All Paths Lead to You

by jmd0820

With Cady as Sheriff and Walt retired, a new era has begun in Absaroka County. With a new crime to solve and the appearance of someone from Walt's past, all of their resolve will be tested as will the bonds, both old and new, that they all share.

5. More questions than answers

Ch. 5: More questions than answers

Walt stood on a ladder and hammered a nail into a board. Once he was done with the task, he wiped a hand across his face. In spite of the cold, manual work had a way of warming up a body. He glanced down at Henry.

"How are things at the casino?"

Henry took a step back as Walt came down off the ladder.

"Better."

Much like earlier, Henry didn't offer any specifics. Walt didn't push for the details. That was their unspoken understanding as far as the casino was concerned. It was a topic they rarely discussed in depth.

"Was Vic glad to have you back early?"

Walt looked at the back wall of the bar as though he were giving it real consideration. The fact that Henry diverted the topic didn't escape him. He was somewhat grateful for it even though they weren't always in agreement on Vic either. Henry wasn't against the relationship. Henry was wary. Cady had been as well. She came around sooner partially because running for Sheriff forced the two women to spend time together, much like living together briefly had.

"Think so."

Henry's brow went up.

"You think so?"

Walt breathed out a quiet chuckle.

"Yep, she was."

Henry watched him for a few more seconds before he turned away.

"She is living with you."

It seemed more of a statement than a question. Walt shrugged and started collecting tools, sticking them in a faded brown bag.

"Seems to be."

Henry's dark eyes were back on him.

"She either is or she is not."

Walt didn't look up.

"Then she is."

"You have not talked about it."

Walt shook his head.

"No. It just…"

"Is what it is?"

Walt did look up then to find something resembling a smirk on Henry's face. He started to reply, but stopped himself. He knew that Henry was prodding him intentionally with that one knowing how much he hated that phrase.

"It's…an understanding."

He expected Henry to continue pushing.

The truth was that he didn't have an explanation for it. It wasn't something they talked about. Not directly. He tried to make it clear to Vic that she was welcome there anytime or all the time. He was genuinely surprised at how easily they slipped into a situation that neither was sure they were ready for. One night turned into two nights turned into more nights. A day came when he left a key to the cabin on his desk beside the set of keys she dropped there when she came in from work. The next morning after she went to work, the key was gone. He later saw it dangling from her key chain.

Henry held up his hands as though he was surrendering to Walt's point of view.

"Okay."

Walt tugged the bag of tools and snapped the top closed.

"Thank you…for your help."

"You're welcome."

He could feel something on Henry's mind. Something that he wanted to say. So, he waited the same way that he had for the past four decades or so. When Henry didn't say anything, Walt took a slightly uncharted path and spoke instead.

"She's good for me, Henry."

Something in Henry's expression changed, the stillness dissolving into a look that was more amiable and understanding. Henry knew how uncharacteristic it was for Walt to offer up information without any real pushing.

"That is what matters."

"So why does it feel like you don't approve?"

Vic, like the casino, was a topic they rarely discussed at length. There were a few brief conversations surrounding the relationship, but Henry didn't pursue it most of the time. Walt understood why and they didn't talk about that either. It felt like the list of topics they avoided was longer than what they actually did.

It was different than how they were before everything.

"It is not my place to approve or disapprove of your life, Walt."

"But…"

The tables turned and it was Walt who was doing the prodding. This felt like a moment that he didn't want to pass them by. It felt more like an opportunity that presented itself. Walt decided he might as well take it and clear the air.

"I just think you should be careful. I have said before that the two of you started this when you were both under an enormous amount of stress. It is not unusual to seek comfort from someone when you are going through something traumatic."

Walt let his gaze wander from Henry and around the side of the building.

"It's not like that."

"I hope that is true."

"It is. I know you're worried about me, Henry. I appreciate that. But, Vic isn't gonna hurt me."

"Maybe not intentionally."

Walt released a sigh.

"I could just as easily hurt her."

"That is true. Walt, I like Vic. I know that she cares for you. Anyone can see that. The only real surprise is that it took the two of you this long. After everything that you both went through…"

Walt didn't have any real desire to have this conversation. Not again.

"I love her."

He said the words confidently and Henry went quiet. That shouldn't have been news to Henry. Maybe the real surprise was that Walt was so forthcoming with the declaration. Henry studied him for a long moment before speaking.

"I believe you."

"Then…be happy for me."

Another minute of silence passed between them.

"I am, Walt."

"You don't really show it."

"I will work on that."

Walt nodded and the conversation ended with that. There was nothing else either one of them needed to say. They both understood where the other was coming from. It felt more like their friendship before Walt tried his best to destroy it. Walt placed his hat on his head and adjusted the brim. He grabbed his bag of tools and offered Henry a look of acceptance as well as a nod.

xxx

"This car?"

Vic offered the man who identified himself as Todd Moore one of the pictures they had taken of Natalie Olson's car. He reached out and took the picture with hands that seemed to be permanently stained with oil or grease. With his faded jeans and flannel shirt, Vic hadn't been surprised when he told her that he was a truck driver. She didn't bother mentioning that he shouldn't have had a big rig on the road he believed he saw the car. That didn't matter to her at this point. Finding out of if this was the car he saw was.

Moore was middle aged with dirty blond hair that touched his shoulders. He was tall and thin, wiry was the word that came to mind. He lowered his eyes to the picture and looked at it for the better part of a minute before he looked up.

"I think so."

"You think?"

She was hoping for something more concrete. He gave her an apologetic look and gave the picture in his hand another glance.

"It was dark. The car was sitting on the side of the road. There was no one around it and no lights. I assumed someone broke down. I slowed down and eased by it, but didn't see anyone. I'm…"

He paused and passed the picture back to her.

"…pretty sure that's it."

Vic took the picture and tucked it into the folder on Cady's desk.

"You didn't see anyone at all around the car? No other vehicles?"

He shook his head.

"No, the road was pretty dark. There's…no light on that road."

He stopped and looked from Cady to Vic and back.

"Truthfully, I know my truck was overweight for that road. But…I heard on the radio there was some sort of slowdown on the highway and got off."

Vic gave him a slight smile.

"Avoiding the highway patrol."

He smiled nervously.

"I was legal. I was just in a hurry."

Vic flapped her hand at him.

"We don't care about that. What time was it?"

"It was late. Around midnight. I remember…how hard the wind was blowing that night. It was making me a little nervous."

"Yeah."

Vic thought about how the wind howled around the cabin that night while she was in bed. Eerie didn't quite do it justice.

"Sorry, I can be more helpful."

Cady stood up from her desk and gave him a smile.

"You have been helpful. Thank you for calling us."

He nodded to her and offered a smile in return.

"No problem."

After he was gone, Vic paced slowly around Cady's office.

"We need to go out there and have a look."

Cady looked at the time.

"We have time before Natalie's mother is supposed to be here. How do you think that'll go?"

Vic stilled and faced Cady.

"Hard."

A beat of quiet passed over them before Cady turned away.

"Let's go. You drive."

The two women pulled on their jacket and got into Vic's truck. Getting directions from a truck driver was a stroke of luck in the moment. He was familiar with the area and gave them a specific stretch of road where he saw the car. He'd narrowed it down enough.

The landscape that passed them by was white and frigid. The temperatures didn't show any signs of letting up and they were expecting snow the next day.

"What's it like?"

The question came from Cady after they left the more populated area of the county. Vic tossed her a quick look.

"What's what like?"

"Driving these roads when you aren't from a place like this?"

Cady turned her head and looked at Vic.

"I'm from here. I learned to drive here. To me, learning to drive in the city was nerve wracking. I never really thought about it from a different perspective."

"It's different. That's for sure."

"Different as in scary?"

Vic thought about her own experience moving to Durant from Philadelphia. They were two different worlds both on a map and in reality. Scary wasn't the word that she would use. She hadn't been scared of Durant.

"Not scary exactly. But…it's hard to explain. There's so much space out here and so much…emptiness. And, when it gets dark, it's darker than anything I could've imagined before living here."

"Yeah, I had the opposite problem when I went to college. It was impossible to find quiet."

Vic huffed out a breath of laughter before growing serious.

"I can imagine that a young woman who might have been alone would be scared out of her mind driving through here in the dark. Especially if she was lost."

Vic tried not to let her mind wander too far down that path.

"Do you think she was alone?"

"Don't know."

They found the stretch of road without too much trouble. Vic pulled over and they both got out. Slowly, they started walking down the side of the road, scanning the ground. It hasn't snowed since the body was found. That was one thing to be thankful for. Car tires would have left tracks in the snow.

Sure enough, they found tracks. Vic walked along them, her eyes on the marks in the snow.

"Looks like two vehicles."

She knelt down and pointed.

"I guess the smaller tires are the car. These bigger ones…"

"…look like a truck or bigger SUV."

Vic nodded.

"Yeah, they do."

She stood up and continued to look at the tracks in the snow. A picture was starting to form with some real clarity for the first time since they identified the victim.

"So…"

Vic started to talk. That was how she worked best.

"…she pulls her car over for some reason. We know it wasn't out of gas. Could've broken down. Someone pulls in behind her. Are they following her or is it by chance?"

"You're asking me?"

Vic shook her head at Cady.

"No, I'm thinking. We can't say for sure obviously. But…it's possible that someone was following her. It's also possible she was traveling with someone in a different vehicle. If that's the case, I'm assuming they had something to do with it since the car was ditched and no one reported anything. That doesn't…"

She paused. Cady gave her a look.

"Doesn't feel right, does it?"

"No. that would be risky even around here. There are houses on this road. Makes more sense that she left with someone. They could've come back for the car later."

Vic bit her lip as her mind reeled through the possibilities.

"It's possible she was running from something, was followed."

Vic nodded more to herself than anything.

"Lots of things are possible. Jesus."

She shook her head and turned away. It seemed like what should give them answers only opened up more questions.

"Let's get some pictures."

xxx

Delores Reid look as tired as her daughter did in her mugshot. She certainly looked much older than the forty-seven years she apparently was. Her light brown hair was thin and cut short. Her face was lined and the eyes she shared with her daughter moved nervously between Vic and Cady. Doing the math, Vic knew the woman would have been a young mother. That was confirmed early in the interview as they sat in Cady's office.

"I was only twenty when I had Natalie."

"Was she an only child?"

Cady was being gentle and slow as she led the conversation.

Delores shook her head.

"No, she has a half-brother. He works overseas."

Pausing to rub her face, Delores continued.

"I'm honestly not even sure where he is. I called him…"

Her voice trailed off.

"Do you know why Natalie might have been in Wyoming?"

"No. We hadn't talked in a few weeks. She used to call me more regularly. Ever since she moved to Nashville, that changed."

"Was she involved with someone?"

It was Vic who voiced that question.

Vic was starting to think the mother wasn't going to be as helpful as they hoped. She didn't seem clued in to the finer details of her daughter's life. Vic got it. She seriously filtered the information she fed her own parents. When there was distance between yourself and your family, it was easier to keep things from them.

Delores turned her eyes to Vic, who was standing while the other two women sat.

"I think she had a boyfriend. But, I believe they broke up."

"Recently?"

She could see the woman looking for an answer.

"She mentioned it the last time we spoke."

Vic nodded a little.

"Can you tell us exactly when that was? Maybe you can look at your phone."

It was a suggestion that hadn't seemed to occur to the woman. She pulled her phone from the faux leather purse she carried and started to scroll through her calls. Vic gave Cady a look. Cady was already looking her way. Their eyes met and lingered momentarily before Vic tilted her head slightly to the side. Cady nodded and rose.

"Ms. Reid, excuse us for a moment."

The woman gave them a look, then continued looking through her phone. Cady exited the office first and Vic pulled the door closed behind them.

"What are you thinking?"

Cady kept her voice low and didn't waste any time.

"That a pissed off ex-boyfriend certainly fits the bill in a crime like this. We need to find out who this guy is and get his story."

Cady dipped her chin.

"The mother doesn't seem to know much about it?"

"Her mother doesn't seem to know much about her daughter's life at all. We really need to find people in Nashville who knew her. Friends or coworkers. Someone who knew what was going on in her day to day life. Someone who might know where she was going."

"Maybe she was moving again. Broke up with her boyfriend. Clean break."

Vic let her eyes roam around the office.

"Could be."

Vic and Cady went back into the office to find Delores Reid waiting for them, phone still in hand. She held up the phone.

"I found it. Three weeks ago."

Cady leaned in to look at the phone screen and jotted down the date.

"Thank you. We're trying to build a timeline. This is helpful."

Delores stuffed her phone back into her purse. Vic leaned on Cady's desk and braced one arm on the service.

"Do you know anything about the man that Natalie was seeing?"

Based on the expression, Vic knew the answer to the question.

"Not much. She didn't talk about him very much. His name was…"

Vic waited, her fingers pressing into the wooden surface of the desk.

She could see Delores searching her mind for a name. That wasn't a good sign.

"Mark…Mike…"

Vic resisted the urge to sigh. They definitely needed to find someone who was in on Natalie Olson's life. Trying to solve the death of a victim who didn't live in the area was a hell of a challenge. A good bit of the people they would want to talk to weren't anywhere near them. Hell, they didn't even know who they were.

Vic changed routes.

"Did Natalie have a job in Nashville?"

"Yes, she worked in a dentist's office for a while."

"Do you know the name of it?"

"Anderson's Family Dental Center."

Cady jotted down the name.

The interview hadn't been as fruitful as they would've liked or expected. It was frustrating and Vic could see that Delores Reid felt the same way.

"Is there anything else you can think of?"

The sad looking mother shook her head and looked down at her lap.

"I wish I could."

The words sounded sincere.

"How long are you in town for?"

Delores shrugged.

"I need to make arrangements to have my daughter taken home. I'm not sure how long that will take."

Cady gave her a sympathetic look as they both stood up.

"If you think of anything else, please give us a call."

Delores gave Cady a nod as the two of them walked out. Vic lingered behind in the office. She took a seat on the couch and waited. She heard the door close and Cady reappeared with a tired look on her face.

"That was hard."

Vic gave her a nod.

"Yeah. We need to find out who she was dating."

"Yes, we do."

"I found the number the dentist office, but they don't open until Monday."

Cady made a face.

"What can we do until then?"

Vic sighed.

"We can go over what we have."

"You have time?"

Vic shrugged.

"Sure."

Cady pushed the office door closed behind her.

"Okay, let's get started."

xxx

"Long day?"

Walt was sitting on the porch when she pulled in. It was late afternoon pushing towards dinnertime. He sat in one of the chairs on his porch with his legs stretched out and a beer in his hand. His hat was pushed back on his head. He hadn't heard from her since he left that morning while she was still asleep.

Vic stopped on the top step.

"Yep. Longer than I expected."

"You get a break in the case?"

Vic shook her head as she lowered herself into the other chair.

"Not really."

She gave him a sideways look.

"Why are you sitting out here? It's cold."

Walt shrugged.

"Not too bad in the sun."

Her brow furrowed.

"You're not in the sun."

"I know."

Vic shook her head and looked out across the yard. Walt didn't say anything else. After a minute, she stood up.

"I'm going in."

He didn't follow her in immediately. He continued to sit and look at the mountains in the distance. He wasn't sure how many minutes passed before he stood up with his empty can and went inside. It was much warmer in the cabin thanks to the fire. He could hear Vic in the bedroom. He found her there changing from her work clothes. Walt leaned on the doorframe and watched her toss the dirty clothes aside without much thought and dress in different jeans and a Flyers sweatshirt, which she tugged down in time for her eyes to meet his.

"What?"

Walt didn't say anything. He continued to look at her. Vic pushed some loose hair out of her face while the eye contact held.

"What?"

She said it more emphatically and Walt snapped out of his reverie.

"You hungry?"

"Not really. Why are you being weird?"

He blinked at her question.

"I'm not."

Vic approached him slowly until she was standing close.

"You are. Stop staring at me."

She placed a hand on his chest and pushed slightly. Walt backed up and she walked into the living room and flopped on the couch. Walt joined her and as soon as he was seated, she pulled her legs up, turned, and put them in his lap while she lay her head back against the armrest. He didn't mind. In truth, he liked that she was so physical. It was something he missed after Martha's death. Normal, everyday touches.

"How was the interview with the mother?"

"Sad. Not very helpful. She didn't know much about her daughter's life."

"Didn't the daughter live in Nashville?"

"Yeah. The mom lives in Denver. Guess they weren't the type to talk very much."

He studied her for a long, quiet moment.

"Maybe that's why kids move away."

Vic bit her bottom lip. He would never actually tell her, but the thoughtful move on her part always did something to him. Even before.

"When Cady was at college, how much did you know about her daily life?"

His mind wandered back through the years.

"Not as much as I would have liked."

"Then you might be on to something."

"We tried to talk her into going to school closer, but she wasn't interested."

Vic gave him a slight smile.

"That's not unusual. First real taste of freedom."

"Gets a lot of kids in trouble."

"Not Cady, though."

"No, not Cady. She was always level headed."

"That you know of. You know…she's probably done stuff that you don't know about. Right?"

"Yeah."

That was true even while she was living in Durant.

"It surprises me that you went to school in Philadelphia."

She shrugged off the comment.

"It's a lot bigger than Durant. More choices and it's harder for people to keep tabs on you. Well…most people."

"Not your dad."

Her expression shifted the way it frequently did when she talked about her family.

"It's possible, but it's harder. I swear he knows everyone in that damn city. I got away with plenty, got caught for just as much."

He felt one side of his mouth tick up.

"Wild child."

She smiled again.

"That's me."

Her smile faded and she grew serious.

"You know…I get it, though."

"What?"

"The lack of communication."

He knew what she was talking about.

"You don't talk to your family very much."

It wasn't a question.

"You've met my dad. You should understand. His first instinct is to take charge."

"You're his child."

"But, I'm not a child. Not even close. I haven't lived at home since I was eighteen."

"Maybe this mother was the same way."

"Possible."

"It can be hard for parents to let go. Your job for eighteen or so years is to keep your child safe. Then, you're expected to turn them loose in the world and not have an opinion."

"You can have an opinion. You just can't force it. And…before you say you've never done that as a father…think real hard."

The denial had been on the tip of his tongue.

"Anyway, back to my actual point…I didn't realize until I moved away from my family exactly how much influence they had…or tried to have in my life. As a matter of fact, maybe if my parents were a little less…them…I might not have been such a hellion."

Walt suppressed a smile.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure you were born that way."

She gave him a fake smile and poked him with her foot.

"Funny."

She grew serious.

"Sometimes, I think it's hardest to be your true self until you're really on your own with no outside influence or judgement. It seems like people tend to tamp down certain aspects of their personality that other people might find annoying."

He eyed her.

"So…what part of your personality are you tamping down for me?"

Vic tilted her head to one side and flashed him a smile telling him he knew better than that.

"Not one damn thing."

Walt smiled at her, grateful for the lighter conversation. Vic pulled her feet from his lap and slid over so that she was sitting beside him, pushing into his personal space if that was a concept she believed in.

"You get the unfiltered version."

Walt returned the smile.

"That's my favorite one."

She laughed and pushed at him.

"Don't try so hard. If you wanna get laid, just say so."

xxx

It was nice to not have to be serious. Vic rose from the couch and stretched her arms up over her head. Her eyes moved to the desk and a thought popped into her mind.

"Oh…"

She left Walt sitting on the couch to retrieve the card that she tossed on the desk that morning.

"…someone came by this morning looking for you. A woman."

Vic grabbed the card, returned to the couch, and offered it to him. Walt took the card and looked at it as Vic reclaimed her seat beside him.

"Lily Bader."

He raised his eyes.

"She stopped by here?"

He seemed surprised by the information.

"Yeah, she woke me up."

"That early?"

Vic shrugged.

"Well, it's not like I got up at the crack of dawn. How do you know her?"

Walt gave the card another look before he laid it on the coffee table.

"I went to school with her brother. Well, she went to the same school, but she was two grades behind us."

"That's it?"

"What do you mean?"

"She drove out here fairly early on a Saturday morning. I figured she was a friend of yours or maybe someone you worked with."

"I believe she teaches now."

"That's nice. So…?"

"We did become friends when we were a little older. She left for school, though. Doesn't come back much as far as I know."

"You date her?"

She'd hoped he would offer up the information on his own.

"No. By the time she graduated high school, I was with Martha."

He paused.

"I'll give her a call later. What do you want to do for dinner? Do you wanna go get something?"

"Two nights in a row?"

She was messing with him and he knew it.

"We don't have to go to Sheridan this time."

"Red Pony then? They'll be busy."

She said that for his benefit more than her own. Walt pushed up from the couch.

"Still early for a Saturday. Won't be too bad."

Vic got to her feet and changed her shirt while Walt slid his feet into his boots and pulled on his coat. He waited patiently for her and pulled the Bronco keys from his pocket. In the Bronco, Vic tucked her hands into her pocket and pulled into her coat as the heat in the old vehicle struggled to keep up with the temperatures outside.

"You need to get the heat in this thing working."

Walt reached over and placed his hand in front of the vent.

"Yep."

He returned his hand to the steering wheel.

"Or, you could just get a new one."

Walt tossed her a quick look and turned his eyes back to the road.

"No need to."

Vic sighed audibly.

"Right."

"Just needs a little work like we all do."

Vic shook her head slightly.

"Walt, you do know it's not a person, right?"

He didn't bother with an answer and that didn't surprise her.

The cold made the ride feel longer than it actually was. It was a relief when they pulled into the parking lot. Vic slid from the Bronco and pushed the door closed as Walt came around the front and joined her. As soon as they walked inside there was an immediate sense of relief to be back in a warm room.

Vic unzipped her coat and slipped it off as they found a small table and took a seat. Walt sat across from her as Vic scanned the bar out of habit more than anything else. Walt was right. While the music was already going and there were people dancing and playing pool, it wasn't as crowded as it would be later on.

A young waitress appeared and they both ordered beers which were brought out quickly. More than a little familiar with the menu, they both ordered burgers and fries and settled in to wait for their food.

Vic picked up her bottle of beer and took a long drink from it. She set it back down and leaned in on the table so that Walt could hear her over the music.

"Why are you so against getting a new truck?"

"There's nothing wrong with the Bronco."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Didn't you mention it didn't sound right when you started it? And the heat is shot?"

"Nothing wrong that can't be repaired."

He amended his previous statement.

"Yeah, but how much money do you really want to put into it. Next month, it'll be something else."

Walt took a swallow from his own can of Ranier and released a sigh she was intended to hear.

"I don't like tossing something out just because it's a little worn out."

Vic pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. That didn't surprise her at all. It was such a Walt thing to say.

"So keep it. Doesn't mean you can't get something nicer for more regular use."

"There's no point in having two vehicles. More upkeep."

It was Vic's turn to sigh. She stopped short of rolling her eyes and conceded her side of the argument.

"Whatever."

Walt frowned.

"Why does it matter? You don't have to drive it."

"I have to ride in it sometimes and I don't like freezing my ass off."

"I can put some blankets in it."

Vic breathed out a humorless laugh.

"Yeah, that's the solution. Forget I said anything."

He seemed more than willing to let it go since it was clear they would not agree on the topic.

"You working tomorrow?"

"Not planning on it. We've done all we can do with what we have. It's supposed to be my day off and I would like to have one of those. You got plans?"

Walt shook his head just as their food arrived.

"Nope."

Plates were set in front of them and the waitress left them alone again. Vic flipped the top bun of her burger off and started to add ketchup. Pressing the bun back on, she pressed it down and picked it up to take a bite. Walt watched her over his own plate of food. Vic swallowed and swiped a napkin across her mouth.

"What?"

He dropped his eyes to his burger.

"Nothing."

Vic shifted in her seat.

"It seems like there's something on your mind."

He glanced up again and chewed a bite of food.

"I was just…"

He paused. Vic leaned in slightly.

"What?"

Walt cleared his throat.

"When you're done with this case, do you think you can take some days off?"

The question piqued her curiosity.

"Probably. Why?"

"I want to spend some time with you."

It was a rare thing for Walt to be forward with what he wanted. While he was getting better, that was still a work in progress.

"You spend time with me every day."

He made a slight face.

"You know what I mean?"

She gave him a smile.

"I do. So…what do you have in mind?"

"Haven't gotten that far. I've spent…a lot of time with Henry lately and work has been keeping you busy. I just thought…"

His words faded out, but Vic didn't need him to draw her a map. It was a sentiment that she hadn't fully expected. But, that was Walt. He wasn't the kind of man who offered up affirmations or compliments on a regular basis. He was the kind of man who meant what he said, though, and that added a different layer when he did say something. He wasn't wrong. Walt might've been retired, but that didn't make him inactive. He found multiple ways to occupy himself. Vic still worked at a job that was, at times, demanding and time consuming.

She offered him an intimate smile.

"I think it's a good idea. I'll talk to Cady."

Walt nodded and returned to his meal.

"You do know it's too cold to camp, right?"

He smiled.

"I do. My goal isn't to freeze you."

"You have goals, huh? Well, what is your goal?"

"You want me to say in a public place?"

He was teasing her, of course. With the music and din of conversation, no one could have heard anything without being right in their space. She laughed, not bothering to try and contain it.

"Damn, look at you getting all dirty."

She could have sworn he blushed.

"Walt!"

They both turned simultaneously looking for the voice that broke into their conversation. It took Vic a minute to hone in on the barely familiar dark haired woman that was coming their way. The only reason they even heard her was because the jukebox was between songs. Another one started up as Lily Bader stopped beside their table. Her smile revealed perfectly straight white teeth that only enhanced the image she clearly worked to put forth. Walt pushed back from the table and stood as Lily offered him her hand, which he took and released.

"Lily."

Walt sat back down and gestured at an empty chair at their table. Lily sat down and offered them both a smile.

"I stopped by this morning to see you."

Her eyes flicked to Vic and back to Walt. He nodded.

"I heard. You met Vic."

Lily nodded.

"This morning. Although, it was a bit rushed."

It felt almost like a dig of some sort.

"Sorry, you woke me up."

"Then, I'm the one who is sorry. I didn't catch your last name."

She hadn't offered it.

"Moretti."

"Italian."

It was a statement.

"Yeah."

Vic expected her to turn back to Walt. Instead, her eyes stayed on Vic and narrowed slightly.

"You're not from here. That accent is…from the East coast."

"Philadelphia."

Lily's eyes noticeably lit up.

"Oh, I love Philadelphia. Especially the Museum of Art."

Without waiting for any response from Vic, she looked back at Walt.

"How have you been, Walt? Lenny told me that you retired. How is that going?"

"It's been a nice change."

"Same old Walt. You never were much for small talk. Your daughter is the current Sheriff?"

"Yes."

"You must be proud."

"I am. Do you still teach?"

"Yes, I'm at UCLA now. I have cut back on my class load, but I'm not ready to leave it altogether just yet."

Her eyes dropped to their partially eaten food and she gave an apologetic look.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your meal. Forgive me please."

She stood up and pushed the chair back into place.

"It was nice meeting you, Vic. Walt, you have my number. Give me a call and we can have lunch. I would love to get caught up."

She checked her watch.

"Right now, I am meeting a friend. So, I'll talk to you later."

When they were alone again, Vic gave Walt a curious look.

"This doesn't seem like her kind of place."

"She said she was meeting her friend. Maybe it's not."

Vic let it go. She didn't have any desire to spend time talking about a woman she didn't know. Again, she noticed that Lily Bader was incredibly well pulled together and probably the nicest dressed person in the bar. The woman obviously had money and didn't seem interested in hiding that. She pushed the thoughts out of her head.

"So…we were talking about you having some goals. Tell you what, finish eating and I'll help you achieve them."