OC,SH NETWORK | member info HERE
Website 💗 YT channel 🚙 Twitter
JAY B’s pages: 1st gen GM N body 1985-91
Syclone & Typhoon Association
[click post image(s) for larger size]
}
Click HERE for all of Don’t Forget Schuster.
Click HERE for all of Route 66-based story.
mystery story sequel-continuation
“Mr. Eagleson?”
Startled by the voice interrupting the flow of music, Vern twisted around to see who was calling his name, though he already knew it was McMillan’s grandson. Vern had been in the 2-car detached garage sitting on an old step stool & fiddling around with some spot-detailing of his 1975 Caprice Classic convertible for a little while.
“Yes, that’s me,” Vern replied, standing up & setting the microfiber towel on the step stool. “How are you, Evan? It’s good to see you again!”
“I’m fine, thank you, Mr. Eagleson,” Evan said a bit nervously while shaking Vern’s hand. Evan was notorious for having the ability to sneak up on people, even when he didn’t do it intentionally. “I hope I didn’t startle you.”
“Oh,” Vern paused for a moment, somewhat to regain his composure, “no more than usual! What brings you out to my place?”
“Well, you see, it’s like this, Mr. Eagleson….”
“How many times have I told you to call me Vern?”
“Many, sir.”
Vern slightly rolled his eyes.
“I mean … many, Vern.”
Vern nodded his approval, while Evan continued: “Anyway, Vern, I got word this morning the authorities are releasing Grandpap’s car to me.”
“That’s great news!” Vern exclaimed. “I wonder if that means they’re releasing the old Braidwood place to Tom, then?”
“I don’t know about that…,” Evan said, his face taking on a sad look.
“Oh, I know you don’t, Evan, I was just wondering out loud,” Vern articulated, noticing the look on Evan’s face. “I take it you don’t think it’ll be good to have your grandpap’s car back?”
“Well, yeah, I guess,” Evan said. “But, I’m not sure I want it back.”
“I see,” Vern replied, realizing this might be a lengthy conversation. He walked around to the back of the Caprice, opened the trunk, grabbed a pair of folding chairs & handed 1 of the 2 to Evan. “Here, take a seat just outside the garage there & we’ll chat for a bit.”
Evan hesitantly took the chair: “Oh, hey, Vern, I don’t want to impose or delay you with what you are doing.”
“You’re not,” Vern stated. “I probably could use a break anyway.”
Evan followed Vern’s lead & sat down in the chair just outside the open garage door & next to Vern’s 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, which Vern had moved out of the garage to give him more room to work on the Caprice.
“Now,” Vern said settling in 1 of the 2 chairs, “tell me why you don’t want your grandpap’s car back.”
“Well, for starters, it’s dark blue, & I don’t have the resources to get it repainted. Second, that’s some serious bad karma now attached to it. & third … well … bottom line, it’s just not the same car.”
“Sure it is,” Vern said, sounding as if he’d ignored most of what Evan had just said. “If it wasn’t, Marty & I wouldn’t have been able to identify it out at the abandoned airport.”
Evan nodded in agreement: “Yeah, I know, but….”
“No buts,” Vern said, noticing Evan roll his eyes. “Hear me out before you do that again.”
“OK, sorry,” Evan somewhat sheepishly replied. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
“You weren’t,” Vern said quickly. “Believe me, son, I get where you are coming from on this. I can’t say that I’d readily take either of my cars back if someone violated them & me like that. However, I also wouldn’t want them to just be completely trashed & tossed away like someone’s spoiled milk.”
Evan nodded, while Vern continued: “Tell me something, Evan … were you the same after your grandpap’s death?”
“You know I wasn’t,” Evan answered, lowering his head & voice a bit.
“& yet, here you are, better than ever,” Vern noted. “I’ve often told you, Evan, your grandpap would be so proud of you now. You hit rock bottom, then completely turned your life around.”
Vern paused slightly, smiled slyly & added: “Though, when I found out you’d painted your grandpap’s car General Lee orange, I wondered if you were falling again.”
Evan burst out laughing: “Yeah, I admit now I’m not sure what I was thinking. I just didn’t like the black’n’white anymore & wanted something different.”
“Well, you nailed different, that’s for sure,” Vern chuckled.
“I think I get what you’re getting at,” Evan said, returning the conversation to the more serious issues at hand.
“Do you?” Vern asked.
“Yeah,” Evan nodded. “Just like me, grandpap’s car can be back to its old self better than ever.”
“Yep,” Vern acknowledged. “It may take you a while to get it back there, but I’d think a few townsfolk would be more than happy to help you speed that process up a bit. However long it takes, though, it will be worth it. Devon McMillan didn’t have those unique identifiers put on that 1991 Ford Crown Victoria just to have you let it go without a fight, Evan.”
“I know,” Evan said.
“So, when do you get to go pick it up?” Vern queried.
“Well, whenever I want, I just need someone to take me.”
“Someone, or do you mean, me, specifically?”
“Well, you’re the only person I know who would care about it enough….”
“Except for, perhaps, Marty, you’re probably right, Evan.”
“But, we don’t have to go today,” Evan quickly qualified, glancing back at Vern’s Caprice. “I know you are working on your car.”
“I was, but the detailing I’m doing now is just touch up stuff, more or less, nothing that is truly needed.”
“I see,” Evan said, trying hard to not ask Vern to go right then & there.
“Where is it?”
“It’s at an impound lot about an hour from here,” Evan said trying to sugarcoat the distance.
Vern glanced at his phone: “Well, it’s about 1:30p. We could probably be there by 3p & back to town no later than 5p. We can’t go tomorrow because of Ricky’s services, then the next day is supposed to be the groundbreaking at the abandoned airport.”
“& THEN you’re heading to Nashville, right?”
“Right,” Vern nodded emphatically & stood up. “Ssssooo … let’s go now.”
“OK!” Evan stood up, folded his chair & handed it to Vern, who put both chairs back in the Caprice’s trunk.
“Let me check a couple things & lock up, then we can leave.” Vern started to close the garage door, but stopped & turned to Evan. “Which of my 2 cars do you want to take?”
“The Mercury, since it is a Panther, too,” Evan said matter-of-factly.
“OK,” Vern replied & closed the garage door. “I’ll move the Caprice back into its spot so I can put the Mercury in the garage after we get back.”
“You can go ahead & do that now, if you want,” Evan offered.
“Nah, I already have the garage door closed & locked, I need to make a pitstop in the house, & we should get going before it gets too much later, anyway.”
Evan nodded: “Fair enough. Look, Vern, thank you for being willing to go with & take me. I’m still not sure I want it back, but I trust & hope I’m doing the right thing.”
Vern put his right arm around Evan’s shoulder: “You’re welcome, & everything will work out just fine. It usually does….”