Ruby was surprised to find Ferg already at the station when she arrived the next morning. She is almost always the first person there. She took in Ferg's appearance. He was somewhat more rumpled than usual and there was an unfolded blanket on the bunk in the cell. It was easy to surmise that he had slept there. It wasn't strange for Walt to sleep at the office or even Vic for that matter. Since Martha died Walt had often stayed on the bunk overnight and Ruby knew that Vic had troubles she didn't always want to deal with. They both had something they were avoiding at home, but not the Ferg. Why would he sleep here? She asks him as much. He gives Ruby the shortened version of everything that had happened the night before with Vic and Barlow. She nods and then glances around, "So is that where Walt is, at the hospital with Vic?"

Ferg is hesitant to say anything but Ruby needs to know, "No one's seen Walt since Sloan agreed to drop the charges against Henry and he left the Red Pony. We don't know where he is."

"That's okay, I'm sure he'll show up soon."

She starts to walk over to her desk but stops when she remembers the empty cell, "Where's Barlow?"

"I took him to Tri-County. I knew we wouldn't be able to house him here right now being so short staffed and all. I didn't have anyone to ask so I just made the decision myself."

She nods in agreement, "Good."

Ruby calls Cady for an update on Vic and to see if she's heard from her father yet this morning while Ferg gets back to reviewing the paperwork he needs to send to Tri-county and the prosecutor's office. When Ruby gets off the phone she gets right to the point.

"Ferg, Cady says there hasn't been any change in Vic's condition and she hasn't heard from Walt yet either. I'm going to head over to the hospital to give her a break, let her go home for a while to get a shower and some rest. In the meantime, maybe you should call Henry. He knows Walt better than anybody. He might know where he is."

"I am already here Ruby. Deputy Ferguson and I spoke late last night and arranged to combine our efforts to find Walt."

Neither of them had heard Henry coming up the stairs.

Ruby beams at Ferg, " I knew you could handle this." She pats Ferg twice on the cheek, "Now you two get out there and track down our Sheriff!"

She grabs her purse and heads down the stairs, "I'll be at the hospital if you need me."

Ferg checks the time before looking up at Henry, "You're here early, that must mean something."

"How much does Ruby know?"

"As much as we do, that no one has seen or talked to Walt since he left the Red Pony yesterday."

"Well, we do know a little more than that now."

"What have you got?"

"It appears Walt is in his truck. His rifle is gone as are the extra clips for his Colt."

"Anything else?"

"Martha's ashes are gone."

"Her ashes?"

Henry nods, "Walt has been keeping Martha's ashes in a box on a shelf in the kitchen. The box is now sitting on the table and the ashes are gone."

Ferg pulls over a chair for Henry and sits down at his desk.

"Did you know he was going to scatter them?"

"No."

"I wonder if Cady did."

"I am sure that if Cady knew she would have said something to me. We have both shared concerns about Walt hanging onto Martha so tightly since she's been gone. Him spreading her remains is a sign of a shift in Walt's thinking."

"What kind of shift."

"I am not sure."

Ferg shakes his head, "Walt kept his wife's ashes for two years and when he finally decides to do something with them he doesn't tell his daughter? After all they have been though? I know he's private and all but that doesn't seem like him... I'm almost finished getting everything together." He hands Henry a map of the county, "Look this over and let me know where you think we should start looking for Walt. We can drop these reports off on the way."

They both work in silence for a while before hearing footsteps on the stairs. Ferg huffs a little as the door opens. He was really hoping to avoid any distractions that would slow down his ability to get out of the office and find Walt.

It's Matthias, "Is the sheriff here? I need to talk to him."

Surprised, Ferg stands up, "No, no he isn't in."

"It's important. When do you expect him?"

"I'm not sure, is there something I can help you with?"

"Well, I have a missing person on the rez and let's just say it's someone in whom the sheriff has taken an intense interest as of late."

Ferg and Henry look at each other and Henry asks, "Who is missing?"

Matthias regards him slowly, "Jacob Nighthorse. He didn't show up at his office this morning so I went out to his house. It was locked up and his car was there. The only thing I could find other than some tire tracks was this." He tossed an evidence bag with some broken pieces of plastic and electronics in it onto the table.

"What is it?" Ferg asks him.

"I think it used to be Jacob's cell phone."