Trust in Me
Chapter 7: Investigation 101
'While Luke and Cooter are on the way to Hazzard High to speak with Mr. Thompkins, Daisy is starting to come up with a few little tidbits of her own. I swear those Dukes is slicker than a pealed onion.'
"What can I get ya boys?" Daisy asked the two men sitting at the bar.
"Beer." They both agreed.
"Comin' right up." Daisy went to get the drinks listenin' to them ole boys talkin' and laughin' about what they were doin'.
"Ya know Fred, I don't believe Hogg. I mean the trouble he's goin' through just to get a driver." Tommy said shakin' his head.
"I know, and it ain't like the kid could be that gooda driver, no how."
"Well, there must be a reason why he wanted this kid. That was an awful lot of trouble to go through just to set 'im up."
"Ya got that right, Tommy. Oh well, now we just gotta switch that fertilizer for the shine and then we get our five grand from tubby."
"Here's ya beers, boys." Daisy said as she set them on the bar. Walking over to the other waitress, Daisy whispered to her before grabbing her things and heading out the door.
'Ain't many round smart 'nough to get somethin' over on that there little lady.'
"This is Bo Peep, callin' shepherd or lost sheep." Silence. "Come on Luke ya out there?"
"This here's Luke, Daisy. What's wrong?" Luke called back from the General as he and Cooter pulled up in front of the high school.
"Where ya boys at? I got somethin' right interestin' to tell ya."
"Me and Cooter are at the High School. Gonna talk to Mr. Tompkins."
"Well go on and do that, and I'll meet ya outside. I'm gone."
"10-4"
"Wonder what that was all 'bout?" Cooter asked as he and Luke climbed out of the car.
"Ain't sure, but I can betcha it has somethin' to do with Bo."
'Now while Daisy's on her way to meet Luke and Cooter and the boys have a talk with their old principal, let's check in at the farm and see how Bo and Uncle Jesse are doin'. Ya know this is 'bout the dirtiest thing Boss has ever done gone and pulled on them Dukes. I just hope they can get through it.'
Bo pitched the last of the straw into the stall. He was reminded of the missed meals the day before and that morning by the loud growl of his stomach. He knew Jesse had left on the tractor, and not wanting to have to face the man he considered his father just yet, he decided to go and grab a snack. Grabbing the stick of crackers and some of Daisy's homemade butter, he flipped on the TV in the living room. "Great, ain't like I can sit and eat this." He mumbled to himself. Stretching out on the couch, he ate. Now that his stomach was full, it didn't take long for the restless night he'd spent to catch up with him and he drifted off to sleep.
Jesse walked inside after not finding Bo in the barn and smiled at the sight of his youngest lying on the couch. Not wanting to wake the boy, Jesse quietly sat down in his chair. He knew from what Luke had told him, that the boy hadn't slept much the past two nights. He was determined to talk to Bo when he woke up for he couldn't stand the distance between them.
Bo stretched and slowly opened his eyes. He spotted Jesse sitting in his chair and quickly got to his feet. "Sorry Uncle Jesse. I-I didn't mean to fall asleep. I just came in to…"
"Bo… Bo… It's all right son. I know ya ain't been sleepin' good." Jesse told the boy.
Dropping his head, Bo started to the backdoor. "I'll get back to work."
"Bo, come here son, we need to talk this out."
His back still to his uncle, Bo felt the tears begin to form once again. With a deep breath he quietly said. "There ain't nothin' to talk 'bout. This is just one more time I disappointed all ya'll. Excuse me I got work to do."
Jesse watched his youngest nephew walk out the door before sitting back in his chair and burying his head in his hands. "Oh Bo."
'Don't that just tear ya heart out? Imagine what that boy would be feelin' if'n he really did do what they said. Wonder if Luke and Cooter found out anythin'?'
"Luke, Cooter." Mr. Thompkins smiled as the boys walked inside his office. "Have a seat boys. What can I do for ya?"
"We was hopin' to talk to ya 'bout Bo." Luke told the man.
Shaking his head, Thompkins sighed. "I just can't believe that Bo would be involved in drugs."
"See that's our thinkin' too. That's why we're here."
"Luke, I can't go back on the suspension as much as I'd like to. But Roscoe did find the drugs and shine in his locker. I was standing there."
"Yeah and more'n likely, ole Boss Hogg had Roscoe put it there in the first place." Cooter stated.
"But why? Why Bo?" Thompkins asked.
"That's simple… he's a Duke." Luke said.
"Mr. Thompkins, the kid got any enemies?" Cooter asked.
"No, just the opposite. Bo's one the most popular students we have. I don't know of anyone that would do something like this to him."
"Has there been anyone around here lately that coulda messed with Bo's locker?" Luke asked.
"The only people other than students and staff were a couple of men we hired to do some handiwork… about a week before this all happened." Thompkins stated rubbing his chin.
"Do ya know their names?" Cooter asked.
"Ah… let me think… Tommy and Fred, I do believe. Don't remember the last names."
Standing the boys shook hands with the older man. "Thanks a lot Mr. Thompkins."
"Boys, how is Bo? He looked so scarred when he left here yesterday."
"Fraid he's takin' this pretty hard. He's not sleepin' or eatin' much. With all the evidence agin 'im, Uncle Jesse hadda punish him, which he ain't takin' well at all." Luke explained.
"I'm sorry to hear that because when he comes back, I have to tell him he's off the team too. They won't let a student with drug charges play."
Luke and Cooter exchanged glances knowing that was coming. "Does the team practice Friday or have a game?" Luke asked.
"No, not until next week. Why?"
"Could ya hold off on tellin' the kid til Monday? Maybe by then we'll know what's goin' on?"
"Sure Luke, I can do that… and good luck. I hope you find out the boy was innocent of this mess."
Daisy tapped Dixie's steering impatiently waiting outside the school. Finally she spotted Luke and Cooter coming out. "Hey ya'll, find out anythin'?"
"Yeah, maybe. Seems there was two men wokin' here just the week before all this happened." Luke told her.
"Yeah, couple a'fellas named Tommy and Fred." Cooter added.
"Then it was them!" Daisy stated. Seein' the look on the men's faces she continued. "There was these two fellas over the Boars Nest, name of Tommy and Fred. I heard them talkin' 'bout all the hassle Boss went through to set up this kid, just to drive for 'im. That kid's gotta be Bo."
"Mother Dog!" Cooter exclaimed.
"Let's head out to the farm and tell Uncle Jesse what we done found out." Luke said as he and Cooter headed for the General.
'They say school is a place of learnin', but sounds to me like the Boars Nest is just as good. Reckon those three and Uncle Jesse are gonna be able to get this whole thing cleared up for Bo goes on his run? Sure hope so cause that Sheriff Little is worse than Roscoe… and that's sayin' somethin'. Ya'll stick 'round and see what happens next here in Hazzard.'