VIC

She could sense the weight of Leon's careful gaze on her as she led the way down the rarely used back stairs and into the yard behind the building where Branch's truck was currently parked out of the way. The original library building had some with stables and other outbuildings but all that remained was a courtyard with room to park a couple of vehicles if you didn't mind manoeuvering in very tight spaces.

Leon carried two large plastic tool boxes, each one twice the size of the kit she carried, and her fingers itched with the need to open up and explore the unknown delights within. Professional curiosity of course… The pair of them clumped down the slightly creaky wooden stairs and stood for a moment while Vic gathered herself. Watching a stranger work on Branch's truck was going to be more challenging than she thought and she muttered mostly under breath

"Shit is going to get real."

She could tell Leon was politely ignoring her as he knelt, opened up a kit box and pulled out a disposable full body condom, booties, a hat and gloves. Clearly he was intending to carry out the Fully Monty and she handed him the keys once his protective clothing was in place

"Do you mind if I wait around…. In case you have any questions?" Her tone was less of a question than the words were, and he nodded, murmuring in that slightly odd accent

"Of course, I have quite a few questions already, if you don't mind while we work, Sheriff?"

Vic sighed, of course he had questions "What did your boss tell you about why you lot are here?"

Leon pulled a nice digital camera out of his box of goodies and proceeded to methodically shoot the exterior of the vehicle, both distance and some closeups, and he talked while he worked

"Sheriff Wilson didn't say much, just that a personal matter had meant Sheriff Longmire had to step away from this case." He paused "Of course the death of his wife was old news but gossip had it that some local businessmen may have had something more to do with it."

Vic leaned on the stair railing, arms crossed and nodded

"Carry on"

Leon stepped and crouched and snapped and stood and snapped "Obviously Durants Sheriff Department is seriously undermanned and we were sent along to assist til everything gets sorted out" His eyes weighed her shrewdly "How long is that likely to be Sheriff? I would like to tell my wife when she will see me again" but he said the last bit with a smile and she nodded in acknowledgement

"Deputy I truly fucking wish I knew! Right now we have to run a tight ship and a clean investigation and hope we find the evidence we need, just like any other crime. Do you need anything special for you to work your magic?" and she gestured at him and his gear

"Just some quiet space to work and think ma'am and somewhere to put everything safely"

She sighed "Use W….Use my office when I'm not there, I barely have time to eat these days. I will let Ruby know"

His quiet "Thankyou Sheriff" followed her as she clumped back up the stairs to the endless supply of paperwork awaiting her.

Late Afternoon, Two Days Later

Ironically Vic was at her desk for a couple of hours late afternoon when there was a tap at the closed door, the door opened and the tall lean frame of Leon stepped into the room

"Apologies for disturbing you Sheriff, but I have completed my assessment of the contents of Branch's truck but I appear to be missing his clothing and personal effects from the day of the shooting. Are they still at the hospital?"

Vic stared at him blankly for a long moment as she processed what he had said and with a loud explosive "FUCK!" she burst out of her chair and dashed out of the room at a jog, throwing a "Come with me " over her shoulder on the way out.

Leon shrugged and his long legs carried him in Vic's wake down the stairs, across the street to her truck parked in the Sheriffs spot under the trees. She was swearing loud enough to be heard halfway across the street as she rummaged in the back of her truck and emerged triumphant with two clear plastic bags clutched in both hands and held them out to him

"I completely fucking forgot, Ferg gave me these the day after the shooting, and I put them in my truck to bring back and completely fucking forgot about them!"

Leon looked at both parcels and queried "Two?"

She nodded and pointed to the one in his left hand "Branch" and the other one "Barlow – his father"

"Barlow, the man who shot him and who we have in custody? Was his father?"

Her smile was grim and toothy as she nodded "Wilson didn't tell you that juicy bit of gossip then?"

Leon gathered both precious packets of evidence close as Vic closed up the truck and they walked back into the office

"I will go over these with a microscope if I have too"

"I hope so"

Morning, a further Two Days Later

Vic trudged up the stairs, weary after a difficult hour with the Mayor. Barlow had been transported to Rawlings and was in medical confinement and his lawyer was making a pest of himself at the courthouse. Understandably the Mayor wanted a firm idea of how well the investigation was going, and Vic did not have the answers he wanted. Neither of them were happy about the situation. Her headache was back with a vengeance and Ruby waited with an ever increasing stack of things to be attended to. Vic honestly had no idea how Walt managed to keep on top of everything.

She sighed and went in the main office, needing coffee, even the sludge in the bottom of the coffee pot would do. Huey or Duey sat at her old desk, talking earnestly into the phone, and Leon sat at the desk opposite, several large evidence boxes with the lids open were scattered on the floor next to his desk and he rose suddenly as she walked into the room.

Thrown at the unexpected courtesy she paused and nodded before heading to the coffee machine, and pouring a full mug from the pleasantly full jug, adding necessary cream and sugar and then nearly choked on her first mouthful. It was not only NOT AWFUL, it was damn near PRETTY GOOD as far as coffee went. Suddenly her day was looking better, and she smiled at Leon over her cup as he walked towards her, a cellphone in a clear plastic evidence bag in his hand.

"Whats up Deputy?"

The coffee was hot so she tried to not guzzle it too fast and with a sigh put the cup down and took the phone that Leon handed to her

"Sheriff this is Deputy Connolly's phone, it was in his personal effects. It had gone flat so I charged it but it has a security code and I haven't been able to figure it out"

Pausing for thought for a moment Vic typed in a four digit number code, and frowned when it didn't work. Turning to Ruby she asked

"Ruby what is Cady's birthday?"

"31st March Sheriff"

Vic typed in 3103 and the phone unlocked. She handed it back to Leon with a quiet "Cady is Walt's daughter. Long story, don't ask right now."

Clearly curious he nodded and took the phone to analyse, Vic collected her coffee cup and postits and headed for her office. Perhaps the day would improve further?

Apologies dearest readers for seemingly abandoning you. While I was studying for my exam, many other things got put on hold and I have spent the last few weeks catching up on them. Annoyingly I also got sick recently and have been battling an ant infestation in my house - neither of which are helpful for providing creative writing time and space.

I promised I will finish the story so I sat down tonite and slogged out the next chapter - I hope you enjoy!

Oh and my iPod also died so no musical inspirations at the moment either :(