Chapter 2: Downward Spiral

Four weeks later

If you asked people around Neptune how Logan Echolls would respond to the news that his father had killed his first love and then attempted to kill his latest girlfriend and her father, they'd tell you he would descend into a never-ending cycle of booze, drugs, and self-destructive behavior. They wouldn't be wrong either. For the first few weeks after he got home, that was exactly the behavior Logan exhibited. This would be how he found himself sitting in court awaiting his turn in front of the judge to answer drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest charges.

Two weeks ago, he slipped into the back of a courtroom down the hall to watch his father be arraigned on one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of arson. He had sat unnoticed in the back feeling the bile rise in his throat. The prosecution spared no mercy as they showed bits of the videos and graphically described the events surrounding Aaron's attack on Veronica, her father, and the man whose house happened to be the scene of the final confrontation.

The bile burned his throat and tears clouded his eyes as he pictured Veronica trapped in that freezer begging for help. He may have told her on the beach he wished she were dead but he hadn't meant it. He would never have wished anything so horrible on her. On the beach, he had been lashing out and hoping to make her feel just a fraction of the pain consuming him. He wondered if she realized that or if she really believed he wanted her dead.

From his seat in the back, he had a view of everyone in the courtroom but few of them had seen him slip in the back. Up front, right behind the prosecution sat Veronica, Duncan, and Wallace. During the proceedings, Logan saw Duncan slip a protective arm around Veronica's shoulders and she in turn leaned her head on his shoulder. With those two acts, Logan felt what was left of his heart shattering into pieces. Obviously, they must have reunited…Veronica had her white knight back. She could now go back to being one half of the perfect couple, he sneered.

Wallace had glanced back once and caught a glimpse of Logan but before he could let Veronica know what he saw, Logan shook his head and sent Wallace a look begging him to remain silent. Wallace didn't look happy about it but he turned back to the front like he hadn't seen a thing. Logan wondered if Wallace had ever told Veronica about visiting him in the hospital. Probably not, he thought. It wasn't like there was much to tell anyway. He'd snuck in to see how Logan was doing and to ask him to reconsider seeing Veronica. When Logan had refused to reconsider, Wallace left but not before Logan made him promise to take care of Veronica.

To no one's surprise, Aaron was held over for trial and was denied bail. Logan let out the breath he'd been holding in fear they'd let his father out. As soon as he was reassured Aaron would remain safely behind bars, Logan slipped back out of the courtroom unnoticed.

After the arraignment, he went to one of the seedier bars in town to drown out the videos and the sight of Veronica and Duncan together again. He tried to sit quietly in the corner with his bottle but the news about the arraignment came on the television and someone in the bar recognized him. When a group of guys at the bar made a few too many comments about Lilly being a slut and Veronica being a nosy bitch, Logan had lost it and soon the punches were flying. To makes matters even worse the arresting officer had been the one that Veronica had dumped for him.

The clerk's voice rang out in the courtroom and brought him back to his current courtroom drama, "The City of Neptune v. Logan Echolls on one count of drunk and disorderly and one count of resisting arrest."

Logan's lawyer grabbed his elbow and quickly ushered him up to the defense table. Once, the name Echolls would have kept Logan from ever having been arrested much less having to appear in court. Now, the name was more likely to get him sentenced to 10-20 in San Quentin. Oh yes, dear old dad had really done him right. Hopefully, this appearance would be little more than a formality as the prosecution had generously agreed to dismiss the charges if Logan attended drug and alcohol awareness classes and kept his nose clean for the next 6 months. Logan wasn't sure how Cliff had managed to work such a sweet deal but he wasn't going to argue with it.

"Mr. McCormack, how does your client plead?"

"In meeting with the terms of the plea bargain, he pleads no contest your honor."

"I've looked over the terms of the plea bargain and I'm not entirely happy with them," the judge responded. The prosecutor, Cliff, and Logan all froze in shock. They had thought this was little more than a formality as judges usually just went along with the plea on such minor charges. Looking over the top of her glasses at Logan, the judge continued on, "Mr. Echolls I'm still going to give you an opportunity to have these charges dismissed but I'm adding a few stipulations to the plea bargain. In addition, to attending drug and alcohol awareness classes, I'm going to also insist you attend angry management therapy once a week. Your counselor will provide me with weekly reports on your progress. You will also meet with your probation officer weekly and be subject to random drug testing. Additionally, I'm extending the time from 6 to 9 months. You will do everything as stipulated in the plea. If you appear back in court before the end of the 9 months, I can guarantee that you will not like the consequences. At the end of the 9 months, you and I will meet again and I will evaluate your progress. If I'm satisfied, all charges will be dropped. I'm giving you an opportunity here Mr. Echolls and I suggest you take it and make the most of it. Does everyone here agree to these terms as I've set forth?"

"The prosecution has no problem with these terms."

Logan was about to protest when Cliff hissed in his ear, "Don't argue and don't piss off the judge. Just smile and agree to the terms unless you really want to spend time in jail. You won't get a better deal." Cliff continued to stare at Logan until he gave a small nod of agreement. "The defense agrees to the terms."

"Very well, I'll see you again in 9 months Mr. Echolls."

After a quick jab from Cliff to his still sore ribs, Logan piped up, "Thank you your honor. I appreciate this opportunity." Never let it be said Logan couldn't kiss ass with the best of them when necessary.

As they walked out of the courtroom, Cliff counseled Logan. "She's not kidding when she says she'll put you in jail. This is one time Daddy's name and money won't help you. She's not known for giving passes to what she considers spoiled rich kids but I think the recent problems with your father convinced her to give you a chance she wouldn't normally give. Stop by my office tomorrow afternoon about 3 p.m. and I'll give you a list of possible therapists and we'll set up a meeting with your probation officer."

"Thanks Cliff. I really do appreciate you doing this for me and not telling anyone. I've screwed up pretty big this time. Guess it was my lucky night that you were at the jail when they brought me in," Logan laughed.

"Yeah, well with Loretta as a client, I spend a lot of time there. Now, I've got to get to my next arraignment. Remember, my office tomorrow, 3 p.m."