Author's Note: I want to thank all of you for your awesome reviews and to those of you that added me to favorites and story alert…you guys rock!! :D

Also, Spring Term for my college is starting this week, so updates may get a little slower than usual. I will do my best!

What is their daughter's name? I'll give you one hint! What name do you get when you combine the names "Mike" and "Sarah"?

Chapter 4

"Kitt, you've been unusually quiet."

The AI paused in his research when he heard Sarah's voice.

I am currently researching.

"Researching?"

Shannon Bolivia, the babysitter.

"Zoe and Billy have already checked her out and they say she's clean. She worked at the SSC for five years before it shut down and her records were spotless."

Your daughter believes otherwise.

"She's just nervous about being left alone with a stranger."

Kitt responded by pulling up data and placed it on screen. He began his report as he often did when performing a background check on a suspect.

Shannon Bolivia, 5'5'', age 47. No children or grandchildren—Graduated, from Ohio State with a degree in Accounting. Records indicate that she withdrew a large amount of funds within the last 72 hours. Three large deposits were made before the transaction.

"Wait a minute…something isn't adding up."

Sarah and Mike shared a look.

"While we were touring her apartment, she told us that she had a son who died of leukemia."

"…and that was why she claimed to have a room full of toys."

Medical records state that she had a hysterectomy at age 24 due to serious health concerns. Shannon Bolivia never had any children.

"She lied to us?" Sarah could hardly believe it.

"If she never had any children…why does she have a room full of toys?"

Mike and Sarah looked at each other and then at Kitt, horror dawning on their faces.

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A loud telephone ring filled the silent apartment, waking the three year old up from her nap. The room was bathed in an orange light as the sun began to sink towards the horizon. She padded softly to the door and managed to open it a crack. She crept out a little into the hallway, just out of sight of the kitchen area but close enough to the room to run back in if need be. What she heard turned her blood to ice.

"I'll take care of it, don't you worry. I've got some special powder I can mix in her juice cup just for the occasion. By the time you get here, she'll be quiet as a mouse and most cooperative. Wait just a minute…what do you mean… you want me to kill her?! Now we had a deal…you paid me fifty grand to watch her until you get here. I'm not doing your dirty work for you."

The three year old did not understand the term 'kill' but instinctively knew that it was bad. The bad, mean lady was going to hurt her…

She began to back away towards the bedroom door, reaching the doorframe as Shannon hissed into the phone with growing rage.

"I never agreed to murder!! If you want me to go through with this…I need another twenty grand by tomorrow morning. Well then, I guess you can wait until tomorrow to collect her for yourself. Once you alter the original deal, you abide by my rules or I'll call the cops and bust your sorry ass."

The little girl winced at the use of bad language and slowly began to close the door, just in time to hear the end of the conversation.

"Glad you could see it my way, I'll see you in two hours...and the Knight's daughter will be dead."

The phone was set back down on the counter, off the hook. The woman turned around and rummaged through a drawer in the kitchen. The child did not wait to see what she was getting and closed the door, frantically turning the lock on the doorknob after standing on her tip-toes. The toddler managed to push most of the toys in front of the door in the hopes of keeping mean lady out. She screamed and jumped in terror when the door was loudly banged by an angry fist.

"OPEN this door RIGHT NOW!!"

"Go 'way!"

"Shannon has a treat for you."

The woman dropped into a scary sing-song voice and sounded menacing and evil.

She pulled out the device and ran to the window on the other side of the room. It was not completely like a cell phone…it could only connect with Kitt, much like Michael's earwig. It turned on after she pushed and held the power button down. A moment later Kitt's name flashed on screen and she sobbed with relief when she heard his comforting voice.

Is there something wrong?

The woman behind her kept yelling and pounding on the door while the girl shook, nearly dropping it.

"Mean lady…is gonna hurt me!!"

She held the phone towards the door where the racket was coming from and the lady screamed something that Kitt was able to hear through the other end.

"You stupid, little parasite, open this door right now and I promise I'll give you a quick and painless death!!"

You must stay quiet and escape, do you understand?

"What is 'escape'?" her face took on a quizzical expression.

It means to get away…to run.

"Go out window?"

Open the window first and then show me what you see.

She followed his instructions and saw that directly below the window was the patio.

An adult would question how Kitt could see what she saw…but that is why a child's mind is so extraordinary. Since Kitt's voice was originating from the handheld device, she believed the phone was currently Kitt and held it out of the window before bringing it back in. It was enough and Kitt saw the view perfectly through the mini camera.

Crawl out of the window and run to the end of the balcony, okay?

"Yes."

After taking a small tumble out of the window, she winced in pain when she scraped her knee but stood up quickly, just in time to see the door open as the lock was picked. The evil woman stood there menacingly with a kitchen knife in her hand. She heard Kitt's voice from the phone in her hand.

Now run.

She took off, hearing the woman swearing up a storm behind her as the lady tried to fit through the window. The girl ran to the other end of the balcony and saw that there were some rickety wooden stairs of some kind that ran below into a small backyard with a fence. She showed Kitt… aka 'the phone' and then choked back a sob, not sure what to do next.

The AI was searching through the ground plan of the apartment complex and noticed an extreme problem with that exit route. There was no way out once she reached the bottom of the yard. The fence was locked, according to a satellite image and the only way to get back into the building through the maintenance area of the basement was with a keycard.

There was no way out…except through the front door of the apartment. And a crazy woman wielding a knife, bent on murder, was standing between the Knight's three year old daughter and the only available exit.

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At that critical moment in Kitt's analysis of the situation, he ripped driving control from Michael without warning while performing a clean 180 degree turn and switched automatically to attack mode.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing Kitt?!"

I am currently communicating with your daughter via com-link. Shannon Bolivia has a knife. She is attempting to murder Mikah. The only available exit out of the apartment is through the front door.

Sarah and Mike's faces paled considerably, although Mike's face changed into one of die hard determination.

"Kitt, call 911"

I already have, they will arrive on scene within five minutes.

"What about calling a neighbor and telling them what's happening?"

There are three other residences in the apartment building. Shannon Bolivia has two neighbor's, one of which is currently out of town on a business trip. Shannon's other neighbor is currently hospitalized after sustaining substantial injury from a car accident on the freeway earlier this afternoon. The third apartment is empty, currently under renovation.

"What about the landlord or the apartment office?"

Sending in unarmed, untrained, civilians will most likely aggravate the escalating situation. The police are the most qualified in helping Micah until we arrive.

"Mike, I hate to say this…but…he's right."

"Sarah…our little girl is trapped in this psycho woman's apartment with no one around to hear her screaming for help!! We have to do something!" Mike was on the verge of tears, but he covered it up by sounding angry.

Michael, we are doing everything we can do in this situation.

Mike calmed down enough to ask Kitt the one question eating away at his mind.

"What is our ETA?"

Kitt was hesitant to answer.

"KITT", Mike's sharp, impatient voice forced the AI to respond.

Our ETA is approximately fifteen minutes and forty two seconds at our current rate of travel.

Mike wanted to order Kitt to go faster but a quick glance at the speedometer confirmed that the Shelby Mustang was traveling at top speed, miraculously avoiding collisions while swerving around traffic with precision. His mouth formed a grim line as he squeezed his wife's hand beside him. He looked at her with fire in his eyes.

"Don't worry Sarah. She has my strength and your brains. With that combination, she will make it out just fine."

The words came unbidden from his mouth, sounding hollow to his own ears. He was once a military man and knew the odds. Chances were slim their daughter would make it out alive…but he had hope. He had to believe. The conversation he had with Kitt the previous day surfaced to mind and a small smile surfaced. It was true, that his daughter was much like him…a more intelligent, version of him.

The kid was resourceful…she beat him whenever they played 'tag-the-hunter'. A modified version of two original children's games (hide-and-go-seek and tag) where one person was the hunter and the other was the prey. The object of the game if you were the prey was to remain stealthy enough to tag the hunter. The hunter had to try to catch his prey, much like hide and go seek only the tables could be easily turned. Mike taught his three year old daughter how to perform a very simple flanking maneuver in order to dodge and get around the hunter. If the prey was able to tag the hunter without being noticed, then that person won the game.

"Wait a minute…that's it!!"

Sarah and Kitt both questioned him simultaneously.

"What is that?"

"Tag-the-hunter…Kitt, tell Mikah to play the game with Shannon…"

Kitt was well aware of the game he referred to since he had observed them play it together many times before. It was a more intelligent version of two children's games, quite befitting for Dr. Graiman's grandchild. Kitt understood immediately where he was going with this and finished Mike's sentence.

Only this time, the goal of the game is for Micah to reach the front door.

"YES!" Mike was truly excited now. This may just save his little girl's life.

Relaying instructions now

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Mikah whimpered when she heard the lady slam the bedroom door she had just vacated and ran back towards the window, to see if she had gone. She peered cautiously from the balcony, too frightened to get too close. Instinct took over and she ran from the window just as the woman popped up from beneath the bedroom side of it and took a wild stab at where the child had just been. Shannon shrieked like a deranged banshee and left the room for real this time when her ploy was unsuccessful.

Mikah, are you there?

"Kitt…please help me," she pleaded softly, too scared to raise her voice.

Listen to me, Mikah. The two of us are going to play Tag-the-Hunter with Shannon. Shannon is the hunter but we are not going to tag her, we are going to go out the front door in order to win.

"Okay…she left toy room…"

Then you need to go back in there.

Her eyes watered again as her breathing hitched at the idea. She shook her head vehemently, unable to budge another inch.

"Can't…too scared."

Mikah, you must trust me. I will help you win the game but you have to do exactly as I tell you, okay?

"Okay, Kitt…"

She clenched the device tightly with one hand while struggling to pull herself back through the window. The moment she did, the sliding door opened and Shannon appeared on the balcony. She ran down the stairs into the yard below, giving Mikah her opportunity. Kitt watched Shannon's movements via satellite imaging.

Now, Mikah… run to the front door.

Her little legs moved with lightning speed, sending her to the door in record time. Mikah unlocked the door and struggled to pull it open but it would only open a crack. She craned her neck up to see why it was stuck and sobbed when a new problem arose.

"Kitt…"

She held the phone up to the door so he could see what was wrong. The lock she could easily reach but there was also a deadbolt, near the very top of the door. Mikah couldn't reach it, even with a chair. An adult had to open it for her…and the only one around was the one trying to kill her. By now, dusk had fallen bringing darkness across the land as only a sliver of the sun had yet to disappear on the horizon. Most of the house lights were on inside, making hiding a lot more difficult.

Micah, can you lock the balcony door?

The little girl ran to see if she could but screamed shrilly when she saw Shannon coming back up the stairs. She panicked and fled to another part of the house, running into Shannon's bedroom.

Remember, this is a game. You have to stay quiet wherever you hide.

She hid under the bed and struggled to slow her breathing. Silent tears made new tracks down her cheeks as she peeked out from under the bed. Shannon's footsteps echoed through the apartment as she made her way slowly across the tile floor.

"Give it up kid…you've got nowhere to run!!"

She remained quiet, refusing to answer and shivered when she saw Shannon's feet stop at the doorway. Instead of coming into the room, she went into the bathroom. The sound of a shower curtain being drawn back could be heard as the woman began a meticulous search of her apartment. The sing-song voice returned and Mikah held the com-link close to her chest as she curled up into a ball, still beneath the bed.

"Come out come out wherever you are…"

Shannon once again ignored the bedroom and went out to search the living room, kitchen, and toy room. While she was gone, Kitt gave her instructions.

Go and hide directly behind the bedroom door. When Shannon enters to look in the closet and under the bed, run out of the room and close the door behind you. Then go into the bathroom and lock the door. Can you do that for me?

She looked down at the phone and nodded her head silently, easily slipping into 'game-mode'. Even though the game was scary and the mean lady wanted to hurt her, she had Kitt helping her win!

Mikah crawled out of her hiding place and sucked her tummy in, making herself as thin as possible as she hid between the door and the wall. She tried not to shiver in fear when mean lady entered the room.

"You can't hide forever…I will find you. And when I do, it's night-night forever."

The little girl saw Shannon look under the bed and knew that was her cue to run. She struggled to pull the door closed but managed just as the scary woman looked up and noticed her.

Mikah scampered into the bathroom which was in the mini hall right next to the master bedroom. She locked the bathroom door and smiled down at the camera in her hand and whispered.

"I did it, Kitt. I is in potty room."

Even though the AI was not supposed to feel or exhibit emotions, he was positive he felt a crushing relief at the young girl's success. He relayed more instructions to her.

Good. Are there any combs or toothbrushes around the sink?

She continued to whisper, remembering that in order to win the game you had to be sneaky and quiet.

"Yes"

Take a comb and wedge it in between the crack in the door by the lock.

"What?"

Kitt told her to look at the phone screen and showed her a picture from his database, of how the simple technique was accomplished. Her small mouth formed a little "o" and she hurried to the door and tried to wedge the comb into the crack, just like Kitt showed her. It was too skinny and fell to the floor.

"No working…"

Is there another comb nearby?

"Yes"

Take both combs. Stick them together and do the same thing as before.

This time, both skinny combs stacked on top of each other fit nice and snug in the door crack, serving as a secondary lock to buy more time.

Are there also any bobby pins?

"What's that?"

Little pins that your mommy puts in her hair, to make her hair round

It was the best Kitt could do in order to simplify the explanation. He decided to avoid even more explaining knowing that the girl would most likely ask what a 'bun' was. That was time they did not have…Shannon was most likely on to her new whereabouts. Sure enough the doorknob jiggled.

"You think you can lock me out?! Think again…you little rug-rat!"

Mikah closed the lid on the toilet and climbed up on it and over onto the counter. She opened the mirror cabinet above the sink and saw a small container filled with the pin things that she saw her mother use before.

Mikah, did you find the pins?

She climbed down with it and opened it up, pulling one pin out and showed it to Kitt.

Kitt's relief surged again at the sight. That meant that Mikah could stall Shannon's lock-picking technique, buying the child enough time for the police to arrive within the next minute and a half.

You need to wedge the pin into the doorknob where the lock is.

Kitt showed her another video, snagging it off of youtube this time.

"Okay…"

Mikah successfully accomplished it, much to Kitt's satisfaction.

Now, are there any towels nearby?

Mikah looked around and opened one of the bathroom cupboards, pulling out a clean towel stacked neatly underneath the sink. She held a corner of it in one hand and the phone in the other.

Grab a washcloth and get it wet.

After the little girl followed that simple instruction, she looked expectantly down at the phone, keeping absolutely quiet despite Shannon's yelling and swearing as she was unsuccessful in lock-picking the bathroom door.

Now I need you to climb into the bathtub and hide under the towel…as if you were going to take a nap.

"Why?"

Do it and I will tell you why

"No…Kitt tell now!"

She stubbornly frowned at him.

Kitt had seen that same expression and had similar arguments with his driver on countless occasions. Mikah was indeed, her father's daughter. She had been a good girl up to this point, so a little explanation was her reward.

The police will be there very soon.

She obediently climbed into the bathtub satisfied with the answer and crouched down behind the closed shower curtain. She covered herself up with the towel, like a blanket, lying on her tummy. It was large enough to cover her from head to toe. Mikah looked at the phone and giggled, completely forgetting all about the mean lady. It was like hide-and-go-seek now.

When I count to three…place the washcloth over your nose and mouth and close your eyes. Ready?

She nodded her head eagerly, holding the washcloth in her hand in anticipation. The child didn't know that Kitt was currently watching the police preparing to enter with tear gas in order to temporarily blind Shannon in order for them to disarm her. Any other day, they would just kick down the door and point their guns, ordering the suspect to drop the knife. This was no ordinary situation and if the woman panicked, she may try to take her own life…and Mike and Sarah needed to question her to find out why she betrayed them.

One…two…three!

Mikah placed the wet washcloth over her nose and mouth and snuggled against the towel, just as a 'popping' sound filled the air followed by breaking glass. A hissing sound came soon afterwards and she began to panic, thinking the mean lady was coming in to get her.

Kitt's reassuring voice immediately calmed her down.

There is no need to be afraid. The police are coming in with smoke to arrest Shannon. Continue to breathe normally. The wet washcloth will protect you from vapor inhalation.

The three year old didn't have a clue what 'arrest' or 'vapor inhalation' meant…but she trusted Kitt. He was nice and made her feel safe…he even helped her win the game against mean lady.

Kitt relayed another message to her.

Your mommy says that you are the bravest little girl on the planet. Your daddy wants you to know that he is very proud of you.

Mikah nodded her head as her eyes shone from an unseen smile hidden behind the washcloth over her face.

Kitt was almost sure that he felt the same. As he heard the chaos erupting in the house as the worst part of the arrest took place, a smile could be heard in the AI's voice.

And I want you to know…that I am also proud of you.

"I proud of you too, Kitt. You helped'd me more."

We worked together, as a team...

A few minutes later and the police had broken in to the bathroom, pulling her from the bathtub and took her outside. An ambulance was parked nearby and medical staff examined her to make sure Mikah suffered no injury from the knife wielding, psychotic desperado. They cleaned and bandaged the scrape on her knee, the paramedic relieved that it was the only 'owie' the little girl sustained.

Ten minutes later and Kitt was pulling in next to the emergency vehicles. Mike and Sarah jumped out before he had even rolled to a complete stop. They ran to Mikah, pulling their daughter into an embrace and praised her for her quick thinking and for listening to Kitt. The little girl squealed when she saw the black mustang and ran to Kitt next, abandoning the com-link into her father's care. The driver's side door opened in warm invitation and she dove right in, wrapping her three year old arms around the seat in a warm hug. After settling back down, she looked at him with a big grin, overjoyed at their reunion.

"I missed you."

This time Kitt did not bother to argue or point out that he had been talking to her for the last half hour and responded with the same tenderness, the night she had a nightmare.

And I missed you more...

TO BE CONTINUED!

A/N: In case you were wondering, MIKAH is pronounced exactly the same as MICAH (Mike + ah after Sarah). I'm not sure if this fic should be bumped up to a T rating for the use of that one swear word, can any of you help me with that?

Yeah I know this chapter was darker and scarier than it has been. I assure you, this is about as scary as it will get because my nerves just can't take it! LOL Please review and let me know what you think! Their daughter finally has a name le-gasp. XD