Chapter 5

Bo, Luke, Cooter, Xavier, Daisy, and Jesse met at one of Jesse's old still sites. "It's got to be Hughie." Bo said. "If he's tryin' to take over Hazzard, she'll be his first target, considering what she did last time."

"Which means we have to be careful. We're next on his list." Jesse said.

"He's never met me before though." Xavier said. "Boss Hogg's regretted it every time he's tried to tangle with me. But then, you've done the same. I wonder if Hughie can match me."

"He probably can. Anyway, I've been thinkin', the only thing we can do is search and alert Rosco." Luke said.

"Why alert him? He'd only be a hindrance not a help." Xavier asked.

"Maybe not. He'll be driven by a desire to avenge Flash, and also he likes Brooke a lot, despite the fact that she's not owned by Boss Hogg like him." Bo said.

"The best thing to do is start searching. Me and Bo will get the North, Cooter you could take the East, Xavier South, Uncle Jesse West." Luke said.

"What about me?" Daisy asked.

"You should go and alert Rosco, I imagine he's back in town or at one of his speed traps."

"Then what? I don't want to stay at home while you risk yourselves."

"Very gallant Daisy, but what about Alicia?" Everyone looked at Alicia who was pretending she was brewing moonshine.

"Go home Daisy." Xavier said. "I'll keep you updated and if we need help I'll give you a shout."

"All right. Stay safe and be careful." She kissed Xavier then collected Alicia and drove off in Nellie. They watched her go then headed off in their own directions.

"I wonder how long it will take Hughie to drive Xavier out of town." Boss Hogg said behind a huge mound of chicken.

"I don't know, but Boss, we shouldn't have let him go. What if this time he manages to outsmart Brooke? And last time Brooke only stopped him after he killed Flash and introduced drugs all over Hazzard."

"Don't worry so much, Rosco. I know you have faith in her." At that moment there was a knock on the door and Daisy walked in. "Hello Daisy. And hello Alicia." Boss Hogg said in a kindly voice, which changed to a frown as Alicia stuck out her tongue at him.

"Hello Boss. Rosco, we have a problem. Brooke has vanished. We're all searchin' for her, but I thought I should tell you. And also, we suspect Hughie Hogg had a hand in it."

"What!" Boss yelled, nearly upsetting his platter of chicken. "How could Hughie have gotten Brooke? I told him to-" Boss faltered, then said, "I told him to stay out of Hazzard."

"Since when has that stopped him." Daisy was glaring at him, having noticed that he had changed statements in mid-sentence. She spun on heel and left.

Boss Hogg looked at his sheriff and gave a small start, he had never seen Rosco look so demented. "Boss Hogg." He said in an evil voice. "If anythin' happens to Brooke I will never ever forgive you. I will never again be used by you and will be twice the enemy the Dukes ever were or will be."

"Now Rosco, listen. I only did this to get rid of an enemy. Did you think that I intended to honor my bargain? Hughie would be back in jail almost the minute that he got Xavier out of town."

"And how did you intend to do that! With Brooke missing we've lost our best weapon against him! I'm goin' out to arrest Hughie Hogg."

"Rosco, no! He needs to get Xavier out of town first!"

"I'm not taking your orders anymore."

"Rosco, if you leave this room you'll never see another red cent from me! And you need to hand in your badge and firearm."

Boss almost quailed at the furious gaze Rosco gave him. "So be it." He said in a deadly quiet voice. He turned in his badge and gun. "I'll kill Hughie Hogg on sight. Arrest me then if you wish." Rosco spun and marched out of Boss Hogg's office, leaving Boss gaping in his wake.

I have never, ever seen Rosco like this. I'd hate to be Hughie Hogg next time they meet.

Jesse was driving down a rural road when a car went by so fast it was almost a blur. Jesse's mouth fell open seeing it was Rosco. He picked up the CB and called. "Rosco, are you tryin' to kill yourself?"

"Jesse, mind your own business! Have you seen Hughie Hogg?"

"No, I'm lookin' for Brooke, have you seen her?"

"No, if you see Hughie call me."

"10-4, same thing about Brooke."

"10-4." Jesse shook his head after hanging the CB up, Rosco didn't sound at all like himself.

Boss Hogg sat in his office stunned. Rosco had never betrayed him, never. He'd done next thing to it when he'd inherited ten million dollars, but never ever this. He sighed, Brooke missing, Enos gone, Rosco gone rogue. All he had left to catch Hughie was Cletus, and the Dukes. He picked up the CB. "Cletus, get back to my office immediately."

"Yes sir, Cousin Boss." Cletus replied immediately.

"Wait a second, do you see Hughie Hogg or his henchmen."

"No sir. Not since you told me to go give out some tickets."

"If you see him, arrest him immediately. If you see his henchmen tail them without their noticin'. Now get over here." He put down the CB and picked up Rosco's badge. He had no choice but to make Cletus sheriff. "This county's goin' to the dogs." he said to himself as he picked up a piece of chicken.

Daisy was getting worried. She hadn't heard anything from anyone. After putting Alicia to bed she picked up the CB. "Calling Shepherd, Crazy Cooter, Lost Sheep, or NASCAR Nathanial. This is Bo Peep, can anyone hear me?"

"Yeah I read you Daisy." Xavier's voice came in. "We're reluctantly calling it a day. I'll fill you in when I get home."

Five minute's later, Xavier trundled in on his motorcycle. He walked inside and collapsed onto a sofa. "Rotten luck. I didn't see any sign of Brooke. This county's got so many hiding places we won't have checked everywhere until sometime tomorrow."

"This is Shepherd callin' Lost Sheep come in." The CB called out. Daisy and Xavier fell silent listening for Bo and Luke's reply. There was no answer. "Shepherd to Lost Sheep do you read?" After another long pause Jesse said, "Cooter, Xavier, you there?" Xavier got up and picked up the CB. "Xavier here. If you're inquiring about Bo and Luke, I haven't seen them."

"Me either." said Cooter.

"Well their not at the farm."

"That doesn't mean anything." Xavier said.

"No, but it makes me worried."

Bo and Luke walked out of a barn. "Not here either. Do you think we should call it a day?" Bo asked.

"It's gettin' dark, that might be a good idea." They climbed into the General and tried to start the engine. It coughed but wouldn't start. Bo tried again but it still wouldn't start.

"Darn it, General, what's wrong with you now?" They climbed back out and opened the hood.

"Loookin' for this?" said a voice. They whirled. Hughie Hogg was leaning against a nearby tree, holding the distributor cap. At that moment, both Bo and Luke felt a gun barrel press against their head. "I've got a gun to, so please don't make us hurt you." Hughie said with a smile.

That night a couple people were in town square building something. A women shopping stopped and looked. It looked like some form of platform. She assumed it was some plot of Boss Hogg's to get more money and continued on.

What do ya'll suspect is going on? Don' go nowhere, folks.

Next chapter will be out sometime after June 10th. Please be patient. Spitfire0