General Lee's Revenge--Karma

Chapter Three: "Bird-Dog Central"

They had ridden in silence for a good five miles into the drive before Boss Hogg spoke up.

"So, what is your plan exactly?" he asked, leaning forward from the backseat.

At this, the Duke boys exchanged glances and Luke turned back to look at him with a smirk. Boss Hogg and Rosco each shared a look of concern.

"Alright," he said, looking at each individual in the car, "listen up. There's people after us, we're gonna have to lay low for a while, which means we're gonna split up."

"W-wait, is that really a good idea?" Rosco exclaimed.

"Yes, it is. Look, that way we'll be harder to keep track of, harder to find, especially if we keep movin'."

"But wouldn't they just pick us off one by one, Luke?" Daisy asked.

"Not the way I figure it, just hear me out here for a second. Now, Boss and Rosco, we're gonna drop y'all off at the warehouse behind Iron Mountain."

"There ain't no CB reception up there, how would we call for help?" Boss Hogg argued.

"Exactly, which is why no one would think to look up there."

"How d'you know this's all gonna work anyway?" Rosco asked skeptically.

"Because these're all things one would expect from me, Bo, and Daisy, not to mention they wouldn't expect us to be workin' together, remember?"

"True, but what if they outsmart you?"

"Then we'll just have to pray they don't find us."

Daisy flailed her hands about anxiously, resting one on each of the Duke boys' arms. "Alright, enough 'what if's, just tell us the rest of this grand scheme of yours."

"Alright, Daisy, I'm gonna have you stay at that old fire tower by the quarry," Luke said, taking a quick glance at her to make sure he wasn't about to be punched or have some other act of violence inflicted upon him.

Daisy's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Alone?" she exclaimed, taking her hand off of Luke's arm to which the oldest Duke boy flinched.

"Cooter's gonna check in on you twice a day. It's in a quiet, remote spot in the hills. You'll be okay."

"Why can't I just stay with you?"

"Because we're gonna be lookin' for whoever put a price on our heads and we don't wanna risk gettin' anybody hurt."

"Yeah, we're just tryna look out for you, Daisy," Bo said.

Seeming to have taken offense to this, Daisy scoffed. "Oh, I can look after myself just fine, I ain't got no problem stayin' in that tower alone. But there ain't no way I'm lettin' you boys go out and get yourselves killed!"

"It's a risk we're willin' to take. We gotta figure out who did this, y'all don't wanna live the rest of your lives like this," Luke explained.

Just then, Rosco leaned forward. "Just a thought," he said, "but we could always, y'know, give ourselves up. Would save a lot of trouble."

His feedback was given with a band of disapproving stares.

Boss Hogg sighed despondently. "Oh, Rosco's right, this all seems too risky."

"It is risky, but until we figure out what we're wanted for, it's best to just keep a low profile," Luke justified.

"Right, and if anythin' goes wrong, we can just run," Daisy said sarcastically.

"I hate fitness!" Boss Hogg blurted out, although ignored.

"You don't like the plan?" Luke asked.

"I never said I didn't like the plan!" Daisy argued.