Chapter 27: Facing Ugly Truths

From a scholastic point of view, Logan getting shot and his recovery couldn't have happened at a worse time. It was dead week when it occurred—the week before finals. Because he was feeling stronger, Veronica and all of his friends took turns being with him. They had to arrange their visits around their final schedules. Sometimes they took their books and studied just so he wouldn't have to be alone. Logan insisted he could manage just fine. However, Veronica was adamant that he not spend much of his day time hours by himself. She had a hard enough time leaving him. Nevertheless, Logan knew she was a scholarship student and convinced her to finish her semester in good standing. She only agreed to do so when their friends rallied around him and agreed to keep him company as much as possible. Even Jazmin took a few turns sitting with him. She had the lightest finals load; she also never felt the need to stress out over tests. Either she knew the material or she didn't. Veronica couldn't quite understand that attitude, but Logan appreciated it. It was one he always had himself. Logan enjoyed getting to know Veronica's new friend. She was always willing to play cards with him. He soon learned she was a card shark like Veronica, so he quickly learned not to bet any real money. All of Logan's professors but one allowed him to be exempt from his finals. They just gave him whatever grade he already had in the class. He would have one incomplete until he made up the final next semester.

Logan's sister Trina surprised Veronica by showing up the day after he was conscious and off the ventilator. Although Veronica was naturally suspicious of her motives due to the many cameras that haunted the hospital parking lot, she seemed genuinely upset at his brush with death. She managed to stay a full night and day by Logan's side. Logan was really happy that she came and told Veronica that they had a long talk. Trina still couldn't reconcile the Aaron Logan knew with the one she knew, but she finally acknowledged that Logan wasn't lying about all the abuse at Aaron's hands growing up. Logan told her that it was okay for her to love Aaron; she just couldn't expect Logan to share her feelings or be upset that he didn't. Logan shared with Trina how much it upset him that she tried to paint this rosy picture of their childhood. In Trina's mind, it had been idyllic. However, she agreed to stop giving interviews and discussing it with strangers. The thought of losing the only family she had left really scared her. It shook her up enough to grant Logan's request and to open up and share with him.

Veronica was really relieved to see them finally connect as adults for the first time. She got Trina to agree to come back in a few weeks and spend Christmas with them. She knew it would mean a lot to Logan. It made her hope that maybe someday he would also manage to finally connect with the real Charlie Stone, his half-brother. In exchange for Trina's concessions and good behavior, Veronica asked Trina if she'd be willing to make a statement to the press and answer questions. They were all sick of the many requests they were getting. They also hoped if she answered some of their questions the attention would die down some until he was released. Naturally, Trina was thrilled at the opportunity to have the spotlight and the sympathy. Logan and Veronica went over with her what she could and could not say. They were happy and relieved when she managed to mostly stick to the outline they gave her.

About five days after he was shot, Duncan came by to take his turn sitting with Logan. He also came with news that Logan needed to know. He debated on what to tell Logan, but then he decided to be upfront with his friend. Logan deserved to know the truth. It would be up to Logan to decide what to tell Veronica.

"Hey, Duncan. I see it's finally your turn to babysit. You should've brought Lily with you. It seems like forever since I've seen her," Logan said.

"She wouldn't do so well for a long visit. I'll bring her by for a short visit in the morning. She has been asking about you. She misses her Logie," he shared with a grin. Logan was happy to hear that. "How are you feeling today?" Duncan asked.

"Good. I should be released in a few days. They've been letting me get up and take some walks. I get winded easily. It's uncomfortable, but if I lay here all day long, I'll never get stronger. As it is, I'm not going to be able to go surfing anytime soon. I'm going to have to come up with a new hobby for a few months," he complained.

"How about scrapbooking?" Duncan offered with a grin.

"Uh, no. I'm injured not dying!" Logan scoffed. "Maybe I'll join the chess club. At least that requires intellect. Do they even have a chess club at Hearst?"

Duncan smiled and shrugged in response. "Well, you could try the school paper. You know you have a knack for words and writing even though you try to hide it."

Logan acknowledged his observation with a half-smile. "So any news?"

"Well, yes. CW did confirm Gory was behind the hit," Duncan revealed.

"How does he find out these things?" Logan asked.

"Well, he used to be with the FBI and spent time undercover with the Italian mob, so he has some valuable connections both with the FBI and with the underworld," Duncan explained. "He was positive that Gory ordered the hit. Predictably, Gory couldn't resist bragging about it to some people who knew some people etc."

"He'll never learn," Logan said with disgust. "So what's the plan?"

Duncan hesitated. He believed Logan was strong enough to handle the news Duncan had. However, he knew it would be a test of their friendship. "Well, you're not going to like this, but the situation has already been handled."

"What do you mean?" Logan asked puzzled.

"You know what I mean," Duncan answered evasively.

"No. I don't. You need to spell it out for me," Logan demanded even though he had his suspicions.

"When CW told me that he was certain that Gory was behind the hit I knew we couldn't waste any time and that I needed to take decisive action," Duncan explained.

Logan was unsure of how to respond because he still wasn't completely sure what Duncan had done. "Okay, so what course of action did you decide we should take?"

"There's no 'we' in this one, Logan. I made the decision because I did not want you to be involved. I don't care what you say; you are NOT like your father. I gave Weidman the order to take Gory out," Duncan said calmly.

"'By take him out' I'm assuming you mean that you ordered him to be killed?" Logan asked for clarification. When Duncan nodded his head in the affirmative Logan said, "Damn it, Duncan! That wasn't a call for you to make by yourself! This is about me! And it's about the woman I love! I am not a child for you to clean up after!" he yelled angrily.

"I love Veronica, too, Logan! Next to Lily there isn't anyone I love more, and you know it. Now I know she picked you, and I'm okay with that. I know we were over a long time ago but that doesn't mean I care any less. It doesn't mean she's not important to me. And it doesn't mean that I'm going to let you do anything to destroy her happiness! And if you had anything at all to do with killing Gory, not only would it destroy you, but it would destroy your relationship with Veronica! She would never be able to get past it, especially if she sticks with the career path she has decided on," Duncan insisted unapologetically.

Logan said heatedly, "That's not your problem, Duncan! You did not have the right to make that kind of unilateral decision! Not for something that important!"

"It's because it is that important that I did it anyway, Logan," Duncan declared. "You've been my best friend my entire life. We've not always seen eye to eye on things, and we may not ever see eye to eye on this. That's okay. You don't have to agree, but you have to accept that it's done. He's dead. He can't threaten you or Veronica or anyone else anymore. I'm sorry, Logan. I had to do it. I knew with certainty that this was not something you could truly stomach being a part of. You are not your father. Now he was a man who needed to be put down."

"Yeah, and I bet you were the one who did that, too!" Logan exclaimed, still mad.

Duncan looked at Logan to see if he really wanted him to address that particular potential landmine. "Do you really want me to answer that, Logan? Do you? Because I will."

"No, you don't need to say it. I know that you probably ordered your hired killer, the head of your security, to do it. I'm not stupid, Duncan. Of course, Veronica would be shocked and appalled if she knew because in her mind you're the perfect gentleman who would never be so calculating or cold," Logan said disdainfully.

"There was nothing cold about the decision to make sure my sister's killer gets punishment! Nothing!" Duncan said hotly.

They both stopped and looked at each for a few minutes without saying anything more. Neither knew what they should say next.

Finally, Duncan offered, "Say something."

"What do you want me to say?" Logan inquired.

"Say you don't hate me. Say you understand. Say we're still friends," Duncan said.

Logan looked at him in resignation and acceptance. "No, I don't hate you. Yes, I suppose I do understand. And yes, we're still friends."

"I'm sorry, Logan," Duncan offered.

Logan didn't answer him for a few minutes. He needed some time to figure out how to respond to what Duncan was really asking of him. Finally, he answered. "It's okay. You don't really owe me an apology. I know why you acted without me. I don't like it, but I guess I do understand. I suppose I should thank you for watching out for me, but I don't think I will," Logan said with smirk.

Duncan was relieved. "No, you don't owe me a thanks. I owe you one for not giving up on our friendship. I know I've crossed lines no friend should ever cross."

Logan responded, "Gory is one thing, but my father is another. I told you once that I hated my father, too. You can't begin to understand the depth of hatred I have for him. Yes, I know you hated him for killing Lilly and probably for the affair. But I hated him for a life time of abuse. For killing my mother because he did that as surely as he killed Lilly. For trying to kill Veronica. The list is endless. The memories will never fade. The scars will never completely heal. It's a hated legacy I've inherited from dear ol'dad. I don't know if I can ever dare to father my own children someday. But I take comfort in knowing that he isn't around to get his hands on them if I do. I take comfort in knowing he's not around to make my life hell because the day he died he had already made it really clear to me that he was planning to. So, yes, I do owe you a thanks. Others may judge us differently for both our feelings and our actions, but between you and me there is an understanding. We don't need to talk about it again, but I want you to know that I for one am glad Lilly's killer got what he deserved."

Duncan revealed for the first time evidence of his own vulnerability to Logan. He was noticeably affected by Logan's words. It took a minute before he could respond. He said simply, "Thanks Logan."

"Now I don't want you to get in the habit of calling up your friend CW to take care of things!" Logan said only half joking.

"Don't worry, Logan. I won't. I'm hoping our life can get back to normal. Maybe you can keep that girl of yours occupied enough to stay out of trouble and keep her from pissing anyone off!" Duncan joked.

Speaking of Veronica, she had pushed open the doors to Logan's room just in time to overhear Duncan's last quip. "Hey, I resemble that remark!" She gave Duncan a saucy grin and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't I get some credit for not making any new enemies this semester?"

"Yes, dear, you definitely do!" Logan said as he grabbed her hand and tugged her down toward him. He kissed her hello with enthusiasm. "And when I am feeling better, I'll thank you some more," he told her as he leered suggestively at her. She grinned in response, very happy to see him sounding more like his old self.

Duncan laughed. "Well, it looks like you're in good hands, so I'm going to take off. I'll bring Lily by in the morning, Logan. I'll let you decide on what you may or may not want to share with V. Take care you two!" He ducked out before Logan could give him a dirty look for bringing up the talk in front of Veronica. Duncan knew that she wouldn't stop digging until Logan told her something.

Sure enough, she said, "Okay, so what did I miss? Spill!"

Logan gave her a considering look and then decided he was done protecting Veronica from who Duncan really was. "Are you sure you really want to know? I don't want to keep things from you, but you need to know that the rose colored glasses you wear when you look at Duncan will be shattered for all time if I spill. Do you really want that?"

"I thought we put that to rest, Logan. I don't wear rose colored glasses with Duncan. I just see him a different way than you do," she insisted.

"Okay, I tried to warn you. Don't kill the messenger. And what I tell you can't be repeated to anyone. Not Mac nor Wallace and especially not your dad," Logan warned. "Go shut the door. No one can overhear this."

"Now you've got me worried. Go ahead. I'm listening," she said after she complied with his request.

Logan looked at her a moment wanting to be sure telling her everything was the right choice to make. He decided that if it ever came to light and she found out he knew and kept it from her, it would be worse for him in the end. "Duncan was just telling me that Weidman confirmed that Gory Sorokin was behind the shooting."

"He was? He's sure?" she asked.

"Positive. And Duncan said he 'took care of it' so we don't have to worry," Logan told her using air quotes for emphasis. But she wasn't getting it.

"How did he take care of it?" she asked, puzzled.

"He took care of it the way rich men often take care of things, Veronica. He ordered his own hired thug, Weidman, to kill Gory," Logan explained.

"What? That can't be true! Why would you say such a thing?" she accused, standing up.

"Wow! And you keep insisting I'm overreacting about Duncan, and you don't think he's better than me, yet you can't conceive of him doing anything remotely immoral or wrong! Color me NOT surprised!" Logan sarcastically replied. "It's the truth, Veronica, and if you don't believe me, you can call Duncan and ask him for yourself. He told me and I quote, 'I gave Weidman the order to take Gory out' end quote."

Veronica looked at him in shock. "He had Gory killed? Just like that?"

Logan couldn't help but be rankled by her disbelief. "Yes, Veronica. Just like that, Duncan Kane, your ideal knight in shining armor, ordered the death of the man who tried to kill you and shot me."

"What was he thinking? I can't believe he went so far!" Veronica exclaimed in disbelief.

"Well, believe it. I've tried to tell you that you didn't know Duncan as well as you think you did. Who do you think had my dad killed?" Logan demanded determined that for once Veronica know who Duncan really was.

"What? You've got to be kidding! He was on the other side of the country, Logan. There's no way he did that! That was just a few months after he left. There's no way he could do something like that so soon after…" she stopped.

"So soon after what? So soon after leaving you? He couldn't do something so unthinkable so soon after having loved and lost you?" Logan asked. "Well, I hate to break it to you, Veronica, but he did. He even admitted it to me. He told me that he knew I didn't have it in me to kill Gory, and if I tried it would destroy me; it would destroy us. But he knew he could do it because he's done it before.

"That doesn't mean he ordered Aaron's death," she insisted, not wanting to be wrong.

Logan was beginning to be really hurt over her continual defense of Duncan. He knew on some level it would be like this if he told her. But they had come so far and had gotten so close that he had let himself believe maybe he could drop his guard where Duncan was concerned. Obviously, he was too quick to do so.

"When will I learn?" Logan asked aloud. Then he looked at her in disappointment. "You know what, Veronica, I'm done. You need to go. I can't leave, and you're really upsetting me. Why don't you go to Duncan and let him offer you the assurance and comfort you seem to need where he's concerned? I don't have it in me to give it to you, especially when it's a lie," Logan said with disgust.

Veronica couldn't believe what's happening here. How did things spin out of control so fast between them? "I'm not leaving. We're going to finish talking about this, Logan. Did Logan actually say he ordered Aaron killed?"

He looked at her coldly and said, "Yes, that's exactly what he said. He may have been in Australia. but Weidman wasn't. I tried to tell you they were close. I tried to tell you he wasn't this perfect guy you thought he was. I tried to tell you he wasn't better than me. I guess I should just be glad you chose me anyway."

"Why would you say that, Logan? Duncan and I have been over a long time," Veronica insisted, upset at his implications.

"Really? You keep saying that and yet you defend him in a way you've never defended me. I honestly can't think of a single instant where you did defend me to anyone, yet he left you without a background glance and still has your unwavering loyalty. Why is that? When will you believe me without question? When will I exceed the Duncan Kane bar that everyone else is measured against? I gotta know because frankly, Veronica, trying to measure up and constantly failing is getting really old," he stated bitterly.

"How can you say that, Logan? I don't understand you. That's not true! I have defended you each and every time you asked for my help. I've defended you when my friends and my dad thought I was crazy for going out with you in high school. How dare you say I don't show you loyalty?" she asked incredulously. "I love you! Of course, you have my loyalty. Of course, I trust you above all others! I just don't understand how you can sit here and tell me that the man I've known even longer than, you could cold bloodedly order the execution of two men. One of those men being your father. That is NOT the Duncan Kane I know. Nor is it the Duncan Kane I loved. I'm sorry if I need a minute to process such a thing," she said.

"You ask me to tell you what he told me, and then when you can't handle it, you decide I must be making it up 'cause that's what I do. Now you insist I have your loyalty and your love, but I simply told you what he just told me, and you doubt what I say. Then you insist it can't be true because he's not the screw up. No, we both knew who you think of as the screwed up one, and it's surely not him," Logan responded, punctuating his words with scorn and bitterness. Veronica started to answer, but Logan cut her off before she could say anything more. "I don't want to talk about this anymore, Veronica. You're upsetting me and causing me to feel worse than I already do."

"We need to talk about this, Logan. I'm not going anywhere! You can't just spill out all that and then expect me to just leave. Not after what all we've been through!" she declared.

Just then a nurse came in. "Is everything alright? Your monitors are beeping. Your blood pressure and heart rate has accelerated. What's wrong? How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling upset. I need to rest and don't think visitors are good right now. Especially when they defend their ex-boyfriends and accuse me of lying," he said pointedly as he glared at Veronica.

"Logan," she began.

He cut her off again, "Just go. I don't want to talk anymore today," Logan insisted as he lowered his bed and closed his eyes.

The nurse looked at Veronica, "I think it's best if you leave and come back tomorrow. Long hospital stays can be stressful for everyone."

"Okay, I'll leave. But I'll be back in the morning." Veronica left upset at both Logan's revelations about Duncan and his response to her reaction. She hated when he overreacted like this. Of course, hearing what he said about Duncan was disturbing and hard to believe. She thought she knew exactly what Duncan was capable of. Being in the investigation business usually gave her good instincts about people in general and her friends specifically. How could she have not seen this in Duncan? Is Logan right? Does she judge him harsher than she does Duncan? Upset at the thought and the fact that things were unsettled between her and Logan, she headed home. For the first time since they got back together, Veronica was worried about their relationship.