Ch. 6: Murky
Vic was up and out before him. He rolled over in the bed and found the space beside him empty. Walt turned onto his back and rubbed his eyes with his hands, trying to find some clarity. He got up slowly and dressed. As far as he knew, she hadn't woken up the previous night. That was no guarantee and he knew it. He could have very well slept through it.
He smelled coffee and found that it seemed freshly made. Walt considered the coffee before he scanned the cabin. She obviously wasn't inside. His first thought was that she might've walked out to the barn. Shoving his feet into his boots, he stepped out on the porch, the early morning light greeting him.
He shuffled out two steps and stopped. He hadn't expected to find her on the bench, but there she was. Vic sat with her body angled towards the front yard. One leg was pulled up and the other dangled, touching the boards of the porch. The scuffed toe of her boot, made a slow path over the board directly beneath it. She was wearing her Flyers hoodie and jeans. Her hair was still down and fell partially over one shoulder.
She seemed to be looking at something in the distance. Keeping her eyes forward, she held up the coffee cup that was cradled in her hands.
"There's coffee."
Walt rubbed his face again.
"I noticed."
He walked slowly down the porch and lowered his frame down on the bench beside her. One hand landed on her thigh.
"What are you looking at?"
Vic finally turned her eyes away, blinking.
"It's snowing in the mountains."
Walt looked by her. He could see the shadowy white caps atop the mountains in the distance. Snow at that elevation this time of the year wasn't uncommon. On the contrary, it was the norm.
"Yep."
"When do you think we'll get our first snow?"
She sounded conversational. Walt inhaled the cool morning air.
"Hard to say. Maybe mid to late October."
Vic scrunched up her face.
"Think so?"
Walt shrugged.
"Don't know. It's just a guess. Could be earlier. Could be later."
Vic shook her head at him.
"You're about as accurate as a meteorologist."
Walt smiled a little.
"Why the sudden interest?"
Vic raised her cup and blew on her coffee.
"Just thinking."
Walt removed his hand from her leg and stretched it out behind her.
"Did you ever talk to Henry?"
"Yeah."
She sipped her coffee.
"And?"
"Told him I would give it a trial run."
Vic nodded and turned her eyes back to the mountains. She didn't venture any further into that topic. Walt ran his free hand over the leg of his jeans.
"What has you up so early?"
The question earned him a look.
"Would you believe me if I told you that it was your snoring?"
She smiled when she said it, a slow smile that crept across her face like the sun rising.
"I don't snore that loud."
Her shoulders shook with a laugh.
"Sometimes…you do. Anyway, the sun was coming up so…"
She let the thought trail off before she picked it back up.
"I went to the barn."
A trace of a smile crossed his face. Vic leaned his way.
"What?"
Walt shook his head.
"Nothing."
She elbowed him lightly.
"What?"
There was more force behind the word. And, more humor. Walt allowed the smile to take over his features.
"I just…a few years ago…would you have imagined yourself saying that exact sentence?"
She rolled her eyes.
"No. I would not have."
His hand shifted from the back of the bench to her shoulder, his palm closing over it and tugging her towards him.
"Things change."
Vic's head dipped.
"Yeah, they do. Whoever thought you would retire from the job of Sheriff to become a bouncer for Henry."
"Security."
She lifted her mug with a smile.
"Same difference, babe. Same difference."
Vic's eyes dropped to his wrist where his watch sat.
"What time is it?"
Walt glanced down.
"Almost seven-thirty."
Her face fell a bit and she looked down into her cup.
"I should change for work."
"You could take the morning off."
Vic stood up, coffee cup in hand.
"I could. But…I'm in the middle of an investigation. And, I have some people to question. So…"
He nodded slowly.
"I know."
He stood and followed her into the cabin. Vic set her empty cup on the table and started for the bedroom.
"Vic."
She turned, walking slowly backwards.
"You still planning to take off some time when Cady gets back?"
"Maybe. Why?"
He shrugged.
"Just wondering."
xxx
It was clear from the expression on Jonathan Mixon's face that he hadn't been expecting Vic to follow through on her threat to involve the Cumberland County Sheriff. True to his word, Sheriff Cooper called her just as she walked through the office door offering to ride to the house with her. He met her in a new looking SUV that Vic never remembered seeing Jim Wilkins drive. He extended an invitation for her to leave her truck at the station and ride with him. But, Vic preferred to take her own truck. Being dependent on him for a ride didn't appeal to her.
Now, they sat inside the rundown house with Mixon and his nephew Luke, who looked glum and seemed reluctant to answer their questions. His uncle didn't seem to inspire him to cooperate either. It was grating on Vic's nerves immensely.
"The longer it takes you to tell us the truth, the longer we're gonna be here, Luke."
The stern remark came from Cooper who was seated beside Vic with his arms resting on the table. The young man shifted in his seat. He looked like any other kid in Wyoming his age. There was nothing that stood out about his light brown hair and eyes. He was nervous. But, that wasn't unusual when faced with serious questions regarding the death of a friend.
Luke shifted his eyes to Vic.
"I haven't seen Nate is a week. That's the truth."
Vic ran her fingers lightly over the worn surface of the table.
"Wasn't he supposed to be living with you?"
"Yeah."
"So…"
Vic left the question open ended. Luke scraped one nail over the palm of his hand. Vic shifted her line of questions.
"Your uncle told me yesterday that you were going to some kind of…commune or something. You and Nate. Want to tell me about that?"
He clearly didn't. But, Vic had faced down much more difficult subjects than a scared sixteen-year old boy before. Her eyes settled on him and held his gaze.
"Luke?"
He huffed and started to look away before he seemed to think better of it.
"It's not really a commune. It's…kind of a camp."
"A camp?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, but…they don't like for…outsiders to know about it."
"Outsiders."
"Yeah, people who don't stay there. Outsiders."
Vic leaned in, bracing her elbow on the table.
"So…you stayed there. You and Nate?"
"Some. I didn't like it as much as he did, though. They're too…hippyish for me. You know. All lovey dovey with nature and shi…stuff."
Vic could feel Cooper move beside her.
"This place in Cumberland County?"
Luke moved his eyes away from Vic and over to Cooper.
"No. It's…"
He glanced back at Vic.
"…in Absaroka County. I think, anyway."
Vic bit her lip.
"So…what goes on there?"
He shrugged.
"Just…stuff."
Vic didn't let up.
"What kind of stuff?"
"Just people hanging out…okay?"
His outburst wasn't unexpected. She could see the stress etched into his young face. That was enough to tell her things might be going on there that he didn't want to talk about. Vic cleared her throat, pulling his attention to her face.
"I'm gonna need you to tell me exactly where it is."
He shook his head.
"They don't like cops."
Vic shrugged.
"Your friend is dead, Luke. Do you understand that?"
He nodded a little. Luke lowered his face and looked down into his lap. Minutes passed and Vic could see that he was working up to something. Giving him room to sort out his thoughts, she leaned back in her chair and shared a quick glance with Cooper.
Luke finally looked up.
"Nate was really into it. Said he wanted to stay there. But…I didn't. It's not my thing. So…I left and that's the last time I saw him."
"Has he been going to school?"
Luke shook his head.
"Not really. Maybe a little. But…"
He paused.
"…but, they kept telling him that school isn't all that important and that he could learn more there. That kind of bullshit."
That time, the boy made no attempt to censor himself. He met Vic's eyes and held them.
"I'm telling you the truth, Deputy. I don't know what happened to him. The last time I saw him…he was fine. He told me to bring my uncle his truck back and that he didn't need it anymore. That's…that's all I know. I haven't been back. That place was…kind of creepy."
Alarm bells went off in Vic's mind.
"Creepy?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
His narrow shoulders rose and fell.
"Just a vibe."
It was clear she wasn't going to get much more out of him. She could always take him in for questioning. But, given his body language and his manner, that didn't seem necessary at the moment. There was always time for that later. Pushing him too far might make him clam up even more. His uncle had already threatened to call a lawyer. Vic knew once an attorney was involved, the boy would be advised to stay quiet.
She stood up slowly.
"I think we're done for now. But…I need you to tell me where this place is, Luke. And, I'm not asking."
There was a firmness to her voice that seemed to permeate his defenses. He glanced to the side at his uncle before looking back to Vic and nodded quietly.
xxx
"I guess the ball is back in your court."
Cooper's boots scraped over the concrete driveway as they slowly walked to their vehicles. Vic pulled her sunglasses out and put them on. She pulled her phone from her back pocket with a nod.
"Yeah, looks like it. The spot he pointed out is in Absaroka."
Cooper looked relieved by the news and Vic didn't blame him. No one wanted to deal with this kind of mess, especially not a new Sheriff who was still trying to assure the citizens who elected him that he was doing right by them.
Cooper removed his hat and ran his palm over his hair before he replaced the hat and pulled his own sunglasses from the pocket of his crisp looking uniform shirt. Vic wondered how much ironing and starch it took to get that look.
"Thanks for the help."
He smiled at her from underneath the brim of his hat.
"No problem. Glad to help. Wish we had gotten more."
Vic shrugged.
"At least we got something. A day or so ago…all we had were dead ends."
Cooper ducked his face a little.
"I saw too much of this when I was with the highway patrol. Too many crimes and not enough evidence. Had I known when I was first starting out what it would be like, I might've reconsidered my job choices. But…the pay was more attractive than deputy pay and it seemed more exciting. Looking back, it all feels juvenile."
Vic smiled a little, understanding his train of thought. She hadn't been much different once. She figured most young adults starting out in law enforcement would answer in a similar manner.
"That's one of the reasons I wanted to run for Sheriff. I didn't feel like I was making a difference. That bothered me. I figure now…at lest I can help people…in a different manner. Make sure the department is run right. See to it that there's follow through. It's a different world running a county."
Vic nodded.
"I get it. I worked in Philadelphia before I came here. Talk about a different world."
Her voice took on an almost nostalgic tone. Cooper's eyes widened.
"Philadelphia to Durant. That is a different world. I guess you've seen it all."
She gave him a half smile and shook her head.
"Every tine I think that, I find out that I'm wrong. Guess there's always something."
Vic pulled her keys from her jacket pocket and opened her truck door.
"Thanks again."
Cooper lifted his hand and tipped the brim of his hat.
"No problem, Deputy. If you need anything else, let me know."
She flashed him a quick smile and slid behind the wheel, started her truck and pulled out. She wanted to go directly to this so-called camp. Commune. Whatever the hell it was. But, her experience dictated that going into an unknown situation alone wasn't the best idea. That was stupid and irresponsible.
Vic shook the thought from her head.
She would go back to the office to brief Zach and Ferg. They would come up with a plan together. Go together. Safely.
Vic's truck rolled over the road and her mind drifted. What kind of place was it that Luke was talking about? It didn't sound unlike some groups they dealt with the past. And, there was a wide range of mindsets in such places. They were frequently a hotbed for illegal activity of various kinds. They would need to be careful.
Vic pulled into a parking spot and left her truck, walking quickly into the building and up the stairs into the office. Her eyes swept around as she came through the door.
"Where's Ferg?"
Ruby looked up.
"Meg went to the hospital."
The older woman sounded concerned. Vic frowned.
"Is she okay?"
Ruby gave Vic a somber look.
"I don't have any other information."
Vic sighed and shook her head.
"Where's Zach?"
"Patrolling."
Vic nodded and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. He answered on the second ring.
"Hello."
"Zach, it's Vic."
"What's up?"
"Busy?"
"Running radar? Need me?"
Vic sat down at her desk.
"Yeah, come back to the office."
"Sure thing."
Vic disconnected the call and leaned on her desk, her eyes on the window. It would be lunchtime soon. Vic looked across the desk to Ferg's seat and wondered why Meg went to the hospital. She hoped nothing was wrong. Vic closed her eyes and forced down the feeling of dread that she could feel working its way up the back of her throat.
It tasted sour, like bile.
It could be nothing. She reminded herself of that. It was Meg's first pregnancy and she knew what kind of nerves that could bring about. The fears. There was a chance that whatever it was didn't pose a threat to either Meg or the baby.
Vic started to shuffle through the papers on her desk, trying to put it out of her mind.
xxx
"How do you want to play it?"
The question came from Zach sitting in the passenger seat of her truck. Vic slowed the truck as they made a second pass by the dirt driveway. This had to be it. There wasn't anywhere else she could see.
"Carefully, but cool. Right now, we're just questioning them. So…there's no reason to raise any alarms just yet. We need…to get a feel for them, you know?"
He nodded as Vic pulled the truck onto the bumpy, rutted driveway and scanned the trees around them. So far, she didn't see anything through the thick screen of trees that surrounded them. Like many other spots in Absaroka, this one was also remote.
A minute to so later, the trees opened up. Vic looked around. The area was scattered with battered looking cabins and tents thrown up. She glanced at Zach.
"Inviting."
He smiled a little and looked out the window.
"Yeah."
Vic pulled up beside a dusty white van and parked. She and Zach got out and looked around. A handful of people were milling around and all the attention seemed to be drawn to the two of them.
A woman broke away from the small group and headed their way. Her hair was long and uncontained. She wore jeans and men's t-shirt.
"This is private property."
Vic studied the woman.
"Who's in charge?"
The woman gave her a long look.
"This is private property."
Vic gave Zach an amused look and turned her focus back to the woman.
"And this…"
She gestured at herself and Zach.
"…is a police investigation. So…who is in charge?"
The woman sighed and motioned for them to follow her. While they walked, Vic looked around. If she ever wondered what a sixties hippie camp would look like, this is close to the image she would have conjured.
They approached what once might have been a decent cabin. Small, but maybe efficient back in the day. It clearly was left to rot and didn't look very sturdy. The woman glanced at them.
"Wait here, please."
She pulled open a rusty screen door that protested loudly and disappeared. Zach cast a look in Vic's direction.
"This seems like the kind of place you might see in a horror movie."
Vic smiled and dipped her face.
"Yeah, it does. Minus the hippies. Or…maybe not."
The screen door opened again and they both turned their focus to the figure coming through it. Vic figured the man to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His hair was dark, nearly black and curly. The kind of tight curls that would refuse to be tamed. It was grown out enough that it looked unruly. His deep set blue eyes held obvious intelligence. He gave Vic a nature vibe in his loose khaki pants and loose fitting navy blue shirt. He wore flip flops, which seemed like an odd choice given the season. He smiled as he approached them. It was a smile Vic had seen before. The kind that he used to sell whatever it was he wanted people to believe.
"How can I help you?"
His voice was oddly soft. But, he wasn't a particularly large man, comparable in size to Zach, maybe an inch shorter.
"Are you in charge here?"
He looked around as though he were trying to see what 'here' was.
"Is anyone really in charge when we're free?"
Vic fought the urge to roll her eyes. She could already tell that he was going to be annoying.
"Listen Mr…"
She trailed off and waited. He smiled again. Patented.
"Cam."
Vic raised her brow.
"Cam?"
To be honest, she was expecting something earthier. He nodded. Like River.
"Last name?"
His eyes held Vic's, and for a second, it felt like a warped standoff.
"That is short for my last name. Tobias Cameron."
Vic nodded.
"I'm Deputy Moretti. This is Deputy Heflin."
He nodded to each of them.
"What can I do for you? We don't get many strangers."
Something in his manner bothered her. It seemed rehearsed.
"We're looking for information on someone who stayed here."
"Well, we're all looking for something, aren't we, Deputy?"
He tilted his head when he said it. Vic could feel her patience eroding.
"Right. Nate Bradley. Does that name mean anything to you?"
Cam nodded, his eyes on hers.
"I know Nate. But, he's not here. He hasn't been for several days."
"Do you know where he might have gone?"
Cam shook his head.
"No. Everyone here is free to come and go as they please. There are no locks. No gates."
"Right."
She shifted on her feet.
"Nate was found dead. And, we have reason to believe this was the last place he was seen alive."
She watched his face, looking for any reaction that might tip her off to something. His face stayed placid for the most part. But, she noticed the slightest twinge of his jaw.
"That's…that's…terrible."
The words came out haltingly.
"We were hoping that we could talk to some of your people here and try to figure out what happened."
Cam gave her a long look.
"They are not my people. We belong to ourselves. And, we keep to ourselves."
Vic's stance firmed.
"That's not an option. This is a police investigation."
Cam folded his arms across his chest, reaffirming his own position.
"I am sorry about Nate. He was a good young man. He would have been a good man. But, there's nothing here that can help you. I don't see any reason for you to upset anyone any further with this news."
Vic inhaled deeply.
"I can take you to the Sheriff's Department. You know that."
He smiled at her. A different smile.
"You can. However, I should tell you that I will be requesting an attorney and exercising my right to remain silent. Do you have a warrant or…?"
"No."
"Then, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Vic studied the man in front of her, debating what to do. After a moment, she nodded.
"Okay. We'll be back."
He smiled.
"I look forward to it."
Back in her truck, Vic started the engine. Tobias Cameron stood in the same spot watching them. For a moment, their eyes met, then Vic put the truck in reverse and back up.
"Do we have enough to get a warrant?"
Vic pressed the gas and shook her head wordlessly. With that, she pulled out.
xxx
Vic parked her truck and glanced at the empty spot beside her where the Bronco would have been. She pushed out a sigh and got out, slamming the door behind her. She had forgotten that it was Friday. Walt called her earlier to tell her he would be at the Red Pony that evening. She unlocked the door and went in.
Inside the cabin, it was dark and quiet. Vic set her laptop bag down and shrugged out of her jacket, hanging it up. Slipping off her boots, she left them by the door. Her eyes drifted to the fireplace to find it depressingly dark.
Just like she felt.
She tugged her shirt out of her pants and pulled her holster, cuffs, and badge from her belt to set them aside. Wandering into the kitchen, she pulled the refrigerator door open. She scanned the contents and then closed the door with a sigh. Neither of them had been to the store and her choices were slim. In that moment, nothing appealed to her.
Pulling open a cabinet, she ran her eyes over the food it contained before giving up altogether and closing the door with a slam. Walking back into the living room, she toyed with the idea of building a fire. She could do it with some work. She wasn't as skilled as Walt, who could have a good fire going in minutes. Vic flopped onto the couch.
That would require her to get up and expend energy she really didn't feel like she had. Before remembering that he wasn't home, she was anxious to get here and talk to him about her day. About the case. About Tobias Cameron and what she had learned.
But, Walt was at the bar working. Sort of. She could go there. She knew that. She could easily get back into her truck and make the drive. Get some dinner and have a drink. But, the bar would be busy on a Friday. Everyone who was waiting for the weekend would be crowded in looking for a good time and she didn't want to be around that many people.
Not tonight. She pulled out her cell phone and looked at the dark screen. It was empty, of course, except for the date and time. Vic set the phone on the couch beside her. Propping her feet up on the coffee table, she let her head fall back to rest on the cushion.
She knew it would a while before he was home. The nature of the job guaranteed that. The debate in her mind continued. As much as she didn't relish the idea of sitting in a noisy bar, the thought of sitting here alone and stewing in her own thoughts wasn't any better.
Vic let her eyes drift back down to her phone. Tilting the phone up, the screen lit up and showed her the time. Her eyes stayed on the glowing numbers until the screen faded to black again.
xxx
Walt couldn't count the number of hours he had spent in the Red Pony over the years nursing beers, or something stronger when the situation called for it. For so many years, it was Henry's only source of income. His friend took pride in the business that he ran. He cared for it with all the effort of a watchful parent.
When, the opportunity came up for Henry to take over operations at the casino, Walt encouraged him to take it. As out of character as it seemed, Walt knew how deeply the desire in Henry ran to help his people. The casino offered that chance in a way Henry hadn't ever experienced before. Walt wasn't a fan of the casino. He wasn't in the beginning and it was something he still struggled with.
He was well aware that it brought money into the county and into the Cheyenne community that Henry cared so much for. But, it also brought in a criminal element early on and an influx of tourists who cared nothing for Durant, or even Wyoming. They were simply here for the chance to win big and to entertain themselves.
For the most part, they kept to the casino. The reality was that Durant was still a small town. Outside of that novelty, it held little that interested outsiders. It lacked the dining and entertainment venues that were available in larger cities. Before the inception of the casino, the bulk of their tourism came from hikers, campers, and various outdoor enthusiasts who were looking for a place that lacked the crowds of Cheyenne, Jackson, and the area around Yellowstone. For those who wandered in and could appreciate it, Walt considered it a more authentic experience.
One of his primary reasons for opposing the casino as Sheriff was the draw of outsiders. There were tourists who respected the areas they visited. Then, there were tourists who cared for little other than finding a good time. With the crowds growing as the popularity of the casino increased, it was becoming more frequent for them to find their way into town. That was where the issues started.
They crowded into local bars, drank too much, and clashed with locals. With their minds set on simply having a good time, they gave spare thoughts to the size of Durant and the Sheriff's department. Walt knew it was hard for them to keep up with the calls from local bars needing help dispersing fights and the like. Vic certainly complained about it enough. There was a certain irony to be found in her grumbling about outsiders when there were those who viewed her in that same way.
Walt sat at the bar, scanning the room and looking for anything that might be problematic. The crowd was heavy tonight. If he paid close enough attention, it was easy enough to hone in on the out-of-towners. They tended to be louder and more boisterous. The boots and hats they wore looked too new and out of place. There were a few groups of them tonight, varied in age and loudness. The only group that drew his attention was the gaggle of young men who were in the process of consuming copious rounds of liquor and growing louder with each drink.
Walt never begrudged anyone a good drink. He was one who certainly appreciated the relaxation that a beer or two could bring. But, he also knew there were those who either weren't aware of their limits or simply didn't care.
He leaned on the bar and turned his head to the side, studying the group in his peripheral. The primary complaint from Henry was fights. There was also the matter of his bartenders and waitresses getting unwanted advances and attention from tourists who were looking for a good time of a different nature. On two occasions, one of his waitresses was grabbed by a drunk college student who struggled to take no for an answer.
An obvious security presence could hurt business. No one wanted to hang around with the police and the department couldn't keep up with that kind of demand anyway. They were trying to police a large county and there were only four of them. They simply didn't have the resources to babysit.
In clear frustration, Henry came to Walt in the hopes that he might be able to defuse situations before they erupted into matters that would require the law be involved. He drummed his fingers on the bar and wondered if Vic was home yet. With their current case, that was up in the air as far as he knew. With Cady out and Ferg preparing to become a father, the load on her and Zach had grown heavy over the past few weeks.
"Walt! Imagine seeing you here again!"
This time, he knew the voice before he turned. Julia Corbitt approached him with a too sweet smile. His mind immediately flashed to whatever terse comment Vic would make about the woman. Julia slid onto the stool next to him. She was carrying a glass that contained a mixed drink he wasn't familiar with.
"Evening."
He offered her a polite greeting. They weren't ever friends. Their fathers were. But, when Walt knew her before, he paid little attention to any girl that was younger than himself. He struggled with girls in his adolescence. He supposed not much had changed. Dealing with women was something he hadn't ever really gotten good at, especially when they were interested in him. Vic remarked it was a wonder he ever married once, let alone twice.
"Are you here alone?"
Walt noticed the way her eyes drifted around him, trying to ensure that was the truth. As usual, when it came to the motives of women, he thought Vic might be right. Maybe she was flirting with him the other night.
"Yep."
He didn't offer any more than what was fact. He didn't have the desire to initiate an involved conversation with her. She was a woman than ran in the same vein as Lizzie Ambrose in his mind. Flirtatious and possessing a flair for the dramatic. Women who, despite their ages, carried little of the world weariness he'd been feeling for years. He could see where it would appeal to a man of his mindset. For a brief moment in time, he found Lizzie's lightness appealing. She was well off with few worries, and she knew little of the darkness he saw day in and day out.
But, her loudness and incessant talking wore on him. Her insistence at inserting herself into his life didn't hold any real value to him. Beyond the physical and having some mindless chatter, he found little connection with her. Walt didn't do mindless chatter. He missed the deep talks he and Martha would have when she was living. The kind of talks he and Vic would sometimes have back then in his office when they were alone, usually in the evenings after everyone else went home.
So many others saw Vic as loud and crass. And, it was an accurate description to a degree. But, when he was alone with her, when they became something approaching friends, he saw something else in her altogether. Someone who understood him in a way not many did. Someone who understood why he was the way he was. Lizzie tried to mold him into something that he wasn't. Bringing him gifts and making a fuss over every little situation. It was the kind of thing that Vic would roll her eyes at and tilt her head with a lopsided smile, her head shaking.
She got him.
"Where's your wife?"
The way she used the word bothered him, her tone when she said it. Walt glanced at his watch.
"Might still be at work."
Anyone who knew Walt was well aware that he was a private man with no real desire to discuss his personal life with people who weren't involved in it directly. He heard a sigh escape Julia.
"Well, that's no fun. Can I buy you a drink?"
Walt indicated the beer in front of him on the bar. The same one he'd been drinking from for a while.
"Got one. Thanks."
She smiled.
"Right. So…how have you been? Seems like ages since I've seen you."
Walt shrugged.
"Can't complain."
She laughed.
"You always were a quiet one. I heard you retired."
"That's right."
"I've been back in Durant for close to a year now. Moved back after my divorce. Did I tell you I'm divorced?"
Walt shook his head.
"No, you didn't."
She sighed loudly.
"It was for the best. There was no real spark, you know? I think I got married more because people seemed to expect me to. It's been nice reconnecting with old friends. I didn't realize how much I missed this little town."
Walt glanced her way. She was leaning in his direction just enough to infringe on his personal space.
"I have to admit, I was a little disappointed to find out you retired once I took the job with the Mayor. I think we could've worked well together. Made a good team. It was quite the surprise that your daughter is the new Sheriff. That must make you proud."
Walt dropped his eyes back to his beer.
"It does."
"Your wife seems…a little hard to get along with."
She ventured the comment carefully, like maybe she was testing the waters with how he would react. Walt sat up straight and picked up his can. Tipping it, he drained the remainder of the beer from it and set it down with a metallic tap on the bar, his mind preparing a response. Before he could reply, she continued to talk.
"Could I interest you in some dinner? Drinks? We can chat. Talk about old times."
When she said it, she reached over and placed her hand lightly on his forearm. On instinct, Walt pulled his arm free from her touch.
"Wow, you are persistent."
Walt's head swiveled towards the familiar voice, something in his gut tightening. Julia turned and the saccharine expression she was wearing melted away when she came face to face with Vic, who looked anything but amused.
Walt hadn't noticed her come in. He hadn't spoken to her since early in the afternoon when he called to let her know he would be at the bar that evening. Now, she stood behind him and slightly off to the side away from Julia. She must've gotten off work at a decent time because she looked like she'd been home. She wasn't in her uniform, but dressed in jeans, boots that weren't for work, and a goldish looking sweater that complimented her eyes in a way he struggled to find words for.
In that moment, it was those eyes that pulled him in. They were focused on Julia and the look in them was intense. Vic wasn't a calm person by her very nature. She felt strongly and she reacted strongly to most things. She had strong opinions and wasn't shy about expressing herself.
That was what worried him. He knew her well enough to know when she was about to draw a line and dare someone to have the nerve to cross it. Standing there, he could see that she was right on the edge with no patience or indulgence left for this woman.
"Deputy, I'm not sure what you mean?"
Vic's eyes flicked from Julia to Walt and back to the object of her irritation.
"Really?"
The word came out as sarcastically as he knew Vic to be capable of. Walt slid from the stool and slipped in between them.
"Vic."
She ignored him and sidestepped Walt, her gaze settling on Julia again.
"Is it a habit of yours to hit on married men?"
Julia stood up and looked indignant at the suggestion. Walt winced internally at what Julia was setting herself up for. Once Vic got going, it was hard to derail her.
"I wasn't hitting on him."
She pushed out the words hitting on like they weren't a part of her vernacular. Vic tilted her head.
"Really? Is that why you asked him to have dinner with you? Or…was it drinks?"
Julia huffed.
"He's a grown man. He can have dinner with whoever he wants."
Walt reached out and placed his hand on Vic's arm, still working to defuse her anger before it peaked. Julia, for her part, clearly didn't know who she was dealing with and stood her ground. Walt would put his money on Vic every time.
"Vic."
He repeated her name and with more volume. This time, she looked away from Julia and into his face.
"Were you going to take her up on the offer?"
Walt shook his head.
"You know that I wasn't."
Her eyes moved back to Julia.
"So, there's your answer. Maybe you can find some other poor soul to annoy the hell out of. One who isn't married would be my suggestion."
Julia stepped in closer.
"Excuse me?"
Vic smiled, but there was nothing friendly in her expression. Her eyes flashed over the woman and Walt could see the dismissal before she said it.
"You're excused."
Walt's hand was still on her arm and his fingers flexed a bit, trying to draw her attention. Julia picked up her glass and tossed Walt a look.
"I'll see you around."
With another unhappy huff, she hurried off. Once the woman was gone, Vic looked his way.
"Will you?"
Walt gave her a confused look, relief washing over him that Julia was gone.
"Will I what?"
"See her around?"
He frowned at the question.
"Not intentionally."
Vic raised her eyebrows.
"You sure? Cause…I can just go home and leave you to it?"
His frown deepened.
"Don't do that."
Vic sighed and took the seat that Julia vacated a moment earlier.
"Don't do what?"
"Get mad at me for something I didn't do."
She traced her fingertips lightly over the bar and looked his way.
"You know…when you took this job, it didn't occur to me that I would suddenly have competition."
Her tone was still terse, but he could see the anger leaving her bit by bit.
"You don't have any competition. Trust me."
A half smile pulled at her. Walt tilted his head towards her.
"Wasn't expecting to see you tonight."
Vic took a breath.
"I thought we could have dinner. Or…are you busy?"
He shook his head.
"No…fairly quiet tonight."
His eyes drifted to the young men he'd been watching earlier. They appeared on the verge of wandering out the door. Walt motioned for the bartender and they ordered. The young woman set a beer in front of Vic, who proceeded to slide her index finger over the condensation on the dark surface of the bottle.
"How long's your friend been here trying to get in your pants?"
Walt shook his head.
"Not long. And, she wasn't trying to…do that."
Vic smirked.
"You keep telling yourself that."
Walt sighed.
"She works for the Mayor. She could give you some trouble."
Vic shrugged, clearly not the least big concerned with that possibility.
"Not half as much as I'm gonna give her the next time I see her touching you."
Walt smiled a little.
"You really don't like her."
Vic took a drink from her bottle and set it down.
"Do you blame me? Don't sit there and pretend like you would be cool with some guy…putting his hands on me and shit."
His eyes held hers in the dim light of the bar.
"As I recall, it's happened once or twice."
Vic nodded.
"Yeah, but I tell them to fuck off faster than you do. So…"
She took another swallow of her beer.
"Would you rather I get into fights over you?"
That earned him a smile.
"No…because then I would have to arrest you. But, you're different with women, Walt. You're too nice. And, sometimes, that encourages them when you don't mean to."
"I didn't encourage her."
Vic bumped him with her elbow.
"I stood there for a minute watching you before I said anything. If she was any kind of smart, or if she knew you, she would see that you weren't interested. Maybe she thinks she can change your mind."
She leaned into him, but paused as their food was set in front of them. Once they were alone again, she tipped her head so that it nearly touched his shoulder and dropped the volume of her voice.
"Next time, just tell her that you already get all the hot, sweaty sex that you can handle."
Red started to work its way up his neck, her tone affecting him.
"Hopefully, there won't be a next time. But, I'll remember that."
Vic smiled to herself and started to eat.
"Trust me, there will be a next time."