And So It Begins (Pt.2): Bonnie

Location: Pasadena,CA

"I'll miss you, you know that, right?" Michael asked. Bonnie smiled at him as she continued packing her suitcase.

"I'll miss you too. It's only for a few days," she told him.

"I wish you didn't have to go," he complained. "We've only been married a few months, and already we hardly see each other."

She stopped packing and walked over to him. Putting her arms around his neck, she gave him a kiss. "I know. But this lecture is important to me. It's what I do, Michael. You knew that when we got married. In fact, I remember having a very lengthy conversation about all of this."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," he told her. "It's just..."

"It's just what?"

"I love you," he told her softly. She smiled and gave him another kiss.

"I love you too. Now I really have to finish this packing. Sarah and I have to get to the airport by eight this morning and it's almost seven!"

"Don't worry, KI2T can get you there on time. No problem," he told her.

"Hey Bonnie? Do you have-" Sarah stopped. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?"

"No, come on in," Michael told her. "How are you this morning?"

Sarah smiled. "I hardly slept. I was going over my notes all night. I haven't given a lecture in almost two years!"

Bonnie laughed. "It's been just over a year since I've done anything as well. Don't worry Sarah, we'll do just fine."

"She's right. Where are you going again?" Michael asked her.

"I'll be flying to Logan International Airport in Massachussetts. From there to MIT campus. I have a room there. Then my lecture will be the first one the following morning," Sarah replied.

"What did you need Sarah?" Bonnie asked.

"Do you have a small bag I could borrow? Your stepson used mine when he went to the gym."

"What's wrong with that?" Michael retorted.

"Nothing. Except he left his gym clothes in it and now it smells awful." Michael laughed. "That sounds like him." Sarah nodded her head. Turning, she said to Bonnie, "You're off to RIT, right? That's just outside of Rochester, NY isn't it?"

Bonnie nodded. "I have a friend who's a professor there. She asked me for a favor. I decided a few days away from my job wouldn't hurt," she replied.

"What about me?" her husband asked.

"You'll be just fine. I'm sure you'll keep busy." She winked at him.

"Are you guys done yet?" Mike asked from the doorway. "We have to get to the airport soon." Turning, he headed down the hall. Over his shoulder he yelled out, "I'll meet you downstairs! Oh, and Wil wants to see us."

In ten minutes, everyone was walking into the den. The two ladies luggage was by the front door.

"That's great! When can we expect the contracts?" Wil was saying into the phone. "Terrific! I'll let Devon know when I see him. Thanks General . And about the other thing we discussed?" There was a slight pause. "Keep digging then, and thank you." Wil hung up the phone. Looking up, he smiled at the group standing in front of his desk. "We just got a really good contract from our own government," he told them. "Are you both ready for your trips?" They nodded. "Good. The Knight Industries jet is all set, ready and waiting. It'll drop Bonnie off in Rochester before flying on to Boston to drop off Sarah."

"Wait, you're going to use the company jet?" Michael asked. "Does Devon know?"

"You forget, I own the company. But, yes he approved it." Standing up, he turned to the mantel above the fireplace. Pushing a button on his desk, a flat screen tv popped out from behind a hidden panel. The screen filled up with the three AI's tucked within their cradles, in the KITT cave. "KARR, meet us at the front door please." The screen went dark and receded into its hiding place.

"I thought we would take them to the airport," Mike stated.

"I need to go see Devon, so I may as well take them to the airport. And April will be flying in later this afternoon," Wil responded. "We have a client coming in this morning, around eight-thirty. I need you two to meet him." Wil walked out to the foyer and picked up the two suitcases. Bonnie and Sarah said their good-bye's and grabbed their carry-on's. Michael opened the door, and KARR was waiting. The vehicle popped open the trunk and started his engine. The twin amber lights blinked on and started gliding back and forth. Climbing in, Wil, Bonnie and Sarah waved as they started for the entrance. Once on the road KARR plotted the quickest way to the airport and proceeded to pour on the speed.

"KARR, let's keep it under a hundred okay? I really don't need to explain to a police officer why we're speeding," Wil spoke to his vehicle.

"If I slow down, then Bonnie and Sarah will be late taking off. You wasted too much time this morning packing and saying good-bye," he retorted. "You should have had everything packed last night." Bonnie and Sarah smiled at each other.

"We'll miss you too, KARR!" they said together. Reaching the airport within forty-five minutes, KARR overrode the gate controls and drove out to the waiting jet.

"You just made it!" the co-pilot exclaimed. "We'll be taking off in five minutes. I'll stow your luggage, just get on board." Wil assisted Sarah into the jet, saying good-bye. Turning, he saw Bonnie speaking to KARR. Then she hurried up the steps and gave Wil a hug good-bye. He moved down the stairs as the co-pilot hurried up them, pulling them up and sealing the compartment. Moving back to his car, he watched as the jet moved out to the runway. Two minutes later, it took off.

Climbing into the car, he asked, "What did Bonnie tell you?"

"That was a private conversation." He paused. "It was strange though."

"C'mon KARR, just tell me."

"She told me to keep an eye on you and to relay that message to my counterparts for Mike and his father. She said something felt wrong. I scanned her vital signs and body. I detected nothing."

"That is strange, but I think she meant something is wrong. Like maybe something bad is going to happen. Let's keep our eyes and ears open," Wil told him.

"That will be hard to do, as I have neither," his car replied. Wil shook his head, smiling. Pulling out of the airport, he headed to Knight Industries.

Location: Rochester, NY

The jet touched down at the Greater Rochester International Airport just after eleven-thirty am. The flight had been uneventful. Bonnie and Sarah had passed the time by helping each other with their notes and speeches. Saying good-bye, Bonnie collected her suitcase from the co-pilot and headed into the airport. She made her way out to the front and found a car waiting for her. The driver held a sign with her name on it. She walked over to him.

"You're here to pick me up? I thought Marlene was coming for me?" she asked as he grabbed her suitcase.

"Yes ma'am, she was. She got stuck with some last minute revisions for tomorrow's lecture. She asked me to apologize, and said she would see you this evening." He closed the trunk and opened the back door. "My name is David and I'll be driving you to the college."

"It's good to know she hasn't changed. Thank you," she said as she climbed into the back seat. He closed the door and got into the driver's seat. Starting the car, he headed for Brooks Ave. Turning right he made his way to I-390 South. He did not get off at Exit 17 for Scottsville Road. When Bonnie questioned him, he replied, "There's all kinds of construction. It's easier to go down and get off at East Henrietta Road. Take that to Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road until you hit Jefferson. A little longer drive, but no sitting in construction."

Sitting back, Bonnie was not satisfied with his answer. Her intuition was ringing. As they passed the exit for East Henrietta Rd., she knew something was wrong.

"Excuse me, but we just passed the exit we needed," she told David.

"I know. Just relax, and let me do the driving. As long as you behave, nothing will happen to you." She reached for the door handle, only to realize that there was none. Next thing she knew, she smelled a sweet, sickly odor. Chloroform! She said to herself. That was all she remembered before blacking out.

The driver picked up a cell phone from the passenger seat and hit a button that dialed a number automatically.

"Picked up pawn number three. She's out," was all he said. He hung up the phone and waited for the text message to come through, telling him where to take his prisoner. The phone vibrated. He flipped it open and read the message. Smiling, he pushed down on the accelerator and made his way to I-590 North.