Ch. 12: Hanging by a moment

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!"

It was the sharpness of Vic's voice that really woke him. He'd heard her cell phone ring. That was nothing new. There was a time it was his phone that rang for work. Now it was just Vic's. He moved a bit when her phone rang, his mind surfacing from sleep. She let out an expletive that told him and the caller, likely Cady, exactly how she felt about the situation. It was her end of the conversation that cut through the fog of his mind.

"What is it?"

There were no pleasantries when you woke her up in the middle of the night. He learned that lesson early on after hiring her.

"What?"

The volume of her voice increased. Walt rolled his head towards her and opened his eyes. She was lying down on her back with the phone to her ear. He could see the faint glow from the screen. It gave her hair and the side of her face an eerie lighting.

That was when she sat up without warning and he seemed to entirely catch up to the conversation. Before Walt could really get his bearings, Vic was shoving off the blanket and getting up. He struggled up to a sitting position and watched her move around the room gathering up her clothes and dressing.

She looked his way and made brief eye contact in the darkness.

"Yeah, be on my way in a minute."

Vic ended the call and tossed her phone onto the bed with a muted thump.

"Shit."

She murmured the word to herself as she pulled a thermal shirt over her head.

"What's wrong?"

Vic tugged on her jeans, hopping twice to pull them up, zip, and button them.

"Our suspect is gone."

She snatched on her duty shirt and started to button it without really looking. It was a wonder that she didn't miss a button.

"Gone?"

"Yeah. Fucking. Gone."

The anger and frustration were both evident. The mattress of his bed shifted slightly as she took a seat at the end and pulled on her socks. They were the thick wool ones she wore when it was cold like this.

"How?"

She stood up and shrugged as she walked into the bathroom and flipped on the light. Walt squinted at the sudden illumination. He slowly turned and placed his own feet on the floor. He could see her brushing her teeth and pulling her hair back in a ponytail.

"He escaped."

"Escaped?"

Vic tossed him a look.

"You an echo now? Don't ask. I don't know all the details. Ferg was staying with him tonight. Now, he's gone."

"Is Ferg okay?"

Vic shrugged as she turned the light off and came back into the bedroom.

"I assume he is. She didn't say he wasn't."

Vic turned away and walked into the living room. Walt followed her.

She didn't bother turning on any lights. There was enough light from the fire to see by. He briefly wondered if it was Cady's phone call that actually woke her. The fire was bigger than it should have been and the top log looked fresh.

Vic grabbed her holster, badge, and cuffs as she walked. The habit was so ingrained that she barely even looked at what she was doing. Her movements were the kind borne of habit and repetition as each went onto her belt. Walt scrubbed a hand over his face as he watched her. She pulled her jacket on, zipped it up, and shoved her feet into her boots.

Just like that she was ready to go.

Vic faced him and he stepped up directly in front of her. Taking the front of her jacket, he tugged her towards him. This was one of the hardest parts for him. Being the one who stayed behind while she left to go handle whatever was happening. He wasn't sure he would ever really get used to it.

"Hey."

His voice was a low rumble deep in is chest. It was scratchy and gruff from sleep. For just a moment she stilled in a way that was unlike Vic.

"Hmm?"

Vic looked up into his face.

"Be careful."

Her features softened and she dipped her head.

"I will."

He knew that she would try. In all honesty that was the best that she could do. Walt figured he knew that better than anyone. Walt leaned down and kissed her once on the mouth. The contact was short, but pointed. It wasn't something they did all the time when she left. They weren't some couple from an old black and white TV show with normal lives and scheduled meals. Life wasn't like that. Theirs definitely wasn't. It was so much more fragile than he believed most people realized. Most didn't until it was too late, or almost too late.

Vic shoved one hand into her jacket pocket and he heard the familiar jingle of her truck keys. She withdrew the hand and the keys. Vic waved her other hand as she pulled open the door and the cold air from outside briefly invaded the interior of the cabin. Vic pulled the door closed behind her. Walt took three steps and locked the door. He heard the engine of Vic's work truck start up and he could imagine her cursing the cold and turning the heat all the way up.

Walt walked over to the window and looked out. She was already driving away from the cabin with only the tail lights of her truck visible as she bounced along the road and they vanished into the darkness. He had a hundred questions about what was going on. How had this man escaped? Was everyone okay?

He knew there wouldn't be any answers tonight. It wasn't like Vic was going to call him and fill him in. It wasn't his job anymore. No one answered to him. He would ask Vic about it later on when he talked to her and find out then.

Unless they needed him.

That rarely happened anymore.

xxx

Vic turned the heater all the way up in her truck and waited impatiently for the air blowing out of the vents to warm up. In an ideal world she would have time to warm the truck up before getting in. As it were, the seats were cold pressing into her back and the seat of her jeans. She kept one hand on the wheel and waved the other in front of the nearest vent. Vic sighed and returned her hand to the steering wheel.

She pressed the gas harder than she should have and hoped nothing ran out in front of her. The last thing she needed was to hit a deer or pronghorn on her way to what she considered an emergency. Cady hadn't given her much information and Vic wasn't overly concerned about a prolonged phone conversation. She would rather hear it in person and get right to work. This man was a potential predator and they couldn't afford to lose him. Not now.

The scenery whipped by her as she drove over the speed limit. She kept her bright lights on and luckily didn't encounter any other vehicles until she was closer to town. At that point, she flipped on her lights so that the roads ahead of her were clear and she could maintain a good speed all the way to the office.

She parked on the street that was deserted except for Cady's Jeep and Ferg's Trans Am. She didn't see the Charger that Zach was currently driving. He was either with Cady or hadn't made it in yet. Vic slid from her truck and walked briskly to the door. It was a relief to be in the office where it was decently warm. Vic unzipped her jacket as she took the stairs and went through the door.

"What happened?"

The answer to her previous question came immediately when she saw Zach standing with Ferg and Cady. The three of them looked her way as she came in breathlessly thanks to a combination of the cold air and her pace. She noted that Ferg only gave her a quick look before turning his eyes away. With Zach on staff Ferg wasn't the least experienced deputy, but he was still the youngest.

"That was fast."

The remark came from Cady. Vic shrugged. She didn't bother removing her jacket as she assumed they would be going out to search as soon as a plan was pulled together.

"I've already notified the highway patrol and all surrounding counties. As far as we know he's currently on foot."

Vic frowned. That could be a double edged sword. On the one hand it might make him more difficult to find. On the other hand the night was cold and Vic doubted he could stay completely hidden for long. He would either seek shelter or he would attempt to get a ride. Either one would give them a clue as to his whereabouts.

"Someone should get over to his uncle's place. He might not be stupid enough to go there, but we have to look."

Cady nodded.

"We were just talking about that. Zach is about to head that way."

Cady tossed Zach the keys to her Jeep and he gave her that slight smile Vic had come to associate with him. Cady turned her attention back to Vic.

"I want you and Ferg to hit the streets around here and start looking for any signs of him. Ask anyone you see if he's been spotted."

Vic bit her bottom lip in thought.

"As cold as it is, there aren't a lot of people out. I only saw a few cars on my way in."

Cady nodded, clearly not surprised.

"Cumberland County is sending over some deputies to help us search. HP said they'll start setting up roadblocks around the county. This guy is potentially too dangerous to slip through."

Ferg gave a curt nod and grabbed his Carhartt jacket and keys. Without a word, he pulled on his jacket and left the office. Vic watched him go and then gave Cady a look.

"What happened?"

She could tell by the look on Cady's face that she was in full Sheriff mode.

"We'll talk about it later. Let's find this guy first."

Vic very nearly argued. But, Cady was right. There was time for everything. Now was the time to find Lassiter. Talking could come later.

"Right."

Vic zipped her jacket back up.

"You staying here?"

"Yes, to man the phone and keep everyone coordinated."

It was one of the biggest differences in Cady and Walt. Walt was an old school, hands on Sheriff. He was independent to a fault and delegation was not his strong suit. His experience was invaluable and he was good at reading people. Vic didn't know of anyone with stronger investigation skills. Cady's lack of practical experience led her to be a more administrative Sheriff. She excelled at communication thanks to her previous career as a lawyer and delegated based on what she saw as individual strengths.

"Sounds good."

Vic left the office and headed back for her truck. She just saw Ferg driving off and noted the direction he was going as he navigated the streets slowly. Vic started in the opposite direction. She switched her bright lights on and kept her eyes sharply looking for any movement. Durant was dark and quiet. No businesses were open this late and the cold weather didn't exactly invite late night roaming around.

Vic figured that Lassiter would try and steal a car. It didn't seem likely that he would get very far on foot. He might try and hide for a while, but how long could he hold out in the elements without a way of getting warm. Wyoming winters could easily break even the hardiest of men. As long as HP kept up their end and started stopping all outgoing cars as quick as possible, it would be hard for Lassiter to slip through. He didn't have much a head start.

That was what she told herself anyway.

xxx

Walt should have gone back to sleep. Or at least try. Instead, he wandered back into the bedroom and dressed. He wasn't sure what motivated him to. Now that he was awake, he felt too wired to just lay back down. He was sure that it wouldn't have done him any good. But what good could he do? It's not like they were going to call him and ask him to come and help. This was police business and Cady would call in all the professional help they needed.

The need for him would be very specific.

Walt understood. Cady needed to establish herself as the Sheriff if she stood any chance of reelection down the road. Her last name admittedly helped her get elected. But, it was necessary that she show she was her own person and a Sheriff in her own right. They all knew that and he tried to afford her that opportunity even though it was a hard thing for him to adapt to.

Adaptation had never been Walt's strong suit and there had been a lot of it lately. More than in the past. That was for sure. Recognizing that he wasn't tired anymore, Walt went into the kitchen and started to brew some coffee. He took his time as there was no reason for him to hurry. There was nowhere for him to be. He really couldn't even say why he didn't just get back in bed and try to sleep. It just felt so useless. Honestly, he felt useless in the moment as well.

It wasn't a feeling that he liked or would ever get used to.

Walt left the coffee to steep and double checked the fire. It didn't really need any fuel, but he added some anyway. He carefully added another log and watched as the flames overtook it and burned bright and hot. He could feel the sudden output of heat as he stood there with his eyes on the orange light. Walt still hadn't turned on any lights in the living room and still didn't feel a need to. The light the fire was emitting was adequate. It gave the room an ethereal quality that nearly felt like a dream of sorts.

But, he knew this wasn't a dream.

Walt returned to the kitchen. The coffee was a rich dark brown. As he poured a cup, the aroma of it reached him. Walt took his cup of coffee to the living room and set it on the coffee table. He stood for a few seconds debating whether or not he wanted to read. Even though he didn't feel fully committed to the idea, he retrieved a paperback from his bedroom and laid it on the table alongside his coffee.

Walt sat down on the couch and carefully picked up his mug. Leaning back, he propped his socked feet up on the coffee table. Once he was settled and facing the fire, he brought the mug to his lips and took a sip. It was good coffee. In his mind brewing coffee was one of the things that shouldn't be rushed. Life didn't always work out that way, of course, and time was frequently pressed. Years ago, Cady had taken to picking up coffee beans for him when she went on trips out of town. He wasn't sure what started the habit, but she always returned with a bag for him to try. She also ordered him different varieties online which was something that he would never do for himself.

This was one that she had given him after going to Cheyenne to take in some law enforcement lectures. She told him the name of the shop where she'd picked it up. Not that he would've known it. Any trips he ever took to Wyoming's capital were almost always business related and he left as quickly as possible. He learned a long time ago that big cities and politics were not his thing. It was a dependable coffee, almost always brewing the way he wanted it to.

Vic liked it, not that she was overly picky about her coffee. When Vic was on her own, she bought whatever was available and quick. Walt preferred to be a part of the process. Vic just wanted the coffee to be ready. The idea highlighted their differences. Once she started staying with him, Walt adopted the notion of getting up earlier than he had to in order to make her some decent coffee. He knew what was available at the office wasn't the best. She never seemed to care much about the brand he was using, just that it was there and so was the sugar she always added that made it too sweet for his own taste.

That was probably why she wasn't too picky. She over sweetened it to the point that the true flavor was lost.

Walt slowly sipped his coffee and watched the fire while his mind became mired with its own thoughts. Once he finished his coffee, he rose, poured another cup, and returned to his seat. When the mug was empty again, he placed it on the table near his feet. The night and morning unraveled around him as he sat and thought. He thought about his recent visits from Lily Bader, the phone calls and notes, and Vic's case. He thought about Cady being Sheriff and Henry's warnings that he be careful in this new relationship with Vic. Although it wasn't all that new anymore. He thought about what he needed to do that day and how he should bring in more firewood for the upcoming day and night.

At some point he relaxed further into the couch and his head fully pressed into the back cushion. His eyes grew heavy and his thinking turned sparse. He couldn't have said later on when he dozed off.

xxx

"You guys hear anything?"

The patrolman was a big man. He stood beside his car with the lights flashing. Over his uniform he wore a coat that was zipped all the way up with the collar flipped to protect his neck. She couldn't see the nametag he wore, but knew that the last name was Turner. He was one of the few HPs she'd worked with on more than one occasion.

He shook his head at her question. That was about what she expected. Had something happened she surely would have heard about it. This was more about making contact and keeping the lines of communication open.

"Not yet. Got blocks set up on all the major roads out. Your Sheriff said Cumberland is covering the smaller roads."

Vic nodded and tucked her chin into the top of her own brown jacket seeking some warmth from the unrelenting cold. She wasn't generating enough body heat for it to really make a difference.

"Yeah."

Another car sat on the other side of the street. She didn't know the officer who was sitting inside warming up while there were no cars to stop and check. This was their reality in a county like Absaroka. There were only four of them including Cady. In a situation like this, it was damn near impossible for them to cover the entire county. That required them to call in outside help from time to time.

She had to admit that Cady was better about requesting assistance than Walt had been.

Turner shifted from one foot to the other in a useless attempt to ward off the cold.

"What about you guys?"

"Nothing yet."

She hated saying that out loud, but it was the truth. Right now there wasn't much of anything to report. She had just hauled ass across the county when someone called in about seeing someone in their backyard. It turned out to be the neighbor's son and a waste of time as far as Vic was concerned, but every potential lead had to be checked out.

When she saw the two patrolmen on her way back into town she decided to stop and see if anything came up while she was gone. Turner watched her from under the brim of his hat with eyes that were an indiscernible color from where she stood and the fact that it was night.

"You heading back in?"

Vic nodded and stomped her own boots on the hard surface of the road. Damn it was cold out tonight. Lassiter picked a hell of a night to go on the run. If he hadn't found shelter somewhere or with someone, the night could take a dark turn where he was concerned.

"Yeah, going in for some coffee and warmth…"

She glanced over at the other car where the other trooper still sat.

"…like your buddy over there."

Turner huffed out a breath that was visible in the cold night air. He gave the car a look and returned his eyes to Vic.

"He's a rookie and he's soft."

She half expected him to remark about 'kids these days' as though he himself were ancient. Vic understood. There were days she felt her own age more than she should. It wasn't like she was all that old either.

Vic smiled up at him.

"So, toughen him up."

Turner returned the smile.

"Oh…I plan to in just a few minutes when it's my turn to take a damn break and warm up."

Vic pulled her hands from her pockets and gave him a half wave as she started away.

"You guys be careful."

"You too, Deputy."

Vic slid back into her truck. She'd left it running while she talked and the interior was warm. For a few seconds she held her hands in front of the vents in order to heat up the cold skin. Taking the wheel, she pulled back onto the road and drove off. In her rearview mirror the lights of the patrol cars faded out into the darkness.

Vic took a direct route back to the station. The roads and the town around her were both eerily quiet. Coming from a city the size of her native Philadelphia, Vic was ill prepared for the extent of quiet and darkness that came with a town the size of Durant in a state with the population of Wyoming.

Weather like they were currently experiencing only made the emptiness seem more pronounced.

Vic parked and got out of the truck. From the sidewalk she could see the office lights burning. They were the only lights on in the area except for street lamps and security lights that provided low illumination in some of the buildings that lined the main street through Durant.

Vic didn't waste any time crossing the sidewalk and going inside. Vic shoved her hands back into her pockets and took the stairs up to the office door. As soon as she opened the door she smelled coffee. Vic kept her jacket on as she walked over to the coffee pot and scanned the office. Everyone was still out and Cady must have been at her desk. From where Vic stood pouring coffee into her Flyers mug, she could hear Cady talking. Vic assumed on the phone.

She knew the coffee would be mediocre before she ever took a sip. That was just the way it was here. Vic didn't care just then. It was hot and had caffeine in it. That was really all that mattered to her. Vic wrapped her hands around the mug and appreciated the almost instant heat that loosened up the frigid muscles in her hands.

Vic was right. She found Cady in her office just hanging up the phone as Vic stepped through the doorway. Cady looked about as tired as Vic felt.

"Hey."

Cady pushed out the word on a breath. Vic took another sip of the coffee and looked at Cady over the brim.

"Anything?"

Cady shook her head.

"No, that was dispatch with HP. Nothing yet."

Vic lowered herself into the guest chair that sat opposite Cady's desk.

"He's got to be holed up somewhere. There's no way in hell he's just wandering around out there. It's damn cold."

"Think someone is giving him a place to hide?"

Vic shrugged and cradled the mug in her hands.

"Wouldn't surprise me. I saw the people in that bar. They probably all have convictions or arrests for who knows what. If he's got friends from a place like that…"

Vic's voice faded out and she took another drink of the coffee.

"He's sure as hell not traipsing around the county without a coat. That's for sure."

Cady nodded at the assessment.

"Zach searched the uncle's house. He didn't find anything."

Cady sighed.

"He would be stupid to go there. He's got to know that's the first place we would look."

It still had to be checked. That was protocol.

"Is Zach on his way here?"

"Yeah, but he said he was going to meet up with Ferg and check a few more places Lassiter could be hiding."

Vic sighed.

"This whole night feels like a bust and it's going to bleed into tomorrow."

She paused.

"You didn't tell me how he escaped."

There hadn't been time before. Cady's face clouded over a little. She seemed reluctant.

"Lassiter asked Ferg to take him outside for a smoke. It's nothing that hasn't been done before. But…"

Cady's eyes dropped away from Vic and she gave her head a slight shake.

"…Ferg didn't cuff him."

Vic tried to keep any reactions off her face. That was incredibly careless and she honestly thought Ferg would have known better by now. He wasn't the naïve young deputy he once was. He'd changed during her time here. He matured and he lost that greenness that she found both frustrating and endearing when she started working with him.

"You're telling me that he just took off."

There was a hint of disbelief in her voice.

"Basically."

Vic leaned forward and placed her mug on Cady's desk. She unzipped her jacket and rubbed her hands over her face.

"Shit."

Cady was quiet for a few minutes and the air felt heavy between and around them.

"You talk to him about that?"

It was a fine line they walked. Cady was still learning, but she was in charge.

"Not extensively. I will when we have time."

Vic stood up and paced in front of Cady's office.

"He knows better than that, Cady."

Cady watched Vic try to burn off the restless energy that plagued her.

"I know."

Vic stilled and placed her hands on her hips as she faced Cady.

"You know you can't just let it go. Right?"

It was more of a prompt than an actual question.

"I know."

Vic continued to hold the eye contact between them. Cady spoke again with more certainty.

"I know. Right now, we have bigger fish to fry. But…I will revisit it with him. Probably tomorrow."

Vic studied her.

"Is there something else?"

Cady opened her mouth, but stopped. She slowly stood up and came around the desk.

"He says that he has a lot on his mind."

Vic frowned. It was an age old excuse.

"Don't we all."

Cady pressed her lips together and looked at the open doorway beyond Vic. Vic looked over her shoulder and back to Cady.

"What?"

"I'm not supposed to say anything. But…Meg is pregnant."

"I take it based on how you just said that the pregnancy wasn't planned."

"It wasn't. Which…I guess is why he's worried about it. He wasn't prepared for it."

She knew that feeling. Not that Cady knew about any of that. No one at work did and Vic had no plans to tell them. It was a chapter of her life that was closed and she needed to move on. That was the only way she knew to deal with it.

"I…get that…but…"

The frown stayed on Vic's face.

"…he needs to get his head in the game."

"I know and he knows."

Vic took a breath and looked out the window at the darkness.

It seemed to be the perfect analogy for their current situation.

xxx

It was dawn when Walt opened his eyes. There was a sharp pain in his neck from is head slumping to one side and it took only a few seconds for the night's events to catch up with him. Walt leaned forward and rubbed at the side of his neck with his hand. His empty coffee cup still sat where he placed it as well as the book he never read.

Walt stood up slowly and took the cup into the kitchen. He dumped out the remaining coffee from his press and started all over again with a fresh batch. Once the coffee was started, he added two more logs to the fire and stoked the fire back to life. He toyed with the idea of making himself some breakfast, but wasn't really all that hungry.

The cabin was quiet as it should be. There hadn't been any phone calls made to either his landline of his cell phone. Not that he expected there to be. It was just that so much was going on and it all felt more than a little off kilter. Vic and Cady were really the only people who called his cell phone and they were both wrapped up in a search he knew nothing about.

Walt poured coffee into a clean mug and took a sip. It was stronger than the batch from the night before intentionally. Walt pulled on his coat and boots and took his coffee outside. The sun was just up and the colors that stretched across the sky were indescribable. It looked to be another beautiful and cold day. He considered sitting, but opted not to. Instead he stood at the porch railing and watch the sun complete it's rise into the sky.

Sunrises were another thing he enjoyed more frequently now that he was retired.

As much as Vic was willing to agree with his idea that they were some of nature's best art and breathtaking out here with the unencumbered view, she thought he was crazy when he sat outside in the cold temperatures just to watch the sun come up or go down.

"You can see it from the window."

That's what she would say. His reply was that you couldn't appreciate it from inside the same way that you could from outside. Agree to disagree. He was familiar with the term where Vic was concerned.

Walt was halfway through his coffee when he heard the phone ring inside. It was his house phone and not the cell. Whoever it was must have hung up after only a few rings. It stopped before he reached it and the answering machine never picked up. Walt waited and watched. The phone did not ring again. He looked at the caller ID to find that it was from Lily Bader.

Walt frowned.

Why would she be calling him this early?

He was also curious as to why she was still here. It hadn't seemed like she planned to be here for long when he first talked to her. Walt didn't bother calling her back since there was no message. He nearly convinced himself that she called him by mistake. Misdials weren't all that uncommon. Neither were what Vic called 'butt dials.'

Walt pushed the call to the back of his mind shed his coat. He finished off his coffee and decided that he'd sat around thinking too much and for little reason. He needed to occupy himself. Walt made a mental list of things that needed doing around the cabin both inside and out. There was no shortage of chores and repairs that needed tending during the winter.

There was plenty of firewood chopped and carefully stacked on the porch. It seemed like a lot, but when it was cold like this the firewood went fast. He needed some horse feed. He knew that. It would be some time before the horse could adequately graze. Food and hay were crucial this time of the year. He would make a trip into town for that in a bit. He spent several minutes thinking of what else he might need while he was there. As much as he disliked the task, he might as well get some groceries and not wait until there was no food to be found.

The phone stayed quiet and Walt allowed himself one more cup of coffee. His neck still hurt some and he knew the pain would lessen as the day went on. He just needed to work the cramp out.

Ready to go into town, Walt put his coat back on and pressed his hat onto his head. The cold hit him as soon as he opened the door. Walt pulled the door closed and checked to ensure that it was locked. He slid into the Bronco and cranked it up. He was already out of sight of the cabin when he remembered that he'd forgotten his cell phone. Walt didn't think he would ever get used to carrying it no matter how much time passed.

He didn't entertain the idea of going back for it. He didn't plan on being gone long with only two stops on his mind. His first stop was to get food for the horse. The trip was quick and he loaded the bag of food into the back of the Bronco. Then he went to the grocery store and selected a cart which he pushed through the store as he methodically scanned and selected what he wanted. Between the two of them they didn't need much. Some basic breakfast items such as eggs and milk, a specific brand of coffee he preferred, some food he could use to throw together for dinner.

He waited patiently in line, exchanged some conversation with the casher who seemed to be here every time he came in, then left to load the bags into the Bronco. This was his day to day life now. While it seemed somewhat monotonous, Walt liked the predictability and the feeling of domesticity. It was something he hadn't experienced for far too long after losing Martha and hadn't expected to find it again.

Walt drove back to the cabin and carried in the groceries. He made quick work of putting them away and took the horse food to the barn, emptying into the waterproof container that he stored it in. He was just walking back into the cabin and hanging up his hat and coat when he heard the phone ring again.

Walt retrieved the phone and looked at the caller ID. Walt felt mild surprise when he recognized the phone number as the Cumberland County Sheriff's office.

Why would Wilkins be calling him?