"Hi Bonnie, did you have any luck finding where that tip came from?"
Michael asked as he hopped out of Kitt in the semi.
 Bonnie, who was sitting in her usual place in front of the computer shook
her head, "nope, nothing.  By the looks of things, it was sent through four
different phone locations, two drop sights and who knows where before that."
 Michael was impressed she'd traced it back that far and let it be known
through his expression. "So in other words.."
 "You were set up."
 "By professionals.  Okay, it's not the first time, and I'm sure it won't be
the last."  Michael turned, seeing his partner he remembered, "Kitt was
having scanning problems."
 Bonnie's eyebrows rose, "I'll check 'em out."
 "Thanks."  Michael headed towards the front, getting himself a coffee and
keeping out of Bonnie's way as the semi headed for home.
 

*

    No one noticed the small person lurking around the hills of the estate.
He had been given an assignment and a warning.  The car could scan, the car
could think and heaven help him if the car discovered what he was about to
do.
    So he watched and waited for two days.  Observing the patterns around
the building.  Gathering information needed to complete his assignment.  The
car 'slept' in the garage by the R and D facility.  The target slept in the
house, on the second story.  He watched the security measures.  They were
pitifully inadequate for the types of enemies these people encountered.  He
could easily follow the movements within any building.
    'This is too easy' he thought to himself as he positioned his gun.  The
house was dark, the garage was dark, they were all asleep, unsuspecting.
    Sneering, the man looked through the high powered sights at his target,
stretched out on the bed, completely vulnerable.
    Just to be on the safe side, he took one more look around.  His car was
in easy reach.  He'd driven the escape route a few times.  Once he hit open
road, he was in the clear.  The car wouldn't be able to follow him.  The car
wouldn't even know he had been there.
    He double checked the position of his favorite weapon, making sure of
his target.  Then he fired.
    The reaction was immediate.  Sheering metal, Kitt launched out of his
garage toward the house, which was in total chaos.
    "Michael?!" The cry that came from the Trans Am could be heard
throughout the property.
    "I'm okay," came the shaky reply.  Michael found himself on the floor
beside his bed, where instinct had rolled him.  His disbelieving eyes
switching between the hole in the window, to the hole in the wall just above
the headboard of his bed.  He silently thanked whatever guardian angel was
watching over him that night.
    Devon burst into Michael's rooms, expecting the worst and was greatly
relieved to see him standing, pulling on his clothes.
    "Are you alright?"
    "Yeah. Did anyone see anything?"  Michael was pulling on his boots.
    "I don't believe so.  Everyone had settled down for the night."
    "Michael?" Bonnie ran in.  It was obvious she had dressed hastily.
    "I'm okay, he missed.  Kitt and I are going to check it out."
    "Are you sure that's wise?"  The older man asked, clearly as distressed
as Bonnie.
    "I'm not about to sit around and wait for him to try again."  Fear
turned to anger.
    "Michael's right."  Bonnie swallowed hard, seeing the hole in the wall.
Michael nodded and exited to meet Kitt downstairs.  "Plus he'll be safer in
Kitt."  She made sure Michael was out of earshot before speaking.  "What are
these people playing at?"
    "I haven't a clue," Devon answered before escorting Bonnie from the
room.

    "Can you give me an approximate location of the shooter?"  Michael
hadn't even closed the door behind him.
    "From the trajectory of the bullet, before it hit the window, I'd have
to say the north hills."
    "Okay, let's go.  Let's see if we can figure out who's
behind this one."
    As they pulled into the area, Kitt began a full scan.
    Kitt's silence was greatly disturbing his partner.  "What?" Michael
finally asked, knowing he wasn't going to like the answer.
    "I've found a set of tire tracks, but they appear to be racing tires."
    "Bald in other words."
    "Correct."
    "Where do they lead to?"
    "Across the grass and onto the driveway."
    "Then off property. Anyway to trace them?"
    "I'm sorry Michael."
    "Anything else?"  Looking through the windshield, even with every one of
Kitt's powerful lights on, there seemed to be nothing in the darkness to
provide them with clues.
    "I can't even find footprints."  The anguish in Kitt's tone was
increasing.
    "This is a change.  Me calm and you freaking."
    "I am not freaking, Michael.  I just hate the fact that someone crept
around our home and got close enough to take a shot at you."
    "I'm not overly happy about that one either.  But we are not going to be
able to figure this one out if we can't think straight."
    "You're right.  For a change."  Kitt couldn't help himself.  He had been
incredibly frightened when he heard the shot.
    There was no mistaking  that sound.  Then the shattering glass.  He knew
exactly which room had been targeted.  He felt Michael's vitals skyrocket,
that was the only thing that maintained Kitt's sanity.  He knew Michael was
alive. Scared, but alive.  He also knew Michael's reactions and his body
still had not returned to it's normal, relaxed state.  No matter what
Michael was saying, Kitt knew his friend had been badly shaken by this
attempt.
    "Alright Smart Alec, let's head back.  We can try again in the morning.
Maybe the bullet will tell us something."
    After informing Devon and Bonnie of their non-existent findings, then
making sure everyone was settled back, Michael drove Kitt back to the
garage.
    Nothing was said between the two.  Michael was still shocked.  How could
anyone have gotten this close?  How much information did these people have
on FLAG?  Obviously a frighteningly large amount.
    After parking the car, he took a quick look around.  He had always felt
safe at the estate.  Now that was gone.  There was only one truly safe
place.
    Kitt was mildly surprised when Michael reached for the seat adjuster
instead of the door.  Then happily hummed his approval as Michael curled up
in the seat before falling asleep.  Kitt darkened the windows, and locked
down before partially shutting down.  He would keep and eye out and let
nothing disturb the man sleeping inside.

part four