Chapter 3: Closer

Inconspicuous never suited Candy. She rolled into Hazzard in the early hours of the morning in her scorching red Ferrari Daytona. Her four-inch heels clanked as she entered the Hazzard Motel under an assumed name. Once she had unpacked and settled in, she got straight to work. Candy's plan for the next morning was surveillance of the Dukes, and shuck n' jiving the locals into giving her information. Once the wheels were in motion, there was no turning back.

A few hours later, Bo and Luke sped into town, just in time to get one of the first copies of the Hazzard Gazette. Revising everything that was said, but this time in ink, they approved the interview and awaited the results. Meanwhile, Daisy and Uncle Jesse were preparing breakfast for their return, but with Candy in town, could they afford to be so sure that two cousins would come back?

Candy stood silently at her motel room window on the third floor, clutching a pair of binoculars. Watching Bo's every move.

She had heard of a place called the Boar's Nest, and figured that it would be easy as pie to glean information from Daisy. So, instead of having lunch in town she drove down to the Boar's Nest and sauntered inside. She walked straight towards Daisy.

"Hi, I'm just visiting Hazzard but I thought I'd do a little sightseeing this morning-and I saw the two finest looking country boys I've ever seen, one blonde and one brunette. You wouldn't happen to know who they are?"

"Why sure, those are my Cousins, Bo and Luke! Hey, why don't I give 'em a call on the CB for ya?"

"Thank you, that'd be fantastic", Candy smiled graciously, thinking it too.

"Oh my name's Candy by the way", she added.

"Oh sorry, mine's Daisy, nice to meet you".

"The pleasure's all mine, Daisy".

Seeing as how the boys were only down the road testing out the new shocks on the General, they arrived pretty quickly.

"Hey boys, I'd like ya'll to meet Candy", smiled Daisy.

Being typical, that he was, Bo had made the first move before Luke even compiled a sentence.

"Hey Candy, real nice to meet you. I'm Bo Duke, and he's my cousin Luke. And I'm pretty sure you've already met Daisy", he laughed.

"Yeah, I sure did", she laughed back.

"So what brings you to Hazzard, and how did you know about us?" asked Luke.

"Well, I heard Hazzard is an eventful place, so I said why not see for myself. As for you two, I just happened to spot you in town this morning, well, before you rushed off again".

"Yeah, we was just pickin' up the Gazette, and we ain't had no breakfast. Hazzard an eventful place? Ya got that right. With a County Commissioner as greedy as Boss Hogg, and a dipstick sheriff like Rosco P. Coltrane in cahoots with him we got a recipe for disaster ", smiled Bo.

" Ya'll telling me you're a part of this?" asked Candy playfully.

"Well, don't cha go thinkin' that we's a bunch o' outlaws now!"

"I'll presume by the speed of that car of yours that it's the reason then".

"Oh, you saw the General, yeah, he's got a lot to do with it alright".

"How about showing me how he does it?"

"Oh, no Candy, you wouldn't wanna ride with Bo if you're plannin' on comin' back in one piece. Believe me I know", Luke told her.

"Where's the fun in takin' it easy, Candy? Let's go! Yee-haw!"

As everyone gathered outside the Boar's Nest choked on the General's dust, Candy was having the time of her life.

"Faster! Bo, Faster!" she squealed all the way.

"We's gonna grow wings, honey. Hold on tight".

The General flew like a bird, and landed like a dream. If that's what you call intact.

"So, what do ya think of him?"

"Oh, he's incredible. And he knows the way to my heart…"

Bo smiled, he was never one to miss a compliment when it came to love.

She approached her Ferrari, thanked Bo for the test-drive, and told him she had to get going. Bo was a little surprised, but he was yet to fully comprehend girls. Especially those who sealed his advances, but drew him closer every time.

Back at the Hazzard Motel, Candy received a call from R.C Hunter.

"Making progress, Candy?"

"Oh yes, R.C. I can see those puppy dog eyes already. It won't be long now".

"Good, good. Just make sure he's comfortable before you make your move. And whatever you do, don't make him suspicious".

"You don't have to treat me like an amateur, R.C. I know what I'm doing".

"I'm just making sure I get my money's worth, Ms. Thames".

With that R.C Hunter hung up.

Candy hadn't fully settled into Hazzard yet, but she was certain that Bo and Luke would continue their womanising ways into the night. It was the perfect opportunity for her to wrap Bo around her little finger. She put on her best clothes, perfected her make-up, and sped off into the distance.

She arrived at the Boar's Nest to encounter Bo surrounded by a cluster of beautiful girls vying for his attention. He ignored them the very moment Candy caught his eye, and instead approached her, taking in the magnificence that set her apart from the posse. There was no need for words. Bo's desire overcame him as he held her close and kissed her passionately, feeling no indignity for his actions. Finally, the couple ceased contact as the other girls looked on in horror. Feeling rather out of place, they moved to a more secluded spot.

"Howdy again, care for a drink?"

"Sure, but just some water, please. I'm driving".

"Well actually I thought you walked from the Motel", smiled Bo.

"Not in these, sugar", laughed Candy, peering down at her stilettos.

"You been listening to Daisy a lot?!"

"I wouldn't say a lot. Why?"

"She's always callin' everyone 'sugar', that's why".

"Must be contagious".

"It must be, sugar. So what made ya come down here anyways?"

"I figured you'd be here. Thought I'd drop in and say hi".

"Is that all you were hopin' for?"

"Well, put it this way. I got what I came for", said Candy with a cheeky smile.

Bo laughed and kissed her again, but this time discreetly. They chatted away the hours until the Boar's Nest neared closing time and its guests became somnolent. Saying goodnight to Candy was hard for Bo, and even though she didn't want to admit it, even to herself, it was hard for Candy too. She had meant her every word to R.C Hunter, she was not an amateur and this was nothing new to her. There was only one thing she couldn't understand-why, out of all the other hits she had executed, was she so attracted to this one? It was practically engraved in her job description that she not feel any emotion toward a target. If she let the golden rule slide it would be detrimental to her career, and possibly her life. She knew all too well by the many phone calls she had received from R.C Hunter in the past that he was as merciless as a spider on a fly-filled web. He would not hesitate to unleash his wrath on her if he got wind of a slip-up. As lethal as she was, that fear sliced through her. Candy had always been the hunter, to undergo such a metamorphosis, to transform into the hunted, was too much to bear. Yet as hard as she tried to block him out, Bo always came flooding back into her thoughts. By continuing to chase him she was doing her duty, but at the same time she was betraying R.C's trust, and betraying herself by handing her existence away in one wrong move. Was Bo Duke really worth her life?