killed three people in the past 48 hours,” Markins said, “is there anything we can figure out?”

“What was the clue of yours, KITT?” Kevin asked.

“The killer wears an exceptionally rare pair of hiking boots, which were discontinued in the 1990’s. Only a few pairs remain now.” KITT explained.

“Why so rare?” Bonnie asked.

“The company which produced them based their entire market around that type of boot, it was their first product. However, only a few people bought the shoes, and the company went bankrupt.” KITT said.

“Is there any chance-“ Bonnie started, only to be interrupted.

“That we can track down the records of those who bought these shoes?” Kevin said, finishing Bonnie’s statement.

“There should be no problem in doing that at all.” KITT said. “There is a fax coming through, it is from the coroner’s office.”

“I’m dealing with more coroners this week than I care to.” Shawn said, getting up, leaning into KITT’s window and grabbing the piece of paper. Knowing what it would say, she crunched it up and threw it onto the floor.

Markins got up and grabbed her jacket and put it on over her blouse. “I’m going back to my hotel for some rest. Call me if anything comes up.”

“You got it.” Shawn said, pressing the button that lowered the trailer door.

“So now what?” KITT asked

“What choice to we have but wait?” Shawn said. “There’s nothing we can do.”

=====

“Three weeks and no murder. What is the guy doing?”

“Getting some rest,” Kevin said, “he killed three women in 48 hours. I think that took a lot out of him.”

“Yeah well something doesn’t seem right.” Shawn said, looking at the homicide reports of the three women.

“No news is good news.” Kevin said, trying to crack a smile.

=====

Kevin looked at the map on the wall that had six pins sticking out of it. The killer’s last strike happened in Bay City, Michigan, and before that, Burton, Michigan. Kevin shook his head.

He walked over to KITT, who was shut down while Bonnie was working on his systems.

“How’s it going?” he asked Bonnie.

“Just fine,” Bonnie said, “hopefully this will increase his connection speed to the satellites.”

The phone started ringing. “This is Kevin Williams… uh-huh… okay… where?!”

“He’s turned!” Kevin yelled to Shawn over the phone.

“Turned, what do you mean he’s turned?!” Shawn said. She was in Markins car coming back from the Bay City crime scene.

“He’s just killed someone in Millston, Wisconsin.”

=====

Maddock sat down. “Shawn, I’m just letting you know, that if we don’t see any progress made in this case after we investigate this body, I’m handing it over to the FBI.”

Shawn sat there for a while. “And FLAG continues to assist?”

“No,” Maddock said, shaking his head, “FLAG is removed from the case altogether.”

=====

"We are in week four of the nationwide manhunt for the Initial Killer.  So far, this unidentified man has murdered eight women in the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Officials from the Knight Foundation and the FBI continue to have an official 'no comment' on the case.  Many speculate their silence to be attributed to the fact that both organizations have so far failed to catch the dangerous pattern killer."

Maddock turned off the TV before the reporter continued.  He lowered his tone and volume.  "Shawn, we are this far from losing all of our beneficiaries. This is a sour case and we have to ditch it."

"I can't accept that." Shawn said.

"Well you damn well better accept it!" Maddock yelled. "This is a direct order, the Knight Foundation is dropping this case."

=====

Kevin walked up the stairs and knocked on Shawn’s hotel room door. No one answered. “Hmm.” Kevin said to himself. He looked into the window and saw that the light was on, but the curtain was closed. He rang the buzzer again and waited.

Kevin’s impatience grew stronger and he knocked on the door. “Shawn?” He knocked on the door again, harder this time. “Shawn!” He looked around and didn’t see anyone in the area. “Shawn!” he yelled.

Kevin set down his backpack and backed up. He kicked the door in. He pushed the door open and cautiously walked inside. “Holy shit.” He said, looking at the mess in front of him. The furniture was over turned and out of place. It was the obvious signs of a struggle.

Kevin was in panic mode now. “Shawn!? Shawn!?” he yelled, ripping through the suite. He opened the door to the bedroom and his mouth dropped open when he looked inside.

“Oh my God…” he said, looking at the disorganized bedroom. In a spot on the floor which was purposely cleared out, he saw an all too familiar sign, written in the oil compound, doused in gasoline, were the letters: JJF.

And now the conclusion:

The telephone began to ring in the hotel room. It rang five times before the occupant opened up the bathroom door wearing a bathrobe and a towel slung over his shoulder walked over to the nightstand and picked the receiver up.

“Hello?”

“She’s gone!!!” a frantic voice yelled on the other end of the phone.

The man switched the phone to his other ear and turned on the light. “Who’s gone?” asked Russell Maddock.

“Shawn!!!”

“Kevin, slow down, what’s happened?”

April 26, 2001

2218 Hrs CDT

Location: Worthington, Minnesota

Several police cars were outside the hotel. Their functioning Visi-Bars illuminated the entire area with red and blue lights.

An Oldsmobile Aurora pulled up to the scene. The door opened and a female got out. She had an FBI badge hanging off of the lapel of her suit. A cop saw her coming and he raised the crime tape for her.

The woman walked through the lobby, various police officers acknowledged her presence and seniority.

A confused guest in the hotel somehow made it past the police barricade outside and walked up to her. “What is going on? When are we going to find out? Why have we all been evacuated?”

“Ma’am,” the agent said, “I am going upstairs to find out all of the answers, and everyone will be apprised of them soon.”

As much as politeness would allow, the agent pushed aside the guest and continued into the elevator.

The elevator opened and the female agent walked out. She walked down the hall, looking at police officers and forensics reporters hovering in front of a hotel room. Flash bulbs went off as pictures were taken of the crime scene.

A balding man in his 40’s walked up to her. It was the same man she met with the same evening, talking about the transfer of the Initial Killer case to the FBI.

“Hello Agent Markins.” Maddock said.

Natalie Markins shook his hand. She could tell he was apprehensive. “Evening, sir. What do we have here?”

“Sorry I couldn’t say much over the phone. At around nine-something, Kevin came up here to Shawn’s room and found this.”

“Is there a body?” Natalie asked.

“Nope.” Maddock said.

“No body?” Natalie asked, walking into the room. She looked around. “But the markings.”

“Yeah, this guy changed his MO again,” Maddock paused, “or he changed it for Shawn.”

“Eh?” Natalie uttered, turning around.

“Maybe this guy has been after Shawn the whole time.” Maddock said.

“As a former DA, you should know better than to take a jump like that,” Natalie said, “Detective, get together a team of investigators and search the area for Shawn McCormick.”

“Body?” asked the detective.

“Just search, okay?”

The detective nodded. “Yes Agent.”

Natalie walked over to the oil marking and looked down at it. JJF. She bent down, touched it, and found the wet gasoline around it. “Damn.”

Kevin was outside of the room, down the hall with Bonnie. Bonnie had a tear running down her face and Kevin looked like he was struggling to hold it in.

“We can’t assume she’s dead,” Bonnie said, “they haven’t found a body.”

“Yeah. How’s KITT taking this?” Kevin asked.

“Oh no, KITT.”

Bonnie and Kevin walked towards KITT who was sitting in the parking lot. Kevin stopped her. “Hey, how can we be sure he wont wig out on us like he did when he saw Benjamin Tenet’s body? I mean, this is going to be a serious trauma.”

Bonnie turned to Kevin. “Well I worked on his systems… the new programming should prevent another emotional outbreak.”

“Bonnie, he is more than just a car. He feels.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Bonnie asked. “Listen, junior, I know KITT inside and out.”

“Did you know he would react to see Benjamin being carved?” Kevin asked.

Bonnie stopped. “Tact like that will really help KITT. Let’s talk to him with some sympathy and compassion okay?”

Kevin nodded.

“KITT,” Bonnie said, slowly approaching the car, “KITT, do you know what’s happening?”

KITT sat silent. His red scanner light shined on the building across from him.

Kevin walked over to the driver’s side and opened the door. He got in and sat down. “KITT, we’re going to find her. Whatever it takes, we’ll find Shawn alive, and bring her back.”

“I wasn’t monitoring the room. I thought she was safe.” KITT said.

“That’s okay, KITT,” Bonnie said, “so did we. Do you have any video feeds of the area? Any chance we can see who this guy is?”

The central monitor came to life and a video feed of the hotel parking lot around KITT came on and flashed by. “My video surveillance shows no indication of anyone leaving the area with Shawn.”

“Except that.” Kevin said, pointing at the monitor.

“What?” Bonnie asked.

“KITT, go back point seven six.”

KITT complied and the video froze. “What are you looking at Kevin?”

“Zoom in on the upper right quadrant, enhance image.”

The image zoomed in; it was blurry and scrambled at first, but cleared.

“I’m looking at that.” Kevin said, pointing at a car. “It looks suspicious. KITT, cross reference this car with your other video images of the previous crime scenes.”

Images flashed by on the central monitor at light speed.

“You’re right, Kevin,” KITT said, “this car has been present at each of the crime scenes.”

“Yes!” Kevin said.

“KITT, zoom in on the license plate!” Bonnie said.

The image zoomed in and the license plate on the car showed up, clear as day.

“Shit, yes!” Kevin said.

Bonnie turned around and called back toward the hotel. “Agent Markins!”

2300 Hrs CDT

“You’re watching Siouxland’s News Channel, KTIV-4. Tonight, there has been a major break in the Initial Killer Case. The FBI has issued a new report, which will hopefully lead to a breakthrough in the case. This picture, taken at a recent crime scene in Worthington, Minnesota, reveals a late model black Chevrolet Caprice, license plate reading RFL-417. The FBI regards this car and its driver as an investigative lead.

“KTIV has been getting scattered and sketchy reports of another recent attack by the killer who started his spree in Kentucky over three weeks ago. A body was found in a swimming pool in Worthington earlier today, and the FBI is keeping a tight lid on the rumors of another attack almost ninety minutes ago…”

“I got our scumbag!” Kevin yelled out of KITT’s window as Maddock, Natalie and Bonnie walked over.

“Miles Jacobs, convicted on three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, once on sexual assault, rape, four times on aggravated assault, and two times on assault with a deadly weapon.” Kevin said.

“Damn.” Maddock said.

“And he lives in South Dakota, too.” Kevin added.

“Where in South Dakota?” Natalie asked.

“Uhh… Lemmon, South Dakota, to be exact.” Kevin answered.

“He’s been following I-40, which runs right through the state.” Bonnie said.

Kevin looked at the file on their suspect. “Jesus, look at this guy. His senior class in high school voted him the most likely to become a cashier at McDonald’s. He graduated with a 2.5 GPA, never went to college, and moved away from his parents when he was 29!”

“Sounds like a real fucking loser.” Maddock said.

“That’s probably why he is killing these women.” Natalie simply said. “This guy was taunted all of his life, most likely by girls who rejected him. He feels that he is getting revenge by going out and killing these girls.”

“And how about the markings he leaves behind?” Maddock asked.

“More than likely, he found that aspect of your old case intriguing and decided to leave initials of his own. Remember, he is somewhat mirroring your case.” Natalie said.

“Except for the fact that he turned.” Kevin said.

“Well think about it,” Natalie said, “what if the 1989 case ran out of interstate just like Miles did? He would have turned.”

“Like a computer program being systematic.” Bonnie said.

“Exactly.” Natalie said punching the air with her fist. “I think you should have a chat with your suspected killer from ’89.”

“Shawn is alive.” KITT said.

Kevin turned around. “How do you know for sure, KITT?”

“Her memory chip is still active.”

“Memory chip?” Natalie said.

“No shit, I forgot she even had it.” Kevin said.

“KITT, what can you do with that thing?” Maddock asked.

“Theoretically, if we can find the right carrier waves, we can actually tap into the chip, be able to see what Shawn sees and communicate with her in some way. Theoretically.”

“Theoretically my ass, KITT, get to work on that with Kevin and Bonnie! Agent Markins, you’re coming with me.” Maddock said.

“Where are we going?” Natalie said, grabbing her suit coat and car keys.

“We’re gonna talk to the other side of the looking glass.” Maddock said.

Natalie nodded. “What’s this guy’s name?”

“Roger Souza.” Maddock said as they walked to Natalie’s car and got in.

“What help do you think he will give us?” Natalie asked, starting the engine and driving down the road.

“I don’t know, hopefully enough so we can anticipate this guys next move.”

“Where is he at? Is he in jail?” Natalie asked.

Maddock flipped through the report. “Yes, he is. In a sense. He was declared legally insane and committed to Los Angeles County Mental Institution.”

“Oh God, I love talking to head cases.” Natalie said.

“Okay, KITT, first things first,” Bonnie said, “can you figure out where Shawn is by accessing the memory chip?”

“I’m working on that now, Bonnie.” KITT said.

Kevin looked at KITT’s three monitors. “Jesus, KITT, you have all these programs running at once, don’t exert yourself.”

“My systems are running at 90 percent efficiency.” KITT replied.

“Yeah, well that’s downgraded from your usual operating speeds,” Kevin said, “when you get down to 83, I’ll hook you up to another power source.”

“I will keep you alerted, Kevin. The memory chip has been retooled since I had it. The RNA Center must have installed a scrambler in it. Probably to prevent what we’re trying to do.” KITT said.

“So how did you know it was active?” Bonnie asked.

“Detecting activity is easy. Trying to trace the chip and tap into it, that’s difficult.”

“Anything you need me to do?” Bonnie asked.

“Yes, if you can plug your laptops into my system, we would be able to work on the same tasks simultaneously and hopefully have a better chance of success.” KITT said.

Kevin grabbed his laptop and Bonnie’s. The two of them plugged into KITT’s extra data ports.

The two computer whizzes began typing away on their keyboards at a high rate of speed.

Windows popped up and source code began to scroll as their fingers flew over the keyboards.

“Let’s see if this snowball stands a chance in hell.” Bonnie said.

April 27, 2001

0227 Hrs PDT

Los Angeles Internationl Airport (LAX)

Location: Los Angeles, California

The Knight Foundation’s private Learjet touched down at LAX. Maddock looked out the window and saw an unmarked sedan with a single red bubble light affixed to the roof, parked on the tarmac. The plane came to a stop and the engines died down. The pilot got up and opened the door. Natalie got out, followed by Maddock.

Walking over to the grey Chevrolet Impala, Maddock yawned, and was soon followed by Natalie. The two got inside the car and Natalie drove off of the tarmac.

Maddock pulled out a cell-phone and dialed a number. “Los Angeles County Mental Institution please…. Yes, this is Russell Maddock from the Knight Foundation…. Right, Knight Foundation…. K-N-I-G-H-T!…. You have a patient there by the name of Roger Souza…. Don’t give me that shit, I do know what time it is!”

Natalie laughed to herself.

“Roger Souza may be an investigative lead in the Initial Killer case, so if you like, I can put you in contact with the agent in charge of this case and you can deal with her and also deal with the FBI red-tape of standing in the way of a federal investigation…. Yes… Yes…. I knew you’d see it my way. We should be there within the next half-hour.” Maddock hung up the phone.

“I bet that was fun.” Natalie said.

“No shit.” Maddock said, rubbing his eyes.

“Dammit!” Kevin said.

“What happened?” KITT asked.

“I was so close, and then the chip’s programming booted me. Dammit!”

“Kevin… relax, it’s okay.” KITT said.

“How the hell can it be okay?”

“Because that has happened to me seventy times.” KITT said.

Kevin snickered. “You? Of all people?”

“Yes, me, Kevin. Shawn is just as important to me as she is to you. I am intent on finding her, no matter what.” KITT said.

“You’ve never loved her.” Kevin said.

“Yes, I have.” KITT said.

“What?”

“Shawn and I share more than just spare parts… I don’t know how to explain it. She and I just have a mutual understanding of each other. We can tell what each other is thinking, and why we’re thinking it.” KITT said. “I love Shawn as I would love a sibling if I had one. I think of her as a sister to me. Not necessarily older, or younger, but just… just a twin. And I feel that I failed in my programming in looking out for her.”

“I remember the first day I met Shawn…” Kevin began.

***

It was April first. I remember, it was April Fools Day. The guys at the lab reversed everything I had in storage and switched my Palm Pilot with another one which had those indecent images from Alchemy’s website.

I was working under you on your exhaust systems when I heard someone walking up and getting in. I knew that no one was authorized with me to take you out, so I got out, and of course, I was pissed off.

“Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” I screamed.

So this woman with stunning blonde hair got out and turned around. The first thing I noticed was her eyes. They were stunning, very starry, and… just, I don’t know.

“I’m taking the car out, Dad, I’ll have it back before curfew.” She said, with a smirk.

“Mind telling me who you are? Or who you even think you are?” I asked.

She walked up to me, and I was amazed that she wasn’t mad or anything. She opened up her wallet and flashed her ID. “Agent Shawn McCormick, Foundation for Law and Government.”

I looked at her ID and realized I just screwed myself with the next Michael Knight that FLAG had just hired on.

She extended her hand and I shook it. I was speechless and had no idea what to say. Since the new project was just getting started, Knight Industries was just tasked to working on you, and we didn’t work with FLAG. I heard that FLAG had hired a female driver, but I figured she would be some arrogant ball-buster. Little did I know that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

“I’m sorry about the outburst,” I said, “I thought it was another April Fools joke.”

“Oh it is April Fools isn’t it…uh?”

“Oh, Kevin. Kevin Williams.” I said, introducing myself. “And yes, my colleagues in the lab reminded me the importance of today.”

“Well Kevin, don’t let it bug ya. Besides, the day is young, so you should come up with something to do to them.”

I smiled. “You’re right.”

Shawn smiled back at me, got inside, closed the door, and drove off.

***

“I liked Shawn ever since I saw her for the first time at FLAG. As we worked together in close situations, I realized that I had fallen for her…”

As Kevin continued, Bonnie rounded the corner and started up the ramp, but then stopped and walked back out of sight and listened.

“…and when she went after her father in Billings… I realized that it wasn’t just my hormones talking, it was real. Remember when we kissed in the warehouse?”

“How could I forget? The two of you were right inside the cockpit.” KITT said.

“Something about that kiss just felt right. When that psycho took her, it felt like a piece of my heart was taken with her. When we found her, I knew right then and there…”

“What happened between the two of you?” KITT asked. “I remember you talked to me about liking Shawn before that mission.”

Kevin looked up at the ceiling of the semi. His eyes started to get glassy. “It just didn’t work out.”

“Kevin, you will be able to talk to me, and everything can be kept confidential.” KITT assured.

Kevin shook his head. “No, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Are you sure, Kevin? I know that talking things out can help a situation.”

Kevin nodded. “Yeah, I’m positive, KITT, let’s get back to work.”

Bonnie walked into the semi, pretending she had just got there. “Hey, how’s it going?” she asked, sitting down.

Kevin was startled and looked up. “Oh, nothing much. Still trying to work on the tracking.”

Bonnie nodded and handed Kevin his orange soda.

Kevin opened the top and took a swig. “We did get close at one point, but the scrambler kicked us out again.”

Bonnie nodded and ate a mini-pretzel. “Maybe we need another way of looking at it.”

“Kevin’s our local hacker.” KITT said. “What would you do?”

Kevin rubbed his eyes and tapped his head. He looked up and his eyes widened. “I got it. Let’s think there, what if that chip malfunctioned and Shawn had to go in and get it repaired?”

“The RNA Transfer Center would have to have a special code for maintenance and repairs, right?” Bonnie asked.

“Right, so that leaves us a special entrance, a place where we haven’t been looking.” Kevin said.

“You mean a maintenance back door!” KITT exclaimed.

“Correctamundo!” Kevin said.

“Okay,” Bonnie said, a little confused, “we know where to look, so how do we get there?”

“Oh that’s easy,” Kevin said, “we use a high frequency signal.”

Bonnie turned back to her laptop. “Okay, what do we do?”

Kevin leaned over. “I’ll show you. What we have to do is send this high frequency signal along the same transmission frequency we were using to communicate with the chip in the first place.” Kevin said, as his fingers flew over the keyboard.

“Okay, I think I see what you’re getting at.” Bonnie said.

“You do? Good. Now that first burst signal should open up the maintenance door what we wanna go through, and then after that, we should be able to access anything we want.”

Bonnie grinned at Kevin. “The boy genius prevails!”

The two of them returned to their keyboards and began work on the new process.

0300 Hrs PDT

Roger Souza rubbed his eyes and looked at the two suits in the room. “It’s three am in the morning, don’t you people have anything better to do?”

“Trust me, I know what time it is,” Maddock said, “we probably have the worst case of jetlag ever. But I don’t care, because the life of an agent is at stake.”

Roger smiled. “You guys are from the case in the Midwest.”

Natalie nodded. “Right, I’m Senior Agent in Charge Natalie Markins, and this is Russell Maddock from the Knight Foundation.”

Roger smiled again. “The penny drops, that’s why I’ve been summoned from the luxury of sleep.”

“That’s right,” Maddock said, leaning closer to Roger, “so I expect you to cooperate, and maybe we can get you back to your siesta, and also shave a few years off of your commitment.”

“I’ve been watching the networks. They’re playing upon this like it was an elementary school field day. Not to mention that this is happening during sweeps.”

“What can you tell us that will help us?” Natalie asked.

Roger looked at the two of them for a minute. “He has her, doesn’t he?”

“Who?” Maddock asked.

“That pretty agent who drives that flashy car.” Roger said.

Maddock looked at Natalie, who gave him a sign to go ahead. “Yes, he has her.”

“And you know who he is.” Roger said.

“Yes, we do.” Maddock said.

“And of course, you want my help.”

“Of course.” Natalie said.

“Well I don’t know how I could help you.” Roger said.

Maddock slammed the table. “Well you better figure something out. Do you have any idea what time it is?!”

“No shit!” Roger yelled. “What the hell am I supposed to tell you? Your flyboys from 89 caught me before I could even start a spree!”

“Life’s a bitch.” Maddock said. “Give me your motive.”

“Oh Mr. Maddock, it’s right in front of you. I mean, it’s so easy, you could see without seeing, darkness would be as light as day.”

“A bat.” Maddock said.

Roger smiled. “You got it.”

“You killed for the sake of sending people on a wild goose chase of a riddle? To figure out the JFK.”

“You know, it was so easy, I should have challenged myself and used the JJF like your man.” Roger said.

“Do you know what that means?”

“I do know that his motive is more complex. Those initials are also clues to the case.” Roger said.

“What about the initials?” Natalie asked.

“You know if any of your investigators smoke?”

“I’m not certain.” Natalie answered.

“Because if they did, that, gas, gas, gas can go up in a flash.” Roger said, grinning from ear to ear.

Maddock rolled his eyes. “Let’s get out of here.” He said, taking a notepad out of his coat.

“I do hope I helped you.” Roger said.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Maddock said, writing something down on the notepad. He turned to Natalie. “Do you know what time it is?”

“About 3:20.” Natalie said, yawning.

“Thanks for your time, Rodge.” Maddock said, opening the door for Natalie and walking out.

0345 Hrs PDT

“We must be missing something here.” Maddock said, drinking out of a water bottle, looking across the airplane aisle at Natalie.

“What?” Natalie asked.

“This killer’s motive. It’s too simplistic, we have to be over looking something.”

“I get the same feeling.” Natalie said.

“Well you are the criminologist.”

“I know, that’s what is bothering me,” Natalie said, “most of the time I am able to crack these head cases wide open, find a motive, predict the next hit, ding, dang, dong, we make a bust and haul the guys ass in.”

“And now?” Maddock asked.

“Now we’re screwed. I have no idea what to do.”

“I wouldn’t put it like that.” Maddock said.

The small jet shook as they entered some turbulence. A bag fell off of the seat in front of Natalie and hit Maddock’s seat. The sudden jolt activated the owner’s Discman.

Maddock bent over and took the Discman out and looked at it, trying to figure out a way to turn it off. He looked at it as the music played.

Natalie’s eyes went wide. “Don’t turn it off!”

“Huh?” Maddock asked.

Natalie picked up the earpieces and stuck one in her ear and handed one to Maddock who put it in his. They both listened to the song playing:

I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a strap right across my back,
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right, I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash,
It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas!

Maddock looked over at her, confused. “It’s the Rolling Stones, Jumping Jack Flash.”

“Listen.” Natalie said.

I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead.
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled.
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I was crowned with a spike right thru my head.
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right, I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash,
It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas!

“Holy shit!” Maddock said.

“Roger was telling us the answer the whole time!”

“J, J, F. Jumping Jack Flash.”

“And the circle of gas, with three dots of it inside.” Natalie said, with her mouth open.

“I’ll be God damned, it was right under our faces.”

“Agent Markins.” The pilot called back.

“Yeah?” Natalie answered.

“The Knight Foundation is calling.”

“Thank you.” Natalie said, picking up the phone. “This is Agent Markins… yes… okay… where?… Murdo, South Dakota. How far is that from Lemmon?… okay. Any luck with Shawn?”

“None yet,” Kevin said on the speakerphone, “but a new tactic is getting us close. How’s your luck going?”

“We’ve cracked the killer’s code. The initials stand for Jumping Jack Flash, the Rolling Stones song.” Natalie replied.

“Rolling Stones?” Bonnie asked.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Natalie said.

Bonnie typed on the computer. “Whoa, check this out. All of the bodies that were found were either on or near some kind of stone gathering. Be it a quarry or just a field of stones.”

“I figured as much,” Natalie said, “this guy has been playing us for a bunch of fools. We’re gonna check out the murder in South Dakota. Keep in touch.”

“Aren’t we going to make a move in Lemmon? Shawn might be there.” Kevin said.

“Too risky,” Natalie said, “not to mention that it might be a blind spot. We can’t be certain that she is there, or if he has a trap waiting for us. Once you get a fix on Shawn, then we’ll make a move. Good luck.”

“You got it.” Kevin said, hanging up the phone. He turned over to Bonnie, who was sitting at her laptop. “Okay, here we go again.”

“Fifteenth time is a charm.” KITT said.

“Ready?” Bonnie asked.

“Yes,” Kevin said, “you?”

Bonnie nodded. “Ready to go KITT?”

“I always am.” KITT replied.

“All right, let’s go.” Kevin said. “KITT, start your decryption sequence.”

“Decryption sequence KI-2943X started.” KITT said.

Kevin typed quickly on his computer. “Bonnie, get ready to knock on the door.”

Bonnie typed on her computer and nodded to acknowledge Kevin. “Ready.”

Kevin typed more on the laptop. “Computing new high frequency signal…. It’s charging.”

“I’m knocking.”

“The signal is sending.” Kevin said.

“The decryption sequence is working.” KITT said.

“Come on, someone’s at the door. Someone’s at the door.” Kevin said.

“Still knocking.” Bonnie said.

Kevin looked at the status on his monitor. “Come on, dammit! Come on!”

“Kevin!” Bonnie said.

“What?”

“Someone’s answering!” Bonnie said with a grin on her face.

“Yes!” Kevin screamed. “KITT?”

“There’s a definite pattern here! Kevin, I think we have it!” KITT answered.

“All right!” Kevin said, looking at Bonnie’s monitor. He walked over and looked back at his. “Oh yes!”

Bonnie laughed. “We got it!”

“Kevin!” KITT yelled. “Kevin, I have the sequence! We’ve got it, we’re in!”

“Yeah!” Kevin yelled.

The two humans began yelling and screaming in victory.

“Whoohoo!” Kevin said. “Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, let’s focus here. KITT, what do we have?”

“Everything we could ever want.” KITT said. “What would you like me to do?”

“Track the chip!” Bonnie and Kevin both said in unison.

1037 Hrs MDT

Location: Murdo, South Dakota

Maddock yawned and looked at his watch. He had been running without sleep for over 30 hours. He rubbed his eyes again and looked around at the crime scene.

“Well we got the rocks.” Natalie said, kicking a few stones.

“And those dumb ass initials.” Maddock added.

“Agent Markins,” an officer said, walking up to her, “we do have several witness accounts of seeing a black Chevrolet Caprice in the area. The same license number and everything.”

“Thank you, officer.” Natalie said. She turned to Maddock. “All right, we have a confirmed murder by the same jack ass. Let’s get to these media idiots and have them work for us for a change.”

Maddock nodded.

“This is a special report from KOTA Territory News. The FBI has announced their prime suspect in the serial killer case, which has been plaguing the mid-west for weeks. We’re going live to a press conference being held with agents from the FBI and Foundation for Law and Government.”

“The official position with the Knight Foundation along with the FBI is that the search for our prime suspect is over.” Natalie said, only to be interrupted by a barrage of questions from eager reporters.

Natalie raised her hands up to quiet them down. “Our suspect is Miles Jacobs. Eye witness accounts have identified his car, a black Chevrolet Caprice like this one pictured, at all of the crime scenes. The license plate on this car is a South Dakota plate reading RFL-417 and we believe that it is still in South Dakota. Miles Jacobs is considered extremely armed and dangerous and no one should approach him if spotted. If you do spot him, call the police department or the FBI Field Office.” Natalie nodded and ignored the reporter’s questions as she walked out of the room.

1319 Hrs CDT

“Whoa, Bonnie, stop!” Kevin yelled

Bonnie jumped nervously as Kevin yelled. She took her hands away from her laptop and raised them up. “What? What is it?”

“I think we got it!” Kevin exclaimed. “KITT, triple check our work.”

“Stand by.” KITT said.

There was an eerie silence as KITT checked over their work.

“It’s confirmed!” KITT said. “I have Shawn! She’s in Lemmon, South Dakota!”

“Yes!” Kevin yelled.

Bonnie joined in the second victory celebration when Maddock and Natalie walked up the ramp and into the semi truck.

“What’s going on?” Maddock asked.

“We got her, we found Shawn!” Bonnie said.

“Great job, where?” Natalie said, yawning, which instigated a massive shared yawn among the four humans.

“Exactly where we thought she was, in Lemmon, South Dakota.” Kevin said.

“All right, what are we waiting for, let’s get going.” Maddock said.

“Hold on for a second,” Natalie said, “something is just way too easy here. We have to think things over. I don’t think that this guy would let us into his house without some kind of trap.”

“Excuse me, but there is a report coming through.” KITT said. “A black Chevrolet Caprice with the same license plate has just run a police block on I-90 in Wall, South Dakota. He is heading east.”

“Back towards the crime scene.” Bonnie said.

Maddock punched the air with his fist. “Good! Let’s go!”

“Where are we going?” Natalie said, walking down the ramp and to her car.

Maddock opened up the driver’s side door. “We’re gonna go head to head.” He got inside and started KITT’s engine. Kevin and Bonnie grabbed their laptops and got inside KITT.

KITT backed out of the semi, and spun his tires as he sped out of the hotel’s parking lot and towards the highway.

Natalie put the single red bubble light on the top of her car and quickly sped after KITT who was already a mile ahead of her.

1645 Hrs CDT

“Any reports on the police frequency, KITT?” Maddock asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

“The police lost track of him after he ran that first road block.” KITT reported.

“How about Shawn?” Maddock asked.

Kevin, who was in the backseat, opened his laptop and checked. “She hasn’t moved since we first locked on to her. She is alive though, the memory chip is reading steady vitals.”

“Mr. Maddock,” KITT said, “a toll booth operator has called the police department and reported a black Caprice is currently in line.”

“Where is this toll booth?” Maddock asked.

“Five miles up the road. There are police units there checking every car, and there is about a 30 minute backup.” KITT reported.

Maddock pulled over on the side of the road and Natalie pulled up behind them. He got outside, yawned and checked his watch. He lost track of the last time he slept.

Natalie got out and walked up to him.

“I want you to call backup agents from the South Dakota field office. Have them meet us here and we’ll proceed soon.”

Natalie nodded and went back to her car to retrieve her cell-phone.

“What the shit?!” Kevin yelled.

“What is it?” Maddock asked poking his head into KITT.

“Shawn’s vitals have just dropped!” Kevin said.

1707 Hrs CDT

It wasn’t long before four other police units, a white Oldsmobile Aurora and a black Crown Victoria joined up with KITT and Natalie on the side of the road.

“Agent Markins, are we ready?” Maddock asked.

“Yeah, we’re ready.” Natalie said.

“Let’s go!” Maddock yelled, getting back inside of KITT and flooring it down the highway.

Miles turned up the air conditioner in his car. He had been sitting at this blasted toll booth for over twenty minutes. He heard sirens and looked around. He thought it was the song on the radio, but he looked up and was shocked to see four police cars speed up and block both sides of the highway in front of the toll booth.

More sirens were heard and he looked behind him. A fire engine red car with a red light in front, three unmarked cars, and four other police cars screeched to a halt and blocked the toll booth from behind.

“Oh shit.”

Maddock, Kevin, and Bonnie got out of KITT and walked over to a police car where everyone was gathering.

“Chances are that he already sees us,” Natalie said, “and is figuring out a way to escape.”

Everyone looked up as they heard screeching tires and the sound of clashing metal.

The black Caprice slammed into another car in front of it and sped out of the toll booth, smashing into a police car before speeding down the highway.

“He’s fleeing the scene!” Natalie said, running back towards her car. She slowed down, noticing KITT was closer. She looked at Maddock, Kevin and Bonnie who were running towards KITT behind her. She ran over to KITT’s driver’s side and got in.

“Natalie!” Maddock yelled.

She floored it after Miles, leaving Maddock, Kevin, and Bonnie along with other FBI agents on the highway.

“Any way we can get around that toll stop?” Natalie asked.

“Hang on!” KITT said.

“Why?” Natalie asked, but she soon found out when KITT launched up on two wheels and slid through a narrow space past the lines of cars.

“She took the car, I can’t believe she took the car!” Maddock said, getting behind the wheel of Natalie’s grey Crown Victoria. “Let’s go!” he yelled.

The tires spun as he pulled out.

“Uh, Russ, in case you are forgetting, this car doesn’t have ski-mode.” Bonnie said.

“Or turbo boost.” Kevin added.

“Oh shit.” Maddock said. “Uhh, hold on!” Maddock leaned on the horn and floored it. The attendant in one of the toll booths waved his hands at Maddock and then ducked out of the way.

The Crown Victoria smashed through the toll booth sending wood, glass, and anything that was left inside, flying everywhere.

The other two FBI cars saw the opening and sped through, followed by five local police cars. The high-speed chase was on!

“What’s the story?” Natalie asked KITT.

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think I mean?! Can we catch this asshole or what?”

“It’s a great possibility.” KITT replied.

“A great possibility?! What kind of dumb shit analysis is that?!”

“Mine.” KITT replied.

Natalie rolled her eyes. “How do you work all of these damn gadgets?”

“Don’t touch anything and you’ll be fine.” KITT said.

“That makes me confident.” She said, sarcastically.

She looked ahead of them as she saw Miles plowing through cars and running cars off the road.

“This pursuit is becoming much too dangerous, I am disengaging.” KITT said, switching control to automatic.

“Bullshit!” Natalie yelled as she slammed on the gas pedal. She looked around and saw three buttons on the center forward roof console marked: Auto, Normal, and Pursuit. Auto was illuminated. She pressed manual and found that control was hers again.

KITT switched control back to automatic.

“God dammit KITT, we’re losing him!”

“This chase is going through a congested area of the highway, it will endanger human lives if we pursue.” KITT protested.

“Yeah well this psycho is endangering human lives by himself up there! Isn’t it in your programming to protect it?!” Natalie said.

She could hear the engine gunning up and saw that they were catching up to Miles. She looked at the central monitor: Passive Laser Restraint System Activated.

“Hold on Agent Markins, we’re going for a ride.” KITT said.

Natalie’s eyes got wider as she saw the lines on the road becoming blurry and felt her body being pressed into the seat as KITT accelerated past 170 mph.

“Can we clear that traffic?” Natalie asked.

“I don’t know,” KITT said, “but I am sure Kevin does. I’ve established a communication link.”

“Kevin, we got a big traffic jam ahead that Miles caused, any way me and KITT can clear it?”

“Yeah, use the Extended Turbo Boost.” Kevin replied.

“Kevin, are you sure that works? It hasn’t been tested yet.” KITT said.

“Yeah, well now is a good time.” Natalie said. She looked around and found the right button and pressed it.

A loud boom erupted as KITT launched into the air and sailed over the massive traffic jam. Natalie was amazed to be airborne.

“Hang on, this is going to be a hard landing.” KITT said.

Natalie’s fingers wrapped themselves around the wheel and she closed her eyes.

KITT slammed down onto the ground. The force of the landing caused the car to bottom out on the road.

“Whoa!” Natalie yelled as she floored it after Miles.

“His car is only a few seconds ahead,” KITT said, “we should reach it in no time.”

“I’m open to any ideas on how to stop him.” Natalie said.

“The variables are endless, we could win using anything we want.” KITT said.

“Do you have guns that you can blow out his tires with?” Natalie asked.

“I have .40 caliber machine guns mounted, but the Thermal Expander is usually used to disable tires.” KITT explained.

“Thermal Expander? Sounds like a new exercise fad.” Natalie said.

“Watch and learn.” KITT said. “Switching over to Virtual Reality mode.”

Natalie looked out KITT’s windshield as it turned into a massive Virtual Reality representation of the road in front of them. Four triangles appeared on the screen and each triangle traced its way to a tire on the Caprice.

The tires exploded and immediately went flat, but that didn’t stop Miles. He kept up the car’s speed. The tires began to shred and fall apart and they flew off the car, leaving Miles to drive on the rims.

“What now, KITT?” Natalie asked.

“I could MicroJam his engine.” KITT said.

“Why do all of your features sound like new exercise moves?” Natalie asked.

“Very funny,” KITT said, “but I don’t think you can see Richard Simmons do this!”

The Caprice on the screen turned red and at the bottom left corner the words: MicroJam Activated appeared.

The Caprice stopped on a dime when all of its power was disabled.

“Hey can you lock him inside?” Natalie asked.

“Yes I can.” KITT said.

The other FBI cars quickly arrived and the agents got out and aimed their guns at the Caprice.

Natalie got out and used KITT’s driver’s side door as a shield. She looked ahead and saw Miles struggling to get out. She saw two brief flashes and saw the driver’s side glass explode.

Miles climbed out of the window and began running, but tripped over his own untied shoelaces.

The gun went flying out of his hand and slid down the road. Miles looked up and heard everyone screaming at him.

“Don’t move, Jacobs!” Natalie said, with her gun trained on him.

“Natalie, get back inside, there is a bomb in the car! KITT yelled.

Natalie got back inside KITT and backed up to the other agents who set up a barricade with their cars. The other agents ducked down as the car exploded into flames.

Pieces of debris flew everywhere and a piece of flaming metal hit one unlucky agent in the shoulder. He dropped his gun and grabbed his shoulder in pain.

Kevin walked over and picked the gun up.

Natalie got out and ran back with the other agents.

Miles got up and ran towards the spot where he dropped the gun. He looked down.

“Don’t do it Jacobs, you’ll be dead before you hit the ground!” Natalie yelled.

“Put your hands on your head!” Kevin yelled.

Miles looked at the gun again but looked up at the agents. He complied, and put his hands on his head, but smiled. He took his hands off of his head and left them suspended in the air, and began to dance on the street. “But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right.  I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas!” Miles kept repeating as he danced on the street.

“What the hell is he doing?” Natalie asked Kevin.

Kevin tightened his aim with the gun. “Damned if I know.”

“I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas! I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas! I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas! I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, It's a gas!  Gas!  Gas!” Miles kept dancing and glanced down. He looked up, still repeating the song. Quickly, he dropped down, grabbed the gun, and spun around on his heels.

Kevin, Natalie, and the other agents responded with hails of gunfire, blasting into Miles, who never had a single chance to get a shot off. Bullets ripped through his body, showing no mercy for any organs inside. The six agents, plus Kevin, each emptied a clip into Miles.

They looked at the mangled body and the red street. Blood slowly trickled down the downward slope of the road.

“Someone check him out!” Natalie yelled.

An agent carrying an M-16 carefully walked over to the body with his gun aimed. The agent looked down at something poking out of Miles’ pocket.

“Agent Markins, we have another detonator!” the armed agent yelled.

“I knew it! This guy was waiting for us to go to his house.” Natalie said.

“Your hunch was right. It sounds familiar.”

“It’s from Speed.” Natalie said, standing up and straightening her blouse. “This is a sick bastard. KITT, scan the detonator and see if I’m right.”

Bonnie looked at KITT’s monitor as the schematics of the detonator appeared. “You’re right,” Bonnie said, “the detonator is wired to alert when someone enters the house from the outside. If we infiltrated, we would have lost Shawn and the team.”

Maddock walked over to Natalie. “Call in your bomb squad and the Secret Service. Let’s finish this operation.”

1815 Hrs CDT

A black Crown Victoria sped around the corner in the quiet neighborhood. It drove up to a house and screeched to a halt, joined by a white Oldsmobile Aurora, a dark blue Suburban, a grey Crown Victoria, and KITT.

Natalie got out of KITT’s driver side, drew her gun, and ducked behind the door. Other agents took their places around the house and the street. One agent signaled to Natalie.

“I am reading one female inside… it’s Shawn. The house is wired for explosion, but the receiver is inactive.” KITT said.

“Scan for a backup.” Bonnie said.

“No backup is detected.” KITT replied. “Wait a minute. There is a power source active. It looks like it’s sound sensitive.”

“Shit,” Natalie said, “he’s got a sound trigger wired to the house. Kevin, do what you can to disarm that trigger.”

Natalie got up and quickly ran to the front door. She turned to the armed agents on either side of her and gave a series of hand signals. The agents nodded in reply and passed the signals around to the other agents.

Natalie raised her gun and opened the door with her left hand. She let it swing open and she entered the house aiming her gun forward with her back against the door.

Another agent swung into the door and aimed behind Natalie. The agents quietly entered the house and looked around, scanning each room with their guns aimed.

“How’s it going?” Kevin asked KITT, looking at the diagrams on KITT’s monitors.

“Slowly but surely, Kevin. Of course, when this whole deal is over, I think I am going to enroll myself in a stress reduction class.” KITT replied.

“You and me both.” Kevin said.

“And me too.” Bonnie spoke up from outside.

“I’ll provide transportation.” KITT said.

“I’ll bring the cookies.” Kevin said.

“And I’ll bring the punch.” Bonnie replied.

A series of beeps emitted from the monitor. “The sound trigger has been disabled.” KITT said, proudly.

“The sound trigger has been disabled, Agent Markins, the house is secure.” Kevin said.

Natalie heard the message over her wristwatch comm-link and smiled. She was inside the master bedroom and circled around, looking for anything. She noticed a small corner of carpet pulled up. She signaled another agent who responded.

“Check this out.” She said, pointing with her gun.

“That’s not normal.” The agent said, bending over and prying the carpet up. It revealed what they were expecting.

“Hey, we just found a secret basement.” Natalie said.

“Proceed with extreme caution, I can’t scan what is down there.” KITT said grimly.

“Let’s do it.” Natalie said.

The other agent turned the handle and pulled. The metal door came up and detached from its housing. Natalie flashed her light down the hole, and scanned the room with her gun from above. She looked up and nodded at the agent.

He nodded in reply and slowly made his way down the ladder. He quickly turned on his heel to see what was to his back. He signaled to Natalie that it was all clear.

Natalie made her way down the ladder. She whispered to the agent next to her. “I don’t want to find any butterflies down here.”

“Weren’t they moths?” the other agent asked.

“Damned if I know. Just don’t get dead, okay?”

The two agents looked around the room and were soon joined by three other agents. They split up and walked around the secret room.

Natalie came upon a door and found it to be locked. She took a small kit out of her coat and took out two tools. It took her no time to pick the lock. She turned the handle and opened the door. Remembering her training, she checked the back left corner first and scanned the rest of the room. And that’s where she found her.

Shawn was lying on the top bed of a bunk bed. Her eyes were closed and by her breathing movements, she was obviously alive, but unresponsive.

“Shawn?” Natalie asked, walking over. She gently shook Shawn, but she didn’t wake up.

Natalie holstered her gun and checked Shawn’s vitals. She raised her comm-link to her mouth. “All agents, attention all agents, we have Hail Mary, repeat, we have Hail Mary.”

“Yes!” Kevin yelled. “Great job, KITT, you did great!”

“Thank you Kevin,” KITT replied, “and I do hope Shawn is okay.”

“Me too, KITT. Me too.”

Their victory was silenced when they heard gunshots.

Natalie hit the ground in the room as the shots rang out. “What the hell was that?” She asked herself as she grabbed her gun and carefully walked in the direction of the gunshots.

She made her way through the basement, checking every open room as she walked by.

“Get him, Markins!” an agent yelled.

To her far left, she saw a man running with a gun. The man aimed the gun at her. Natalie dropped to the ground and fired three times. Each bullet hit the man, who fell to the ground, dead.

Natalie looked at the body, out of breath, her gun still aimed.

Natalie was rubbing her stomach after dropping on the hard concrete ground. She looked as the coroners removed the shooter’s body. “Apparently this guy was Miles’ errand boy.” She said to Maddock.

“Actually he was just a little bit more.” Maddock said.

Natalie looked at Maddock, who nodded in return. She knew what he was talking about.

“What is this crime world coming to?” Natalie said, shaking her head in total disbelief and walking off.

Maddock laughed and looked behind him as he heard some yelling. He quickly got out of the way as a group of paramedics were running Shawn out of the house on a stretcher.

“Get the defib’s ready!” a paramedic yelled.

“Find out where Air Evac will meet us!!” another yelled.

Two other paramedics ran to the ambulance and got in. The other two ran to the open rear doors and loaded Shawn inside, still screaming orders. The doors closed and the ambulance’s tires spun as it peeled out and sped down the street.

“How is she?” KITT asked Maddock.

“I’ll be honest, KITT. Not so good. It looked pretty bad.” Maddock said.

KITT was silent.

“KITT, are you okay?” Maddock asked.

“No, I am not.” KITT said. “It feels like there is a piece of me is missing without Shawn.”

“How do you mean, KITT?”

“It’s rather hard to explain. There are some instances where it seems that I am closer to Shawn than I was with Michael, and then there are other times when it’s the complete opposite. This must sound very confusing to you, Mr. Maddock.”

“Not at all, KITT,” Maddock said, smiling, “you’re sounding more human. Hang in here, Shawn is strong, she will pull through, and it wont be long before the two of you are giving me stomach ulcers again when you run off on those dangerous missions.”

“Mr. Maddock, the world that I exist in is always full of danger. It has been for almost twenty years, and I would not give that up for anything.” KITT said.

“Good.” Maddock said, walking off.

Bonnie and Kevin came outside of the house and walked over to KITT. Bonnie looked like she was about to cry, and trying to break bad news to KITT at the same time.

“I already know, Bonnie. Mr. Maddock told me.” KITT said. “Don’t worry, Shawn is a strong person, and she will pull through.”

“I’m sure she will,” Kevin said, “but that dude had her drugged up bad. He must have known we were coming and had his friend take care of her.”

“All we can do now is hope and wait.” Bonnie said.

April 30, 2001

0619 Hrs

Rapid City Regional Hospital

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota

“Agent Markins? Agent Markins?”

Natalie awoke to a voice and saw it was a nurse. “Yes?”

“Agent McCormick’s condition has been stabilized and she is conscious.” The nurse said.

“Thank you,” Natalie said, “where is she?”

“She’s been moved to a private room,” the nurse said, “would you like to see her?”

“Yes please.” Natalie said, getting up out of the uncomfortable plastic chairs. She grabbed her coat, which had served as a pillow and followed the nurse.

While walking to the room, Natalie took out her cell-phone. “Yes, it’s Agent Markins… Yeah, she’s just fine… Her condition has been stabilized and she’s awake…. Yeah, I’m going to see her now… All right, I’ll see you then… Bye.”

The nurse opened the door for Natalie and she walked inside. Shawn’s head was turned to the side, she was visibly awake, and looking out the window.

“Shawn?” Natalie asked.

Shawn didn’t respond and continued to look out the window.

“Agent McCormick has endured a significant amount of trauma. We’ve found bruises on her arms, legs, back, and… well here is her chart.” The nurse said whispered.

Natalie took the chart from the nurse and looked at it. “Jesus Christ.”

The nurse nodded. “I’ll leave you some privacy.”

“Thank you.” Natalie said, walking back into Shawn’s room.

She walked over, picked a chair up, drug it over to the window, and then sat down in it. “You know, being in the criminology field in the FBI could drain the humanity right out of you. It’s hard to lead a normal personal life after all of the stuff you deal with.” Natalie stopped and laughed. “Normal. What is normal anyway? I read over your chart, and I know that there’s no way you can talk about this with some FBI agent. So, I figure we talk about this a different way. Woman to woman.” Natalie took her badge off, and removed her gun and removed the clip from it.

Shawn moved her eyes over to Natalie and smiled. “Thank you.” She said.

1049 Hrs

Maddock, Kevin, and Bonnie walked into the hospital and were met by Natalie.

“How is she?” Kevin asked.

Natalie rubbed her eyes. “She has been through a lot, more than you know. I’ve been talking to her for about four hours.”

“What happened to her?” Bonnie asked.

“That’s between her and I right now. It’s her choice if she wants to tell you.” Natalie explained. “She wants to see you.” Natalie said to Maddock.

“Me?” Maddock asked.

“Yeah, you.”

Maddock knocked on the hospital room door.

“Come in.” Shawn’s voice replied.

Maddock walked in. “How are you feeling?”

Shawn looked up at him with weary and weak eyes. “I’ve been better.” Her tired voice replied.

Maddock sat down at her bedside and brushed her hair out of her eyes. “You’ve been through a lot, kid.”

“Don’t remind me.” Shawn said.

“You’re tough, you’re strong. It would take a strong heart to go what you’ve been through.”

“I’ve been trained by the best.” Shawn said, beginning to sob.

“Shhhhhh.” Maddock said. “Shawn, it’s over.”

“Every time I close my eyes, or see a bright light, hear someone say a word a certain way, my whole world explodes, and I come crashing down.”

“Shawn, you do know you have an option.” Maddock said.

“Yeah…”

“The doctors can go in and out in less than an hour. The chip will be altered, and you won’t have any memory of what happened.”

“I know.”

“Any decision?” Maddock asked.

“I don’t know yet. How fair would it be to the women who paid the ultimate price?”

“How fair is it for you to go through that trauma? If it were a normal human- wait, I’m sorry, Shawn. If it were a human who didn’t have an enhanced memory like you, they would be able to go through therapy and work with their problems. You can call up anything you experience like a hard drive after a segment of data.”

“I know, Russ,” Shawn said, squeezing his hand, “but it seems like if I erase this memory, I am taking the cheater’s way out. These women, wherever they end up in the afterlife, still have this memory with them. It will haunt them forever, and they can’t just put it out of their mind or remove it like I can.” She wiped a few tears from her cheek.

“Shawn, whatever choice you decide to make, I will support it one hundred percent, and the Knight Foundation will allocate the necessary funds.” Maddock said.

Shawn looked up at Maddock with wide eyes.

“Do you need a leave of absence?”

Shawn closed her eyes tight, squeezing more tears out. She looked up at the ceiling with glossy eyes. “I have to get out of here, Russ. I… I can’t do this. I can’t be Michael Knight.”

“Shawn, no one says that with every case you have to be Michael Knight. Eighteen years ago, a dying genius said that one man could make a difference? Who says it has to be a man?” Maddock said.

“But what kind of crime fighter does that make me?” Shawn asked.

“A human one.” Maddock said. “You know I’m not one with much humanity, but Shawn… nobody is perfect.”

Shawn sighed and took a deep breath. “Russ… I can’t do this. I have to get out of here.”

“Okay, Shawn, where do you have to go?”

“Away. I can’t work for you. I… I can’t.”

“Now that is something I refuse to accept.” Maddock said.

“Russ, I can’t do this! I don’t have the drive.”

“Shawn, we all have our setbacks and downfalls. Did you quit when you got shot in the head?”

Shawn was crying harder now. “I would rather get shot than go through what I went through.”

“What happened to you Shawn?” Maddock said.

Shawn closed her eyes tight, and watched the memories in her mind. They flashed by at a fast speed, mainly with images of Miles staring at her, and laughing at her.

“Shawn?” Maddock asked.

“I want to go home.”

“You’ll be discharged in a few days, we’ll take you back to FLAG.” Maddock said.

“No,” Shawn said, “I want to go home. To my family.”

Maddock nodded. “I’ll get you home, Shawn. We’ll get you home, I promise.”

May 4, 2001

A man leaned over and whispered to another man. “This is highly irregular. None of this has been checked through us. How are we supposed to know this agent is competent enough to drive the vehicle?”

The other man whispered back. “This recommendation came from both Barstow and McCormick. I trust them. And so should you.”

Someone knocked on the door. Maddock stood up, straightened his tie. “Enter.”

Natalie Markins, dressed in a business suit, and her usual FBI badge clipped to her lapel, walked into the room.

“Hello Agent Markins,” Maddock said, “would you please take a seat at the chair in front of you?”

“Yes sir.” Natalie said, sitting down at the foot of the table.

Maddock sat down. “Agent Markins, do you have an understanding as to why you are here?”

“A vague understanding, sir.” Natalie replied.

Maddock nodded. “Agent Markins, you are here today for an important reason. As you know, FLAG Agent Shawn McCormick will be taking a leave of absence from the Knight Foundation for an unspecified amount of time.”

“Yes sir.” Natalie said.

“Since FLAG operations stop for no person, we were faced with the task of finding a replacement agent until Agent McCormick is deemed physically and mentally able to return.”

Natalie nodded and let her eyes look around the table.

“Understand that this is a temporary position, but one which requires a lot of skill, stamina, determination, and ability. Your expertise in the field area of criminology will be a definite plus.” Maddock said.

“What is Director William’s official position on this, sir?” Natalie asked.

“Director William gave us his full blessing, and tells us that we are gaining one hell of an agent.”

“And when my term as a FLAG Agent is complete?”

“The Knight Foundation will issue a termination compensation payment, you will return to the FBI, with an increase in seniority and pay.”

Natalie nodded, and wrote it down in the notepad she brought with her.

Maddock could see that she circled something.

Natalie looked up.

“Any other information you require?” Maddock asked.

“No, sir,” Natalie said, “it will make me proud to serve this team.”

Maddock smiled. “Welcome aboard to the Knight Foundation, Agent Natalie Markins.”

The occupants at the table began to clap.

Maddock stood up and so did everyone else. “Natalie, there will be a meeting tomorrow morning. We’ll get you situated here at the Foundation, orientation, stuff like that. That’s all ladies and gentlemen, good day.”

The Board of Directors gathered their things and left the room, leaving Maddock and Natalie.

“It’s going to be hard pair of shoes to fill.” Natalie said.

“You aren’t filling any shoes, Natalie. You can do this job, easily. Your performance on this extremely hard mission was excellent, and you will be a fine addition to the Knight Foundation.”

“Thank you, sir.” Natalie said, extending her hand.

Maddock shook it. “See you Monday.”

May 10, 2001

Knight Foundation

Maddock, Kevin, and Natalie all walked down the hallway leading to the airstrip in the back.

“It’s gonna be so different with her gone.” Kevin said.

“I know,” Maddock said, “it won’t be the same.”

“No offense to you, Natalie.” Kevin said.

“None taken. Shawn was an exceptional woman, and I know that you will miss her a lot.”

Shawn was packing her bags that she left in the Knight Foundation jet. Bonnie was inside the cabin too, helping her pack.

Shawn picked up a small Hot Wheels car that was inside a drawer.

“What is that?” Bonnie asked.

“It’s Benjamin’s.” Shawn said.

“Who?” Bonnie asked.

“Benjamin Tenet.”

“The…”

“Yeah.” Shawn said, letting another tear fall down her cheek. “It was in his pockets. It fell out when the medical examiners loaded his body into the van. I’ve hung on to it.”

“Any idea what you are going to do, where you are going to go?” Bonnie asked.

“KITT’s driving me to Sea-Tac. I got a plane ticket to go to London, where my dad is stationed.”

“What about your real father?”

“He’s meeting me at the airport. He’ll be going with me.”

“That’s good.” Bonnie said.

Shawn dropped her armful of clothes and grasped the sides of the dresser.

“Shawn?” Bonnie said, going over to Shawn’s side. “Shawn, what is it, what happened?”

Shawn grabbed the sides harder and stayed silent.

“Shawn!” Bonnie said, spinning her around to face her. “Shawn, come on, come on Shawn, snap out of it.”

“Oh my God, Bonnie! I… Bonnie help me!” Shawn said.

Bonnie looked at Shawn with wide and confused eyes. “Shawn, I’m here, I’m right here! It’s gonna be okay, Shawn.”

Shawn hugged Bonnie and started crying again.

Bonnie did her best to comfort her. “It’s gonna be okay, Shawn.”

“What’s wrong with me? I’m stronger than this!”

“Shawn, how can you think anyone could go through what you did and not have any serious trauma?”

“He used that statement before. ‘That’s good.’”

“I’m sorry Shawn.”

“You didn’t know.” Shawn said, releasing Bonnie and wiping her eyes.

Bonnie brushed Shawn’s hair out of her eyes.

“I just need to get out of here fast.” Shawn said, picking up her duffel bag and walking out the door, with Bonnie following close behind.

Kevin, Natalie, and Maddock were standing on the airstrip with KITT. Kevin was sitting on his hood.

“What are we gonna do without her?” Kevin asked.

“A very good question.” KITT said. “No offense, Agent Markins.”

“None taken.” Natalie said as she turned to Maddock. “Hey, I think I’m gonna leave. This is your family’s goodbye, I don’t have a place here.” She started to walk off, but Maddock touched her arm.

“No, Natalie, stay here. You’re a part of our family now.” Maddock said.

“Yeah, stay here, Natalie. We don’t mean to be standoffish.” Kevin said.

“No, it’s okay guys. It’s just always hard to come in the middle of the game.” Natalie said.

“Here they come.” KITT said.

Everyone looked up to see Shawn and Bonnie walking towards them.

Shawn walked up to them while Bonnie took her bags and set them in KITT’s trunk.

“Hey guys.” Shawn said. “I’m not one for speeches. But…. I had only spent a few months in the PD and felt I had made a whole family but only to see it come crashing down. I’ve been with you guys for more than a year… and while I may have seemed kind of apprehensive, it was because of that experience.

“I guess this is a shitty time to tell you this,” she continued, “but I do regard you as my family outside of home. We’ve been through so much together, all of you have stepped in to take the place of my relatives, and we’ve all helped each other through everything.” She paused to wipe more tears. “So I do mean this when I say it, that I love all of you. And I am going to miss you so much!”

She set her duffel bag on the ground and started crying. Bonnie, Maddock, and Kevin all stepped forward to confort their colleague.

Natalie sat down on KITT’s hood and watched. “Are you going to miss her, KITT?”

“More than everyone combined, Agent Markins.” KITT said, simply.

Shawn looked up and saw Natalie alone with KITT. She picked up her duffel bag, walked over to her and extended her hand. Natalie shook it.

“Take care of KITT for me.” Shawn said.

“Take care of yourself, Shawn.” Natalie replied.

Shawn smiled, for the first time in many days. “You’re gonna do just fine.” She unzipped her jacket and took out her ultrasound handgun from her belt. She looked at it for a few seconds and handed it to Natalie.

Natalie took the ultrasound gun and looked at it. “This will be in good hands.”

“Thank you.” Shawn said.

“The truth and nothing but.”

Shawn smiled again. KITT opened up the driver’s side door as she approached. Shawn closed it and walked around to the passenger side door. “Sorry KITT, but I think I’m gonna sit this round out.”

“No problem at all, Shawn.” KITT said, opening the passenger side door.

Shawn gave one last look to her friends, and got inside KITT and closed the door. The engine started and she wiped her face as KITT slowly drove off.

Bonnie, Natalie, Kevin, and Maddock waved goodbye as the car drove down the road, and as Shawn McCormick exited their lives.

The End

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