A startling Text

A crackle interrupted the radio transmissions being played over Kitt's monitors. "A black T-top trans-am fitting the description of KARR on the four points bulletin was last seen by patrols about three hours ago. The vehicle was heading out of the city due west. Our patrol thought nothing of it at the time and so we lost track of it.... it could have gone down any of forty-seven routes to another destination. They could be headed into the deserts of Nevada or they could be headed towards Mexico.. but they could also be headed elsewhere to a private airport of sorts. Sorry, this is the best information we have," the officer reported.

"Thank you very much officers, your help is appreciated," Michael breathed. Even if their information had not given them an exact or specific location, it gave them small leads. If they were able to discover the places where Garthe Knight had properties... then they could and would narrow down the best choices. Michael's experience as an investigative cop helped him in moments like this. He could narrow down the leads and with Kitt's help, the two could be a virtually unstoppable rescue team.

"Kitt, draw me up a list of all Garthe Knight's acquaintances and properties in the areas of the Nevada dessert and the Mexican desert. Narrow the list down by the properties by proximity to any private airports," Michael ordered. His hands drumming nervously and anxiously against the wheel.

"Right away, Michael. Might I ask, why we are searching for places near private airports? Bonnie is pregnant, wouldn't it be uncomfortable for her to be crammed in a tiny plane?" Kitt quizzed.

"Kitt? I don't think Garthe is worried about making Bonnie comfortable so long as he can have his... I mean.... my son," Michael sadly replied.

Kitt's screens continued to flash and sort through hoards of information, attempting to find the most pertinent information he could. Kitt knew Michael's assessment of Garthe's inability to experience things like compassion and empathy would hold true, even around a pregnant woman.

"Have anything for me, yet, Pal?" Michael asked after several moment of silence passed between them. He was impatient, worried, and growing tired of not being able to pin-point where Garthe had taken his pregnant wife.

Patiently, Kitt answered, "I'm working on it. My CPU can only process information so fast. Besides, interfacing with some of the advanced computers in possession of the information we desire, isn't easy. I'm sorry, Michael."

"Yeah, yeah, just keep working on it please...." Michael begged, waving his hand through the air dismissively.

The curly haired F.L.A.G. agent closed his eyes trying to believe that his wife and unborn child would be returned to him safely. It was difficult to imagine that F.L.A.G.'s most brutal enemy, would be gentle and loving with the mechanic responsible for foiling his plans on several times before. Michael doubted that her treatment would be any better than it had been when Garthe brutalized and victimized her.

Garthe had Bonnie so scared that it took Michael two weeks to convince her to accept a hug from him. It took her even longer to accept his offer of marriage and the protection for her and the son Garthe had so cruelly pressed upon her. Michael loved her and whatever Garthe did to hurt her, in turn, hurt him. Michael would make Garthe pay dearly for everything he ever did to his family.

His thoughts of revenge, turned to holding Bonnie tightly against his sturdy chest, letting his hands smooth over and massage her slightly swollen belly. He could hold her there in his protection and safety for the rest of eternity if she'd let him. Michael wanted to kiss Bonnie and to reassure her that nothing bad would ever happen to her again.

In that moment, he began to feel guilty. He promised Bonnie that he'd protect her from any and all harm and yet, Garthe had gotten to her. He vowed silently that if he ever got her back, he would stay with her for the remainder of her pregnancy and for as long as she needed to stay home and care for the infant. He'd hover protectively around her until she was well enough to return to work. Even then he'd insist on keeping her and his son close. He could not risk any more of F.L.A.G.'s or his enemies getting ahold of his family.

"Michael? We may have a problem. Garthe might have anticipated our researching his records. He has private planes and mansions both near the Nevada dessert and the Mexican boarder. What do you suppose we do now?" Kitt broke the silence.

Michael sat up, his blue eyes widening in alarm and surprise. "Ahhhhh! What do you mean he has private airports and mansions near both Nevada and Mexico?" He questioned.

"Have a look for yourself, Michael," Kitt answered.

Michael's gaze intently studied the screen and he slapped both sides of the pilot wheel in frustration. "Alright, let's check the Nevada ones first. I think he might go back to his comfort-zone before leaving the country." He cringed slightly as he spoke, knowing that he could be wrong about Garthe's movements. He hated knowing that Bonnie and the baby's lives both depended on his ability to think faster than the man who could pass for his twin.

"Plot a course for his Nevada dessert mansion. I don't care how long it takes us to get there. Just get there!" Michael demanded.

"Which mansion do you think he'd take her to? There are several scattered around the dessert, some in Wilton's name, some in Elizabeth's, and he has a good number of friends with mansions around Nevada. There are six mansions, four of them are near private air ports..... then there is one near Reno and the other one is near Las Vegas." Kitt remarked.

Michael's head quirked to the side thoughtfully, his thick brunette brows furrowing upon his forehead as he contemplated the many courses of actions that were presented to him.

"Well, first I say, we cross the mansions near Reno and Las Vegas off the list. I think it is safe to assume that Garthe would be avoiding major cities," Michael assessed.

Kitt's scanner slowly swooshed from side to side and he prompted, "what makes you say that, Michael?"

Sitting forward the curly-haired ex-cop replied, "if I know Garthe, he is running scared. He knows we're coming after him. He probably also figured that we'd put out an search alert to all figures of authority within every major city and town around his family's mansions. He'd be afraid that within ten minutes of entering a major city, his whereabouts would be discovered and he'd be headed right back to jail. The mansions in more desolate areas... might provide him with a false sense of security. I'm hoping that false sense of security will bring Karr and Garthe both down. "

"Good thinking, Michael. Should we start with the closest or the furthest mansion first?" Kitt pondered aloud.

This question presented more of a problem for Michael. He wasn't sure he knew which one to search first. A part of him wanted to say search the closest ones first. While another part of him feared, that perhaps, Garthe thought that the closest ones would arouse the most suspicion. If Garthe thought that the closest ones would be raided first, he'd have Bonnie hidden at the furthest mansion possible. But what if Garthe wasn't thinking? What if he hadn't organized his thoughts and by searching the furthest first he put Bonnie and the baby in danger? Could he live with himself by making this decision? What if he was wrong about Nevada.... what if they were in Mexico? He swallowed harshly and replied. "We'll start with the closest one first then we will figure out a plan of action accordingly...." Michael finally but reluctantly answered.

"Sounds like a good enough start to me," Kitt answered.

Michael let out a staggering sigh and breathed, "it's not good enough unless we find our Bonnie alive, well, still healthy, and still with child."

Kitt silently agreed. He was very fond of his mechanic, who very much served as perhaps his closest friend, besides Michael and Devon of course. She understood him in a way that even his constant partner couldn't. But he couldn't allow himself to worry as well. Besides, Michael was doing enough of that for the both of them.

Michael's blue eyes fixated on the world just beyond the front dashboard and windshield. His brows remained furrowed with concern as he peered into the settling darkness.

What would they find at the first mansion? Would their beloved mechanic be there? Or had Garthe already smuggled her out of the country? Or had he already killed Bonnie and the baby? Would he kill a pregnant woman carrying his own child? Garthe has killed his own men before...... was that an indicator how he'd treat Bonnie? He sure hoped not.

((to be further edited))