Ch. 13: If you play with fire…
"What's up?"
Vic walked slowly into Cady's office. Cady closed the door behind her and motioned at a chair.
"Do you want to sit?"
Vic shook her head at the offering. She also declined to remove her jacket. The look she gave Cady was full of questions. In the best of times, Vic had little use for beating around the bush. She was a direct person by nature. Under current circumstances, her normal tolerance was even less so than normal.
"I'm good. Thanks. You wanted to see me."
She pushed the reason she was here, unsure as to what Cady wanted. Her phone call earlier in the morning had been cryptic and gave Vic no real clues as to what she might want. Cady leaned on her desk and braced herself with both palms on the surface.
"How are things?"
"Okay."
It was a truthful answer. The previous day and night passed without incidents of any kind. It was a double-edged blade, however. On the one side, it was nice to have a reprieve. To be able to simply exist outside of the current crisis. On the other, they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. And, they all knew it.
Cady watched her with perceptive blue eyes that, on occasion, reminded Vic a little too much of Walt. Cady's eyes were a bolder color and more prone to expressing her thoughts in them. Much of what crossed her mind was readable there in contrast to Walt, who held his cards a little closer. It was both part of who he was and a habit resulting from years of questioning witnesses and suspects.
In that moment, Vic could clearly see that her one-word, Walt like answer did not make Cady happy. As a matter of fact, it was the exact type of thing they both would have chastised Walt for under normal circumstances.
"Vic, really."
Vic could hear the frustration in Cady's tone. Vic frowned and tilted her head.
"You called me. Why?"
Direct and right to the point. It was a tried and true method for Vic.
"To talk."
"About?"
Vic's verbal prodding must have struck on something. Cady looked at the closed door and then back to Vic.
"Dad tell you we looked into the house that Cain's family owned when he was a kid?"
"Yeah, he said you didn't find anything."
Cady nodded.
"Was that intentional?"
Now, she was getting somewhere. Vic narrowed her eyes.
"What are you suggesting?"
Cady shrugged.
"I'm not suggesting anything? I'm asking you a real question. Did dad wait so that we wouldn't catch Cain?"
Vic's mouth opened slightly. The question clearly surprised her.
"Why in the hell would you think that?"
"Because he wants this man to pay for what he's done."
Cady paused before pushing on.
"It's not like he's not capable of this type of vengeance."
Vic licked her lips and tapped her hand on her thigh. She shook her head and looked around the room.
"He told you because I told him to. Because that's the exact kind of thing I'm trying to avoid."
"You. But, maybe not him."
"So…now you're also accusing him of lying to me. Cady…he didn't want to tell you any of that. He wanted to go after Cain on his own. I am the one who told him no. The one who told him he needed to let you handle this. You…you should've known to check it anyway. That's…searching one oh one."
The comment created the result she expected. Cady gave her an indignant look.
"We were still investigating. Dad knows more than we do about this man. The rest of us aren't as familiar with Will Cain. If he were being a little more cooperative, we could've been there at the same time he was. Now…we're back to square one with nothing to go on."
Vic gave Cady an incredulous look.
"And, that's our fault?"
Cady took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I just…I am trying to solve this and I feel like the two of you aren't being very forthcoming with information. Especially dad."
Vic folded her arms across her chest.
"So…what is your point? You're either accusing us of something or…"
Vic let the words fade as a series of thoughts played over Cady's features.
"I want to know that both of you are being honest with me."
"No one has lied to you. We're…all trying to figure this out. We're all on the same side."
"It doesn't always feel like it."
Vic dropped her arms, taking on a less defensive posture.
"Cady, why are you talking to me about this and not Walt?"
"Because he clams up. He won't tell me anything. You, on the other hand, tend to be less…I don't know…guarded. Dad just shuts me out."
Vic shook her head.
"He's not shutting you out. He's being Walt."
"It's frustrating."
"I know. Believe me. But, the harder you push, the more he's going to close himself off. You know that's what he does. He did it to me right after all this happened. No one is immune."
The last remark created a small smile on Cady's face. Then, her expression grew more somber.
"I hoped he and I were done with this after the last time and all the mess with Jacob Nighthorse."
Vic shook her head.
"You're right about one thing. We are all on the same side. But, we're not necessarily on the same road."
Cady gave her a sharp look.
"What does that mean?"
Vic was quiet for several seconds.
"It means that, in the end, we should hopefully all have the same objective. But, maybe not the same way of getting there. That's…all I can tell you."
"Is that why you're not coming back to work?"
Vic's face stayed neutral.
"I'm coming back. Just…not right now."
"Why?"
"I told you. Walt and I have a lot on our plates. We…both thought me not working right now was the best option. The safest."
It wasn't a lie. Not really. But, she was holding back information. She wasn't going to out Walt and what he was thinking. What they might be planning. He was insistent that their own investigation stay clear of the official one. There were both personal and professional reasons that Vic understood. But, Cady might not. There was no reason to put her in a position where she might have to make certain choices. Not as long as they didn't have to.
"Is that because of Cain or because of dad?"
Vic turned her head slightly, her eyes staying on Cady.
"I don't follow. What are you asking?"
Cady took a step towards her.
"I'm asking…if it comes down to doing what you know you should…as a deputy…or dad…what will you do?"
Vic smiled then.
"There's no point in me answering a question that you already know the answer to."
xxx
It took him two days to figure it out. Partially because he didn't realize there was more to the Red Pony than there seemed to be. He knew they were no longer at the home of Walt's daughter. That was easy enough to see by the lack of vehicles. For a day or so, he saw nothing of them. He did see the truck she drove parked on the street near the department. But, it didn't move until the next day. He knew it wasn't her personal vehicle. It would be owned by the county. Based on what he was seeing, she hadn't worked since the fire. No surprise there.
After that quiet span, he did see them. Twice parked at the Red Pony around dinnertime. But, in the evenings, he couldn't peg where they were going. Not until he lucked into seeing the Bronco turn in just as he was leaving. He waited. He watched. It was getting late and the sun had already set. He had parked his truck on a side road out of view and walked back towards the bar. He couldn't take the risk of being recognized.
The plan seemed futile as he sat in the cold swearing to himself that he would go somewhere warm once all of this was over. That is, if he lived through it. He wasn't sure how long he sat and watched. But, time wasn't something that mattered to him. It wasn't something he kept track of frequently, unless there was a reason. His body kept the time for him. Told him when to eat and when to sleep.
He was just about to give up and make the hike back to his pickup when he saw the Bronco and his eyes suddenly felt reinvigorated. Suddenly, the cold didn't bother him all that much. He strained to see in the dark from a distance, expecting Walt to park and get out. But, the Bronco pulled around to the back of the building and didn't come back out. That was when the thought occurred to him.
He left then. Walked back to his truck and drove over to the next county to some dive to find a hot meal. He no longer had the luxury of doing that in Absaroka County. Once a sufficient amount of time passed, he drove back to the bar. It was closed now. Quiet and dark. Again, he set out on foot, staying out of the light and in the shadows. There was no reason to take chances now. Not when he was so close. Not when he had come so far.
He circled the building carefully. Only his boots on the ground and the distant engine of a car could be heard in the darkness. As he came around the building, a smile crossed his face. Both the Bronco and the white pickup were parked there. Dark and locked. He knew that after an experimental tug on the handles of both vehicles.
His eyes moved from the truck to the bar. The lights downstairs were out. The place was clearly locked up for the night. But in the rear of the building, he could see a small window on what must be the second floor or an attic of some kind. And in that window, he saw the flow of a light.
It made sense once he thought about it. This place was owned by Standing Bear. The Indian and Walt were friends. For years. That was common knowledge. It would make sense that Walt's friends would help him. Will didn't quite know the reason for leaving Cady Longmire's. But, they must be staying here now.
He gave one last look up at the lit window and slunk back into the shadows, his newfound knowledge making his step a little lighter.
xxx
Walt didn't startle easily. He never had. His job, when he was Sheriff, depended on that fact. Unfortunately, these were not normal times and he was on edge lately. All the time, really. Vic not being there with him in the moment did little to remedy that mindset. He felt edgier when she wasn't with him these days. But, true to her nature, she wasn't agreeable to him being with her all the time. In truth, he pushed the limits of her tolerance more and more lately. It wasn't a conscious decision. It wasn't out of some need to annoy her or exert control over her. To the contrary, Walt normally loved her independent spirit. It was one of the first things that grabbed his attention about her. Attracted him.
The operative word there was normally.
When he heard the knock on the door to the small apartment, he frowned. Outside of Henry and Cady, no one knew they were staying here. That was by design in Walt's mind. The fewer people who knew where they were, the less likely that Cain would easily find them.
Or find Vic.
There was no convincing him, at this point, that Cain wasn't targeting her. Any early reservations he might've held that Cain would come directly for him were gone now. Erased as the man's motivations and ultimate plan became less hazy for him. Burning down the cabin was only the first step, a prelude really.
Or a warning.
It was all about perspective.
Walt crossed the floor and pulled open the door with the expectation of seeing Henry on the other side. It wasn't Henry. It was Tom dressed in the same plaid button down and jeans Walt saw him wearing earlier.
Walt liked the bartender well enough. The man was capable and friendly. Henry trusted the man enough to let him run the Red Pony. Henry's judgement went a long way with Walt. But, it didn't necessarily translate into Walt automatically trusting someone. There was having faith in someone's ability to run a business. Then, there was feeling like you could trust someone with your life. Or the life of someone you loved. They were not one in the same.
He also could see that the man had developed some kind of affection for Vic over time. Now, what kind that was, he couldn't really say. No boundaries were ever overstepped. Vic never seemed to feel uncomfortable around him. She seemed to like him and expressed as much to Walt verbally. Maybe she reminded the middle aged bartender of someone he cared for. It was possible the man harbored some kind of crush on her. Or, maybe there was just something about her the Cheyenne man liked. It wasn't unheard of for her to exert a pull over men that they couldn't explain. He knew that better than anyone.
It could have been any one of those things or some other possibility than ran in between them. Either way, while Walt noticed it, it never bothered him. He couldn't find fault with someone being drawn in by her personality. He knew she wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Who was? Not him for sure. But, he also knew there was something about her that appealed to others. He wouldn't have tried to name it. But, it was there.
Still, Tom kept to himself outside of work. He lived on the Rez. Walt knew that from talking to Henry. Everything else about him was unknown to Walt. He wore no wedding ring and kept his bar conversations steered away from himself. The relationship that existed between them was solely restricted to the confines of the bar. Or it had been up until this point.
He gave Walt a tentative look.
"Evening, Walt."
Walt nodded to him.
"Tom."
He noticed how the dark eyes swept by him and across the room before returning to his.
"Got a minute?"
Walt stepped back, giving Tom room to come through the door. After a moment of initial hesitation, the invitation was accepted. Tom walked by him and Walt closed the door before turning to face the man in front of him. Tom was looking around the room. Walt was on the verge of questioning his interest in the non-descript apartment when Tom spoke up.
"Henry offered this place as part of the job when I started. But, I have a place on the Rez."
"That sounds like Henry."
A brief smile crossed Tom's face at the mention of their mutual friend before he grew serious again.
"I'm sorry to butt in on you like this."
Walt shook his head.
"No problem. What can I do for you?"
Tom shifted his weight from one foot to the other giving Walt a slightly apprehensive look.
"This guy who you think burned your place…the one whose been in here."
Walt nodded, willing the man to get to the point.
"Mind if I ask what his beef with you is?"
"It's personal. We go back pretty far. There's some bad blood."
Walt had little desire to get overly into his life in the moment.
"Right. He's the one who has been bothering Vic."
Walt nodded in confirmation.
"He is."
Tom reached up and scratched the back of his neck.
"You know she was outside by herself last night?"
Walt still wasn't seeing the picture.
"Yeah, she went to get her phone. She's out by herself now. What's your point?"
"Is that wise?"
Walt tilted his head at the man.
"What's your interest in this?"
Tom held up his hands.
"I'm…not trying to get in your business, Walt. I don't want you to get the wrong idea. But, this guy seems awfully interested in her."
Walt's hands moved to his hips.
"This is our problem. Mine and Vic's. I appreciate what you're saying. But…it's none of your business."
Again, Tom smiled.
"I know. And, I debated coming up here. But, Henry thinks highly of you. My point is…anyone could have been down there last night. Anyone could have grabbed her. That's all I'm saying."
Walt understood the point. He did. That didn't make it Tom's business, but he got it.
"You don't know Vic outside of the Red Pony. Not really. She's…extremely hard headed. We've talked about this exact thing. But, she doesn't want to be baby-sat and I cannot make her stay with me all the time. She's just at the department with my daughter. She is being careful. We both are. But, there are limits."
Tom nodded slowly.
"I know. And, I know this seems weird. If you like, I could…help you out. Watch out for you guys. Subtly, of course."
Walt had a sudden flash of Hector's scarred face.
"I can't ask you to do that."
Tom shrugged nonchalantly.
"I…do it on the Rez sometimes. I know what I'm doing. I'm not just tossing this out there. It's a real offer. Think about it. Maybe."
Without waiting for a response, he held up his hand in a wave and left the apartment. Walt ran his palm over his hair, wondering if the bartender doubled as some kind of mercenary or just a security man of sorts. At this point, nothing would surprise him. His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and Vic walked in. Walt noticed the holster sitting as it always did on the waist band of her jeans as she removed her coat. The only difference was that she wasn't in uniform. It carried a new 9mm that would serve as her duty weapon when she returned to work. Now, she carried it openly, not bothering to conceal it unless her clothes covered it naturally.
"Hey."
She sounded like she must have jogged up the stairs, slightly out of breath.
"You see Cady?"
Vic nodded.
"Yeah…"
Her words broke off and she looked around.
"Something wrong?"
Walt shook his head, Tom's visit still fresh in his mind.
"No. So…you and Cady?"
Vic shrugged as she sat on the bed and pulled her boots off.
"I doubt she's thrilled with me. But, there's not much I can do about that right now. She…asked me if we were going behind her back. I don't…I don't like lying to her, Walt."
He sat beside her on the bed.
"I know. You're not really lying. You're…withholding information."
She gave him a look that told him his response was dumb and shook her head.
"It's lying. We both know it."
Reaching up, Vic pulled her hair loose from its ponytail and tossed the hair tie onto the table beside her phone. Running her fingers through her hair, she sighed.
"She could fire me."
Walt frowned.
"She won't."
Vic raised her eyes to his.
"She could. She asked me if I would choose you over my job. Over my duty."
She leaned his way, her arm touching his.
"Vic…"
She cut him off.
"I told her yes."
Vic sighed heavily, seeming weighed down. Walt watched her, his expression soft.
"Is that what's bothering you?"
Vic shook her head.
"No."
"What then?"
Vic turned so that she was facing him and pulled up her feet, drawing her knees up and crossing her ankles. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rested her chin there and looked at him.
"There was a time I thought nothing was more important than the truth."
A time she risked everything in the name of the truth. Her eyes grew slightly distant and he could see her thinking.
"Now, I feel like…I'm the one covering things up. Lying to people I care about."
Walt reached out and placed his palm on her right knee.
"You're the same person. And, this isn't the same thing as what happened in Philadelphia."
"I know that's it's different. I just…we're working outside the law here and I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that."
He understood.
"We're not doing anything illegal. You know that."
"I know. But, this is the kind of thing we've both told other people not to do. Yet, here we are."
"Other people don't know what they're doing. We do."
She nodded, her chin bumped her knee.
"Right. We're professionals. When…when Cady asked me that, I answered without hesitation. And, it's the truth. I would choose you over my job. Any day. All day."
"But?"
He knew she was working through something.
"But…I'm afraid of how far I'll have to go. Of…who I might become."
Walt shook his head and squeezed her knee.
"Vic, you are the same person you have always been. That hasn't changed. It won't change. You protect those you care about. You are honest and a good person. Don't…think anything other than that."
She was staring at him. Through him really, leaving Walt feeling exposed.
"When you went to Denver…were you scared of what you planned to do?"
Walt was quiet for a stretch. There was no easy answer to that question.
"Yes and no. I wasn't scared for myself. I didn't feel like there was anything for me to live for. I didn't care if I lived or died. I just…wanted that man to pay for what he had done. But…nothing worked out like I thought it would. And, I had to live with the consequences of that night."
She leaned back, dropping her arms and sliding her legs out and down. Walt was familiar with the internal battle she seemed to be waging with herself. He knew that she was the only one who could decide how far was too far. She would have to face that place inside of herself and question things she believed in. It wasn't something he could do for her. Something in his answer seemed to alleviate her worries for the moment. She slowly lay back on the bed and looked his way.
"Are you scared now."
Walt didn't have to hesitate. The answer came to him immediately. He was no longer a man with nothing to lose.
"Yes."
xxx
"She doesn't even know anything is wrong?"
Walt smiled and shook his head as he stroked the horse's nose. She lifted her face and nuzzled at the palm of his hand, warm air blowing across his skin from her nose.
"No, she seems as happy as anything."
Vic tilted her head and looked over the horse. Walt had moved her to a stable in town to be boarded and cared for. With everything that was happening, he hadn't felt comfortable leaving her on the property. Not with her leg treatments.
"Wish we could've gotten over here soon, girl."
Vic shrugged haplessly, almost like she thought the horse could understand her. The horse didn't seem to hold a grudge and stomped one foot in reply. Vic smiled and walked down the side of the animal, trailing her hand along the shiny coat.
"God, she looks so much better."
Walt nodded.
"Amazing what some nutrition and love can do."
In truth, he was hesitant to knock the care the horse had received at the ranch she came from. He knew the widow there did the best she could with the resources that were available to her. Still, seeing the condition of the horse now compared to when he first brought her home made him feel somber that she hadn't been taken better care of. But, that was in the past and Lady was thriving now.
"Did you talk to the vet?"
"I did. He's amazed at how well she's doing."
The horse stamped a foot again and her tail swished at some pest neither of them could see.
"By the time we get her back home, she should be done and ready to spend her days grazing in the pasture."
Vic smiled at the thought.
"No too bad for an old girl, huh?"
His eyes shifted to Vic. Her eyes were glowing while she looked at the horse. It tugged at something inside of his chest to see Vic take such a liking to the horse. It was a bond he understood well. Often, animals were better company than people. Certainly, better listeners and less judgmental.
Vic gave the horse a final pat and wiped her hands off on her jeans as they left the stall. It was pleasant in the barn, the smell of hay and oats strong in the air. Horse was still at the cabin, enjoying the carefree life he always had, running wild.
Walt looked up at the sky as they left the barn and stepped into the cold. The wind whipped around them, pressing on their coats and ruffling their hair. Vic shook her head to get some of her hair out of her face as it wrapped around her cheek and brushed her neck.
"Looks like more snow."
He heard the sigh he expected from Vic at his comment.
"It's got to stop at some point. Right?"
"Yep. Always does. It's been a long winter."
Vic paused to look around the stables.
"The longest. Doesn't feel like spring is anywhere near."
Walt nudged her with his arm.
"Give it a few weeks."
She shook her head as they continued the cold trek to the Bronco.
"A few more weeks. A couple of months."
He understood her melancholy in association with the weather. It did feel as though it would never end. This part of winter was always the hardest. When other parts of the country were beginning to see the very first signs of spring. When the harsh grip of winter was loosening and the ground began a gradual thaw. Here, in their corner of Wyoming, it was never that simple. Winter was long. It was hard. Just when it felt like there might be a light on the horizon, another snowstorm would dump several more inches and the cycle repeated. Still, experience told him that it would end. Just as it always did. The temperatures would rise. The snow would melt. Small buds would begin to appear on trees and long dead grass would show signs of life.
In his younger days, he hadn't thought on it much. The seasons, the cycles of life. But, with the experience brought by years and life, he could see it now. Nature mimicked life or life mimicked nature. Winter was the hardest. In winter, there was death and darkness. Spring was a renewal. It was the season that brought fresh rains that seemed to wash the slate clean and a newness that seemed to rejuvenate people just as much as it did the natural world. A rebirth of sorts. A renewing of life.
In this moment, the never-ending grasp of winter felt like it was a perfect metaphor for what they were experiencing.
"Walt?"
Vic's voice broke through his thoughts and Walt snapped out of his internal reverie.
"Hmm?"
"What're you thinking?"
The question made him smile.
"I wish it was spring, too."
With that he slid behind the wheel of the Bronco as waited as Vic climbed in and rustled around until she was situated. He looked out across the snow covered pastures.
"Soon, I think."
Vic glanced his way.
"Right."
Her voice didn't hold any real promise that he was right. There was no conviction. He tried again.
"Once the ground thaws, we can start on the cabin."
Vic's face was dark.
"Another thing that's in a holding pattern."
Walt reached across the seat and placed his hand over hers.
"We'll get through this. Just like everything else."
For a split second, their eyes met before she turned and looked out the window. Walt pulled his hand from hers and started the engine. There was no reason to force the issue. She was struggling. He knew that. They both were. But, there were things for her that were different. In her own time, she would work through it. If she needed him, he would be here. That about all he could offer her at this point. Walt wasn't much for empty words or promises that he couldn't keep. He never had been. With one last look her way, he pulled out, kicking up dirt in the wake of his wheels.
xxx
"You look tired."
The words were sincere and clearly came from a place of concern. Vic smiled humorlessly as she turned the beer bottle around on the table in a continuous, never ending circle. The bottom scraped mutely over the wood, skimming as it made broken points of contact.
"I am."
It was the only answer she had for Cady, who sat across the table watching her closely.
"Not sleeping?"
Vic's shoulders rose and fell with a shrug as her eyes dropped a bit.
"Not really. Hard to relax, you know."
Cady nodded slowly.
"I can imagine. How's dad?"
Vic looked up.
"He's okay. Quiet a lot."
Vic lifted her bottle and took a long drink from it. Setting it down, she pulled her hands away, rubbing them together. They briefly came to rest on the table before she moved again and began to twist the ring on her finger. Cady's eyes shifted to the movement, settling on Vic's hands.
"Are things between the two of you okay?"
The words came out cautiously. Vic's eyes snapped up.
"Fine."
The answer came quickly. Almost, too quickly. Vic inhaled and let the breath out slowly.
"Things between us are good."
That answer seemed to satisfy Cady who smiled at Vic.
"I'm glad to hear that. Guess these are…not the best circumstances to start a marriage."
A trace of a real smiled flitted across Vic's face before fading.
"It's…not much different now."
She stopped fiddling with her ring and held up her left hand.
"There's this, of course. But, being married hasn't changed much."
It wasn't a complaint. It was the reason marriage hasn't been on the forefront of her mind. She and Walt were committed to each other. They lived together. Everything about their lives was shared. Had been for some time now. Marriage was a legal thing in her mind, at this point. Of course, it was also a public declaration of commitment. But, she and Walt never needed public anything.
The two women were quiet for a moment before Vic shook her head and seemed to redirect her focus.
"How are you? With all this crazy shit going on, we haven't really talked."
Cady smiled in response.
"I'm good."
Vic laughed.
"And you crawl my ass about my answers. Seriously, distract me. How is life?"
A slight red hue crept up Cady's neck and Vic honed in on it. She cocked her head to the side.
"What's that look?"
Cady shrugged.
"I might've gone out a couple of nights ago."
Vic grinned at her.
"Really? Alone or with…a friend?"
"Friends, actually. We went to Cumberland to a place there. Something different."
"Talk to anyone interesting?"
Cady smiled widely.
"I did, actually."
"Okay, detail."
Cady laughed at the comment.
"There's not many details. We danced and talked. But, I left with the same people I went with. I did give him my number. He seemed nice."
Cady's voice trailed off. Vic leaned in.
"But?"
Cady shrugged.
"I'm not looking for anything serious."
Vic rolled her eyes.
"Isn't that what you said when you met Zach?"
"Yes."
Vic lifted her hand from the table and waved it at Cady.
"So…keep an open mind. You might be surprised. Meanwhile, just have fun. Someone should be you know. Having some fun."
Cady's face fell a bit.
"Seems trivial with everything going on."
Vic dismissed the comment.
"It's not trivial. It's your life. Don't feel bad about living it."
Vic leaned back and tapped one finger on her bottle. Cady's phone lay face up on the table. She lifted it and looked at the screen.
"I should go."
Vic nodded as the two women rose.
"I'll walk you out."
Cady frowned as she pulled on her coat.
"I'll be okay."
Vic shook her head.
"Where are you parked?"
Cady glanced towards the door.
"Not too far from the door."
Vic nodded.
"Okay, then, I'll walk with you."
Cady didn't move to leave.
"Vic, you don't have to."
"Yeah, I know that. But, I will. I'm armed anyway."
She tapped the holster on her hip that was partially covered by her shirt. Cady relented.
"Fine. Dad will have my hide if he finds out."
Vic didn't seem bothered as they left the bar and made the short walk to Cady's Jeep. Vic waited until Cady unlocked the door before she backed up two steps.
"See you."
Cady lifted her hand in a wave as she started back towards the bar. From this short distance, the music coming from inside seemed muted. The sounds of night seemed amplified as well as cars passing on the road, lighting up the world for brief flashes before darkness overtook everything. Vic's converse crunched over the loose gravel. Already, she was freezing. Her eyes kept a constant intake of her surroundings, her training on full display.
Stopping at the door she pulled it open. Just as she moved to step inside, a sound behind her caused her head to swivel to look over her shoulder. Her hand instinctively moved to the gun on her waist and unsnapped the strap holding the gun securely in place. Turning her body, she backed into the doorway, her eyes searching the darkness. She couldn't see anything. The sound she heard sounded almost like a single footstep. Dirt under the sole of a shoe or boot.
She took another step back and felt a hand land on her shoulder. Vic's hand closed around the 9mm and pulled it free as she wrenched her body free of the grasp. In the darkness she squinted and inhaled sharply.
Tom held up his hands.
"It's me."
Vic blew out a breath and slid her gun back in the holster.
"Jesus Christ."
The words came out breathless, her nerves clearly rattled. Tom took a step back.
"I didn't mean to scare you."
Vic shook her head, finally regaining some composure. She turned her eyes back to the still open door.
"I thought I heard someone. Behind me."
He slid his wiry frame between Vic and the door. He reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a flashlight. Vic eyed him.
"Do you always carry a flashlight?"
He gave her a wry smile.
"I do when I'm going outside."
Vic laughed quietly as he stepped out and shone the light around. The lot seemed eerily dark, considering the bar was still open. Still, a weeknight crowd made for fewer cars.
"I don't see anything."
Vic bit her lip and turned her attention to him.
"Why are you going outside?"
He must have heard something in her voice that made him look at her.
"I'm on break. I left my jacket in my car."
Vic narrowed her eyes.
"Kind of cold for that."
He flicked off the light and let the door close.
"Are you accusing me of something?"
The words came out light with no anger to them. Vic looked down.
"No. I'm sorry. Jumpy, you know."
He smiled.
"I know. It's okay. You shouldn't be out here alone."
Vic looked up and realized he was standing closer than she thought. Intimately close. His smile softened around the edges as his head tipped down a bit closer to her face. Vic's shoes scraped over the floor as she took a step back. He made no move to come closer.
Vic swallowed.
"I should go up. Don't want to take up your entire break with my paranoia."
She started to turn away from him when his hand closed over her shoulder again in a light touch.
"Vic?"
She turned her head, but kept her body facing away from him.
"Yeah?"
"Watch your back."
It was a simple phrase and he sounded perfectly normal when he said it. But, there was something in his dark eyes that held her there. His hand fell away from her and he reached around to slip the flashlight back into his pocket. Vic's eyes followed the movement and then returned to his face.
"Thought you were going out to get your jacket."
The words came out low. He held her eyes for a second longer before he turned and walked back into the bar without a reply. Vic watched until he was gone and then turned to go up the stairs to the small apartment.
Walt was lying on the bed when she walked in, his back against the headboard with a book in his hands. He looked up from his reading as she came through the door. Vic's nerves felt rattled. For a myriad of reasons. Pulling her holster free from her jeans she set it aside and slipped her shoes off. Walt's eyes stayed on her.
"You see Cady?"
The question was conversational. Vic nodded and started to undress.
"Yeah. It was…it was nice."
Walt tilted his head.
"Everything alright?"
Vic's mind was swimming. She pulled her shirt over her head as she went about the motions of getting ready for bed. She swallowed and looked up, meeting his eyes.
"Everything is good."