Wow. Part 50.

I guess for part 50 you deserve something special. Don't let it be said that I disappoint.

Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars. Unfortunately.

X X X X X

There's an old-time movie producer named Samuel Goldwyn. You've probably never heard of him. I wouldn't have if it wasn't for Dad's fondness for old movies.

Anyway, one of the things he was famous for was his offbeat and almost Zen-like sayings such as "I read part of it all the way through" and "I want some new clichés."

Here's one to keep in mind as you hear about my Tuesday:

"What we want is a story that starts with an earthquake and works its way up to a climax."

X X X X X

The earthquake was the news story, which hit the stands the next day.

Dad headed down to Lamb's office with all the evidence he had before the Sheriff could have the pleasure of showing up and demanding it.

At school that morning, as I got out of my car, Weevil Navarro came storming up to me, holding a copy of the paper. "So it's been proven. That Koontz pendejo didn't kill Lilly." He wasn't asking a question.

"All true," I said.

"The Kanes paid this guy off to take the fall. Why, V? Why would they do that?" He didn't let me answer. "I'll tell you why. They were protecting one of their own. Either the parents did it or your ex-boyfriend." He slammed his fist into his open hand. "Tell me which one it is, V. Tell me so I can kill them for taking Lilly away."

"I don't think any of them did it."

"You protecting them?"

"Don't insult my intelligence. I wouldn't protect Jake or Celeste from a speeding bus. And as for Duncan -- well, yeah, I used to date him, but if I believe he killed Lilly I wouldn't protect him either." He still seemed upset. "Weevil. You spent an entire day chasing down Beaver Casablancas after you found out her raped me. Do you think for a second I'd protect the Kanes if I thought they'd done it?"

He looked at me and said, "Okay, the Kanes didn't do it, why'd they cover it up?"

"You're smarter than that. Because they thought one of them had done it."

"So how do you know different?"

And that was what I couldn't tell him.

Or could I? The story'd broken and I doubt Clarence Weidman was bugging the Neptune High parking lot anyway. In any event, I had to stop Weevil from going after Duncan. "Because I know who did; I just can't prove it."

"Tell me who it is. I'll make 'em confess."

I leaned closer to Weevil. "Do not tell this to anyone, Weevil."

"I won't."

"I want an oath. Swear on your grandmother's life. I know who it is but I'm not sure I have enough proof and if this gets out."

"Fine. I swear on my grandmother's life not to tell anyone who killed Lilly." He paused. "But if I see them, all bets are off."

"Spend a lot of time hanging around graveyards, do you?"

"Huh?"

"The person who killed Lilly is dead."

He jumped to the wrong conclusion. "Casablancas. Damn I wish I'd caught the punk."

"Wrong famous Neptune dead person."

"You sayin' Aaron Echolls killed Lilly?"

"Yeah. And you're not going to want to hear why."

"Probably not. Tell me anyway."

I pursed my lips and blew out a breath. "They were sleeping together. I think she did what Vanessa Mencken did after Aaron died -- found tapes and threatened to expose him. Aaron couldn't have that and killed him."

He shook his head. "I thought she loved me."

"She probably did. She loved a lot of people."

Weevil now seemed depressed. "I won't tell, V. But how you gonna find proof at this point?"

Good question.

As Weevil walked away, Wallace caught up with me and we started to walk into the school. He started to read from the day's paper: "...Since his removal from office, Keith Mars, the ousted sheriff, has tirelessly and single-handedly continued his own investigation, despite being shunned by the community at large."

"You'd think it might be gross to read a love letter to your Dad, but I kind of enjoy it."

"All I know," Wallace said, "Is if I were him right now, I'd be I-told-you-soing all over Neptune."

"That's certainly my plan."

"Hello, Ronnie," said a voice from in front of me.

I looked up. "Shouldn't you be at least 49 feet further away, Dick?" Dick, like everyone else, was carrying a newspaper.

"I'm going," he said. "Just letting you know that now that your Daddy proved that one guy didn't do it you can expect a whole lot of stuff coming down on Logan."

"Yeah," I said. "Beaver mentioned something like that."

His eyes narrowed. "His name was Cassidy."

"Not like we'd ever have known that from you," I said. "Now, shoo. Shoo. Get with the restraining order or I call Clemmons."

He walked away, but he yelled over his shoulder, "You'll get yours, Mars. You and your boyfriend!" At least a dozen people heard him.

I turned to Wallace. "That was a good start to the day . . ."

Logan walked up. "What the hell was Dick Casablancas doing?"

"Threatening my life," I said. "Same old same old."

"Ah," he said. "Want me to go throw him into a wall?"

"Naah. He backed off." Frowning. "He did imply he was going to repeat that lie about you leaving Mexico early, though." Logan knew the deal was off the table, so Dick was either bluffing or, more likely, just planning to spread the story.

In neither case was he especially credible.

"Anyway," Logan said, "My mother has called a press conference for tonight after dinner. She'd like you to be there -- she's going to publicly congratulate your Dad."

"Is she going to mention her theory?"

"Yes. She told me and Trina about it already and she's calling your Dad this morning." That couldn't have made Trina happy.

"Dad will do his best to talk her out of it."

"He won't succeed," Logan said. "Once my mother has her mind set on something, she does it."

"What theory?" Wallace asked.

I felt guilty, especially after having told Weevil not ten minutes previously, but I said, "Not my theory to give out. Lynn kind of told us in confidence." In any event, I'd told Weevil to stop him from going off on Duncan.

Wallace looked hurt. "I'm sorry I asked." He turned to walk away.

"Wallace –" He looked back. "I realize I haven't exactly been the most forthcoming friend at times. I'm trying to change that, really. But this isn't something I'm not telling you just to be me. This is something I'm not telling you because I promised I wouldn't." Let him assume I'd made that promise to Lynn Echolls.

Logan confirmed this. "We really did."

I needed to call Clarence Weidman and see if our deal had come to an end. I might need to start showing people the Aaron-Lilly tape now that Abel Koontz had been cleared.

Wallace gave a half-hearted grin. "Okay, then. I guess I have to accept that." He still didn't seem happy as he walked away, bit he didn't seem betrayed either.

I turned to Logan. "We need to talk. Privately."

He said lasciviously as we made our way to my "office," "Talk?"

I said, "Yeah. Talk. I've got something to tell you that you're not going to like."

When we got into the restroom, I hung up the out of order sign and checked the stalls. "We may need to bring out the tape of Aaron and Lilly soon."

Sighing, he said, "I really don't want that to be the last memory people have of Lilly."

"Me neither. But that's not even the part you're not going to like."

"Go on."

"We've had that tape for months. How do we explain finding it now? I mean, by all rights we should have turned it over to the DA, the Sheriff – or at least shown it to my Dad."

"And with the poolhouse gone it's not like we can say we found it there," Logan said. "I mean, the only other tapes out there are the ones Vanessa Mencken has."

Oh boy. "That's not completely true."

He stopped pacing and looked at me. "It isn't?"

Deep breath. "No. I . . . kind of snuck a whole drawer out to my car while you weren't looking, before you burned them."

"You did what?" he shouted.

"I did it . . . actually, I have no idea why I did it," I said honestly. "I just thought that maybe, at some point in the future, they might be useful."

"Useful for what?" he practically hissed. "As an extra revenue stream?"

Now that hurt. "You know me better than that."

He took a deep breath. "I do. But what the hell else am I supposed to think? Why would you hide these?"

"They might protect you. Or be able to point the finger more strongly at Aaron. I don't know," I said. "What I do know is, they give me the excuse I need to have suddenly 'found' the tape of Aaron and Lilly."

"Well. Then I'm glad you kept all those tapes of Daddy dearest screwing every woman in Neptune. Bully for you."

"Logan –"

"No. Not now. We'll talk later after I'd have time to process."

"This isn't a breakup, is it?"

"Quit being so melodramatic, Mars. Of course it isn't. But I'd like to get away from you for a while before I say something stupid enough to make it one." After a second, "The press conference is tonight at 7:30. Try to get there early."

Then he left, leaving me standing there trying not to cry.

And all of this before my first class.

It was Duncan's turn next. During the time we should have been in journalism, Duncan and I ended up in the library. "I'm glad Abel Koontz got off," Duncan said. "Really. But did your father have to make that payoff public?"

"He needed all the evidence he could muster," I said. "That was part of it."

"It just makes my father look like a criminal."

"Duncan," I said, "He paid off a guy to confess to a murder he didn't commit. He is a criminal."

"Doesn't mean I want him to end up in jail," he said.

"Not up to me," I said. "Of course, with Lamb bought and paid for, it shouldn't be any problem for him to get off."

"I think I'm going to go sit elsewhere for the rest of the period.

Let's see: So far Wallace, Logan, Duncan. Who else could I piss off today?

I excused myself from the library and walked back into my 'office,' where I called Clarence Weidman – just asking him to please get back to me at his earliest opportunity – and then Cliff.

"Veronica," Cliff said. "Congratulate your Dad for me. That was a hell of a coup."

"I will."

"So, what do you need me to do?"

"I need access to that box of tapes, and I need it at around noon today."

"I have it at my house," he said. "It shouldn't be a problem; I don't have any court appearances scheduled." Then, after a second, "Does this have anything to do with your father's investigation?"

"You're better off not knowing," I said. "But if someone asks you if you had those tapes, tell them the truth."

"Why the change of heart?"

"You've heard Lynn Echolls called a press conference for tonight?" He said he had. "Show up and you'll see why."

"I will. See you at noon."

At lunch that day, I gobbled down the sandwich I brought with me and sought out Weevil. "I need a ride," I said.

"What's wrong with your car?"

"It tops out at around 65," I said. "Right now I feel the need for speed."

He grinned. "Always said you wanted to feel my big ol' hog between your legs," he said.

"At any other time I'd devastate you with my witty comeback, but I'm not up for it now," I said. "You in?"

"Sure thing, V."

First we went to my house to pick up the tapes, hiding them so Weevil wouldn't see; then over to Cliff's place. He was waiting just inside. "Hello, Eli," he said. "Veronica, the tapes are in my bedroom – right next to the bureau."

"Hey there, counselor. What's shakin'?" He looked at me with the word 'tapes," though.

They talked for another minute or so while I pretended to rummage through the drawer, then I came out, visibly holding them, and said, "Got 'em. Thanks, Cliff."

"This isn't going to get me in trouble, is it?" Cliff asked as Weevil and I turned to go.

"I won't let it," I said.

Then Weevil and I hauled ass back to school. I was fifteen minutes late for my post-lunch class, but all the teacher did was glare at me. There are some benefits to having a stellar academic rep.

I pulled Meg aside in the hall. "I hope you're not angry at me," I said.

"I'm dating Duncan," she said. "Our minds aren't joined as one. I understand why he's angry but I don't think he has any right to be."

"I need you to do something, and I need you not to ask me any questions."

"Seems fair; you're doing it for me."

I handed her the tapes. "Make three copies of this without watching it," I said.

"Okay," she said. "Anything else?"

"I need it by the end of the day."

"You'll have it."

"Thanks, Meg." It had been nice interacting with someone who wasn't pissed off for some reason or other.

The rest of the day, thankfully, went fairly well. Logan and Duncan avoided me and Wallace didn't seem too happy, but other than that, everything was just peachy.

Meg handed me the tapes just after lunch. I handed one to Wallace as he passed by and said, "Hide this but don't watch it." He grumbled but agreed. Mac agreed, a bit less grumblingly.

I drove home and hid the third copy where I'd hidden the original, then called Lynn Echolls.

"Veronica!" she said. She always sounded happy to hear from me. "I'm kind of busy right now preparing for tonight's conference –"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," I said. "I have something to show you before the conference." Yes, I was going to show this to Lynn. Let it be her call. "When's good?"

"I should be done dinner by about 6:30," she said. "You and your father can come by then."

Oh. Right. Now Dad was going to see it too.

Well, that was going to be peachy keen.

I flipped on the TV; the Balboa County District Attorney's Office was having a press conference. "We've examined all the evidence carefully," the DA was saying. "And it looks solid. We've started the paperwork to have Abel Koontz released from prison; he should be out by the end of the week."

From the crowd, one reporter said, "Are there any plans to look at the Kanes' involvement in this?"

"Current investigations are confidential, of course," the DA said. "Also –"

Then my cell phone rang. "Miss Mars," came the voice of Clarence Weidman. "I understand you wished to speak with me. As you can imagine, I've had quite a busy day."

"I can," I said. There was absolutely no percentage in taunting him now. "Have I lived up to my end of the agreement?"

"Within reason, yes."

"So if I were to come up with evidence now pointing towards Aaron Echolls and away from the Kane family, would you have any objection?"

"Now that Abel Koontz has been cleared, no." After a second, "I'd like to know about this evidence, though."

"You'll see it on the evening news along with everyone else," I said.

He laughed. He actually laughed. "I suppose that was a bit too much to expect. Have a good evening, Miss Mars."

Dad came home a little bit later. In the meantime, I'd showered and put on a clean outfit.

"I think I've talked to everyone in Official Neptune about this case," he said as he plopped down on the couch. "Except possibly for the dogcatcher."

"And our day's not done yet," I said. "We have to be at the Echolls' by 6:30."

"Sweetie, I'm not going to that press conference," he said. "I don't need the ego boost and Lynn Echolls can just mail me the check."

"Sorry, Dad," I said. "I ordered a Cho's special right before you walked in; it should be here in twenty minutes. That gives you enough time to shower and change before it gets here. Because you have to go."

He looked at me sternly. "I think you've forgotten which of us is the parent in this relationship." At my steady glare, he said, "Okay, sweetie. If it means that much to you, I'll go."

He changed, we gulped down the pizza and made it to Lynn's at 6:25. Logan greeted us at the door.

"Mr. Mars," he said, nodding to Dad. "Veronica. We just finished up dinner. Give Mom a minute or so and then you can show her." He clearly wasn't happy. I understood why but appreciated that he was still willing to do this.

"Show her what?" Dad asked.

"You'll see," I said.

Dad walked ahead of Logan and me. "Are we good yet?"

"Not quite," he said. "And don't start pouting. I'm not the one who screwed up here."

"I know. I also know how hard it's going to be for you to watch this."

"I don't plan to," he said. "I'll be in the room but I plan on closing my eyes."

"And sticking your fingers in your ears and going 'LALALALALA I can't hear you' at the top of your lungs?"

"If necessary."

Shortly thereafter, I asked Lynn if I could pop something in her VCR. She said, "This is what you wanted to show me?"

"Yes. I . . . found it today in a drawer full of videotapes that I kept from the poolhouse. Logan burned the rest."

"I know," she said. "I wish he hadn't." At my startled look, she said, "I'd've given those tapes to any woman who asked about them. Now that I have that drawer maybe I can make sure people see my husband for the monster he was."

You don't know the half of it, Lynn.

When Dad and Lynn were ready – Logan was standing there, grim as anything – I played the tape.

They knew what it was the second they saw Lilly's face. "Veronica," Dad said, "Where did you get this?"

"Remember when Logan burned those tapes we found in the poolhouse? I saved some of them."

"Why?"

I couldn't answer and then Lynn said, "I asked her to." Logan turned and looked sharply at his mother, knowing she'd done no such thing. "I wanted proof of how bad Aaron was," she said. "When Veronica mentioned it to me I asked her to let Logan burn most of them but to save some."

I took up the lie from there. "And lucky I saved the ones that I did. I didn't think to look through the drawer until today, but there it was. Weevil took me to where I've been hiding them at lunchtime. I played them at school today and there it was," I said. "Proof that Lynn's theory was true."

"Veronica –"

"Dad, if I could have brought this out any sooner, don't you think I would have?"

He nodded. "Yes. But still –"

"No time," Lynn said, then clapped her hands once. "Paolo! Maria!" Two of the servants came in. "Get whoever you need to help you and let's move the TV to the front porch. The press is going to want to see this."

Remember that Goldwyn quote from the beginning. You've seen the earthquake and the working its way up. Now for the climax:

55 minutes later, I looked out at the front yard of the Echolls estate. It was a mob scene. Half the population of Neptune must have been there. I saw Weevil, Clarence Weidman, Dick Casablancas, and Cliff, among many others.

Dad, Logan, and I were standing on the Echolls' front porch. When Lynn came out and stood behind a podium – about two or three feet in front of us – everything went silent. First she told people she'd been paying Dad to look into the Abel Koontz matter and praised him to the skies for being able to prove that Koontz didn't kill Lilly Kane, for which she was paying him $10,000. She handed it to him, and he pocketed it, looking a little embarrassed.

Then someone asked the obvious question, "Why?"

"Because I know who killed Lilly Kane," Lynn said.

Then she played the tape.

After a minute or so – enough to prove her point – there was dead silence. This is the point in those old Bugs Bunny cartoons where you start to hear crickets.

Then everyone started asking questions at once.

Lynn quieted them down and said, "Let me tell you a little something about Aaron Echolls."

And boy, did she ever. She held them spellbound for the next ten minutes while she spun a tale of multiple affairs, violent rages, repeated beatings – of her occasionally, of Logan regularly – and an absolutely fanatical dedication to his image. "And if that tape had gotten out," she said. "If that tape had gotten out –"

I leaned over and whispered to Logan, "Well, the good news is from here this has nowhere to go but less complicated."

And that's when I got shot.