Author's note: I don't know if we saw the name of Peter Ferrer's mother. If we did, someone tell it to me and I'll change it. Vanessa Mencken, Jay Daddino, Nathaniel Toombs, Peta Zhiang and "Joe Smith" are my creations.

Also: The debate was building to the final question. And the last several parts have been building to the final questioner. Someone who would stick up for one person who'd been taken advantage of would do the same for someone else.

To an extent, the entire fic so far has been building to the last moment.

XXXXXXXXXX

Janny Wenner Janny Wenner
Rolling Stone's most fearless leader
Gave the boys what they deserve
But with the girls he lost his nerve

- Lucystoners, Amy Ray

XXXXXXXXXXX

Moderator: And we're back with the Neptune Sheriff's Debate. I'm Jane Rodriguez. Before we take some questions, both of our candidates have something to say. Mr. Mars, you first.

Mars: While I do not apologize for asking Sheriff Lamb to account for his lack of action in my daughter's case, I do apologize for losing my temper, and for suggesting that he is not fit to be a deputy. That was inappropriate and I overreacted, and I apologize.

Moderator: Sheriff Lamb?

Lamb: I'm also sorry I lost my temper. I shouldn't have let myself be drawn into doing it. I also shouldn't have threatened Mr. Mars, and rest assured that nothing of the sort will come to pass when I'm re-elected.

Moderator: Thank you. I have to say, when I agreed to take this job I thought of it more as something that would be done by Walter Cronkite and less something that would be done by a WWE referee.

Lamb: What do you say, Keith? Steel cage match? [Crowd laughs]

Mars: Depends who gets to pick the referees, Don. [Crowd laughs again]

Moderator: In any event, now that that's settled, it's time for questions from the audience. The questioners have been selected in advance and have numbers ranging from 1 to 8. Please rise when the previous questioner is done and make your way to the podium. Thank you. State your name before asking your question, and specify which candidate you're addressing your question to. Thank you. First questioner, please state your name and ask your question.

Audience Member 1: My name is Jay Daddino. Mr. Mars, this question is for you. You were removed from office when you wrongly targeted a member in the Kane family in the death of Lilly Kane. We've heard a lot of criticism of Sheriff Lamb for his mistakes. How do you explain your mistake?

Mars: Well, first off, it was a mistake, and if I haven't already apologized, I will do so now: no member of the Kane had anything to do with their daughter's death, and I apologizing for thinking that they had. However. My reasons for thinking so are well known. Jake Kane obstructed justice by paying Abel Koontz to take the blame for his daughter's death because he believed one of his own family member's was guilty. It was this guilt, this coverup, that I sensed, and I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I can never promise not to make mistakes in the future. I don't expect Don Lamb to have been perfect. Hell, I don't blame him for being taken in by the coverup in Lilly Kane's death. It was an expert coverup, expertly handled. All I can do is do my best to avoid them. Thank you.

Moderator. Next question?

Audience Member 2: Thanks. My name is Nathaniel Toombs and I want to ask Sheriff Lamb this: Two of my nephews are dead. Killed in the gang wars. You caught the one who killed Felix and you seem to think this makes you hot sh – hot stuff. You also say that you think the way to fix things is to crack down on people like Felix. Why? Do you think people like my nephews aren't worth saving? Do you think that's all people like us are good for, Sheriff?

Lamb: Of course not. I wish I'd managed to catch Mr. Orozco sooner. Maybe your nephew would still be alive. But you have to realize something: Your nephews made the choice to get into the gangs, Mr. Toombs. They put their own lives in their hands. I'm sorry it ended up the way it did, believe me. But Neptune's not going to get better until there are no gangs for people like your nephews to risk their lives in.

Audience Member 2: So you're saying it's Felix's fault he got killed?

Moderator: Mr. Toombs, you've had your question.

Lamb: No, Jane, I'd like to answer. Of course it's not his fault. If I thought that. I never would have spent so much effort arresting Eduardo Orozco. But he did put himself in harm's way. Mr. Orozco, however, is going to be prosecuted for murder; I have that directly from the county DA. So your nephew's killer will be punished. You have my word.
[Audience Member 2 walks off shaking his head as Audience Member 3 walks up.]

Audience Member 3: I'm Peta Zhiang. I want to ask both of you: What's your opinion on red-light cameras? Thank you.

Moderator: Mr. Mars? You first, please.

Mars: Um . . . I'm not really in favor of them – I see them primarily as a moneymaker and only think safety's their second aim, but whether they're up or not isn't under the control of the Sheriff's Department. We don't even send out the tickets; that's handled by a private company. All the Sheriff's Department does is track down anyone who refuses to pay too many tickets. If you're opposed to them, talk to the county council. Thanks.

Moderator: Sheriff Lamb?

Lamb: Huh. They make money for the county, so I guess I'm in favor of them, and they make the streets safer, but I can't say I've spent a whole lot of time thinking about them. We don't usually have to go through a lot of effort finding scofflaws except for people who live out of the jurisdiction, though.

Moderator: Thank you, Sheriff. Next question?

Audience Member 4: My name is Vanessa Mencken and my question is for Keith Mars. Why are you trying to railroad Aaron Echolls? [Excited muttering from the crowd] Even if Abel Koontz didn't do it we all know there's no real evidence Aaron did. Why have you got it in for him?

Mars: Miss Mencken. I recognize you. One of the members of the Aaron Echolls Fan Club. Which right now as far as I can tell can hold its meetings in the handicapped stall at the downtown Burger King. I never had it in for Aaron Echolls. I followed the evidence where it led. I think Aaron did it. Aaron's son thinks he did it. Aaron's wife thinks he did it. Sheriff Lamb thinks he did it. Pretty much everyone thinks he did it but you and a couple of other people. You might think he's getting railroaded, Trina Echolls might think he's getting railroaded, and his agent might wish he was getting railroaded, but as far as I can tell you're about it.

Moderator: Thank you, Mr. Mars. Next question, please?

Audience Member 5: My name is Angela Ferrer. My question is for both of you. My son, Peter, is one of the dozens of boys who was molested by Woody Goodman over the years –

Moderator: It must be pointed out that Mr. Goodman has not yet stood trial and has been convicted of nothing.

Audience Member 5: Fine, yes, and OJ was acquitted, and everyone knows he did it; besides, is Woody Goodman going to sue me? None of that is important right now. What I want to know is, Sheriff Mars, Sheriff Lamb, this has been going on for at least ten years and the two of you have been Sheriff for most of that time. How the hell did you miss this? Why weren't you out there protecting our children? Why? Why . . . [breaks off, sobbing]

Moderator [after a few seconds]: Sheriff Lamb? Your turn to go first.

Lamb: Because until your son and Marcos Oliveres had the courage to come forward, we had no clue this was going on. People who do what Woody Goodman is accused of doing are very good at covering it up and keeping it secret and at making their victims feel guilty and embarrassed about the whole thing. There were no signs, no hints, no allegations. That's not always the case, thank God – but it was here. I have zero tolerance for abuse of any sort. So did Keith. I'm not going to fault him on this and I'm pretty sure he's not going to fault me.

Moderator: Mr. Mars?

Mars: Thanks, Ms. Rodriguez. To the latter part of what Sheriff Lamb said, I can add, no, I'm not going to fault him, and from this evening it's obviously not because we're involved in any kind of coverup or anything. It was a well-done, well-executed deception. He was a man of the people. He came across as good to kids. Did we blow it? I guess we did, but I'm hard-pressed to see what we missed or what we could have done better, honestly. Though I agree with the Sheriff on this, also: without your son and Mr. Oliveres, there's no telling how much longer this could have gone on. I'm deeply sorry it happened at all.

Moderator: Next question?

Audience Member 6: I'm, er, Joe Smith. And I'd like to know what both of you think about legalizing pot – er, I mean, marijuana. Thanks.

Moderator: Mr. Mars, you're up first this time,

Mars: I'm not particularly in favor of personal use, but there are worse crimes out there, and if the legislature goes ahead and legalizes it either for medical use or altogether, that would be fine by me. Until that happens, if elected, the law is the law, of course, and I'll follow it.

Moderator: And Sheriff Lamb?

Lamb: This might surprise some people, but I mostly feel the same way as Mr. Mars does. Until and unless it is legalized, of course, we will go after criminals to the full extent of the law.

Moderator. Thanks. Next question.

Audience Member 7: My name is Jake Kane. [Gasps from the audience] I see some of you recognize me. I don't have a question so much as I wanted to make a statement: What I did, years ago, was a mistake. Not making Don Lamb Sheriff, because I think he's been a perfectly good one; but interfering with an official investigation. And I wanted to assure you that, whoever wins the coming election, that will never happen again. Thank you.

Moderator; Well. Okay. Next, well, question.

Audience Member 8: Ms. Rodriguez, my name is Carrie Bishop. I want to ask Sheriff Lamb about the question he still hasn't answered. No evading this time, Sheriff. No avoiding. I want a straight answer. Why did you laugh in Veronica Mars' face? And don't say you figured out that there wasn't enough there for an investigation. You didn't do an investigation. You listened to her and you threw her out. Now, Sheriff: Is this what any young woman who says she's been raped or sexually has to look forward to from you? "Oh, it didn't happen, get out of my office?" Or is it just Veronica Mars that deserved that treatment from you? Because yeah when the boys came forward and said they were raped, you gave them what they deserved. So why won't you do the same for the girls, Sheriff?

[Silence]

Moderator: Sheriff Lamb? Your answer, please?

Lamb: Is this a setup?

Moderator: Absolutely not.

Mars. No.

Lamb: I don't believe you. I refuse to answer the question.

Audience Member 8: Why?

Moderator: I don't know what to do.

Lamb: I think I'd like to give my closing statement.

Audience Member 8: Not until you answer the question.

Other audience members: Answer the question, Sheriff! Why won't you answer?

Lamb: This debate is over. [Walks off stage.]

Moderator: Um, Mr. Mars. Would you like to say anything?

Mars: I had a prepared statement, but I don't think I need it now. All I want to say is Mars for Sheriff. Thank you.

Moderator. Okay. Thank you. Well, I think it's safe to say that this debate didn't go as any of us would have expected. For the Neptune election commission, from the Civic Center, I'm Jane Rodriguez. Thank you and goodnight.