I reassure Cady as much as I can, at the moment, that I will not do anything rash although I wonder if the judge would show leniency on me if I went through with it. I know she and Henry are right, in the end, but it does not make me feel like not killing them is the best decision.

"Dad, I don't feel much like eating. I'm sorry. This is just too upsetting."

"I'm sorry, punk."

"No, no it's not your fault. This whole thing is just so much to absorb. Nighthorse, I get you know, but Barlow." Cady's eyebrows almost come together as she tries to wrap her emotions around the reality that Branch's father is the mastermind to kill her mom.

"What a sick and twisted man."

I just nod in agreement. I know she and Branch were dating, seriously for a while, but I don't know how serious the relationship was. For all I know, they were planning on a future together. The depths of her pain cannot be categorically measured.

My hand finds it's way to her shoulder and I rest it there for a moment before my hand follows the length of her arm. The pain my child feels exacerbates the rage inside of me. She has a very forgiving soul as her mother but a long term memory as her father.

"Dad, I'm going to go visit, mom."

"Ok, let me get my hat and coat."

"No, I want to just sit and talk with mom like we used to when you were out working a case. Just us girls. I need my mom right now."

"ok", I pause because I know she isn't excluding me and it reaffirms my decision to finally spread Martha's ashes was the right decision for all of us.

"Thank you, Dad. " She wraps her long arms around me, her voice stifled, "Thank you for letting mom finally rest." She kisses my cheek and it's a little wet from her tears.

"You're welcome, punk."

I kiss her cheek and she smiles at me. I whisper, "I love you, Cady."

"I love you too, Dad."

Cady leaves my door open and as she leaves, I can see her talking to Vic for just a moment as I turn to get my hat and coat. Vic stands in my doorway.

"What's up? Cady said you needed to speak with me. Everything ok?"

"I have to get to the hospital"

Vic spins on her heels to move out of my way and follows behind me, "Fine, I will go with you."

She doesn't leave much room to protest and the truth is while I don't want her to actively get involved I want her with me. I want her by my side. As she piles into the Bullet without any graceful effort I look over at the short unnatural blonde and I wonder what it is I want from her? There are so many things about her that I admire, she is resourceful, smart, funny, strong, and she is her own woman. Sure, she is rough around the edges but in a sexy vulnerable way. Vic is my soft place to land.

"So, what's going on. Cady seemed pretty upset when she left."

"Barlow was behind Martha's murder."

"What the fuck!"

"He tried to kill Branch but Branch got off the first shot and wounded the bastard. They are at the hospital now. Barlow should be out of surgery and that's where I'm headed."

"Is Branch ok?"

"Well, no. I mean he's not shot but no he's not ok."

"ok"

We drive for a couple of minutes and she spares me from the barrage of questions percolating in her head.

"Walt, what is your plan?"

I remain silent as I look over at her for a moment to let her know I'm not ignoring her but I just choose not to answer the question. Vic turns and looks out of her passenger window than back at my profile as I drive.

"Listen, I don't know for sure what you got cookin' in that brain of yours but conspiracy to commit murder across state lines is a capital offense. We are talking Federal death sentence. Let's call the Feds and toss them this bone, Walt. Let's put this to rest and give your wife some peace."

I find my hand coming up to my jaw and scratching my whiskers as I think. I peer out of the cracked windshield and notice small specks of white paint left on the dashboard.

"I know I would want to kill every last one of these motherfuckers"

I look over at her and think how is it possible that she is in my thoughts, as if, she has permanent residency there.

"It's a thought"

We pass another mile down the road in silence.

"Yeah, except by killing them, you are letting them off the hook. You will be the one left alive, the one left to suffer, not them. They will be out of their misery. Why in the world would you want to do them a favor? Fuck 'em. Let them rot their asses in prison. You know get shipped to Arifuckinzona where it's a 110 damn degrees at midnight and no air conditioning. Fuck them, Walt. Let's get the Feds to take the case and kiss their asses good-bye."

"That doesn't make me the man I think I should be." My filter is temporarily suspended, as usual, when I am with Vic.

"Being a man is always knowing the right thing to do and doing it, Walt. That's the man you are so I don't see the problem here."

I don't have a response for Vic and I retreat into the inner recesses of my mind.

Very matter-of-factly Vic blurts out, "Besides, I'm not going to put a file in a baked cake and try to spring your skinny ass from prison. I'm just letting you know that shit up front."

We make the rest of the drive to Durant Memorial in silence but as I look over to my deputy I can't help but think what a delightful and unexpected surprise Vic Moretti is to me. I'm glad she is on my side.