Enos strolled into the booking room, unnoticed by his superior officer. "Howdy, Sheriff!" Enos exclaimed, his voice pitching higher at the tail end of his greeting.
The sheriff jumped at the unexpected interruption. "Doh! Enos! Don't you know not to shneak up on yer superior officer like that? What're you tryin' to do, give me a coronary?"
"Sorry, sheriff", Enos apologized. "I's just comin' in to take the night shift. It's my turn tonight."
The sheriff stared at his deputy slackjawed for a second, quickly and silently replaying the nightmare over in his mind. He saw the deputy that now stood before him laying still on the cold, hard ground. He visibly shuddered at the memory.
"Sheriff? You okay?" Enos inquired.
"What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, Enos," the sheriff lied. "Um, I think I'll take the night shift tonight. You go on home," Rosco ordered.
"You sure, sheriff? You've had night shift the last two nights. I don't mind..."
"I'm sure, Enos. Go on home," Rosco said as he made a "shooing" motion with his hand.
Rosco figured he might as well take the night shift. After the nightmare he just had, he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep anyway. If he was up, he might as well give his deputy the night off.
As Enos turned to leave, Rosco grabbed his jacket off the coat rack. He rummaged through the pockets for the keys to the patrol car before putting it on and then headed out the door.
The first hour of his patrol was uneventful. He wound his way through the streets in town, checking on the local businesses and houses around the square. After ensuring the town was secure, he headed out on the country roads towards the outskirts of town.
As he passed the Boar's Nest, he noticed the last of the night's crowd were leaving. Only Daisy's jeep and a few trucks remained in the parking lot.
Nearing Cutter Junction, Rosco noticed a low, flashing glow on the horizon. Seeing as there was supposed to be nothin' out there but countryside, the sheriff was curious. He gunned the engine a little in his haste to solve the mystery. As he wound his way through the last curves between him and the mystery, the flashing lights became familiar. There were two patrol cars with their gumballs goin' just on the other side of a stand of trees.
"What p'lice would be out here, Flash?" the sheriff asked of his hound. Flash lifted her head when she heard her name, but then set it back down and went back to snoozing. "They'd be outta their jurisdiction… unless they're state troopers."
Shock replaced curiosity as Rosco rounded the final bend. There before him were two Hazzard County patrol cars. He slammed on the brakes and shifted the car into park. Slowly, he opened the car door and stood in total disbelief. He simply could not be seeing what he was seeing, yet there it was. He strode slowly towards the twin patrol cars, curiosity pushed him forward while fear gripped him tighter with every step.
The air was deathly still. So still, Rosco swore he could hear the beating of his own heart. As he neared the first patrol car, his heart skipped a beat. He rushed forward and dropped to his knees, next to the body of his deputy. His hand shook as he reached out to touch him. In that instant, the entire grisly scene, shimmered out of existence, leaving the sheriff shivering on the cold ground.
Rosco buried his head in his hands and shuddered, reliving the nightmare once again. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real.
In his despair, Rosco was unaware of the car bearing down on him on the dark backwoods road. The driver of the car was unaware of his presence too until it was too late to stop. He laid on the horn and the sharp notes of Dixie startled Rosco out of his trance. As the car swerved left, Rosco dove to the right, taking refuge behind his patrol car. The car slid to a stop and the occupants let out a collective breath as the dust began to settle. Rosco hesitantly peered up from under his dark Stetson and then let out a shuddering breath of his own.