Chapter 16: I often wonder how you drive, when the road's too dark to see
Knight apologised as Jade rapped her knuckles on his skull gently. "Sorry, I was miles away."
"I'd noticed," she replied dryly, as she sipped from her Mojito. "Is it me?"
"No," Knight replied with a slight smile, "it isn't. Sorry."
"So what were you thinking about?"
"Nothing really," Knight shrugged slightly. "Work related I guess."
"Work?" she asked doubtfully.
"I used to live in Miami, and didn't do much but race. Eventually got bored of doing nothing. Jobs a job," he answered, having no intention of telling her about his job, or his investigation.
Jade shook her head slightly. "If you say so. Can't say I'd be bored enough in Miami to get a job. So how do you know Toretto?"
"I don't," Knight shook his head. "Don't know a whole bunch of people out here, except for Brian, and I'm just getting to know the Toretto crew. And a girl."
"Out on a date with me, but seeing another girl?" Jade asked. "Girl could get the wrong idea."
"She's just a friend," came the dry response. "But nothing more than that."
"Let me guess, she's a starlet, too much media pressure. Right?"
"Hardly, Faith's an ex-con," Knight shrugged, not wanting to go into details about him and Faith. "She's cool. Little bit wild," he paused for a moment. "Anyway…how'd you end up out here and doing what you're doing?"
"Long story," she answered. "Short version is I got into some trouble."
"What a shocker. Seems that's how everyone ends up in LA."
She gave him a mildly bemused look. "Ok, so I went from the frying pan to the fire. Shit happens. Things weren't going so well and then I met Tempest. She helped me out, we became friends."
"So how'd you get involved with Ricky Tran?"
Jade looked at him curiously. "Temp runs a garage for him. I met him there. Tempest warned me about him, but it was a little late. He hooked me up with the car, and had Temp get it ready for me, but I owed him for a while."
"Sounds like a loan shark to me," Knight frowned, deciding to get some inside information about a possible suspect. "So what does he do? I mean, besides owning Tempest's garage."
"I'm not sure," Jade admitted. "I think his family is pretty wealthy for him to have the things he does. Bikes, race cars, and the businesses he owns."
"I heard he has gang connections," Knight said carefully. "Or runs one."
"You think he's a criminal?" Jade asked, then a little more distressed and angry. "Or you think I'm either one myself, or working for one."
"I don't think you're a criminal," Knight replied. "I'm just... I know he's related to Johnny Tran. And apparently, that guy was a thug. Almost killed Jesse from the Toretto team. Brian told me."
"And your friend Brian killed him for it," she pointed out. Knight didn't deny it. "Brian was a cop at the time. Tran was resisting arrest."
"But did he know that Brian was a cop?" Jade asked. "What if he didn't know, can he still justify shooting him then?"
"Since Tran was shooting at him, its self defence, cop or not," Knight made a time out symbol with his hands and grinned. "This all has nothing to do with either of us anyway. I was just curious."
Jade gave him a look that suggested she suspected there was more to his curiousness. "I guess. Seems like a funny thing to be interested in."
"I'm funny that way," Knight replied lightly. That seemed to work as she grinned slightly. "I guess. So what do we do now we've finished?"
"Over to the bar?" Knight asked, raising his visa card for the waiter.
Brian watched, feeling slightly confused as the four cars pulled away. Craig Cowell, in his Aston Martin DB9 had just won one of the races, but he hadn't spent much time getting congratulated. Instead, the silver DB9, with its 20" chrome rims, revolving in the opposite direction to the car, the chrome head and tail lights, and the front end modified to show off the pulsating blue under-chassis neon, wide body kit, tinted black windows and Dual GT spoiler, with the distinctive design on the side, a buxom nurse in a tight uniform, reclining on the rear wheel arches had pulled in alongside the F-40 belonging to Dan Cowell, and followed the dark blue Spyder with silver stars, and Tempest's highly detailed storm scene RX-7 as the cars drove off. It had been a long time since he'd used his cop instincts, but he knew something was going on. Still, he'd not heard or seen anything in the news, and he'd not heard anything from his contacts in the PD, but he couldn't shake the bad feeling he had.
"So, you, said you were out here for work?" Jade asked. "Before you changed the subject. What do you do?"
"Besides race?"
"Besides race," Jade smiled, drawing her finger around the edge of her glass. "Trying to avoid the question?"
"Not at all," Knight replied, "I work for Knight Industries, as a test dri..." he paused, his attention drawn by the TV –"Oh shit."
"What?" she asked as he stood and yelled for the bartender to turn the volume up as Jade asked "What's wrong?"
"The victim is believed to be disgruntled Iraq war veteran Mike Tracer."
"I know that guy, he's a colleague," Knight said simply. "I'm sorry, but I gotta go."
"Why?"
"Because I have to find out what happened," he said gently, pulling away. "Sorry to ruin the evening."
"Can't say I'm not disappointed, but I understand. Good thing I brought my own car."
Knight smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you."
"I should hope so," she said softly. "Guess I'll have to settle for a rain check."
"It's a deal," Knight plucked his jacket from the back of the chair. "Again, I'm sorry."
As the door close behind him, Knight pulled the ear-piece from his jacket and clipped on quickly. "Karr patch me through to Michael."
"Is there a problem?"
"Check the news channels. Mike's just been shot. By Rivai of all people."
"Comlink established."
"Michael, what happened? What the hell was Rivai thinking?"
Michael's voice on the other end of the line was tense. "Rivai was doing what she thought was best."
"Shooting Mike was for the best, are you kidding?" Knight asked incredulously. "Do you need me to come in?"
"No, stay on the job," Michael told him. "Mike's gonna be fine. It was tranquiliser. Apparently his past was catching up with him. Steps needed to be taken."
"And you're ok with this? She just shot your son, and killed him as far as the world is concerned!"
"I'm not exactly thrilled," Michael replied tersely. "But it's done. Stay on the case kid."
The line went dead, leaving Knight stood beside Karr, shocked. The Trans-am scanners rippled to life. "What do you want to do now?"
"You heard the man. We have a job to do," Knight slid inside the Tran-am. "Keep your scanners peeled, and listen in on all frequencies. Let's see if we don't get some luck with our mystery drivers."
"I think I may have something."
Knight glanced down at the voice modulator behind the steering wheel. "What is it?"
"I have been monitoring the local police band and civilian CB traffic. I have received a broadcast from 'Big Manny' heading north on Interstate four oh five. He's put in a call to the LAPD about three vehicles approaching at speed."
"Switch to super pursuit mode, plot us an intercept."
"Engaging super pursuit mode. Course plotted."
The car's ram-air intake rose slightly, allowing it to cram in more air. In the same instant, the spoiler angled more steeply as it raised, allowing for more down force, while panels in front of the rear wheels slid back to reveal two more intakes. There was a whine as the extra engines powered up, forcing the car to incredibly high speeds.
Within moments, they were on the Santa Monica freeway. The Trans-am raced along at insane speeds under the control of the AI, weaving around the light traffic without losing speed. Minutes passed until they reached the intersection, the sleek black machine taking the bend with a squeal of tyres. Now heading north on the 405, the car began to accelerate further, pushing itself to the limits.
"Time to intercept?" Knight asked.
"One minute, thirty five seconds," the car replied. "I have a visual."
"Let's see it."
A smaller 'window' appeared in the windshield heads up display. The truck was weaving back and forth dangerously, apparently trying to discourage the drivers of the three Civics. The cars were already beginning to position themselves around the rig, the lead car disappearing in front of the truck.
"Fifteen seconds to intercept," Karr announced coolly. "Disengaging super pursuit mode."
Moments later, the car had reverted to its normal configuration, closing on the vehicles ahead. Knight could see the passengers of the Civics on either side stood in the cars, bracing themselves against the sun-roofs while training automatic weapons on the truck. The truck's driver had begun to steady the vehicle, straightening out, giving up the fight.
"Karr's what's going on?"
"The lead car appears to be directly in front of the truck. Its passenger is aiming what looks to be a harpoon gun into the front of the truck. My belief is that they use the device with a harness in order to safely board the cab."
"In that case, we take out the harness, they have to give up, right?"
"In order to do so, we would have to target the cable with my laser. For optimal firing position, we would need to be in front of the truck and facing it."
"You want to reverse at these speeds on the highway? Are you insane?"
"I am a computer. I cannot be sane or insane."
"That's comforting," Knight replied. He grinned suddenly. "I always wanted to try this. Get ready pal."
The trans-am increased speed, tearing past the Civic on the right of the truck and pulled level with the lead Civic. Knight inhaled deeply, then yanked the wheel hard to the left and slammed on the brakes, letting out an excited whoop as the Trans-am span around, its tires screaming in protest.
The lead Civic dodged away as the Trans-am steadied itself and began to race down the highway in reverse. The Civic pulled back across, its second occupant firing the harpoon gun, the cable stretching between the Civic and the trucks passenger compartment. Knight shook his head. "Hit it Karr."
A burst of light emitted from below the car's pulsing dual scanners, severing the cable cleanly in less than a second. The second Civics passenger turned and began to fire at the Trans-am, a hail of bullets bouncing harmlessly off the car's windshield. Knight shook his head, and took the car forward, forcing the Civic to swerve out of the way before spinning the Trans-am around to once again be chasing the vehicles. "They don't seem to have given up Karr."
"Perhaps I gave them too much credit for intelligence," Karr replied. "I'm picking up communication between the cars. They appear to be using voice disguisers. I'm jamming the transmissions."
"Good thinking," Knight frowned, leaning forward slightly in the driver's seat. "Karr what are they doing?"
"It looks like they're trying to position for a second jump."
"We need to stop them," Knight stated, trying to weave the supercar around the Civic in front. The Civic matched him, blocking off his attempts to get around. The third Civic had dropped back, and was spraying the Trans-am's rear with bullets, attempting to shoot out the vehicles tires.
In the meantime, the front Civic had dropped back until its tail was almost against the front of the truck, the second occupant climbing out of the sunroof. Knight narrowed his eyes and began to feint right. The second Civic began to do the same, as Knight slammed left, and hit the gas. The Trans-am's nose hit the Civic's rear quarter, using the power available to spin the Civic around, until it span off to the side, clearing its path. As it began to pull forward, the first Civic's passenger jumped onto the front of the truck cab, somehow managing to reach and climb in through the broken windshield panel. "Ballsy move."
The first Civic began to pull away as the Trans-am swerved towards it.
"Knight!" the urgent tone in Karr's voice drew Knight's attention to the HUD as Karr displayed a muzzle flash in the tractor cab.
Knight's eyes widened as he turned in his seat as the cab's door opened, and a large black shape shoved out, hitting the tarmac hard. "Is it the driver?"
"I believe so," Karr replied, snapping up a visual of the helmeted figure now driving the truck.
Knight cursed, and spun the black and silver car off to the side of the road, continuing to curse as the trucks and the Civics accelerated away, hitting the gas and swerving into position to block oncoming traffic from hitting the unconscious truck driver. Knight leapt out. "Karr?"
"Vitals are weakening rapidly. He appears to be going into shock."
Knight groaned as he hauled the trucker to his feet and bundled him into Karr. "We gotta get this guy to a hospital."
"Setting a course," Karr intoned as his driver clambered in, accelerating away even as the door closed, and heading back into the city.
End of Chapter 16…