I pulled my truck into the front yard of Walt's cabin. Paramedics, the fire department, and Ferg all had vehicles parked so that I couldn't see the action occuring on the front porch. I slammed the door to the truck and ran over to where I saw a nervous Ferg making notes on a piece of paper.
" God God, what the hell happened?" I said.
Ferg gave me a quick hug.
"That;s what we are trying hard to figure out right now. The paramedics are inside working on Walt. All I know is that he's been shot twice and is bleeding pretty 'll….
I ran past the fire marshal and through the police tape on the porch.
" Walt! Walt! Oh my God, are you ok? Where are you, Walt?
" Miss, you can't go in there," a stern-looking ambulance driver said. " We've just got him stable, and are getting ready to lift him into the ambulance"
" I'm a freaking COP! I yelled. " That is my BOSS in there! Let me see him, please! "
In my hurry to get over here from Cady's house I'd forgotten to change into my deputy's shirt. Thankfully I remembered to grab my badge from its place near the bed. Quickly I fished it out and flashed it in the guy's face.
"Let me in to do my damn job!" I screamed
He quickly jumped out of my way.
I ran into the cabin. Where was Dr Donna?
My boss lay flat on the living room floor. Blood poured out from a wound in his stomach, and his eyes were glazed and unseeing. Sweat drenched his face and neck and drool dribbled from the corner of his mouth.. I knew enough from working homicide in Philly that my boss was in shock. A paramedic had started an IV and a bag of dark red blood hung from a pole. He was missing his shirt, and I could see how shallow his breathing had become. Walt is alive, but barely.
" Deputy Moretti here. What the hell happened?" I said to anyone and everyone who would listen.
" We got a 911 call from an anonymous tipster that a shooting had occurred at this address. When we arrived, we found the sheriff on the floor and no one else in sight. But it appears to be a break-in of some sort. The front door was kicked down and there appears to have been a struggle of some sort in the living room. "
" The sheriff was alone?" I asked.
" Yes, ma'am" the firefighter replied. We saw evidence of a woman's having been here recently, but for sure the victim is the only person we found when we got here. The sheriff lives alone, correct?"
"Yep." I answered. Now I'm confused, as I remember Walt explicitly asking Dr Donna to stay here last night, since apparently she had a 'stalker' whom she was trying to avoid. I felt like throwing up in my mouth a little when I thought of Walt getting all cozy with the likes of the psychiatrist in the same place where not long ago I'd spent an awkward but memorable evening sleeping on Walt's couch.
I shook that image out of my mind. I know that my jealousy over the other woman would not help me do my job. Walt told me time and time again what a great cop I am, and now is surely the time to put my skills and experience to use.
I went to my truck to gather my gear.
"Walt, I swear, I'll find out who did this to you and make sure she or he pays dearly for their actions," I vowed under my breath.
"Ferg come here. I need you to call Cumberland County to asks their sheriff if we can borrow a cop from their department again. I'm going to the hospital as soon as they load Walt in the ambulance to find out the extent of his injuries. My phone is on, text or call me when you find out ANYTHING. I'll call the 911 service and get the info from that recording. "
"Sure thing." Ferg said
" Oh shit!" I remembered something. " Ferg, I hate to do this to you, but can you notify Cady about what happened to her Dad? I'll Call Henry Standing Bear and let him know "
Ferg's face fell. It is no secret in our department { hell, all of Durant knows} that Ferg has had an unrequited crush on Cady Longmire since they were in school together. But I know she'll need to hear this news from one of her own people, not the likes of a transplanted Philadelphia homicide cop such as myself. He nodded and went to retrieve his cell phone from his blue car.
Two medics waked carefully out of the cabin, carrying the man I love on a stretcher. I choked back tears ans reminded myself of the task at hand. Trying to appear more detached than I felt , I sauntered up to the medic and told him that I'll follow them to the hospital in my truck.
" Has someone notified the sheriff's daughter?" he asked.
"Deputy Ferguson will take care of that. I need to know what the doctor finds out about the ballistics and the make and mode of the bullet that was used. " I said.
The younger of the medics nodded. I stood back and watched as they loaded the stretcher into the ambulance.
They closed the back and turned on the lights and sirens and I got into my truck.