The full moon was hanging on the sky like a huge wheel of cheese, yellow and heavy. The clouds that had been raining on Absaroka County for the last few days had finally cleared earlier in the evening and the night was breathtakingly clear. It seemed to Vic that she could see for miles around by the light of the moon, too bad that there was nothing for miles around but the open grasslands and the road that was quiet as the grave this time of night. Annoyed, she kicked the wheel of her truck. The damn thing had died on her and while she knew a little of mechanics, it wouldn't help her charge a dead battery.
Frustrated she had tried the radio, but since it ran off the car battery, it had remained depressingly dead as well. Digging out her cell phone she was about to call the office for someone to come and give her car a jump start until she saw that she had no signal.
"Oh course not… That would have been too damn helpful." Continuing to swear to herself under her breath, she stalked to the back door and pulled out her jacket to ward off the cool autumn night air. She checked the flashlight on her belt, took out her keys from the ignition and locked the car. She knew it was rare for the residents of Absaroka to lock their doors (whether car or house) for the night, but old habits seemed to die hard and spending most of her life in Philadelphia had taught her to lock her doors. She started walking towards Durant, hoping to see someone soon, or get enough reception to call the office for someone to pick her up.
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Two hours later, there was still no traffic on the road, no signal on her phone and now her battery was also dying. Cursing some more, she checked again and to her relief saw one bar's worth of signal, which disappeared as soon as she saw it. Taking a step forward there was nothing, taking a step back the bar appeared only to disappear again. She tried moving to the centre of the road, again with no success. Taking a few steps into the brush by the side of the road, the single bar appeared again, this time staying put.
The eternal dance of the signalless done, she sighed with relief and rang the office. It rang, and rang, and rang. Nobody was picking up. Hanging up she looked at the clock and realised that it was one fifteen in the morning and Ferg, who had been on duty until one, had probably just left the station and since it was a week night that just left Vic herself on call. That left her with two choices as Branch was on holiday out of town. She could call Ferg, who would be tired but still awake, or Walt, who was enjoying a much needed, all too rare couple of days off. Quickly dialling Ferg, the call went straight to his voice mail. Trying again, this time at his house, again she got no response. Feeling guilty for calling Walt so late on his day off, she dialled his number. Surprisingly he answered on the second ring.
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"Longmire."
"Hey Walt. I'm sorry for calling on your day off but my car died on route-"
"Vic? Vic, you there?"
The call had cut out. Worry was rising in his chest as he wondered why Vic hadn't been able to get in touch with Ferg, either via the radio or on the phone. He tried re-dialling Vic, but got nothing but her voice mail. He turned on the radio and called for her and for Ferg a couple of times. Nothing. Now the worry was starting to swirl inside, making him think of all sorts of scenarios that could have caused Vic's car to die and her to be stranded god knew where, not to mention be desperate enough to call on his day off. She had been a major player in getting him to take a few days off, insisting on taking on a few extra shifts so he could get some r'n'r after finding out what his wife's murder had been all about.
He decided to call Ferg again, this time at home. When Ferg picked up Walt could feel the worry in his chest ease a bit.
"Do you know where Vic is?"
"Last I heard she went to check a disturbance at the McKay ranch. Why?" The last word came out muffled as Ferg seemed to be stifling a yawn.
"I just got a call off her, something about her car breaking down. Then the call cut off."
"Oh. Why didn't she try to call me?"
"She probably did, but you weren't picking up. I just tried too and it just went straight to voice mail."
"Oh, it must have run out of batteries. Sorry Walt, I'll just head back out and go get her."
"Don't worry Ferg, you sound dead on your feet. Go to bed and I'll get Vic. I'm closer anyway."
"You sure Walt? It is your day off." Ferg sounded like he fervently wished for Walt to answer 'yes'.
"I'll take care of it. See you tomorrow Ferg."
"Thanks Walt. Night"
"Night."