Thelma spun around in front of the full-length mirror in her den and admired the dress Barney had bought for her. She caressed the midriff of the dress with her fingertips and held her chin up, "Barney, I just love this dress. You had to be saving up for a long time to afford it."

Barney heard her, and even though his eyes were on her, his gaze was a million miles away. He muttered, "Yeah, it looks very nice on you."

Thelma stomped her right foot and took Barney's hands, "Barney! You have to snap out of this funk you are in. Are you sure you just aren't overreacting?"

Barney said, "No, no Thelma Lou. Something strange is going on with Andy. He has been in some slightly shady acts lately, and I've looked past them because I need my job… but this is different. I am sure he is part of this drug movement."

"But Barney, this is Andy. He tells you everything."

Barney replied, "I'm not so sure about that anymore."

Thelma gave Barney a kiss on the cheek, "I so wish you would cheer up. Why don't you just ask Andy. I'm sure he will tell you the truth."

Barney nodded, "Yeah, maybe." Barney grabbed his jacket and put it on, "I need to be headed back to the courthouse anyway. I'm glad you love the dress," and Barney kissed Thelma Lou on the cheek in return.


When Barney arrived back at the courthouse, Andy and the mayor were already there. Barney walked in and the mayor instantly addressed him, "Good morning deputy Fife." Barney fluttered a wave and gave a less than enthusiastic greeting. The mayor continued, "I wanted to thank you, Fife. That was a fine job you did on discovering the drugs that were moving through the town. I can assure you the sheriff has taken all of the appropriate steps to make sure that driver answers to the full letter of the law."

Barney said in a low and sullen voice, "Good. Glad to hear that."

The mayor continued, "And I can assure you there is no need to be spreading the news of this around town. We don't need the panic, the rumors, or the damage that such news would have on the image of Mayberry."

Barney's eyes widened, and his voice was tempered, "Our image? Is that what we are concerned with?"

The mayor exclaimed, "What else could be more important Fife? Image is how I keep my job… how you and your friend Andy also keep your jobs."

Barney said, "I didn't think our image would more important than putting a stop to crimes like this."

The mayor said, "I tell you this, deputy, you will stay hush on this matter. Mayberry is crime free on the books, and we will remain crime free on the books. You will not bumble or fumble this up, are we clear?"

A particular storm had now brewed inside Barney, and Andy could read Barney's touted lips and furrowed brow; he knew Barney was about to explode. Andy interrupted before Barney could respond, "Hey, uh, Barn… don't you have school crossing today?"

Barney paused for a moment and said, "Yes I do," however his attention never turned from the mayor, and his tone implied that the mayor was lucky Andy had interceded. Barney let the mayor poise in target for a second more, and then Barney turned quickly and marched out the courthouse, slamming the door behind him.

With Barney now gone, the mayor said to Andy, "I thought you said you could keep Barney in line on this Andrew."

Andy said, "Don't worry, mayor. Barney will be alright. I'll have a talk with him."

The mayor grabbed his hat from Andy's desk and placed it firmly on his head, "You better get him under control Andy. This cocaine movement is far too lucrative for us, and we need to keep our end of the bargain." The mayor stopped in the courthouse doorway before exiting; he added one last remark, "If you can't bring him in line, Andy, you will have to get rid of him, and I don't mean just firing him. Do we understand each other?" Andy nodded; the mayor left.


Barney finished up the school crossing, which went smoothly, and was returning to the courthouse in order to call it a day. He was much calmer now, the distraction of protecting the children while they crossed the road had been good for him, but there was still a gnawing deep inside of him. As he passed Floyd's barber shop, he sat on the bench. This was a fairly typical practice for Barney, he normally needed to let parts of the day wash away while he sat and relaxed on the bench.

"Any news Barney?" Floyd asked. Floyd had not been seated on the bench when Barney had sat down, and Floyd had sat so quietly that Barney started. For Barney, it was as if Floyd had magically appeared from nowhere. Barney said shrilly, "Geeze Floyd. Let someone know when you are sitting down. I nearly shit my pants."

Floyd laughed, "That's funny. You know Barney, earlier today Luke came by to get his hair cut, and you know Luke has such a nice head of hair. Anyway, Luke bought old man Spangler's farm, and found something surprising there. Want to know what it was?"

Barney said sure, just to be polite.

Floyd said, "Three cases of dynamite."

Barney was now interested, "Three cases of dynamite?"

"Yes," Floyd said, "He's having the state department come and get it first thing tomorrow."

"First thing tomorrow, huh?" Barney's eyes sparkled, and he bit the corner of his lower lip. His gears were obviously turning. "Floyd, can I borrow your car?"

Floyd said, "Sure Barney. You have an errand to run?"

Barney said, "Yeah, something like that."


Barney parked Floyd's car outside of Luke's newly purchased barn. The evening shade had stretched out, and the sunlight was beginning to become golden. Barney exited the car, surveyed his surroundings and found he was indeed alone, and loaded the three cases of dynamite into the trunk of Floyd's car. While loading the final case of explosives, Barney tripped on unlevel ground and almost dropped it, however he did rescue it from hitting the ground. The near accident left Barney with shaking legs and a cold sweat. He slowly sat that case in the trunk of the car, wiped his forehead, placed a hand over his heart and took a deep breath. "I almost shit myself... again."

Barney sat in the driver's seat and said to himself, "Okay. This will be easy. If that warehouse is full of cocaine... bloooey! It's going up in flames."


Andy locked the courthouse door as he exited for the day as the sun set. Andy surveyed up the sidewalk and down the sidewalk. Floyd was sitting on the bench in front of his shop. Floyd waved and beckoned Andy with an arm motion. Andy walked to Floyd and offered a casual hello. Floyd went straight to the point, "Andy, have you seen Barney?"

Andy shrugged, "No. You looking for him?"

Floyd said, "He borrowed my car, which I don't mind. But it's getting late, and I need it back, you know. Do you know where he is?"

"No," Andy said. "You don't know where he was going when you loaned the car to him?"

Floyd replied, "I don't have the slightest idea. I told him about Luke finding the dynamite on his new farm, and then Barney immediately wanted my car."

Andy raised a brow, "Immediately you say?"

Floyd nodded, "Yeah. Say, you don't think Barney is going to blow something up," Floyd giggled, "Imagine that, Barney blowing something up. Wouldn't that be something?"

Andy's tongue was over his top front teeth inside his closed mouth as his eyes turned slightly upward. Andy said, "See you later Floyd." Andy hurried away.

Floyd waved goodbye to Andy and said, "Bye, I guess. Andy. What's the hurry?" Andy did not answer, instead he jumped into the squad car and sped out of town. Floyd said to himself, "Darn it. I should have asked for a ride home."