Knight Takes Rook
by homel001
Disclaimer: All the rights to the show and it's characters belong to the late Glen. A. Larson. This is the Forth tale in the Knight Rider '86 series.
Chapter Two
KITT pulled up with Sarah safely fastened in the passenger seat. Michael climbed in behind the wheel before taking off into the country side. Sarah sat there in silence as she tried to process the swift events that had just taken place in her home. Who was that mysterious attacker who barged his way into her home? Who was this man who rescued her from being harmed? How could a car drive by itself on command? To make the task easier, she started with the basics. To do that, she needed to clear a few things.
"Who are you?" she stammered. "Are...are you here to hurt me?"
"No I'm a friend." Michael replied as he introduced himself. "My name's Michael Knight. I'm from the Foundation. Devon Miles sent me."
"Devon Miles?" Sarah replied. "The Phone call! Thank god you're here! I thought I was going to die!"
"It's alright I'm not going to let that happen to you." Michael assured her. "I just need to know who that guy was and what he was doing in your house? Do you have any ideas?"
Sarah struggled to focus. Her nerves had gotten the better of her. "I don't know. I...I can't think of anyone."
"Are you sure?" Michael clarified.
"Only one, but I never thought it was possible." Sarah replied. "My father's ex employer. Ever since he returned home, he's done nothing but torment my father. I never should have let him go on that trip to Japan. How could this happen to us!?"
"Hey, hey, It's going to be okay." Michael replied as he tried to console the grieving girl. "Look let me take you somewhere were you can take your time and process this. How about some coffee?"
"Coffee sounds great." Sarah replied as she forced a smile of appreciation on her face.
Her nerves began to settle as they left the town and headed towards the hills. The blissful drive through the beautiful country side almost seemed to wash her troubles away. Sarah had moved to Sausalito to escape her Father's past. They had only lived on Pine Street for Two years when the trouble started. The realisation was that a man's dark past would never truly be left behind.
Across town at the Marina, a red luxurious Testarossa pulled up outside a private pier. The doors opened and a tanned healthy man emerged from the drivers seat. He wore his wealth where ever he went. Designer suits with golden necklaces and shades. Of course he was no ordinary business man, He was Gareth Rook. Gareth loved the high roller's life. It was very easy for him to make the money by running his criminal empire. As he strolled down the pier towards his fine yacht, His relaxed demeanour shifted when one of his hired hands stepped out onto the deck. Every time he looked at the man, it spelt setbacks.
"What is it this time Palo?" He asked as he stepped on board his Yacht. "You should be relaxing like I told you too."
"Alex screwed up again Mr Rook." the hired hand replied. "He failed to keep the Hollister girl quiet."
"Of course he did." Rook sighed as he lifted his shades with his fingers and rubbed his eyes. "I give that idiot the simplest of jobs and he can't even manage to them properly. What happened exactly?"
"He said that a man in a black leather jacket entered the house and chased him down the street." Palo explained. "He pulled up outside in a Black T-Top and just made his way in."
"Don't worry Palo, he shouldn't be a problem for much longer." Rook smiled as his smugness bloomed. "My enterprise is expanding with every shipment that we haul in off the coast. As long as we rip off the goods, the tighter my grip will maintain. Sausalito is a town full of opportunities to expand what I have spent so long to set up. One man in a fancy black sports car isn't going to stop that."
"That maybe so Mr Rook, but I advise we be aware in case he starts sniffing around." Palo said. "We already have the Feds poking around as it is."
Rook poured himself a drink. "And what do you suppose I do in the meantime, Palo hmm? Lay low? No, no, no. I'm going to continue with my legit business down on the board walk. The profit I make there will go towards the fuel that will be used in the next siege."
"Very good sir." Palo acknowledged as he turned to leave.
"Oh and Palo. Thank you for being so loyal to me."
"The honour is mine Mr Rook."
Rook relaxed in his luxurious chair and puffed away on his cigar. His ego dominated ever other aspiration in him. Money was all that mattered to him. Death wasn't.
Michael and Sarah had arrived to a small hill top café that over looked the whole of Sausalito. It was peaceful to the point they felt that they were only ones left in the country. Sarah stared at her reflection in a cup of black coffee. She had time to think, but her heart ached every time she tried to explain it to Michael.
"How are you now?" Michael asked her as he tried to get her to look at him.
"I can focus now thanks." Sarah replied. "I'm just trying to find the answers to a lot of questions. Why is this happening? Why did my father do what he did? And why am I the one being punished?"
"Now that's not it at all, Sarah." Michael corrected her. "He gave up his old life and moved here because he loved you and wanted to spend the rest of his life with you. He wanted to watch you grow up into the wonderful young woman you've become. You said you felt like you were being punished, well that leads me to my question. Who organised that attack?"
Sarah took a deep breath. "When I was a little girl, my Father worked as an illegal arms dealer for a man called Gareth Rook. They were good friends at the time. They first met when Dad went to a casino in Vegas and won a game on Rook's roulette table. I'm not sure what happened in the years that followed, but Rook led that man down a path of crime until he was arrested in Cuba. The news tore my mother and me apart. By the time I was Thirteen, he was released from prison after giving testimony to the FBI. He deserved the punishment so I don't know why he was released on bail. Anyway my mum left us for another man, so at the FBI's request we moved here. He got a job on board a Freight company and worked his way to the top as Captain. It turned out he had experience commanding a ship when he smuggled guns out into international waters."
"He was a smart man, going straight like that." Michael said. "You must have been really proud of him."
"I was once we started to settle down here and make a name for ourselves." Sarah nodded. "I don't know how, but Rook knew we were here. He started sending death threats through the post, threatened to evict us and toss us out on the street where we would be exposed to all sorts of things. Then suddenly, things began to die down. At first we believed that the FBI had picked him up, but now that clearly wasn't the case. Now his ship disappears and you come along."
Michael really thought about it. "Sarah, do you really think that your father is dead?"
"I don't know. I guess I just accepted the police's explanation." Sarah replied. "I'm certain that it's Rook. I even get paranoid when I walk down the street because I'm sure I see his face just staring at me."
"Lets say he's in the area right now and that you're not seeing things." Michael said as he had a hunch. "Where did you see him last?"
"Down on the board walk. There is a small fishing store down there by the marina. I saw his face through the window."
"Okay. I think KITT and I will go pay the owner a visit. See If I can rustle a few feathers." Michael smiled. "If I'm right then I think we'll be able to rustle a few feathers."
"I'm coming with you." Sarah said. "I can't go home. I don't feel safe."
"I don't think that's wise. He might recognise you." Michael denied as he put Sarah's safety first. "I know where you would be safe though."
Raising his wristwatch radio, Michael called out to KITT. "KITT call Devon. Have him and the Semi meet us here will you? Tell them that Sarah's going to be staying with them for a little while."
"I'll get right on it, Michael." KITT complied over the speaker.
"Thank you Michael." Sarah smiled. "You're a really nice and considerate guy."
"You're not so bad yourself." Michael replied as he returned the smile.
It was late afternoon when Michael and KITT cruised down the narrow hill streets towards the Marina. The afternoon sun hung over the horizon. Michael thought about what he would find once he got the location as he headed down the streets in KITT's convertible mode. He couldn't discount the theory that Sarah was seeing things. What if Rook wasn't there? How would go about the case if his only lead fell short? As it always was in these situations, it was up to KITT to break the silence.
"You seem awfully quiet this afternoon?" The charming little A.I said. "Is there something troubling you?"
"Ah it's just Sarah, KITT." Michael replied. "I just can't make my mind up about her story. I mean what if this hunch of mine is wrong?"
"Well it hasn't been wrong before." KITT claimed. "Perhaps your over thinking it like you always tend to do."
"Yeah maybe." Michael moaned. "I mean you should have seen her. She seemed certain."
"I would rather like to think of it this way." said KITT. "Go with your gut instead of your brain."
"You don't have a gut." Michael said with a smirk.
"No I do not." KITT agreed. "I have a complex network of circuits and systems, but it wouldn't take much for one to imagine what it would be like to have a gut."
Michael laughed. "Well what can I say, you're constantly hungry for some of Bonnie's family style Barbecued mother boards."
"Really Michael?" KITT replied unimpressed.
They eventually arrived at their destination. The store was only a small renovated wooden hut. However, it's huge number of customers suggested that it was a legitimate and successful business. A perfect cover to hide a criminal. Michael left KITT in his surveillance mode while he headed on inside. While KITT sat outside in the parking lot, he noticed an innocent Gentlemen taking a stroll down the marina. The elderly man was ship spotting, but he couldn't quite see what ships he was looking at.
"Damn I can't see anything." He moaned. "My eye sight must be failing."
"Allow me to assist you?" KITT spoke up.
The man jumped and looked towards KITT. "Who said that? Did you say that buddy?"
"I did and returning to your problem, I can identify the ships that you are looking at." KITT continued. "The first ship is the S.S Saint Georgia serial number ZX435H. The second is the S.S Gideon. Serial Number S675GF."
The elderly man checked his book of ships. His eyes widened with joy as he spotted the ship numbers and marked them off.
"Golly. Thanks Mister that's the finest pair of eyes I have ever seen!" He said. "You and I could sit here all day and fill this whole book up."
"I must admit that does sound exhilarating, but I'm afraid I'm on duty." KITT replied. "Maybe some other time."
The elderly man groaned and set off on his merry way. He left the black T-Top to return to his work.
"I wonder what retirement is like for me?" He said.
Michael entered the shop and approached the desk. The owner of the shop appeared from the back room and immediately locked eyes with the lone crusader. It was Gareth Rook in the flesh. His somewhat unwelcoming expression put Michael on the alert. Thoughts began to enter his head. Perhaps Sarah was right? This place seemed legitimate but it was far from friendly.