The chess game has continued for weeks. Harvey waits for Cameron to make a move then he counters the move. He just doesn't know the target is it the King or the Queen. The press has been relentless on the Tates with every day brings a new barrage of misinformation and conjecture. Even Veronica's every move is being watched despite her best efforts to stay out of the flashbulbs. She is quite literally throwing herself into her work to avoid all contact with the world outside of the bubble of the hospital. Louis is beginning to miss her and ironically… so is Harvey.
Harvey walks into the office after an afternoon appointment to find out that the viper is waiting for him in the conference room. Donna stops him at the elevator. "The anti-Christ is waiting for you in the conference room." Harvey acknowledges Donna, stopping by his office to grab Mike before he meets up with Cameron Dennis. Donna had already made Jessica and Edward aware of his rather ominous presence in the conference.
"Harvey." Cameron has the smile of a snake charmer as he approaches to shake hands with his former protege.
"Cameron, to what do we owe the pleasure." Harvey's words drip with the appropriate level of sarcasm.
"You know why I am here Harvey." Cameron gets straight to business without any pretense.
"I won't know why you are here until you tell me." Harvey is not going to show his cards until he gets a read on the snake charmer.
Cameron tosses a file on the table towards Harvey figuring Mike is Harvey's lackey. Mike intercepts it and reads the contents announcing them to the room. "It is an arrest warrant for Cooper Tate on the charge of murder." Mike continues to absorb the details.
"I expect for you to arrange for Cooper Tate to surrender himself. I am only extending this courtesy because I know his father and I want to avoid a media circus." Cameron tosses his veiled threats and struts out of the office under Harvey's very watchful eye.
Harvey and Mike take the warrant and information back to his office where they quickly joined by Jessica and Edward. The move has been made and now they need a strategy since the conjecture is now quite real.
Veronica has been at the hospital for over 36 hours and is now thoroughly operating on auto pilot. Fortunately, she is no longer actually operating, she has paperwork to do and heads to her office. She is still dressed in her scrubs , lab coat and Docs coupled with the tired expression, she is a sight to behold.
Veronica can see Cooper through the glass wall of the office make himself comfortable sitting at her desk. A part of her wants to run… She is just not in the mood to deal with her brother but she knows that they have to talk.
"Neeks." Cooper greets his sister with a smile as she enters her office. For the life of him, Cooper cannot figure why Veronica actually wants to work for a living. Veronica walks in and shoos Cooper from her chair. "Cooper."
Cooper can now see the tired expression on Veronica's face and wonders if this was perhaps an ill conceived idea."Cameron filed the charges this morning. I have to surrender by tomorrow." Cooper gets up from his chair and begins to pace about Veronica's office.
Veronica can see the obvious distress on his face. She knows what this means. Welcome to the inferno… they have now officially entered the first circle of what will be a journey to the depths of hell. She had been waiting for this move, at least she has Tanner at the ready.
"You got your stash?" Cooper motions towards Veronica's desk.
Veronica looks him up and down. She knows that he needs this and technically she is off the clock. She calls her assistant and makes it official as she reaches down into her bottom drawer and retrieves the bottle. She gets up and grabs two coffee mugs pouring a healthy shot for each of them. Cooper raises the mug in toast towards his sister. Veronica matches the toast with her own.
Cooper lingers over the first sip for a moment. His thoughts are running at a hundred miles an hour in his head as he blurts out what happens to be on each of their minds. "God I wish Clay was here. He would know what to do." Cooper downs the remaining scotch in his cup.
"I wish he was too… we have to make sure you don't meet a similar fate, Bro." Veronica downs hers. She hates to say it and send the thought to the universe but it is the truth. Veronica knows that despite his bravado, Cooper is scared and quite honestly, she is a bit nervous too.
"I got your six, Cooper. I promise." She pours them each another. The second pour begins to loosen Cooper's tongue. They talk for a long while before they walk out of the hospital together. Cooper gets into his waiting car. Veronica decides to walk home. She needs to think and she needs to clear her head from the long shift and the booze.
Louis waits at his apartment. He knows Veronica will be there. He knew Cooper would find Veronica before any thought of surrender. Veronica will want to talk and when she is ready, she will find him and this where she will look. With Shelia away, he actually would not mind the company tonight. Within an hour, Veronica arrives at his brownstone bearing gifts. Louis opens the door as Veronica reveals her surprises, a fine bottle of wine, a Pepperidge Farm chocolate cake and Casablanca.
Louis cannot contain or conceal his smile. After all of these years, she remembered their time tested ritual. He stands to the side and allows her to pass. He heads to the kitchen for glasses and forks. He holds the bottle in admiration. "1996 Mouton-Rothschild Bordeaux Blend. Lovely!" Veronica has outstanding tastes in many things and wine is of those things. He uncorks the wine and begins his assessment. He pours a bit into the glass, swirling it before taking a sip. "Bright ruby with a palish rim. Intense, fragrant aromas of strawberry, iris, coffee and is that a hit of white pepper and bay leaf." He sniffs the glass again. "They are gently lifted by an aromatic spice note. One can recognize the Cabernet Franc here. This finishes with outstanding length, noble tannins and a late spicy, floral kick."
Veronica smile at Louis since he sounds like a quote from Wine Spectator. She chimes in as she unwraps the cake It should perfectly compliment the chocolate goodness of the fudgy frosting and cheap cake. Louis pours the wine and takes a fork from Veronica as he hits play on the remote. They haven't done this in a decade and she needed this more that he knows. Veronica kicks off her shoes and grabs a throw. Louis sits back "You know this rivals the Taittinger and Coconut Cake of 1993."
Veronica raises her glass. Louis picks up his glass to join her in the toast. "To the nights we don't remember." Veronica finishes the toast. "With the friends we can't forget." They tap glasses and settle in. "You okay?" Louis turns the conversation to gauge if Veronica has seen Cooper. Veronica looks at him with a smile. "Just another day in the kingdom, Love."
The look on her face and the tone of her voice tells him that she has indeed seen Cooper.
"Why is Cameron going after Cooper?" Louis offers the question that is on his mind. Veronica looks at Louis with the look that reveals her inner most thoughts. She knows exactly what is behind this but will not tell Louis for his own safety. Louis absorbs the moment of silence.
"Veronica, don't do what I think you are going to do." Louis is concerned for his friend. He knows that taking on powerful men comes with trouble in spades.
Veronica takes another mouthful of cake before she answers Louis. She knows that he is worried for her and it is not unwarranted. "You know I have to Louis. He is out of control. It is strategically impossible to both attack and defend… so he is just going to attack everyone… He needs to be stopped."
Her answer is frank and fearless. Veronica's words strike fear in his heart. Cooper might have been trying for a coup. Louis realizes that it is Veronica who is going to kill a king. It is suddenly making sense. Louis just can't tell if she is talking about her father, Cameron or both. Knowing Veronica, it is both.
"Veronica, what made you go pre-med sophomore year?" Louis offers the random question must to Veronica's surprise.
Louis had hinted around that issue so many times but never came out and asked her. She knows if she tells him… he will have to tell Harvey and the others. Louis is far to honorable for this secret and she will not burden his honor. This is her secret. The events of her secret are the pivot point in her life… her moment of redemption.
She will never be able to unsee what happened that day. The worst moment of her life put her on the path to the best moments of her life. She would not have made it through that without Clay. She would have never learned the truth. It was not her. It was not Cooper. He tried to make her believe it was her… her blood boils at the thought. Her father made her protect out of duty and loyalty… you never turn on family… funny how that is a one way street.
"Hey… what is it." Louis has been watching her changing expression. "It's a long story Louis."