SHADOWS - Dukes of Hazzard

PART VIII

Rosco tapped the breaks hard in his surprise and if Ethan hadn't been holding onto Flash she would've wound up in the floorboard. "Ya sold 'jer home?!"

"Over an' done with." Ethan continued to pet Flash, calming her as she gave a pitiful whine of distress. "It was tha only way ta come up with tha money in time. He'd offered me that much a couple years ago, but I wouldn't sell. This go 'round, i got 'im up ta thirty-five, so I still have some cash. Enough, any way, to get a jump on a new start."

"But 'chu sold 'jer home," Rosco reiterated, "fer me!"

"You an' Davenport an' mah self," he corrected. "I got an' hour an' a half ta turn tha money over, an' then I'm gone. I've gotta find somewhere ta store what little bit I'm keepin' an' then get a room fer tha night. Ya'll got a local boy ta find an' Davenport knows tha group's usual member as well as I do, if, indeed, it is any a' them."

"But." Rosco couldn't find the words. "What would- why?"

Ethan sighed. "I'm thirty-five an' got more goin' on in mah life than I wanted at this point. Can we leave it at that?"

"S-sure." He was silent for a long moment. "Where ya gonna go?"

"Drop it, Sheriff," Ethan grumbled, his gaze falling on the scenery.

-

Mason recounted the money and sealed the last band around the stack of five thousand dollars, sitting it center atop the two short columns. "And with ten minutes ta spare. Nice job."

"I want some information."

"Now, Ethan, you know that's gonna cost 'cha a bit more since ya played me like ya did these past couple weeks."

The condescending tone grated on the man's nerves. "I aw'ready figgered on that. How much."

"Oh, I don't know. Five Gee's?"

"Information first; who grabbed tha cop, why, an' where are they?"

Mason's smile, already a leer by most standards, became even more intense. Ethan just clenched his jaw and waited.

-

- - I found the truck! Kh-kee. It's parked east a' town. - -

Cooter hastily snatched up the CB. "Good job, Rosco. Do you see Luke any where?"

- - No. Those two kidnappers ain't here, either. I'll wait 'til ya get 'ere. - -

"Gimme ten minutes." Cooter pressed the gas pedal a little farther, risking a ticket if he got stopped, but paying it little mind.

- - Cooter. - - Rosco sounded pensive. - - Did 'ju know Ethan's plannin' ta leave now? 'E sold 'is property ta tha boss. - -

"He can't leave." The mechanic balked at the very idea. "Where'd 'e says 'e was gonna go?"

- - He wouldn't answer me. He can't be an all bad kind a' guy, though, can 'e? I don't know anyone else who'd sell their home ta help a stranger, 'specially when tha stranger's an' enemy of a friend. - -

"Rosco, uh, Ethan an' I never talked much, just enjoyed tha company. He's never heard a' you before aw this. He knew me as Davenport an' I knew him as Ethan, that's why he only caws me that."

- - Davenport? Even when ya, ya know? - -

"Act'ally, when he was playful, it was-" Cooter blushed, hardly able to believe he was having the conversation, with Rosco of all people. "-It was Davey (Dave-e), or Daven (Dhav-in) when, um, seductive."

- - So I proved mah point. I think. - -

"What point?"

- - He's not a bad guy. Do ya think there's any way we could trick Boss inta givin' 'im 'is home back? - -

The idea, particularly coming from Rosco, struck Cooter between the eyes like a dart, lodging in his brain. It appealed to him greatly and he smiled. "We get Luke back an' ya can count on it. He'll know how ta pull it off."

- - Good. - -

It was about the simplest response Cooter could remember the lawman ever giving and he whooped. Perhaps things weren't as bad as he'd been fearing.

When he finally saw Rosco's car, he pulled off the road, joining the man a few feet into their wooded surroundings. In moments, the black truck came into view, white paint scraped along one side. They locked eyes in agreement, Rosco giggling happily, and headed back to their respective vehicles. As they drew closer, they became aware of CB noise.

- - Pilot. Holler at me if yer listenin', fellas. This is important. - -

Cooter answered. "This is Crazy C. Come on."

- - Where's tha sheriff? - -

"I'm right 'ere, too." He beamed, pleased to have been included.

- - Don't go fer that truck, yaw. It belongs ta Daniel Coombs outta Sou' Carolina, tha guy Davenport an' I were figurin' on, an' tha fella wid 'im is Jason Piercey, yankee. They're both big names in slave tradin' down this way. Luke's okay fer now. - -

"How da ya know?" the mechanic questioned.

- - I got informants. Now listen, Coombs is a big guy an' he's got a lot a brains ta go wid aw that brawn, but 'e only leaves witnessess when tha buyer's in place aw'ready. This early in tha game, Luke's still drugged, so he's oblivious. 'E ain't gonna remember none a' this so far. We need ta find where he's bein' kept bafore 'e wakes up or ya'll 'er up whitewater wid out a paddle. Come back. - -

"We're readin' ya loud an' clear, Ethan. What's tha plan?"

- - I remember Coombs leavin' early last night. He don't know tha sheriff was let go instead a' fucked, so 'e ain't expectin' ta see 'im. That's yer cue, Sheriff, so gimme yer opinon on what I'm 'bout ta say. - -

Before Rosco could interrupt with the obvious, Ethan hurried on, outlining everything in a rush.

XD REVIEW! My muse was almost killed today and needs the support!