Ch 7
Vic looked to Walt, who looked just as stunned as she felt.
"Murdered?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Cause of death?"
Wilkins shook his head.
"Where were you last night?"
"Here."
"Can that be verified."
Vic nodded her head towards Walt.
"Walt was here."
"That's it? No visitors or anything?"
"No."
Walt interjected.
"She was here all night."
Wilkins turned his attention to Walt.
"No offense, Walt, but I would be willing to bet my badge that you would lie for her. Anyway, did you go to sleep last night."
"Yeah."
"Then you really can't say if she was here all night can you?"
Walt gave the man a deadly look and stood up.
"We're done here. Any other questions can go through a lawyer."
Wilkins stood up.
"That's fine. I was really doing her a professional courtesy here anyway. The next time I come, I'll have a warrant."
He started towards the door and then paused, turning back to Vic.
"I happen to know that you use a 9mm. That's the caliber Gorski was shot with. Make sure you don't leave town now."
He gave her a smug smile, tipped his hat and left.
"Shit."
Walt stood at the door.
"What would Gorski have been doing in Wyoming?"
She shrugged.
"I don't know. He must be connected to all this."
"You didn't think it was him."
"I still don't. He could have been involved somehow. It's all way too much of a coincidence."
Walt nodded, lost in his thoughts. Vic studied him for a long moment.
"What?"
He looked up.
"He never called you?"
She tilted her head to one side.
"That's what I just told Wilkins. Do you...do you think I'm lying?"
He could hear the strain in her voice.
"No, Vic. But...this is a lot."
"Walt, I would have told you if Gorski had called me. I wouldn't keep something like that from you."
He was quiet again and his silence unsettled her further.
"You think I was talking to him behind your back? Do you think that I was still fucking him?"
He knew she was upset. He extended his hand and touched her shoulder.
"No. Vic, you need to calm down."
She inhaled and turned her back to him. Walt approached her from behind and placed his hands on her shoulders, guiding her back into him.
"We need to think about this like the law. It looks bad, especially in light of the texts."
He felt her shiver slightly against him.
"Either Gorksi was involved or...someone else set all this up."
"The someone who sent you the texts."
She turned to face Walt.
"Maybe they never intended to come after me directly. Maybe this is their plan."
"To frame you?"
She shrugged slightly.
"Do you have a better theory?"
"No. I'm gonna call Henry and tell him the trip is off."
xxxx
Jim Wilkins had been telling the truth. The next time he came, he had a warrant. Cady was also with him wearing a grim expression. Walt's eyes settled on hers.
"I have to, dad. You know it."
Walt nodded. He didn't blame Cady. He had spent enough years as Sheriff to know sometimes your hands were tied and you were bound by the law. Vic reluctantly handed over her Glock and her cell phone.
By the time the place was quiet, again, it was a mess. Vic surveyed the chaos.
"He's going to arrest me."
Her tone was flat. It scared Walt.
"He doesn't have anything concrete."
"He has enough to make an arrest even if he doesn't have enough to make it stick. He'll do it just to spite us both. You know that."
She started to clean but Walt caught her by the arm.
"Leave it. It's late. Let's just go to bed."
Vic shook her head.
"I'm not gonna be able to sleep anyway. Might as well clean."
He sighed heavily and set about helping her straighten up the mess. By the time they were done, Walt was tired all the way to his bones. He tried again.
"Let's try and get some rest."
Surprisingly, she nodded and followed Walt into the bedroom. He led her into the bathroom and started to undress her. She opened her mouth to protest but Walt pressed him lips to hers softly.
"Let me. Please."
She relented. Once he was done with her, he removed his own clothes and pulled her into the shower with him. The warm wonder helped the ache in his head ease up. Vic leaned into him with her eyes closed as he pressed kisses to her wet neck and shoulder. She allowed him to wash her and then moved under the spray. If she'd had more energy, she could have stayed there until all the hot water was gone. Fatigue was taking a strong grip on them both. After drying off and dressing, Walt slid into bed next to her. All he wanted right now was to be close to her and try to ease her mind. He could feel himself beginning to drift almost as soon as he laid his head on the pillow.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
He had come out on the porch where she stood in the darkness. She turned and glanced at him.
"Talk about what?"
"Whatever has you so far away lately."
She turned from him and focused her attention on the dark landscape that rolled out around them. He waited in silence before speaking again.
"Vic?"
He saw her shoulders rise and fall with a deep exhale.
"I want to try and have another baby, Walt."
He hadn't been expecting that. Now it was his turn to stand silence. He could her eyes on him.
"A baby?"
He finally found his voice.
"Yeah, I know it's a lot to ask. Would you, at least, think about it?"
Walt ran his hand over his jaw.
"That is a lot, Vic."
He didn't want to be dishonest with her. He had strong reservations about being a father again at his age. There was so much that could go wrong. On the other hand, he couldn't bear the thought of hurting her. The past year had been so trying for them both. They had finally found their rhythm and things were going well. He knew the wrench a baby could throw into any situation. What if he told her no? Would she leave him? That thought, too, was unbearable.
"Walt?"
Her unsure voice broke into his thoughts. He returned his eyes to hers.
"I...uh...I'm gonna need some time to think about that one."
She didn't looked shocked by his answer or delay of an actual answer. She looked hurt. She tried to hide it but he saw the pain flash through her eyes. He would love nothing more than to tell her yes right now. But, in all honesty, he wasn't sure. He felt he owed to them both to be as honest as possible. He saw the smile she forced onto her face. She nodded her head.
"Sure."
"Vic..."
She waved him off.
"It's fine. Take all the time you need."
She left him standing there with his thoughts murmuring that she was going to bed.
"Vic..."
He called after her but she kept walking.
Walt startled awake.
"Vic?"
She was sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Did I wake you?"
"No...it was a dream. What're you doin'?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing. Go back to sleep."
He settled back down, the feeling of her body heat radiating to him. Closing his eyes, he fell back into a sleep. This time, it was dreamless.
xxxx
"Did you get any sleep last night?"
She was already in the kitchen drinking coffee.
"Not really. Glad you did, though. No reason for us both to be tired."
He got himself a cup of coffee and sat down opposite her. She looked tired.
"Did you get up last night?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing. Guess I was sleeping pretty hard."
Her eyes scanned his face looking for something.
"Are you wondering if I could have gotten up and murdered Ed Gorski without you waking up?"
"No."
The thought had very briefly crossed his mind. It was more the thought that Jim Wilkins had a valid point. If he had been asleep the entire night, would he have known if she had gotten up? Walt shook the thoughts from his mind. He didn't believe for one second that she had done this. She had been as surprised as he was that Ed Gorski was dead. He had been able to see that much on her face. Walt believed her. He believed in her. Still, what believed didn't matter in the eyes of the law or in court. If Wilkins was able to poke enough holes in her story, Walt knew it could lead them down a dark path.