Here's the last chapter! Just a short one. Once again, thanks to all of you who reviewed the story or left encouraging comments! I appreciate all kinds of input, and I'm very glad you liked the story. :)

Later!

-Flynne :)

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Chapter Seven

"Tying up Loose Ends"

Morning came too early for most people in Washburn the next day. Carl stopped by the motel shortly after ten. "Couple of guys from the DEA rolled in around five AM," he informed them. "They came to pick up Sam's body and take it to his hometown in Virginia. I think they'll wanna talk to you a little later on. They've been sortin' through everyone we arrested last night, tryin' to figure things out."

So far, he explained, the police had determined that there were indeed two competing meth rings. Tom Harmon, Kyle, and Nelson—along with a handful of others—had been running their lab from the garage in Washburn. Parker had figured things out a year or so before, but he had struck a deal with the criminals: If they would agree not to sell any meth within his town and if they paid him a small sum each month, he'd ignore what they were doing.

The four men from Washburn who had been murdered had started up their own lab in a run-down house a few miles south of town just a few months ago. They had been attempting to steal supplies from Tom's lab when they had been caught. They were followed and killed a few blocks away to keep the investigation away from the garage where Tom had his lab. When Bo had been caught snooping, Tom and his men decided to sacrifice the lab in the garage—they had already begun moving things out after the men had been killed—and start using the lab the dead men had been running.

With the help of the sheriff, they tried to use Luke, Bo, and Sam as scapegoats for both the drug and murder charges, which would free them from any further suspicion. Those involved in the riot that weren't mixed up in the drug ring would have to face various fines and charges.

"Parker and the others didn't know Sam was an agent. But once they found out, they knew they had to kill him or risk losing everything. They might be able to cover up his death, but if he lived, they'd be sent up the river on drug charges. One thing's for sure," Carl finished, "The people of Washburn are gonna be a lot more careful in the future about accusin' people before they know the whole story."

"So that means Luke's not a suspect anymore?" Daisy asked hopefully.

"Luke's free to go. You all are." He let out a big sigh and rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "And now I'm done. Comin' to see you three was the last thing I needed to do this mornin'. I'm bushed."

Daisy gave him a sympathetic look. "Didn't you sleep at all?"

The deputy smiled ruefully. "No I didn't. Seein' as how I got myself appointed sheriff after Parker was arrested last night, I've been pretty busy." He sighed and shook his head. "Can't believe I worked with him for ten years and it ends like this. It'll take some gettin' used to." Then he smiled and winked at her. "Although I've got an opening for deputy right about now, if you'd be interested. I tell you, boys, Daisy did a bang-up job last night."

"Believe me, we know," Luke said emphatically.

Bo raised an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest, giving his pretty cousin a playful smirk. "Now, that reminds me…Daisy, I thought I done told you to get outta town if I wasn't back by two."

She laughed at him and ruffled his shaggy blond hair. "Since when do I listen to my little cousin?"

The trio went over to the town hall just one more time that morning for a brief interview with the men from the DEA. Luke was the one they were most interested in talking to, so while he was busy Bo put a call through to their uncle. Jesse was relieved to hear from him; he'd begun to worry when his niece and nephews were overdue back at the farm and they hadn't called. Bo spoke with him just long enough to assure him that they were all right and told him they would explain everything when they got home.

Meanwhile, Luke spent almost an hour with the pair of agents who were questioning him, telling them what he and Sam Avery had talked about. He left with a handshake and their sincere thanks for trying to help their fellow agent. But it wasn't enough. I couldn't keep him from dying last night.

"I don't believe I've ever been so glad to get on home," Bo said as they headed for their car.

"No argument here," Luke answered. "Hey, hold up, Bo. You ain't doin' any driving until we get that noggin of yours checked out by Doc Appleby in Hazzard. Drivin' with you is crazy enough without the threat of dizzy spells."

"Fine with me. But I still say I'm all right."

"And you're never wrong, are you, Bo?" Daisy asked sweetly as she slid into the back seat.

"Don't come complainin' to me if you find your bed's been short-sheeted," he shot back.

Luke chuckled at his cousins' banter as he put the key into the ignition. His heart was still a little heavy in his chest, remembering Sam's death and wishing he could have prevented it. He'd only known the man for a few hours, but the DEA agent had been a decent human being. He hadn't deserved an end like that.

But nobody could ever stay down for long when Bo was around, and already Luke was feeling better in spite of himself. Bo had also told him that their uncle knew they were on their way. It encouraged him to know that Jesse would be waiting at the end of the road. And then he heard his uncle's voice in his head as clearly as if the old man were sitting next to him: "Don't let yourself get beat down by the troubles of the world, Luke boy. You can't fix everything that's broken. That ain't your job…it's God's. It's up to Him to put things right in the end, and you might not be able to see it right away. Maybe you never will. All you can do is the best you can, nothin' more. God's smarter'n you are, anyhow."

"Hey, Luke!" Bo nudged his shoulder. "You sure you wanna drive? 'Cause we ain't gone nowhere yet."

Luke laughed and let a real smile rest on his face for the first time that morning. "Okay, pal. We're gone." The last of his regrets slipped away on a sigh as he turned the key. The engine came to life with it's familiar growl, and he thumped his fist affectionately on the steering wheel. "General, it's good to see you, too." Then with a final blast of "Dixie" on the horn, the General Lee sped out of town on a cloud of dust and headed for home.

- END -