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“I don’t believe it,” Vern said matter-of-factly, even though he knew the evidence said otherwise.

“Welp,” the Sheriff said, “that’s what the report says.”

“No, just no,” Vern emphasized. It had been just over 2 days since the gas station explosion had interrupted Vern’s dinner with Phil at Charlene’s Diner. Part of Vern’s frustration was postponing his long-awaited trip to Tennessee & part of it was being told the device at the gas station was planted, with evidence appearing to indicate Ricky committed suicide, which led to another part of that frustration … the idea Vern had failed to help another townsperson.

“Look, Vern, you can’t blame yourself.”

“I know that,” Vern snapped. “But I’m telling you there is absolutely no way Ricky would’ve done something like that. He & I had a good talk the other day. He wasn’t like Troy!”

That last exclamatory sentence caused both men to stop in their tracks, frozen.

“I … I didn’t mean it like that,” Vern backtracked.

“I know, Vern,” the Sheriff acknowledged.

“Let me get us both a cup of coffee,” Vern offered. “Come on in.”

The Sheriff silently accepted the invitation & followed Vern from Vern’s front door to the kitchen. Vern just as silently brewed the cups of coffee. When the coffee was ready, he handed a cup to the Sheriff & motioned for him to sit at the kitchen table.

“Marty,” Vern started, after taking a sip of his own cup of coffee & sitting at the table. “Why are you here telling me this? I mean, you could’ve just called me.”

“I know,” the Sheriff said, following Vern’s lead, sitting down. “I came for 2 reasons. 1 … since you postponed your trip to your Nephew’s in Tennessee, I wanted to extend you the courtesy of talking to you in person. How is your Nephew accepting the delay, by the way?”

“Oh, he’s fine,” Vern said, sipping his coffee. “He is disappointed, of course, but he understands. He knows how close-knit we are here.”

“Good,” the Sheriff responded, also sipping his coffee.

“& the second?” Vern prodded.

“Well,” the Sheriff hesitated ever so slightly by setting his coffee cup on the table. “What I haven’t told you yet is what the report doesn’t say.”

Vern tilted his head & gave the Sheriff a quizzical look.

“I agree with you,” the Sheriff continued. “I don’t think Ricky committed suicide. Actually, your comment about Ricky not being like Troy … well, it basically nailed it on the head, if you ask me.”

“Wait,” Vern said, suddenly realizing what the Sheriff was hinting. “You think Troy had something to do with that device?”

“Maybe,” the Sheriff said, shrugging his shoulders & drinking a bit more coffee.

“But, how?”

“Well, the investigation couldn’t determine how long the device had been there. It’s possible Troy planted it way before it went off.”

“Oh my,” Vern said, a realization settling in his mind. “But, if that is possible, then it’s also possible Troy planted others around town….”

“Yep,” the Sheriff said, his voice picking up where Vern’s had trailed off.

“That’s a scary thought,” Vern said, half to himself, half to the Sheriff, who had picked up his cup again & taken another sip of coffee.

After a brief moment of sobering silence, the Sheriff said: “By the way, don’t know if Tom called you or not, but something good that is developing from all of this … the town council held a brief emergency meeting & approved plans per Charlene’s suggestion.”

“Oh?” Vern perked up. “& no, he hasn’t told me.”

“I thought he might’ve, but he’s probably too busy getting things arranged,” the Sheriff suggested.

“Probably,” Vern agreed. “So, what’re the plans?”

“Well,” the Sheriff began, “obviously, the gas station will be expedited & built 1st since we all now have to drive a few miles just to get gas, but that old airport will be turned into a gas station, motel, diner & semi truck parking area combo.”

“Nice,” Vern nodded, taking another sip of coffee. “Will the hangers be torn down & replaced … or?”

“Not sure,” the Sheriff said, after a sip of coffee. “Seems a hanger will be used for the diner, but the rest torn down & the gas station & motel will be all new construction.”

“Cool,” Vern replied. “How are Charlene, Tyler, Old Lady Yannich, Phil, Kyle & family?”

“All fine,” the Sheriff confirmed. “Seems Charlene decided to hire Tyler full-time since he no longer has the job at the gas station, & she already has had the front glass window replaced.”

“That was quick,” Vern said.

“Yep,” the Sheriff half-chuckled. “But, you know Charlene. Once she puts her mind to something, it gets done now or not at all.”

Vern laughed, then asked: “Is Mabel on board with the new motel & managing it?”

“I think so,” the Sheriff replied. “Course, we’ll need to figure out what to do with that old motel & the land, but I think it’ll be a good change … for all of us.”

“Indeed,” Vern agreed. “So, dare I ask … are y’all doing any sweeps or anything to check for other possible devices?”

The Sheriff took another slow, sip of coffee, then answered: “Us, no, but Captain Wyatt agreed to utilize the state’s resources to do a few sweeps of the area. They’ve already done a couple & found nothing. They plan to do more in the next couple days, including, by the way, your place.”

“Fair enough,” Vern said. “Just tell him to let me know when they’ll be here.”

“I suspect they’ll be here later today,” the Sheriff noted. “Which reminds me … when are you leaving for Tennessee now?”

“Not sure. Services for Ricky are in a day or so, & I want to be here for those,” Vern reasoned. “So, probably a day or 2 after he is laid to rest.”

“OK,” the Sheriff said, setting his cup of coffee back on the table & standing up. “I better get going.”

“OK, Marty,” Vern replied, standing up & placing both cups on the counter near the kitchen sink. “Thank you for stopping by to tell me.”

“No problem, Vern.”

Vern followed the Sheriff back to the front door, where the two exchanged goodbyes. While the Sheriff climbed into his police car, Captain Wyatt’s state cruiser pulled into Vern’s driveway.