Ch. 3
8:50 PM
"What's your name?"
Walt's voice broke the tense silence.
"What do you care?"
"I'm Walt. This is Vic. That guy is Henry."
The man glanced over at Vic who was sitting with Henry.
"Vic?"
She cleared her throat.
"It's short for Victoria."
His eyes stayed on her.
"Victoria. That's pretty. Why don't you use it."
Vic shrugged.
"My family always called me Vic."
He nodded.
"You got a big family?"
"Four brothers. Only girl."
He smiled a little at her.
"I'm an only child. Always wanted a brother."
"They can be a pain the ass but I wouldn't trade them. What's your name?"
Her voice was soft. He considered her question for a long moment, his eyes downcast on his gun.
"Greg."
Her eyes flicked briefly to Walt and then back to Greg.
"Do you mind if I ask how old you are, Greg?"
He raised his eyes to her.
"What difference does that make?"
"You just look young. Too young for all this."
"I was never young."
With that, he rose and began to pace.
6:15 PM
They entered the Red Pony and Walt's eyes scanned the room. It was starting to get crowded but Henry Standing Bear always stood out. He spotted him at a corner table, one of the less crowded parts of the room. Henry smiled when his dark eyes settled on the two of them. He rose as they approached the table.
"You are early."
They all sat down around the table.
"So are you."
Henry nodded.
"I have been here for a while. I still own it so I was checking on some things."
The waitress brought over beers Henry must have already asked for.
"How's the casino."
"Good, it is definitely a different business than simply running a bar. My employees are good people, though. It is nice to be able to help my people."
Walt nodded and took a swallow of beer. Facing the door, he noticed a young man come in. He wasn't sure why he noticed him. Maybe because it was not a familiar face. The man went to the bar and sat down. Walt turned his attention back to Henry who had Vic laughing with a story about a drunk gambler. He had an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Vic glanced at him.
"What?"
He nodded towards the bar.
"You recognize that guy?"
Both she and Henry shook their heads.
"Something wrong?"
Walt shook his head slightly.
"I don't know."
He stood up and started towards the man. Vic caught him by the arm.
"Walt, you're not the Sheriff anymore. You just can't harass people."
He grimaced. Old habits die hard. He paused.
"Are you armed?"
Vic shook her head.
"No, my weapon is in the Bronco outside."
Her voice was wrapped with confusion.
"Walt, what is it?"
"Something's not right."
He handed her the keys to the Bronco. Vic left and returned minutes later. The young man was still sitting at the bar. He had a beer but he wasn't really drinking it. He kept glancing around. Vic nodded towards the back of his denim jacket.
"He's carrying."
"Yeah I noticed that. Not unusual but he's giving me a bad feeling."
"How do you want to play it?"
He glanced around the bar. It was crowded now. Walt turned and looked to Henry.
"Pull the fire alarm?"
"What?"
Henry looked at him incredulously.
"Pull the fire alarm so these people will go outside."
"Walt, are you sure about this?"
Walt shook his head.
"No, but I'm also not willing to bet lives on it."
Henry nodded and left them alone. Walt glanced nervously at Vic and then back to the man. Seconds later, the fire alarm started to go off. There was a rumble of moans through the crowd as people looked around in confusion and started to shuffle towards the door. The man stood and Walt saw his hand go to his back. He grabbed the bar tender by his arm as the gun emerged from under his jacket. Vic pulled hers simultaneously.
"Hey!"
He whirled and fired. The gunshot caused the stragglers to push their way out the door. The shot was wide of Vic but she heard a grunt behind her. Walt saw Henry grab his arm.
"Henry!"
The bar tender took the chance and ran for the door but the young man grabbed her arm and trained his gun on Vic.
"Drop it!"
"You drop it."
"No, ma'am, I don't think so. I think that if you don't put that gun down, I'm gonna blow this nice girl's head off."
Vic kept her gun trained on him. Walt stepped forward.
"If she lowers it, will you let the young lady go?"
His gun on Vic, he moved his eyes to Walt.
"Who the hell are you?"
"That's not important. But that is a Sheriff's deputy. So I would think twice about shooting her."
The young man moved the gun to Walt.
"Maybe I'll just shoot you then."
Walt nodded towards Henry.
"I need to check on him."
"He's fine."
"He's been shot."
Walt's voice was calm but firm. The young man moved his gun back to Vic.
"Drop it."
"Vic, lower it."
She glanced at Walt.
"You can't be serious."
Walt looked back to the young man.
"Will you let her go?"
He indicated the frightened young woman whose arm was still being held tightly. The man glanced at her and nodded. Vic lowered the gun. He released his hold and the young woman ran out the door. He kept his weapon trained on Vic.
"Lay it on the ground or the next bullet kills that man."
He was talking about Henry, who has slid himself into a corner and was trying to tend to his wounded arm.
"Vic."
She heard Walt's voice. It was calm. She nodded.
"Fine."
Vic laid the gun on the floor.
"Kick it away."
The gun made a scratching noise as it slid across the floor. Keeping his gun up, he moved over and picked it up. Tucking it into his pants, he turned back to them.
"Looks like it's the 4 of us."
9:01 PM
Walt knew by now there would be a crowd outside. Hostage situations were big news. He sighed. He had seen enough death in his time as Sheriff. He didn't want to see anymore. Greg was sitting in a chair, his legs stiff with tension. He still held the gun in their general direction. Walt had noticed he seemed to only answer questions that came from Vic. He glanced at her every now and then, trying to make eye contact.
"So, Vic, are you married?"
She had been resting her head in her hands.
"Why, you planning to ask me out?"
He smiled a little.
"I figure we're all stuck here. We might as well get to know each other."
"Not anymore."
"Divorced, huh. My parents are divorced. It sucks. Got any kids?"
Walt noticed the lightening fast flash of pain that shot through her eyes.
"No."
"That's something. Divorce does shitty things to kids. Have you ever lost someone you loved, Vic? Really loved."
"Yes."
He waited in silence, his eyebrows raised in question. Vic shook her head.
"It's personal."
He studied her and nodded.
"Isn't everything."
Silence descended over him. He turned his dark eyes to Walt.
"You used to be a cop?"
"Sheriff. I was the Sheriff."
"Quit?"
"Retired."
"You rich or something?"
Walt shook his head.
"No."
"My old man still works. Can't afford to retire he says."
"Where does your father live, Greg?"
Greg's jawed tensed. It was clear his father was not his favorite topic.
"Texas now."
"What does he do?"
Greg shook his head.
"I don't wanna talk about him."
He glanced at the door.
"You think they're going to come in here?"
"At some point, yes."
"Shouldn't they call or something? Ask me what I want?"
Walt leaned forward.
"What do you want? What happened that this all seemed like a good idea?"
The young man's eyes became watery.
"Have you ever lost someone you love, former Sheriff Walt?"
Walt nodded his head.
"My wife died a few years ago. She was murdered."
Greg made a face.
"That sucks."
"Yeah, it did."
"But you're with her now?"
He jerked his head towards Vic.
"I seen the way you look at her, man. It ain't no secret."
Walt nodded.
"Yep."
Greg gave Vic a rueful smile.
"Guess that means you'll say no if I did ask you out."