This story takes place in the timeline of my story-line, 'Along came a Duke.' For those who have not read that story, here is a short replay. Bo and Luke were framed for stealing General Stonewall Jackson's sword. Their cousin Jeb Stewart Duke, did not show up to the Hazzard jail until after the Federal agent took the Duke cousins into custody. They were freed by Sheriff Little, after spending four days in prison. Bo was attacked in his cell before Sheriff Little could free them. Bo fought off his attacker before anything could happen. Nevertheless, ever since that night Bo has had a hard time being alone, so Luke lives with him. Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco were arrested for theft and fraud. This story takes place 4 years after that incident. Bo is the sheriff of Hazzard and Luke is the sheriff of Sweet Water. Emery Porter is Luke's Deputy and Cletus is Bo's. In order to be the sheriff of Sweet Water, Luke had to have an address in that county, so he built a small house next to Bo's, that was in Sweet Water. Enos is now the county commissioner and is married to Daisy, they live with Jesse to help with the farm chores. Rosco served 3 years of house arrest, and now lives in a small house that Lulu bought for him from the Duke cousins. He also co-owns the Boars Nest with Daisy. Boss Hogg had passed away. After the Duke boys false arrest and imprisonment, they received a large settlement. For not only that arrest but for the dozens of other false arrests. When Bo and Luke went to Atlanta to pay off the mortgage, it was discovered that the deed was considered paid in full 6 years prior. When Boss Hogg thought he was dying, he wrote a note stating that the mortgage was forgiven and no monies were due. Because of that, the estate of J.D.'s was required to return all money collected for those 6 years. Lulu didn't have the money to return, so she paid the debt with some farm land and businesses that were foreclosed on. Bo and Luke got the sawmill and grain market, plus half ownership of the Boars Nest. Because they were busy with the farms, Daisy was gifted the boy's share of The Boars Nest. They purchased over two thousand acre of farm land for themselves to plant cotton, and several farms and the farm houses. They share crop the several farms that they received as payment from Lulu. Plus they rent out the houses of the farms that they grow crops on. Because of Jesse's age, Jesse gave ownership of the farm to Daisy and Enos. Jackie Petticord is the doctor and medical examiner.

This story starts out with a murder investigation. A body was found in the Hazzard woods near the county line of Hazzard and Sweet Water.

"Morning, Cletus." Luke said as he walked up.

"Morning, Luke. You get the call too?"

"Yeah." Luke replied. "What do we got here?"

"Gunshot wound to the chest." Luke took a closer look at the victim.

"Doesn't he look familiar?"

"Roy Barclay." Cletus showed Luke the wallet he found.

"Should I contact Doc to pick up the body?"

"Luke, no offence but I can take care of that call."

"Sorry, didn't mean to over step."

"It's just, I don't want the people in Hazzard to think that I'm not capable of doing my job."

"I understand. The body is on the county line though. So Bo ain't gonna mind that I help you."

"I will." Luke turned around and replied.

"And you are?" Luke asked the lady that walked up to him.

"Sheriff Jody Martin." The lady replied.

"Beauregard Duke is the Sheriff of Hazzard County."

"Not as of this morning."

"Excuse me?"

"I was appointed the temporary Sheriff of Hazzard, until Mr. Duke can return to his duties."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Is he aware of that fact? And why wasn't Cletus sworn in as temporary Sheriff?" Replied a very annoyed Luke.

"I'm not sure on both questions." Jody looked at the body. "The one thing I am sure of is, the body is in my county." Luke didn't reply as he walked away.

"Who the hell was that?"

"That's Sheriff Lukas Duke, from Sweet Water County."

"Sheriff Lukas Duke? Any relation to Beauregard Duke?"

"Sheriff Duke is his cousin."

"Did you call the medical examiner?"

"Was going to do that." Cletus went back to the patrol car and grabbed the cb and called Doc. When Cletus got back, Jody told him that she was going to head back to the station. Cletus waited by the body until Jackie got there.

"Morning, Cletus. What do we have here?"

"Gunshot wound."

"Accident?" Jackie asked as he knelt down next to the body.

"That's your job to determine." Cletus replied.

"Fair enough."

"Can you give me a time of death?" Jackie looked at his watch, then looked closely at the body.

"Looking at the condition of the body and it's 8am right now. The temperature outside is about 80 degrees." Jackie made a small incision and inserted a thermometer into the the tissue of the liver. "Liver temperature is 94 degrees." Jackie was quiet for several minutes. "Had to have died maybe 6 to 7 hours ago. Maybe around 1am."

"You can determine time of death from the temperature of the body?"

"It's not an exact time of death, there are several factors that can alter the time. It's a start though." Jackie put his supplies away and told Cletus. "Can you help me get him back to the wagon?"

"Sure thing." Cletus helped Jackie put the body in the body bag and then put it in the stokes basket. As Cletus and Jackie made their way back to the patrol car, Cletus looked down and saw a backpack in the brush.

"Jackie hold up. I found something." He picked up the backpack and opened it. He saw newspaper articles about Bo's accident. Also found several notebook papers, with the patrol routes of the Hazzard police. On another piece of paper, were the operating times of the jewelry store in Cedar City.

"Flapjacks on a ferris wheel!"

"What do you got there?" Cletus showed Jackie what he found.

"You think Bo's in trouble?"

"I don't know. I think I have to show this to Luke." They made their way to the wagon and Jackie took the body to the morgue. While Cletus made his way to the Sweet Water police station.