Knight Rider '86 #22

Deep in the Arizona wildlife reserve sat the restored Western town of Apache Springs. It had been built back at the turn of the Twentieth Century when at the time of the gold rush. Now it sat there as a museum rich in history and tales of the old West. The town's owner had made quite a profit at the end of each year with visitors coming to the admire town's old timely buildings. However for the owner himself, he no longer felt quite at home. His name was Jeremy McNiven and he had lived in Apache Springs for over Twenty Years.

That night. The sky was clear and a warm breeze swept through the town. Jeremy sat there on the board walk outside his office when he felt the ground vibrate. He put down the paper and stepped outside to investigate. To his amazement, a huge unmarked twin rota helicopter flew over his head at a low rate of speed. It's bright search light scoured the area. Jeremy watched on as it slowly descended behind the rocky desert hill tops. Jeremy couldn't process what he had seen. The problem was it wasn't the first time.

A few minutes later, he climbed into his small white Jeep. He drove out of the town and headed up the trail towards the helicopter's position. As he got to a clearing, he was taken by surprise at the sound of gunfire. A bullet smacked into the dust just a few meters from his Jeep. It was a warning shot to keep him away. Jeremy flipped the back into the reverse to back off when suddenly, his ears caught wind of an agonizing scream.

He followed the sound until a body entered his field of vision. His heart began to sink into his stomach as he climbed out of the Jeep. He identified the body. It was the local Indian resident that lived in the area. He had been shot in the chest. Jeremy tried to find a pulse, but he was too late. He knelt beside the body and began to cry. The Indian was his dear friend.

“George.” he wept as he cradled the body. “George. No. Please not you too! Not you too!

*****

“So how does it feel to be on the road once again?” Michael smiled as he cruised down the highway with RC3 in the passenger seat. “I won't lie to you, we've missed you man.”

“Yeah well I missed you too guys.” RC replied with a grin. “I can't wait to see Devon and Bonnie again. I tell you, life on campus isn't like what the movies say it is.”

Michael laughed. “Yeah right. How's the studying going?”

“It's hard, but I'm getting the grades I need.” RC said as he lightly tapped the dash with his fingers. “By the end of the semester, I'll be working on the modern day rides. Before you know it I could be working under KITT's hood.”

“As much as I am happy for your career choice, I would rather have Bonnie tend to my systems, thank you very much.” KITT piped up.

RC took slight offence. “What's the matter KITT? Are you saying that I don't have what it takes to fix a car?”

“Not at all.” KITT replied. “I am merely stating that with Bonnie, I am guaranteed to have my fenders intact. I remember that contraption you had in the Semi. It was abused, in pieces and even destroyed during a building implosion.”

“Why do you think I'm at University now?” RC countered. “I was a rookie back then. I'm changing it all around.”

“Okay that's enough. KITT you made your point.” Michael interjected. “But seriously, RC do you plan to return to the Foundation once your scholarship ends?”

“Ask a silly question.” RC snickered. “I wouldn't leave you guys for the world.”

“Michael, Devon is calling.” KITT said.

Devon and Bonnie appeared on the monitor. RC hoped it was a welcoming message, but as in FLAG fashion, it clearly wasn't the case.

“Hello Reginald. It is good to see you again. I do apologise for ruining our planned reunion but I'm afraid I have another assignment.” He said. “Michael, we've just received a call from a man called Jeremy McNiven. He runs the Apache Springs Western Museum. Apparently there have been reports of unmarked black Helicopters flying in and out of the valley there and to add to it, one of his associates have been found dead during each incident.”

“Wow that sounds dark.” Michael replied. “Why hasn't he contacted the local and state authorities?”

“Well that is where this case get mysterious. He claims that each time he contacts the police, they ignore him claim and have even warned him for wasting police time. He has nowhere else to turn.”

“Tell him we're on our way.” Michael acknowledged as he flicked away at the buttons overhead. “Don't worry Devon, we'll investigate this. KITT, plot me the quickest route to Apache Springs will you?”

“Certainly, Michael.”

Michael then looked at RC, totally aware of how his reaction was to the brief the call.

“Hey I'm sorry about this. I know it wasn't what you were expecting.”

“It's alright man.” RC replied with a forced smile. “I could do with so excitement anyway.”

After travelling down the interstate, Michael, KITT and RC eventually crossed the line into Arizona. The aura of the old west stained the terrain around them. It was rich with history. However it was only KITT who cared about it. Apache Springs sat up ahead. Upon arrival, it appeared to be baron. The buildings creaked, the breeze kicked up the dust and the wildlife echoes in the distance. They rolled to a stop in the main street and stepped out into the street. Michael headed towards the office which sat at the end of the town. Jeremy sat behind his desk with a young woman. The young woman spotted the two men outside and stepped out to greet them.

“Howdy. Can I help you gentlemen?” she asked them with a cute smile.

“Howdy.” Michael smiled. “My name is Michael Knight. We're here from the Foundation For Law And Government. Devon miles sent us here.”

“Oh right. You're here to talk to Mr McNiven. I'm Alice, his secretary.” The woman replied as she shook hands with the two men. “Come on in. I'll let him know you here.”

Michael and RC followed Alice inside the building. Jeremy looked up at them, breaking himself out of his focused state.

“Ah you boys must be from the foundation.” He said as he stood up to greet them. “Thank you for coming out here.”

“The pleasure is our, Mr McNiven, but quite frankly we want to know why you two were refused help.” Michael began. “I mean what exactly happened here?”

Jeremy began to pace the small office with a look of sorrow.

“That's a good question.” He began. “All I can tell you is when it happened. It started a few months ago when my wife went out of town to get some tools as the town needed to be repaired after a storm. She never came back. Instead a black unmarked helicopter flew over the town and landed in the valley just east of the town. I rode out in that direction to find out what the hell was going on and that's when I found her. She was lying there with a bullet in her head. The same thing happened again last night with our resident Indian tour guide, George Commuchi. This town was built on his ancestors land. He went out there last night because he saw something and wouldn't tell me. Then the helicopter flew over again.”

“What happened after that?” Michael asked him.

“Well lets see.” Jeremy recounted. “I went to investigate when a bullet nearly hit my Jeep. I reversed, heard a scream and before I knew it, there was George. He had been shot in the chest.”

RC tried to come up with a theory. “It sounds like to me that someone is flying in and keeping people away from something.”

“Well we thought that too.” Alice responded. “We've looked at the maps of the valley. There isn't anything there that would attract anyone of interest. We tried to report this to the Sheriff this morning, but he wasn't having any of it. Just like the last time.”

“We can't understand it.” Jeremy sighed. “We've been a prosperous place for many years. I don't see why anyone would have a grudge against us. We live in fear every day and we don't understand why.”

Alice shared her employer's sense of defeat.

“The Sheriff can't even help us on this.” She huffed.

“I don't think that at all?” Michael told them as he rubbed his chin. “I think that he doesn't want to help you because he knows what is going on.”

“Now that's just crazy son.” Jeremy scoffed. “The Sheriff is a noble man of the law. We've been friends for many years. Why would he cover up something like this from us?”

“I don't know, but I'm going to find out.” Michael replied. “Where can I find him?”

“He works at the local precinct in town just a few miles from here.” Alice replied with the details. “He can be a very intolerant man so don't try to push him too far.”

“Don't worry, I just want to get some information out of him.” Michael assured them. “I'll be in touch.”

They returned to KITT with a plan. Michael automatically reported the situation to Devon before they drove out of town.

Sheriff Daniel Colt despised outsiders. He really hated those of the tourist kind. The legendary town of Tombstone was his jurisdiction and it was his belief that outsiders were destroying it's essence. He was in his mid Fifties with hair that parted at the sides. He had been the Sheriff there for two decades. He sat there outside his office which was next to the hotel. KITT's unique black shape appeared through the heat waves. They're unwelcomed arrival made the Sheriff's stomach tighten.

Michael pulled up outside the Sheriff's office and left KITT. The Sheriff's face sent aggressive messages to Michael's instincts. He was going to keep it short and sweep as it feared that it could leave him inside a jail cell.

“Hi, are you local Sheriff around here?” he asked him.

“That's right and I don't take kindly to young hot heads such as yourself.” The Sheriff replied harshly. “You better not be thinking about planning some sort of a race?”

Michael looked at KITT. He picked up on the Sheriff's insinuation.

“Oh no sir. I'm not a racer.” he replied. “No I'm from the Foundation Of Law and Government. My name is Michael Knight. I'm here to investigate a case that involves the Apache Springs reservation. Do you police that area?”

“I do. It falls under my jurisdiction.” The Sheriff replied. “Just what do you want? I haven't heard of your boys before?”

“Look let me to get to the point here.” Michael hastily continued. “Jeremy McNiven has reported sighting of black unmarked helicopters flying over the town and two bodies have been found. Now he claims that you won't go up there and investigate this. We've been called here to find out why?”

“You have got to be serious, boy.” The Sheriff said with a scowl. “McNiven is an old kook. He always did have a good imagination. Always one for telling stories. There have been no reports in the area at all.”

“Yeah somehow I don't quite believe that.” Michael responded as he challenged the Sheriff's claim. “You haven't seen the sincerity in his eyes. I have. I believe he's telling the truth.”

“Are you questioning my word as a dedicated lawman?” The Sheriff growled as he took a step closer to Michael.

“I just think you know what's going on.” Michael answered calmly. “Any dedicated lawman would not ignore a report like this. Plus Unmarked helicopters and bodies? If that's a hoaxed story then it's very morbid. I suggest you rethink things through Sheriff. If you need me I'll be at Apache Springs.”

The Sheriff felt threatened by Michael's words as he clenched his fist hard. He issued his warning which stopped Michael in his tracks.

“Wait a minute. I don't know who you are son, but let me tell you something. Don't cross me. If you plan to stay here and cause problem then I'll throw you behind bars.”

“Whoa! Such hostility, Sheriff.” Michael replied as he sarcastically through up his hands. “I'll be seeing you around.”

The Sheriff's eyes locked onto the dusted back T-Top as it rolled on out of town. He then spun on his heels and headed on inside. A well dressed man stepped out of the shadows of the office. The Sheriff walked up to him and reported what had happened.

“We have a problem.” he said. “Some hot shot by the name of Michael Knight is investigating the McNiven place.”

“This poses a problem.” The shaded man replied. “Who does he work for?”

“The Foundation for Law And Government. He's serious on busting us. He was asking me about the murders.”

“I have heard of this FLAG organisation. They must not be allowed to discover what we're doing here.”

“McNiven must have spotted the helicopters. He must be silenced.”

“No that would arouse too much suspicion. The problem is this Michael Knight. If we eliminate him then no one will suspect our operation. I'll take care of it. You must keep up with your play acting.”

“Alright. Just remember our deal. Once you get all of it, I'm taking my cut and splitting.”

“My friend, I always keep my promises.”

The man left the building. The Sheriff was left to compose himself of the encounter. What was his co-associate going to do? How was he going to kill Michael?