Ch. 16: Labyrinth

"I don't like it."

She knew he wouldn't before he ever got back with Cady and no real answers. It didn't take a mind reader to know they hadn't found much of anything useful in Colter's hotel room. Personal belongings, of course. Clothes, toiletries, a couple pairs of shoes. According to Walt, the room had one queen bed that was made. There was a single suitcase with clothes neatly folded inside of it. A pile of dirty clothes was in the space between the bed and the wall. A toothbrush and travel size tube of toothpaste along with a comb and hair gel was all that they found in the bathroom. It looked like the room of any traveler.

Mundane and ordinary.

As soon as they came in the door, Vic filled them in on her brief call with Colter. He didn't tell her much. Nothing really. He simply told her he had a line on Mason and wanted to be as quiet as possible. Vic found that almost funny considering his earlier conduct with she and Mason holding guns on each other.

"Me either."

Of course, Cady would back up Walt. Vic hadn't expected anything different. She folded her arms over her chest.

"I don't like it either. So…that makes three of us. But…he asked me to come alone."

Walt shook his head, his expression set in stone.

"That's the part I don't like. Why wouldn't he want more help than just you?"

Vic shrugged.

"That's the million dollar question isn't it? Or…one of them. I'm not actually going alone. You'll be there. Just…not with me."

Walt's jaw clenched.

"No, Vic. If he is up to something, that's too risky. Until we know more than we do, I don't think this is a good idea."

She sighed heavily and turned her attention to Cady.

"Cady…"

Cady didn't look any more convinced than Walt.

"I agree with dad. It's too risky. I say…we know where he is. We go in and get him."

Vic frowned.

"And, then what? He's not going to tell us anything. He'll just leave and we'll be fucked. But…if I can get him to talk to me. Or…hell if I just offer to help him…maybe we can get to the bottom of this. For all we know, he's on the up and up. Maybe he really does just want to surprise Mason and bring him in."

Cady looked from Vic to Walt and then at the floor. The wheels in her mind were obviously turning. She raised her blue eyes back to Vic and they held a solemn expression.

"I hate to say it, but you're not wrong. He will clam up."

Vic could see Cady moving closer to seeing things her way. Walt looked even unhappier at the prospect that his daughter might agree with Vic. Vic glanced at Cady.

"Can we have a minute?"

Cady nodded.

"Sure."

With that, she made her way into her office and closed the door.

Vic turned all of her attention to Walt, stepping up directly in front of him.

"You know…I could've just left while you were gone and did this myself. Wouldn't be unheard of around here, would it?"

She caught the barely there flinch. She was right. They both had a history of going off on their own. Both in their own ways at different times with mixed results. Vic could tell by the look on his face exactly which moment came to his mind.

The previous winter.

A time she didn't like to think about too much. Neither did he. He had taken things a step, or twelve, too far and risked everything. Literally everything. Walt looked directly into her eyes for a long moment.

"No."

Her eyes stayed on his almost like she was looking for something in them.

"I like to think we're over all that, Walt. But tell me, would you do the same? Or would you run off on your own in the name of protecting me?"

It was a challenge that he recognized immediately.

"I don't like risking your life."

She dismissed the comment.

"I risk my life every day. And, Cady. Walt, if Colter is there and Mason is there…this might be our one shot at both of them. To…unravel all this bullshit and find out the actual truth of who killed this boy. It seems like we've gotten so wrapped up in everything else that we've forgotten about Nate. I need to solve this. I need you to help me. I can't do it on my own. And, Cady's arm still isn't a hundred percent."

She tilted her head and held his eyes. She saw his chest expand with a breath and knew that he was about to switch his position. The more rational side of his brain, the one that was a retired Sheriff and not her husband, would know that she was right. Would see the importance of finding justice for the victim.

He always did. For as long as she had known him, that was a driving force of his personality.

"Okay."

He said the word on an unhappy sounding exhale. Their eyes stayed connected for a few seconds longer before Vic broke the contact and let her eyes drift to Cady's office.

"Let's do this the right way."

xxx

Vic pulled her truck in and parked next to a car she didn't recognize. She assumed it was the rental Colter mentioned briefly over the phone. Vic looked around, but didn't see him anywhere nearby. Taking a breath, she slid from her work truck and double checked the holstered Glock on her hip. She hoped Colter's patience would hold out, but she had to get her truck and her weapon as well as Walt's before they could make the return trip to Powder River.

Vic pushed her door closed and gave another glance around. Other than telling her where his vehicle was, he didn't tell her anything else. Despite her attempts at prodding more information out of him, he was tight lipped.

"You made it!"

Vic startled at the sudden sound of his voice off to her left. Colter appeared out of a stand of trees. For the first time since he showed up in Absaroka County, he was wearing jeans. He held up his hand in a partial wave.

"Yeah…I was at dinner when you called me."

Colter studied her.

"With Walt?"

Vic nodded.

"Yeah. In town."

"Did you tell him?"

He hadn't seemed quite this paranoid before. That struck her as different.

"I told him I was meeting you. I didn't tell him where or why."

She could tell by the expression on his face that he didn't like that revelation.

"I asked you not to say anything."

Vic kept her voice even.

"I can't outright lie to him."

Colter's eyes stayed on her.

"Where is he?"

She didn't hesitate.

"Home."

She hoped that she was convincing enough. There was the added bonus of him not knowing her all that well. After a moment of uncomfortable eye contact, Colter nodded and motioned for her.

"Sorry. I'm not trying to…cause you any problems in your marriage. I just need…discretion."

Vic offered him a small smile.

"I know. He gets it."

Colter smiled a smile that almost seemed wistful.

"Must be nice."

Vic cleared her throat, wanting to steer the conversation away from the personal and onto the reason she was here.

"So…why are we out here in the middle of nowhere?"

He laughed at the comment.

"You're right about that. I never really knew what the middle of nowhere was until I came here. How do you stand it when you're from such a big city?"

Vic shrugged and ambled in his direction.

"You get used to it after a while."

It was partially the truth. The longer she lived here, the more she grew accustomed to the isolation. The long stretches where there was nothing on the road. That was hard to find back east. There were so many cities and towns that dotted the map. True empty space was nearly impossible to find in the totality that this part of the country offered. But, there was a part of her that she was sure would never fully adapt. It still struck her sometimes, the vastness of it all. Even after living at the cabin and seeing it on a daily basis, it still caught her off guard on occasion.

He sniffled a little.

"I'm not sure that I could."

Vic was at his side now, close enough to smell the lingering scent of cigarette smoke in his clothes. For someone who wanted to sneak up on someone, he didn't seem to realize how much his habit created a smell that followed him.

"So…you want to tell me what's going on?"

He nodded a little warily.

"I found him."

"Mason?"

"Yeah, I was able to track down his truck?"

Vic cocked her head.

"How?"

He smiled.

"Good old fashioned police work. And, a hunch."

Vic narrowed her eyes.

"Care to elaborate?"

Colter shook his head like that would only waste time.

"Later maybe."

Vic looked around.

"So…where is he?"

"Cabin. Up in the woods. Old hunting cabin."

Vic bit her lip.

"And you know this how?"

"Like I said, I tracked him."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't seem like much of a tracker."

He vibrated with a laugh.

"I'm not. But, a little bird told me he was up this way. I did a little digging and found out about this place. Seemed like the perfect hideout for someone on the run from the law."

Vic wasn't buying it.

"How in the hell did you find out about some run down cabin out here?"

He sighed at her continued questioning.

"You're not gonna let that go, are you?"

"No, I want to know what I'm getting into?"

He stood and looked at her like he was trying to decide what to tell her. She could see the conflict play out on his face.

"Vic, I like you. You seem…trustworthy. That's why I'm gonna tell you this. But…you have to keep it to yourself."

He waited and gave her room to back out or accept.

"Okay, so…talk. We're wasting time."

He smiled at her again.

"Always right to the point."

He shuffled his feet over the dirt and dead grass.

"Before all of this...Finn and I were on an undercover op together. Trying to bust up a pretty extensive drug ring. We were both inserted and our job was to watch each other's back."

He paused and looked up at the sky. Bringing his eyes back to her, he continued.

"You ever done undercover?"

Vic shook her head at the question.

"Not like you're describing. Small time."

He nodded. She knew what kind of things could go on during deep undercover operations. It could be difficult for someone whose job was to uphold the law to immerse themselves in a criminal environment. On occasion, the real challenge was pulling oneself back out. She had seen it more than once back in Philadelphia.

"It's…like you become a different person. For someone to believe your lie, you almost have to believe it yourself. Understand."

Vic nodded. In some ways, she did.

"Yeah."

"I…got hooked on heroin while we were in. I never intended for it to happen. But, it did. It's…part of what cost me my marriage. My son. But, Finn refused to let me go down without a fight. He managed to bring down the guy we were after and we were pulled out. I tried rehab, but all those places want to do is have you hold hands and overshare. So…Finn took me somewhere to clean myself up. Just me and him. No outsiders. No therapists. No fellow addicts. Just hardcore cold turkey."

Understanding began to dawn on her.

"He brought you here?"

She hadn't even realized she said it out loud, but the answer was clear on his face.

"I told you that Finn likes the outdoors. He loves places like this. Isolated and out of the way. He's familiar with most of Montana and Wyoming. He brought me up to this little cabin until I was able to kick the habit."

Vic frowned.

"You want me to believe it's a coincidence that Cameron wound up in a place that Mason is so familiar with. He sent him here, didn't he? To Absaroka County."

"Yes, he did."

Vic felt dubious about the entire story.

"Isn't it a little obvious for him to be here. A place that you know about?"

Colter inhaled.

"Yeah. And, he wasn't here before. I've checked twice. "

"So, what makes you think he's here now?"

"Desperation. He's out of options. He's got to know that we're closing in."

Vic eyed him.

"Are we, though? I don't see any progress. And, you should have told us all of this."

He glanced down at his feet like a scolded child.

"I wasn't sure I could trust you."

Vic dismissed his excuse.

"So…what? You feel like you owe him?"

Colter smiled a little.

"Don't I?"

Vic shrugged.

"Not if he's breaking the law."

"Do you really think it's that black and white?"

Vic shook her head.

"No. Nothing is. But…if he's a murderer, you can't protect him. It's not right."

Colter sighed.

"I know that. I just…I wanted to talk to him before we go official with this."

Vic shifted on her feet.

"And, you expect me to go along with it."

"I'm hopeful."

She looked at him for a long time before she answered.

"Let's just take this one step at a time."

Colter nodded in agreement and waved for her.

"It's this way."

She fell into step beside him.

xxx

Walt watched the scene unfold with sharp ears and eyes, not wanting anything to get by him. None of what Colter was telling Vic surprised him. He wasn't sure he could even be surprised at this point in his life. He figured he was pretty much beyond that.

Vic was playing it cool. That's the phrase she used, not one of his own creation. Walt watched as they started up a path and away from him. He would need to be careful about how closely he followed. He was sure of his own ability to be quiet as far as Colter was concerned. The man wasn't accustomed to this type of environment.

But, Finn Mason was the wild card. They still didn't know for sure if Mason was actually a murderer. He knew that Vic was inclined to believe he wasn't since he hadn't really attempted to hurt her. It was certainly possible. He trusted her instincts as well as his own, but he hadn't really been around the man. He was drawing conclusions from other perspectives and that wasn't the same as first hand experience.

Mason seemed quite comfortable in the area and he wasn't afraid to take risks. He was either extremely smart or a risk taker. Possibly both. The third option seemed to be the most dangerous combination. Walt glanced around. This wasn't ideal. Just him watching Vic's back. Cady wanted to come, but with her arm still recovering, Walt and Vic both talked her into staying at the office, and calling in Zach and Ferg for backup if it was needed.

Backup for the backup.

Walt nearly smiled at his own musing. He slowly and quietly moved in the direction that Vic and Colter had taken. He made sure to keep a screen of trees between himself and the path. It made the going slow and painstaking, but was necessary to maintain the illusion that Vic came alone. Colter seemed to be taking that bait. He seemed to trust Vic as much as he trusted anyone.

Right now, Walt was merely eyes and ears. Keeping a safe distance, but close enough to step in if need be. The weight of his Colt on his side was comforting in an odd sort of way. He didn't carry it much anymore. Not unless it was needed. Most of his time wasn't spent chasing danger since his retirement. The situation last winter spurred him to arm himself. It wasn't the same weapon he used when he was Sheriff. That one was destroyed in the cabin fire. But, the new one was a pretty close match and had the same familiar weight.

He didn't relish the idea of needing to carry a gun against people anymore. But, Vic's safety came before anything else in his mind and was really what mattered. He told her before and it was still true. He'd proven it.

He would do anything to keep her safe. He would take a stand against anyone who posed a threat. Right now, she was putting her trust in his hands and depending on him. He took that as seriously as he took anything in his life.

Her life was more valuable to him than his own.

Colter didn't seem to understand that. On some level, that surprised Walt coming from a man who was married at some point. But, he knew people were different, couples were different. He didn't know Colter well enough to make assumptions. That was something he tried to never do. Assume things. That was how you underestimated an enemy and made mistakes. In this line of work, mistakes could be costly. Deadly.

Walt kept his eyes on Vic and Colter as best he could. He was in the brush, and back a bit trailing behind them. He wasn't in any hurry as they didn't seem to be. They were walking at a fairly casual pace, considering. In his mind, he wondered if that was Vic trying to give him time to keep up with them. Walt took careful, measured steps in his determination to stay quiet and keep his presence unknown.

He wasn't sure what cabin exactly that Colter was telling Vic about. This entire area was littered with cabins, both old and new. Many were abandoned and dilapidated, left to fall in on themselves by people with little interest. Some were newer, more up to date cabins that would be in use, at least periodically. This was a good area for hunting. Fishing was better than average in the river. The scenery was second to none. It wasn't the kind of place that drew casual tourists. No, this part of the county was for the more hardcore kind. Those who wanted a challenge to simply be away from everyone and everything. It was the perfect place to lose oneself. Or, hide in this case.

Possibly.

It sounded like the exact kind of place that would draw Finn Mason in and give him the shelter he sought, even if Colter did know about it. Maybe Mason didn't care. Maybe he wasn't worried about Colter.

Maybe he wanted Colter to find him.

xxx

"So…how is he gonna react when he sees me?"

It was a valid question. Colter paused.

"I plan to go in alone at first. See if I can talk to him. I would rather he come peacefully if at all possible."

Vic nodded slowly.

"Okay, and if he refuses?"

Colter looked at the ground and raised his eyes back to meet Vic's.

"Then, you come in and we catch him off guard."

Vic considered his meager plan.

"That's risky."

"It is. The risk is mine. I'm pretty sure he would shoot me before he shot you."

Vic gave him a skeptical look.

"You're willing to risk your life on that?"

He didn't seem bothered by the prospect.

"We're all risking our lives every time we go to work."

Vic huffed out a barely there breath.

"True."

Vic stopped and looked around.

"How much further?"

Colter gestured.

"Not much."

She rested one hand on her Glock.

"I should hang back. You don't want to give him any edge."

Colter hesitated before he seemed to agree with her.

"Right."

He pulled his gun from its holster and gave it a look.

"Maybe come in behind me a bit. So, you'll be close by."

Vic nodded and pulled her 9mm free.

"Okay. Let's do this."

He gave her quick look before he started on without her. Vic watched Colter's back as he made his way up the dirt road they were walking along. She resisted the urge to look for any signs of Walt. She knew he was there. She couldn't hear or see him, but Walt was perfect for this particular job.

Once Colter disappeared around a curve, Vic started to follow him at a slow pace. She didn't want to get too close. This entire scenario seemed like something out of a bad cop novel. Tapping her free hand on her thigh, she kept a comfortable grip on her Glock. The dirt on the road crackled underneath her boots as she walked.

Normally, by this point in a case, she felt more secure in what she thought. But, this one was a puzzler. It was nearly impossible to know who to believe and who to trust. Colter's sudden appearance into their lives shook all of that up. Between him and Mason, everything seemed too cloudy to know anything for sure.

So, she had to trust her gut. That told her not to trust anyone. She knew that was where Walt was as well. Probably Cady. Vic could feel her phone in her back pocket. It would be fairly useless out here if she got in a bind. Reception was sketchy and never guaranteed. That was a painful reality when you lived somewhere like Absaroka County.

Right now, she and Walt were on their own. For now.

Vic paused and moved over to the side of the road where trees offered her cover. She could just see the cabin and she could see Colter looking around and checking things out. His plan seemed incredibly reckless in her mind and went against training and normal procedure. But, to be fair, she and Walt were guilty of tossing procedure out the window themselves.

Who was she to judge?

She wondered how much of his story about his friendship with Mason was true. She was willing to bet some of it was based in reality. But, she was smart enough to know that it wasn't necessarily the whole truth.

Or, even Finn Mason's truth.

Perspective was a funny thing like that.

Colter cast a quick look over his shoulder. She was pretty sure he couldn't see her as she pressed into the tree line. That might have been his intention. To ensure that she wasn't visible. Who knew?

It was a small, simple cabin. For hunting, probably. It wouldn't be much more than a living area, something resembling a small kitchen, and a sleeping area. Possibly all in one large space. She figured it probably didn't have a bathroom. Not that it mattered. It would be a sufficient space for a hunter or hunters who simply wanted a roof over their hands and to not be burdened with carrying tents.

It was older. That much was obvious. The roof looked like it probably leaked and the front window was cracked in the pane. Vic guessed it didn't make a huge difference if you were a fugitive from the law and looking for somewhere to hide. Beggars couldn't be choosers. Her mind wanted to run through all of the ways that this could play out. She knew most of them would not be good. But, she was trying to keep her focus on the here and now. There was no need to get ahead of herself.

She simply needed to be ready.

For what? She wasn't quite sure. But, her mind was sharp and her body felt tense and ready This was where there training and experience came into play. This was where her reliance on Walt was always at it's greatest.

Their entire relationship was originally forged in situations like these. It was imperative that there be a certain amount of trust between colleagues. Her trust in Walt came early and easier than she could've imagined after he hired her. She always hoped that she provided him with the same level of assurance.

Colter was walking around the cabin with his weapon drawn and seemingly ready. Vic watched the scene unfold and it felt almost like she was watching a movie. She moved in closer slowly, but steadily. Around her, a cool breeze ruffled some loose strands of her hair and the few leaves that hadn't fallen yet. Her boots crunched over the leaf remnants that littered the ground.

She could hear Colter announce himself in a loud voice to Mason and make a calm plea to come out and talk to him. Vic waited with her eyes on Colter. Only the wind stirred. From her point of view, there was no movement from in or around the cabin other than Colter. Her eyes flicked from the front door to the front window. If he was in there, he wasn't letting anyone know about it.

Colter again called out. She could only hear some of his words, but she knew the gist of what he was saying. Vic took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The speed of her heart sped up a bit at the prospect that this entire plan wouldn't pan out in the manner that Colter wanted it to. Not that it would surprise her. The entire situation seemed precarious at absolute best. Vic looked away, and her eyes again moved to the tree line. She knew that Walt was there somewhere, keeping out of sight. Still, the knowledge that he was around gave her a measure of comfort. Walt would always have her back. Just like she would have his.

Vic turned her attention back to the cabin. Colter was still alone and there was no movement from within the cabin. Vic steadied her hand and started to move closer. Colter looked in her direction, but it wasn't possible for them to make any substantial eye contact given the distance and the tree cover.

He slowly moved to the window near the door and peered in. Vic knew the drill. He was trying to get a visual of the main room. He was preparing to enter the cabin one way or another. Seemingly satisfied with what he did or didn't see, Colter moved by the window and placed his hand on the knob. Giving it a turn, the door opened.

Easing it open, he called Mason's name. In a lower voice this time. Vic started up the road again, still keeping close to the trees that bordered it. Something in her gut pulled when Colter stepped into the cabin and out of her line of sight. She wondered how good of friends they really were and what Colter was willing to sacrifice for this entire situation.

Colter didn't close the door behind himself. Vic sped up her pace, nearly jogging at that point. Just before she reached the cabin, she heard something that sounded like a crash and then the unmistakable sounds of gunshots.

xxx

Walt was tense. It was impossible not to be. The oddity of the scenario was not lost on him. He was watching Vic watch Colter. While she was supposed to be backing up Colter, Walt was doing the same for her. But, without Colter's knowledge. He still wasn't a fan of this entire plan, but Vic and Cady's logic was hard to argue with. It was the same line he toed so frequently. The line between working effectively with Vic and protecting her.

Keeping her safe was a goal of his before they ever embarked on a romantic relationship. Becoming intimate only strengthened that resolve. The deeper their connection became, the stronger the urge. He already lost one love to violence. The thought of it happening again was too immense to consider.

Some days, he knew his retiring was the better option. Surely doing this on a day to day basis would have driven him to insanity. And, he would have done the same to Vic. He knew that she appreciated his concern and his willingness to do whatever needed to be done. But, at the same time, he knew she had limits to how much of his protectiveness she could handle at any given time. She was independent. While that was something he would never change about her, it could be problematic when he went into overprotective husband mode.

Despite his large frame, he moved stealthily through the brush, keeping Vic within his line of sight. He had a flashing thought that Henry would be proud. There was a strong impulse to let her know where he was, but that wasn't the plan. The safety of everyone made it important that they stick to the plan.

He was unable to see Colter and what he was doing. But, he knew that Vic was watching the Marshal. He could tell by the way that she moved and the direction that her eyes stayed. She was hyper focused and that was the way it should be. She would know that he would keep her safe from his place within the trees.

He heard Colter call out, although the man's words were lost to the distance that spanned between them. He would be calling out to Mason more than likely. That would be procedure anyway, not that any of this seemed within the lines of normality. But, the two men supposedly shared a personal relationship. One than ran deeper than they all realized to start with.

But, they knew now.

It only increased his distrust of both Colter and Mason. He knew how deep the emotional ties that came with true friendship could run. There wasn't much he wouldn't do for Henry. He loved the man and the feeling was mutual. In some ways, they were brothers despite their outward differences.

Vic was increasing her pace. As a result, Walt found it increasingly difficult to keep up. As far as he could see, nothing happened. Not yet, at least. But, from her vantage point, Vic might see something that he was unable to. He didn't like the feeling that stoked inside of him. He wasn't a fan of only having a portion of the picture. He wanted the entire thing.

Walt pressed on, keeping Vic within his sight even as he fell back a bit. There was a chance now that he was making more noise, but with everything that was going on, he was hopeful that no one would hear it. Maybe Vic. But, she knew he was here already. Colter was too far away and preoccupied with the cabin and Mason.

The only wild card was Mason.

They didn't know where he was and what he might do. That was the big question mark in all of this. Was he even at this location? Colter was going off of a hunch as far as they knew. Hunches could be wrong. But, this was the first time he included them in this site despite the fact that he told them he checked it out earlier.

Another reason not to trust him.

There was no way to verify anything that he was saying. Walt learned long ago not take a man at his word who hadn't proven himself. Colter fell into that category as far as he was concerned. In truth, he would be glad when all of this was over and they were free to put all of it behind them.

Vic stopped, causing Walt to pause and listen. A good breeze was blowing. He could hear it moving the branches of the trees. Another reminder that winter was coming in and pushing autumn out. It was a cold wind. Other than that, he didn't hear much. He could hear his own heart beating in his ears, his breathing.

Vic took a step and he could hear the sound of her boots over the narrow dirt road she was on. It was the kind of road you didn't want to meet another vehicle on. Although, with the remoteness of this location, that wasn't very likely.

Something in the situation prompted Walt to pull his Colt from his holster. He still missed his old one, the one lost to the fire. Change was hard for him. But, this one was growing on him. Vic had teased him about not selecting something newer. Different. But, she didn't have room to talk seeing as how she did the exact same thing.

She would simply roll her eyes and say that was the gun she felt most comfortable with. He would smile and say the same.

With his gun in his hand, Walt considered his next move. In the quiet that surrounded him, he heard the familiar crack of gunshots.

xxx

Vic broke into a run towards the cabin. All things considered, she didn't know what else to do. Before she made it halfway, the front door was filled with the fast moving figure of Mitch Colter. He came through, never bothering to close it and came down the short steps to the ground. He jogged towards her, closing the distance between them.

"Did you see him?"

Vic gave him an odd look that was full of questions.

"Mason?"

He nodded with a slightly wild eyed expression. It reminded her of the day he came out of nowhere, yelling and startling both she and Mason.

"Yeah, he surprised me. Was armed."

He pushed the words out with haste. Vic looked around, her instincts coming onto full alert and her eyes scanning the area around her.

"Did you fire or did he?"

Mason glanced at the gun that was still in his hand.

"I fired at him when I saw the gun. Missed."

Vic shook her head in response to his original question.

"No, he didn't come out this way."

Colter ran a hand through his hair and muttered words she couldn't hear, but assumed they were curses. Colter looked back towards the cabin.

"He went out a side window. You take that way…"

He gestured off to the opposite side of the cabin.

"…I'll go this way."

Vic hesitated. If Mason was running around armed, she questioned the wisdom of going after him full tilt without real backup. Colter looked her way, sensing the pause and cocked his head. He was clearly agitated and she wasn't helping.

"What?"

Before Vic could give a voice to her thoughts, she detected movement off to the side and behind her. She didn't need to turn her head to know that it was, Walt. But, she did. She knew the moment that Colter saw him as well. His face darkened and his eyes moved back to her.

"What the hell?"

Walt approached, his eyes on Colter. Colter was still looking between them.

"You told me that no one knew."

Vic shook her head at him.

"It was too risky not to. You should've known that."

He stared at her for a moment before he spoke.

"I trusted you, Vic."

Vic bit her bottom lip as Walt stepped up beside her.

"I'm sorry."

It was all she offered. A myriad of emotions crossed Colter's face. He was clearly on the verge of saying something. But, he never got the chance.

A shot rang out and they scattered without any more conversation or thought. Walt grabbed Vic by the shoulder and shoved her towards the trees as she moved into a stooped position and readied her own gun.

Dirt scuffled under their feet as they made it to the trees without any more shots being fired. Colter darted in the same direction and the trio found themselves sheltering together along the line of branches.

Walt and Vic noticed almost immediately that Colter was holding his arm.

"Shit!"

He pushed out the curse through gritted teeth. Blood was starting to seep through his fingers. Walt's hand closed over his shoulder and pulled him in closer.

"Let me see it."

Colter let his hand fall away. Walt immediately pulled the arm up for closer inspection. He shoved at Colter's jacket.

"Take this off."

Colter did as told without comment. Walt passed the jacket to Vic and pulled the man's outer shirt loose. Ripping a strip free, he started to wrap up the bullet wound.

"Looks pretty minor."

Colter inhaled deeply as Walt tightened the makeshift bandage.

"Hurts like hell."

Walt nodded in acceptance of that comment.

"I'm sure it does."

With the wound wrapped, Colter carefully pulled his jacket back on and shook his head. He looked back towards the cabin as Walt spoke again.

"You should get to the hospital."

Colter was staring off in the distance and didn't seem to hear Walt. He took a step away and partially out into the open. Walt reached for his uninjured arm.

"Colter!"

He injected volume into his voice in an attempt to draw the man's attention. It failed. Colter pulled away from Walt and seemed fixated.

"Son of a bitch."

Without another word, he took off at a run and for the cabin.

"I see him!"

Vic grabbed for him, but he was already out of reach.

She gave Walt a look.

"Shit."