Chapter 6

Reexamination of the scenes where the six murder victims had been found had turned up nothing new. Those scenes were secondary crime scenes, the primary scenes having never been found. Plus, too many months had past and any evidence that might have remained was too far degraded for K.I.T.T. to pick up.

At the mansion where Carlee and her partner had been attacked, Carlee decided she wanted to get out and look around. Her memories of that night had still not returned and Carlee felt sure a vital clue could be contained in those missing memories. Perhaps walking the scene would bring them back.

K.I.T.T. sat in the driveway, scanning the house and surrounding area. Michael followed Carlee.

"We got dispatch's call about eight fifteen p.m., and got here near nine p.m.," Carlee said, as she walked up to the front door. The tattered remains of yellow crime scene tape hung from the door frame. Since the house was part of an on-going investigation, it had not been released back to the owner.

The door proved to be locked, but Devon had given them the keys. He had gotten them from a friend at the department.

Carlee unlocked the door and shouldered it open. The interior was gloomy, but not as dark as it had been that night. The boards covering the windows kept out a good majority of the afternoon sunlight.

The formal living room held no furniture, and the floor was crisscrossed with fading footprints in the layer of dust. Carlee could barely discern the marks of her first struggle with the Mutilator.

"He backhanded me, causing me to drop my weapon. Then he grabbed me from behind. I managed to get a good grip on the front of his pants, though," Carlee's face lit in a snarl at the memory.

Michael shuddered. Part of the shudder was due to what had nearly befallen Carlee here. Part of it was due to what he now realized this amazing woman was capable of. It made him respect and love her all the more.

The comlink on Michael's wrist beeped.

"Yeah, K.I.T.T." Michael responded.

"Michael, I've discovered a hidden basement under the main structure." K.I.T.T. told Michael how to access it through the master bedroom.

Carlee had only been half way listening to the conversation going on behind her. Mention of the basement brought her full attention to Michael. "There was no basement on the original plans," Carlee said, excitedly.

"This could be the primary crime scene you didn't find in your original investigation," Michael said, an excited gleam in his eyes.

Carlee raced into the master bedroom, ready to open the basement and see what there was to find.

Michael followed after her. He grabbed her arm, stopping her.

Carlee swung around to face Michael, a fierce look in her blue eyes. "Let go of me!"

"Carlee, I'm as excited about this as you, but we have to let the homicide department know about this. They need a clean scene for the C.S.I.s, not a scene contaminated by us."

"I'm not waiting, Michael. I'm going down there! I know what I'm doing, I won't contaminate the scene. You can come with me or you can wait here."

Michael could tell from the look in her eyes that he wasn't going to be able to dissuade her. "Okay, but at least let me go get flashlights out of K.I.T.T."

"Hurry!" Carlee replied, almost desperately.

By the time Michael got back with two high powered flashlights, Carlee had gotten the hidden door opened. It had been disguised as part of the original hardwood floor, blending in so perfectly that it was only visible if you knew what to look for.

Shining their flashlights through the door, they saw a set of stairs leading down into darkness.

"There must be a concentration of lead somewhere in the basement. I cannot scan the interior," K.I.T.T. told Michael through the comlink. "We won't be able to communicate while you're down there," K.I.T.T. cautioned.

Carlee and Michael proceeded cautiously down the steps. The basement was partitioned into at least two rooms. The one they were in was empty except for a sink on one wall and a drain in the center of the concrete floor. Compared to the house above, the basement was cool, almost chilly. It had the usual musty odor that basements had, but it also had a very strong coppery smell. Carlee suspected that both drains would test positive for blood.

The other room had a padlocked door.

"Damn!" Carlee exclaimed when her flashlight lit up the lock.

"Not to worry," Michael said, pulling a lock pick from his sleeve.

Carlee moved aside so Michael could work his lock picking skills on the lock. Within a few seconds, Michael had the lock open and the door was swinging open.

Michael took two steps into the room, preparing to move out of Carlee's way, when he heard her scream his name. Too late, he registered the two by four swinging at his head. He was only able to slightly deflect the blow, which landed on the back of his head. His vision swam and he fought to hold on to consciousness.

Carlee screamed again, then was silent. "Carlee!" Michael tried to call out, but it came out as, "Caa.."

Stumbling, barely able to stay upright, Michael ran for the stairs. He had to crawl up them on hands and knees to keep from falling over. His only thought was that the only way he could help Carlee in his present condition was to get to K.I.T.T., or at least get back in contact with K.I.T.T. He didn't think he was going to be able to stay conscious for much longer.

When he got through the basement door, he collapsed to the bedroom floor, and just managed to call to K.I.T.T. through the comlink, "He's got Carlee!" before he passed out.

"Michael! Michael!" K.I.T.T.'s worried voice came through the comlink. K.I.T.T. continued to try to raise Michael on the comlink, while he also tracked the Mutilator's movements with Carlee.