Chapter 37: Telling the Tale
******Still at the Casablancas Friday Night******
Veronica ran to her dad, and he wrapped her in his arms. "You and I need to have a very long chat, young lady," Keith said.
Veronica looked up at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I'll tell you everything. I promise," Veronica said.
"You all will need to go down to the station and give statements," Keith said.
"Can you bring Leo to the house? I don't want to go down to the station and look at Don's stupid face," Veronica said.
"Sure, honey. I'll see what I can do," Keith said.
Peter and Marco appeared. "Is Cassidy going to jail? What happened?" Peter asked.
"Peter, you and Marco need to tell Mr. Mars the secret you've been keeping," Mac said gently.
They looked startled. "You know?" Marco asked in surprise.
"Yes. Cassidy almost killed himself. Woody needs to pay for what he did," Mac said.
Keith's eyebrows raised at her words. He gave Veronica a questioning look. "Talk to them, Dad. Take down their story. Lamb won't ignore you. He ignored me when I tried to report my rape," she said.
"What?" Keith asked in outrage. "You reported a rape, and Lamb ignored you?"
"He pretty much laughed in my face," she said grimly. "Woody is powerful in this city. You got to make sure that Lamb won't laugh at what they tell you. I'll tell you my story later."
Keith nodded. Then he had the boys follow him into the study. "Get your dad to come home now, Dick," he said to Dick on his way into the study. He shut the door. Dick stepped away to make the call.
"Are you guys okay?" Meg asked in concern.
"It was Cassidy?" Duncan asked Veronica, finally piecing it together.
Veronica nodded. "We found a journal," she said. She decided it was best not to share what else they found. Mac and Logan didn't volunteer any details.
"He's pretty messed up," Veronica said. "But I convinced him that he needed to own up to what he did."
Logan put his arms around her shoulder, and she allowed herself to lean against him for comfort. "Will you take me home? I'll talk to Dad there," she said to him.
He nodded. They all turned to walk out when Dick appeared. "My dad's coming. He's going to call an attorney for my brother," Dick shared.
"Good. You're dad needs to come home and take some responsibility," Veronica said sourly.
"Haven't you done enough, Ronnie?" Dick said angrily.
"Veronica saved your brother's life," Logan said. "She convinced him to put down the gun."
"Only because she wants to see him suffer," Dick said in disgust.
"No, Dick, that's not it at all. But I don't expect you to get it. You don't see anything. You never do. Nothing is your fault. You're misunderstood. You're just having fun," Veronica mocked. "Newsflash, Dick. Not everyone finds you funny. Not everything you say is witty. Your money doesn't make you better than me."
"Okay, let's go. We're all upset. We'll talk later," Logan said. He led Veronica away before Dick could respond. Duncan and Meg followed them out.
"Can you drive my car and take me home?" Mac asked Weevil, knowing she was too upset to drive.
"Sure, Hector can follow," Weevil said, looking at his friend, whose silent presence was mostly unnoticed by everyone but him.
Hector nodded. "But don't you got to go give statements first?" he asked.
"Oh yeah. I guess we'll stop by the police station before taking me home," Mac said. "Sorry to drag out your night."
Hector shrugged. "No problemo," he said.
Mac went over to Dick, who was glaring at her. "Don't you look at me that way! I've done nothing wrong, and I won't be criticized by you," Mac said sternly. She knew Dick was upset about her budding relationship with Weevil, but she wasn't going to let him get away with judging her. Not after all he had done. Then she softened and reached out and squeezed his hand. "He put down the gun. He wants to live. We've got to give him reasons not to do it again. He's going to need us."
"You're not going to walk away from him? Not after what he did to Ronnie?" Dick asked in surprise.
Mac sighed wearily. "He needs us. He knows what he did was wrong," Mac said. "But it's time for you to think about what part you played in it all and take some responsibility. Quit blaming and attacking Veronica. She's the victim."
"My brother was a victim, too," Dick reminded her.
"I know," Mac said sadly. "We'll talk later. Good luck trying to explain all this to your dad."
Dick blanched at the thought. He needed to get drunk very badly.
Mac went back over to Weevil who was unable to quit glaring at Dick. Mac reached out and grabbed his hand. "I'm ready," she said.
He nodded and started to walk her past Dick, but then he stopped and looked at Dick. "As far as I'm concerned, you dumb ass, you might as well have raped Veronica yourself," Weevil said to Dick with barely repressed anger. "You left your screwed up brother in a room with a drugged girl and told him to have his way with her."
"I didn't know he was screwed up!" Dick protested once again.
"That's no excuse! I have two younger brothers, and not only would I never let anyone lay a hand on them, but I'd never give them a reason to hurt themselves or anyone else," Weevil said harshly. "You gotta a lot to answer for."
Mac tugged on his hand. Even though she knew Weevil had a point, it pained her to look at Dick's stricken face. She didn't know if he was strong enough to face the consequences of his actions.
In silence, the three of them left the house. Dick watched them go. Being rebuked and criticized by the former PCHer made him burn with anger. However, a small voice inside of him told him that Weevil had a point. He sucked.
******Veronica's Apartment*******
Logan was flipping through the channels on Veronica's television when she came out of her room after her shower. When they arrived home, she had felt dirty and had wanted to scrub herself raw. Her mind kept racing, trying to take in all that had happened that evening. She sat down on the couch and curled against Logan's chest, seeking comfort. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, glad she wasn't pushing him away.
"It's going to be okay," Logan said as he stroked a hand down her hair.
She looked up. "Is it? How?" she asked bluntly.
"Now you know what happened. You know why. You can put it behind you," Logan said.
Veronica sat up. "I'm not sure, Logan. I don't think it's going to be that easy," Veronica said. "Sure, I'm glad to finally know who did it. But how am I supposed to feel about Cassidy? I honestly never seriously considered it was him. How can I be a F.B.I. agent someday when I'm unable to recognize a rapist and potential murderer that's right in front of me?"
"We don't know that Cassidy was seriously going to kill anyone," Logan defended. "Don't people write things in their journals and stuff that is just venting? Or fantasizing?"
"He had schematics for a bomb. That's not fantasizing," Veronica said grimly. "Just thinking about what could've happened if Mac hadn't got into his computer and found that stuff makes me ill."
"I just can't see Beaver hurting people like that," Logan said honestly.
"One, you better quit calling him Beaver. He's not the cute little boy who tagged along after you and Dick when he was a kid. Two, he hurt me," Veronica reminded him. "Sometimes people who are hurting only feel better if they lash out and hurt others. That's what I did a few times to you and some of the 09ers."
"We deserved it, and you didn't really hurt anyone," Logan said.
"Of course not. I'm sane!" Veronica said.
"So you think he's crazy?" Logan asked.
"Well, he's definitely more messed up than any of us realized," Veronica said. "People can't be constantly emotionally and sexually abused most of their lives without some type of damage. Dick Sr. and Jr. spent most of his life inflicting emotional and mental abuse on him. Then Woody came along and found him an easy target. Victims of sexual abuse, especially boys, are often those that are isolated in some way from their peers or family. Sexual predators find them easy targets. They're very nice and attentive to the boy at first, and the poor victim soaks up the positive attention. They prey on the boys insecurities and need for love and attention. That's why the victims often don't tell. They feel like it was their fault."
"Poor Cassidy," Logan said before he realized it. He looked quickly at Veronica to see if his sympathy angered her. "I'm sorry," he said immediately.
"I can understand your sympathy. I'm not indifferent to what happened to him. But just about every monster on death role has a similar tale. Does that mean they shouldn't be held accountable for their crimes? Should we just give them counseling and let them go? What about those that survive abuse and come out stronger? People like me," Veronica said passionately.
"Not everyone is as strong as you, Veronica. Not everyone has a father like yours," Logan pointed out. "How would you have responded had you not had a father like Keith Mars? What if you had turned out to be a Kane and raised in that family? Do you think you would've been as strong? As centered?"
Veronica thought about it a moment before replying. She knew that Logan was thinking of his own bad choices and how he was effected by his parents. He didn't always handle things well. They both knew that. "I think some people are just born stronger like people that are born faster or smarter. Sure your environment can feed certain traits. Like a child that can run fast but is never let out to play may never develop into a strong athlete. A person that is nurtured will have better coping skills," Veronica said. "But some people just don't have murder in them. It's not in their hearts or minds or souls." She reached up and put her hand on his face. "Imagining killing your abusive parent doesn't make you weak or a monster, Logan. The difference between you and Cassidy is you would never do it. Not even if it was to someone like your dad who may deserve it. Cassidy's selfishness made his pain more important than anything. His pride kept him from seeking help. He saw murdering two of his friends as a better solution than allowing anyone to know what was done to them. No amount of counseling or hand holding is going to ever make Cassidy alright in my opinion."
Logan knew she was right. He just wasn't sure he had as much faith in himself as she obviously did. However, he liked to think she was right and that he could never hurt a woman the way his dad had done him, his mother, and Lilly. His mother had been weak like Cassidy. Her pain had been more important than even her love for him. She had wanted to escape it more than she had wanted to stay and protect him. He sighed heavily. "People suck," he finally said to her.
She gave him a tired smile. "They really do," she said. Then a wave of emotion hit her and her eyes filled with tears. Logan once again pulled her into his arms and held her as she quietly cried.
*****Mac and Weevil*****
After giving Leo their statements at the Sheriff's Department, Mac and Weevil headed back to her car. She had given Hector directions to her house, and he was waiting for them there. He had wanted to go grab something to eat, and since he hadn't really seen much, he didn't need to give a statement. Weevil reached over and grabbed her hand to stop her from getting into the car.
"Are you okay?" he asked her in concern.
"Not really. It was a truly awful night. I never imagined when I agreed to hack into Cassidy's computer that I would uncover so many horrible things," Mac shared.
"It's a good thing you did that, though. Who knows what could've happened?" Weevil pointed out.
"Yeah," she said softly.
She looked so sad that Weevil couldn't resist pulling her against him for a hug. Mac relaxed into his hold, needing support. After a minute, Mac looked up at him and gave him a tired smile. "I'm really glad you were here tonight. It was the only bright spot in the entire night," she told him.
Weevil brushed the back of his hand down one side of her cheek in a gentle caress. "I'm glad, too," he said. He leaned down and gave her a light kiss.
Then they got into the car. Before he could start her car, Mac said, "Cassidy knows about us."
Weevil looked at her in surprise. "How?" he asked, not knowing how she'd had a chance to have a heart to heart with Cassidy.
"While we were in the study, he told everyone that he'd saw me kissing you in the kitchen," Mac revealed with a grimace.
Weevil reached over and took her hand. "I can't imagine you enjoyed everyone hearing your business that way," he said.
"Not especially. Dick was mad. Cassidy said it was proof I didn't care about him. For a moment, my heart stopped because I thought that our closeness might be what pushes him over the edge," Mac shared.
"If he had went over the edge, it wouldn't have been your fault," Weevil assured her. "If someone really wants to kill themselves, they'll find a way."
"Yeah," Mac said.
"What did you tell him?" Weevil asked.
"That you and I hadn't been making-out, but you'd been there for me when I got corned by Madison. I told him that he wasn't the only one who gets picked on," Mac said. "He said that with me he didn't feel like such a freak. That he thought he could be normal." Her voice wavered a bit as she said, "He told me he really liked me."
Weevil felt helpless as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. He reached over and wiped her cheeks. "Don't cry. I hate it!" he admitted.
She gave him a watery smile. "I'm sorry. I just feel so bad," she said.
Weevil pulled back some. "Do you regret what's happening between us?" he asked with a frown.
"No," she said simply. "I regret that Cassidy feels rejected because of it. I told him that it didn't feel like there was more than friendship between us. I think he knows it, but he doesn't want to admit it. I didn't want to hurt him."
"I think the screwed up kid has been through a lot more hurt than you could ever dish out, Cindy. You have nothing to feel guilty about. His parents do. Dick does. And he does. You don't. Veronica doesn't. Everyone's got their own shit to deal with. But when they take their shit out on others, it's not right. Nor does it make me inclined to feel sorry for them," Weevil said firmly.
Mac sighed. "I know. I just keep picturing Cassidy as he looked in those Shark photos as a little kid. It breaks my heart to know he was being abused and had no one to turn to. It shouldn't have happened. Why would anyone want to hurt a kid?" Mac asked.
"Why would anyone want to hurt Veronica when she's drugged and unconscious? Those 09ers did. Logan did, too, then. People can be assholes. It sucks when it's someone we care about," Weevil said. "V might've forgiven Logan. And I know Logan regrets the way he treated her. But it's not going to be easy to divorce his actions from what happened to her. If he hadn't made her a target, no one would've messed with her."
"I know. I'm not sure if I could be with someone that had hurt me like that," Mac said. "Veronica is an amazing person. So strong."
"You know Lilly would've kicked Logan's ass if she'd been alive, and he'd hurt her that way. None of the 09ers would've dared mess with her," Weevil said.
"You really cared about Lilly, didn't you?" Mac asked curiously.
"Yeah. She and I..Well..you know..." his voice trailed off.
Mac smiled a real smile at his sudden awkwardness. "It's okay. Veronica told me that you and she were involved before she died," Mac shared.
Weevil looked relieved that he wouldn't have to tell her anything. "Her death really changed a lot of things," Weevil finally said.
"I think Logan went a little crazy after she died," Mac said.
"Yeah. I guess we all know what a monster his dad was. It couldn't have been easy growing up with a dad like that. His mom killed himself just to get away from his dad," Weevil observed.
"Parents can do a lot of damage to their kids," Mac said.
Weevil thought about her own revelation about her parentage. "Have you told your parents that you know you're adopted?" he asked.
"No. I think about it sometimes. But they're so happy. It's not easy to have a daughter who's so different from you. And they try so hard to find a way to connect with me. I just don't want them to think I don't love them. Or that I'm unhappy," Mac said.
"You don't want to know Madison's parents? Your parents?" Weevil asked.
"Sometimes. I went by there not long after I found out. I could tell Madison's mom knew that I knew. She looked sad and regretful. But she didn't try to contact me or my parents," Mac shared. "What I regret is the fact that I have a sister I will never know."
"You do?" Weevil asked in surprise.
"Yeah, and she's like me. She looks like me, and she loves to read," Mac said with a sad smile. "Madison wasn't very nice to her. I really hated it. Her name is Lauren, and she had no idea who I was. I will forever be a stranger to her."
Weevil couldn't imagine having a sibling he would never be able to know. "Man that blows," he said with sympathy. He started the car, and they drove to her house in silence, each thinking of the events of the night and the things they'd learned.
When they arrived at her house, Weevil turned off the car and handed her the keys. "Thanks," she said.
"My pleasure. I wish I could do more. I don't like seeing you so upset," Weevil admitted.
"You're doing a lot," Mac said. She opened her car door and got out. Weevil walked her to the door. Hector was waiting on his bike on the road at the end of her driveway. "Good night."
"Good night," he said. "Do you want to hang out tomorrow?"
"How about Sunday?" Mac suggested. "I could use a day to decompress."
"That's fine. Do you want to have lunch after I get back from mass?" he asked.
"Sure. I can meet you at your house around noon," Mac said. She gave him a shy smile.
"Looking forward to it," Weevil said with grin.
His smile always gave her butterflies. She put her hand on the door knob, leaning against the door. She wanted to kiss him but the memory of Cassidy's accusing face came to her mind. Guilt pierced her. Although she knew she really shouldn't feel guilty, she still did. "Let's take things slow, okay?" she prompted.
Weevil nodded, understanding. "I'll call you tomorrow," he said.
Mac flashed a dimpled smile and slipped inside her house.
Weevil paused a minute before turning and walking toward Hector.
"Rejected!" Hector teased.
"Not at all. She's had a traumatic night. I have a lunch date with her on Sunday," Weevil said smugly.
Hector laughed. "Leave it to you to get a date with the almost girlfriend of the latest whack-job in town!" he exclaimed.
Weevil refused to be baited and got on the back of Hector's bike. "Shut the hell up and take me back to my bike," Weevil ordered.
Snickering, Hector started the bike.
*****Back at the Mars'******
Keith made it home about an hour after them. When he came in, he saw his daughter snuggling against Logan on the couch. The television was on, but he didn't think they were watching it. He had conflicting emotions about seeing his daughter with Logan. Just as he was becoming used to the idea of Logan's role in his daughter's life, he finds out things he should've known a long time ago. Things that if he'd known, he would've prevented this particular relationship from developing. His daughter had been dealing with even more than he had suspected. His upset at her secretiveness warred with his admiration of her strength. Pride filled him. His daughter was the strongest person he knew. He put the keys down on the bar, and the two teens finally noticed him. Veronica sat up.
"Leo should be here soon," Keith said.
"Did you talk to Marco and Peter? Did they tell you about what happened to them and Cassidy?" Veronica asked.
"Yes. It's very upsetting. Woody Goodman was always someone I admired. I'm going to have to throw away his baseball card," Keith said in disgust.
"Burn it," Logan added.
"Honey, I know it's going to be hard for you to tell us what's been happening, and I don't want you to have to tell it twice, so I'm going to wait until Leo and Cliff get here," Keith said.
"Cliff?" Veronica asked in surprise.
"He needs to hear this because if you reported a crime to Don and he ignored it, he's going to pay," Keith announced.
"Someone needs to remove him from office," Logan agreed.
"And this just might do it," Keith said.
Veronica looked uncomfortable. "I'm not sure I want the entire city to know what happened to me," she said. "Things were just starting to calm down at school."
"If anyone bothers you, I'll take care of them," Logan vowed.
"I guess that's an improvement over drinking shots off of her," Keith said darkly, unable to hold back his glare. Logan's guilty expression made it clear that Dick hadn't be lying.
"Dad, Logan's not that person anymore," Veronica said. "He didn't handle Lilly's death well."
"No, he lashed out at you as the entire city blamed me for not buying the story the Kanes were peddling. A story they paid a man to tell," Keith reminded them, not taking his eyes off of Logan.
Logan didn't bother making excuses. There was no good one he could offer anyway. He'd been a complete jackass. The fact that Veronica chose to see past that was one of the many reasons he loved her.
"Everyone knows the truth now," Veronica said.
"Do you see how lies have a way of muddying the waters, Veronica? It really pains me that you've felt the need to carry all this around alone. I thought we were close, and you knew you could talk to me about anything," Keith said, his sadness evident.
"We are, Dad! I do know I can tell you anything," Veronica quickly assured him. "I just knew that things had been bad enough for you, and if you found this out, it'd just make things worse for you. And that you'd never let me leave the house again."
"I'm the parent, sweetheart. It's not your job to protect me. It's the other way around," Keith said. "And maybe you not going off alone so much all the time is a good idea."
"I'm not alone," Veronica said, looking at Logan with a small smile.
Before Keith could comment on that, there was a knock at his door. He got up to let in Leo and Cliff.
"Must be very serious if one of your former deputies is here," Cliff observed.
"It is. We should be doing this down at the station, but once you hear the story, you'll understand why we're not," Keith said. "Did you bring a tape recorder?"
Leo pulled his out.
"I always carry one in my briefcase," Cliff said.
Veronica got up and grabbed another chair for Leo to sit in. Her dad joined her and Logan on the couch while Cliff took the chair.
"Are you ready, sweetheart?" Keith asked.
Veronica took a sip of her bottled water and nodded. "Well, it starts the December after Lilly died. When the 09ers turned on me, it pissed me off. So I crashed Shelly Pomrey's party," Veronica began. And she told the men about what little she could remember about the night, and what she had pieced together.
Leo interrupted. "So Dick Casablancas put GHB in his girlfriend's drink without her knowing about it?" he asked.
"Yes, some guys think it's cool. I know one girl at the party that was drugged and her boyfriend took a video of her doing something really embarrassing. Then he used it to blackmail her into not dumping him," Veronica shared, thinking of Carmen.
"Your school is evil," Cliff said with a shake of his head.
"Tell me about it," Veronica said.
"So Madison Sinclair had no idea that the cup she handed you was drugged?" Leo asked.
"No. Meg told me she likes to give what she calls "Trips to the Dentist" by spitting in a drink and handing it to someone she hates or wants to humiliate," Veronica explained. "I didn't realize who gave me the drink at the party, but it explains how I was drugged."
"So neither Casablancas brothers knew you were drugged?" Cliff asked.
"Everyone thought I was drunk. From what I pieced together, I was pretty out of it. I was told that I made out with Casey and Dick," she admitted in disgust.
"And this is when Logan thought it'd be fun to drink shots off of you?" Keith asked angrily.
"Veronica came to the party uninvited, knowing how she'd be received. It pissed me off. Then when she got trashed and barely knew her own name and was lying down on a lounge chair by the pool, I took advantage and decided to humiliate her. I just thought she was wasted," Logan said to Keith. "I was an ass. I was angry and a mess. My girlfriend had been murdered the day after we'd gotten into a big fight. I never got to make up with her, and I blamed Veronica. She's the reason Lilly and I had been fighting. She had told Lilly something that caused her to break up with me. When she took up for you, it pissed me off even more. How could she think Duncan or his parents had anything to do with killing her? I didn't handle things well."
"That's an understatement," Keith said with a frown.
"Dad, Logan and I have moved past that. I more than punished him for his behavior. I got him arrested and beat up and humiliated by Weevil," Veronica said with a smug look.
"You don't have to look so pleased," Logan said with a frown.
Leo didn't understand the couple. Veronica had dumped him for this guy even after all this? He shook his head. "Let's stay focused. Logan, you had no idea she had been slipped GHB?" he asked.
Logan shook his head. "No, it never occurred to me actually. Most of the guys who had the drug were going to take it with their girlfriends," Logan said.
"Your generation really doesn't know how to treat the ladies," Cliff observed.
"Hey, some of us do," Leo said, giving Veronica a meaningful look. She couldn't hold his stare and looked away. It was too hard to explain why she forgave Logan.
"So you gave your GHB to the girl you were dating at the time?" Leo asked.
Logan flashed Veronica another guilty look. "No. I gave it to Duncan," he admitted.
"What?" Keith asked.
"He had saw what we were doing to Veronica and had rescued her. He'd been such a drag since his sister died, and I wanted him to loosen up," Logan admitted.
"So you drugged your best friend because he was still sad about his sister's death when she'd only been dead two months? You're a real prince," Leo said, unable to hide his disgust. He looked at Veronica. "And you quit seeing me for this guy? You really have issues."
"Leo, that's uncalled for! If you're relationship with my daughter is going to make this too hard for you, then I'll call Sacks," Keith said, giving Leo a warning look.
"I'm sorry," Leo said.
Leo's words hurt Veronica. He was such a decent guy. She wanted to like a guy like him. But how could Leo begin to understand the dark places inside of her? She squeezed Logan's hand, letting him know she understood how he was feeling now. Just like he understood her. No one else may get it, and it didn't matter to her. Veronica knew how much Logan hated himself for what had happened and his part in it. He punished himself more than she ever could.
"Who brought the GHB?" Leo asked, looking at Logan.
Logan looked uncomfortable but answered honestly, "Sean, Luke, and I picked it up in Tijuana."
Leo made a note while Keith continued to glare at him. Logan felt Keith Mar's disappointment and anger all the way to his soul. He admired Veronica's dad and had become to feel like Keith was starting to accept him again. Now that was ruined. Keith would probably hate him forever.
Veronica went on to describe how Dick and Sean had carried her into a bedroom and had told Cassidy to have his way with her. All three men looked disgusted as the story unfolded. Keith had to clench his fists hard to keep still.
"But you didn't really think Cassidy had touched you?" Leo asked.
"No, I found out it had been Duncan," she admitted.
"What?" Keith asked sharply. "Duncan Kane took advantage of your state?"
"Remember, Dad, he'd been drugged, too. He found me in the room. He said I told him that I missed him and kissed him. Then things went from there. He didn't realize that I didn't remember. He thought I was embarrassed for getting drunk and sleeping with him. We had never had sex when we were dating," Veronica shared, wanting to die from embarrassment. She never imagined she'd be telling this tale to her dad, Cliff, and a guy she had once dated.
"You were a virgin and two different guys took advantage of your condition?" Keith asked in outrage. He got up and went to the kitchen, unable to face her anymore. He wanted to rage and howl at what had happened to his daughter. He wanted to kill Logan Echolls and Dick Casablancas. He looked over and glared at Logan, who cringed under his gaze. Keith turned on the sink and filled a glass with water. He drank it down. Then he turned back to his daughter. "I'm sorry."
"Now you know why I didn't tell you before," Veronica said dryly.
"This was something I needed to know, Veronica!" Keith said sharply.
"Do you consider what Duncan did to you as rape?" Leo asked, determined to get through her story. "You have no memory of saying yes."
"I loved Duncan. Our break-up really hurt me. He never even told me why we broke up. He just stopped talking to me. When I started trying to piece together the events of the party months later, I found out that his spiteful mother had told him were were siblings because of Mom's relationship with Jake Kane," Veronica said.
Keith looked ill as Cliff and Leo gave him surprised looks. Cliff wasn't surprised about the affair but the sibling part. Anyone who knew Veronica and Keith would know that she was a chip off the old block.
"Duncan had sex with you believing you were siblings?" Leo asked, trying hard to not show any expression or judgment.
"It's pretty disgusting, isn't it?" Logan said with distaste.
"Shut-up, Logan. We don't need a commentary from you, especially since it wouldn't have happened at all if you hadn't thought it a good idea to drug your best friend. Let alone supply GHB as a party favor," Keith said sternly.
Logan felt ill at the reminder. He wanted very badly to leave. It was torture having to hear Veronica recall what had happened while facing her father. Logan could tell that Keith blamed him. Rightly so. It was his fault. He looked away in shame.
"Dad, I can't tell this story if you're going to keep attacking Logan," Veronica said flatly. "It's hard enough. This is the most humiliating story of my life. Please, don't put the Duncan sibling part in your report, Leo. No one needs to know that."
"I won't," he assured her. "So if you knew that you and Duncan slept together, why did you still keep investigating?"
Logan and Veronica exchanged looks. "Well, Logan and I went and got tested for STD's," she admitted.
"And why would you need to be tested for STD's?" Keith asked sharply.
"Do you really want me to answer that, Dad?" Veronica asked with an arch of her brow.
Keith quickly shut up.
"Logan had admitted that he'd never been tested, so I just got tested as a way to show my support," Veronica said. "I never expected that I'd be the one with an STD."
"You tested positive?" Keith asked in concern.
"Yes, for chlamydia," Veronica shared. "But Logan was negative. Then I knew that someone had given it to me. Since I had no memories of any sexual encounters, I knew that it had happened at Shelly's party. I went to Duncan and asked him to get tested. If he'd didn't have it, it'd mean that I'd slept with him first and someone had came along and found me in the bedroom after Duncan left. Cassidy had left me before Duncan had found me. So I didn't really consider him as a suspect. Since Duncan tested negative, I knew for sure that I had been raped."
"Who did you suspect?" Cliff asked, curious.
"Dick," she said. Then she proceeded to talk them through her investigation process.
Logan shared about helping search Dick's room and finding plans to blow up a bus. All three men sat up straight.
"Cassidy was planning on having Peter and Marco killed?" Leo asked.
"We found bomb schematics on the computer," Veronica shared.
"Leo, you'll need to get a warrant for the Casablancas' house and that computer. Do it tonight before Lamb gets wind of this and tries to throw a wrench in it. Ever since Columbine, just having plans to do harm at a school is a criminal offense," Keith said.
"But Cassidy's messed up. You heard what Woody did to him," Logan said.
"Maybe. He's a minor, so I'm sure the D.A. will make sure he gets help," Keith said. He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about Cassidy. The kid obviously regretted what he'd done. Keith had seen a lot of abused children during his tenure as sheriff. Many got involved in drugs to cope. Others became angry and violent. He knew Cassidy has been fourteen when he'd done it. Keith hated when young teens made choices that would ruin their lives. They never seemed to get the fact that some things could never be erased or forgotten. However, it would be his daughter that would forever carry what he did with her.
"Did Cassidy admit anything to you?" Leo asked.
"We didn't really get a chance to get into it. Once he realized Mac had gotten into his computer and read his journal, he ran down to his dad's study and grabbed the gun," Veronica said.
"Did he ever threaten to kill any of you with it?" Leo asked.
Logan and Veronica shook their heads. "He was pointing it at us when we entered the study, but when Dick asked him if he planned on shooting us, he immediately lowered it and told us he only wanted to shoot himself," Logan said.
Leo asked a few more questions and got all the details from them. Then he got up. "I've got a lot to do before my shift ends, so I'm going to go. If you have anything else to add, please call me," Leo told them.
Keith got up and walked him to the door. "I'll move on that warrant, Keith. This is one 09er kid that isn't going to get away with either crime," Leo promised.
Keith shook Leo's hand and thanked him.
Cliff got up. "I'll work on filing a grievance against against Lamb," Cliff told Keith.
"Let's go even further. I'm going to look in on Lamb's arrest record since I left office. He's already had one screw up on his record recently with the charges against Logan and his piss-poor handling of the investigation. Maybe we can show a pattern of not seriously investigating the Fitzpatricks. That combined with what he did to Veronica should definitely weigh the deck against him," Keith said.
Cliff grinned. "I love it when you're devious. It renews my faith in mankind!" he said happily. "You should also think about a lawsuit, Keith. Where were all these 09er parents when this party was going on?"
Keith nodded, considering. "One thing at a time," he said.
Cliff left and Keith turned to his daughter and her boyfriend. He knew now wasn't the time to address his many misgivings about the two of them. Veronica had been through enough tonight. "Logan, I think it's time for you to say goodnight," Keith said.
"I need to walk Back-Up, so I'll walk him out," Veronica said, getting up. Back-Up perked up when he heard his name.
Keith didn't argue. "Don't take too long," he said as they walked out the front door.
"That was the funniest inquisition ever!" Logan said mockingly.
"I want to say it could've been worse, but I honestly can't think of how," Veronica said as they walked down the stairs.
"Well, I guess your dad could've punched me out. I wouldn't have been surprised," Logan said. "I deserve it."
When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Veronica turned to him. "I would've. My dad doesn't go around punching out anyone, especially not teenagers," Veronica said. "He's an overprotective father who loves his only daughter more than anything. He just needs time to come to terms with everything."
"You think he'll ever quit hating me?" Logan said woefully.
Veronica felt bad for him. She knew how starved Logan was for a male role model. Her dad was the only one he had besides Jake Kane, and she definitely wanted Logan modeling himself after her dad. "I think once he sees how much you regret what happened, and how much you adore me, he'll come around," she told him with a smile, hoping to ease his pain.
"I do adore you," Logan said, giving her a sad smile.
Veronica raised up on her toes to kiss him. "It's been a long night," she said when the kiss ended. "We can't solve everything tonight."
Logan agreed and strolled along with her as she took Back-Up for his walk. He held her hand and tried to be hopeful. However, so much had happened tonight. All the secrets were uncovered and the scabs ripped away from wounds that had began to heal. Keith's expression had said it all. Veronica deserved so much better than him. Logan dreaded the day when she'd finally realize that.
*****Chapter End*****
I gave you a lot in this chapter. I hope you're still reading. Several of you reviewed or PM'd me for the first time. I really appreciate that. So I don't mean to be greedy, but I LOVE your reviews and hope to hear from you concerning this chapter! Just three more chapters left.