8 months ago contd

VIC

She held back a sigh her truck made its way down the bumpy unsealed road away from the crime scene, trying not to look at the man hunched in the seat next to her. It had been a long afternoon, processing the crime scene by herself, fielding calls from a distressed Ruby, a concerned Sheriff Wilson in Campbell County and others she didn't have time to pay attention to right now.

The Bronco remained parked at the crime scene, its battery and a couple of necessary and easily removed cables locked in a storage compartment in her trunk. Walt had ungracefully taken the passenger seat, she could feel the anger simmering in him like heat, pressing against her skin. Face forward, hands on the wheel, she drove them both back to Durant, and to some form of resolution for the days events.

Walt had shifted in his seat as she drove past the usual Sheriff office parking, and before he could say anything she said sharply

"We have an appointment at the Mayors Office"

That had startled a surprised look out of him, but the office was on the other side of the Town Square, and she neatly put the truck into the free County Official spot, set the brake and keyed the vehicle off. They sat in contemplative silence for a long moment before she said quietly

"I need your Sheriff's badge and any other forms of official ID you have"

He stared at her, jaw clenched, muscles jumping as he mastered the temper she could clearly see in the dark depths of his eye and she held her hand out, palm up in silent request.

This time she sighed audibly and with a hint of her own temper "Walt you leave me no choice, you assaulted a homicide suspect, interfered with an active investigation for personal reasons, could potentially have jeopardised our case and likely bought a law suit against the department. Right now you are not fit to carry out the office of Sheriff, and it's almost certainly a conflict of interest given your wife was the victim."

She looked him in the eye, calm and resolute "I am doing the right thing here and you know it. You also know I did it once before and paid the price for it. You told me then you would still have hired me *because* it was the right thing to do."

Vic waited, hoping her words would get through to the big, angry and all too dangerous man in the other side of the vehicle. When he sighed and nodded and unpinned his badge, placing it into her outstretched hand she totally didn't sigh visibly in relief, but nodded once with a curt "Thanks". Together they headed inside to what was likely to be an unpleasant meeting for all involved.

Walt was temporarily relieved of duty, pending the outcome of the case. It was implied fairly heavily that they expected to defend a law suit from Barlow, and *that* outcome would also have some consequences to be answered to as well.

Vic was unwillingly made Acting Sheriff in the meantime and the Mayor agreed to cover additional expenses incurred due to the department being at 50% manpower, including some security to maintain watch over Barlow while he recovered in hospital for a few days. They also discussed the possibility of having to bring in the FBI, given it was a case that had crossed state lines, with Martha's murder in Colorado, and Branch's in Wyoming. If Jacob Nighthorse was involved, then there was probably even more involving dodgy financials.

It was a fucking mess and right now they had a dead body of a colleague, his father in medical custody and no goddamn evidence linking it to Walt's dead wife. Walt had stalked off after the Mayor had grimly expressed his disappointment at Walt's behaviour and the likely consequences it would bring, he appeared unrepentant which wasn't doing him any favours at all with the other senior County Official.

Grimly Vic pinned the Sheriff badge to her shirt luckily she had a spare in her go bag, though it was quite creased and crumpled, circled the truck around the town square into her usual park, and ascended the wooden stairs, knowing she was unprepared for the reception she was about to get, but also knowing that no one had any choice in the matter, her least of all.

If the only thing she could save out of this giant clusterfuck was some tiny shred of integrity on Walt's behalf then she would try, goddamit. He might well be right, but until they had the evidence they so desperately needed to tie it all together, right now it was all just supposition and theory, and thin at that. If only her fucking head didn't hurt so fucking much!

Too fucking early in the morning, the next day

Vic was startled awake by the sound of heavy tread on the landing, and a solid thump on the wall. They turned the light off to discourage late night visitors so someone was fumbling to find the doorhandle in the dark. Before she had a chance to react, the door slammed open and Walt shambled in, crosseyed drunk, reeking of beer she wrinkled her nose in disgust, yuck and other things and mumbling and slurring incoherently.

Glad that at least she knew where he was now, she guided him into the cell, kicking the galvanised bucket into the corner for whatever bodily waste might require it, and with a tired glare, locked him in for the night. She had been stuck at the office taking care of endless fucking paperwork generated by the change in command. Ruby had been quite upset to hear about Walt's misdemeanour (as she called it) but had gamely stepped up and assisted Vic with all the things necessary for the handover.

Plus there was all the usual day to day paperwork that needed to be taken care of, so Vic had grabbed a takeaway dinner at the Bee and settled in to clear as much as she could. Some of it was going to have to wait til she could discuss it with Ruby tomorrow…..and at some point, the painkillers she had taken to try and take the edge of the endless fucking headache had finally won, and she had fallen asleep on her folded arms at her desk.

Resuming her seat and ruefully rubbing her neck, Vic watched Walt as he lurched about the cell, nearly falling over, and piled in a heap on the thin uncomfortable mattress, growling and cursing to himself. When he started snoring thunderously, she cursed a little under her breath, and retreated to the sofa in his office, shutting both doors in the hope it might muffle the sound. It did but not quite enough, and she lay awake on the hard sofa for a long time in the dark, lit by the orange glow of the sodium vapour streetlights.

A slamming car door bought her to a startled wakefulness in the dim predawn light, and she breathed heavily for a moment as the adrenaline poured through her system, and her everpresent headache woke up and joined in the fun. Feeling sick in her stomach, she quietly checked on the still sleeping heap occupying the cell, and retreated to the office. Her office, she supposed, but was too tired to do anything about it right now.

Two phone calls were made and messages left. After a long thoughtful moment she made a third call and wasn't surprised when this one was answered even at this early time of the morning.

Her voice was rough and scratchy "Its Vic, I need your help and we need to talk. Can I come over?"

Closing her eyes in relief when assent was given she replied "I need to shower and change, see you in about an hour?" Further assent and she signed off and stared sightlessly at her phone for a long long time. This was not a conversation she wanted to have, but right now with Walt locked up in his own cell, she didn't see any other choice.

Hello possums, yes its a cold wintery night here in Down Under and instead of studying, I'm doing something fun instead. Here is youre next chapter in my little story, enjoy! Only 2 weeks to go and then I get my life (or evenings anyway) back!

Song Inspirations:

Powerless - Linkin Park

Can't Talk About It - Abney Park

Everything Burns - Ben Moody f Anastacia

We Used to Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols