Ch. 14
"Hear anything from your friend?"
Vic shook her head, her hands on her hips.
"Nope. Hear anything from your lawyer?"
Walt's answer was the same as her own.
"No."
Sighing, Vic removed her jacket and tossed it over Walt's couch. He stood there, watching her. She looked tired. He hadn't noticed it this morning or at work earlier in the day. Walt tilted his head at her.
"Feeling okay?"
Vic nodded.
"Yeah, just a little tired. Stressed out."
Walt offered her a smile and gestured at the couch.
"Here…sit."
She flopped onto his couch and toed off her shoes. Walt hovered just off to the side.
"Are you hungry?"
She made a face at the question.
"No. I haven't felt great today."
Now, he felt concerned. She had seemed okay at work when he saw her. Of course, she didn't always let him know when something was wrong. Especially on the work front. He took a seat beside her, his hand coming to rest on her leg.
"Are you sick?"
The questioned earned him a shrug.
"I don't think so. It's just…all this shit…you know. I'm kinda glad Crane didn't call me. Not sure I have the energy to deal with him today."
She leaned into him, letting her head make contact with his shoulder. Walt was still, allowing her to settle in beside him and get comfortable. After several seconds, she seemed to have gotten into the position she wanted. Walt relaxed under her. There were certainly worse positions he could be in than holding her on his couch.
He half expected her to say something. Instead, the quiet of his cabin surrounded them on all sides. He felt her shift again once or twice. Walt was fine sitting in silence with her. It was a comfortable silence, not one that begged for a distraction. He listened to the steady rhythm of her breathing, smiling to himself as it evened out as the quiet stretched on. Walt turned his head just the smallest bit and dipped his chin so that he could see part of her face.
His suspicions were confirmed. Vic seemed to be asleep, now completely relaxed into his side. Walt almost eased himself free to get up. Instead, he stayed there longer, just reveling in the warmth her body was providing for him both inside and out.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, but probably wasn't, Walt carefully slid her off of his shoulder. He eased her head up against the back of his couch and stood up, soothing the muscles in his tired back. The movement did little to disturb her. Walt watched her for just a moment with a trace of a smile on his lips. She looked peaceful in her sleep. She rarely looked that way awake. Bending over, Walt carefully slid his arms under her and lifted Vic off his couch.
Slowly, he carried her to the bed and laid her down. Walt toyed with the idea of attempting to undress her, but dismissed the idea. That would more than likely wake her up. That was the last thing that he wanted to do. She seemed genuinely in need of sleep, so he merely left her clothes on and pulled the blanket up around her. Walt quickly went about his own routine and slid into the bed next to her. She hadn't even stirred.
Walt made a mental note to keep an eye on her.
xxx
Vic felt disoriented when her eyes fluttered open. The room was dark. Outside the night was in full swing. Pushing herself up to a sitting position, Vic looked around. In the darkness, she could just barely make out Walt in bed beside her. She frowned, trying to force her sleep fogged brain to work like she wanted it to. Scrubbing a hand over her face, she tossed back the blanket and planted her feet on the floor.
Vic quietly rose and made her way to the bathroom. Pulling the door shut behind her, she flipped on the light. The room quickly illuminated causing Vic's eyes to narrow in an almost painful squint. She looked down at herself. She was still wearing all of her clothes. Even her socks. The last thing she remembered was sitting beside Walt on his couch. She must have fallen asleep.
Her eyes lifted to the mirror. He was right about one thing. She did look tired. She felt tired. She tried chalking it up to the stress of Walt's lawsuit. And now the burden of keeping up her charade with the mayor was only adding to that. Vic turned on the water and used her hands to rinse her face as best she could. Turning the tap off, she dried her face on a towel.
Still in the lit bathroom, Vic unbuttoned her shirt and shucked it off. She also slid free of her jeans and pulled her socks off. Piling her clothes up into a bundle, she set them aside. Turning the light off, Vic returned to the bedroom. Her spot beside Walt was still warm. It was a welcome feeling. She pulled her hair loose from the messy ponytail it was in and combed her fingers through her hair. Satisfied that she would be more comfortable now, she laid back and stifled a yawn. Sleep was threatening to overtake her again. She had no reason or will to fight the feeling and settled into the soft mattress. Walt moved a little in his sleep and his bare arm brushed against hers.
Vic inhaled a deep breath and let her eyes close of their own will. Listening to Walt's slow, easy breathing, she allowed herself to fall back asleep. This time, she hoped it would last until morning.
xxx
A familiar ringing was what woke her up the next time. Vic rolled over with a moan and opened one eye. The spot beside her was empty now. Vic closed her eye and pressed her face into the pillow. Her stomach rumbled in a way that suggested she was hungry, but she didn't particularly feel like eating. The ringing stopped and she could sense sleep returning. The moment was interrupted when Walt came through the door, dressed for work and holding what appeared to be her cell phone in his hand.
Vic sniffled and opened both eyes a crack, looking up at him.
"It's morning."
The comment hung between them. A little crinkle appeared between Walt's furrowed brows. He sat down on the bed and placed his hand on her arm. His rough palm was warm. Walt gave her a slow nod.
"Yeah, it's morning."
He was looking at her in a way she couldn't place. There was a hint of worry there, but something else as well.
"How do you feel?"
She shrugged, still not sitting up.
"Mmmm."
His hand gave her arm a squeeze.
"That's not an answer. You…"
He paused, his eyes still roving over her.
"You don't look good, Vic."
She rolled onto her side and pressed her eyes closed again.
"I don't feel very good, either."
Her response was somewhat mumbled. Walt looked down at her phone, resting in his lap, as though he was about to say something about it. Instead, she saw him slip it into the pocket of his shirt. Walt reached over and placed his hand on her forehead.
"You don't feel like you have a fever. What do you mean when you say you don't feel good?"
She shrugged.
"Just…not good."
He was studying her in that intense way he did.
"Sore throat? Headache? Chills?"
Vic shook her head from side to side.
"Just….my stomach. It feels…I don't know…knotted up."
Walt pulled his bottom lips between his teeth.
"Do you think you could eat?"
"Dunno."
She forced the word out. Walt sat there for another minute or so before he stood up, causing her to shift a little on the bed. He disappeared out the door. Over the next few minutes, Vic could feel herself drifting between sleep and wakefulness. Lacking any real energy, she made no move to get up. She could hear Walt moving around in the kitchen, busying himself with some task. Still not feeling any better, she merely rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.
She didn't even realize that she was drifting off again.
She was startled by the feel of his hand, this time on her shoulder. Vic's eyes snapped open. Walt was back, hovering over her again. She felt him tug gently at her.
"Here. Sit up."
Vic did as he asked and let her back come to rest against the headboard. A dull ache throbbed in her head. Vic looked at him.
"What?"
She finally realized he was holding a tray.
"Try and eat."
Vic looked down at the food he set across her lap. It was two pieces of lightly buttered toast and a glass of water. Vic's eyes wandered back up to him.
"I'm…not hungry."
His expression remained unchanged.
"I know. But…try and eat something. A few bites at least."
Giving in, she picked up a piece of toast and took a small bite. Satisfied that she was making an attempt to eat, Walt left the bedroom again. Her focus split between eating careful bites of her breakfast and listening to the familiar sounds he made getting ready for his day.
Vic managed to finish off one piece of toast and a quarter of the other before her stomach rolled and told her to stop. Taking its cue, she stopped eating and sipped the cold water. Walt returned and eyed the tray.
"Done?"
Vic nodded up at him.
"Yeah."
The word came out barely above a whisper. Walt took the tray and set it aside. Sitting back down on the bed, he fished her cell phone from her pocket and held it out.
"I want you to call Ruby and tell her you won't be in today."
She started to protest, but the words died before ever leaving her lips. She took the phone in a limp hand.
"Sure."
Vic eyed her screen and noticed a missed call. She frowned.
"Sawyer Crane called me."
Walt shook his head.
"Don't worry about that. Text him and tell him that you're sick."
Vic sighed.
"Wha…"
Walt broke in.
"I mean it, Vic. It's obvious you don't feel good. Call Ruby. Deal with the mayor later. He'll have to exercise some patience."
He could see her giving in. That, alone, told him all he needed to know.
"Okay."
Her eyes were starting to close again. Walt smiled down at her.
"Stay here and rest. Don't try and go home. I'll check on you when I can."
Vic half waved a hand at him.
"Don't worry about me."
Walt bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I always worry about you."
Standing up, Walt collected the tray and left the room. Vic slid back down until her head made soft contact with the pillow. Rolling onto her side, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. He was right about one thing. The mayor could wait until her mind felt clearer and her body felt less worn out.
xxx
The light filtering in through the half drawn curtains told her it was early afternoon the next time that her eyes opened. Vic rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. The entire morning before this moment seemed like a blur and the memories were foggy, almost dreamlike. The first thing that she noticed was that her stomach was now signaling loud and clear that it was hungry. Vic sat up and brushed her hair out of her face. Her senses felt sharper now, honed in on her surroundings.
Vic tossed back the blanket and left the bed. Pulling on one of Walt's denim shirts, she buttoned it halfway up as she padded barefoot into the kitchen. The cabin was quiet. Vic pulled a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water from the tap. She drank the water in several long gulps. Her mouth felt so dry, the water seemed like heaven. Setting the glass aside, she opened the refrigerator door and peered inside. It was a wonder he didn't starve with the lack of food she found there. Vic knew that Walt would say the same thing about her. Her own space wasn't much better.
The refrigerator door closed with a push and she rifled through the pantry instead. Coming up with a can of chicken noodle soup, Vic figured it was better than nothing. And safer than a lot of things on her recovering stomach. She opened the can and plopped the contents into a small pot, adding just enough water to dilute it a bit. Life would be easier if Walt had a microwave, but the stove would have to do. Vic turned on the burner and set pot on it with a light clang. She fished a spoon from the drawer and stirred the soup. Her stomach grumbled again, reminding her that the glass of water did little to curb her hunger.
Finally, the soup heated up and Vic pulled it off the stove. Pouring the entire pot into a bowl, she took a seat at the table and ate it hungrily. Had she not been alone, she might've been embarrassed at the rate she spooned the soup into her mouth. Finally, she felt somewhat satisfied. She set her bowl in the sink and ran some water into it. She briefly considered washing the dishes, but decided to wait and deal with it later.
Leaving the kitchen, Vic made her way to the bathroom. She turned on the shower and undressed, letting her clothes hit the floor. Stepping under the spray, Vic let the warm water drum out the knots she felt in her shoulders and back. Her head still hurt a bit, but not as bad as it had earlier in the morning. Using Walt's shampoo and soap, she washed and rinsed. Vic made a mental note to pick up some of her own preferred toiletries to leave here.
Above the sound of the water, she heard a voice. At first, she though she imagined it. Until she heard it again.
"Vic?"
Vic turned off the water and pulled a clean towel around her, drying herself as she went. Now, the air in the cabin felt cool on her damp skin. She pulled open the bathroom door just in time to see Walt enter the bedroom. His eyes fell on her, moving down her form and then back up to her face.
"Hey."
Vic held the towel in place, aware that she was dripping slightly onto the floor.
"Hey. Something wrong?"
Walt shook his head.
"No. I just came by to see if you were feeling better."
Vic smiled.
"I am."
She scrubbed her hand over her face, streams of water sliding down by her ears from her hair. Vic held up her hand.
"Let me get dressed."
Walt nodded. Vic returned to the bathroom to dry herself more completely. Lacking anything else to put on, she pulled on her clothes from the night before. Walt was sitting on the bed when she came back out, his hat beside him. He smiled up at her.
"You look better."
"Thanks. Did I look that bad this morning?"
He gave her an apologetic look.
"You looked pretty worn out."
Vic sighed.
"I guess I was. I just…woke up a little while ago."
Walt eyed her curiously.
"Have you eaten?"
She nodded.
"Yeah, I was starving."
The comment seemed to lighten his expression some.
"That's good. You…never called Ruby."
Vic closed her eyes.
"Shit."
She opened them back to see an amused look on Walt's face.
"That's okay. I told her that you called me."
Vic gave him a grateful smile.
"I…fell asleep before I called anyone."
Walt extended his hand and brushed a finger through her hair.
"You must've needed the rest."
"Yeah. Must have."
Walt let his hand fall away from her hair and rubbed his palms along his thigh. With a slight grunt, he stood up and grabbed his hat.
"I should head back."
Vic nodded.
"Okay. I should get home myself."
Walt gave her a long look.
"You're welcome to stay."
"I know. But…I wore these clothes yesterday."
Walt smiled.
"Okay. Be careful driving."
Vic shook her head.
"I feel fine, Walt. There's just a lot going on."
Walt pressed his hat onto his head.
"Still…I'll see you later."
xxx
Sawyer Crane's patience was already running thin when his phone rang. He recognized her cell number at this point. He answered gruffly.
"It's about time, Deputy."
The reply was just as terse.
"What's your problem?"
Crane tapped his fingers on his desk.
"My problem is that I tried to call you this morning. It's now afternoon and you're just now calling me back."
"Excuse me. I was sick. Is that okay?"
Crane rolled his eyes.
"Excuses don't interest me."
The line was quiet for a moment before she responded, clearly trying to maintain a civil tone.
"What did you want?"
"I would like to actually get the ball rolling on this situation. The sooner we get Walt Longmire out of his position, the better for everyone. That includes you. So…are you free tonight?"
Another beat of silence.
"Sure."
He could feel his nerves settling. All morning, he spent his time wondering why she hadn't called him back. Had Longmire gotten wind of their plans? Was she having second thoughts? Their conversation now seemed to put them back where they were previously.
"Come to my office. But don't use the main door. There's a door around the back. You can park there as well. I'll make sure the door is unlocked for you."
"Okay. What time."
Crane thought for a long moment.
"Nine. Everyone will be gone by then. It's important that we aren't seen together."
"Yeah, you mentioned that before."
"Well…it's the truth. I'll see you then."
Without another word, he hung up and leaned back in his chair. He was about to find out how into this she really was. And, if she was willing to do what it took.
xxx
Vic tossed her cell phone down onto the RV couch with a sigh. She had been hopeful he wouldn't want to meet today. While she was feeling better, she didn't particularly feel like dealing with Crane and all his misplaced self-righteousness. Vic had changed once she got home, but then had little to do, except call the mayor.
Now, alone in her RV, she realized she still had an entire afternoon to kill. She toyed with the idea of going to work to pass some time. But, Walt would only cajole her into leaving. His tone had been clear when he told her to take the day off and rest. If she went in, she could try and ignore him, but he would only annoy her with his hovering and his worrying.
Vic milled around her RV, finally flopping down on the couch. Downtime was not her strong suit. It never had been with her restless nature. She picked up her phone and scrolled through it, finding nothing to occupy her mind for more than a few minutes. With a frustrated huff, she lay the phone aside and pushed up off the couch with the intention of changing and maybe going for a run. Anything to make the time pass a little faster.
A knock on her door grabbed her attention. Vic unlocked it and opened the door. A deep frowned etched its way across her face when she looked down into a familiar face.
"Travis?"
Branch's former friend smiled up at her.
"Hey, Vic. I didn't know you were living here."
Vic cocked her head to the side.
"What…are you doing here?"
He gestured off to one side.
"Renting. Saw your truck."
Vic continued to stare at him like she couldn't figure out why he was standing on her doormat.
"And?"
He shrugged somewhat sheepishly.
"Thought I would stop by and say hey."
Vic nodded slowly. God knows she had too much to do without worrying about Travis Murphy nosing around.
"Hey."
Her tone was flat and held no invitation. Of course, he didn't get the message. He never was the sharpest.
"Mind if I come in?"
Vic sighed.
"I'm….kind of busy."
Travis studied her.
"You aren't dressed for work."
Vic shrugged.
"So? Jesus, Travis, what do you want?"
He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"I'm sorry about Branch, Vic."
Vic felt her edges soften a bit. She relented and waved him in.
"You can come in for a minute."
He smiled and stepped up into the RV. Pausing he looked around, taking in his surroundings.
"This is nice. Where did you get it?"
She wasn't in the mood for questions.
"Bought it. What are you doing renting out here?"
He hitched his thumbs into his belt.
"My mom…was driving me crazy being up in my business all the damn time. I lost my own trailer. So…this is the next best thing I can manage."
Vic eyed him.
"You have a job?"
He shrugged as though that wasn't a particular concern of his.
"I've got some feelers out."
"So…no?"
He gave her a curious look.
"I hear the Sheriff is hiring."
Vic nearly laughed out loud when the words came out of his mouth. It was the dumbest idea he had suggested yet.
"You…can't be serious."
Travis shrugged.
"Why not? Branch did it. He didn't have any formal training when Walt hired him."
Vic rolled her eyes.
"Travis, you have a record. You pulled a gun on us. Walt's not gonna hire you."
Her statement of the facts did little to dim his idea.
"Maybe if you put in a good word for me, he'll give me a chance."
Vic shook her head.
"Hell, no. Don't…involve me in this idea of yours. Apply like everyone else."
Travis frowned.
"That's not exactly a neighborly way to be."
Vic shook her head.
"Are you done? Because…I have things to do. Seriously."
He gave her a hurt expression.
"I thought we were something like friends, Vic."
She sighed.
"We're not. And trust me when I tell you…Walt isn't gonna hire you, Travis."
His face soured.
"We'll see. I'm putting together a resume. I can't be any worse than some of the other applicants."
Vic just shook her head, knowing that arguing with him was pointless.
"Whatever."
She moved by him and opened the door again. Travis finally took the hint and clanged down the steps.
"I'll see you around."
Vic exhaled deeply.
"Looking forward to it."
xxx
"I trust that your boss has no idea that you've been meeting with me."
Vic gave Sawyer Crane a long look.
"If he did, do you honestly think I would still have a job?"
The comment nearly made him smile. Vic sat in his office in the same chair as before. This time, she felt a little more relaxed. He seemed to buy into the act that she was putting on and that put her at ease more than it had the first time she had come here. Or even when they met for dinner. Crane sat behind his desk, his eyes on her. Vic couldn't put her finger on what fueled her dislike of him so much. It didn't seem to be just one thing. On the contrary, it struck her as being everything about him. He was smug and she had always disliked that. He was clearly dishonest. He seemed to have perfected the image that he projected to voters. On the surface, he seemed like a well put together, friendly local. But underneath all of that, it was clear he was greedy and ambitious. The kind of ambition that would steamroll over whoever or whatever got in his way. And right now, he had Walt in his sights.
It struck her that the very reasons he wanted Walt out of the way were the exact reasons that she respected Walt. And had since the beginning. Where Crane was dishonest and crooked, Walt ran on the principles of honesty and integrity. And, while he wasn't perfect, Vic did see him try and maintain those foundations in his day to day life and his work. Walt didn't have a public persona in the way that Crane did. The Walt you ran into on the street or at the Red Pony was the same one that sat in the Sheriff's Office working to keep the peace.
Vic shifted in her seat and crossed her legs.
"Outside of this lawsuit, what exactly is it that you want from me?"
It was something she honestly wasn't clear on. Crane leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk.
"Anything that will give us a foothold in pushing him out. It doesn't have to be related to his lawsuit. If it is, all the better. But, I'm willing to take anything at this point."
Vic nodded slowly, her eyes holding his.
"What did Walt ever do to you?"
The question came out with an amused tone. Crane didn't seem to share her amusement. She could see now that he had a genuine dislike for Walt. It wasn't merely a clash of personalities. It was more deeply rooted than that. He was serious when he said that he wanted Walt out of office. That did make sense. He was using one of Walt's own people to try and achieve that goal. Vic wondered if his ambition to rid himself of Walt wasn't seriously clouding his judgement.
"Walt stands in the way of progress, Deputy. Whether he likes it or not, we are living in a modern age. There is no reason to not take advantage of that and bring Durant into the current century. I mean…he doesn't even carry a damn cell phone."
Vic fought to keep the smile off her face. When Walt hired her, one of the first things she noticed was his disdain for technology and his refusal to carry a phone. He insisted the radio was a good enough way to reach him when he was out of the office. As frustrating as it could be, there was something noble in his resolution to do his job the best way that he knew how. It was one of the things he and Branch clashed on so often. Branch, too, had been driven by a desire to push Walt into situations he wasn't ready for. If Vic knew anything about Walt, it was that he wouldn't be pushed or forced into anything.
"I'm assuming he also doesn't have a computer."
Vic shook her head, confirming the mayor's thought.
"No, he doesn't."
He tapped his fingers on his desk.
"How much more efficiently could we solve crimes around here if he would stop fighting technology so much?"
Vic bit her bottom lip.
"You want an honest answer?"
Crane nodded.
"Of course."
"Even without technology, Walt still gets the job done. Granted, there are times things would go more smoothly if we had more up to date systems. But, overall, we've never not solved a case because of it."
She could tell that Crane didn't like her answer.
"Whose side are you on?"
Vic shrugged.
"That's not taking sides. It's simply stating facts. If you're gonna go after him, you need the facts. You don't want to wind up looking stupid."
For a split second, she thought he was going to have a bad reaction to her comment. His face tensed up and Vic thought she might've gone too far. But, then the tension eased and she could see him thinking about what she said. Seconds ticked by before he met her eyes again with an affirmative nod.
"You're right. The best way to go about this is with facts. That way, there's no denying or disproving what is said. And that is what I am counting on your for."
Vic felt her phone buzz in her back pocket. But, it was on silent and she made no move to answer it. She merely smiled at Crane.
"So…we done here?"
He stood up, signaling that they were finished. Vic rose as well.
"Do you understand your role now?"
Vic nodded.
"Yeah, I get it."
"Good."
Vic took a step for the door and stopped.
"Just remember…I hold up my end of the deal. You hold up yours."
Crane looked at her for a long moment.
"Right. Everyone gets what they want."
With that she left. Vic waited until she was in her truck before she pulled her phone out. It was Walt's house phone. Dialing, she started her truck and pulled out. She felt anxious to be away from this place. Away from that man. He reminded her of all the crooked people she dealt with in Philly. The ones who turned on her as soon as she refused to play by their rules and whens he tried to do what was right. Those who didn't care about the job or their responsibilities. They only cared about themselves and what others could do for them. She hated them then. She hated him now. Big city or little town. It didn't matter. They were all cut from the same cloth.
He answered her call on the second ring.
"Hey."
At least he did have caller ID. Vic smiled to herself.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Haven't heard from you since this afternoon."
Vic steered the truck down the dark road.
"I had a meeting with the mayor. I swear that asshole makes me need a shower."
Walt was quiet.
"You didn't mention that."
"You weren't around. You knew I missed a call from him this morning."
"Yeah."
Vic could hear something in his voice.
"Everything okay?"
She could almost picture him nodding, even though she couldn't see him.
"Fine. Can you…can you come over."
Vic glanced at the time. It was late. If she went to Walt's, she might as well spend the night. Not that she was opposed to that idea. She had her overnight bag stuffed behind the seat with a spare uniform tucked inside.
"Sure."
"Okay, see you in a bit."
Vic took the next turn and aimed her truck for Walt's cabin.
He must have been waiting for her. As soon as her boots hit the porch, Walt opened the front door. Vic paused.
"Were you waiting for me?"
He shrugged.
"Maybe."
She smiled.
"Anxious to see me?"
He smiled.
"Maybe."
Vic walked by him inside and heard Walt close the door behind them.
"How are you feeling?"
Vic turned as she removed her jacket.
"Better."
He nodded.
"That's good. I was worried about you this morning."
Vic waved off his concerns.
"Whatever it was passed pretty quick."
He was watching her closely.
"That the first time it's hit you?"
Vic gave him a curious look.
"What do you mean?"
"Was this morning the first time you've felt like that?"
Vic nodded.
"Yeah, why?"
He shrugged.
"No reason. But, if it keeps on…you should see a doctor."
Vic gave him a look.
"You never go to the doctor."
He gave her a sheepish look.
"I haven't been sick."
"When you are, you don't go to the doctor. It's hard enough to get you to the hospital when you've been shot. So, don't get preachy."
"Vic…"
She smiled.
"Walt, I'm fine. It must've been some stomach virus. I didn't have a fever. Stop worrying so much."
He looked down and she felt a shift coming.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a meeting with Crane?"
Vic sighed. She hadn't thought to call him earlier. She just went to Crane's office.
"I wasn't aware that you were keeping up with me 24/7."
Walt lifted his eyes.
"It's not like that, Vic. But…there is some risk involved in this. If he finds out…"
Vic cut in.
"I am not afraid of Sawyer Crane."
Walt looked at her for what felt like an eternity before he spoke again.
"You need to wear a wire."
She considered his words. It was a valid point that he was making. Having recordings of the conversations would strengthen their case when the time came.
"Fine. Next time, I will."
"Next time, tell me that you're going. This isn't gonna work if we don't work together. I'm not…trying to keep up with you, Vic. I'm trying to keep you safe."
She could hear the honesty in his words. He knew that she didn't like to be controlled any more than he did. Vic relented to his request.
"Right. Next time, I'll let you know."
Walt offered her a smile.
"Have you eaten?"
Vic nodded.
"Yeah, I ate earlier."
Vic moved to sit on the couch and Walt took a seat beside her. She turned so that she was facing him, pulling one leg up.
"Oh…yeah…you'll never guess who I saw today."
His curiosity was piqued.
"Who."
"Travis."
Walt frowned a little.
"Travis…?"
"Travis Murphy. Branch's…friend."
Recognition dawned across Walt's face.
"Oh. Where did you see him?"
She made a face.
"He's living at the trailer park."
"So, he's your neighbor."
She could hear the light tone in his voice. Teasing almost.
"Yeah. Sure. I guess his mother finally drove him crazy enough to motivate his ass. Anyway, that's not important. He told me he's planning to apply for the deputy job."
"Branch's job?"
Vic nodded.
"Yep."
"He has a record."
"That's what I told him. But…he is determined. Said he was getting his resume ready."
Walt reached up and ran his hand across his forehead.
"Thanks for the warning."
Vic flashed him a smile.
"He's convinced that he can't be worse than some of the other applicants."
Walt's face was humorless.
"Sadly, he's not too far off. I guess that got pushed to the back burner."
"Yeah, it did."
Walt sighed. She knew there were layered reasons why he hadn't hired anyone yet. Replacing Branch felt wrong somehow. But, it was part of the job and it would need to be taken care of at some point. It certainly wasn't going to get any easier. And they desperately needed the help. Realistically, the three of them couldn't keep up the pace they were going at forever.
Vic reached out and put her hand over Walt's.
"I know it sucks. But, we do need the help."
He nodded slowly.
"I know. It's just…"
His words faded out, but she understood what he was leaving unsaid. Vic knew better than most how Walt struggled in the aftermath of Branch's death. They all had. But, Walt had such a penchant for assigning himself blame for everything. Despite what she and everyone else told him, she knew Walt still blame himself for not being able to save Branch.
"I get it. I do."
Walt gave her a grateful look. Vic's hand tightened over his.
"Walt…the only person to blame for Branch is Barlow. He's the one who…that was on him. Not you. I know you blame yourself. But…you can't save everyone."
He didn't look convinced. It had been a while since they talked about this. It wasn't a subject either of them enjoyed. But, Vic knew it needed to be said. Even if it was the same thing she had been saying all this time.
"I'm the Sheriff."
His words were quiet. Serious. Vintage Walt.
Vic shook her head at him.
"That's right. You're the Sheriff. You're not Superman. No matter what you think. I think…we all blamed ourselves for Branch at one point. But, the fact is…you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. And Branch was in a dark place. I don't think any of us could've gotten through to him. In all honesty, Walt, you had reason to fire him. And you didn't. That means you never gave up. Despite everything, you were still holding out hope that he could come back. And don't start with the David Ridges stuff. It's easy to see in hindsight. But, at the time, you didn't have any reason to believe Ridges was alive. You have got to let this go."
Walt sighed deeply. She doubted he would ever fully let it go. Just like he would always carry some level of blame in his wife's death. It was just the way he was. It was part of what gave him the drive to be good at his job and do the best he could for those he cared about.
"So…what did you and Crane talk about tonight?"
"Same shit. He wants me to get any dirt on you that I can. Not just related to the case. They're looking for anything they can use against you at this point."
She could see Walt mulling it over in his mind. Thinking and overthinking the way he always did.
"You'll have to give them something. To keep them satisfied."
"I know. But…what?"
Walt sucked a little on his bottom lip.
"We'll have to think of something."