The year was 1929 and the stock market had crashed leaving millions homeless and poor. This was the beginning of the Great Depression. It of course affected the Dukes. Luckily Jesse had saved some money in their house and not invested it all in the bank. He planned on starting a restaurant. He was doing well in the construction until the crash.
Jesse decided to ask for a loan. He hated depending on other people for money. Bo, Luke and Daisy went with him for moral support. Luke was twenty-three. Daisy was twenty. Bo was eighteen. He had grown to be six feet three inches, much to Luke's dismay.
"I always thought I'd be bigger than you." Luke said once.
Bo replied with a grin,
"You ain't no longer. I'm taller than you and you can't force me to do
anything no more cause I'll beat ya for sure. You can count on that."
The Clan entered the office to speak to the boss of the 'family' Jesse worked for in New York. Jesse and the boys were dressed in suits and ties with Stanton hats. Daisy wore a gray dress with her hair up in a bun. She also wore a hat.
"Mr. Costillo, I have come to ask you something." Jesse kissed the boss's
ring.
The bodyguard who let them in took his place along the wall lighting a cigarette. He watched them all with cold, emotionless eyes. Daisy shivered at his presence and glanced at Luke who opened his eyes wide and let a little breath out. They turned back toward Jesse and Mr. Costillo.
"Well, Jesse, I see that the depression hasn't affected your spirits.
What do you need?"
"I need to...ask...you for a...loan," Jesse managed to say.
"Really, now. I do believe this is for the restaurant you started."
“Yes, sir, it is," Luke said for Jesse who was at a loss for words at.
"Well not to worry. I'll give you the loan but at eighty percent interest. "
He said walking over to his desk sat down and lit a cigar. He waited for their obvious reaction with no expression, which made Jesse nervous but did not affect Bo.
"80%!!!"Bo moved forward. "That's crazy!" Jesse hit him a warning look.
The bodyguard made a movement at the same time. But it was that sudden movement of the silent bodyguard that really caused Bo not to continue.
"Don't you think that's a little much even when our whiskey starts to
sell again?" Jesse finally able to speak.
"That's business, Jesse. You pay or you don't."
There was a pause. Luke looked at Jesse.
"You aren't actually thinking of doing this are you?"
"Luke, we've got no choice." Jesse looked at his nephew.
Bo continued to say nothing as he smoked his cigarettes polluting the room. Daisy piped up for the first time since they entered the building.
"Now, Uncle Jesse, you don't have to settle for that. I've been thinking and I
have an idea. Mr. Costillo, if I come to work for you at your club as a chorus girl, then Jesse will only have to pay fifty-five percent of loan."
"Daisy!" Bo and Luke exclaimed.
"Daisy, think about this. You know what happens in places like that. I
wouldn't allow it!"
"But it's only for a short while until you pay off the loan. I want to
help this family get back to where we were before and this is my chance. I ain't changing my mind. If either of you fellas, think of trying to stop me, you too, Uncle Jesse don't because I made up my mind!"
And with that the boys said nothing and Jesse said nothing. Mr. Costillo smiled. He liked Daisy's determination.
1932. Their restaurant, which Jesse respectfully called Lavinia’s, prospered. It also doubled as a speakeasy where they could sell their whiskey to customers. A place sell the whiskey as well as guns to other bootleggers.
Jesse had a hard time dealing with the boys becoming gangsters but there was nothing he could do about that. They were still good boys. He also knew there was no other way for them to have gotten out of the tenements. Having the restaurant helped his conscience deal with the situation he was in. He felt a little better knowing that he was involved in something other than the underworld of crime. He was happy over all though because the family was always together despite everything that happened.
"The Lord works in mysterious ways."
He once told a friend from back home who couldn't believe their good fortune and very dangerous lifestyle.
Daisy still worked as a chorus girl. She loved the dancing and funny costumes she had to wear. All the girls she knew loved her cousins and she had to hear about them just about every night. The only bad part about the job had her going into the crowds, which were mostly men and make them feel welcome. Also she hoped they would keep their hands off her. She came to realize how certain men could believe. Of course Bo, Luke or Cooter would frequent the club on any given night keeping an eye out for her and of course check out the other girls running around.
"Hi sugar, you like the show?" Daisy tried to keep her distance.
"Loved it, sweaty. Wanna lit?"
"Sure thing, honey."
On the other side of the room Bo stood talking with Cooter and two other chorus girls. Like every night out they were dressed in tuxedos with slicked back hair. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the man touching Daisy several times and she did not want it.
"Hold on, Cooter"
He made his way over to Daisy
"Time for a good fight," Cooter smiled as he took a drink.
"I told you to stop!"
She could not remember who was watching out for her tonight or if they were there. She always wanted to be able to take care of herself. She hated when Bo and Luke started a fight because of her. Still she felt better knowing that they were close by keeping their distance.
"Oh come on, honey. This is your job ain't it?"
From behind him he heard a voice say,
"Leave her alone!"
"Who do you think you are, buddy?"
"She's my cousin. I said leave her alone."
“Ooh, your cousin. A tough guy, eh?"
The man paused for a second then an evil smirk escaped his lips.
Suddenly he spit in Bo's face laughed. Without warning, Bo punched the man in the nose causing him to stumble over into the table. The glass on the table crashed to the ground echoing around the club. Everyone turned to look. As he looked up at Bo, blood gushed out of his nose.
"Bo! Don't!"
She was afraid he would really get hurt this time. This man looked tough. After a few punches from either party, Rosco Coltrane who was also from Hazzard, formally sheriff there, still playing the part came over and pulled them apart.
By this time everyone when back to their own business. It was a regular occurrence there.
"All right, enough of that. If any of you ruffians wanna fight leave the club.
We try to keep a peaceful place here. Move along"
"Thanks."
"All in a days work, Daisy Duke. It's a shame you work here and all. A
nice girl like you should be somewhere else,."
Rosco scanned the room like a hawk.
"I know, Rosco. Jesse is almost done paying the loan and I wouldn't be
here much longer."
Daisy took along puff of her cigarette trying to calm her nerves.
"That's good. Gu Gu interest. Ooh, Daisy. I'm getting me a dog, a good old
police dog!"
"Rosco, you're not sheriff anymore. Remember Boss fired you when he
joined O’Brian's gang in Atlanta and you came here despite him."
"I know, Daisy, but police work is my life! Bo." Rosco headed off to to eat.
"Hi, Rosco."
"Can you believe him, Bo?"
Bo laughed. Daisy hit him hard in the arm.
"What was that for?"
"For being such a jerk sometimes, Bo Duke," Daisy turned around to rejoin
her friends getting ready for another number.
"What did you do, Bo?" Cooter teased.
"Nothing. I got her out of a situation again."
He put his arm around Cooter
“Say, good buddy, let's check out another joint."
"Sure thing. I'll go get Luke. Thank goodness I don't gotta drive y'all
no more!"
They both laughed this time as they pushed past the other customers.
A little while later in another club the man who Bo had fought with was relaxing
Listening to the jazz act that was playing there. The energetic sounds of the instruments livened up the people despite it being very late in the evening.
"Griffin Parker! How are you?"
"I'm quite agitated actually, Donavon."
Kevin Donavon pulled up a chair placing the wine bottle on the table. Parker was usually part of the Pizani 'family' which was a rival of Costillo's. The reason Parker had been at that particular club was that in truth he belonged to all the 'families' and was free to go about all the territories. He went with whoever paid him more or suited his interest but most of his loyalty was to Pizani.
"Come on, Griff, what happened tonight? Is you nose swollen?"
Donavon leaned drunkenly to his from. Parker waved away the alcohol smell from his face.
"It's those damn Dukes!" Parker slammed his glass to the table. "It's
always either Beauraguard or Lukas K. I can't believe those are their birth names.
They have this habit of always getting involved in my affairs. It usually happens when I'm selling that whiskey of theirs," he took a long gulp of whiskey.
"Do they know about your loyalty to Pizani? I'm sure they know you roam
from boss to boss."
Donavon drink directly from the bottle.
"I don't believe they know yet. That's one good thing," Parker smirked.
"Tonight it was Bo I had the problem with. Yes, my nose is swollen. That boy is such a pain in the ass but he sure can throw a good right hook,"
Parker actually laughed. Donavon joined him. Parker tried to ignore the drunken idiot.
"Luke is the better fighter, I believe. According to Camden Stewart,
who lived in Atlanta around the same time as the Dukes. Lukas had a pretty good reputation in street fights. Bo was just a baby then."
"Is Stewart still in New York?"
"He went back last month. He missed the good old South. Then again New
York could do anyone in. So..."
Griffin Parker thought out loud leaning back in his chair staring off toward the
stage where the musicians were finishing for the night.
"Both boys have something going for them despite their habit of
being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"I heard Jesse Duke call it 'Duke luck." It is either bad or good. It
usually ends up bad,"
Donavon rose to leave.
"I'll get them some day. I just need you to keep getting me more
information about them. When that time comes they wouldn't know what hit them."
Parker laughed evilly as they left the club.
Jesse slept on the sofa in their living room that night. He ever felt right in a city
apartment. He was always having recurrent dreams about Georgia. They always made him sad. The cousins barely remember anything about Hazzard. There was so much sadness in his life.
He woke up around six o' clock in the morning and thought about everything. He remembered the tenement and how he dreamed in the same sofa. Well it was not the very same sofa; it just looked like it. Lavinia tossed it out when they moved in 1924. It had reeked but Jesse never noticed. He shut his eyes and the memories flowed back into his subconscious.
*****************************************************************
Outside, the Atlanta summer heat beat down on the pavement below. In one of the overcrowded tenement houses, were the two rooms the family shared. Fortunately for them there were only five of them in that two-room apartment. Jesse sat in a ripped up old sofa that he found in a heap of trash around the tenement. He relaxed for the first time in four weeks. He had lost another job but as of late he had a chance at big money. It was hard for him to get work anymore because of his age even though he was strong willed and fit as ever. He closed his eyes for a nap and to picture the colorful Georgia countryside where he was born and raised.
It was 1919 and the War had been over for about a year. Just about everyone was trying to make money and had no interest in Jesse's shine. The farm failed all the time and they never had any money. Jesse was forced to swallow many, many years of pride
"Lavinia, we can't stay here no more. We have no choice but to leave.
We'll be kicked out anyway real soon. It hasn't rained in many months..." Jesse trailed off with sadness in his eyes as he looked about the farm from where he stood on the porch.
Lavinia gently placed her hand on his shoulder. That was all he needed to know that she felt the same way. He looked out into the yard at his two nephews and his niece. Luke was the oldest, then Daisy and finally Bo who was the baby of the family. At the time they were thirteen, ten and eight years old. It was funny; the cousins acted more like brothers and sister than cousins.
"It's such a shame their parents dying so suddenly," Lavinia watched Luke
take control of the 'game.'
It was Luke's idea of course. He had the habit of taking control of every situation they got into.
"Luke!" Lavinia called. "Be careful with your cousins! Remember they are
much younger and smaller than you, especially Bo!"
Luke looked up from the sketch he made on the ground.
"Yes, ma'am," he called and turned back to his younger cousins.
"Daisy, Bo, do you have the shovels and the flashlights?"
"Yes here, Luke," Daisy said. "Why do we need then anyway?"
Her dark brown braids gently blew in the light breeze that swept over the valley.
"Yeah," Bo piped in enthusiastically. "What are you doing, cuz?"
Luke smiled mischievously,
"We're going to look for gold!"
A big smile spread across Bo's face as he jumped up and down,
"Yeeahha!!"
Luke laughed and Daisy giggled. Poor Bo, as his voice screeched out a high pitched sound, he got a mouth full of dust as a big gust of wind picked up and left him gagging and coughing.
Jesse thought of this scene of Luke, Bo and Daisy. They now had to grow up in the streets instead of the luscious Hazzard County countryside
"Jesse, did you find a job today?" Lavinia asked gently.
Jesse sat up quickly.
"In a way. Though you may not like it. Since the Prohibition began, the sale of alcohol increased. I still got my special moonshine recipe..." he trailed off.
He did not have to finish. Lavinia stood back with a frown on her face.
"Don't tell me done gone and got involved with them gangsters running the
neighborhood??"
There was a short pause.
"I knew it!! Jesse Duke, how dare you! You are putting all of us in
danger!"
Lavinia turned around and went to the window and looked out. The streets were crowded with people shopping and searching for a cooler place than their apartment buildings.
"Lavinia, actually it is a good thing, the 'family' I will be involved with
provides protection and jobs for all those who work for them. I know they are crooked but we have to get money from somewhere to make ends meet."
Lavinia still frowning stared out the window. A fight broke out amongst two young boys. She prayed one of them was not Luke. She looked closer and did not recognize either one. She sighed and turned from the window.
"All right, Jesse, but be careful. You live for an adventure, don't
you?" A smile escaped her lips. He smiled, got his hat and left the apartment. *****************************************************************
Jesse continued to sit in the New York apartment. Images of his beloved wife lingered in his mind. He felt numb.
"Jesse?" Daisy held a breakfast tray.
Jesse stirred and for a moment forgot completely where he was. He was lost in his memories.
"Good morning, Daisy. How was last night?"
"The usual. Nothing really dramatic happened. Bo got into a fight with
one of the men again."
She handed Jesse his tray. She knew he resented that she signed that contract years ago. It bothered him to hear but he still liked to know about her life.
"I found out later from Amelia Graham that his name is Griffin Parker. I
don't know him but he seemed to like to cause trouble."
Jesse let the name run through his brain. He had heard it before but he could not remember where. Then it hit him.
"Griffin Parker? Daisy, Camden Stewart told me about him once. He's
bad news. He works for whomever he can. That doesn't sound good but then again the boys have crossed so many other bad folks it's a wonder they are still alive."
Jesse sighed and looked at Daisy. She looked lost in thought. Worried about Bo and Luke no doubt.
"Daisy, the boys are as careful as they can be. Even if they never joined this
life of crime, their lives were always on the line. You remember the fights in the streets?"
"I remember. I don't want to but I do,"
They sat in silence for a while remembering the past. Jesse slowly ate the scrambled eggs and sausage that Daisy made.
Bo and Luke came in about and hour later. They had stayed out all night again. Jesse hated that but he had no control anymore or energy.
The boys were laughing when they entered. They knew that Jesse was trying to mask his feelings. It bothered them but they had to continue on they always did.
"Morning, Uncle Jesse." Bo plopped down in the chair.
Luke moved over to open more of the curtains. Jesse had the habit now of living in the dark.
"Morning. Have you eaten yet?"
"You're asking Bo here if he ate?! He'll eat himself to death I reckon.! I
could use some food myself though."
Luke headed for the kitchen hunting leftovers.
"Very funny, Luke."
"I heard about your fight last night."
"Yeah, well it was just another night. A fight and girls."
Luke laughed out load from the kitchen. Daisy had followed him in to cook him something.
"Bo, you know I told you once that you're just like me. But that part
of being a Duke doesn't work well in the city. The man you fought was is Griffin Parker. I trust you heard of him?"
"Of course we've heard of him." Luke came back with a cup of coffee. "He's
one mean guy. He never liked us and the feeling is mutual. He roams but swears no particular loyalty to any boss from what I know."
"Luke, that doesn't make him any less dangerous. Bo, you have got to
watch your actions."
"I do, Uncle Jesse, but he started it. He was bothering Daisy and
then spit in my face. A pure insult!"
Bo tried to explain but he could plainly see the disappointment in his uncle's face.
"Beauraguard, you have to control that temper of yours and let the 'damage
to your pride' go. You'll end up six feet under soon if you keep doing this. Pride is a terrible master."
"Yes, sir."
He knew in the back of his mind that Jesse was right. He was always right.
"I have an idea," Daisy brought out Luke's scrambled eggs. "let's go for a
walk, say in Central Park, all four of us."
They all agreed. The day actually started off good for Jesse. He knew it would not last, but right now he did not care.
Death always was a concerning factor in the trade of selling illegal alcohol.
When the Dukes got back to their apartment from their walk Mr. Costillo's bodyguard waited for them outside their door.
"I knew my peace wouldn't last."
"I just hope that everything is all right," Daisy whispered.
The Dukes acknowledged the bodyguard. Nobody said anything until they went into the apartment. Cooter was already there smoking by the window.
"It's about your restaurant. DiOrio targeted it this afternoon.
Luckily the restaurant is closed today so nobody was killed, but the damage is pretty severe. The dons have made the issue of who gets full control of your whiskey part of their battle even though you have sworn loyalty to Costillo.”
"I never actually swore loyalty. Costillo is using the loan as my loyalty.”
"I know, Mr. Duke. Once you ask something from a don, you're
basically part of the 'family' for life. Mr. Costillo is generous enough to let you continue selling with everyone until now. I have no idea what is to come."
As always Jesse was revisited by his memories of the past while Bo and Luke inquired the bodyguard for more information ********************************************************************************
Five years after they moved to Atlanta, Jesse's moonshine was growing in demand. it was 1924 when Prohibition was in full swing. Everyone wanted a small profit of the sales of the shine. Everyone liked dealing with Jesse since he was the most honest Prohibitionist they ever met. All the bosses loved Jesse and fought for full control of the shipping and distribution rights of his shine. Even though Jesse was making more money than he ever made in his entire life, he still raised the three cousins the way he had been raised with nothing at all. They respected him no matter what.
By this time Luke was a healthy eighteen-year-old boy. He had grown to his full height of six feet tall. He loved helping Jesse out making and selling the shine. He admired the gangsters that hung around the streets in their neighborhood. He also knew full well that they were corrupt and very dangerous. Lavinia told him a thousand times. He did not care. Besides he knew it was possibly the only way to escape the streets were they lived.
Daisy was about fifteen at the time. Numerous men were starting to pay her notice and Luke had to fight even though the neighborhood respected him. He was always in danger of being killed since no one fought fair.
Bo had grown up very much. He was thirteen years old. He had grown to be five feet nine inches and he was not done yet. He looked up to Luke. He had a long way to go in gaining the respect Luke had. Bo loved every minute he spent in the city though he would always miss Hazzard in the back of his mine.
Lavinia was happy for the first time in many, many years. She was still a simple country woman but all the money Jesse made enabled them to move out of the tenement and move uptown. She was always catching herself spending too much or acting too high and mighty. She cursed herself for that made sure Bo, Luke and Daisy would never become like that. ********************************************************************************
"What of the other attacks?" Luke was asking Jesse.
"Well Donnelly and Goldstein are fighting over Johnson's whiskey and
guns. Their speakeasies were attacked as well. Several people were injured seriously but that's all I know. I have to be going and report back to Costillo."
"Watch your back," Jesse then went into his room.
The bodyguard left without another word. The three cousins and Cooter sat in the living room talking about the chaos that was consuming New York.
"Jeez," Daisy sunk into the sofa. "I never thought it was going to get
this bad. What are we going to do?"
"Continue," Luke said. "Just go about work and play the way we always
have."
"You always say that, Luke," Bo protested. "How can we continue when
we leave everything we have emotionally behind. I don't know how much longer I can do that. I wanna fight but I know what will happen if we do."
"They are fighting over you. You would be best to stay out of the
cross fire," Cooter added.
"What about Jesse?" Daisy asked. "Over the years he's been getting
worse. His depression, ya know."
"I know, Daisy. I don't hardly blame him for what had happened."
"Hey, y'all," Cooter piped in. "Wouldn't it be good for Jesse to take a
vacation of sorts to get away from everything for awhile?"
"Cooter's got it," Bo grinned. "But where?"
For about ten minutes they sat in silence thinking. The light slowly left the room for it was getting late in the evening. Luke turned on the lights that were behind him. Their gray cat Savannah decided to join them, gracefully entered without a sound and jumped on to the sofa beside Daisy and started purring as Daisy scratched her ears. Bo watched the cat. They got her when they moved out of the tenements. Savannah was much better at adjusting than any of them.
"Jesse should go back to Georgia," Bo stared at Savannah.
"Bo, that's a bad idea. Georgia is what makes him sad.
I'm scared that would make him worse."
"Daisy, Bo's got a point there. He must try and make peace with the
past in order to get well. It'll probably be the best thing for him. It is not like he runs things anymore. Luke does everything he used to."
Daisy looked at Luke for support but she could tell by the look on his face he agreed with Cooter and Bo. She turned back and sighed. Finally Luke spoke.
"He should go back to Hazzard. Back to the beginning. I'll see about
transportation down there. In the mean time, Daisy or Bo, one of you tell him what's happening."
They all agreed and went about their business leaving Savannah lounging on the sofa looking like she knew she had the idea in the first place.
In the warehouse Donnelley used for offices and storing his alcohol, he was having a meeting with his right hand men.
"This battle is getting ugly."
Patrick Donnelley started out puffing a cigar and pacing the room.
"I'm not sure anymore if it's for territory or full control of Duke and
Johnson's whiskey. Goldstein, Costillo, DiOrio, Rizzo and Olson are all in on it."
"Six families on this part of New York, Harlem and Queens." Henry
Edwards said. "Three of them have the most power. The rest are branches from earlier disputes. Things are going to get worse especially with the 'members' that roam."
"Everyone's gotta have two eyes in the back of their head and either
side," Adrian Keeley stated drinking a bottle of wine.
"I'm telling you I want Duke's whiskey. But my ultimate dream is to
have control over everything. That's what this war finally comes down to in the end. There is going to be only one don. With all these 'families' there is so much chaos. It's a struggle for power, boys. It's part of our human nature."
"I know, boss," Keeley said. "How do we get the Dukes and Johnson on
our side?"
"Johnson shouldn't be too much of a problem since he stays away from the
'families' only when he needs to sell. Duke on the other hand asked for Costillo's help years ago. Costillo is holding him by a thin line of string.
"Well, something will be done, soon I hope," Donnelley said.
The meeting came to a close. Donnelley was not the only boss that wanted the same
thing. They all did and they all would kill for it.
The killing had already started. There was already an assassination attempt on almost every boss so far except for Rizzo and Goldstein but that did not mean they were not coming. A few people the Dukes knew from work a few people they only met once or twice and complete strangers fell within the months leading but to the destruction on their restaurant. Bodies were found everywhere usually in abandon buildings on the person's territory or in the river.
Jesse left for Hazzard August of 1932. It was very much a good thing because the fighting was getting worse. Luke called Camden Stewart in Atlanta and asked if he would drive Jesse to Hazzard. In Hazzard Jesse would stay with old friends on one of their farms. Jesse was not that thrilled at that the cousins were trying to get rid of him, but when he heard he was going back to Hazzard he could not have been happier. The cousins and Cooter accompanied him to Grand Central Station.
"Just be careful you two," he said to Bo and Luke and then nodded at
Cooter to include him. "You heard about Jonathan Wilson this morning?"
"Yes, sir," Luke said.
Bo remained silent. Wilson had been a real close friend of theirs. He was practically their brother. He was found earlier that morning in a warehouse by some workers, shot through the head. The danger hit close to home this time and it was real. Luke pushed his fear aside because he knew for him that would kill him for sure. Bo tried to forget about; he couldn't.
"Jesse, everything'll be fine," Daisy said.
She knew where things were going. She saw it every night at the club.
"Ok, but call a few times here and there to let me know y'all are all
right," Jesse picked up his bags. "This is a good idea. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
They said their good- byes and Jesse boarded the train. Bo prayed that when Jesse got back that they all would survive till then.
"Come on, y'all." Luke said as the train sped off out of sight. "There's
work to be done."
After about an hour on the train which seemed like forever, he knew he had at least six more hours to go so he fell asleep. In his deepest sleep, the past came back to haunt him again as it did every night. ********************************************************************************
It was May 21st, 1924
"Everyone, we are going out to celebrate the increased demand of my shine
with the Carson 'family'"! Jesse called because the apartment was so big he could never keep track of them anymore.
"Uncle Jesse!" Daisy ran quickly from the kitchen. "That's just great,
Uncle Jesse!"
She gave him a big hug.
"Go tell your Aunt," Jesse smiled that sent a beam all the way to New York
City and back.
"Yes, sir," Daisy turned to go but stopped. "The boys will be here
shortly. They said they have some business of their own." Then she left.
Later that night at the restaurant everything was again perfect, the atmosphere, the food, the people just everything.
"Y'all, it can't get any better than this!" Bo exclaimed as he stuffed a mouth
full of pasta in his mouth.
Luke just smiled and shook his head.
"Bo, Bo, Bo!"
Daisy was just as excited. Everyone was paying her the most attention. The night grew longer and longer.
"I'm getting tired, y'all," Daisy slumped back in her chair
"Me too!" Bo said.
"Surprise!"
Bo gave Luke the look and they all laughed.
"Uncle Jesse! We're going to go back shortly."
Each cousin kissed Lavinia on the check and hugged Jesse. After many good-byes they left the building. In the car, driven their new driver named Cooter Davenport, the cousins headed back.
"Everything is going so good for us, cousins," Daisy smiled.
"I don't mean to break the fairy tale, y'all, but it don't last long
around these parts." Cooter interrupted.
"That's silly, Cooter buddy, what could happen?" Bo tried to mask his
nerves with a good old Bo smile.
"Many things."
Luke's eyes glaring at his back.
"Is there something you're not telling us?”
"No, Mr. Duke. I was just thinking of a few friends of mine and other people
I've heard of all happy and then it's gone."
"Let's not talk about this," Daisy said with a nervous tint in her voice.
Fifteen minutes after the cousins left, Jesse and Lavinia started out. Jesse did not like not driving anymore. It was one of his favorite things he had to get used to not having.
"Hey, Charlie. How was your night?"
"Just fine, Mr. Duke. Ma'am," Charlie tipped his hat and opened the door. "I
made 20 bucks in cards."
"Just be careful, Charlie," Lavinia said. "Don't get too caught up in you
gambling. I've seen many people lose everything they own."
"Yes, ma'am!" Charlie started the car.
The dim light from the streetlights shone quick beams of light as they passed by. Silence filled the car as they drove the same route as the cousins did just twenty minutes before.
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying, Mr. Duke."
"Go ahead."
"It's too damn quiet. I don't like it."
"Oh there's nothing to worry about," Lavinia said. "It's just..."
She never finished her sentence. Just then a thunderous sound of bullets escaped from a nearby car.
"Damn!!" yelled Charlie. Seconds later he was mowed down from the bullets.
"Jesse!!!" Lavinia screamed. "Oh God!"
"Get down!" Jesse yelled as the car crashed into a light post.
He managed to get his pistol from his belt and shot back. After ten minutes the car
speed off down a side ally >and was gone. Silence then consumed the darkness. People started to slowly move toward Jesse and the car to see what happened. He limped back to the car for he had been shot in the thigh.
"Lavinia, you ok?"
Nothing.
Jesse started to worry as he rounded the other side of the car. Lavinia sat
Leaning against the car. Nothing seemed to be wrong until he saw her blood stained dress.
"Jesse…"
He was speechless. Her body was racked with bullets. It was a wonder how she survived this long. Lavinia looked into his eyes.
" Take care of Bo, Luke and Daisy. And yourself too," with that she shut her
eyes and died.
May 21st 1924, 3:03am. ********************************************************************************
Jesse woke up with a start. Lavinia's face was still fresh in his mind. He stared out the window at the reddish- orange sun set. A few tears slid down his cheeks.
Bo and Luke were in the apartment getting ready for another big party that night. Cooter took Daisy to work earlier and was going to stay and keep an eye out for her. Savannah had decided to take a nap on Bo's tuxedo. He was frantically trying to get all the cat hair off but he felt like it was an unending task.
"Luke, what happened with Jonathan that would cause him to get killed?"
Luke looked up from his shirt, carefully placing the iron far from the shirt so it wouldn't burn. Ironing was not Luke's best talent.
"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some members of Donnelley's
'family' picked him up in Brooklyn and drove him around town." Luke paused staring at the steaming iron. "They must have forced him in by gun point because we know Jonathan would not willingly go with them. They probably tried to get him to side with them or get him to tell information. When he held his ground, they gave him fair warning then shot him."
Luke picked the iron back up and continued.
Bo sat in silence. Violence never bothered him. He was always ready to punch someone in for a good cause. Violence that killed was an entirely different story.
"Luke?"
"Don't worry, Bo, they wouldn't be coming after us just yet."
"That really helps."
He went back to try to get rid of the cat hair and found Savannah on top of his clothes again.
"You know what you problem is. You think the world is perfect and that you
are immune to death and harm."
Luke turned toward Bo.
"Wake up! You've got to start carrying the gun I gave to you around. If you
don't you will end up dead like Jonathan. We don't want that and you sure as hell don't want that."
"Luke, I...I just can't pull the trigger. Every time I do, I remember when
Aunt Lavinia died. I can't..."
The memories hurt and they always haunted him especially in his dreams. It was not just Aunt Lavinia that concerned him.
The cousins had a lot of death in their family anyway. Fortunately they were too young to remember. Jesse did not want to have to explain the complications in their parent's deaths or have to dwell on it long. They needed to get on with their little lives.
"Bo," Luke walked over to him. "You have no choice in the matter."
"I can't kill anyone, no matter what. Every time someone is killed doing what
we do, I feel it, unlike you."
Luke glared at him for a couple minutes. Bo had to take the gun. It was unfortunately a necessity in their line of work. Luke did not like it at first either. When that man in Atlanta tried to kill him because he knew too much, he realized as the gun shot rang through his ears, it was necessary.
"Bo, what would you do if Jesse, Daisy or my life was in danger? Would you
let us die or help us?"
"Luke, I...I."
"You don't have that long to think! Thinking could mean your death too."
Bo thought about what Luke said as he put on the suit. He was right. He would have to pull that trigger someday. He just hopped it was not too soon.
Luke got dressed as well. The last touch was for him to put his pistol in his belt. He looked over at Bo who went over to the drawer and pulled out his. He looked at Luke who nodded then put it in his belt. Luke went over and patted him on the back.
"Come one let's go." He headed for the door, turned back and smiled at Bo.
"Don't want to keep the girls waiting!"
Griffin Parker and Kevin Donavon sat on a park bench in Central Park smoking and talking.
"Have you thought of how to get back at the Dukes?" Kevin watched the
people go by.
"I have some ideas. A few might work. Unfortunately I promised Pizani that
I'd get control of Jesse Duke's shine and bring him back into the business."
“Your plan will have to some how get Jesse back in New York. You aren't
going to kill any of them, are you, just out of curiosity?"
"Curiosity killed the cat, ya know. I've got something, shall we say,
interesting planned." he paused. "But that's all I can tell you now."
"Good enough for me."
Jesse arrived in Atlanta the next morning and met Camden Stewart at the station. It was good to be in Georgia again. In an hour they would be back in Hazzard. On the way there Camden updated Jesse on what happened since they left. When they arrived in town, Jesse felt his depression lift. He took a deep breath.
"It's good to be home," he smiled.
Camden was about to say something when Jesse's moonshine buddy, Amos Stegger,
walked up to them.
"Jesse Duke! Where have you been a hidin these last few years or so?"
"Oh tryin to live like those city bumpkins that always come through here."
"We'll go back to the farm and I'll have to enlighten you on all that's
happened here."
"That would take years!"
"It has been a very long time." Amos laughed and got into his car.
Parker and Donavon's plan got underway. Cooter had to leave to get a train to Chicago where he was going to visit an old buddy and maybe talk business. He left Rosco to keep an eye on Daisy. Rosco was a good person helping out but he was not good at detecting trouble.
He sat in the empty lobby of the club around 4am that night reading a magazine while waiting for Daisy. Kevin Donavon came up behind him and knocked him out. He just left him there because he looked like he was sleeping.
"Bye, Amelia and Rachel."
"Take care, Daisy," Rachel said. "We'll see you tomorrow night."
After they left the dressing room felt eerie. It did not help that Rosco was here but in another part of the building. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. They had a very good reason to for as soon as she turned the dressing room light off and was half way down the hall, Parker grabbed her.
"Good evening, Miss Duke. So we meet again."
"Unfortunately," Daisy struggled to get away.
"Well, you have the pleasure of being our guest for awhile," Donavon’s voice
echoed in the empty hall. "I hope you can keep us entertained."
Daisy knew it was a waste of time to scream because the only person that was there was Rosco and he would never hear. Donavon and Parker dragged Daisy to their car parked in the back of the club. Donavon got in first then Parker threw Daisy in and got in last.
"Hit it, driver," Parker said.
"You're our little pawn," Kevin put his arm around Daisy. "Your cousins'll have
to listen now."
They both laughed. The car sped off down the dark street.
Luke and Bo were at the restaurant supervising the workers doing repairs. Amelia Graham entered looking nervous. She had called Daisy early that afternoon, but got no answer.
"Hi, fellas," Amelia said as the boys finally noticed her in the doorway.
"Hi, Amelia."
Luke walk over to her and took her hand.
"What's the importance of this visit?”
Bo scowled and went into the back.
"It's about Daisy."
"What about Daisy?" Luke escorted her to the back of the restaurant."
"I called her this afternoon and nobody answered the phone."
Bo was playing solitaire.
"Maybe she slept in," Bo tried to be positive. "You work pretty late."
Luke remained silent thinking. About five minutes later Ryan Matthews hurried into the room.
"I found this note taped to the door.”
Luke took the note and carefully opened it. Amelia played with the salt shaker on the table. Bo stopped playing cards. He could tell from Luke's face that it was not good. Luke finished and set the envelope on the table.
"What?"
"They kidnapped Daisy," Luke getting a of whiskey bottle
"Oh," was all that Amelia could say.
Bo took her hand and squeezed. She squeezed back
"What are we going to do?" Ryan asked. "What else did they want?"
"They are holding Daisy in exchange for us to join Pizani's 'family' or else."
Luke took at drink and paused.
"We don't even no who 'they' is."
"Poor Daisy," Bo playing with the cards now. "I hope..." he did not finish
because he was so angry and scared that he was lost for words.
"You can't join Pizani's 'family,'" Ryan said. "Costillo will put you on his hit
list and everyone else too for that matter."
"Looks like we're between a rock and a hard place," Luke looked around.
"We have to do something!"
"What, Bo? We'll just have to wait and see. We wouldn't rush into it. We'll
just say we needed time to think and make sure everything is ok first. By then hopefully Daisy conned her way out, hopefully"
Ryan nodded and got himself a drink. Bo and Amelia were still holding hands. Luke didn't care; he was too worried about Daisy.
Later that evening in an abandoned building across the Hudson Bay on the New Jersey side, Donavon, Parker and Daisy waited for the return of their driver who posted the note.
"Why don't you dance for us?" Donavon leaned toward Daisy.
"I'm not that kind of girl."
She was tied to a hard wooden chair.
“What kind of girl are you then? Are you any different from the other
broods who prance around night after night?" Kevin smirked
"I only did it to help my uncle pay for the loan but since Costillo did not
except the final payment. I'm stuck there for the duration."
"Unless Costillo dies or you cousins join with Pizani. You wouldn't have to
dance anymore, unless..." Kevin moved closer.
"Unless, what?"
"Unless you become my girl and do what I say," Kevin laughed.
“I have better taste than that!”
Kevin made to smack her when Parker interrupted laughing.
"Ah leave her alone. She's not important yet."
Kevin frowned and went back to the table with Parker. They played gin rummy until the driver got back. Daisy in the mean time was working on her ropes, hoping maybe that she could get free. An hour later the driver arrived.
"Everything is set."
"Good," Parker grinned evilly. "We'll just see how long it takes them to
decide between their precious cousin or their whiskey."
They all laughed and continued on with the game as Daisy worked on the knots.
Jesse felt a sense of closure already by just being back in Hazzard. The country smells and sounds made him happy and sad at times.
The next morning after he arrived in Hazzard, he went to the back forty of his old farm. He did not want to bother the people who lived there now. As he walked along the rows of recently harvested corn, he thought of Lavinia again. She told him on a day like this that she could never have children. It saddened her he re called. It had something to do with an illness she had years before but they were not sure. He knew that Lavinia was buried up on the other side of the mountains. He insisted she be buried were they always wished they could come back too. In a few weeks Jesse planned on going there but now he had to visit with old friends from Hazzard. That meant the entire town.
Late that night around 3am, Daisy finally was able to get out if the ropes. She
remembered the knife Luke gave her for her birthday day last year. It was a good thing Parker and Donavon missed it. Getting out was going to be hard. The driver was sleeping in the doorway to keep watch over her while they went back to the city to celebrate. There were two things Daisy could do: she could knock him out or kill him.
She went with the second option only because she did not want him coming after her later on. She crept over to the doorway and stood behind him. She took the knife that glistened in the moonlight, stabbing him in the back of the neck. He made a noise then slumped over in the chair, dead. She just had to get out of there and get to her cousins to tell them she was safe.
Once outside she spotted an abandoned car. She checked for gas and a key then climbed in speeding off toward the city as fast as she could.
As he walked back to Amos' farm he thought of the cousins. He could feel that there was trouble but hoped it was not true.
Bo and Luke decided to have a little party of their own at the restaurant. They brought in a band and invited some friends and lots of girls,
"Ryan, I'd like you to meet, Chloe, Nora, Lucy and Joel," Luke said. "Joel is
going to run the restaurant for me when we open again."
"Who's all over with Bo?" Ryan asked laughing. Luke rolled his eyes.
"Let's see... Amelia, Roselyn, Brie and Lorelei."
"He doesn't leave many broods for the rest of us," Ryan scanned the room.
"Oh it's customary for him to have three or four hanging around at least,
but if you need a date just snatch one from him. He wouldn't know the difference!"
Sometime later Daisy showed up at the restaurant. She knew they would not
be at the apartment at that time which was obvious. The party was still in full swing.
"Daisy!!" Macy shouted. "Thank goodness. We all heard about it!"
Joel came running up to Bo and Luke as soon as he heard.
"Luke! Bo! Daisy is here!"
Luke set his drink down and went out front. Bo ran after him because he did not believe it. Luke hugged Daisy. Then Bo did.
"How did you get away?" Bo asked.
"I'll tell you later.”
"Now we have a reason to celebrate," Chloe laughed giving her friend a quick
hug.
Luke looked at Bo. He knew how Daisy escaped. He just wanted to make sure Bo got the point.
"I'm happy everything is all right," Amelia said.
"Wanna dance?" Bo and Luke said at the same time then glanced angrily at
each other. Amelia just laughed.
"Bo, don't forget you promised me a dance," Roselyn said coming up to them.
"Oh yeah. Go ahead, cousin. I'll see you two around."
"I'm sorry about that," Luke looked at Amelia.
"That's ok. I'm used to it," She smiled at him.
When Griffin found out Daisy escaped he could not have been madder.
"Damn to hell!"
"There goes our plan and a good one too. Not to mention a loyal driver,"
Parker said angrily.
"That's it! I'll get them good this time!"
"Then it's personal now?"
"It has always been personal, but now this has nothing to do with those damn
bosses and their damn war."
"You gotta get him where it counts. Go after Lukas. He is the head now. If
you bring him down the others will follow you because they relay on Lukas for everything."
"Perfect. But we wouldn't kill him right away. That wouldn't be any fun.
We'll torture him. That'll make me feel better. What are his weaknesses?"
"I can't think of anything right off. Wait....the fatal weakness of a Duke
boy, girls,"
"I knew I could count on you. I'll get them for sure this time."
The next afternoon the three cousins sat up in their apartment talking. They hadn't woken up until around 1pm because they partied a little too much the night before.
"O.K., Daisy," Luke sat down in the sofa with a large cup of coffee. "Tell us,
mainly Bo, all about your escape."
"Well, it wasn't that much of an ordeal. I better start at the beginning. I
was the last one to leave that night. Rosco was waiting for me out in the lobby. I turned off the light and was half way down the hall when they grabbed me."
"You never actually told us who kidnapped you yet," Bo sat in one of the
chairs with Savannah on his lap.
"Griffin Parker and Kevin Donavon.”
"Them two again.”
"Jesse warned you.”
"Shut up, Luke!”
"They seem to have this loyalty to Pizani right now. They weren't ready to
kill me or anything. Kevin said something about being a pawn. Anyway, they went back to the city-"
"Where were you anyway?"
"Across the river in New Jersey.”
"That figures. The one place we'd never have looked.”
"Back to my story. I was able to get free with the knife I had. They
somehow missed it. I stabbed the driver who was guarding me in the back of the neck. I never killed anyone before. I don't feel anything. I don't feel guilty."
"It wasn't like he was a good person. You were in danger if we said no. Now
that this failed, they will definitely be back. That means one less person to try and kill you. Don't worry, Daisy."
"Don't worry? How can you not feel when you kill someone?"
"Bo, it depends. Remember when we were ambushed in Atlanta just before
we came here? Well several innocent people were killed and that bothered me for months. They did not have any part of our battle. But the man that tried to kill me right outside of our apartment, I didn't feel for. I was numb. It was necessary. There is a difference."
"I still could never.”
"You're killing yourself," Daisy said softly. "Please don't"
"I'll try."
The cousins went on talking. They knew they had to find out about Parker and Donavon's plans before more lives were lost. Nobody else really interacted with them that they worked with. Luke came up with a plan. The main source of the problem seemed to be Griffin Parker. What they had to do was snatch his right hand man and get him to talk or else.
About a week later, Daisy walked into the night club as usual. She checked out the customers looking for Donavon. She did not see him but asked Cooter, Rosco and Aaron to keep a look out. Then she went back to change. Bo and Luke wandered in a little after the first number started. Luke went to take the car around back and told Bo to hang around acting like nothing was going on.
Around midnight Kevin Donavon entered and took a seat. Bo went to Cooter to tell him something and left out the front. As the third number finished, Daisy looked into the crowd for her lookouts. Aaron gave a thumbs up and she knew her performance was about to start. She went to the table next to Kevin's and asked for a lit with a little conversation. Kevin spotted her and winked. Daisy took a deep breath and moved toward him. Cooter left when he saw this to tell Bo and Luke out back that their plan was staring.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to show face," Donavon leaned back in his
chair. "How are you tonight, Miss Duke?"
"Just fine, honey," Daisy said with the biggest flirtatious smile she could
manage.
She went and sat down on the edge on the chair next to Donavon and took a drag.
"I'm just so sorry about the other night. I didn't mean to run out on you like
that without even a note. It wasn’t polite of little me, but I had an engagement to attend to," Daisy looked into his hazel eyes to see if she trapped him yet.
"Oh really. I've a great opportunity"
She smiled and winked at him.
"I was wondering if a tough, handsome, business orientated man would give a
girl like me a second chance,"
She stroked his arm.
"Sure thing," Donavon smiled and started to pull her close.
"Wait. Let's go some place quiet and not so...public," she whispered.
They got up to leave and headed for the back where there were doors leading to a hallway to the back of the stage and other rooms. Daisy led him to a dark coatroom where the sounds from the public area were muffled.
"Well now this is nice, isn't it?" Donavon pulled her close.
"Just dandy."
Suddenly behind him he felt a gun in his back.
"Raise 'em high and don't move," Luke’s voice came out the shadows.
Daisy started to back away still smiling. She left to go back to her duties in the other part of the club. Bo took Kevin's gun and knife.
"Damn brood.”
"Ok you can drop them. Bo, hold him,"
"You're going to take a little ride with us."
He smiled evilly then punched Kevin and he fell limp.
Bo and Luke dragged him to the car where Cooter was waiting. They stuffed him in the trunk and sped off into the night. They arrived at the abandoned building on Long Island about two hours later. They dragged the now awake Kevin Donavon into the building. The room was dimly lit with a few candles.
"I hope you enjoy your stay," Bo laughed as he tied Kevin up.
"What's the meaning of this?" Kevin tried to get out of the ropes.
"Oh it's just about business." Luke said coldly. "And about you and our cousin
Daisy. She sure out foxed you. Twice now I believe."
"Don't remind me. She was too good to be true. Whatever you Dukes want
you'll never get it."
Bo went up to Kevin punched him in the face, grabbed his hair, and finally pulled his head up.
"Oh but you will," Bo said. "Something's got to give."
"Tell us about Parker," Luke demanded.
"There's nothing to tell," Kevin stared coldly at Luke. "Except one thing. He
hates you Dukes and will stop at nothing to get you back.”
"I don't doubt he will," Cooter said. "He's gotten many people. But that's
going to end whether you talk or not."
"Come on, Kevin, talk," Luke said. "Parker is doomed," he laughed evilly.
"Go to hell!" Kevin spat at them.
"It seems we're getting no where, good buddies. We're going to just have to
dispose of our unhelpful informant." Luke said in a low and commanding voice.
"Right," Cooter disappeared for a moment to get Luke's gun.
"What? You're just going to shot him without second thought?! You can't do
that, Luke!"
"What have you been drinking lately, Beauraguard? Of course we're going to.
We have to or he'll kill you or me perhaps one day in maybe our sleep. You've got to get rid of enemy before he gets you."
"Who's logic is that?"
"Every bootlegger you'll ever met that works for a 'family' or a 'families'"
logic. He hurt Daisy. Who knows what he would have done if she never escaped that night."
Luke smacked him across the face.
"Wake up! I've told you a million times. If you don't be aggressive you're
going to die. It's the natural course of our human existence."
Luke took the gun from Cooter and loaded it. He aimed it at Kevin's head. Kevin shut his eyes and waited for death bravely.
"Don't! wouldn't let you."
Luke pointed the gun at Bo's head and stared.
"How do you feel right now? I cocked the gun. It could kill you if I
accidentally pulled the trigger."
Bo calmly reached up and pushed the gun out of his face.
"What's wrong with you, Luke?"
"I left everything emotionally behind like you said that day we were talking
about Jesse. It helps me in my line of work. I run the distribution of our whiskey. I see death every day. I've almost been killed several times this month alone. I have to leave it behind. If I didn't I'd never survive. Survival is the key in this city of fierce predators. I'm looking out for you, Bo. I'm trying to help."
"I don't want to be like you. I used to but you don't feel. How do I know you
really care?"
“I'm two different people. Luke separated his mind to stay sane>”
"Luke, you'd better hurry up. We have to get back to the club before
Coleman Hawkins finished his act. We've got to be part of it no matter what," Cooter said.
Luke re cocked the gun and aimed it at Kevin's head.
"Too bad things turned out this way."
Bo ran up to take the gun from Luke. Luke saw him out of the corner of his eye and pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed in Bo's ears. He knew Kevin died instantly. He shook his head as he looked back and forth between Luke and Kevin. He stepped back. Luke put his hand on his shoulder looking concerned.
"Bo. Kevin killed Jonathan. He almost killed me. He deserved to die. Justice
in a way had been served."
Bo looked up at Luke. The fact that this made killed Jonathan infuriated him. It
also meant he killed more of his friends as well. Luke handed him the gun.
"He's dead but use him. Pull the trigger and see how you feel.”
Bo took some bullets Cooter gave him. He cocked the gun and fired and fired and fired. The gunshots rang through his ears, his soul and the building. When he finished, he let out his breath.
Luke put his arm around his cousin to let him know everything was ok. Cooter patted him on the back. They untied the body from the chair, wrapped him in lots of cloth and put him in the trunk again. They buried the body in a local cemetery so things did not look out
of the ordinary. Bo still looked pale as they headed for the car.
"What you need, good buddy," Cooter started the car, "is a nice big shot of
pure moonshine. When you wake up it'll all be like a dream and you'll feel better about it."
Bo agreed and they headed back to New York.
About this time Jesse had Amos drive him to the cemetery. Jesse had been having dreams about Lavinia every night. Sometimes it was the night she was killed and other times she just came to talk. Last night she told him there was no need to grieve for her anymore. She knew his love went beyond that. The cousins needed all the help they could get. She reminded Jesse that no matter what he had to do for a living it did not change the fact that he was still a good person. Amos pulled up the gates.
"Go ahead, Jesse. I'm just going to drive up a little farther to visit my
family. I'll came back in an hour."
"That's fine.”
Jesse walked over to Lavinia's grave. It was a good thing he brought shears because the weeds around the stone were growing wild. Then he laid a single red rose on
the stone. He said a prayer.
"Good bye for now, dearest. I'll see you soon. In the meantime enjoy the
rose."
He bent over and kissed the stone. A light breeze blew through the trees and rustled the grass. It lightly touched his hair.
Parker came up with another idea involving weakness. It didn't start right away because he was wondering where Donavon could have run off. No one knew. Then later in the week some gravediggers were curious about a grave they obviously did not dig and checked it out. They found Kevin Donavon's body still wrapped in the cloth like a mummy. Parker was infuriated. He knew it had to have been the Dukes. Daisy obviously told them who her kidnappers were. There was no time like the present to get back at Luke Duke. Everything was set; he just had to wait.
About three weeks after the incident at the club, Parker started his plan. He had to get Luke away from his friends and the only way that would happen is if he met with a girl he knew. That would cause less suspicion on his part.
"Hi, Luke," Lorelei said.
"Hi there," Luke glanced up from the paper work. Everything was so much
easier without paper work but unfortunately running an honest business like a restaurant required it.
"Oh, put those papers away and come with me," Lorelei moved in between
Luke and the desk.
“Honey," Luke gently moved her out of the way. "I have work to do."
"But you always work. Why don't you go out with me and go where your
work isn't. It'll be fun."
"Oh ok. You do realize how hard those green eyes of yours are hard to pass
up."
Lorelei smiled, grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the waiting taxi.
Little did Luke know that Parker and some new associates of his were always close behind.
"What a day," Luke said as they entered the cab. "Thanks, Lorelei, I feel
much better," he kissed her lightly on the check. She inwardly flinched.
"I had fun too. How about you come back to my apartment for a drink,
something strong perhaps?"
"Sounds good to me.”
A little after one, Parker and company slipped in Lorelei's apartment building and headed upstairs. Luke was asleep in a chair with the reading light on, on the table next to him were a couple bottles of whiskey with a glass of ice cubes. Lorelei watched him for a little then decided to take a bath. She went into the bathroom and turned on the faucet at full speed. Parker unlocked the door and his new partners grabbed Luke. Luke woke up in alarm and tried to get away from them to no avail.
"So we meet.”
"Unfortunately.”
"I have come to request your presence at a meeting with my associated.”
"It doesn't seem as though I have a choice, do I?"
"No, Mr. Duke, you don't.
Luke tried for one futile attempt to escape. One of the men put a towel around his face and before he knew it the chloroform knocked him out cold. They picked up his limp body and carried it out the door.
Lorelei came out of the bathroom a half an hour later. She picked up the money, staring at it. She did not want to have to hurt Luke but Parker threatened her family's welfare is she did not. Beside the money was a note.
My daring, Lorelei,
You have done you're job well. You will get
the rest of your reward after you play the part
of a frantic friend considered at the
disappearance of a fellow co-worker
And remember, dearest, you're in debt to me for
saving your brother's life. Never forget that
With all love,
Griff
Lorelei tightened her hand into a fist with the note in it. She then threw it in the trash. She walked over to the chair that Luke had been sitting, poured the last of the whiskey into the glass and drank.
Later that morning she ran quickly into the backroom of the restaurant. Cooter Davenport, Aaron Baldwin, Ryan Matthews, and Joel Benjamin were sitting around the table talking. The noticed Lorelei in the doorway looking pale and sacred.
"Lore, what's wrong?" Ryan asked.
"It's Luke.”
Her conscience would not let her have peace.
"He's disappeared.”
"What do you mean?" Bo said getting up.
"He stayed over. I left him sleeping in the living room when I went to take a
bath. When I came out he was...gone," she looked down at her hands trying to hide her guilt stricken tears.
Aaron came over to her and put his arm around her and hugged her for a bit. The others sat stunned. They believed Lorelei like Parker knew they would. They did not know what to do.
"I guess we're just going to have to wait," Bo said firmly.
He realized right them and there he was in charge. Luke had been trying to prepare him for a day like this to come but he would not listen until now.
"I'll get a hold of Daisy. In the mean time you fellas see what you can do."
They all agreed and set out. Lorelei took Bo's hand.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Bo just started at her and nodded. He remained
silent but he squeezed her hand.
Parker dragged Luke's body into a warehouse on Pizani's territory. Actually it had been Pizani's until Parker ambushed his car the other night killing him and Goldstein as well. From this moment on it was just his grudge against Luke, no one else. One of his men by the name of Sean slapped Luke across the face to wake him up. Luke eventually woke up but found his hands were tied with course rope to some beans about five feet off the ground.
"Welcome back to the world of the living.”
"What have you got in mind, Parker. Just tell me quickly," Luke said still
groggy from the chloroform.
"I don't want anything out of you, Lukas K." Parker said as he paced in front
of Luke. His men sat around them watching. They knew what was going to happen.
"If not that, what then?" Luke inquired.
Parker turned to face him. He viciously punched him in face. Luke groaned but could do nothing.
"My problem is with you, Mr. Duke."
Parker back handled him across the head.
"You are always a thorn in my side."
He punched him in the stomach.
"You never know when to stay out of someone's business."
He punched him in the head again in the nose.
"You didn't listen when I kidnapped your cousin so you'll join that rat ass
Pizani."
Parker punched him even harder in the nose this time. Blood flowed from Luke's nose. He groaned in pain.
"Your other cousin always has to fight me about something."
Parker grabbed the hair that was nearest Luke's forehead and pulled.
"Ah!" Luke gripped in pain.
Parker pulled harder. Luke groaned. Sean and the others laughed.
"You then have the gull to kill Kevin. I know it was you because Bo is too
much of a softy to do it. Everyone knows that. Cooter lets you do all the work. Huh, rat ass?"
Parker picked up some iron knuckles and punched Luke in the stomach. Luke lost his breath because he hit harder.
"Your dammed other cousin, Daisy, sweet flower."
Parker hit him in the check. The knuckles cut is face drawing blood.
"Daisy, the sweat daring that lures unsuspecting men to their death."
Parker back handled him across the head again.
"You used her like everyone else. I'm going to get you family were it hurts the most."
Parker punched him in the chest several times. Luke coughed up trying to breathe.
"Your death is not concern for me. I hope the pain you feel lingers forever
before you die." Parker laughed.
Luke used all the strength he had left to raise his head and spit in Parker's face and laughed though it hurt because his ribs were broke. As he moved to straighten himself each time Parker hit him, the course ropes cut through his skin. Parker just watched him and his labored breathing. Luke's nose bleed uncontrollably, the scars on his face were ugly. His hair was drenched with sweat. He started coughing up blood. Blood also dripped from his wrists. Parker smiled. He told Sean and his buddy Trevor to beat him into unconsciousness. As Parker walked out of the building he heard the punches and groans from Luke and his men.
Parker's men beat Luke until they were sure he would bleed to death. They dumped him along the river where someone was sure to find him. And within hours of Luke almost dying from his wounds he was discovered by Enos Strate and Bo.
Enos was a childhood friend who recently came to New York to join the police force. Although he was friends with the Dukes, he granted them no special favors. At least he tried no to. He felt for them when Luke vanished that he went with Bo to look. It being just two the two of them would be easier.
Bo did not react when they found Luke barely breathing and covered in dried blood. His stomach turned but he held it. Luke would have hit him if he did other wise. They took his body to the local hospital where he stayed for about a week. Daisy called Jesse about what happened. He insisted that when he got back Luke would come home to unconscious at home.
"Who would have done this, Daisy?"
"I already told you, Uncle Jesse. Griffin Parker."
"He has to have done it under orders from someone."
"Parker doesn't work for anyone. He did swear loyalty to Pizani but him and
Goldstein were killed last week. The other four act as though they have no idea how it happened," Bo said.
"I think Parker has it out to kill every boss then make himself number one,"
Cooter said from the doorway.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Daisy said holding Luke's hand. "What do we do now?"
"Wait," Bo said. "There had to have been a reason for the beating and
killings. Parker is going to strike again but we will never know when."
The Dukes sat around talking. They had to figure out what was up. They could not
use Enos in their plans because he was struggling to be an honest police man which was a challenge itself in the city. Thanksgiving was soon upon then and they had to continue with their lives.
Luke woke up the first day of December. He stayed in bed the whole month. In January when Luke could move about they decided to discuss their problems.
"New Years Eve was some night I heard," Cooter said as he and the Dukes
sat in the back room at the restaurant. "Apart from the girls, booze and death."
"I heard," Luke sighed. "Let's see DiOrio fell out a window. Rizzo and Olsen
both were shot going from party to party.
"Well that takes us down to two bosses: Donnelley and Costillo." Jesse said.
"Yep, somehow the man who wouldn't let us go still lives," Daisy said.
"I'm sure so sure it was Parker who was involved with everything during the
holiday season," Luke said thinking.
"What do you mean, Luke?" Bo asked.
"Well. I think the deaths of DiOrio and Goldstein were a catalyst for the
bosses to fight each other. My incident was to get at us but maybe even to get Costillo involved as well."
"What's next?" Daisy asked. "I wish i knew."
"Me too," Bo said.
"I'm sure Parker knows that you survived, Luke," Jesse said. "He's going to
be very pissed about that. I'm thinking he might try for you again or one of us."
"Well let's see," Cooter started. "He kidnapped Daisy and beat up Luke. It's
either between me, Bo and Jesse."
Luke glanced over at Bo
"I know, cousin," Bo said with a sigh. "I realized what you said was true when
I learned you were missing."
"I just hope things work out," Luke took a drink from his martini.
Things in a way worked out. There were no more significant killings for the next three months. Luke got back into the same perfect health he was in before the incident. Everyone was trying to keep an eye out for trouble.
Parker in the meantime was planning something else against the Dukes. It infuriated him that Luke did not die. He was somewhat pleased that four of the bosses were dead now. He was also pissed because the others could not seem to get the job done.
In the middle of April of 1933, he got together his gang and poor Lorelei for a meeting.
"O.k. here's what we have to do," Parker paced in front of the table.
"We have to find a reason for Costillo and Donnelley to start a war. On the other hand we need to get rid of the Dukes. If we can't kill them all we have to scare them into leaving New York for good.
Lorelei inwardly flinched. She hated the idea of working for Parker. The only family she had anymore was her brother. She knew that soon Parker would not spare him either. She could not warn Bo because Parker promised her a slow painful death if she did.
"We all ready tried to kill Luke once. I don't think he'll be as easy this
time," Trevor said.
"I know," Parker said thinking.
"We could get Bo," Sean said. "It would be a shame to waste that Daisy gal."
"How do we go about that? Beat him up too?" Austin asked.
"No, no, no," Parker muttered. "Wait....."
Lorelei smoked up a storm in the back while the men downed martinis.
"We could ambush him."
"We ambush everyone," Trevor said.
"I say if you are good at something always use it. I agree with Parker."
"Lore, it's you turn to be on stage again and really play the part," Parker
smirked.
"What do I have to do?" she sighed quietly from the back.
"Why so gloomy, Lore, dear?" Parker asked walking toward her.
"It's just been a few bad months is all," Lorelei said shortly.
"Oh, does this dear girl suddenly have a conscience?" Parker smirked and put
his hands on her shoulders.
"I just don't feel well is all," Lorelei stared ahead. "I don't think about what
I have to do for you."
"That's good," Parker moved away. "All right boys we've got some planning to
do."
Everyone these next few weeks seemed to be coming up with a plan to get everyone else. The Dukes shine was selling well despite all the problems with ownership. A month past before the action took place. A few days after Lavinia's tragic death anniversary, the action finally started.
Lorelei in the mean time was getting worse. The service she had to perform for Parker made things worse. She was going no where in a town that always was. Her brother died the month before. She was lonely even though she was 'seeing' Bo. That did not help the matter since she was to take part in his death.
She took a drink from her gin mixed with tonic. She had already finished one bottle of that stuff already. The shades were drawn so she had no clue of the time. She wished she could sit in that chair all day and be numb. Her head swelled as she stood. She lost her balance and dropped the glass. It shattered on the floor.
Lorelei held on to the chair trying to remain up right and stared at the glass. Thoughts were flying through her head but she could not understand them. She fell to her knees, crawling toward the glass. She picked up one large sharp piece and stared at it as it shinned in the early morning light. She gripped it in her hand. She looked at her wrist and started to stab it.
Suddenly the room began spinning more than she could bare and had to put the glass down. When she opened her eyes, she realized this was not the thing to do. She could not kill herself. If she did not leave a note, Bo might think it was murder, but she was too drunk and dizzy to write. Resting her head on the side of the chair, she tried to think of what to do.
Parker in the mean time had devised a plan. He decided to get Costillo involved. He
told the crime boss that the Dukes were favoring loyalty to Donnelley because Costillo would not except the last payment of their loan. He also told him that the Duke boys were planning to kill him so that there would only be one boss in the sections of Harlem and Queens. Costillo was outraged that this could happen especially to him that he ordered a hit on the Duke boys. Parker told him that it would be best to get one so that would scare the rest of them out of New York. Parker however knew that the Dukes would kill Costillo when they found about Bo. He also insisted that he take part in the ambush.
The next night Bo and Luke were at the Cotton Club in Harlem for a change of scenery. Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith were playing there that night. The place was packed with jazz lovers.
Around midnight the Duke boys split up with their girlfriends each going to a different place. Luke and Amelia were headed toward the restaurant to check up on business. Lorelei and Bo were headed toward the club where Daisy still worked. About twenty minutes later several cars pulled up along side and started firing. Lorelei's job was to get Bo out of the car so Costillo's men had a better shot. Bo finally slipped out of the door quickly. Bo leaned against the back of the car with his gun in his hand. He took a few shots at his intended murderers aiming at no one in particular. After about ten minutes of this, Bo killed about five of Costillo's men because he took aim and shot at them. Bo and Lorelei were not hurt. Parker was pissed. He knew that Lorelei was still in the car, so he ordered the men to fire on the engine and gas tank. Bo would have to get Lorelei out. Once it exploded, Bo would have no cover.
"Bo!!!" Lorelei shouted over the firing. "Help me out!! They're going to make
the car explode!"
Bo rushed back in. He helped Lorelei out and avoiding bullets got her to a nearby doorway. They turned to face the car and it exploded sending car parts all over the place. Bo knew there was no place to hide anymore. He fired away trying to bring down the number of his enemy. Trevor came around from behind the tree they crashed into. Lorelei saw this and jumped in front of Bo as Trevor pulled the trigger six times. Sirens could be heard coming from a distance in their direction.
"Come on!!" Parker yelled to Trevor the only two surviving intended
murderers. They speed off down the darkly lit street.
Bo picked up Lorelei's bullet laced body and held her tight. He knew there was no way he could help her. She was dying.
"Bo," Lorelei managed. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry about what?" Bo asked softly. "You did nothing wrong. If you mean
saving my life, I'm grateful "It...was...necessary," Lorelei said as she gasped for breath. "The note...the note in my dress pocket," she paused to get enough air." explains everything."
Bo stroked her hair. Only a tear or two rolled down his checks. Too much had happened to him in the past year for him to afford to grieve very long.
"I'm sorry," Lorelei said again. Her breath was becoming more shallow. "I
love you."
"I love you too," Bo said. "No matter what."
"Thank you," Lorelei said as she coughed up blood.
The police including Enos and Rosco arrived at the scene. They checked all the dead bodies before they came upon Bo and Lorelei. Lorelei breathed a few more painful breaths. Enos slowly walked up to Bo who was still holding her and stroking her hair. Enos removed Bo's hands and picked up Lorelei and took her to the ambulance. Bo remained kneeling on the sidewalk silently grieving. Rosco came up to him five minutes later.
"Come one, Bo," he said softly. "We'd better go."
"O.k." Bo said getting up slowly.
He was covered in Lorelei's blood. Then he remembered the note and went to tell Enos. Enos and Bo arrived at the apartment an hour later. Everyone was there because news travels fast. As soon as they entered the apartment, Daisy rushed up to Bo.
"Oh, Bo" was all she could say so she hugged him.
"Sorry, cuz," Luke said as he came up and patted him on the back. No one
said anything about the blood.
"I'm assuming this mess was planned by Parker," Jesse said angrily.
"Actually, Jesse, there was a mix of Costillo's men and Parker's men that
were found dead." Enos said.
"Parker probably told Costillo something that would have made him mad
enough to want our heads." Luke said thoughtfully as he sat down on the sofa.
"But, what?" Daisy questioned.
"I got it," Luke said. "He told Costillo that we changed our loyalty to
Donnelley behind his back because of the loan. That's the only other option."
"If Costillo still believes that we may as well just kill ourselves," Jesse said.
"Looks like we're going to have to kill him first," Bo said.
Luke looked at him, raised his eyebrows and gave his cousin a bemused smile. Bo rolled his eyes.
"You have to get rid of your enemy before he gets you," Bo said
sarcastically. "Damn, cousin, how come you don't know that!!"
Bo and Luke laughed. Both felt better.
"I see you can find something good in all this misery," Jesse. "I'm trying to
avoid it. Just do what you have to do but don't get killed."
"Yes, sir" the three cousin said.
A little later the next day Bo remembered the note that Lorelei told him about. He was shocked when he read it. That damn Parker used this poor girl to get back at them. He showed it to Luke and Daisy because it basically involved all of them.
Dear Bo,
I hope you will be able to forgive me for the actions
that I committed against you and your dear family.
Griffin Parker used me to get back at you for
things that made him mad. He used my brother's
illness, tuberculosis, as my promise to help him.
He said he would kill him so that Pizani and the
other bosses did not have to pay "all that damn
medicine." Of all the actions against you, I was
involved in only two. Luke's kidnapping and beating
and the ambush on Bo. My conscience has not been at
rest since the first incident. I have become depressed
and drank a lot. During one night of drinking, I
dropped a glass because I was too dizzy to stand. I fell
to my knees and almost killed myself with the pieces of
glass. I realized that was not the way. During the
ambush, Parker wanted Bo, yes dear, to be out in the
open for a better shot. He blew up the car to do this.
I knew that night of drinking if i saved Bo then someone
would still be able to bring down Parker. My life is
nothing anymore. It was the only way I could tell you.
Parker has but one weakness. He hates failure. It will
bring him harm. His ultimate dream is to rule over New
York. He's pure evil. I'm sorry about what I had to do.
I'm sure you will have had a short time to grieve before
all of you read this. Thanks for understanding.
Yours in death,
Lorelei Breach.
The Dukes looked at each other.
"Poor Lore," Daisy said,
"Damn that Parker," Luke said angrily as he took a drink of whiskey. "He had
to torture a perfectly lovely girl."
"We should deal with Costillo and save Parker for last. Make him think he's
won." Bo said.
"Wohh, where did this aggression come from cousin," Luke said surprised. "I
like it. From now on we work together on everything."
"I'll help too once I'm free from Costillo's grip," Daisy said.
"Soon, my dear, soon," Luke said. "Right now we need a plan."
"A plan is good," Bo said smiling.
There was not much to their plan. Since they knew Costillo's office building they could walk right in. The only problem about that was as soon as they would walk in everyone of his men would start shooting. That is were Daisy came in and Cooter too. Daisy' job was to distract the men in the front lobby anyway she could to keep their eyes off the door. She decided to give a free performance of one of the dance numbers. She told the men this was a once and a life time opportunity so they had better watch. She kept it up until Cooter dressed as a security guard signaled her to stop. Then men groaned and told her to keep on dancing. Daisy told them they had to come by the club.
During this Bo and Luke slipped up to the second floor where Costillo's office was. They wore beards and told the guard at the door they were the CIA. They wanted to ask Costillo a few questions. They walked in casually. The bodyguard locked the door as usual. Costillo stood up from behind the desk and asked what they wanted. Bo and Luke took off their disguises and pointed their guns at him and the bodyguard.
"We would like to be rid of you," Luke said coldly pointing his gun at Costillo.
"Parker lied to you about us. Since you think we did betray you, it was no
time like the present to end our deal." Bo said pointing his gun at the guard and watching the door.
"What deal?" Costillo asked angrily.
"The loan. The last bit of money you've been refusing to except for the past
two years." Luke said. "That deal."
"Boss," the guard from outside said suddenly stepping into the room. "Hey
it's them!"
Without second thought Bo shot both guards. He ran over to the one at the door and shot him in the side of the head. The one by the wall was stopped by Luke temporality with a knife in the thigh. Bo walked over to him and shot him in the head too. Then he went back over to where Luke was pointing his gun at Costillo, cocking it.
"You boys are making a big mistake. My boys will be after you," Costillo said.
"Not if they don't know who killed who and why," Luke said. He left Bo in
front of Costillo to go over to the dead guards. He sat them in the chairs with a gun in each hand. Then he came back over.
"According to the police, Costillo was shot to death by his two loyal
bodyguards. Five bottles of empty whiskey bottles lay on the floor. Indicating that all had too much to drink and were delusional. Afterward they committed suicide. One bullet in each skull. Luke said cocking his gun again.
"Ready, cuz?
"Whenever you are," Bo replied as he finished placing the whiskey bottles on
the floor.
In a desperate attempt, Costillo charged them only to be shot in the chest by Bo and Luke several times. The cousins silently left the
room, locking it. Next on their list was Parker. Donnelley had gotten word about how he was going to fall soon so he killed himself the day before.
Bo decided to hunt down Parker by himself. Parker and Trevor were celebrating their victory.
A homeless man they found in the street and hired joined them. The man remained silent during the celebration. Parker decided for another toast to everything good that happened to them. They decided to use wine this time. The homeless man offered to pour it. Parker and Trevor talked and laughed at their good fortune. They never noticed the man slip something into Trever's glass.
After a while after finishing the wine, Trevor felt ill. He started wheezing and collapsed on the floor just barely life to say that he had been poisoned. He died seconds later. Parker looked at him stunned but their guest did nothing. The man then let out a harsh devilish laugh.
"What's wrong with you? He was poisoned. That isn't funny."
"It is knowing you didn't figure out who I was," Bo removed his beard.
"Damn you, Duke," Parker growled. "I won, don't you see."
"Nobody won," Bo pointing his gun at Parker. "You just helped rid New York
of some mean son of a bitches. The other would be dons from all over New York City will be swooping in here like vultures for the leftovers. There is so much chaos anyway without anyone to lead."
"You lie."
"If I was lying why would I go through all this length to find you. You
wouldn't have any chance."
Bo cocked the pistol.
"This is for my family and Lorelei."
Before Parker could answer Bo shot him between the eyes. He left the gun beside Trevor and walked calmly from the building.
A year later in 1934, the Dukes set sail for England where they would remain until the Second World War. They could not have been happier. Bo and Luke let go of their evil alter egos and lived day by day without the threat of death around them. Ahead of them, England was a promising future.
