Authors Note: I still don't own Knight Rider, or Fast and the Furious. Apologies for the lack of recent updates, real life has been getting in the way of writing. Hopefully you'll enjoy the continuation of the story. Thanks to Tempest-Races for beta-ing and fixing my mistakes, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 22: You wanted a hero tonight. Well, I'm not made of steel. I'm not made of steel, but your secret's safe with me.

Karr was pulling back onto the driveway as Knight stepped outside. Letty stepped out as the car stopped, running a hand along the edge of the door. Knight couldn't help but smile. "Enjoy the ride?"

"He's incredible," Letty replied. "And from what he tells me, what I've seen barely scratches the surface."

"Karr has a lot of tricks up his sleeve," Knight smirked. "He's a force to be reckoned with."

"Thank you," the Trans-am said. Knight glanced down at the gently pulsing scanners. "You ready for business?"

"Always."

"Good," Knight smiled and looked up at Letty. "I'd love to chat more, but I need to speak to my bosses and put you guys in the clear."

"That's more important," the Latina replied. "Thanks."

"No problem," Knight nodded, squeezing her shoulder. Letty grinned and headed inside, as Knight slung himself into the Trans-am. "Alright Karr, get me Michael online."

Karr wordlessly opened a comm. channel, displaying the vidscreen on the HUD. Knight smirked as his boss appeared on the screen. "Morning boss."

"Good morning," Michael took a sip of coffee. "What's up?"

"There was a heist last night. I was with the Toretto's the whole time. It isn't them."

Michael raised an eyebrow and put his coffee down. "Well, that's progress."

"Some anyway." Knight answered.

"So what are you planning next?"

Knight winced slightly. "I told the team what I'm really doing here."

"What?"

"I didn't have a choice. The heist made it onto the news this morning. I had to let them know they were in the clear. I know, I know, I'm too close to it."

There was no humour on Michael's face. "Yes, you are. Unfortunately at this point, any attempts to put anyone else in would likely fail, so you're all we've got. What have you got in mind?"

"I'm going to be taking a good long luck at Ricky Tran's place tonight. Toretto thinks it's him, and I agree with the thinking behind it. Tran could be framing them, trying to get even. Brian did shoot his brother after Johnny shot Jessie. There's a lot of history between the Tran's and Toretto's and none of its good. Did you turn anything up?"

"Seems he's cleaner than his brother. Couple of charges for carrying concealed weapons, none of em stuck. Since his brother was killed, he's been clean. They know he's racing bikes and cars, but never been able to get him in the act. The families wealthy, which would explain the cash he's able to throw around. But his businesses are legitimate, and apparently doing quite well."

"So if money isn't a motive, revenge certainly could be."

"It's a possibility, but shooting your friend down would be a lot easier," Michael told him. "What else have you got in mind?"

"Race Wars is coming up."

"What's Race Wars?"

"Big racing event held somewhere in the desert. It's a big deal among the racing crowd. Should provide a good opportunity to keep an eye on the main players."

"Sounds like a good idea then."

"According to the report this morning, something went wrong with the heist last night. The truck was abandoned, shot full of holes and dead on the side of the road. Guessing the trucker gave them a bit of a fight," Knight let a smile show. "I want to take a look at the truck, see what we can find. And a copy of the report from the LAPD's crime scene guys."

"I'll make enquiries. You know you won't be able to get close to the crime scene legitimately right?"

Now Knight smirked. "I've got a plan in mind."

"Alright," Michael replied. "Get to work then, I'll send the report to Karr as soon as it comes through."

The comm. channel signed off, and Knight patted the dashboard. "You heard the man. Let's get Brian out here shall we?"

"This isn't going to work."

"This was your idea, not mine," Knight told the blond.

Brian glared at him. "Your idea was stupid."

"But it would have worked."

"I'm not blasting past the cops guarding that truck in my car. There's no guarantee they'd give chase, and even if they did, there's no guarantee I could lose them and not get caught," Brian replied, exasperated.

Knight shrugged. "There's no guarantee they'll respond to a phoney radio call."

"If you're finished bickering, I have their radio frequency," Karr spoke up. "We can put the call in anytime."

"Just a minute Karr," Knight told the AI. He glanced back over at Brian. "What do you think about the place they ditched the truck?"

"Smart," Brian replied. "It's an industrial area, and a container park. Not far from the Terminal Island freeway, lots of trucks coming and going. Whose gonna notice one more parked up truck cab?"

Knight tilted his head slightly. "Good place to steal a replacement cab too, haul the trailer out of here. Not much car traffic to get in the way. Think this was coincidental or planned?"

"Rushed. The last few hijackings have been all over, only this one was so close to the loading area," Brian answered. "Has to be a reason."

"You mean besides a shot up truck that probably couldn't run far?" Knight snorted.

Brian gave him an embarrassed grin. "Besides that. Time for a closer look?"

Knight nodded. "Karr, would you do the honours?"

"Attention all units, attention all units, black Honda Civic has been reported driving west past at high speed on East Sepulveda Boulevard towards West Willow Street, repeat heading west on East Sepulveda Boulevard at high speed." Karr transmitted over the police frequency. "Vehicle is driving erratically, proceed with caution."

Knight watched on the screen as the two officers standing guard on the truck looked at each other, before jumping in their squad car. The sirens blared as the black and white took off, screaming out of Intermodal way. Knight glanced at Brian and grinned. "Nice work Karr."

"Thank you."

The Trans-am rumbled to life, leaving the car park and heading up Intermodal way before pulling off into the dusty industrial park, halting near the wrecked truck cab. The two men got out and headed towards the truck. Brian glanced over at his friend. "Remember, don't touch anything."

"Not a problem," Knight nodded, pulling leather gloves on, and glanced back over his shoulder. "Do your thing pal."

"I'm on it," the Trans-am replied, its dual scanners rippling back and forth.

The two men walked cautiously around the truck, halting by the front of the truck. "Collision damage."

"Some impact," Brian noted. "If it hit one of their cars, the car is probably wrecked."

"Karr?"

"I believe that to be old. The exposed metal is beginning to rust. However, the crumpling on the driver's side wheel arch is new, and contains flecks of black paint."

"The Civics. What else pal?"

"Bullet holes are consistent with 9mm impact damage. I have detected multiple bullet paths into the engine, and two into the front tyre. There are also holes in the driver's door."

Brian moved around to the cab door and peered inside. "Blood."

"According to details from the hospital computer, that would be the driver's blood," Karr told them.

Knight hauled himself up onto the wheel arch, leaning over the hood, "Karr, there's blood on the broken windshield. Also the drivers?"

"Analysing." The car replied. "Blood markers indicate a Caucasian male. Not a match for the driver."

"One of the hijackers," Brian commented. "Helpful once we can identify them, just to link them to the scene. Not so helpful until then. Doesn't even link us to Tran."

Knight crouched down by a set of tyre tracks. "Maybe. Maybe not. Some of his team are Caucasian males. Karr, do these tracks match those at the other site?"

"They're a match for the prints found at the previous sites. Wheel base is consistent with a Honda Civic manufactured between nineteen ninety-two and the year two thousand. Tread depth indicate the cars weight is around one thousand, one hundred kilos, which makes it more likely to be the model made between ninety-two and ninety-five."

"Which is consistent with the previous heists indicating a ninety-five Honda Civic," Knight said calmly.

Brian nodded. "And matches the cars used in the heists the team did."

"Yeah well, let's not say that too loudly," Knight said. "Last thing we need is someone catching that on a security camera and handing it to the cops."

"Ian, Brian, there is a squad car approaching." Karr announced.

"That's our queue to exit, start her up pal," Knight replied, as he and Brian sprinted to the sleek black and silver car.

Racers had already gathered when the team arrived, waiting for Dom to start the nights proceedings. Knight wasn't interested in the different goings on. He was too busy watching Ricky Tran interacting with Tempest and her team. Knight noted with interest how its tone changed, the intensity between members. He quickly diverted his attention as Jade moved away from them and approached him with a swing in her hips and smiled, trying to appear nonchalant while watching Team Tempest. Craig appeared to say something angrily, then headed over to his car, his brother Dan following, both their demeanours changing as they approached the girls gathered around their cars. Knight raised an eyebrow slightly, wondering what all that was about, then put it behind him as Jade pressed herself up against him. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Knight brushed her hair back over her ear "You racing tonight?"

"Maybe," she smiled. "You?"

"Probably," Knight answered. "Any plans for tomorrow night?"

"Depends what time Tempest finishes at the garage, why?"

"Don't like surprises?" Knight teased. She slapped his chest gently "Why?"

"I thought I'd take you out to dinner," Knight replied.

"Making your move huh?"

"Something like that," Knight answered.

Knight watched the Aston Martin belonging to Craig Cowell lining up against a yellow Ferrari Modena, a blue Lotus and a Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo. To Knight, the Lotus seemed severely out of its depth compared to the other cars. Still, his money was on Craig winning this one anyway, although he thought it would be a close match. Inside the Aston Martin, Craig was opening the NOS valve, waiting for the go, revving the engine up loudly. Tempest called the go, and the cars tore away from the line.

The cars stayed level for a couple of seconds, feeling each other out, before the cars began to separate, the Lotus falling behind, bringing up the rear of the pack, just behind the Mitsubishi as the Ferrari began to streak away, getting into the lead. A second later, the pace of the Aston Martin picked up, catching up to the Modena. The other two cars hit their nitrous, pulling level, momentarily, all four of them within inches of each other, all struggling to get an edge on each other. Sparks flared from the Lotus, its speed falling rapidly as it was left behind by the other cars, the Ferrari beginning to pull away from the other cars as they approached the line.

With seconds to spare, the Aston Martin surged forward, leaping into the lead with a surge of nitrous. The remaining two cars hit theirs, in an effort to catch up, but they were too late as Craig hit his second shot, the DB9 roaring as the cars crossed the line, taking the win by more than a car length. They pulled over back at the start line, Craig wearing his trademark charismatic but slightly cocky grin as he received congratulations from his team and from other racers, and leading the ribbing of the Lotus driver.

The celebration was cut short as Leon called out that the cops were on their way. Seconds later, cop cruisers tore into the street, the racers peeled away in their cars. Knight couldn't see Jade in the scramble, and hoped she was ok. The distraction was more beneficial for him and Brian though. If he couldn't see her, then she couldn't see them as they headed out and he didn't want her knowing what he and Brian were up to tonight.

His attention was snapped back to the road by Karr. "Knight, in front of us."

Knight slammed on the brakes, the Trans-am skidding to a half with a police cruiser mere inches from its nose. Knight shoved the Trans-am into reverse, Brian grabbing the dashboard as the sleek black and silver car sped backwards. Knight could just make out the cruisers driver asking his partner what kind of car could go so fast in reverse. Karr flashed up a graphic on screen. "We have a problem. Two more cruisers are approaching us from the rear."

"You know what to do Karr."

"Like this?" the car asked as it rode up and balanced on its two left wheels, still reversing at speed, passing through the small gap between the two cruisers.

Knight grinned at Brian's expression. "Just like that Karr," he told the sleek machine as it thudded back down onto all four wheels, still rolling backwards. Knight slammed the car back into drive, and tore the machine around the side of the cop cruisers, and barrelled down a side street. "Give me a course for Tran's place in Little Saigon."

"On the monitor," Karr replied coldly.

Knight glanced at it. "Thanks Karr."

"This is the place," Brian said as the Trans-am pulled over outside the warehouse. "Ricky Tran's headquarters."

"Ok Karr, tell me what you see."

The cars display monitors lit up, the computer graphic flashing through the full spectrum of colours, then switched to a skeletal graphic of the building and its surroundings. "The building is surrounded by an electric fence and the gate is mechanical. The building is alarmed, operating on motion sensors. The alarms will also go off if the computers or lights are activated," Karr reported.

Knight nodded. "Tough security."

"We've dealt with worse," Karr replied. "The power for the fence comes from another location. I can't knock it out without disrupting the entire block."

"Great," Knight replied.

Karr made an irritated noise. "Let me finish. I can activate the gate. Once we're through, I can disable the alarm system. It also acts on a sensor, and can be operated by remote."

"Must be so they can open the door as they drive in," Brian said. "They've upped security since I was here last. We didn't have any problems like this when me, Dom and Vince came snooping around."

"What do you know, crime rate increases business for security companies. Karr, haven't you got that gate open yet? What are you waiting for?"

"Musical accompaniment," Karr replied coldly, a waveform showing up on his screen, an image of the controls behind it. The wave oscillated, changing colour, then turned green, the gate sliding open, the black and silver car sliding through quietly. "Do you wish me to open the main door?"

"It'd draw too much attention," Brian said quietly.

Knight nodded. "He's right Karr. We'll find another way in. Just do something about the alarm."

"Very well," Karr replied as they climbed out of the Trans-am, Brian checking his pistol was loaded.

Knight shook his head. "No guns."

"What if Tran shows up?"

"We lay low. I don't like guns," Knight replied.

Brian frowned. "You were trained by an army ranger, you must know how to use them."

"There's a difference between knowing how to use them, and liking doing," Knight replied. "Put it away."

Brian reluctantly thumbed the safety, and put the gun in the car. Knight nodded. "Thanks. Ok Karr, get lost so they don't spot you. And close the gate on your way out."

"And turn the fence back on," Karr replied, backing away quietly. Knight watched for a moment, then headed up the drain pipe after Brian.

The two slid down from the skylight, down the hood of a car to the floor below. Brian flipped on a flashlight and started looking around. "Where do we start?"

Knight snapped his flashlight on and glanced at the cars. "None of these are Civics."

Brian crossed over to a desk littered with papers and started leafing through them. "Nothing here."

"What is this place?" Knight asked. "Why does he need a garage like this when he has Tempest running one for him, it doesn't make sense."

"Tempest is probably paying him back for it. If she ever can, which isn't likely where he's concerned," Brian replied. "It might just be that it's for working on his cars. His own private cars."

"Maybe," Knight said, his eyes resting on something. He crossed over to an area in shadows, lifting a helmet with a gold tinted visor. "Maybe not."

"What is it?"

"A helmet, like for scramble biking. Or paintballing," Knight answered. "But it matches the description given by the driver."

"And you can probably get an identical helmet at half a dozen stores all over LA," Brian said. "Doesn't prove anything. Especially when half his gang use motorcycles."

"Might just be a coincidence then," Knight replied. "I just got this feeling otherwise. A hunch."

"Can't rely on hunches," Brian replied, examining a spool of cord. "For example, this is the same kind of rope used in spear guns. But it has lots of other uses too. All we have is circumstantial."

"Just like everything else in this assignment," Knight cursed softly. His comm. link beeped and Karr's voice came over the tiny speaker. "We have an intruder."

"What do you mean Karr?"

"I detect a car, and a group of armed motorcyclists approaching. By my estimate, they will be arriving in about thirty seconds. Might I suggest you make your exit?"

"I think we're the intruders," Brian said quietly. "Sounds like Ricky Tran."

"That doesn't matter," Knight replied. "We're out of here," he finished, scrambling back onto the hood of the car up on hydraulics, pulling Brian up after him. "Go, go!" he urged as the door started to open, climbing up through the skylight after Brian just after the lights came on.

As they shimmied down the drain pipe, the quiet air of night was disturbed by a phone ringing. Knight cursed, realising it was his and glanced through a window to see that Ricky and his gang had heard the noise and searching for it.

"Shit. Brian, drop," he ordered, quickly doing so himself, grunting as he hit the ground, grimacing as pain shot through his knees. "KARR!"

The roar of an engine announced the Trans-am's entrance as it smashed through the electric fence, sparks flying, crackling over the car. If it hurt, Karr made no indication of it, spinning the sleek black and silver Trans-am around, the car doors opening. Knight and Brian had just barely shut them when the car sprang into motion, accelerating away rapidly from the Tran warehouse as the gang of Asians ran out. A few took pot shots at the car with their weapons, few hitting the target, and the ones that did, bouncing off harmlessly as the car sped into the night.

Knight yanked out his cell phone swearing. "God damn it," saw the unrecognised number and that he had voicemail and punched it up. He recognised Jade's voice instantly, his face falling as he hung up the phone.

Brian saw his look. "What is it?"

"Jade's in jail. Cops caught her leaving the races."

"I guess that means we're making a detour on the way home?" Brian asked.

Knight nodded. "Two. I need a cover story. We're gonna bring in the beers."

"She doesn't know what you're doing?"

"Nope," Knight answered.

"That's bad."

Knight just glanced at Brian in response and didn't answer, a small sense of wrongness settling in his gut.

Tempest growled as her phone rang, and headed out of the club. "What do you want Ricky?"

"I need some of your…more specialist skills."

Tempest stayed silent for a moment. "I don't do that anymore."

"You'll do what I tell you. Unless you want to spend a lot of time in an eight by six cell."

"What do you need?"

"Someone's been snooping around my private garage. I want him eliminated."

"Who?"

"Knight. I saw his Trans-am blasting out of here as fast as its wheels could carry it."

"He's Jade's friend. And she's my friend," Tempest replied.

Tran's response was swift. "I don't care about that. I want him taken out. Immediately. Get it done, or I'll make sure you're the prison bitch."

The phone went dead. Tempest glared at it as if she found it offensive, flipped it shut and dropped it in her pocket, heading back inside the club.

End of Chapter 22…