Chapter Forty-Nine: Paying Respects

"Woooowwww…" I breathed as the huge mansion of the late Wilton Knight came into view. "I didn't know they could build houses this big…"

"That is amazing…" Yukine agreed, and I looked over to see a similar look of awe on her face. "Knight-sama must have been a very wealthy man."

"Conservative estimates put his net worth in the billions," KITT offered, "and that is in early 1980s dollar values."

I gave a low whistle. "I could believe it." I glanced in the inside rearview mirror to Tomoyo and Kotomi in the back seat. "What do you think?"

"I am very impressed," Kotomi said. "To make so much money as to be able to afford such a large house as well as build a car as wonderful as KITT…he must have had a very kind heart as well as a lot of money."

"Indeed," KITT said. "I am grateful to Wilton Knight for creating me."

"Oh, so am I," Kotomi breathed.

"Hmph," Tomoyo grunted, her arms crossed. "I don't understand all this; my folks didn't have much money, but I turned out okay."

"Young lady, because of Mr. Knight's money, a lot of people 'turned out okay' who would have otherwise been at the mercy of criminals."

"Well I'm not going to knock him for having been rich," I said. "He must have worked hard for it and deserved every penny. He may have not been able to take his money with him, but a lot of people have benefited from his generosity."

"Well said, Tomoya. The more I hear you talk, the more I see why Michael invited you to become my new partner."

I ducked my head shyly; I'd never get used to praise, it seemed. "Thanks, KITT. Well, let's see why we've been invited to the mansion, shall we?"


"Hey, Tomoya; great to see you again!" Michael greeted as we entered the mansion. "I mean, I know we've talked through the communicator, but…"

"It's not the same, I understand," I replied as we shook hands. "So, why did you want us all to come here? Japan's not exactly the next town over."

"Right," he said, rubbing his hands together. "And I'll get to that. But first; anyone hungry?"

Right on cue, Kotomi's stomach growled, which she quickly covered.

"Well, it sounds like someone is," he quipped.

It was a pretty simple lunch for such a spectacular house; meat-and-cheese sandwiches, a variety of fruits and vegetables, and many different kinds of chips.

"I know it's not what you're used to," Bonnie apologized, "but I hope it's okay."

"It's delicious, thank you," I replied, reaching for another sandwich half. "The flavors are different, but I like them."

"Before I forget," Michael said, turning to address my wife and Tomoyo, "congratulations on your graduation, Miss Honor Students."

"Thank you," Tomoyo said simply.

I smiled as my wife blushed. "Th-Thank you, Michael-sama."

He chuckled lightly. "You're never going to call me just 'Michael', are you?"

She giggled as her blush deepened. "P-Probably not."

He sighed melodramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "Kids these days…"

"That just means she thinks highly of you," Bonnie said as she patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, I know," he grunted. "Anyway, the reason I called you all here is…well actually, a couple of reasons; I wanted you to see the headquarters for FLAG, and…well…I thought you might like to visit the grave of Wilton Knight."

"The founder of FLAG?" I asked, and I could feel my pulse quicken. "Oh man, I'd be honored!"

"Thought you might," he said with a wink. "I just wish he and Devon could have stuck around long enough to meet all of you." He waggled his finger at Kotomi. "Devon, in particular, would have probably spoiled you rotten."

"M-Me?" Kotomi squeaked, her hand going to her chest.

"Who's Devon?" I asked. "I think this is the first time you've mentioned him."

"Seriously?" Michael grimaced. "Yeah, I guess we've been so busy that it never came up." He leaned back in his chair. "Devon Miles was my boss after Wilton Knight died shortly after bringing me on board. Pretty straight-laced guy, but he still had his quirks. He died back in…when was it? '97?"

"1997," Bonnie confirmed. "I'm surprised you've forgotten; you took his death pretty hard."

"Yeah…but a lot's happened since then," Michael said. "All of a sudden I had to do his job as well as mine as well as deal with my own grief…"

"He was a good man," Bonnie said to us as she laid a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Kind of like a father to Michael."

"Certainly old enough!" Michael quipped, drawing a laugh from the rest of us. "Man, I'd give anything to have him back, though."

"I think we all would," Bonnie replied.

We heard sniffing and turned nearly as one to see Kotomi blotting her eyes repeatedly with her napkin. "I am sorry," she sniffed, "but he sounds like such a wonderful man that I am sad to never have met him." Tomoyo smiled as she laid a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Where is Mr. Miles buried?" I asked. "I'd like to be able to visit him, as well."

"Next time I send you to England, you can visit him," Michael said. "Or I guess you could use one of your vacations, if you wanted."

"I might just do that," I replied with a smile.


Appropriately enough, Wilton Knight had been buried on his own land in a special, marked-off area:

Here lies Wilton Edgar Knight
December 2, 1915 – May 12, 1983
Loved all as family
"One man can make a difference"

Yukine and I faced the weathered headstone, hand in hand, with Kotomi and Tomoyo on either side.

"Hey, old man," Michael said with a voice tight with emotion. "It's been a while."

I knelt before the tombstone and pressed my hands together as I closed my eyes; I could 'sense' the girls doing the same. "Thank you, Knight-sama, for everything. For giving hope to those who wouldn't have had any otherwise. For fighting for what is right. For fighting so hard for justice."

I opened my eyes again and reached out to trace my finger along the last line: "One man can make a difference." I looked over at Yukine, meeting her teary eyes, and I suspected that we were thinking the same thing; I had already made a difference in the lives of so many, starting with the rescue of Yukine and the other children.

I got to my feet and moved to clean the memorial, only to find that it was already well-cared for. Michael stepped forward and laid a hand on the tombstone. "The groundskeepers take care of this every day," he said quietly. "Even after twenty years, it still looks brand new."

"He should be honored in this way," Tomoyo said, and I realized that she must have felt a kindred spirit, having fought for innocent people against bad guys, though in a different way. "Now I feel bad for saying what I did earlier."

"Each of us has our own...unique…gifts," Yukine offered, and I could hear the smile in her voice as she spoke. "Knight-sama earned a lot of money and used it to help others."

"He used his power to help others," Tomoyo added in a voice filled with wonder.

"You kids have some pretty neat perspectives," Michael said. "I think Wilton would have gotten a kick out of all of you."

"Must be the difference in cultures," Bonnie suggested, her voice heavy with emotion as well.

I knelt before the stone and traced the last line again, and was surprised to find the hands of my friends also reaching out to the same place.

"One man can make a difference."