Luke looked at his sock feet against the coolness of the cement floor. Even though it would soon be June the cement, steel, cinder block and bricks held the coldness. He had been certain, especially after his last birthday that this day, well night, would come. Luke knew Rosco was lookign to catch him either hauling shine or preventing him from doing so. He knew it would be bad if he got caught doing something he shouldn't be doing, however he didn't know how bad it would be.
For starters, Rosco had gotten his attention as he fought with Ralph Green by firing his pearl handled pistol into the air. Luke couldn't remember ever seeing Rosco draw the gun out of it's hostler. Being that Luke was on top of Ralph at that moment, it was no wonder that he was the first to be none to gently 'helped' to his feet by Rosco. Funny thing was it actually felt as if he'd came off the ground for just a split second as the long time family friend and Sheriff managed just one quick extra jerk to 'get his attention'.
Luke was pretty certain he had faired better at the hands of the Sheriff than he would have at his Uncle's had Jesse walked up right about then. Being one of the finest Sheriff's in the state, Rosco reached for his handcuffs and Luke was cuffed before he knew what had happened. That was until he felt the cold steel 'bite' into his wrists that were currently locked in place behind his back.
Luke watched as Ralph was given much the same treatment by Rosco, without the 'attention getting' jerk though.
"Alright, boys." Rosco began, "You are under arrest for fighting. Get a call ya'll been up here racing and I find a fight!"
Luke noticed that as Rosco looked at him he looked down right 'disappointed' in him.
Ralph was a few bricks shy of a load and stated as he fought the handcuffs, "That's what started this! He cheated and put me in the ditch!"
Luke couldn't believe that the man could be so stupid, then he thought about it. Yes, he could believe it!
Rosco danged near chuckled and likely would have if one of Jesse's nephews wasn't standing before him wearing his cuffs. He looked around and saw Ralph's car no where near a ditch but it did have body damage. He then looked at the primer black Ford Torino that Luke had been known to have been working on for some time now. It showed some minor damage to it's body also. "But the car ain't in the ditch."
"No, it's not." Luke said more calmly than he felt at the moment. He'd like just another minute to 'settle' this with Ralph without witnesses! He knew what he was going to say wouldn't help him at all, but Ralph had already said they had been racing. "That's because after he tried to put me in the ditch and lost control of that thing, I came back and got him out of the ditch. And the 'thanks' I got was to be jumped!"
Rosco was surprised that Luke would admit all that, but what surpised him most was what he smelled as the Duke shot off his mouth admitting his 'sins'. He had to know, "Luke? Have you been drinking?"
Not thinking it through, Luke replied, "Some."
Rosco shook his head, "Let's go boys." He placed a hand on each of the boys and headed toward his patrol car.
Being put in the back of Rosco's patrol car wasn't fun especially with his hands cuffed behind his back and being beside Ralph Green. Luke did at least get some satisfaction that Ralph was at least along for the ride since he had started the entire chain of events. If Luke thought getting in the car wasn't pleasant, getting out was a real pain and not just in his wrists.
Inside the Booking Room of the Hazzard Courthouse Rosco put both 'boys' still cuffed in the holding cell until he got out his paperwork. The clang of the cell door sent a shiver from Luke's head to his toes and back again. After getting the paperwork and locking the outside door to the office, Rosco went to the holding cell and said, "Luke come over to the desk." As he briefly unlocked the cell door.
Luke was more than happy to step out from behind the locked bars and took the seat Rosco indicated while still wearing the cuffs. Rosco began asking questions of Luke to get him booked in. "Name?"
Luke gave Rosco a look of disbelief. "Rosco! You have got to be kiding! You have known me since I was born."
"Procedure." Rosco said sternly. He hoped that giving Luke the 'full treatment' would make him think twice next time. "Your name?"
"Luke Duke." Luke replied.
Rosco shook his head. The boy was gonna be stubborn, "Your given name?"
Ralph looked up from the booking cell. He had always thought that was Luke's name.
"Like it really would make a difference." Luke fumed still feeling the effects of the beer he drank prior to Rosco's arrival.
Rosco waited while giving the young man a hard look, "This is official Luke. You aren't ten and just broke a window by accident."
Luke seen the look he was getting from Rosco and knew the night was going to be long anyway so he may as well answer him, "Lucas K. Duke."
"The 'K' is for?" Rosco said as he wrote Lukes name down.
Sighing Luke said, "Keith."
"Address?" Rosco said.
"Rt 2, Box 23 Hazzard." Luke said trying not to sigh. He knew Rosco knew this.
"Phone number?" Rosco asked.
Luke knew that Rosco knew everything he had been asked but replied, "555-1234." He answered the rest of Rosco's questions to get this over with and get the danged cuffs off him.
Rosco gathered his papers together and stood up, "Luke come with me." He indicated that Luke should go down stairs.
As Luke reached the bottom of the stairs he seen the two cells to the left of the room. He stopped in front of the closest one.
Rosco pointed to the other side of the room across from where the desk was as he locked the gate behind them and pocketed the keys.
As Luke crossed the room he saw a small shower area across from the desk.
Rosco reached in a file cabnit and took out a folded orange piece of clothing. He then stepped to unlock Luke's wrists.
Luke couldn't help the automatic reaction to rub his wrists where the cuffs had been.
Rosco began in an all business tone, "Take off your boots, knife, and belt." He reached for a bag and put Luke's official name on it.
"Rosco! You can't be serious." Luke said.
Rosco was very serious. The last thing he wanted was for a 'kid' just barely 18 to start thinking stupid thoughts and hurt himself in his jail. "It's not an option. I want your boots, knife, belt and any jewelry you are wearing to put up for safe keepin'."
Luke swore and none too quietly but he complied and gave Rosco the items.
"Now, take off your clothes down to yur underwear and put these on." Rosco said as he handed Luke the orange outfit.
Luke glared at him, took the outfit and unfolded the orange coveralls with the words, 'Hazzard County' and a large letter 'P' on it. "This is going too far Rosco."
Rosco again gave the young man a look, "You put yourself here Luke. I'm only doing my job."
Luke sighed and swore again as he undressed and put on the coveralls.
Rosco put Luke's jeans and shirt in another bag with his name on it and crossed the room to unlock the cell.
The sound of the tumblers even unlocking was unnerving to Luke. He saw Rosco waiting on him. He crossed the room and stepped inside the cell. Luke hadn't even had time to turn around as he heard the door clang shut and obviously lock behind him. There it was again the shiver that ran from Luke's head to his toes and back again. He tried to shake it off as he turned to see Rosco getting a second set of coveralls. Luke knew at least that Ralph was going to get the same treatment and that Rosco wasn't going out of his way to give him a hard way to go. "What about a phone call?"
Rosco replied, "You seen how long it took with you and I've still got to get him booked. But, I will call the farm for you."
Luke actually hadn't looked forward to talking to Jesse so the fact that Rosco would be dealing with him made Luke feel better at least temporarily. He knew he'd have to deal with Jesse sooner or later, but later, at the moment, worked. "Thanks Rosco."
Rosco relocked the gate after going through it and started upstairs to book Ralph.
Luke was standing at the bars looking at his sock feet against the coolness of the cement floor. He was alone in the downstairs of the Hazzard Courthouse, better known as the Hazzard Jail. Deciding that he may as well check out his surroundings. He turned around and saw the metal bunk with what was supposed to be a mattress, fire proof of course, a simaliar pillow and 2 blankets folded on the end of the bunk and a toilet/sink combo in the far corner. At the back of the cell was one small barred window. Luke walked to the window and looked out at the stillness of Hazzard Square in the late night hours. There wasn't even a light on at the garage, of course there was no reason for there to be, after all Cooter had the wrecker that night up at the lake. It wouldn't have taken him any time at all to hook to Luke's and Ralph's cars and tucked them safely away in the impound yard behind the garage. Luke knew all about that as he'd helped Cooter tow a fair amount of vehicles to the lot for impound or repair.
Luke was still starring out the window as Rosco came back down sometime later with Ralph's clothes and items.
"I called Jesse. He said that he'd be here in the morning." Rosco informed Luke.
Luke shook his head, "Appreciate that." He wanted to asked if Jesse had said anything else or if Rosco could gauge how mad Jesse was, but he knew Jesse wouldn't let on much if any to Rosco. Nope, he'd save it for Luke himself.
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Please review it helps the imagination.