Okay so thanks to all of you that have read through this. I hope you have enjoyed it. Yes, this chapter is based on the events in Grannie Annie so if you have your DVDs pull them out and watch the ep before watching this though I think it should explain it well enough that you don't have to if you don't want to.


Two months later Lizzy returned to Hazzard when she had a month off. Cooter took the first weekend of her return to go check out a car show in Atlanta. Lizzy was a bit sad but she understood especially since he'd be showing off a car he had recently rebuilt. Late one afternoon Lizzy was driving through the county when the boys pulled up beside her. She waved to them and they waved back. "How about a race?" Bo called.

"On go?" Lizzy answered.

"Three, two, one, go!" Bo counted down then she and Luke took off. Lizzy found it odd that Luke was driving but she pushed the pedal to the floor and drove the Mouse to the Boar's Nest. She pulled into the Boar's Nest mere seconds before the boys. After throwing her car into park she picked up her cb mike and called them.

"If I find out you boys let me win that one I ain't gonna be happy, you hear me? And speaking of winning, I think you boys owe me a drink or two."

"That's a 10-4," Bo answered. "You go in there and tell Daisy to put it on our tab. We're headed down to Granny Annie's place. We promised to do all her roofing for her."

"Have fun. Little Red's out."

About an hour later Lizzy was shocked when the Oak Ridge boys walked in and began setting up in on corner. About 30 minutes into their impromptu concert Bo and Luke sat down at Lizzy's table. They both looked a little shocked but neither one asked her or Daisy about it. Once the concert was finished and the Oak Ridge Boys were gone, as it turns out they had been caught in a speed trap and had chosen a concert over a night in jail, Bo and Luke settled their tab with Daisy then bought another round.

"So Lizzy, where's Cooter? He's going to be upset he missed this." Luke said.

"Car show, up in Atlanta; had this amazing engine he wanted to show off. He should be back in a few days. Until then I'm your local mechanic."

"You sure you can handle it?" Bo asked.

"You've seen my car. The one I rebuilt. I think I'll be fine."

"If you say so."

"How'd the roofin' go?"

"Fine," Bo answered. The pair stared at each other almost like two dogs fighting over a bone leaving Luke feeling a bit awkward.

Finally Lizzy blinked and looked down. Bo smirked but didn't say anything "How long are you here for?" Luke asked.

"About a week. Next weekend is the rodeo in Tennessee then one in Florida and one in Texas. After that my next ride isn't until January."

"So you'll be here for Christmas?" Bo asked.

"Yeah." Lizzy nodded. Eventually the Duke boys headed back for their farm and Lizzy moved to sit at the bar.

Shortly after she did Rosco came out of Boss's office and spoke with the bartender about something that piqued Lizzy attention and made her nervous. As soon as the sheriff walked away Lizzy slipped out the door and tore off to the Duke Farm. She skid to a stop near the General to see Bo unloading sacks of feed and Luke under the car. Luke slid out from under the car and Bo put down his bag of feed.

"Lizzy," Uncle Jesse acknowledged.

"Uncle Jesse, boys," Lizzy said, sliding out of her car.

"What's wrong? You look more nervous than a sheep on sheering day." Bo said.

"I've got some ... news."

"Bad news?" Luke asked

"I don't know. That five you boys paid your tab with ... well I overheard Rosco talking to the bartend. It ain't real, it's counterfeit. Rosco was asking if he knew where you went and he told him you came back out here. The odd part about it was that Rosco didn't seem like he was in a hurry to get out here and throw you under the jail."

"Are you sure, Lizzy?" Bo asked.

"I know what I heard!" Lizzy snapped.

"We ain't saying you're lying," Luke answered gently.

"What kind of varmint would give bogus money to a sweet, little, old lady like Granny Annie?" Jesse asked.

"Maybe some guy on the road came in and bought a paintin' or something," Bo answered.

"Well you two better get over there right away and you tell Granny what's happening," Jesse ordered.

"And be careful. If Rosco ain't aiming to throw you in jail for passing counterfeit then he's aiming to find out where it came from," Lizzy told them. The boys nodded. "You need anything you holler. Right now though, I got to get to fixing a car that's leaking like a stuck pig." They nodded again and they took off. When Lizzy finished with the car, she got a call out the rail yards to pick up a wrecked cruiser. She was only slightly surprised to see it was upside down and severely damaged. Once she had it right side up she shook her head. "I can fix it Rosco, but it's gonna take at least a week and a half." Instead Rosco told her to take it to the junkyard. It didn't take long for her to take the car down there. That's when she received a call to meet the Dukes at Hazzard Coffin Works. She pulled up out front to find Daisy's Road Runner, Uncle Jesse's truck and the General already parked there.

Once inside Luke told them what Annie had said; admitting that it was shine money from her late husband. Jesse told them that if it were him then he'd turn himself in and explain where he got it. Bo kinda agreed saying they couldn't blame Granny for something her late husband had done. As it turned out they had never been married.

"Then why would Granny tell the boys that story?" Daisy asked.

Jesse was too busy looking at Luke's hands to answer. "What is that?" Jesse asked.

"I don't know but it don't come off." Luke answered.

"Bo," Jesse said walking over to where Bo was seated in an old sled.

Lizzy looked too as Bo held his hands out. The same dark ink was on both their hands. "That looks like ink. Mama used to have a client who worked at a bank and you could always tell when they had a fresh shipment of bills. The ink on newly minted bills doesn't completely dry for up to a week. After that the ink doesn't really rub off the bills."

"And after 12 years?" Bo asked.

"It wouldn't rub off like that. I don't want to speak ill of such a sweet woman but if those bills are still wet ..." Lizzy trailed off.

"Come on you don't think—Annie?" Bo asked in disbelief.

"Come on, Bo," Luke sighed. They had to go talk to her again.

Lizzy followed them out and spotted a dark trail behind the General. She stooped downwind touched it then rubbed her fingers together. Just like she feared. Oil. She leaned on the window frame and looked from Bo to Luke. "Boys, I know you're busy but you need to get your friend in for a checkup. He's leaking oil and you really don't want to be driving around without oil."

"We know, but we ain't got time right now," Luke said. "Later."

Bo gave her hand a gentle squeeze then they took off. Lizzy shook her head getting a really bad feeling. There were only two ways it could turn out. Rosco would be hot after the Dukes or he'd be after the plates and if he was after the plates that meant that they, being Rosco and Boss, were looking to sell them. Selling counterfeit engraving plates meant dealing with some unsavory people which wouldn't turn out well for anyone. Lizzy went from there back to the garage and did a tune up on the county tow truck.

She had just finished up the tune up when she got a call from Luke asking if she had any smoke bombs. When replying affirmative Luke got her to bring it out to the Boar's Nest. She leaned in the passenger window of the General to find Bo alone. "Here go," Lizzy said, offering it to him.

"Wanna come along for the ride? We might need a mechanic," Bo said.

"Sure," Lizzy agreed, sliding in the window.

"You do that like a pro," Bo said.

"Thanks. It's faster and easier. I don't think I've opened my car door in at least a year." Luke slid back in at that moment and looked at Lizzy. "Bo said you might need a mechanic and I sure don't want to miss this," Lizzy handed over the smoke bomb and Luke grinned. They followed a blue car out of the parking lot and down the road a bit where the blue car had stopped.

"Whatever you do, don't tell them what's really wrong with the car. Make something up to give Bo a reason to slide under the car." Luke reminded her. Lizzy nodded and the three climbed out and headed for the car. After some quick talking form Bo and Luke, Vic, the tall, muscular, dark skinned man stepped back from the front of the car and Lizzy stepped up. Just as she popped the hood she spotted the man in the passenger seat. Big Jim Downey. This was not good. She hadn't expected to see him involved in this. She pulled her ball cap lower then looked over the engine.

"Could be a busted gasket," Lizzy said softly.

"I ain't got half the talent Cooter's got and even I can tell it's the distributor cap." Bo answered. Lizzy glanced at him as he fiddled with it. She wasn't sure what Luke had done to it but knew it had to be something simple.

"You're both wrong, I bet you a round at the Boar's Nest that it's a blown seal," Luke said.

"Check underneath." Lizzy nudged Bo. He walked around the back and laid down look at the underside. Suddenly smoke poured from the car and Bo and Lizzy rushed Vic and Jim 20 feet from the car.

"Hey y'all, take it easy I think it's settling down now!" Luke called as the smoke cleared. "I think you'll be alright." They came back towards the car.

"Looks like it is a broken seal. Why don't you sit tight and I'll run back to the garage and grab you one?" Lizzy suggested keeping her eyes away from Jim.

"Yeah, don't go nowhere," Bo added.

"Be right back," Luke finished. The three went to the General and took off. "Bingo," Luke said when they were more than 100 or so feet from Jim. He held up the engraving plates and smirked as Bo cheered.

Lizzy on the other hand felt sick. "Tell me something, did Boss sell those plates to Jim?" she asked.

"Yup," Luke said as Bo headed for Hound Dog Lake.

"I got a really bad feeling about this," Lizzy said softly.

"Do you want us to take you back to town?" Bo asked.

Lizzy thought it over. "No," she said finally, "I just can't shake the feeling something bad's gonna happen."

They parked on the edge of the dock at the lake and walked out along it. "You're sure you're okay?" Bo asked, looking at her.

"Yeah, let's just get on with this. Maybe that's what's bothering me," Lizzy answered.

Just as they we about to pitch the plates into the lake a call came across the radio. "Bo Duke, Luke Duke," Rosco called. Both boys stopped short and all three turned toward the car. "Are you out there? You got your ears on? This is an emergency. This is Sheriff Rosco, will you come in? Please!" They rushed back to the car and Luke picked up the CB mike.

"Some thing's seriously wrong," Lizzy said nervously. She had never heard the sheriff so upset.

"Must be, Rosco said please," Bo said smirking.

"Yeah, Luke here, Rosco, what's wrong?" Luke asked, the CB mike in his hand.

"I'll tell you what's wrong. Big Jim Downey has kidnapped the Boss; he tied me up and he's got the Boss out there somewhere and they're gonna kill him," Rosco explained. Lizzy's heart sank in her chest but it looked like the Dukes didn't believe him.

"Kill him? Why?" Luke asked.

"Because he thinks Boss put you two boys up to double crossing him with those plates you've got. Now it's all your fault."

"Now look, Rosco, this ain't our fault."

Rocco's impassioned speech about Boss moved both Dukes and Lizzy. Cooter had told her the kind of man Boss Hogg was and she had seen it first hand through some of Enos's and Rosco's actions but she knew deep down the boss was out of his depth when it came to Big Jim Downey from Dixville County. Most people were.

Finally Luke seemed to believe him. "Which way do you think they went?" Luke asked.

"They took him toward Dixville County I believe." Lizzy could definitely hear the relief in his voice. "And Bo, Luke, God bless you for this."

"Yeah, thanks Rosco. Later," Luke answered.

"I'm gone," Rosco replied.

Luke tossed the CB mike back in the car as Lizzy climbed up to sit on the passenger side window. "Not a word," Luke said, pointing to her. She smiled then slid the rest of the way in the car. Luke explained his plan to Bo and Lizzy then to Jesse and Daisy over the CB. A plan that would save Boss. Everyone was shocked to hear Rosco jump in as well. Just like Luke had planned not even 15 minutes later Big Jim's car was stuck in the water. Jim and Vic headed for the shore just as everyone headed down the incline towards them leaving Boss in nearly knee deep water.

"Here cover them, I hereby deputize you." Rosco said, handing his pistol to Lizzy.

"What? Rosco!" Lizzy cried but he was already on his way to help Boss out. Luke and Bo were following him so Lizzy handed the gun to Uncle Jesse. Jim and Vic reached the shore and Lizzy crossed her arms over her chest staring him down. "James Francis Downey, the heck are you thinking? Your mama would roll over in her grave if she found out what you did. She raised you better than that. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Threatening to kill a man because he double crossed you? You're acting like a two year old who didn't get his way. You got your money back? I can tell you did by the way you're holding that briefcase, now grow up. If you were a respectable businessman you'd get over it," Lizzy growled thoroughly berating the man. Everyone stopped and stared at her but she only shrugged.

"Alright Big Jim," Rosco said, coming up to stand next to Lizzy, "You are going to prison for the rest of your natural born life."

"On what charge?" Jim asked.

"You know Rosco, I'm a little bit surprised at you," Bo said. "You didn't check that car careful enough."

"Careful?" Rosco asked, looking at the boys.

"Like checking the front seat," Luke suggested. He, Bo, and Boss were now standing in ankle deep water. Rosco rushed to the car, accidentally knocking Boss over in the process. Lizzy did her best not to laugh as the man fell face first into the mud.

"The counterfeit plates, coo coo." Rosco called, holding them up as Luke and Bo pulled Boss out of the mud. "I got 'em, I got 'em," Rosco said, extending them toward Boss to show him.

"My engraving plates!" Boss Hogg cheered.

"Now wait a minute, Boss. Don't you mean their engraving plates?" Bo asked, nodding to Jim and Vic.

"That is, unless you want ta drop all the charges again' 'em." Uncle Jesse pointed out.

"Which would leave them free as a bird," Luke added.

"To do anything they want," Daisy threw in.

"To you," Lizzy finished.

Boss Hogg swallowed, then groaned and finally held the plates back towards Rosco. "Like I said, their engraving plates," he said.

"Alright. Come on you two!" Rosco ordered as he herded Jim and Vic up to his police car. They would be taken into town and then tried for possession of engraving plates and Boss had to drop the charges against the boys and Annie.

"So you boys got time now for that checkup?"

"Sure."

"You boys mind running me up to the Boar's Nest first? That way I can pick up the tow truck."

"We can do that," Luke agreed.

"Thanks." At the Boar's Nest Luke slid out and Lizzy looked at Bo. "Why don't you go ahead and run your friend here into the garage and I'll meet you there. I have to go fish a car out of a lake." The boys agreed and Lizzy towed Big Jim's car to the impound yard. Once Lizzy returned to the garage she found the boys had jacked up the General and had placed a drip pan under him. "Thanks boys," she said, noticing they had also cleaned most of the mud off the bottom half of their pants and from their boots. "How about I make you boys a deal? You two buy me dinner from the cafe across the street and I'll fix the leak and change the oil all for the price of fixing that leak."

"Throw in you telling us how you know Big Jim Downey and it's a deal," Bo said.

"Deal," Lizzy said.

"Bo!" Luke said sternly. "Didn't I ever teach you about dealing? You don't know what it's gonna cost to fix the leak."

"I can't quote until I look at it and besides, you can do your best Tom Sawyer flattery and fast talking but it won't work on me."

"You think I would try that?"

"I think if you can do it to my brother, then you would at least attempt it on me. I grew up with three brothers, Luke Duke. I'm pretty sure I can spot a con coming at me."

"I would never con family."

Lizzy swallowed and shifted her eyes to the car. "Why don't we just go get dinner?" Bo asked. Luke nodded and soon Lizzy was left alone in the garage. She took a deep breath then slid under the car and began to wash the oil off the undercarriage. Eventually she found where it was leaking from. By the time she had it fixed and was working on the oil change, the boys came back from the cafe.

As they ate Lizzy thought about what to say and how to say it. Then she remembered why the boys were on probation in the first place; for doing something majorly illegal. "You guys are like family to Cooter and according to him the kind of people he hopes to be one day. When I found out that you were on probation I was worried. That was a scary word. Then he told me that it was for running shine. I didn't know what to say or if I should trust you. But then I got to know you and the probation thing didn't worry me in the slightest anymore. You guys are great guys and I want you to keep that in mind."

"Of course, Lizzy." Luke agreed as Bo nodded.

"Jim Downey is my adoptive mother's cousin. My grandfather's nephew. Most of the Downeys are hardworking every day Americans. Some of them went bad. Jim went as bad as it gets. None of the family is proud of what he's become."

"There's one in every family," Bo said.

"Yeah. It doesn't matter what your family does. All that matters is the kind of person you are," Luke added.

"So you really don't care?"

"Not in the least," they answered.

"Oh, okay then." She finished her sandwich then dropped the General down off the jack and filled the oil reservoir back up. "32.50 and you're free to go." Bo and Luke both looked shocked but accepted the charge.

When Cooter came back he was shocked to find the garage organized. "What did you do?" Cooter asked.

"Let me guess you knew exactly where everything was at?"

"I didn't. I usually just guessed."

"Do you like it?"

"Explain your process."

"You see I put all the Charger parts over here, all the patrol car parts over here, all the tow truck parts here, and all the other parts here. I figure charger and patrol cars are the two you have to fix the most." Lizzy said. "I also washed your tow truck and gave it a little tune up."

"I heard you also did a little shuck and jive this weekend."

Once Cooker explained what that was Lizzy smirked. "First one that I helped the Duke boys with and it involves my family. Did you sell the car?"

"Made enough to cover all the back mortgage payments I owe."

"Oh, I also paid off all your tickets so Boss will have to pay for the repair work on the patrol cars now." Cooter only smiled knowing it wouldn't last.


Once again thanks to everyone who has read this. I'm glad you took the time. As it's looking at the moment with the kind of response, or lack there of, that I have received this story is complete. If you want me to continue it, you have a favorite episode or just one you'd like to see Lizzy involved in, let me know and review and I'll take a look as long as it's not a Coy and Vance episode. At the moment that is the season I don't have on DVD.