If anybody has been missing Bo, he's back! Can't believe I wrote two Bo-less chapters in a row. I just realized that both stories I've written so far have the boys split up…I have no idea how that happened, since I like it best when they're together. Something to fix the next time around…

This chapter is short, but the next one is pretty long.

- Flynne :)

---------------------------

- Chapter Six -

"…and then it all hit the fan."

"Boys, that was way too close," Cooter panted. He was bent double, shaking his head to dislodge the glass splinters that had landed in his tousled brown hair.

"This ain't good," Luke said tensely. "They know you were in on this, Jud."

"I know. That means I can't go back in there." Jud stamped his foot in agitation. "Clayton's mad enough that he won't care what I do—he'll shoot me before I can put my John Hancock on the dotted line."

"What'll this mean for Bo?" Cooter asked quietly. Nobody answered. Jud refused to meet his brother's eyes, unwilling to voice Clayton's threat to kill Bo by inches. Luke looked at the ground and balled his hands into fists.

"I shouldn't have done this," Jud said bitterly. "I should've just done what Clayton asked the first time. Dang it, Luke—I can't tell you how sorry I am. You said you'd be there for me, but all I bring you is trouble. I feel like a jinx."

"Stop talkin' like that," Luke said sharply, shaking himself out of his silence. "You can't change the past, no matter how bad you want to." A gleam of desperation touched his eyes. "And…we just can't give up on Bo. I won't do it."

Jud nodded tersely. "You're right. Listen…Clayton said something about 'bringing Luke here'. We were wrong—Bo ain't in there. I don't even think he's in Birmingham. Our only hope of getting close to Clayton again is if he comes to us. So I say we watch that building and follow him when he leaves. If—if we're lucky, he might lead us to where Bo is."

"Right now, I'll try anything," Luke said.

"Great. So does this mean we can lose the monkey suits now?" Cooter asked.

Jud chuckled in spite of his anxiety and nodded. "Come on. We'd better hurry." Fifteen minutes later, their suits were stashed in the trunk of Jud's car and they were wearing their comfortable work clothes again. Luke was elected as wheelman since both Cooter and Jud agreed he was the best driver. Jud directed them to a nearby parking garage where they could watch for Clayton to leave.

Nearly half an hour dragged by. Luke could feel his heart growing heavier and heavier within his chest. Anxiety was twisting his stomach in knots as his blue eyes stared fixedly out the windshield. True, they might have a chance of finding Bo if Clayton left, but…what if the furious crime boss had simply placed a call to execute his prisoner? It could be weeks—maybe months—before anyone would know what had happened to him.

A sudden stab of fear and despair ran through him then, and he closed his eyes as his hands tightened on the wheel. Bo was a part of nearly every single memory he had—except for his time in the Marines, and a few years when Luke had been very young, still living with his own parents. He couldn't imagine life without his cousin. The thought of going home without him left him feeling terribly empty inside.

He inhaled sharply and released his white-knuckled grip on the wheel as he felt Cooter's hand descend on his shoulder.

"Hey, look," his friend said softly, "I think I see something."

Jud straightened in his seat. "Good eye, Cooter. That's him. And he's got Morgan and Hacker with him." He glanced at his brother. "Anytime you're ready, Luke. You're the expert."

"Sure," Luke forced out. He leaned forward and prepared to start the engine, glad that his friends hadn't noticed his tension. His fingers trembled as they hovered near the ignition, waiting for Clayton's car to drive away. The moment the car turned the corner, Luke started his brother's car and took off after them. Clayton's dark gray sedan led them on a winding route through the city before it turned onto a two lane road and headed out of town toward the wooded countryside.

It was tricky staying close enough to follow but far enough away so they wouldn't be noticed, but Luke's grim determination and his years of driving experience paid off. He took the car off the road and followed cross-country. Nearly forty minutes later, the gray sedan turned into a long gravel driveway and stopped in front of a graceful white mansion. Luke parked Jud's car at the top of a knoll, hidden within some trees about half a mile away. From his vantage point, he saw Clayton and his men exit the car and walk unhurriedly into the house.

xxxxx

Bo could tell he was in trouble the moment Clayton entered the room. Morgan stepped in behind his boss and closed the door. "What's your name, boy?" Clayton's voice was taut and filled with suspicion.

He knows. Bo felt an icy chill of fear wash over him, but he steeled himself and said, "That's a stupid question. I done told you I'm Luke Duke."

Clayton glanced over his shoulder at Morgan. The older man moved menacingly forward. Bo gulped and backed away, but Morgan lunged forward and closed the gap between them so quickly that Bo didn't have time to dodge. Morgan fisted a hand in his t-shirt and struck him across the face. "Mr. Clayton asked you a question," he snarled, giving Bo a sharp shake. "What's your name?"

Bo scowled and jerked back, shoving Morgan away. "Luke Duke," he replied stubbornly.

"Don't bother continuing your charade!" Clayton snapped. "Morgan saw Jud Cane and his brother not too long ago. We know you aren't Luke. You've bought him some time, but not much. I'm sure he'd like to know the name of the man who gave him a few more hours to live—it will be the last thing he hears before he dies."

Jud Cane? Then—it ain't Uncle Jesse at all! It's Luke's brother they're after! Bo realized with a jolt. Everything started to tumble into place. "Wait," he stammered, "You don't need Luke, I promise!" He spun around to retrieve his wallet from the armchair where he had hidden it the day before, holding it out for Clayton to take. "Here, look. My name's Bo Duke. Luke and Jud are my cousins."

Clayton plucked the ragged billfold from Bo's hand and flipped it open, looking for a driver's license. "Hm. Beauregard Duke," he mused.

"You don't need Luke," Bo repeated, clenching his hands into fists. "You got me. Jud don't want nothin' to happen to me neither."

"Quite the family ties you have," Clayton said dryly. "But you're wrong. I made a promise to Jud Cane: if he turned me down, his brother would die." He smiled coldly. "And he will. Be certain of that. Just be glad you won't be around to see it." He tossed Bo's wallet onto the floor and turned to leave. "Get rid of him, Morgan. Then take care of Jud's brother. I don't want any mistakes this time."

Bo jumped forward. "Clayton, I swear to you, if you hurt Luke—" Despite his age, Morgan was a hard-fisted, strong man. He quickly stepped in front of Bo and dealt him a savage blow, sending the young man spinning to the floor.

Clayton watched as his prisoner slowly pushed himself to his hands and knees, shaking his head dizzily. "You'll be dead," he said contemptuously. He stepped out of the room, brisk footsteps fading down the long hallway.

Bo's heart was racing as he slowly climbed to his feet. For a moment he thought Morgan might just shoot him then and there...but the henchman didn't go for his gun. Instead he turned and walked away, glancing back at Bo as he left the room.

"Don't get too comfortable." The door closed quietly behind him.

He returned fifteen minutes later with Hacker in tow. Bo knew he had nothing to lose and he almost rushed the two men in an attempt to escape—but that would only get him gunned down. They were obviously going to take him somewhere else before they killed him, and if that was the case then maybe he'd have a fighting chance once they got him out of the building…so he stood still and let Hacker bind his arms behind his back

"Where are you takin' me?" Bo asked, hating the nervous tremor he heard in his voice.

Morgan found his fear amusing. "We're going to the DeFord Dam," he replied with a faint smile. "You've got a lot of people trying to find you, and it won't do for them to be investigating a murder. Out at the dam, now…we just knock you on the head before we toss you over, and by the time your body's found—if it ever is—nobody'll ever know what killed you. All they'll know is that you drowned. I've done it before. Works pretty well, if I do say so myself."

Bo shuddered when he heard the callous detachment in Morgan's voice. He wished he could think straight so he could say something really nasty in reply…but his quick wit had frozen and his mouth had gone too dry for him to speak.