Chapter 14 – Time That you Won
The next time Veronica woke up she felt much more alert. Quickly, she scanned the room, painfully shifting until she found her father, still in uniform, dozing uncomfortably in the chair beside her bed. He must have heard her gasp as she moved, because his eyes suddenly popped opened and a smile crossed his face.
"Hi, Honey. How ya feeling?"
"I've been better," Veronica exhaled and looked to the window to gauge the time but with the blinds shut she couldn't tell. "What time is it? What day is it?"
"It's almost four in the afternoon, you were brought in last night. The doctors have kept you sedated to help with the pain, but you're not in any danger."
Absorbing that news, Veronica asked, "Where's Logan?"
"I sent him home to shower and change. I told him to take a nap before he comes back, but I don't imagine he'll listen to me," Keith scoffed knowingly and shook his head.
"Yeah, following authority hasn't ever been Logan's strong suit," Veronica acquiesced.
"That might be an understatement. As the sheriff of this small town, I have first hand experience with Logan's many authority issues." He chuckled and smiled down at her. "Although, he seems particularly attentive to you these days. Is there something you want to tell me, Daughter?"
"No. Not yet. I mean, we're dating, but it's only been a week or so."
"Well, thank God for that." At Veronica's shocked expression he continued, "I can tell that you both care about each other. And Logan's obviously been head over heels for you for years now. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've always considered Logan as being a bit of a rebel without a cause, and it just occurred to me that you've been sleeping at his place an awful lot lately. Now, normally these factors, combined with my fatherly instincts, would be enough of a reason to shove Logan, at gunpoint, into my squad car for a nice, long drive into the desert for a little chat. But I've decided to overlook it under the circumstances." Keith's face suddenly became serious and his tone softened, "I really don't know what would have happened if he hadn't figured things out and come after you, Veronica." Keith was solemn as he leaned forward to pat her head awkwardly. "Mercer really did a number on you, baby." He smiled down at her tightly.
"That he did," Veronica sighed. "But you got him and that's all that matters."
"Well not all that matters, but it will have to do for now." Keith's smile no longer reached his eyes.
"Moe's the weakest link," Veronica told him vehemently. "You should be able to crack him."
"Well, they both lawyered up, so we won't be able to interrogate either of them for a few days, which is fine. It gives my guys more time to piece things together. I'll be taking a back seat on this investigation because of your involvement, and we want the district attorney present for everything. The sheriff's office wants to get this right, to do things by the book, so that these guys go away for a long time."
"I want that, too," Veronica said, unflinching and determined.
"One of the deputies will be by sometime today or tomorrow to take your statement. And Logan's. They tried to take his and Dick's earlier, but both of them were adamant that we wait for you ladies to wake up." Veronica's body tensed in panic at the prospect of giving a statement. Keith must have noticed. "But enough about that, the only thing that you need to concentrate on is resting and healing."
She would have to figure out what she was willing to disclose and talk to the others to make the investigation work without revealing her secrets. As much as she wanted to help, she wasn't ready to talk about Mercer and what happened on Halloween. "Is Mac awake?"
Keith patted her shoulder affectionately. "Yes, she is. She's going to be fine. They won't allow her to visit you here in ICU, but Dick is with her and refuses to leave her side. He did call me about twenty minutes ago to find out how you are doing. Mac's worried about you, so I'm sure they'll be checking in again soon."
Just at that moment, Logan rushed through the door, looking worried. When his eyes met Veronica's, he smiled genuinely. "Speaking of checking in," Keith continued, standing up tall, "I was supposed to let the nurses know when you woke. I'll give you two a minute." Keith disappeared into the hall.
"You look better. You have some color." Logan was by her side in a flash and kissed her on the nose and her uninjured cheek.
"And by color, I'm assuming you mean other than black and blue?" Veronica replied smartly.
Logan didn't appear amused, but he kept his tone even. "Yeah, well that too. You must be feeling better." He punctuated his words with more kisses to her face as he took her hand in his.
"I ache but I'll take it over groggy any day. After everything that has happened, I don't want to feel drugged out anymore, Logan," Veronica pleaded. "Don't let them give me the heavy narcotics again."
"Okay, we'll talk to them, but they said they'd be weaning you off the big guns today. Judging by how alert you are, I'd bet that they already have. But don't let it get too bad. Staying on top of the pain is key. Take it from someone who knows," Logan smiled at her nod of understanding at his serious expression and tone.
"Dad said that they're going to need a statement. I don't know what to say. I'm fine talking about what I remember of the incident, but, about that night…" her voice trailed off when her father entered the room with two doctors in tow.
"Miss Mars. It's nice to see you up and alert. I'm Doctor Lyman and this is Doctor Bartlet. We've been following your case closely."
Veronica managed to nod in greeting. She grimaced as Dr. Bartlet adjusted her bed to sitting before he began asking questions. She couldn't remember much of the night, but provided what information she could. They checked her eyes and reflexes before examining her wounds and bruises carefully. She heard both her father and Logan's sharp intake of breath when the doctors lifted her gown to reveal her battered ribcage and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She couldn't bear to see the distress in their eyes.
After Dr. Bartlet finished his exam, he said, "Well, Miss Mars, you're awake and alert and appear to be recovering nicely. We're ready to move you out of ICU. I've ordered another CT scan of your spleen and head, which likely won't be completed until midday tomorrow. If the bleeding has stopped, and everything looks to be improving, you can probably go home as early as late afternoon or early evening."
"Tomorrow?" Veronica's spirits rose at the thought.
Logan scoffed in response, and Keith slapped him upside the head. "What? Let's be honest, she looks like someone tried to bash her skull in and then used her as a punching bag."
"Logan, that's enough!" Keith admonished.
Logan shook his head emphatically. "No! These guys didn't see her just last night lying unconscious and bloody on some rapists floor! How can she go home? She can barely sit up! How is she supposed to walk?" Logan wasn't happy.
Veronica could only scowl at him. She wanted to be discharged more than anything else in the world. She wanted to go home and put this all behind her.
Dr. Lyman continued as if the interruption hadn't happened. "You can go home tomorrow, provided that you start eating solid food by then. We'll have someone from occupational therapy come up and get you walking. If that works for you and the CT comes back looking all right, we'll discharge you. You'll need to be seen by your regular physician every few days. You'll be sore for several weeks."
"Sounds great to me," Veronica piped up, scooting up higher on the bed trying to ignore the subsequent shot of pain that sliced through her ribcage.
The cringe must not have been lost on Logan, because he stormed out of the room murmuring something about checking on Mac.
"Would he just have me stay here, in this bed, for all eternity?" Veronica scoffed.
"He's just worried, Honey. He cares about you. Cut him some slack." Keith said, pulling back the chair that the doctors had moved away from the bedside and smiling up at her. "At least you get to go home."
"You're right! That's what's important." Truth be told, Veronica was a little worried about being home too, but she felt safer at home. She needed to feel normal again.
Logan pushed through the doors that kept the public out of the hospital's ICU, made his way to the elevator and slammed his palm into the 'up' button. He paced for a moment but was too impatient to actually wait for the elevator he had called. Logan growled and opted for the stairwell instead, taking the steps two at a time. When he reached Mac's floor, he stalked down the long corridor, trying to determine which room was hers. As he passed the nurse's station he saw 'Mackenzie' written on the board for room 237. Right as he turned to look for a room number, he watched a woman approach the nurse's station.
"Hello," she stated to the group of nurses who were chatting away, oblivious to her. "Hello!" she repeated more assertively. "My daughter is Cindy Mackenzie and she's been here nearly twenty-four hours. Whom do I need to speak to in order to have her released immediately?"
Logan, convinced that everyone in the world must have gone stark-raving mad, turned and moved in the direction of Mac's room. He knocked on the door as a courtesy even though it stood wide open. The curtain around the hospital bed moved and Logan was greeted by Dick.
"Hey, man. How's Ronnie?" Dick smiled at him.
"Is that Logan?" Mac's voice called from further inside the room. At Dick's nod, Logan entered. He was relieved to find Mac sitting up in bed, looking fine.
"Hey, Mac. You look really good," Logan said, relieved. He noticed an older man and young boy in the room who he assumed were Mac's family. He nodded to them before turning his attention back to Mac.
"I feel fine," she told him. "How's Veronica? They wouldn't let me see her and all Dick could get out of the sheriff was that they expected her to wake up soon."
"She's awake and a bit better, I think." Logan briefly explained Veronica's injuries and watched as Mac's face fell.
"I'm so sorry. I feel responsible," Mac said miserably.
"Mackie, babe, I've already told you that it's not your fault," Dick gave his girlfriend a sympathetic smile as he crossed the room over to her and enveloped her into a tight hug.
"No, if I'd just had my room key—" Mac started.
"There's no way either of you could have known about Moe or Mercer. Veronica is just happy that they're in custody. She's going to be fine. You both are." Logan tried to sound optimistic, but he was so emotionally spent that he was not in the best place to be supportive.
"Hey, was that your mom out there harassing the nurses to spring you loose?" Logan asked curiously.
"Yes! That would be her." Mac ducked her head, obviously embarrassed. She turned to the older man in the corner of the room whom Logan had assumed was her father. "Dad, can you go calm her down?" Without a word, Mr. Mackenzie grabbed the boy's hand and set off toward the hall.
"What's with you and Veronica and the rush to get out of here? I don't get it." Logan sank down into an empty chair. "Isn't it enough that you're safe?"
Mac shrugged. "It's not me. My parents have always hated hospitals. Especially this hospital. They went completely crazy when my grandpa had a heart attack. They made the hospital transfer him to UCLA. It was a mess." Mac didn't seem concerned. "Give Veronica a break, Logan. I can't even begin to understand what she's going through. Mercer attacked her twice. And both times she went through it almost totally alone. Let her be in control of something."
"Now you sound like Lilly!" Logan let out an exasperated laugh.
"Wow, if there's one thing I'd never expected to hear, it would be that I am anything like Lilly Kane." Mac laughed. "Next you'll be telling me Madison Sinclair is my long-lost sister." They all laughed at that.
Logan stayed a while longer, making small-talk, trying to get his mind off of his reaction to Veronica until the Mac's family reappeared with a doctor who declared that she was being discharged.
"Well, thanks for the company. I'm glad to see that you're okay, Mac," Logan smiled as he pulled himself out of the chair. "Veronica might go home tomorrow; I'll keep you posted." He gave Mac and Dick each a long hug before making his way to the main corridor that led to the elevators.
When Logan arrived back at the ICU, the nurse buzzed him in but stopped him at the nursing station. She made him wait there and gave no indication why as she conferred with another nurse. They looked over at him a few times as they spoke, and then the first nurse started clicking away on her computer. Logan momentarily panicked until he remembered that the doctor had mentioned moving her out of ICU. The nurse, apparently having found Veronica's new location on the computer, pointed him in the right direction and he swung by the cafeteria before heading to her room.
Armed with a crappy hospital cookie as a peace offering, Logan entered Veronica's room without knocking and found her sitting up in bed, looking miserable. His heart broke a little at the sight of her face so swollen and bruised. Even so, she was still beautiful, but he knew she'd be pissed if he told her that.
"Hey," she offered, tentatively smiling at him and waving him in through the doorway.
As he neared her, Logan decided to just jump right to the point. "Look, I'm sorry, Veronica." Logan walked around to the far side of the bed and set the cookie down next to her on a tray. "I'll bring you real food soon, but the pickings in the cafeteria were slim," he said as he sat down beside her on the bed. She chuckled a little at that and took his hand. "I'm sorry. I was scared. I really can't get the image of you lying on the floor of Mercer's dorm room out of my mind. I've never been that scared in my entire life. And the whole time while I was driving there from Kurt's, not knowing what he was doing to you, and not being able to help you…" Logan trailed off. "I'm sorry. I can be pretty dumb sometimes."
"I'm sorry, too. I just want to get out of here, but I might have pushed things a little. The OT guy came by and it took me almost ten minutes to get myself standing. I think the entire outing to the bathroom took over thirty. It wasn't pretty."
"I'm sorry I missed it," he lamented, squeezing her hand.
"I'm not. There are some things I'd like to keep a mystery between us for at least a little while, yet." Veronica laughed slightly. "I know I'll need a lot of help the first few days after I get home, but I can't help wanting to be in my own room with my dog and in my own pajamas. Or in your bed in your pajamas, of course," she amended quickly.
"I'd like nothing more, but I have a feeling your father will have something to say about that." Logan had heard rumors of Keith Mars' speech to his daughter's prospective suitors involving the cleaning of guns.
"Dad will be fine," Veronica dismissed. "I already discussed it with him. He knows that you'll be around a lot. He's going to be working hard and knows he'll have to trust us. Most of the deputies are still assigned to my case. It'll take all of Dad's time to stay on top of the rest of the work around the station. Besides, he likes you, Logan."
Veronica smiled and scooted over a little bit and patted the mattress next to her. Logan didn't need any more encouragement, and, after he squeezed himself next to her, she gave him a little nudge with her shoulder.
"Well, I'm happy to be at your service then," he said softly, turning to kiss her as deeply as possible without hurting her.
The sound of someone clearing his throat sent Logan scrambling off the bed in a flash. He turned to see Keith Mars holding a paper bag and DVDs in his hands.
"Hello, Logan. You're back." Keith spoke up. Embarrassed, Logan could only nod. "Well, I brought entertainment and real food. Just some soup for you, Veronica, but Logan and I get cheap diner food, the dinner of champions." Keith laughed and jangled the paper sack. "And, since I knew comedies were out this evening, for our viewing pleasure, we have — North by Northwest and LA Confidential!" he finished theatrically. "Veronica, would you like to invite your gentleman caller to dinner?" Keith inquired, sliding a Styrofoam container and some plastic utensils over to Logan.
"Super smooth, Dad. But flashing good food in front of me? That's just mean. Doesn't this county have laws against cruel and unusual punishment?" Veronica feigned anger.
"Don't worry, Honey. We'll have you up to diner food in no time." Keith placed the soup and a spoon on her table and rolled it closer to her. "Eat up. It's probably already cold." Keith ordered before flopping down in an open chair and looking at Logan conspiratorially.
"Thanks, Sheriff. I brought you dessert." Logan indicated the cookie on the table.
Veronica huffed again, looking at them both in mock horror. "Now you're giving away my cookie? The things a girl has to put up with around you two. It's no wonder you're both single."
"Single, huh?" Logan raised his eyebrows at her and Keith chuckled.
"Yeah, well, play your cards right, Echolls, and I'm sure we can work something out in that regard." She laughed at his shocked expression and pulled him in for a brief kiss.
"Good to know!" Logan didn't dare do more than peck her cheek with her armed, sheriff father sitting less than two feet away from them. But he was surprised when he realized that he was happy. Logan smiled, thinking that this was probably the best family dinner he'd had in years, if not ever.
Keith took time the following morning to ready the house for Veronica's return. He cleaned up a bit and made sure that the house was stocked with food and drinks that she liked. He vacuumed her room and washed her sheets to ensure her comfort. All the while, he contemplated his daughter and her new relationship with Logan Echolls.
Keith couldn't say that he was all that surprised by the development of Veronica and Logan's relationship from friendship to dating. He had seen the way his daughter looked at the Echolls boy over the years. At first, he had thought that Veronica just had a silly, high school crush on Logan that had developed into a lasting friendship.
The timing of their new relationship surprised Keith more than anything. She'd seemed distant and sad for a while. She'd needed a change, Keith supposed. But things seem better somehow, and it appears that Logan is to thank for that. Logan and Veronica seemed inseparable lately, but Mercer's attack must have solidified them as a couple. He hoped they were going about this new venture together levelheadedly, and Keith was happy to see how much Logan had grown up in the last year.
And dating Logan Echolls isn't the worst thing that could have happened; she'd steered clear of the Casablancas boys, at least. Keith shuddered at the thought.
When he arrived at the hospital close to noon, Keith wasn't surprised to see Logan sitting next to Veronica's bed. She was dozing but dressed in street clothes, and Logan had a copy of Freakanomics open and was reading attentively.
I can't believe these kids have finished their first semester of college, Keith thought to himself. Christmas is just around the corner. I feel like I've been in a bubble chasing after one guy so long that I'd forgotten that time was passing around me.
Logan must have seen Keith in the doorway because he lifted his hand up in greeting and then pointed to Veronica to indicate that she was sleeping.
"Hey, Sheriff," Logan's voice was low. "Any news about the case?"
"When I talked to Lamb early this morning, he told me that Moe's lawyer had made contact. I imagine I'll be getting a call soon. How'd our girl do last night?" That made Logan smile. Wow, kid. You've got it bad! Keith almost felt sorry for the young man in front of him. Love was rough, and Veronica, though sweet, wasn't the pushover that most people assumed her to be.
"She did pretty well once the nurses gave her something to help her sleep. The doctors did the CT scan already this morning, and the therapist came by and she walked a little. She needed help with dressing. It's still slow going, but she's tough."
Logan knows my daughter well. Let's just hope not too well, eh, Keith thought with a chuckle. To Logan, he smiled appreciatively and said, "I'm sorry to have missed it. I'm glad you're here with her, Logan."
Logan nodded at him, seeming shy all of a sudden. I like this new side of him. After years of that lashing out and jackass entitlement, it seems like Logan has finally become a man. It couldn't just be a coincidence that this change coincides with his father's move to LA, could it? I never liked that man, all shifty eyed and false bravado. Yeah, something about Aaron Echolls just never added up.
Keith's phone rang from inside his jacket pocket. He quickly answered it, not wanting to wake Veronica, and motioned to Logan that he would take the call in the hallway.
"Keith Mars," he spoke into the phone, not looking at the caller ID.
"Keith, it's Lamb."
"Yes, what can I do for you, Deputy?"
"Moe Flater and his attorney are ready to talk, Sheriff." Lamb said without preamble. "We've called the DA in and he's on his way, Sir. But the DA mentioned that he'd like you to be present as well. We have the cameras and everything ready to go."
"Excellent news, Don. That's fantastic. I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm leaving the hospital in five minutes. Tell Cohen he can start without me if he'd like. And I want Leo to take the reigns on this one. I'll need you in the room, though, to keep him in check."
"We've got 'em both, Sheriff. I can feel it." Don Lamb was fervent.
"I think so too, Deputy, but let's not celebrate too soon. It's going to be a long few days and we don't want to get overzealous; we have a job to do. I'll see you soon." Keith hung up and took a second to get his emotions in check before returning to Veronica's room.
He arrived just as the doctors were leaving. He shook each of their hands after speaking to them briefly, and then entered the room to find Logan packing up Veronica's belongings.
"Honey, it looks like you got good news?" Keith's smile was wide. This was turning out to be a great day after all.
"Yes." Veronica was beaming through her obvious discomfort. "I mean, they poked and prodded me again, but the good news is that the bleeding seems to have stopped completely and I can go home. The nurse took my IV out and everything." Veronica happily held up her unencumbered hand.
"Well, that's the best we can hope for right now. Listen, Lamb just called." Keith chose to ignore the face that Veronica made at the mention of her least favorite deputy. "Moe is ready to talk, so I'm heading down to the station to speak with the DA to make sure that everything is set up for a slam dunk."
"I thought you were going to sit this one out." Veronica seemed disappointed.
"For the most part I will, but I'm going to get the ball rolling and take any calls that come in from dispatch," Keith explained, moving to kiss his daughter and lightly touch her cheek. "I love you, Honey. I'll call you and let you know what the plan is for dinner." He paused at the expression on his daughter's face. "Oh, you're breaking my heart. Do you need me to stay?"
"No," Veronica responded dejectedly, even though he knew that she wanted to say 'yes'. "You go; Logan will take me home. " Keith saw Veronica put on her game face and even try to flash a smile.
"Thanks, Sweetie. I love you, but I gotta run." Keith turned his attention to Logan. "Logan, watch Backup. He's a good dog but liable to jump on her. He knows something's been off lately. I'll be in touch." Keith took a few steps out the door before he turned back around to give Logan another long look. "Thanks again, Logan," before he ran out the door.
Keith pulled up to the station and got out of his car just as the Balboa County District Attorney pulled into the space next to him, so the men walked across the parking lot and into the station together.
"Sheriff Mars, it's nice to see you again. I'm sorry about the circumstances. How is Veronica?" the DA asked, holding his hand out to Keith.
"Sandy Cohen, likewise. Veronica is hanging in there, thanks. She's being discharged from the hospital as we speak. How are your boys?" Keith took Cohen's hand and gave it a firm shake.
"Growing up too fast, I'm afraid. But there's not much Kirsten and I can do about it," Sandy Cohen laughed.
"Don't I know it. I still think of Veronica as a little girl. I have to remind myself that she's a college student now." Keith turned to greet his staff. Everyone wanted an update on Veronica's status, so he gave them an abridged version before ensuring that the room next to the interrogation room was ready to go. Finding it to his satisfaction, Keith then took his place in the observation room while Leo settled himself in the interrogation room, waiting for Lamb to bring in the suspect.
After a few minutes, Keith poked his head out into the hallway just as Lamb was escorting Moe Flater down the hall. Moe gave Keith a startled glance before affixing his eyes back on the floor. He's scared. Good!
Cohen joined Keith moments later. "I told Deputy D'Amato to play hardball with this kid. Let's see what he knows. Keith, sit down and keep your mouth shut. Once we start this video, it has to be clear that you are not part of the direct investigation. You are only here to supply information that you've learned through your earlier investigation." Keith nodded in response; he knew the drill.
After the obligatory introductions, Moe's attorney attempted to take charge by saying, "My client has been being manipulated by Mr. Mercer Hayes since last term when they were assigned as roommates their freshman year. Hayes set Flater up at a party by drugging a girl and framing him. My client has been bullied, blackmailed, set up and more. Let me be frank, we're here to cut a deal. Mr. Flater is willing to disclose all knowledge of Mr. Hayes' activities, and in return—"
Deputy D'Amato cut him off. "The district attorney is here and willing to negotiate. But the deal is only as good as the information your client can provide. And it had better be good considering we recovered several boxes of hair from your client's closet, not Mr. Hayes'."
Yes! Keith thought. We have all the power here. And Moe's got everything to lose.
Moe spoke up for the first time. "I just want to clearly state for the record that I feel extremely uncomfortable that Sheriff Mars is on the premises. Is that even ethical? His daughter is one of the victims."
It was Deputy Lamb who spoke up this time. "Sheriff Mars is not directly involved with this interrogation or the investigation any longer. While it is true that he is on the premises, Deputy D'Amato and I have taken over as investigative leads on this case, Mr. Flater. Let's get back on track here. If you want a deal you'd better be able to back up any claims you make and give us names."
Moe looked to his attorney, who nodded his approval for Moe to continue. "Yes, the hair was in my closet. But Mercer Hayes put it there, and I can prove it."
How, Flater? How can you prove it? Keith leaned forward in his chair, wishing he could ring the kid's neck. He wasn't used to sitting on the sidelines. It was taking everything in him to not jump through the observation mirror. He forced himself to sit back and reminded himself that the interrogation had just begun. The right questions would be asked soon.
Moe continued after a short pause of nervous swallowing and blinking. "After the incident last year with the drugging, I was scared. I became a resident advisor this year on purpose. I was trying to distance myself from Mercer. But then he suddenly was living on my floor and he started the casino. He began blackmailing me to keep my mouth shut about it. I told him that I was done playing his game and was going to turn him. But, shortly after the rapes began this term, I found the hair in my closet. I don't even know how he got in my room, so I kept my mouth shut. Then he wanted me to run prerecorded tapes of his radio call-in show. I had to do it. He's crazy. He's capable of anything. But then on Halloween everything changed."
"What changed, Mr. Flater?" Deputy D'Amato asked him.
"After Halloween, once I realized that the Catwoman from the party was actually the sheriff's daughter, I knew it would be just a matter of time before Mercer was made. I started taking notes, making recordings," he shrugged, "…stuff like that."
Keith's ears perked up at Moe's words. He cocked his head to one side in confusion. The sheriff's daughter? My daughter? Veronica?
He saw the exact moment D'Amato processed the same information. Slowly, Leo asked, "Which incident are you referring to? Are you saying Mercer Hayes had contact with Veronica Mars before the assault that led to your arrest last night?"
"I thought you knew." A look of sheer panic crossed Moe's features.
What?! Unable to sit any longer, Keith stood and got as close to the observation glass as possible, his eyes burning holes through Moe. Moe, it seemed, was staring through the mirror right back at him.
Keith was so intent on Moe Flater that he barely heard it when Sandy Cohen sternly said from beside him, "Keith, you need to leave this room. Now! Keith!"
But Keith was rooted to the spot.
Moe turned to his attorney for guidance. Again, his attorney nodded for Moe to press forward. So he did. "Mercer Hayes drugged and raped Veronica Mars on Halloween at the Lambda Kappa Pi party."
Hollowly, Keith felt all eyes turn on him. Leo and Don turned toward the observation mirror and Sandy Cohen's eyes bore into Moe for one moment of perfect silence before all hell broke loose. Keith, usually so calm and collected, let out a feral cry and dodged Cohen and jumped for the door. Amazingly, he made it to the door and was able to throw it open, but not before the DA grabbed him from behind and pinned his arms back, making it too difficult for Keith to escape.
"Help me!" Cohen screamed out to no one in particular. Deputies Lamb and D'Amato came barging out from the interrogation room and attempted to help the DA subdue an enraged Keith Mars.
Keith could hear shouts of, "Calm down. Calm down!" in his ear, but his brain was screaming in agony and couldn't comprehend the directive. His entire being was consumed with one thought: Kill Mercer Hayes!
"I think you're going to have to cuff him," Cohen shouted over the uproar. "Deputy, I said cuff him!"
Keith suddenly found himself flattened on the ground under the weight of the three men. His arms were pulled behind his back and cuffed. The moment the handcuffs clicked into place, Keith deflated and let his head fall to the floor. He watched, almost detached, as shoes approached him from down the hall before he was pulled to his feet and lead into his own office. Keith sensed everyone's stares more than he actually saw them. And then everything was a blur until he was thrown, none too gently, into the oversized chair behind his desk.
"Take these things off of me!" Keith snarled at the three men in his office, struggling with the awkward position his arms gave him. "And shut that damn door." Someone swung the door shut, but no one made a move to release him. "I said, take these cuffs off of me."
Deputy D'Amato loomed over him, his hands resting on the arm of the chair. "If you don't calm down, I can't take the cuffs off you, Keith."
"I'll be calm." Keith forced his voice to sound even as he looked into his deputy's eyes. "I promise, Leo." Keith watched as Leo glanced at Cohen, waiting for the go-ahead before he walked around Keith's chair to release his arms.
Once free, Keith leaned forward and gathered his head in his hands. He knew how broken he must look, but he didn't care because it was the truth. He was broken.
"Did you know, Sheriff?" Sandy Cohen's voice spoke up, breaking the silence.
Keith spun his chair around and glared at the man. What the hell?
"Keith! I need an answer from you. Did you know about Hayes sexually assaulting Veronica?"
"No, fuck no!" Keith's skin crawled and he jumped out of the chair, only to be approached by two deputies who looked ready to take him down again. He flopped back into the seat and leaned back to stare up at the ceiling. "Why wouldn't she have told me?"
"I don't know, Keith." It was Leo's voice that answered this time. "But we will find out. We'll finish the interrogation and then go talk to her. We needed to get a statement out of her and the Echolls kid anyway."
Deputy Lamb spoke up next. "I'll stay here with Keith or take him for a walk. Leo, you take the DA and get whatever information you can out of Moe. When you're ready to break for the day, we'll all head back to the sheriff's house and get a statement."
Once everyone agreed to the plan, Keith gave a brief nod to add his consent and found himself alone in the room with only Don Lamb for company. After the immediate anger had passed, he was left feeling utterly desolate. Halloween? Was that when things had changed with Veronica? He'd been so busy ever since summer that it was hard to pinpoint anything in mind went back to what he could remember of Halloween night. Veronica happy. She had been annoyed with him and trying to hurry him out the door. Keith smiled at the thought. Probably trying to clear me out before I could embarrass her in front of Logan. Keith had worked hard that weekend. Halloween was always a busy time for law enforcement. But it was true that all his memories after that night, Veronica seemed to be withdrawn. She'd hung around the house more than usual. And that's the week she cut her hair. Keith let out an agitated sigh and dropped his head back into his hands.
"Don't beat yourself up, Keith. We'll get to the bottom of it. We're going to nail these guys' balls to the wall. For Veronica…for Veronica and all of the others."
Keith swung his chair around to where Deputy Lamb stood, looking out the window. If he were honest with himself, he'd never really cared much for the man. Don Lamb was arrogant and lazy, but Keith knew that Lamb was an ally today, and that was good enough for him.
A/N: Hope any West Wing and OC fans enjoyed the references in there.
So, big, emotionally charged chapter. And I'm pretty aware that in real life, Veronica would probably spend one more night in ICU until she was cleared of the bleed before she'd be moved to the wards, but I didn't have another day...so I took some liberties!
I am intrigued by the idea of Keith finding out about the assault, so I wrote it. As always, I hope it worked for you. Let me know.
A million thanks to my betas LVFangirl and kmd0107 for their fantasticalness. I couldn't have gotten this far without them! And thank you to all you readers who are still riding this emotional roller coaster with me.