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Route 66-based story via category HERE 
Don’t Forget Schuster via category HERE

mystery story sequel-continuation

——

“OK, Ricky,” Vern said stepping back outside from the front door of his home, “I have….”

“Ah, never mind,” Ricky said standing up. “I’m not all that thirsty & I’d better get going, anyway.”

“Oh, OK,” Vern responded. He’d been inside to check on what cold drinks he had readily available so he & Ricky could sip & continue chatting. As he walked towards the shade & his chair, he heard & saw a beat up old pickup coming up his driveway. Ricky’s hurriedness to leave suddenly clicked.

“Well now Ricky, you don’t have to leave,” Vern stated.

“I … I know,” Ricky stuttered, suddenly becoming nerve-wracked like he was when he 1st arrived at Vern’s place that day.

The pickup lurched to a halt near them.

“Well, howdy Vern, Ricky!”

“Hi, Mayor,” Vern smiled as the Mayor exited his pickup.

“Now, I’ve already told you, it’s no longer Mayor. It’s Tom, now.”

“I know,” Vern replied, noticing Ricky fidgeting as if he wanted to be anywhere but there, “but, technically, you are still the Mayor.”

Tom nodded: “I know. However, I much prefer being called Tom. Makes me feel more … human.”

“Fair enough,” Vern said. “Tom it is.”

“Well, I really need to get going,” Ricky stammered.

“Now, don’t leave on my account,” Tom said. “Looks like you & Vern were having a nice visit out here. It’s a gorgeous day, isn’t it?”

Ricky nodded.

“Ricky,” Tom said, softening his voice, “I hope you’re not nervous because of me. I’ve told you before I do not hold you at all responsible for Tracy’s death.”

“Vern feels guilty, too,” Ricky blurted.

Vern rubbed his face with his right hand, the proverbial “face palm”.

“Is that true, Vern?” Tom asked, turning to look at Vern. “You told me you didn’t feel guilty.”

Vern breathed deep, then chose his words carefully: “I did tell you I don’t feel guilty. However … I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel frustrated by what happened.”

Tom nodded: “I can understand that, Vern, but as we discussed, you didn’t have all of the information at the time. There’s no way you could have known.”

“Yep, I know,” Vern said, “& that’s basically what I just told Ricky a bit ago. I hold onto the fact that she felt comfortable enough to try to get help from us, even though it didn’t work out the way we all wish it would’ve.”

“Exactly,” Tom said, turning to Ricky. “Please, Ricky, listen to Vern’s wisdom here. Otherwise, it’ll eat you up inside, & that’s the last thing I’d want for you … or any of us, for that matter.”

“But, how can you be so … well, calm … about this?” Ricky asked, not sure of the correct word or words to describe Tom’s stoic-ness.

“I’m not,” Tom said without hesitation.

“Really?” Ricky shot back, equally as quickly. “You sure seem calm & collected.”

“On the exterior, yes,” Tom said, “because that’s how I am. Being Mayor of this town for so long now has given me some skills I didn’t have before. Being stalwart in the face of trying circumstances is an example. Inside, tho … I’m tearing myself apart because of driving my daughter to be in the situation she found herself. As a father, that is killing me to an unbelievably extensive amount.”

Ricky nodded & visibly relaxed: “I’m sorry, Mayor, uh, Tom, I didn’t know.”

“But that’s good that you didn’t know, Ricky,” Tom offered. “If you knew how I felt, you’d be hurting worse than you are now, right?”

Ricky nodded again.

“It’s all about perspective,” Vern interjected. “That’s the point I was trying to make to you earlier, Ricky.”

“I understand,” Ricky said, relaxing further.

“OK, now, can we talk about something else?” Tom asked. “I don’t mean to downplay or not respect your feelings, but I didn’t stop by to talk about what happened.”

“Sure,” Vern said, glancing at Ricky, who nodded his approval. “Why did you stop by?”

“Well,” Tom said smiling, “I’m glad you asked! I stopped by because I saw your Mercury parked next to your attached garage & that probably means 1 thing. So, I wanted to know … are you leaving for Tennessee today or tomorrow?”

“Not sure,” Vern stated matter-of-factly, sitting back down in his chair. “Think I was on pace to leave yet today, until Ricky stopped to visit. So, maybe I’ll leave tomorrow. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious, really,” Tom said. “I’m disappointed that they haven’t turned over the Braidwood place to me yet.”

“Um, Tom, do you want to sit?” Ricky asked, trying to not interrupt the conversation flow too much.

“No, no,” Tom replied, un-phased by the change of topic. “I’m not staying long, anyway, so go right ahead & sit back down.”

Ricky sat, while Vern continued the original thought: “Yeah, I noticed when I went to town to get gas in the Mercury earlier the yellow tape was still around the property.”

Having turned his gaze back to Vern, Tom replied: “Seems the police aren’t done looking through the place yet. I was hoping, of course, to get a head start, if not finish, the renovations I plan to do before you got back from Tennessee, but if you leave today or even tomorrow, I may not get them all done. I wanted to surprise you when you got back.”

“Well, I don’t have a timetable for returning,” Vern said. “So, you might get it all done before I get back.”

“Maybe,” Tom said. “Still aggravating, though.”

“Did they not give you an idea of how long it may be before they turn the old Braidwood place over to you?” Vern inquired of Tom.

“No, they didn’t…,” Tom started, before the sound of a passing car turning into Vern’s driveway made each of them turn their eyes to the road & driveway. “But, speak of the devil, here comes a man who might be able to explain further…!?”

——