Sorry for the delay. Between sickness, holiday travel, and the fits this chapter has given me, this is the soonest I could get it posted. Thanks for reading!

We pull into the parking lot outside the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department. They built a new building a few years ago when a particularly heavy snow collapsed the roof at their previous station. According to Walt, the state of the art facility is the envy of most of the departments in North Central Wyoming as well as a few in Montana. It is an impressive structure. I can see why Vic thought this would be an excellent place to house Barlow. It will keep him far enough out of Walt's reach that it will be difficult for him to allow his thirst for revenge to take over. None of us want Walt doing something stupid that he cannot undo. However, I suspect that Sheriff Wilkins will allow Walt to take Barlow back to Absaroka County without question if he wants to. I am hoping Walt does not try to do that today. Keeping Barlow here is one of my goals for this trip.

Walt shifts into park and turns off the engine but remains in his seat. I watch from the corner of my eye as he tightens his grip on the steering wheel. I had sensed his agitation increasing as we got closer to the Cumberland County Jail. While Walt has had many challenging interactions with Barlow multiple times over the years, this time will be different than any other. Walt now knows Barlow is the person behind Martha's murder. I am sure he is thinking about all the times he has seen Barlow since Martha's death and each instance is piling on top of the previous one.

"Walt? Are you you sure you want to do this?"

"No."

"You do not have to. We can go back and return another time. In fact, you do not have to see Barlow at all for a while. Let Ferg handle any contact with him that needs to be made."

"No."

"Okay." I learned a long time ago when to push my best friend and when to let him be. Luckily I am a very patient man and I do not mind waiting on him to make up his mind.

"Can I use your cell phone?"

I reach in my pocket, hand it to him and attempt to lighten the mood, "You know Walt, you really should get your own. It would make things easier on the rest of us."

"Not now, Henry." This is one of those times that he does not want to be pushed.

Walt gets out and walks around to lean against the back of the truck. I adjust the rear view mirror so I can see him. He stares at the phone for a moment and then begins to dial. In addition to knowing Walt would head straight to see Barlow as soon as he had the chance, I also knew it would come from a gut impulse. He would not take the time to fully think it through before leaving Durant. His current hesitation confirms my suspicions.

I exit the vehicle when I see him end the call and walk around to the passenger side door.

He returns the phone and starts walking toward the building without me. That phone call appears to have erased any hesitation he may have been feeling.

"Walt."

He stops but doesn't turn around, "I want to see him alone, Henry."

"Very well. I will be here when you are finished."

I watch him enter the building before checking the call log. I redial the last number listed and wait for her to pick up.

Dammit! Why is Walt so stubborn?! I told him he shouldn't try to see Barlow today but he went anyway. I turn onto Hwy 16 and hit my lights and siren. Thankfully the call out to Mrs. Carver's house had been a simple case of a lost puppy who had snuggled down in the brush to take a nap. Mrs. Carver had recognized the young dog as soon as I fetched him out of the bushes and knew exactly where he belonged. I returned him to his rightful owner with instructions to keep him in the yard, collected my apple pie and was heading home to drop it off when Walt called.

He didn't tell me where he was at first but simply said he wanted to hear my voice. I was thrilled to hear that. In fact, as soon as I heard him say my name I seriously considered taking a detour around to his cabin for a visit before heading back to the station. I quickly realized he wasn't at home but standing in the parking lot at Cumberland County getting ready to go in and talk to that bastard Barlow Connally. I tried to talk him out of going into the station but he wouldn't listen. I thought at first he was calling me to confess what he was doing to assuage the guilt he was feeling at going behind my back. It didn't take long, however, to know he was calling because he needed me to provide him an anchor, something solid to hold on to. He needed me to remind him to focus on the things that are really important and to remind him that revenge is not one of those things.

I radio Ruby to make sure everything is calm at the station and give her an update on my location. I'll make pretty good time as long as traffic cooperates. Walt told me not to come but I'm going anyway. I've been over letting men tell me what to do for a while now.

My phone rings on the seat beside me. I don't bother checking the caller ID before I answer it, "Moretti."

"Hello Vic."

"Henry! What the hell? Why did you let Walt go to Cumberland County today?'

"I did not let Walt go to Cumberland County. He makes his own choices. Besides, I would not have been able to stop him even if I had wanted to. This is not something he wants to do, Vic. It is something he has to do."

"I know he has to do it eventually, but why now? Why today?"

"Think about it from his perspective. He has spent the last few years of his life wondering why his wife was targeted. He is finally on the verge of knowing the full truth about her death. Would you wait if you were him?"

I have to concede to his logic, "No, I wouldn't."

"Nor would I."

"I'm on my way there. Whatever you do, don't let him leave with Barlow."

"I will do my best."

"Okay...It's going to be okay, right?"

"Yes. Everything will be okay."

"All right, I'll see you as soon as I can, and Henry?"

"Yes, Vic?"

"Thanks."