“I think your son has them.” I wanted to offer him some comfort that Ty was being some what cordial to me. “You’re right. A couple of days ago, I was going to sell the campground as fast as I could. Then I got here and well, you know what it looks like. So I did get the great idea to fix it up, but I have to admit that your small town has really started to grow on me.”
“Yep. It’ll do that to you. I recon that’s why Paul couldn’t leave well enough alone. I should’ve known years ago when he came into town with his fancy car to visit his college buddy that he was too smart for Normal.” He didn’t have to use words to tell me that it was his campground and bet that Paul had gotten the campground from. I could see it in his eyes.
“What was the bet?” I asked.
“I bet him the campground that he couldn’t get the price down on the diner for me to purchase because I love to cook. The campground was my family’s and I didn’t want to work it anymore. I had a family and like you, had a dream. Only it wasn’t in Normal, but here I was and if I could cook because it’s my passion, I would give that campground away.” He was a straight shooter and I admired that.
“What would Paul have to give up?” I questioned.
“We were looking to replace our city manager in a year. About the time he was graduating. When he came to Normal, he had some big ideas about the town and tourism. We weren’t doing bad, but he was young and had some fresh ideas. If he lost, he was to come back here and be Normal city manager for the four years of the term.” He smiled real big “I know that sounds so childish and I could’ve never made him do it, but drinking makes every one get a little liquid courage. His young ego against my middle-aged ego wasn’t a match for each other. I be darned if he didn’t get me the deal I needed to buy the diner.”
“Over such a silly bet.” It was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard of.
“My wife and I lived on the campground, I opened the diner and enjoyed every bit of my life until I looked up one day. Ten years had gone by, we had a couple more boys that we didn’t intend to have because we were getting up in age, and then my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Ty had gone off to culinary school and everything we had saved was used to pay medical bills.” He paused.
“Dad, you don’t owe Mrs. Westerheimer any explanation.” I looked back at the door where Ty stood. His brow cocked. “The nurses told me dad had a visitor. A Mrs. Westerheimer. Besides, she thinks I killed Paul West.”
“Nah.” Mr. Randal tapped his chest with his finger. “She knows deep down that you didn’t do it. She just needs to hear everything herself. Her life has been turned upside down too. The two of you are more alike than y’all want to admit. Stubborn. He’s always been like his mama.” He pointed to the bed. “Sit down, boy.”
Ty did what his father had told him to do. It was cute in a little boy kinda way.
“Anyways, Paul would come to town every now and then, with big ideas of how he was going to build the campground back up. He needed investors in his latest project. He’d done well for himself, so I put up the diner since I owned it free and clear. After the Ponzi news broke, I headed straight down to the bank and took out enough of a loan to keep my diner. That’s when I had the heart attack and Ty had to come home to help.”
“If it weren’t for your. . .” Ty started to say.
“Ex!” I said a little too loud.
“No, no. Paul might’ve given me a little extra stress, but my arteries were all clogged up from all that fried food I cook and eat, so you can’t blame him for all of it.” Mr. Randal was too kind, and I didn’t blame Ty for his bitterness. “Every waking moment Ty isn’t at the diner cooking or taking care of the boys, he’s here with me. I told Detective Sharp that and he checked it out.”
“I’m sorry that I even thought such a thing.” I stood up. “You are a kind man, Mr. Randal. But you’re wrong about me leaving. I’ve already made the decision to stay in Normal until I got the campground back to the way it was when you owned it.” I put my hand on his arm and squeezed. “When you’re up and running, I’m going to need some advice.”
“You’ve got it.” He put his hand on mine and returned the squeeze.
“Knock, knock.” Betts Hager stood at the door with a white casserole dish in her hands and a big smile on her face. “Mae,” her voice escalated. “What are you doing here?” She looked between me and Ty and Mr. Randal.
“She’s here because her nosiness extends beyond Happy Trails. It appears she’s already spent too much time with you ladies at The Laundry Club,” his accents came out in spades.
“Why, Ty Randal, what ever are you talking about? Our Mae here was born and bred in Kentucky.” She walked into the room and bent down to Mr. Randal’s level. “I brought your favorite cherry pie to help you get better faster.”
I gulped. Did I have to tell them my past or could I just let her comment float right on by? I choose the latter.
“You’re just tired of cleaning my house and want me to get better.” He licked his lips.
“No such thing.” She winked and sat the dish on the stand next to the TV. “Do they know when you’re going to blow this joint? You look a lot better today.”
“That’s why I’m here.” Ty walked over and lifted the tin foil off of the pie. “The doctor called me and said that they were going to release daddy tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Mr. Randal questioned. “I guess I better start pretending I’m sicker,” he joked.
“Don’t worry. I’ve made a place for you in the trailer. You’re going to stay with me and the boys until you are really on your feet.” Ty turned to Betts. “Do you mind cleaning the house one more time?”
“Ty, there’s really nothing to clean. No one has been there and I feel like you’re wasting your money.” Betts clasped her hands in front of her.
“No. A deal is a deal. Since I’m going to the camper for a few, can you clean there?” Mr. Randal wasn’t letting her off the hook.
“Alright now. Don’t be going and getting all upset. I’ll make arrangements with Ty.” She patted Mr. Randal on the shoulder. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
“I’ll go with you.” I gave a nod. “Now that you’re coming to Happy Trails, I look forward to hearing your ideas about how I can get that campground up and running.”
Betts and I said our goodbyes to the Randal men.
“Thank you for the car.” I turned to my friend.
“You are welcome. Does it drive well?” she asked.
“It’s great. Actually, I drove it all the way to Lexington to see Grady Cox, Paul’s best friend from college.” I sucked in a deep inhale.
“Really? Why?” She asked and pushed open the door to the outside world.
The fresh air rushed into my lungs, relieving me of the stale smell of the rehabilitation center.
“Long story short, he and Paul have ties to Normal from way back and I found out today that he gave Paul so much money, like millions, for his investment.” I put air quotes around investment, so I didn’t have to say the word scheme. “Grady disappeared off the face of the earth the day Paul was killed.”
“Then he’s the killer.” Betts threw her hands up in the air. We continued to walk to the parking lot.
“You’d think so, but Detective Hank isn’t so sure. And,” I glanced over my shoulder at the rehab facility. Ty was standing outside with his hands on his hips, glaring at us. “Grady doesn’t have a strong motive like Ty Randal. That’s why I was here. To talk to Mr. Randal. Ty has a strong alibi. Here.”
We stopped at the front of the Ford. She looked at me and the corners of her eyes dipped.
“Ty did get the short end of the stick since his mama died, and it continued with his daddy making a deal with the devil.” She didn’t have to say Paul’s name for me to know that she was talking about him. “But, Mae, you aren’t going to find any better people than the Randals. They are salt of the earth folks.”
“It appears that way.” I glanced back at the front of the building. Ty was still there with that stare. It sent chills up my spine. “I just hope we can find Grady Cox.”