The radio cracks the silence in the cab of the Bullet as Ruby's voice blares over the speaker, "Walter, you there?"

"Go ahead, Ruby."

"Are you on your way in? Branch just called."

"Yup. What did he say."

"Just said he needed to talk to you."

"ok."

"What is your eta?"

"Less than 15. Don't worry he's not coming by the station."

"ok."

"Ruby, call Cady and ask her if she if free to meet me for lunch."

"Copy."

"Is Vic there?"

"Affirmative. Do you want to speak to her."

"No."

My mind goes back to the road and how I'm going to tell Cady the entire story. I don't know why I asked for Vic and I let the thought pass through like a daydream. My legs methodically carry me up the stairs. I don't want to talk to anyone. I don't want to explain anything to anybody. I just need to sit and wait for my daughter – get myself together and explain this turn of events.

I nod my pleasantries to avoid any speculation or any questioning from either woman. My office door closes behind me, or so I thought, as I turn to hang my hat and coat, Vic stands in the door frame.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothin'"

"Cut the shit. What's wrong?"

I just look at her and choose not to answer as I pat my hair down contemplating throwing her out on her ear. Instead, in her insistent manner she closes the door behind her and sits down in the office chair.

"Vic, nothing's wrong."

It's her turn to be silent. She rubs the finger that used to bear her wedding ring. Her wedding ring. It's off. My mind sobers to the reality of the past 48 hours.

"Everything, ok?"

"Surprisingly, considering."

I look at her because her semi short statement is pleading for me to ask her more. Maybe Henry is right, she is spending too much time with me.

"Sean left last night. It's an amicable split but a split non-the-less."

"Listen, Vic, I'm sorry and for what its worth ..ah..I'm really happy you decided to stay."

"Is that the Sheriff speaking or the man speaking?"

I'm not prepared to answer and just hang my head but if I don't answer her I am setting the stage for the easy chair staring out of the single window as life passes me by.

Vic turns away from me and starts out of the door.

"Both"

She looks over her shoulder and slowly turns full circle.

"Both?"

"Yup"

"So can both of you tell me what is wrong?"

"Am I that transparent?"

"To me, yes. To the rest of the world not so much."

Cady walks in, "Hey, Dad," she is smiling and looks absolutely beautiful.

"Hey, Punk." I walk around my desk to meet her.

"Oh, hey Vic. I didn't see you." She looks quizzically, "I'm not interrupting am I?" as her forefinger matches us together.

"Ah no" I smile and give my girl a hug.

"I was delightfully surprised you wanted to have lunch, Dad. I like it. "

"Great, that's great."

"It's nice to see you, Cady. I'm going to excuse myself." Vic smiles and closes the door behind her.

"Ah Cady. " I sit half on the edge of my desk with my legs under me for support facing Cady who is in Vic's customary chair, "We need to talk."

"Ok, is everything ok? It's not about Henry is it?"

"No"

"You're scaring me."

"Ah, I don't mean to. It's about your mom."

Cady's face grows ashen and she folds her hands in her lap on her purse just like her mom used to do.

"What about mom?"

It's full disclosure time. I bear it all; Denver, Miller Beck, Hector, Jacob Nighthorse and finally Branch Connally. All of the dots are connected all the pieces are on the table. When the last bit of words come out I tell Cady that I finally had the courage to move forward and scatter Martha's ashes and we have a place we can go visit her mom together.

We stand in the office alone, my baby girl in my arms, and I listen to her sobs, her pain, and her anger and the flame of revenge is ignited once more. I want to kill both of them. I want them to suffer the anguish and the torment they deserve.

"Cady, I'm so sorry"

"I want you to tell me the truth. You kept your promise to me and that's what matters, Dad. I love you so much. "

"I love you too and I'm sorry about Branch too, punk."

"He didn't know did he?"

"No, and he wants to help bring down Nighthorse. So he says."

"Does Vic know is that what you were talking about when I came in?"

"No."

"Well Dad are you going to tell her. You can't go through this alone."

"I'm not. Henry and Lucian know."

"Ok but they aren't deputies."

I look to the ceiling for reprieve and for answers. Cady takes a firm stance and pauses with her head down.

"The timing of this just is bad and I know it is but honestly I think I am in shock right now but don't exclude Vic or Ferg or Ruby for that matter. You know, you have a lot of people who will fight for you Dad you shouldn't shoulder this alone."

I'm a little angry now, "I keep hearing people tell me that." I put my hand on my hip and I can feel my neck tighten, "but I was Martha's husband, no one else." I stab my finger in my chest as if to prove to myself I am right. "It's my responsibility, no one else's."

Cady looks at me a little taken aback but she forges on, "I know it is but it's ours too. She is my mom."

"I don't see how everyone else fits into it Cady."

"You don't see how many people loved mom and love you. We lost part of our family but they lost a friend. They deserve a chance to grieve and to see real justice, Dad. They do." Cady is in tears and I'm near tears.

"I will handle it, Cady." I can hear the quiver in my voice.

"Dad, you only have on real detective here to help you. You have to tell Vic."

"No, she has nothing to do with this."

"She has everything to do with this."

"What?" An honest what as I brush away the full pool of liquid about to drop from my eyes.

"It's obvious to anyone with eyes that she loves you and she is damn good at her job."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ok, were you just not at Henry's where she cleaned your blood and your wound before she cleaned her own bloody nose? A bloody nose, I might add, that you caused? She has to be in love with you to do that not to mention that you two are practically joined at the hip. Henry was right you know, she is even starting to talk like you. It's ridiculous. I think everyone in Durant knows there is something there except you two. The only problem is she is married."

"Not anymore."

"What?"

"Sean had me serve her with divorce papers."

"He had you serve them? That's messed up. Just shows that even he sees it."

"There is noting, I repeat nothing, going on with me and Vic."

"Yeah ok, Dad."

"Listen it's real important that you believe me."

"oh no, I do believe you. I believe you haven't done anything," Cady puts the anything in air quotes, " But that doesn't mean there's nothing going on. Seriously, Dad, like you would let Ferg touch you like that. Give me a break. Besides you have to tell her. Isn't she going with you to arrest Nighthorse and Barlow?"

"I'm not going to arrest them."

"What?!"

I'm silent and I turn to look out of the window of my office and deliberately walk slowly to my desk.

"Dad, you can't do something stupid."

"I'm going to do what I should have done long ago. "

"If you do this I will have lost both parents, please don't do this to me." Cady begins to cry again and I rush over to her and take her in my arms, again. "Please, don't do this. Mom wouldn't want this. I don't want this. Please, Dad."

I hold Cady in my arms for a long time. It's been just over a year since I thought she was going to die and how with Henry's help and permission I earned eagle feathers; my way of showing penance and making things right with the world for my actions in Denver and to bring my daughter back to life. What will happen if I kill Nighthorse? What will happen if I kill Barlow? What evil forces will I put into effect that will harm my beautiful daughter?

I know the evil exists. I've seen it up close.

"It's going to be allright, Cady." As I comfort her, I realize that this battle is real but it is spiritual warfare. I gently smile as I acknowledge to myself that I have read the end of the good book. I've already won. They just don't know it.