by: Sarah Stodola

 

Candy Brandon did indeed know where Luke Duke was staying. Hidden behind a hedge, she’d listened to his conversation with his cousin, then watched him go to his room. The twelve-year-old grinned to herself. This was fun! Just like in books or on TV.

Of course, she knew (how could she help it; everyone was always telling her) that it was probably dangerous for her to be doing this. But, hey, dangerous how? She’d just get out of the way of bums and the like, and the crooks her dad was looking for wouldn’t know she was his daughter, would they? Probably not.

Candy yawned and stretched, batting a stubborn fly away from her face, where it searched for the moisture so rare in the desert. She had to admit one thing, though. The idea of playing detective was fun… but stakeouts, she’d found, were boring. Especially since not a thing had twitched in the past hour and a half besides the bushes in the hot wind. She wiped her sweaty forehead and looked over at the lobby, longing for cool air and a drink. But she couldn’t leave her post. So, she’d survive. Miserably, but she would survive.

The girl yawned again and shifted position on the hard ground, blinking sunspots out of her eyes. She wished somebody would just get out of their rooms, or that something at least would happen around here, so she could do something. She wished she could take a nap. She wished… She yawned, then shook her head and blinked fiercely, determined to stay awake despite the stifling heat.

But then she suddenly got her wish. A dark blue van pulled up into the parking lot. Candy wasn’t quite sure what about it suddenly caught her full attention and made her shrink back into the bushes, but something did. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched four men get out of the wide cab. Two stood in the parking lot looking around, and two headed for the office. The young girl shivered, wrapping her arms around herself despite the Texas heat. They scared her… she had a feeling these were some of the men her dad had been hunting. She threw a panicked glance at the motel room door she knew was his. She had to go warn him!

But how, with all these men around? For once, she had to admit it — she was only a kid! So she shrank down in the bushes and watched with wide eyes as the two men came out of the office and crossed over to their companions. They seemed angry, gesturing and speaking in hushed tones. Then they split up into two groups and headed for the rooms.

Candy gasped. “Dad!” she whispered frantically. Then she thought of another, and felt even worse. “Luke!” Glancing around with wide eyes, she started to move froward, then hesitated, quivering with the need to do something yet the inability to. If she jumped out there, she would only get caught herself, common sense told her. But her emotions were screaming that that was her daddy in trouble, that she had to help! But how could she?

While she fought her internal battle, one pair of crooks fumbled with the lock on her dad’s door, and disappeared inside too quickly to have not had a key. She heard a shout, and saw a short scuffle just inside the door before all went quiet. She swallowed hard, suddenly frozen to the spot she was crouched in, and bit her lip hard to hide a whimper of frustrated, confused fear.

The other occupied room was broken into at that moment, and she tensed, but there was not a sound. Surprised, she held her breath as she waited for some sign of someone, anyone. Nothing happened… then the two crooks came back out, shrugging. One paused in the doorway, frowning and looking around, and then Candy saw a brief flash of movement behind him before he collapsed without making a sound. She grinned for a moment with relief at seeing Luke Duke standing there with something in his hand. Maybe he could escape, save her dad! “Please, Luke,” she whispered, wishing he could hear her.

But he seemed to have the same thing in mind. The Georgian scanned the area, then broke into a run across the parking lot. A shout rang out a second later as he was spotted and the three remaining men gave chase. But the younger man was a fast runner, and he ducked behind a big sign just before two of the men ran past.

Wait a minute… two? Candy frowned. Luke seemed to notice that problem the same moment she did, and spun around to face his rear… a split second too late. The third man stood there, fists clenched, and swung before Luke had a chance to react. He went sprawling backwards on the ground, shaking his head dizzily. But faster than she or the thug had expected, he was back up and leaping at his attacker with all the strength that was in his body. Candy winced as the crook collapsed to the ground after a quick flurry of exchanged blows. She was glad she wasn’t on the end of all that. And fiercely, angrily glad that that crook was.

But Luke’s quick thinking and moving hadn’t been enough. He glared at the man who had shown up in the middle of the fight, his gun trained on the Southerner’s heart, with a deadly fire she could see even from her hiding place. But he had no choice but to hold still as the man he’d downed came up, spitting something indistinguishable but angry, and locked the young farmer’s hands behind his back with a pair of police handcuffs. Candy watched in frozen horror as her father was also dragged out of his room by the other two men. David Brandon seemed about as angry as Luke Duke, but neither man had much choice in this matter, and preceded their captors to the van. Once they were standing there, one man grabbed each of the prisoners, and a third held his gun on them, while the final man slapped cloths soaked in some sort of liquid from a bottle over their mouths. Her father slumped first, but Luke, though he fought with the will of a tiger, also eventually succumbed to unconsciousness.

Candy bit her lip hard again, breathing hard. This was too much like the mystery books… the not-too-nice side of them. That that stuff had to be chloroform. She watched, trembling in a mix of fear and fury, as the four crooks tossed their victims into the van and locked the rear doors, then climbed into the cab and roared out of the parking lot with a squealing of tires.

The moment they were gone, the twelve-year-old sprang up from her hiding place and sprinted across to the office. She flung the door open and stepped inside, looking all around. She had to find some way to call Bo and the team! “Hello?” she called.

A low moan came from a closed door near the counter, that probably led to a back room. Candy jumped and spun around, heart racing.

“Hello? Who’s there?”

The sound came again, and spooked, she almost fled. But just as she tightened her muscles to run, her curiosity overcame her fear, and though still on edge, she slowly walked over to the door. Shivering at the thought of whatever might be back there, Candy turned the knob slowly and flung open the door. Nothing leaped out to get her, and she peered around the corner.

A moment later, she leapt into the room to untie the man lying on the floor. He held still while she fumbled with the rope knots around his wrists, then sat up to deal with his own feet while she worked on the gag. Finally he was free, and she sat back on her heels, frowning. Being scared was starting to be replaced by being just plain mad, and she wasn’t feeling much like a nice little social chitchat. “Who are you?” she asked bluntly.

He blinked, then smiled slightly, running his fingers through his white hair. “You’re the girl.”

“The girl?” she asked suspiciously.

“Uh-huh. I been watchin’ you. That young man with the dark hair was in here looking for you and your dad.” Then the smile disappeared, to be followed by worry. “I think they’ve been kidnapped, though I wouldn’t know why. All I know is these guys came in askin’ for David Brandon’s room number, and when I wouldn’t give it to them, they tied me up and searched the roster themselves. They took my keys, too.” He frowned. “I’m sure glad I have spares.”

“Um.” She nibbled on her lower lip lightly. “My name’s Candy… Candy Brandon.”

“Well, pleased to meet ya, Candy. I’m Henry Pritchard. You know, I never learned that young man’s name. He said he was a friend of yours.”

She nodded. “Luke. Luke Duke.” Then she scowled again. “My dad and him and me, we’re all tryin’ to catch some crooks that wanna take over Daddy’s racing team. And those crooks just got my dad! And Luke,” she added.

Both of the old man’s eyebrows went up, almost knowingly. “You supposed to be helpin’ them? I saw you sneak in here real quiet-like after your dad got here, and then this Luke fella came in looking for you, like he was worried about ya.”

Candy hedged for a moment, a bit embarrassed at being found out. “Umm… no, I’m not supposed to be helping,” she finally admitted. “But I wanted to. I didn’t mean to scare Luke, though.”

Henry frowned slightly. “You think these thugs were the same people that your dad and Luke are after?”

She nodded again. “Who else would go after them?” she asked sarcastically. “The circus?”

The frown turned into a narrow-eyed stare, and Henry started to get up off the floor. “Don’t take that tone of voice with me, young lady. This sounds like a matter for the police.”

Gasping, Candy leapt up after him and grabbed his arm before he could leave the storeroom. “No, please! If they know about cops being after them, they’ll kill my dad, probably! And Luke too!”

Piercing dark eyes regarded her with an acceptance she had rarely seen. “Do you have anyone you can look to for help, back wherever it is y’all came from?”

She paused, but then answered, “Yeah.” She had Bo, and Frank, and the team. And a more loyal bunch of men she was pretty sure she’d never find. “I’ve got some people. I was gonna try to call them.”

“I’ve got a better idea. Maybe you better get back to them. You know, I bet they’re all worried sick,” he scolded half-angrily.

The girl almost retorted, but then thought better of it, and closed her mouth. “Yes, sir.”

Henry jerked his arm away from the twelve-year-old’s grasp and started again for the outer office and diner. “I got a truck. I’ll drive you back wherever it is you’re supposed to be.”

Candy swallowed her anger at suddenly being spoken to like a disobedient child, which she admittedly was, and nodded. At least he’d give her a lift back to where she wanted to go in the first place. She ran out after him. “We’re at the Retima Raceway. Do you know where that is?”

Henry nodded. “I’ve been there. I watch the races sometimes. Come on, Candy.” He grabbed a set of keys off a hook and jingled them in his hand as he headed for the back door, the young girl hot on his heels.

When he opened up his old garage, however, she was frozen to the ground in disbelief and dismay. She wasn’t sure if the old fifty-something pickup sitting there would even start, much less get her anywhere in a hurry. But Henry didn’t seem to see anything wrong, heading for the driver’s side and gesturing.

“Get in!”

Candy swallowed nervously, but finally obeyed. The handle on her door stuck at first, but with a grunt of exertion, it popped open and she clambered up into the cab. The truck’s owner grinned at her suddenly, and turned the key in the ignition. It sputtered and died a couple of times, but then suddenly started with a roar she had not expected. She jumped. “Whoa!”

“Thought she was an old nag, did ya? I’ll tell you, her engine ain’t near as old as the rest of her. Put on your seatbelt, honey, we’re takin’ off!” The truck’s engine revved, and she hurriedly snapped her seatbelt into place as they headed for the open road at a speed that barely kept to the limit.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

Luke groaned and opened his eyes… only to squeeze them shut again. The bright light directly overhead was downright cruelty to the headache he already suffered from.

Then he remembered, and his jaw tensed in anger. Brandon had been kidnapped, likely by the people he was so determined to find, and Luke, in attempting to rescue him, had gotten himself caught in the same trap.

“Wonderful. How dumb can you get?” he muttered to himself. Yet he knew that if it happened again, he would do the same thing. It was practically inbred in him to help those in trouble. He’d been raised to do just that ever since before he was old enough to understand. He sighed, squinting his eyes open and letting them get adjusted to the brightness before taking a look around his prison.

He was lying on a narrow cot that reminded him of his time in the Marines, in a small room with no windows and only one door. The painted concrete walls were solid gray, and looked thick and impenetrable. The door was metal of much the same color as the walls, with no window in it, either.

Depressing, he thought as he rolled carefully to a sitting position, wincing and placed a palm against his temple. These people must use psychological tactics to keep their prisoners from causing trouble. Well, if Luke could manage to achieve any say in the matter, he wasn’t planning on staying long anyway.

At least this supported, if not proved, one theory, which made him feel a little better. These guys apparently didn’t just do away with those who annoyed them. Which meant that the men from the team that had disappeared were likely still here somewhere, held captive but alive. Maybe he could even find them.

The headache was getting better now, and he slowly pushed himself to his feet, waiting for a moment until the dizzy spell the movement created passed, then walked over to the door to study it closely, just in case there might be any weaknesses. He ran his fingers over the edges, studied the tiny crack through which he could just see the hinges on the other side, and finally went back to sit down, satisfied, but not pleased, that there was no easy way out. Whoever had built this was a professional.

Luke sighed and scooted back a little on the cot, drawing his feet under him to sit crosslegged. So, there was no physical way out of here. But he had to get out; that was not an option. He had to get back to Candy and Bo.

Then he frowned. Bo… what about his younger cousin made all this seem haunting? The teenager had nothing to do with anything like this… Then it hit him with the force of a semi truck, and he drew a quick breath, his eyes widening, as he heard the blond boy’s words in his mind again, as if a ghost was now whispering them there. They came right up to you, and you couldn’t see them until they grabbed you. Then they just dragged you away with them… Luke swallowed, his memory jumping ahead a few minutes. It was so real, almost like… like… Like something that’s gonna happen, Lukas. Like something that’s gonna happen.

He had dismissed it immediately. It hadn’t made any logical sense whatsoever. It still didn’t. He didn’t know how in the world it had happened. But he had to admit, that dream had been frighteningly close to the truth. When he got back, he would have to apologize to Bo for not believing him, he thought; if he’d had his guard up, this wouldn’t have happened. First, though, he had to get out of this place. But how?

His mind flipped from one possible plan to another, until he finally shook his head and rested his chin in his hand, elbow on his knee, and sighed again. Things weren’t looking good. But then again, he was a Duke, so unexpected good fortune was likely just around the corner if he knew where to look. Maybe it was that thought that kept him from feeling truly depressed. It was more like he was waiting for something, just simply waiting.

He didn’t have to wait long. In about fifteen minutes, he heard a click, then the sound of a heavy bolt sliding back. His head shot up to watch the portal intently as it slowly swung outward to reveal two heavyweight men in black uniforms, holding guns pointed directly at him. Memory floated up again — They were all dressed in black. Oh man, from now on he was gonna listen to Bo when the younger boy was serious about something, no matter how crazy it sounded. Luke fought to remember the next thing his cousin had said… something about deception, danger… evil behind beauty. He was gonna keep that in mind from now on.

One man gestured with his gun silently, and Luke stood up, walking over to them. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but hopefully he would be taken to the leader. Now that he was here, he’d like to know just who it was that he was fighting. One guard in front, one behind, the young Duke was marched out of his prison and down a just as colorless gray hall and up a flight of metal stairs. Everything was strict, regulated… almost military. Somehow, he had a feeling that he wasn’t merely dealing with someone who wanted the Brandon racing team. Someone in this organization was a real mastermind, and there was definitely something more going on beneath the surface than a simple hunger for money. He couldn’t help but wonder what.

Finally he was shoved through a doorway into what appeared to be a sort of office. A man with clothes that seemed similar to the guards’ and a dark-haired crewcut was writing on a sheet of notepad paper, but he looked up when the trio came in. His face was stern, lined though he only appeared to be in his thirties. Pale blue eyes, much like Luke’s own only without the warmth the young farmer often showed, looked his prisoner up and down briefly, then flicked to the guards.

“Well done. Leave us now; he’s no danger to me.” Like the eyes and face, the voice was cold, arrogant. Luke let his urge to strike out and get a little reaction show through only in a twitch of a muscle alongside one side of his jaw, and a slight cooling of his gaze, meeting the other’s eyes with just as little expression. Two could play at this game. As the guards strode out and shut the door behind them, a little twitch lifted one corner of the apparent leader’s mouth in an unfriendly smile. “You are getting to be a bit of a nuisance, did you know that, Mr. Duke?”

“Maybe,” Luke replied just as evenly, shifting his weight and slowly hooking his thumbs through his belt, returning the cool, emotionless gaze. He felt all his Marine training coming back full force now, leaving no room for the friendly country boy he normally was. Briefly he thought to himself that he was glad he’d never been put into a situation where he would have to act this way around Bo. The blond teenager depended upon his strength, yes, but strength displayed in a gentle way. He would be frightened by the change taking place in his older cousin now. It was much easier not to have the younger boy around right now; Luke’s training might very well aid him greatly.

His captor studied him critically, Luke meeting his gaze without a single twitch of outward nervousness, then slowly put his pen down, pushed his chair back, and stood. Silent assessment passed between the two men, then he nodded. “You’re a military man.”

“Used to be,” Luke replied evenly. “Not anymore.” His stance was casual in a way, not at all submissive, yet not one bit relaxed either. Nearly every muscle in his body was tensed, at the ready for whatever might come.

The stranger twitched a slight smile. “Don’t deny it; that kind of training is never lost, only hidden. What is your rank and full name?”

Luke pondered whether or not to reply. He finally decided that there would be no harm in playing along that much. “Sergeant Lukas K. Duke. What do you want with me?”

A slight smile. “I don’t, really, Sergeant. You simply got in the way. You might consider yourself…” He gestured around with a sweep of one hand. “A prisoner of war. Tell me, Duke, what do you do nowadays besides farm? You smuggle illegal alcohol, correct?”

Luke looked straight at him, responding with only words, coldly and quietly defiant. “You know a lot about me, don’t you?”

The man waved a hand through the air. “I never start a campaign without first knowing my opponent inside and out.”

“Cheating.”

“No… an advantage.”

Ice blue eyes stared down ice blue eyes. “In war there is no seeing ahead. If you think this is all some twisted military scheme, you’re cheating.”

The man looked at him for a few seconds longer, then suddenly burst out laughing. He rounded his desk to sit slowly, thoughtfully, on the corner facing Luke. He pointed his finger at the younger man. “You know, I like you.” He paused briefly, eyes glittering strangely. “What do you think of money, Sergeant? What would you say if I said I could give you power that no man could take away?”

Luke stared at him, for a split second his eyes displaying his surprise. “Are you asking me to join you?”

“Perhaps. At least I am offering. You could be… a great asset to us.”

“No,” Luke stated bluntly. “No. I do not agree with what you do; I will not be a part of it.”

A slight nod. “Yes. I should have known that a soldier of your caliber would stay loyal to his superior.”

Luke’s eyes flashed in the first strong display of emotion he’d shown since he’d come into this room. “No one is my superior,” he replied coolly. “I choose to help David Brandon. I don’t have to. Speaking of which, where is he?”

“Ahh… I should have known you would be a leader, not a follower. I suppose that’s why I like you.” Another slight smile, one that sent a shiver down the Georgian’s spine. “Very well. If you wish, I will take you to him. Come with me.” He rose, starting for the door.

He was arrested mid-step by a sharp question. “You know so much about me; what’s your name?”

The other turned slowly, looking the muscular farmer up and down, then he nodded. “I suppose there is no harm in telling you. You won’t tell anyone else anyway.” It was said in a cold tone, one that made Luke shiver. “I am Major Izzac. Now, if you wish to see your friend, come with me.” He turned and started off again. Luke just watched him for a few seconds, dread trickling into his stomach, before following. There was a thought formulating in his mind, one he couldn’t stop, one that honestly scared him. It was a thought that, if it was true, would put him and everyone else in even greater danger.

This man was not only a dangerous, possibly brilliant, criminal strategist. He just might also be quite insane.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

Bo bit his lower lip to keep his grin from getting too wide as he slowly laid his hand of cards on the table. “Three kings.”

Frank groaned dramatically as he threw his cards on the table. “Aw, man! Third time in a row! I’m sure glad we’re not playin’ for money!”

The blond teenager shrugged. “Not to hurt your feelings, but you’re terrible at poker, buddy.”

The older man frowned deeply at him, eyes belying his amusement. “Tsk tsk, young man. Disrespect for elders!”

Bo just giggled, leaning his chair back on two legs and tipping an imaginary hat forward over his eyes. “Ahh.” He linked his fingers behind his head. “The loser gets to buy dinner, remember? I can just sit here-” His speech was broken by a startled yelp as his opponent shoved his already off-balance chair. His eyes flew open just before he landed flat on his back and rolled away, groaning. In a moment, the chair was pushed away by a foot. Frank bent down, a slight smirk on his face.

“Now what were you sayin’?”

Grimacing, Bo got his hands under him and started to push himself to a sitting position. “No fair.”

“Well, your attitude wasn’t so nice either.” But the smile on the older driver’s face belied the stern words. He reached down a hand to help the eighteen-year-old to his feet. Bo stood up, brushing himself off, and mock-scowled at his assailant.

“C’mon, Frank, the rules were that the loser bought and brought in dinner. You’re the loser.”

“You sure you didn’t cheat?” the older man asked suspiciously, eyes twinkling with barely-contained laughter.

Bo drew himself up to his full height and put his fists on his hips, giving Frank a haughty look down his nose. “Dukes don’t need to cheat.”

“Hah.”

“Luke says.”

The other driver picked up the chair and set it back on its feet, a thoughtful expression crossing his face past the joking. “And therefore it’s true?”

Bo dropped the pose, shrugging. “Well… he knows a lot of things… he’s the leader. So, yeah, I guess I tend to take everything he says as true. ’Less it actually gets disproved, of course.”

“Hmm.” Frank just stood there a moment longer, with a thoughtful tint to his eyes that Bo wasn’t sure he liked, before turning away and gathering up the cards. “All right, you win. I’ll buy some food ‘to go’ at the diner across the way and bring it back, okay?”

“Sounds good.” He gave the telephone a wistful look, wishing it would ring. Was Luke all right? Oh, of course he was. But there was something inside of him, something tight and jumpy that had been there ever since his older cousin had left. He’d been trying to ignore it, falling back on his old trick of humor to mask nervousness. But was this completely just nervousness? It was like something else… like he’d felt when Luke had been caught by a wolf trap years before, or more recently when Sheriff Little of Chickasaw County had recently had him in jail, trying to prove that the Dukes were running shine. Luke hadn’t had a single jug in the General at the time, so Little had been forced to let him go, but Bo had known and been afraid anyway.

Both times, though, along with a few others, whenever Bo had felt this way, Luke had been in some sort of danger. He knew Luke always felt things about him, too; it was like a two-way sixth sense. And it had never failed… did this mean that Luke was in trouble now? His stomach squeezed even tighter as the dream that just wouldn’t get out of his head came back again to the screen of his memory, and he slowly sat down on the edge of his bed, not looking at his friend.

“Let’s eat later, huh?” he tried to keep his voice light. “I ain’t really all that hungry right now.”

He felt Frank’s burning gaze even without seeing it. The older man stood still for a moment, then came across the small room toward him to put a hand on his shoulder. “What’s wrong, Bo?”

There was willingness to understand, compassion, in that voice, but the teenager didn’t let himself give into it. If he did, he’d fall apart, and Luke wasn’t here for him to depend on. And he sure didn’t want to admit his emotional ‘handicap’ to Frank or anybody else. So he just shook his head, making his face stay calm as he looked up. “Nothin’s wrong. Why would you think so?”

Frank removed his hand after a second, and sat down beside him. “Bo…” He sighed, glancing away then back at the boy. “Kiddo, I can tell there’s something wrong. You ain’t exactly your cousin when it comes to hidin’ what you’re feeling.”

Bo colored slightly, looking at his hands, folded in his lap. “…Yeah. I know.”

“Now, what is it? Let me help.”

He looked up, mouth open, about to protest that he was fine, and then his eyes somehow met the other driver’s. His mouth closed slowly, and he sighed, searching the other’s face for even a hint of skepticism. He didn’t find it, and so swallowed, steeling himself. “Okay. But I don’t know how much of this you’re gonna believe.”

“Try me.”

He took a deep breath, meeting the gray eyes of his friend. “There’s some kind of… bond, between me and Luke. I don’t know what it is. But he always knows when I’m in trouble, and I know it about him too.”

Frank sat still for a moment, then sat back, his hands braced on his knees, his expression thoughtful. “Are you feelin’ something about him now?”

“Um… sort of. Actually, yeah. I… I don’t know if he’s in real danger, cause he’s good at taking care of himself, but he is in some sort of trouble or at least possible trouble. I just… know it.” Bo shrugged slightly, a little helplessly. “I can’t tell you how or why. It sounds weird, I know, but it’s always been that way, since we was little.”

The older driver blew out a deep breath, running one hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “I see.”

“Do you believe me?”

Frank nodded. “Yeah. I do. I’ve heard of things like this before, two people who’re very close bein’ linked — usually twins but apparently not always. I’ve never actually met anybody like that before, but…” He shrugged. “I believe you.”

Bo bit his lip. “That ain’t the worst of it.”

“What is?”

Dark blue eyes met gray, one set a little afraid and pleading for understanding, the others slightly confused. “I… I had a dream, back when we were in Houston,” he whispered, looking away. “In it, Luke was captured, and in danger. I just can’t get it out of my head… I’ve never felt like this before, never known things like this… it’s scary!” He paused a moment, getting himself under control before tears spilled. “I know it sounds crazy, but I think that dream was true.”

Frank sat back slowly, looking very, very thoughtful. “I… see. Do you think there’s something we should do?”

Bo hesitated again, then shook his head, dropping his chin almost to his chest in a feeling of defeat. “I don’t know. There ain’t anything we can do, I think. Luke’s smart, and he’s a trained fighter. He’ll get out of whatever it is.” I pray, he added silently to himself.

Frank just looked at him for a long time, then got up and paced away.

**

The old truck pulled up in the raceway parking lot. Candy sprang out almost before the engine had died, running across the empty lot for the small motel off to the side.

“Wait up, kid!” she heard, and turned to see Henry running up behind her. Impatient, she stayed still long enough for him to catch up, then struck off again at a jog, so that he could keep pace. They ran around the back of the motel, then climbed quickly up the metal staircase to the second floor. Here… this was the Dukes’ room. She knocked on the door, breathing hard in a mix of physical exertion and worry.

There was no answer for a couple of seconds, then the knob turned, and Frank Atkins peered out. He gave Henry a fleeting glance, then smiled at Candy, a smile with a hint of sternness behind it. “I’m glad to see you back, young lady. What did you think you were doin’, runnin’ off like that?”

“Helping out.” She pushed past the driver, gesturing for Henry to follow her. He and Frank gave each other wary glances as they brushed past one another in the doorway. “Bo!”

The blond teenager came around the corner from where the tiny refrigerator was, a can of Coke in his hand. He frowned at Henry, then at Candy. “So, you finally showed up. Luke got to ya, huh?”

“Huh?”

His face creased slightly with worry. “He said on the phone that he was gonna send you back here as soon as he got ahold of you. Wait a minute… he didn’t?”

The twelve-year-old shook her head.

“Then…” the worry was becoming more evident now, “why’re you here?”

Candy walked over to him, then glanced back at her new friend. “First of all, this is Henry Pritchard. He drove me here.”

Bo nodded politely in the old man’s direction, and Frank shook his hand. The younger Duke, however, seemed more interested in getting his question answered, his voice hardening. “Where’s Luke, Candy?”

She looked up at him, meeting his dark blue eyes with her own, and swallowed. He noticed, obviously, because his face tightened. “Bo… some men came to get Daddy. They kidnapped him. Luke fought them…”

“And was captured himself,” Bo finished in a whisper. After a moment, he set his drink on the table and sat down on the foot of his bed, slowly. He didn’t say a word, and Candy reached out a hand to put it on his shoulder, wondering what else was the matter. She thought it seemed more than just worry for his cousin.

As if he’d known her unspoken question, Frank spoke up, shooting an unsure glance Henry’s way. “Bo can tell things about Luke, Candy. He had a feeling he was in trouble.”

Eyes wide in surprise, she looked back to her friend for confirmation. Bo nodded. “It’s true. Luke can feel things about me, too.”

“Oh…” This sounded cool! She was going to have to ask the cousins all about it later. But now wasn’t the time. Filing that thought away in the back of her mind, she went on, “They knocked ’em out and put ’em in the back of a van. Then they just drove off. I don’t know where. I don’t even know where we were, really.” She suddenly had a thought. “Hey Bo, can you tell where Luke is? Lead us to him?”

He shook his head. “No. It ain’t like science fiction, Candy, it’s not really a mental thing at all. More… spiritual. I can’t tell direction or anything, and I can’t talk to him. I just know that he’s in trouble.” But then he suddenly seemed to think of something, his gaze unfocused for a second, and then his back straightened as he slowly sat up, eyes clearing as he looked up at the others. “But I do know where you were! When Luke called, he told me you guys were near a Kelly Air Force Base, and I found it on a map!” He sprang to his feet, striding over to the other side of the room and coming back after a second with a map that he spread out on the bed. Everyone came to hover and look as he circled a spot near the southwest corner of the city with his finger. “Here’s the base. I figure you were right about… here.” He tapped a much smaller circle, drawn on the map in red ink.

Candy craned her neck, then drew her lower lip between her teeth, an unconscious thoughtful gesture that, she realized only after she’d done it, she’d copied from Bo. “Huh. So, what now?”

Henry spoke up. “I got some friends in that district. There’s so few of us, we gotta stick together. I could CB ’em all and get them out combin’ the area for that dark blue van the crooks were driving.”

Bo grinned. “Yeah, sure. The General’s got a CB too, so I’ll take him.” At Henry’s blank look, he explained, “The General Lee is mine and Luke’s car. You’ll see him when we go down to the parking lot.”

“I don’t have any radio in my car, but if you all wait a few minutes for me to run over to the office, I’m sure I could finagle a portable unit,” Frank added. “And I could probably even get a couple of the other drivers to help out too. The team cars ain’t street-legal, but they got speed, and Dave’s life is worth bending a few laws.”

Bo nodded, standing as he suddenly seemed to take charge. “Good. The more the merrier.” Despite her worries, Candy had to admire the sudden change in the teenager now that he could actually do something, a sort of fire that seemed to light him up from the inside out. She smiled to herself, almost shyly, her lip between her teeth again but not in thought this time. He really was something special, wasn’t he? “Okay,” the blond Duke rubbed his hands together as if almost in glee. “Let’s do it!” He swept what was probably the General’s keys from the table, then without a backwards glance bolted for the door.

The others were not far behind. Frank was last, pocketing the room key before he locked the door. Henry ran for his pickup, scrambling half in and hurriedly picking up a CB mike to talk into it, calling all his buddies. Bo and Frank ran for the track. Candy started to follow them, but a single stern glare from Frank stopped her in her tracks, and she sighed as she turned and walked back to Henry’s truck. She wanted to do something, something important. But like always, the adults were taking over. And Bo was acting like a grown-up again, something she hated because it meant he started ignoring her. But her father’s life was more important, so… She sighed, unhappily, and climbed in the other side of the old pickup to listen to Henry’s calls for aid.

**

Bo and Frank parted ways just inside the gates. The young blond sprinted for the garage area, and the older driver headed for the office and supplies department. Bo took as many shortcuts as possible, dodging around cars and pit crews, many of who looked up with annoyance written across their faces as he ran through their workspace. But he didn’t care. His mind was filled with a mix of tense worry, brought on by having his premonitions proved right, and relief at finally being able to do something about it.

He darted around one more car with its hood up, and came to the General’s garage. Running through the open door and digging the keys out of his pocket, he started to swing one leg through the window. A voice stopped him.

“Bo! Where are you going?”

He turned, getting both feet back on solid ground, and smiled just a little. “Hi, Jennifer. I can’t tell you right now, okay? I’m in a hurry, I can’t talk.”

Her green eyes echoed her knowing smile. “Maybe I know. Does it have something to do with Mr. Brandon finally getting caught?” At his startled silence, she explained, “I’ve been keeping an eye on him, too. You think I want him to get hurt?”

Bo shook his head. “Course not. I just didn’t know you knew about what he was doing.”

Jennifer shrugged, brushing her blonde hair back. “I know a lot more about a lot of things than people give me credit for. To tell the truth, the whole team’s known all about everything almost from the start. So, what exactly’s going on right now?”

Quickly, using as few words and as little time as possible, he explained Brandon’s trip, and Luke’s journey, and the capture Candy had seen. When he was finished, the other driver just stood there for a moment, frowning slightly, then shook her head.

“Mr. Brandon sure gets himself into trouble, huh? Hey, can I help?” At his beginning protest, her chin came up, and she insisted, “I’m a great driver.”

He thought for a moment. He didn’t have the time to waste to argue with her, and she was a good driver. “Okay. Frank and the a couple of the other guys are comin’ along; why don’t you get your car too?”

“Great.” Jennifer stood on tiptoe to kiss him quickly on the cheek, then squeezed his hand reassuringly and ran off.

Bo watched her for a moment, smiling briefly, then turned back to the General Lee, slid with the agility of much practice through the window, and started the powerful custom-built engine with a roar. He hit the gas almost before he let the parking brake down, and the big orange racer leapt out with a squeal of tires, leaving black marks behind on the cement.

The speed limit in the garage area was fifteen miles per hour. The General broke it by a margin of about thirty, skidding around corners and just barely dodging parked cars until Bo saw the open gateway ahead leading to the parking lot. The needle on the speedometer hit the fifty mark as they shot out into the open and roared over to skid to a hurried halt beside Henry’s pickup. The white-haired man peered out and put down his CB after a quick message to whoever he’d been talking to, then came over to give the colorful Charger a good once-over. Eyebrows went up, and he hmmed approvingly.

“So this is the General Lee.”

Bo nodded briefly as he pushed himself up to sit on the door. He didn’t feel like they had enough time to just sit around and talk. “Frank back yet?”

Candy jumped down from the other side of the old truck and sauntered over, hands in her pockets. “Nope. Hey Bo, can I come with you?”

Startled, he looked across the flag-adorned roof at her, then shook his head emphatically. “No way, Candy! It’ll be too dangerous!”

A half-angry glint came into the twelve-year-old’s eyes. “Why is everything too dangerous for me? You’re just a kid too, not that much older than me!”

Bo didn’t feel like arguing with a stubborn young Texan right now. He caught her eyes firmly and held them, his voice sharp. “I run moonshine for a living, Candy. I don’t know if you know how dangerous that is. Believe me, I can handle myself, especially driving the General Lee.” He noticed that Henry’s eyebrows had gone up after the first sentence, but to his relief the old man didn’t say anything.

Another engine roar, higher-pitched than the General’s growl, sounded, followed by several others all at once, and Frank’s green car sped across the pavement to skid to a halt beside the General, three identical blue-and-white racers right behind. One was manned by Ted and Jerry Raftan, one by Jennifer, and the last by the Maren brothers, Jake and Ned. The oldest driver’s salt-and-pepper head poked out. “Bo, I couldn’t find Caleb again.” His eyes held an unhappy but quiet certainty that Bo picked up on instantly. He hated that he had to agree; the team leader was, if indications were to be trusted, behind at least some of this trouble. But they would worry about that later. “We’re all rarin’ to go,” the older driver went on. “You ready?”

“Yep.” Bo turned to slide back down through his own window, gunning the powerful engine and feeling the rumbling of the frame beneath him in response. “Candy, you’re ridin’ with Henry again, since I have a feelin’ you won’t stay here and he can keep you out of trouble. Let’s go, posse!”

The girl pouted slightly, but then ran back to the pickup as its owner started another, surprisingly powerful-sounding, engine. Bo head the growl, roar, and rumble of the vehicles around him, and had to smile. It felt like the start of a backroads country race back in Hazzard. Ah, Hazzard. That little northern Georgia county seemed lightyears away right now. But this was a race. A race possibly for life itself, yet still a race with the underlying current of fighting against double-crossing crookedness that had always tainted their battles against Boss Hogg and others. It was something the blond eighteen-year-old could relate to and understand, and placed in this situation, he felt much more sure of himself as a leader. He held one hand out his window, fist clenched and thumb up in the traditional ‘ready’ gesture. Henry copied it first, then Frank, then all the others, and Bo grabbed the wheel with both hands and stepped on the accelerator.

One orange Charger, a green sedan, three blue-and-white NASCAR racers, and one old pickup roared out onto the street, the colorful convoy drawing the attention of everyone they passed.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

David Brandon looked up as his door opened and two people came in. Luke instantly noted the haggard look on his face, the worry that turned to joy, then worry again as he saw Luke standing beside an authoritative-looking figure, looking every bit as dangerous as his captor.

The young farmer could almost imagine the thoughts going through the other man’s head, and felt a little guilty inside, a little sorry for his friend. “I haven’t joined him,” he said quietly. Brandon’s eyes snapping to his told him he had been correct in his assessment of what the other man had been thinking.

Izzac looked back and forth between the two men, then smiled slightly, flipping a small sarcastic salute their way as he backed out. “I’ll just leave you two to chat for a while.” He closed the door behind him, and Luke and Brandon were left alone.

The race team owner leaped to his feet, coming over to meet the young Georgian midroom and embrace him gladly. However, Luke drew back almost immediately, putting a finger to his lips and moving away to begin a silent and thorough sweep of the walls, ceiling, and sparse furniture. It wasn’t until he was confident that they were not being spied upon that Luke finally smiled. “Hey, it’s okay,” he reassured.

Brandon breathed out, and shook his head. “The way you looked, you surprised me for a bit there. Almost as much as it surprised me to see that you’d followed me earlier.”

Luke found an easy laugh incredibly refreshing from the stiff posture and attitude he’d been affecting. “Well, to deal with a military man, it helps to be one.” At a slightly confused look, he explained, “Izzac runs this place like an army. I was in the Marines for three years, so it wasn’t all that hard to slip back into old training.”

“For a moment I thought you were working with him now.”

“He did offer me that pleasure,” Luke replied dryly. “But a life of crime don’t sound all that appealing to a good ol’ boy with plenty of years left ahead of him, in which he’d like to be able to look people in the eye. I see you’ve met our host before this.”

The other man nodded, turning to pace slowly across the room, scratching his fingertips through his short beard thoughtfully. “Oh yes. He came to tell me to start thinking about another career, since I wouldn’t have my team much longer.” He snorted. “I refused to sign his bill of sale, and he put me on a starvation diet. Who is that guy, anyway? Some kind of dictator?”

“Would-be, certainly. I’ve got it figured that he’s some sort of crime lord.” Luke slid his hands into his pockets and walked over to stand beside Brandon. “Hey, Dave, did it ever occur to you that Izzac don’t seem the type to bother with a little ol’ NASCAR team?”

Dark eyes looked at him, at first startled, then thoughtful. “Come to think of it, you’ve got a point. What would he want with us?”

Luke shook his head. “I don’t know. I really don’t. It don’t make any sense.” He sighed, a little frustrated. “This guy’s into power, big money — I mean big money. Smuggling, black-market, who knows what else?” he shrugged. “Racin’s below his level.”

“Maybe somebody’s hiring him.”

He turned to look at his companion, a couple of things suddenly clicking. “…Yeah. Yeah. But who?”

Brandon shook his head. “I don’t know… I don’t really have any enemies that I know of. Then again, he might not be an enemy, just a competitor who’s a little jealous. Or he might not even be someone I know at all.”

Luke sighed, deeply. “Which puts us right back to square one.” He put one foot up on the cot and leaned his weight against the arm he rested across his knee, shaking his head. “This ain’t gonna be easy.”

There was silence for a couple of minutes, both men lost in thought, until Brandon finally spoke up again. “How’s Candy doing?”

“I don’t know.”

“What? You left her back at the track, didn’t you?”

The farmer shook his head, sighing. “No. Truth is, I didn’t follow you. I followed her. She followed you.”

The older man closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Is she all right?”

“I think so; she was the last time I saw her. I saw her hiding in the bushes while I was fighting. She saw the whole thing. Hopefully she’ll run back to Frank, Bo, and the others for help.”

“She will.” Dark eyes warmed with affection. “My little girl’s pretty smart, she is.”

“I noticed,” Luke said dryly. “Maybe a little too smart for her own good sometimes.”

Her father half-smiled. “She is stubborn, I’ll admit that.”

“Definitely.” But, enough about Candy. There were more important things to think about right now — like how to escape. He frowned in thought, both silent, until suddenly, an idea flashed into his mind, so clear he wondered why he hadn’t seen it before. He grinned, slowly, staring off into space. “Hey Brandon. I got it.”

Them other man frowned slightly, confused. “Got what?”

He met his eyes. “How to get out of here. I wonder why it didn’t strike me sooner. Only hitch is how to do it without gettin’ Izzac suspicious.”

“What are you talking about?” Brandon exploded.

Luke got both feet back on the floor and started to pace, something he often did when he was formulating a plan. “I’m going to pretend I really have moved over to Izzac’s side. You said you thought I had when I first came in, and he seems to like me, in a way. You see, he sees everything in military terms, and I can deal with that. I just have to find some way to ‘switch my allegiance’ without him wondering why.”

“How?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure. Yet. I will be, though.” He reached into his pocket to check his watch, an item the guards had not taken even though they had the chance. Maybe because it wasn’t worth much and it posed no danger as a weapon. “Look, it oughta be almost dark out there. Any aid from the outside, if they find us, will come when it’s light. I have all night to figure this out.”

Brandon just looked at him, then shook his head, slowly, a smile spreading across his face. “You are something else, Luke Duke. You just be careful, you hear?”

“You sound like my Uncle Jesse,” Luke chuckled. But he hid the pang that shot through his heart at the memory. He had loved his uncle very much, and still missed him and Daisy. It had been hard on Bo, too, but he had had Luke to look up to and therefore had transferred some of Jesse’s role to his older cousin. Luke had suddenly been alone, the leader of the household, when he had been only sixteen. And then he had been drafted into the Marines. They had forced him to grow up in ways he never would have liked to. But he had to admit that that training had come in handy many times, when protecting himself, Bo, or something that was theirs. And now.

Bringing himself back to the present with that thought, he shook himself away from his memories to meet Brandon’s eyes again. He smiled wordlessly, reassuringly, at the older man’s worried look, then the door opened, and both turned to see who was coming in, Luke letting his mask slip back into place.

Izzac gave each a quick glance up and down, then turned his attention to Luke. “Visiting hours I’m afraid are over,” he said with a tiny smile. “Time for you to go back to your own cell. Or would you prefer to have dinner with me first?”

Luke pretended to think about that for a second, then nodded cordially, well-hiding the flare of anger that burned inside of him. “I accept, Major.”

When Izzac turned away, he flashed Brandon a slight smile and a wink, then turned as well to follow the crime lord out the door.