Chapter 4
K.I.T.T.'s garage was a combination of garage and office. Michael had told Carlee that when he worked on paperwork, between assignments, he liked to stay close to his partner and best friend. It made it easy to get details from K.I.T.T. to put in the reports that had to be filed after assignments. Also, Michael just plain enjoyed K.I.T.T.'s company.
Now Carlee paced the perimeter of the space. Devon had pulled some strings and gotten all of the files on the Millionaire Mutilator transferred to F.L.A.G. Carlee, Michael, and K.I.T.T. had spent the last three days pouring over all of it.
Carlee felt as if she were a string too tightly strung on a guitar. One pluck, and she'd snap. As she paced, she muttered under her breath, "I know those files like the back of my hand. There's nothing we've missed. No significant leads. How can there be no significant leads! The man killed six people that we know of! We never even found the primary crime scene, just the body dump sites."
At one point, Carlee stopped and whirled toward K.I.T.T. "K.I.T.T., run the prints from the file. Check them against every fingerprint database."
"I already have, Carlee. This person has never been fingerprinted for any reason," K.I.T.T. replied.
Carlee whirled around and resumed her pacing.
Michael walked back in with two cups of coffee. He smiled over at Carlee, holding up one of the coffee cups. "Ready for a break?"
"No! As long as this guy is on the loose, there's no time for relaxing!" Carlee snapped back. Realizing what she'd said, Carlee's eyes widened. She whirled on her heel and ran to the connecting door of the mansion, retreating to her room.
Looking stricken, Michael put the coffee cup down and started after Carlee.
K.I.T.T.'s voice brought him up short,"I don't think she meant it like it sounded, but maybe you should let her have some time to cool down."
The next day, Carlee had apologized to Michael, but she remained very cool toward him, and avoided him whenever possible.
* * *
"I can't keep hiding here. It's been a month and we haven't come up with any new leads!" Carlee exclaimed, frustrated at the lack of progress in tracking the Millionaire Mutilator as well as the increase in her emotional turmoil when she was near Michael Knight.
She and K.I.T.T., on the other hand, had become fast friends in her time at the mansion, but any time Michael would show up, she'd retreat to her room.
Michael was convinced Carlee disliked him. On the other hand, his feelings were growing the other way day by day.
"Maybe you're right," Devin replied. "The phone calls have been going to your house, perhaps Michael and K.I.T.T. should go stay with you there."
At that, Carlee panicked, "Um, uh, I think I just need a few hours away from here, that's all." Michael and her, at her house? No! Wasn't happening!
* * *
"She hates me, I just know it, K.I.T.T." Michael said that afternoon, just after Carlee had fled from him yet again.
"Did you ever consider that perhaps she does like you, but is frightened by her feelings?"
"That's sure not the impression I'm getting. When she's forced to stay in the same place as me, she snaps at me." Michael sighed. "She's very nearly handed me my head on a platter several times."
"I can talk to her, if you want," K.I.T.T. responded. He hated it when Michael was distressed, and right now, Michael was beyond distressed. He was down right miserable.