I Do Not Own Veronica Mars or any of its characters.

Sophomore Year

1. The Trial

"Keith Mars," the bailiff said holding the Bible in one hand and raising the other, "do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

Keith raised his right hand and placed the left on the Bible and said, "I do."

"Great," the judge said as the bailiff walked away, "Prosecution, your question."

"Mr. Mars," the prosecution lawyer said, "is it true that the DVR from Mr. Kane's neighbor showed footage of your daughter climbing over the wall and into Jake Kane's property?"

"It showed a girl climbing over a fence," Keith said, "there's no way of knowing if that was my daughter or not."

"Her car was checked in at the gate," the prosecuter said, "the point of entry was the doggie door from which only small people, much like your daughter, can fit."

"Are you saying that my daughter is the only small person in the world?" Keith said smartly, "because if you look around this room, you'll find that 25 percent of the women in this room can fit through that doggie door, there are even a few men who can."

"What did you do with the DVR once you had it in custody?" the lawyer said.

"I put it in the evidence room and locked it up," Keith said.

"No further questions," the prosecuter said with a sigh.

"Defense," the judge said, "your questions."

Cliff stood up and walked over to Keith. He may be a goofball sometimes, but he knew what he was capable of. He knew he could save Keith from this lawsuit. "Keith," Cliff started, "how many cameras are stationed outside of the evidence room?"

"Three," Keith answered.

Cliff went back to the desk and grabbed a ziplock bag that had exhibit A written on it. Inside of the bag were three tapes. "Here are the video surveillance tapes from the day Keith put the DVR in the evidence room, to the day Deputy Leo took them out," Cliff said, knowing that Veronica had smartly replaced the incriminating evidence with a peaceful day and simply changed the time stamp. "You will find that Keith went into the evidence room only once to put in the DVR, and no one entered the room afterward."

"Bailiff bring the evidence," the judge said.

They spent the next few minutes fast forwarding through the tapes and the jury nodded with agreement when they saw that Cliff was telling the truth. "Defense your witness," the judge said.

"I call to the stand Hector Rodriguez," Cliff said. A tall mexican boy walked over to the stand. He was surprisingly light skinned and he had green eyes and brown hair. He was obviously mixed with some other race. He was wearing thin glasses and regular jeans and T-shirt.

"Hector Rodriguez," the bailiff said pulling out the Bible once more, "do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

"I do," Hector said.

"Mr. Rodriguez," Cliff started, "what do you do for a living?"

"I'm an electronics professional," Hector answered, "I can figure out any camera, computer, or appliance."

"Does that include DVRs?" Cliff said.

"Yes," Hector responded.

"Now when you analyzed the DVR, because you were hired by the prosecution party themselves..."

"Objection!" the prosecutor yelled.

"Overruled," the judge said, "continue please."

"What were the results of your analysis?" Cliff said.

"The DVR was burned out," Hector said, "this is something that cannot be done by another person. It only happens when the DVR is extremely overheated. The only way a person could do this is if he were to put direct metal on top of the DVR and let it burn it out."

Cliff smirked in satisfaction and grabbed a second bag with the writing 'Exhibit B.' "In this bag we have the average room temperature of the evidence room which is more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit," Cliff said, "Mr. Rodriguez, is that hot enough to burn out a DVR system?"

"Yes, DVRs should be kept in room temperature," Hector said, "but I really doubt Sheriff Mars knew that."

Cliff nodded then grabbed another bag that said 'Exhibit C.' "In this bag," Cliff said, "there's an inventory of everything inside the evidence room. As you will see, there are absolutely no metal objects." Deputy Leo had made sure to delete any items that had even the tiniest scrap of metal.

It was a team effort. The prosecution had no evidence while the defense, though faked, had enough evidence to prove Keith's innocence-though he wasn't. The jury declared him not guilty and Keith was home free. But just how much did this trial affect Keith's campaign? Veronica voted for him, but with the angry fired deputies, the angry 09ers who were robbed by the Fitzpatricks, Vinnie thrashing Keith on the college radio, and this stupid trial, how can Keith expect to win?

Veronica rolled her eyes at the thought. She preferred the deceased Sheriff Lamb to continue being Sheriff rather than Vinnie Van Lowe. At least Lamb cared about the safety of the people. Ugh and what if people saw that stupid video of her and Piz fooling around? That certainly wouldn't help her dad's cause. She waited in the car until her father and Cliff shoved their way past the reporters, then her and her father drove home. "Good work Veronica," Keith said, "you saved my ass."

"And you saved mine!" Veronica said, "I'm sure Jake Kane would have made sure I was locked up for years because I stole his stupid hard drive."

"Why did you do it Veronica?" Keith said.

"Because...someone posted a video of me and I wanted to know who," Veronica said.

"Video of you? Doing what?" Keith said.

Veronica gulped and said, "Um...dancing."

"I thought you danced good," Keith said.

"Not in the video," Veronica said desperately trying to change the subject.

"Why don't you contact that guy Hector Rodriguez?" Keith said, "he said he's a professional in cameras and stuff, maybe he can help you find who planted it."

"Yeah! That's a great idea," Veronica said.

"Where can I find this video?" Keith said, "Maybe I can help you track it too."

Veronica started to panic now. No matter what, there was no in hell her father could ever see that video. "I don't have it!"

"Come on Veronica don't be embarrassed," Keith said, "I've seen you dance."

"No dad!" Veronica said, she was sweating now.

Keith looked at her curiously then dropped the subject. Obviously this video is bothering Veronica, and he wouldn't rest until he got to the bottom of it.
_***_

"Ok so you wanna know who planted the camera, who uploaded the video, and who sent it out?" Hector said eying Veronica curiously.

"Well Max is your friend and Mac is mine, so I figured you would help me?" Veronica said giving her famous puppy dog eyes, "will you help me?"

Hector laughed and said, "Alright alright! If it wasn't for Max I wouldn't have passed my history class so I owe him anyways. Mac is his girlfriend so if I help her by helping you than I'm helping Max too."

"Wow you guys speak in circles I'm getting dizzy," Mac said.

"Ok well I found the camera," Max said pulling out the camera, "work your magic."

Hector looked over the camera and plugged it in to his high tech computer. He was typing furiously through his computer then he said, "there, now we should be able to see who put the camera. The camera recorded the set up with out the person's knowledge."

"Bad move when you're dealing with Veronica Mars," Veronica said.

"Ok here," Hector said playing the video. Veronica, Max, and Mac gasped at the sight. Veronica had tears in her eyes as she grabbed her phone angrily.

"Hello?"

"Wallace! Get over here now!" Veronica bellowed.

"Shit calm down girl," he assuaged, "where at?"

"Dorm 278 in the Library Building," Veronica said trying to control her temper.

"That's where the smart people live," Wallace said.

"Now Wallace!"

"Alright alright, I'm on my way," Wallace said hanging up.

Moments later Wallace arrived to a pacing Veronica and a nervous Mac, Max, and Hector. "Why Wallace?" Veronica cried.

"Why what?" Wallace said.

"Play the video Hector," Veronica said.

Hector sighed and played the video. "Shit," he muttered.

"Why did you plant the video? Why did you post it and send it out!" Veronica said sobbing, "I thought you were my best friend."

"Whoa whoa! I put the camera yes," Wallace said, "but that was because the castle asked me to nail a hot basketball cheerleader and record her. I did not post that video of you and Piz or send it to any one. Veronica, I saw what you went through in high school, I would never EVER do that to you!"

Veronica wiped her tears slowly than said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I ever doubted you!" She ran to her best friend and hugged him tight. Wallace simply smiled and wrapped his arms around Veronica's slender waist. When they did find out who posted that video, he would do exactly what Logan did, beat the living daylights out of him. Logan would probably join in. Piz though is kinda chicken, Wallace wasn't sure if he would join the fight. Logan did beat him up pretty bad, the poor boy didn't stand a chance.

"Veronica," Hector called, "I tapped into the school computers secret video cams."

"The school computers have secret video cams?" Mac said.

"Yes, to monitor what websites the students go to and to avoid viruses," Hector said, "since this was a pornographic video the cameras automatically turned on."

"So we can see who uploaded the video?" Veronica said hopefully.

"Yes, and apparently the same person who uploaded it, sent it out," Hector said.

"Let's see then," Veronica said anxiously.

"Ok," Hector said pressing play. Throughout the whole room there was collective gasp as the video played.

"You know what," Veronica said crying, "I'm kinda glad Logan kicked his ass." She stormed out of the room toward the dorm of the boy who pretty much finished ruining her already fucked up reputation.

"Hey babe what's up?" Piz said opening the door.

"Why did you fucking do it Piz?" Veronica said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Do what?" Piz said.

"It's no use denying it, I saw you do it myself," Veronica said, "why did you post that video of us...fooling around."

Piz backed up toward his bed and Veronica marched straight toward him. Piz tried to act innocent but Veronica pulled out her taser and Piz froze in his spot. "Answer the fucking question!"

"Ok ok!" Piz said sitting on his bed, "look when I met you I thought you were drop dead gorgeous, and I fell in love with you so fast, I wasn't expecting it." Veronica scoffed and he continued, "When I found out you were dating Logan Echolls I was freaking out. I did everything in my power to break you guys up, not only because I loved you, but also because I didn't think Logan deserved you."

"What do you have against Logan?" Veronica said.

"I am Charlie Stone's younger brother, mom's side only," Piz said.

"Charlie Stone?" Veronica said, "Logan's half-brother?"

"Yes! I saw him treated like crap and hidden away," Piz said, "given hush money so he could keep his mouth shut. Charlie and I grew up hating Aaron Echolls and I thought it was unfair that Logan got the royal treatment while my brother who had equal rights had to hide away."

"So you posted a video of you and me?" Veronica said angrily.

"Yes!" Piz said, "Are you blind! Do you not see how much Logan loves you! I had to make a choice, humiliate you but destroy Logan, or keep on being sweet and let Logan live on happily. I'm sorry but I chose the first one. I do love you though! Please forgive me!"

"I have a choice," Veronica said, "forgive you and live with the fear that you will expose me again, or not forgive you, get even and make my humiliation seem harmless compared to yours. I'm sorry but I choose the second one. Goodbye Piz, You should have listened when they said never fuck with Veronica Mars."
_***_

"Veronica? Are you alright honey?" Keith said as Veronica entered the house crying.

"Piz and I broke up," Veronica said crying.

"He's the one who posted the video wasn't he?" Keith said hugging his daughter to his chest.

"Yes," Veronica cried.

"Weevil told me Logan almost beat the guy half to death," Keith said.

"You talked to Weevil?" Veronica said.

"Yes," Keith said, "I asked him to show me the video."

"What!" Veronica said jumping back, "and he did!"

"Don't blame him, I blackmailed him," Keith said.

"Dad!"

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because, look how you are looking at me!"

"Veronica," Keith said, "Do you really think I'm stupid enough to believe you were still a virgin? You really think I found out about your sexual activity when Aaron's lawyer outed you about that STD? I knew from the day after when you woke up in the morning with a certain glow. I knew you were no longer my little girl, you were a woman."

"Dad, I..."

"It's ok Veronica," Keith said hugging his daughter once more, "I still love you the same, and if Logan wouldn't have beat the guy so brutally I would have done so myself."

A knock on the door interrupted the father-daughter moment. They opened the door to Wallace and Mac who were waiting anxiously. "What's up guys?" Veronica said.

"Veronica, all of last years seniors and juniors are meeting at Neptune high we need to go," Mac said grabbing her hand.

"Why?"

"Because," Wallace said, "they found a video Cassidy left in the basement of the old Casablancas home. There was a note that said that he wanted his class and his brother's class to watch the video."