"It's my story so I'm gonna tell it."
Walt nods his head.
"Doc says it will be a few hours for surgery and even longer before he's awake enough to make a statement." Is say interrupting the two cowboy sheriff's.
Walt checks his watch, "That gives us plenty of time. I already called Hayden and filled her in. We are meeting her and Ferg and mile marker 15 then heading to Nighthorse's place."
He turns to look at Lucian, "I need you to stay at the station, not here, and you can give a statement later."
"Ok, Walt, no problem there."
I head to the Bronco and turn to find Walt is not behind me. He's still inside of the lobby talking with Lucian; his hand goes up to his shoulder, as the older man's head hangs down. Then just as quickly, Walt turns toward me, and I look back outside because I feel like I have been spying on something important, something intimate between the two men.
Silence takes the space between us as we head to 15 and I look over as we speed down the road.
"I told him not to worry."
I keep looking, not judging.
"He's worried about me and what the Feds will say."
"You told him it's a joint investigation, right?"
"Yup"
I nod and look out the passenger side window.
"I deputized him before we went out there. When I was in his room. He has this old family bible. We used that. Seemed appropriate."
"Apropos." I smile remembering. "Like the flock of ravens."
"Something like that."
"One of the benefits of being Sheriff. Posse Comitatus and all that jazz."
He doesn't smile just nods. He's smart. Smart as a fox.
Hayden, the Ferg and the two FBI guys are waiting at the mile marker in Hayden's suburban.
Everyone is vested up, armed up, and ready. In a different time and a different place I would say the two FBI guys were hot.
Walt walks up to Hayden, "Cumberland has a reserve deputy on the way to the hospital to sit and wait for Barlow to gain consciousness. He'll be in surgery and recovery for several hours. Ruby's niece is gonna run Lucian up to the station."
She blades her forehead with the blade of her hand, "Ok, that gives us plenty of time." She looks at Walt squarely, "We can talk about the particulars later, Sheriff."
"The hospital staff won't say anything about Barlow being there I talked to Doc Bloomfield so Nighthorse shouldn't be alerted."
He nods and she does a slight bob of her head.
"Ok listen up." She barks and points, "This is Jack Pederson and Mark Weinberg. They are members of our response team and they are going to help serve the warrant on Nighthorse. We are going to his home instead of the casino because there are too many potential targets or enforcement encounter opportunities. We will limit our exposure and heighten our safety by doing it this way."
Everyone nods like they understand the reasoning.
"Jack and Mark you have A side, Vic you have B side, Walt you have C, and I'll take D side. Ferg, can you man radio operations and keep an ops on the perimeter so we don't get flanked?"
Ferg's lips are pressed tight as he nods in the affirmative then he adds, "I did a complete work up on him. Nighthorse doesn't have any weapons registered to him and no prior convictions."
We all look at Ferg and I am filled with the old familiar wave of confidence that I used to have in Philly. The one where I know my team has it's shit together.
Piling into our respective 4x4's, I ask Walt, "You ready for this?"
"Yup."
As we cross onto Nighthorse's property, I do a press check of my Glock, out of years of habit to make sure I have a round in the chamber - condition 2 by design.
"You ever worry about carrying hot?" I ask
"Nope. Marines taught me. Wouldn't know any other way."
Both vehicles stop about 50 yards from our target and we take our positions this time Walt mans the front door and as Jacob opens the door I fall on Walt's flank and step inside with him.
"I'm here with a warrant, Nighthorse."
"I want my lawyer present." Is all he says in absolute disgust.
"You're going to need one shithead." I say because I really can't help myself.
I make my way past clearing the rooms I traverse and open the back door for Jack and Mark. They break off and begin their search.
"What are they doing in my house, Sheriff."
"Oh, that's the FBI." Walt points lazily, "We have both a search warrant and an arrest warrant." He gives that half grunt half chuckle thing.
He looks up and over at me then smacks his lips, "I don't know if you will get a deal this time, Jacob, we already have Barlow in custody."
Walt motions for him to turn around, "Jacob Nighthorse, you are under the arrest for the murder of Martha Longmire and conspiracy to commit the murder of Miller Beck."
His face drains of color. It's one of those things you can't control when confronted with the truth. It's the poker face you can't develop. His body betrays him.
Nighthorse turns around and puts his hands behind his back and Walt cuffs him up. There's a moment with Walt pressed against his back that I thought he was going to hurt him, to really hurt him, but he didn't instead he locks the cuffs and turns him around.
"You can call your lawyer from the station."
To my surprise, Walt reads Nighthorse his Miranda rights. He recites the paragraph by heart and not from a little card which I really expected since it's the first time I can remember in nearly four years I've actually seen him read someone their rights. Funny how that works I think.
Hayden and Ferg meet us in the house and Ferg helps Jack and Mark sort through files.
"Sheriff, we can finish up here if you want to transport back to the station for booking?" Hayden asks
Walt nods and then says my name, "Vic."
"Yeah." I say and turn to meet him and knowing without asking he's my partner and I'm going with him without being asked.
This time, silence takes over the Bronco, and the long ride seems even longer. I feel selfish for thinking of how this will affect me? How many steps backwards will we have to take?
Just as we round the corner to the station I think how much I love this man and part of that love is the confidence of knowing he will always care for me and protect me. He will never let either of those go and there is honor in that there is honor in him.
Ruby stands and waits and looks as Walt puts Nighthorse in the cell. He brings the black rotary phone over to the cell the cord stretched out in mythic proportions from years of distant use.
He points his finger down, "You can make your phone call."
"I can tell you what you want to know but I want a deal."
Walt doesn't hesitate, doesn't falter, "It's seems we've been here before Jacob but this time you can call your lawyer first and have her present with the Assistant US Attorney."
At that Nighthorse's eyebrows rise.
"You're being Federally prosecuted Jacob."
Nighthorse's face loses more parlor and this time Walt smiles at him, "We have everything, all the records, all the interstate connections and we have the other big thing, the Federal death penalty."
"I thought you said Barlow was in custody. Where is he?"
"Oh that." Walt still smiles, "He in the operating room having emergency surgery. He was shot while being taken into custody."
Walt turns and steps away and then as if for dramatic effect he stops and turns back toward Nighthorse, "But not before making some incriminating statements."
This time as he passes me he winks. It's the confidence of a man that knows his prey.
He heads to the reading room and closes the door. The water starts running and I stand near Ruby.
"You ok, Rubes?"
She shakes her head. "That man has been through hell."
"So have you." I say because it's true.
The tears don't fall from her eyes this time but they are there.
My voice is at a whisper, "It's not the end of it, Ruby. Barlow all but told Walt that before he blacked out."
"What do you think he meant?" She asks concern written all over her face.
"He said it was bigger than he could ever imagine. He pretty much threatened Walt." I pause and look over my shoulder at Nighthorse who's in the cell with his back to me trying to plead with the other end of his phone conversation.
"I'm glad you are here, Vic." She says it with sincerity.
"Me, too, Ruby." It's the first time I've said it and it's the first time I've agreed. I am glad I'm here.