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Click HERE for entire Don’t Forget Schuster.
Click HERE for entire Route 66-based story.
Click HERE for entire The Newspaper Limo.

mystery story sequel-continuation

The next day dawned with plenty of sunshine for ground breaking festivities. Vern putzed around his home, packing & finalizing tentative plans for his upcoming drive from his home in Wyoming to Nashville TN to spend some time with his beloved Nephew. Given the still-good weather, Vern decided to take a scenic route to Nashville.

The 1st night out would be spent somewhere in far eastern S Dakota or Nebraska … or far western Iowa … depending on which non-direct route he took eastward. The 2nd night would be spent in the Bloomington IL area, with the intention of arriving in Nashville TN sometime that 3rd evening. Vern’s return (after staying with his Nephew for an as yet to be determined length of time) route to Wyoming would include parts of previously-seen Route 66 &/or the Lincoln Highway. Upon talking with his friend who’d sent him the audio recording of the National League Division Series Game 4, 10/13/2015, & whom he would see either on the way to Nashville or on the way back, depending how schedules coincided, Vern realized he might be along I-39 during a 2016 World Series game, much like he was for the 2015 NLDS Game 4.

After what he considered to be good progress in preparing for his road trip (including partially packing his 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis for the journey), Vern decided to take his 1975 Caprice Classic convertible for a short drive before the noon groundbreaking festivities. He left his home ~11a & arrived at the ground breaking site (the old, abandoned airport on the north edge of town) about 45 minutes later. Marty was the 1st to greet him.

“You’ll never guess who showed up this morning, Vern!”

Not having a clue to what Marty was referring, Vern (getting out of his convertible) shot back: “No, probably not.”

Marty sorta smirked & frowned at the same time, then attempted to give Vern a clue: “Come on, you know what was happening this morning at the station….”

Vern thoughtfully closed the driver’s door & then looked at Marty: “Well, yes, the team was coming to start looking over the 1976 Buick Century sedan….”

“Right….”

The 2 started walking towards the makeshift stage area & a lightbulb suddenly went on in Vern’s mind: “Ohhhh, I bet Captain Wyatt!”

“Yes! I couldn’t believe it,” Marty replied somewhat gleefully. “I knew he was sending a team, but I didn’t think he’d actually come with them.”

“Why not?” sincerely asked Vern, stopping next to the 2nd row of seats in front of the raised temporary platform. “I mean, he’s been with this Schuster investigation basically the entire time, so it would make sense for him to come with his team….no?”

“Well, yeah, I guess,” Marty admitted. “I don’t know, it just sorta surprised me, is all.”

“Eh,” Vern said taking a seat, “it doesn’t really surprise me, but I guess I can see where it might be a surprise. Anyway, I take it Wyatt & his team are still there now?”

“Yes,” Marty confirmed, sitting in a seat next to Vern’s. “Wyatt told me they’d probably be here at least through dinner, if not later. We might go to Charlene’s for dinner, if you’d like to join us.”

“Maybe,” Vern said. “Evan & I are planning to put a new set of tires on his 1991 Ford Crown Victoria this afternoon … & I need to finish packing.”

“Ah, yes,” Marty said, responding to both of Vern’s plans. “You’re leaving in the morning, right?”

“Yep, I am,” Vern said.

“Finally!”

“Hey, you don’t have to wish me gone that quickly or easily!”

They both heartily laughed. That caught the attention of Old Lady Yannich, seated in the 1st row & a few seats over. She looked back at Vern & Marty & smiled to nobody in particular.

By now, everyone was there & nearly seated. As Vern looked around the area, Evan came & sat down next to him, the 2 exchanging pleasantries & quickly confirming plans to put new tires on Evan’s 1991 Ford Crown Victoria that afternoon. Looking across the seating & what appeared to be a sizable gathering of people, Vern noticed Old Lady Yannich in the row in front of him. Mabel & Charlene sat next to her, with Mabel between Old Lady Yannich & Charlene. Phil & Tyler were both seated on the other side of the 2nd row. Kyle & Ashley were seated in the 3rd row, behind Vern, Marty & Evan. Vern figured their kids were with a sitter.

“Well folks, perhaps we should get this show on the road?” Tom’s voice beamed through the microphone on the raised temporary stage. “This isn’t going to be long or drawn out … I know many of us have responsibilities yet this afternoon … &, I believe, 1 of us has some packing to do…..”

The crowd sorta hushed as Tom searched the seats for Vern; then, once Tom’s gaze landed on Vern, everyone chuckled. Vern smiled & waved an acknowledgement to the crowd.

“Finally going to be rid of you, aren’t we, Vern?” Tom chided his longtime friend through the microphone.

“Yes, yes you are,” Vern confirmed loudly, with a sly smile, for the benefit of the crowd.

After a moment of pause, Tom continued: “Now, we all know why this is happening. We all know the history. & we all are aware of the progress this site will embody, with a gas station, motel, diner & semi truck parking area. & THAT is what I want us all to remember & focus on from here on out. This old airport gave our town a name back in the day, then was the site of some recent horrific events & now will symbolize a rebirth, a resurgence, a new beginning. But, while we will offer travelers new, state-of-the art facilities, we will retain the same small town atmosphere we’ve always enjoyed. That will not change.”

The last few remarks sparked a round of applause & cheers from the gathered crowd.

“So, let’s get to the ground breaking. Charlene & Mabel will each grab a shovel, representing the motel & diner; Tyler will grab a shovel in honor of Ricky & the gas station; & Sheriff will grab a shovel representing the police department. Vern, I’d also like you to come up to represent the citizens. You’ve been there for so many of us, so I think you deserve the honor.”

A loud round of applause ensued, & Vern, humbled & somewhat embarrassed, got up with the other 4 & made his way to just in front of the podium. Charlene, Mabel, Tyler, Sheriff & Vern each picked up a shovel & waited for Tom’s words.

“I hereby declare this the new DTR Memorial Oasis. Charlene … Mabel … Tyler … Sheriff Marty … Vern: dig!”

With that, each member of the quintet of shovel holders dug their respective shovel into the ground to roaring cheers from the crowd.

“The DTR Memorial Oasis,” Tom continued above the din, “is in memory of Devon … Tracy … & Ricky … each of whom had their own unique impact on this town & its citizens.”

The cheering continued while Charlene, Mabel, Tyler, Sheriff Marty & Vern laid the shovels back on the ground.

“& folks, that’s it!” Tom said. “Construction will commence in the next week or so, then as buildings are ready, soft openings will happen to get business flowing. &, once the gas station, motel, diner & semi truck parking area are ALL complete, we’ll have a grand opening. For now, thank you for coming &, again, welcome to the DTR Memorial Oasis!”

With that, Tom gave the crowd a huge smile & walked off the platform to shake hands with the Sheriff, Vern & Tyler, then exchange hugs with Charlene & Mabel.

“Hate to see you leave, Vern,” Tom said, shaking Vern’s hand, “but I’m so glad you are finally going to be able to take that trip to see your Nephew.”

“Thank you,” Vern replied. “Me, too. Long time coming, I know.”

“Understatement of the year, perhaps,” the Sheriff deadpanned with a smile. “But, I gotta get back to the station & see what progress Captain Wyatt & his team have made on that 1976 Buick Century sedan! Maybe they’ve figured out if its Schuster owner has a connection to ‘our’ Schuster?”

“Maybe…..” agreed Vern, shaking Marty’s hand.

With a tip of his hat & shaking Tom’s hand, the Sheriff left.

“Uh, Vern,” Tyler started, looking at Tom, then Vern, trying not to interrupt, “have you & Evan did any work on Evan’s Crown Vic today?”

“No, Tyler,” Vern responded, looking to see Evan still at his seat, patiently waiting for the crowd to leave. “But, we’re fixing to put on a new set of tires this afternoon. Then, while I’m gone, Evan will stay at my place & continue working on it. You are more than welcome to join us this afternoon, if you’d like.”

“Thanks, I just might for a bit,” Tyler nodded.

By now, Charlene & Mabel had helped Old Lady Yannich to her feet & the trio stopped to speak to Vern, along with Phil, Kyle & Ashley.

Old Lady Yannich broke the slightly long & unexpected sllence: “Well, Vern, I hope you have a safe trip & enjoy the time with your Nephew.”

“Thank you,” said Vern, also nodding towards Old Lady Yannich.

“Are you going to stop at the diner before you leave?” queried Charlene.

“Going to try,” Vern said. “Maybe tonight for dinner … or tomorrow for breakfast. We’ll see.”

Charlene nodded approval while Mabel piped up: “I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your trip when you get back, Vern. I know how much you love your road trips.”

“Yep, I do, Mabel,” Vern admitted. “In some ways I’d love to be on the road 24/7/365, but that would mean not seeing y’all much.”

“Well, we’d sure miss you,” Mabel observed. “Anyway, have a safe trip, & we’ll be seeing you!”

Mabel gave Vern a hug, as did Charlene & Old Lady Yannich, then the trio left.

Phil was next to speak: “Well, Vern, let me know when you go to Charlene’s, I will make a point to meet you there & eat with you.”

“OK,” Vern said. “That sounds good to me. I know Marty is planning to eat dinner at Charlene’s tonight with Captain Wyatt, so if I go, I’ll let you know so you can join us.”

“Cool,” Phil said nodding. “I’ll gladly be there tonight if you are!”

“Maybe we could join you there, too?” Ashley offered.

“That’d be fine with me,” Vern said. “I don’t think Marty or Wyatt would mind.”

“I know the kids would love to see you, too,” Ashley noted.

“I’m guessing they are with a sitter now?” Vern queried.

“Yep,” Kyle replied. “We kinda figured they’d be bored here….”

“…Course, had we realized it was going to be this short’n’sweet of a ceremony, we would’ve brought them with us,” Ashley continued & completed Kyle’s thought with a smile, with a glance towards Tom, who smiled & shrugged his shoulders a bit.

“Well, honey, speaking of those darlings of ours, let’s go ahead & go pick them up from the sitter’s,” Kyle suggested to Ashley (who nodded); Kyle then turned to Vern: “Let us know if you do go to Charlene’s tonight, & we’ll be there!”

“OK, Kyle,” said Vern, shaking hands with Kyle, then Phil, before exchanging a hug with Ashley.

While Kyle, Ashley & Phil walked away, Tom turned to Vern & Tyler: “Welp, boys, time for me to scoot, too. I suspect y’all will be heading to Vern’s now, right?”

“Yep,” Vern confirmed.

“Good enough,” Tom said. “Please let me know, too, if you have dinner at Charlene’s tonight. I’d like to be there.”

“OK,” Vern said, “Will do.”

Tom nodded, then turned to walk back to his truck. While Tom walked away, Vern motioned to Evan.

Vern addressed Evan once Evan was standing next to Vern & Tyler: “Tyler would like to join us for a bit to work on your car, if you don’t mind, Evan.”

“That’s fine with me, Vern. The more the merrier!”

“Good!” Vern exclaimed. “Shall we go get some new tires, then?”