PHONES RINGING IN EMPTY ROOMS

HAZZARD

"Does your husband Nick own a gun?" Bo glanced at Jo while they came out the Police Department, crossing Hazzard's square and heading to the Florist Shop.

Jo nodded, "He keeps it in a drawer inside the Shop."

Bo stared at Rosco, "Now, we should take that gun and check if – "

Rosco frowned, "Bo Duke! There's no need you to teach me how doin' my job!"

Luke shook his head and sighed, "OK. Go and find that gun. And have a talk with Nick Russell." He looked at the buildings around him, "The Boarding House is really close the Florist Shop. Nick could control every Enos' move. I wouldn't be surprised to know Mr Russell followed Enos when he left the Boarding House, that night."

Jo stopped and looked at Ellen, "When we arrived here, this morning, Nick's van was parked in front of the Shop, but now the van is gone and the Shop's door is closed."

Uncle Jesse wrinkled his eyebrows, "Maybe he is at the nursery to check his flowers and plants," no certainty in his voice but a soft doubt.

Jo shook her head, "We usually went to the nursery early in the morning then we worked in the Shop. Maybe he is out for a delivery, or maybe he has changed our past habits."

Cooter rested his hand on Jo's shoulder, "Have you the key, Mrs Russell?"

Jo blushed and fumbled in her bag for the key that was still there remembering her of her past life, the same way Nick was still in her heart remembering her of how much she loved him despite she kept on fighting against that feeling. In her heart she hoped Nick was responsible for Enos' injuring (so proving her he was really evil) and at the same time she hoped he wasn't involved in it (so proving her he wasn't so bad, after all. Maybe… just maybe…).

Jo's hand trembled when her fingers touched the cold metal of the key. Away from Hazzard, away from Nick, away from everything that could recall her of Nick, she was learning to trust her guts and to realize how toxic Nick has been for her, but now, in front of their Shop (the Shop she built with Nick after they married), she felt totally confused, again that confusion about her senses. She was lucky Nick wasn't there otherwise she would have hugged him, asking him to forgive her. She shivered: forgive for what? For being his victim? For having left him after his psychological and physical abuses?

Why did it take so long to get over that pathological relationship?

The key entered the keyhole and the Shop's door opened. Jo had a step back and let the Dukes, Rosco, Cletus and Cooter come in; from the doorstep, she pointed at the drawer near the cash register, "The gun is there." She couldn't enter: that place was both her heaven and her hell, a heaven turned into hell.

Luke opened the drawer and shook his head, "The gun isn't here."

Bo glanced at Luke and then at the empty drawer, "Maybe he freed himself of the gun after shooting at Enos. Or…" he closed the drawer and stared at Luke, "Are you thinking of the same thing?"

Luke rested his hands on his hips, looked down at the floor and walked out the Shop. He sighed, "I am thinking of the same thing but I hope we are wrong, Bo."

Cletus put his hat off and scratched his head, "What's wrong?"

Mr O'Connor walked closer the group in front of the Florist Shop, "Jesse. Is it real? 'Bout Enos and Daisy alive, at Gus' place? Everybody in Hazzard is talking 'bout it."

Uncle Jesse looked at Mr O'Connor, his voice soft, "Please, Arthur. Not now. I am goin' to explain you everything. I am goin' to explain everything to everyone, but not now."

Luke walked to The General Lee and grabbed the CB receiver, "We have just one way to find it out, Bo." He pushed the button on the receiver, "This is Luke Duke talkin' to everybody out there. If you have met Nick Russell, answer me, please. And if you are hearing me, Nick, stop it. Now. We know everything, and you can't run away."

Silence, just a buzz from the CB, a buzz finally turning into a voice, "This is Darcy speakin'. Luke, I bumped into Nick Russell's van on Drexel Road, nearly one hour ago."

Luke's knuckles turned pale as he squeezed the CB receiver, "Thanks Darcy. What direction?"

"North. What's goin' on, Luke?"

Luke had a big sigh, "I am goin' to explain you everything, but not now. Thanks for your help." He put the receiver down and turned at Bo, "It's happening. Unfortunately."

Jo had a step toward Bo and Luke, "Our nursery is in Cedar Point Road, far away Drexel Road. And I don't know anybody in Drexel Road to bring our flowers or plants to."

Bo nodded, "Nick isn't goin' to your nursery. Neither having a delivery. In order to leave Hazzard and reach the Blue Ridge Mountains, and so Gus McCormick's house, you have to take Drexel Road. Our farm is nearby Drexel Road, and it's why Gus, before leaving Hazzard, always stops at our farm. I guess Nick is leaving Hazzard in order to find out if Enos and Daisy are really alive, and to settle his score with Enos."

Jo placed her hands on her mouth, "Oh my God! No!"

Luke scratched his head in frustration, "This is what I was planning to do: let the man who nearly killed Enos wonder if Enos and Daisy are really alive, and push him in trap through this doubt and fake clues." He hit The General Lee's hood with his fist, "It's my fault. I have pushed that man to Enos and Daisy, instead. And, now, Enos and Daisy are in trap."

Uncle Jesse walked closer Luke, "Luke! It isn't your fault. It wasn't YOUR plan, but OUR plan, so we are responsible as much as you. Now, we have to warn Enos and Daisy, and we have to reach Nick Russell." He turned to Rosco, "Rosco, call the Gilmer County's Sheriff and warn him about a killer coming to his County; meanwhile, I am goin' to call Gus' farm, though I think Enos and Daisy, if there, aren't goin' to answer the phone, not knowing it's me, but I am goin' to have a try." He had a disappointed sigh then he stared at Bo and Luke, "And you," he pointed at The General Lee, "you can reach Nick, though he is one hour ahead. The General is The General."

GILMER COUNTY, BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

Daisy looked up at the blue sky, enjoying the warm sunlight on her face, "I love it."

Enos squeezed her hand, walking silently by her side.

They walked slowly, enjoying any step from the town to their cabin.

In the glade in front of the cabin, the sun lighted a red van.

Enos stopped and frowned, a distant alarm ringing in his head. He squeezed Daisy's hand even more.

"Walk to the cabin and come in."

Enos stiffened at the cold voice behind him. A metallic click told Enos much more than the voice, a click he knew pretty well, being a cop: the click of a loading gun. The distant alarm turned into a frantic and close alarm.

"Don't try to resist, Enos, or I am goin' to kill Daisy Duke."

Enos recognized the voice, and the puzzle finally formed in his mind. Finally but late.

Meanwhile, a phone was ringing inside the empty Gilmer County Police Department, and another phone was ringing inside the McCormick's empty farm.

SOMEWHERE FROM HAZZARD COUNTY TO GILMER COUNTY

Knelt near The General Lee's flat tire, Luke placed the jack against the underside of the car, "We really didn't need a flat tire!"

Bo helped his older cousin to remove the flat tire and to place the spare one on the hub, their moves as quick as possible, "I hope uncle Jesse and Rosco managed to warn Enos and Daisy 'bout Nick Russell."

Luke shook his head in frustration, tightening the nuts by hand until all snug, "It seems everything is goin' wrong. EVERYTHING. I didn't managed to find out what happened to Enos until Jo's coming back to Hazzard, and now Enos and Daisy are in the danger in the place I decided to send them in order to protect them. If Nick Russell is goin' there, now, it is also because of my plan: if I hadn't instilled the doubt 'bout Enos and Daisy bein' alive into Nick's mind before Jo's coming, maybe – "

"Luke!" Bo placed his hand on Luke's shoulder, "Stop it! It isn't your fault. Your plan was great, and it would have worked if Josephine Russell hadn't come to Hazzard with the news of Enos and Daisy at the Atlanta Medical Center. You couldn't prevent it. It's an absurd coincidence, a mix of absurd coincidences."

Luke nodded and stood up, wiping his greasy hands on his jeans, "OK. We can't waste our time, now. Gilmer County isn't far, and for sure Nick Russell is already there. Come on!"

GILMER COUNTY, BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

"Sit down and don't try to resist."

Daisy sat by Enos' right side on the cabin's couch, Nick Russell in front of them, a gun in his hand.

Nick Russell?

Confused and scared, Daisy looked at Enos, "Enos? What's goin' on?"

"SHUT UP!"

Daisy started at Nick's sudden shout. She stared at the florist and wondered how that man could be the culprit they were looking for: Nick Russell, loving husband and honest citizen. Was it possible?

"Now, Daisy Duke, I am going to tell you how your boyfriend was cheating on you with my wife Josephine. Then, I am going to kill him and, of course, I am going to kill you too, Daisy. I am sorry for you but I can't leave any witness behind."

"Please, Mr Russell. Let Daisy go. She has nothing to do with it. I had no affair with your wife Josephine, and I don't know how you can believe – "

"SHUT UP!"

The first bullet entered the couch, few inches by Enos' left side.