The Crown Vic bounced along the rutted track and stopped behind Billy's truck.

Two doors opened.

Two men in dark suits and shades got out into the humid morning air.

They circled the truck, absorbing details then approached the driver side door. The younger man opened the door and the older man shook a snoring Billy by the shoulder.

"Could you step out of the truck please, sir?"

Billy snuffled and would have gone back to sleep but the man shook his shoulder again and said, "C'mon, let me help you."

Billy reluctantly got out of the truck, squinting in the light. He looked at his persecutors; an older man with a craggy face and graying hair and a younger, smooth faced black man. Both in dark suits and wearing shades. "Holy crap, you're the Men in Blammfh."

Billy didn't get to finish his sentence because a callused, veined hand had clamped over his mouth.

"Now Billy, it doesn't matter who we are, what matters is who YOU are". Billy's eyes widened as the older man pulled a fat wooden pen from his pocket and held it upright in front of him. You are Billy Joe Harris and I am sure you would like to stay that way, Right? It is ok to nod, Billy"

Billy nodded, his eyes never leaving the pen.

"That's good, Billy. You just need to remember one simple thing."

Now Billy was energetically nodding, his eyes locked on the object in front of his nose.

"You didn't see anything last night. You hit the barrier and your bumper fell off and then you went to sleep. Isn't that the way it went?"

Billy nodded again, his eyes as big as saucers.

The older man removed his hand from Billy's mouth.

"Don't make us come back and use this, Billy."

Billy didn't know whether to shake his head up and down or back and forth so he settled for a bobbing motion somewhere in between. "Yessir. Thank you sir. I won't forget. I mean, I will forget."

He was still bobbing and babbling as they drove off.

Back on the highway, the younger man slapped the dashboard. "Whoo-wee. That was a hoot. He really thought your pen was a neuralyzer. Think he'll say anything?

"No. We don't have to worry about Billy. We have other things to worry about."

"Where do you think she is?"

"Could be as far south as Lake Blackshear by now. We'll find her"

The big car roared down the road.