Ch. 32: Taking aim
"Why don't you take today off?"
Vic looked up from her coffee.
"What?"
She was already dressed for work.
Walt came all the way into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Take today off. Your father will be in town later on…"
Vic lowered her coffee cup and shook her head slightly.
"I don't even know what time he's going to be here, Walt. It likely won't be until this afternoon. You expect me just to sit around here all day waiting. Not likely."
She sipped her coffee before she spoke again.
"So…are you offering this out of the goodness of your heart or…to keep my dad out of the office."
She halfway smiled at him when she said it. Walt shifted on his feet and leaned on the counter.
"Nothing will keep your dad out of the office if that's where he wants to be. I just thought you might need the time."
She chewed on her bottom lip and sighed.
"I'll work. He'll call me when he gets here. Or…he'll go by the trailer park and call me when he realizes that my RV isn't there. That will be a fun conversation since he has no idea that I've moved."
Walt considered her.
"You didn't tell anyone."
"Nope. Not after the last fiasco with Michael and his phone."
He couldn't blame here there. Those were less than ideal circumstances to find out something so personal about your child. It wasn't unlike him and Cady. On that level, he could sympathize with Victor Moretti. Although, he knew there would be no sympathy from Victor. The man did not like him at all. He didn't like the idea of Vic being with Walt. There wasn't much Walt could do about that. He and Victor had gotten off on the wrong foot. He wasn't sure there was anything he could do about that now.
"You're quiet."
Walt found her watching him closely.
"No way to keep it from him now."
"Nope. Are you ready for that?"
"Are you?"
He tossed the question back at her. Vic made a predictable face.
"No."
He reached out with his free hand and placed it on her shoulder, squeezing lightly.
"It'll be okay."
She didn't look convinced. Not that he felt all that convinced. His own nerves felt slightly raw from all of this.
"Right."
She sounded about as he expected.
Walt slipped his hand from her shoulder and set his coffee cup down.
"Hungry? I can make some breakfast."
"No thanks. Couldn't eat."
He wasn't hungry either.
She gave him an uneasy smile and started out of the kitchen.
"You know…"
Vic stopped and turned, waiting for him to finish.
"You're not alone in this."
She gave him a smile, but didn't respond. Walt watched her go and he could hear her go into the bedroom. She would finish getting ready before heading out. He was trying to be positive for her sake. But, she knew that. He could tell. That meant it really wouldn't do any good.
He was apprehensive about Victor Moretti's visit. There was no way around it. He'd only met Vic's father once in person and the man made his feelings clear then. He didn't like Walt. He didn't like Vic working for Walt. He didn't like Vic living in Durant.
He sure wasn't going to like Vic living with Walt.
Walt assumed he was coming to try and talk some sense into his daughter. The timing seemed odd, though. It wasn't like he just found out about them. Unless, he was biding his time and giving them all time to think about what was going on. That didn't quite feel right either. That was one of many reasons this sudden visit left him feeling unsettled. Victor had time to process everything. This wasn't something he was doing out of sheer reaction. Maybe Vic inherited her impulsiveness from her mother.
He hadn't met Lena Moretti yet. What he knew came from Vic and it was obvious that her relationship with her mother was beyond complicated. Even more than with her father. He tried to see this all from two sides. On the one hand, he was a father himself. He had gone, was going through something similar with Cady. He could certainly empathize. The flip side of the coin was that he was the man in Vic's life. The one that her father didn't like.
At all.
"You should get moving."
Vic had reappeared in the kitchen entryway. She was now wearing her holstered Glock, cuffs, and badge. Her work boots were on her feet. She obviously planned to go to work regardless. Maybe it was for the best. If she was off, she would only stew in her thoughts. She would be better off occupied.
"Yeah."
Vic looked at him for a long moment, her eyes shifting over him in a way that he was never entirely comfortable with. She was reading him, or trying to. She was generally successful at that. Her chest expanded with a breath.
"Don't worry about it. Let me do that."
He didn't need any clarification. He knew what she was talking about.
"That's impossible. Especially where you're concerned."
She rolled her eyes with a smile at the comment and crossed the kitchen to stand in front of him. Looping her arms around his neck, she gave him the best smile that she could muster considering everything.
"I appreciate it. But, he's my father. This is my problem. I'll deal with him."
Walt dipped his chin slightly.
"That's not how this works. This isn't just your problem, Vic."
Her eyes held his.
"My dad doesn't like you."
"He's made that clear."
"It might be best if you just…stayed out of it."
"He's not just coming to see you, Vic. I think we both know that. It's not going to do much for his opinion of me if I hide out and avoid him. Let you take the brunt. Can't do it."
He kissed her lightly on the mouth. Vic pressed into the contact before she slid from his grasp and patted his chest.
"Honorable. But…you might regret that."
xxx
She wished the day was busier. It would keep her occupied if nothing else. Her mother hadn't given her any information on what time her father would be here. She simply said he was flying out in the morning. Vic figured it would likely be afternoon before he made it to Durant. Maybe later if there were layovers. It would take him some time to drive out depending on which airport he flew into.
She wasn't looking forward to it.
Vic knew what Walt was trying to do. She appreciated it. She just couldn't muster up any real optimism. She knew now how Walt's first visit from Victor Moretti went and there was nothing positive about it. That combined with the way that her father reacted when he found out that they were in a relationship did nothing for her confidence that he wasn't flying out here to try and talk some sense into her.
There was a good chance he would never accept them together.
She was acutely aware of that.
She didn't need her parents' approval. Never had. Never would. It would be easier, though, if there was some level of acceptance. Especially from her father who raised disapproving of her life choices to an art form. Her mother was a different matter entirely. There was no reason to there right now. Worrying about one parent at a time was enough.
She knew that her father blamed Walt for her getting shot. Not matter how much she insisted otherwise, that idea was firmly rooted in his mind. Finding out the shooting caused her to miscarry hadn't done Walt any favors in Victor's eyes.
Vic leaned back in her chair and tipped her head back, looking up at the ceiling. She never was good at waiting. Why change now?
With a sigh, she pushed back from her chair and stood up slowly. It was early afternoon and the street below was bustling with people going to and from their jobs and lunch. She retreated from the window and walked over to the water cooler to fill up her Flyers mug. She sipped the water and set the mug back on her desk. She nearly sat back down, but didn't. She just felt so damn restless. If she weren't at work, she would go for a run and burn off the excess energy.
Ruby was busy working and didn't pay her much attention. Zach and Ferg were both out working, leaving her as the only other occupant of the space. Except for Walt. He was in his office with the door closed. Vic wandered over and tapped on the door before she opened it. He didn't look at all surprised to see her. Quite the opposite. He looked almost as if he had been expecting her.
"Busy?"
Walt shook his head at her inquiry and gestured her in.
"No. Come in."
She closed the door behind her and crossed his office. Walt's eyes tracked her as she sat down on the couch in his office.
"Everything okay?"
"Sure."
The reply was flat. Walt turned his chair so that he was facing her fully.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
She shrugged.
"I don't even know what it is."
"Your dad visiting."
She let her head fall back against the couch and looked at him.
"It's not just that. I mean it is…but…"
Vic shook her head.
"I wouldn't mind him coming if I knew he wasn't coming to tell me that I've made yet another terrible choice in life. I do…miss them. I just wish we could be more like a normal family."
"Every family has their problems. Yours isn't all that different."
She narrowed her eyes.
"My family is a freak show."
"I'm sure…everyone feels that way once in a while. I…lied to my daughter about how her mother died."
His point was valid.
"You were trying to protect her."
"Your father is trying to protect you."
"From you?"
"Apparently."
She thought about it for a moment.
"I get what you're saying. But…you eventually told Cady the truth and apologized. That means you see that what you did was wrong. You and Cady are doing good. My dad…never apologizes for anything. I don't think it's ever occurred to him that he might be wrong. That's…problematic. He doesn't approve of…any part of my life. Not me living here. Not me working for you. Or, being with you."
"You won't work for me much longer."
"Then, he'll want to know why I didn't run for Sheriff. That'll open up a whole other issue. Jesus, I know that I don't always make the best choices, but…damn. He's gonna flip his shit all over again when he finds out I'm living with you."
She admittedly thought about not telling him. But, he knew where she was living before. He would recognize the change. He was a detective. That was what he did. Lying to him about her current living situation would only make the truth that much worse when he found out. So, she didn't see the point in keeping anything else from him at this point.
Walt didn't have any real response to that. Vic lifted her head and sat forward.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come in here and dump all this on you."
Walt shrugged.
"I don't mind."
She smiled for the first time since entering his office. Slowly, she stood up.
"I should just stop worrying. This is probably why my mother told me."
"So you would worry about it?"
He sounded mildly surprised by the idea.
"Yep."
"Maybe she told you so that you would have some warning."
Vic gave him a skeptical look.
"You're cute when you're al hopeful like that. My mother doesn't do anything out of the goodness of her heart. Everything has a purpose. Nine times out of ten it's to get under someone's skin. Usually mine."
"Maybe you're too much alike."
Her head tilted to one side.
"Say that again and you will be a very lonely man.
He tossed her an appropriately apologetic look.
"Sorry."
"You should be. You've never met my mother. When you do, you will understand."
"I'll take your word for it."
That was the safest option.
Vic tugged her phone from her pocket and looked at the time. Frowning, she slipped it back into her jeans and sighed.
"I am going out to…write tickets. Why should I be the only one having a bad day?"
With that, she left his office.
xxx
Walt busied himself with work in an attempt to keep his own mind occupied. He didn't blame Vic for wanting to be out doing something. She wasn't exactly a person of a still nature. He was feeling like he could use some fresh air himself. Outside his office, he found Ruby and Ferg. They both gave him cursory glances as he walked through the office with his hat in his hand. Vic's desk was empty. There was nothing shocking about that. Chances were he would have heard her if she came back.
Walt looked out the window next to Vic's desk.
"Need something, Sheriff?"
The question came from Ferg.
Walt shook his head.
"No. Just…going out for a bit."
Ferg nodded and went back to his work.
Walt left the office and took the stairs down to the street. The sun was shining outside. Soon, he would need his jacket during the day. He glanced down the street and considered his options. He didn't really have a plan in his mind. He didn't really have anything to do or anywhere to go.
Opting to walk down towards the Busy Bee, he started that way when he heard his name.
"Sheriff Longmire."
Walt stopped, but didn't turn immediately. He knew that voice.
Walt turned slowly, bracing himself and keeping his expression neutral.
"Chief Moretti."
This time around, Victor Moretti didn't offer his hand or much in the way of pleasantries. He stopped a couple of feet from Walt. Victor was wearing a white button down and khaki pants. Walt figured that was casual wear for the Chief of Detectives.
"I assume you knew I was coming. I know my wife told Vic."
Walt dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
"Yes."
Victor looked to the side and considered the building.
"Is Vic in?"
"No."
"Do you know where she is?"
"She's out working?"
"Chasing federal fugitives on her own again?"
Walt refused to allow the barb to pierce him as it was intended. He wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction of thinking he actually got to him. His best defense was staying entirely in control of the situation.
"She's out patrolling."
"Ah. Sounds exciting."
Walt refrained from pointing out that if her job was exciting, it would anger her father because it would likely mean danger.
"It's…her job."
"So, it is."
Victor leaned back for a moment, studying him. Walt didn't waver under his stare. Finally, Victor looked around again, taking in his surroundings.
"Is there anywhere to get a decent lunch around here?"
Walt pointed.
"Busy Bee. Just over there."
"Is that where you were heading?"
"I was just taking a walk."
Victor nodded.
"Well…why don't you take a walk over and let's have a talk."
Walt shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"Chief…"
"I wanted to talk to you anyway. So…let's go."
He could have argued. He could have refused. Neither of those seemed like the best option considering how the man already felt about him. So, he found himself taking a seat in the Busy Bee and giving Dorothy a smile as they ordered.
Once they were alone, Victor leaned his arms on the table and leaned forward a little.
"I hear you're retiring."
Walt sipped his iced tea.
"Yep."
"Why?"
"It's time."
Victor nodded absently.
"My wife tells me to retire at least once a week. Haven't done it yet."
Walt didn't have any idea what the point of that statement was.
"Just…feels like time."
"Because of Vic?"
Walt took a breath.
"I am retiring because I have been doing this job for a long time and it takes a toll."
"Right. So…Vic wasn't interested in running for Sheriff?"
"If you have questions about Vic, you'll have to ask her."
He wasn't walking into that trap. Not voluntarily. He already wasn't comfortable with this situation. There was no need to complicate it by telling her father something that Vic didn't want him to know. He wasn't always included on the conversations she had with her parents. And, he didn't pry.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
He answered firmly.
Their food arrived which bought Walt a few minutes. Walt busied himself with eating his usual, which was meatloaf with mashed potatoes.
"Why can't you just let her go?"
The question was direct and caught him entirely off guard. Walt lifted his eyes to find Victor looking at him with sharp eyes. The eyes of a man who was accustomed to asking questions and finding answers.
"What?"
"Vic. Why do you want to keep her here? A man of your stature in a small town."
Walt got the implication. He set his fork down and leaned back in his chair.
"I'm not keeping her here. She's here because this is where she chooses to live."
"Because of you. Because of some…misguided loyalty to you. You have the power to change that, Sheriff."
"I don't have any power over Vic, Chief. She makes her own decisions."
"Says you."
Walt sighed.
"You have a daughter, right?"
"Yes."
"Then, I would expect for you to understand where I'm coming from."
Walt looked down, searching for a reply. It seemed pointless. Victor's mind was made up and there was nothing he could say that would change it.
"I try to respect my daughter's wishes, Chief. She's an adult."
"Right. Yo…"
"Walt."
He turned to see Dorothy holding up a phone in his direction.
"It's Vic for you."
He tossed his napkin on the table and rose.
"Excuse me."
He walked over to the counter and took the phone from Dorothy.
"Vic, what's up?"
He heard background noise, a lot of it. She was driving and there was static to her cell phone signal.
"Walt, I got some lunatic out here who won't pull over and he's head towards town fast."
"You need me?"
"No, just thought I would call to chat. Yes, I need you."
She was heavy on the sarcasm.
"Where are you?"
xxx
She noticed the car weaving from a distance. The first time he crossed the center line, she narrowed her eyes and studied the vehicle. He crossed the line again and nearly clipped an oncoming car. Vic pressed her boot down on the gas to close the distance between them.
The driver had to be drunk the way that he weaving his car all over the road. She switched on her lights and pulled up directly behind him. Instead of slowing down and pulling over, the car sped up. Vic gritted her teeth.
One of those.
She continued to follow him. It was man and she saw him look at her in his rearview mirror. He knew that she was back there. He just chose not to pull over. Instead, he continued to speed up.
Was he actually trying to lose her or what?
Vic checked her speed. She was going eighty and the jackass was steadily climbing.
Her first call was to Ruby. Neither Zach or Ferg was currently in. Zach was running radar on the other side of the county and Ferg had left early for the day. That left Walt as her best chance.
"He stepped out. Probably to get lunch."
Vic sighed.
"Okay."
"Want me to try the Busy Bee?"
"I'll do it."
Vic ended the call and dialed the Busy Bee. Sometimes, Walt's refusal to carry a damn phone was a hell of a lot more annoying than others. Dorothy answered pleasantly and then turned all business when Vic asked for Walt. Anyone who had known him for any length of time was accustomed to this brand of looking for Walt.
"Vic, what's up?"
"Walt, I got some lunatic out here who won't pull over and he's headed towards town fast."
"You need me?"
Dumb question. Why else would she be calling him?
"No, just thought I would call to chat. Yes, I need you."
To his credit he didn't miss a beat.
"Where are you?"
Vic gave him her location quickly and tossed her phone onto the console beside her. She had to speed up to keep up with the driver. If he was actually trying to flee, he wasn't doing a good job of it since there was really nowhere for him to go.
Vic glanced in her mirror.
By some stroke of luck, except for the car the dumbass almost hit, there weren't any other cars to speak of. Not yet, anyway. That would change the closer they got to town. Walt would be coming from that way.
Her phone rang. Vic reached over and answered it on speaker.
"Yeah?"
"Vic, I've got Walt for you."
There was a burst of static just before he spoke. He would be in the Bronco on his radio.
"I'm headed your way. What's he doing?"
"Same thing. Just faster. He's got to be drunk or…high or something, Walt. He's all over the road."
There was more static.
"I'll put the Bronco across the road. He'll either hit it, stop, or run off the road. Either way, that should stop him."
She winced at the idea of the car hitting the Bronco.
"Just make sure you're not in it."
"Will do. It's a Camaro?"
"Yep, older model. Probably was red once upon a time."
"Okay."
Vic kept pace with the car. They would be to Walt within a matter of minutes. He would have just enough time to get in position. The car was tossing up dirt and rocks off the road as his tires churned. If he hit the Bronco, it was going to be a mess.
The stretch of road was flat and open.
She could see Walt a good ways before they reached him. The Bronco's lights were on and it was sitting across the road with Walt standing off to the side. Vic tightened her grip on the wheel and tried to mentally prepare herself for whatever was about to happen.
She found that harder since the shooting.
"Vic pushed the thought out of her head. It didn't serve any purpose at all.
In front of her, the Camaro gunned its engine in what she hoped was an attempt to scare Walt. It wasn't like there was any time for him to change his mind and get the Bronco off the road.
She expected the driver to either try and go around the Bronco. So, she was surprised when he slammed on his brakes at the last minutes and the tires slid on the road unable to find any grip. Vic applied her own brakes as the Camaro fishtailed and went off the road just missing the front hood of the Bronco. It threw up a wave of dirt, rocked, and skidded to a stop.
Vic pulled up beside it just as the driver thrust open the door and jumped out.
A runner.
Great.
Vic jerked her door open and slid out, her boots hitting the ground hard.
"Son of a bitch."
She muttered the words as she broke into a run. Walt also gave chase, but her position put her closer and she covered the ground between them, taking the man down with a leaping tackle that sent them both rolling.
She ended up on top, as she planned, and the man grunted as he hit the ground and Vic dug her knee into his back. She yanked his arms around behind him as Walt appeared in her periphery and knelt down to hold the wriggling man while Vic cuffed him.
She was out of breath when she stood up and there was a now familiar pain in her leg.
One that she hated.
Walt pulled the man up and held him still while he glanced at Vic.
"You okay?"
She nodded and ran a hand over her face.
"Yeah. Fine."
Their eyes met for mere seconds before he nodded and pushed the man towards the Bronco.
Vic rubbed at the sore spot on her thigh and followed along. Giving herself a quick glance, she could see that her jeans were streak with dirt and her boots were scuffed up. Walt put the handcuffed man into the back of the Bronco as Vic came around the hood trying to walk perfectly normal. Despite the attempt, she knew that he saw her and he paused one more time.
"You sure you're okay?"
Vic cleared her throat.
"I'm good. Let's get him to jail."
xxx
He knew she had issues with the leg.
He understood. A bullet wound was a serious injury. The area frequently never felt the same again. Most of the time, she was perfectly fine. She didn't have any pain on a daily basis. All that was left of the bullet that nearly took her life was a scar that was slowly fading.
The man was young and quite obviously high on something, although he couldn't say what without blood tests. That would come after the man was booked and depended on whether or not he wanted an attorney. He sat in the back thumping his head against the side of the Bronco, not responding to any questions that Walt asked him.
At the office, he pulled the man out and fished in his pocket for his wallet.
Rick Norris. Aged twenty.
Walt shook his head as she passed the young man off to Ferg for booking. Vic came in behind him. She was dirty and it was obvious she had been involved in a tackle. Some of her hair had pulled loose from her ponytail. She swiped at it with her hand as she wandered over to the water cooler and filled her Flyers mug. Vic drank the water in a few gulps and set her mug aside.
The cell clanged shut as Vic looked to Walt.
"He say anything useful?"
Walt shook his head.
"No. We'll process him. Give him some time to come down."
She sighed.
"He looks like a damn child."
"Twenty."
"Shit."
Ruby appeared and gave Vic the once over.
"Vic, you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Good. Your father is waiting in Walt's office."
Vic looked at Ruby sharply.
"What?"
"Your father. He told me he was at the Busy Bee with Walt when you called. Asked if he could wait here for you."
Vic turned her eyes on him and they were full of questions that he didn't want to answer.
"Lunch?"
"Yeah…uh…he…"
Ruby glanced between them before she went back to her own desk.
Vic took Walt's arm and pulled him aside.
"You were having lunch with my dad?"
"Not voluntarily. He showed up while you were you. I was…going for a walk…and there he was."
"So, you invited him to lunch?"
She sounded incredulous at the idea. Walt shrugged, not knowing exactly how to explain it all. Vic bowed her head and exhaled loudly.
"Great."
She sounded like it was anything but. Squaring her shoulders, she placed her hand on the knob to Walt's office.
"This should be fun."
Victor Moretti stood when Vic opened the door.
"Vic!"
He ran his eyes over her, no doubt cataloguing the way that she looked.
"You look like hell."
Vic didn't look amused by the remark.
"Thanks."
Her father pulled her into a hug, which she did return before pulling away.
"How was your flight?"
"It was good. The drive out here…"
He shook his head indicating his displeasure.
"You catch the guy?"
Vic nodded.
"Yeah."
His eyes shifted between her and Walt.
"Looks like you're the one who did the dirty work. Guess that shouldn't surprise me."
"Dad."
There was an edge to her voice. Victor raised his hand in mock surrender.
"Just calling it like I see it."
"You got somewhere to stay."
"Yes, here in town. What time do you get off?"
She started to answer when Walt spoke up.
"Go ahead and go."
She looked his way, but didn't respond. Her father, however, made a noise.
"I suppose there are some advantages to…"
"Jesus, dad!"
Vic cut off her father and pushed out a heavy breath.
"I need to go and get cleaned up. You already had lunch."
She tossed Walt a look when she said the last part.
"But…we can go have a drink."
Victor nodded.
"I can follow you to the trailer park."
Vic shook her head.
"No. I'm not…I have a change of clothes. I can clean up here."
Her father nodded.
"Fine then. I'll uh…wait here. With Walt."
The comment caused Vic to hesitate. Walt gave her a barely perceptible nod and she hurried off. He was willing to bet she was about to break the speed record for changing her clothes.
Once she was gone, Victor turned to him.
"You know…I don't think much of a man who lets a woman do the dirty work."
Walt didn't let the comment get to him the way it was intended.
"It's her job, Chief."
"Right."
Victor looked towards the door.
"That the leg she was shot in?"
Walt glanced at the spot that Vic vacated.
"If Vic says she's fine. She's fine."
His response was clipped and earned him a look that told him what Victor Moretti thought.
He could see there was something else the man wanted to say. But, Vic reappeared and seemed to let out a breath of relief.
"Dad. Let's go."
Victor gave him another long look before he nodded and went with his daughter.