Logan lay face down on the bed, shirtless. The welts on his back throbbed in time with his heart. His father wasn't pleased at his testimony. And now that his father was found Not Guilty, punishing his son for his disloyalty took up most of his father's free time. Logan knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he could not stay here. His father would kill him. But he had to plan smart, being a year away from majority, he needed money to escape this renewed hell.

Logan thought of Mr. Mars and Veronica. He knew that they would try to help him but the power his father and his friends wield could destroy them. He loved Veronica too much to put this trouble in her family's lap. He decided to go to Mac.

He already had part of the plan in motion. He found some of his father's souvenirs of past glory packed away and had replaced them with cheaper knockoffs.

NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL

"Hi Mac," Logan said, as he took a seat next to her.

"Hi, Logan, Veronica …" Mac started.

"It's not about Veronica," Logan said, knowing that Mac thought that he wanted her help in getting back in Veronica's good graces. "I need a different kind of favor."

"A favor," Mac said. Her face showed concern before her more mercenary side calculated the potential amount of this favor.

"I want to sell some things on the internet," Logan said. "But it can't come back to me."

"What?" Mac said, the concern coming back. "You're not on drugs."

"No!" Logan said. "Can you do it?"

"You're rich," Mac said.

"My father is rich," Logan said. "And my testimony didn't put him in a giving mood."

"Oh," Mac said. "Yes, I can help."

"It's just between us, not even Veronica can know," Logan said. His heartbeat ratcheted up. If Mac went to anybody and his father found out …

"Okay," Mac said, drawing out the word. "I'll have everything set up by the end of the day. Meet me after school with the stuff. I can probably have most of it sold by Friday."

Logan got up as Mac said, "My usual take is 10%. For you I'll knock it down to 7%: a kind of friend discount."

"Kind of friend discount," Logan said with a slight smirk. He knew then why Veronica was so fond of her.

"Friends are charged 5," Mac said.

Logan headed to his next class thinking it would be a long 4 days.

…..

Veronica added another layer to her cynicism after the joke of a trial. Aaron Echolls' freedom destroyed any faith in the law.

She heard that the Echolls moved out of the hotel into their newly renovated house. Lucky the fire had been put out before it caused too much damage. Even fire bowed down to the power of the rich, Veronica thought.

"The truth matters," her father said.

"What?" Veronica said.

"I know what you're thinking," her father said. "My old partner once told me human law is flawed. The thing that matters most … especially to a cop … is the truth. Sometimes it is all we get."

Veronica thought that sentiment could be put on the Mars' family crest, if they were pretentious enough to have a crest, which as far as she knew they didn't. Though, she wouldn't put it past her father to have one made to make her feel better.

"So, the Fitzpatricks could have planted the bomb in the bus," her father said.

"Is this some nefarious scheme to distract me from Echolls going free?" Veronica said.

"Nooo," her father said. "Unless it's working."

Veronica laughed as she opened up her files for the case. "As you know one of the Fitzpatricks worked installing the explosives for the detonation."

"So they could easily get the explosives," her father said.

"Yes," Veronica said.

…..

Logan was torn from a sound sleep. By the time he was fully awake he felt himself being thrown across the room. Seconds later he bounced off the hard surface of the wall. Several pictures fell to floor as he followed, stunned. He took a deep breath and put one hand on the floor to push himself up when a boot slammed into his ribs. The blow forced back out the much needed oxygen. The boot struck his ribs again and again.

A ringing phone stopped the punishment.

"Harvey …," his father said, his voice sounding chipper. "The lead part."

Logan almost couldn't believe how calm his father sounded. His arm supported his bruised ribs. As he moved to sitting position a sharp pain made him think several of ribs were cracked. That pain made him hold his breath until he forced himself to slowly release it.

"Great … great," his father said, walking out of the room without looking at Logan.

FRIDAY – LUNCH TIME

Veronica was still angry over the 'Not Guilty' plea. Aaron Echolls' triumphant grin made her stomach turn. She should have known Neptune would find an excuse not to put one of the 09ers in jail. This was Neptune, after all, a town with no middle class: just the very rich and very poor. And the very rich can buy justice or in this case injustice.

She worried about Logan being in the same house as his father. She consoled herself in thinking that in another year he would be eighteen and out of the house.

The phone rang bringing her back to the lunch table with Mac and Beaver lovey doveying on the other side and Wallace moping at the thought of Jackie departing for the Sorbonne. She saw her father's face flashing his infectious grin up at her.

"Hi Dad," Veronica said.

"Playing the brooding teenager again," her father said.

"You know me too well," Veronica said. "How could he get off! The jury …"

"Reasonable doubt," her father said.

"He murdered Lilly," Veronica said. "He tried to kill me. How could they!"

"Don't know." He said. "Sometimes knowing something and proving something are two different things. You have to let it go. You can't let it ruin your life."

"Have you figured out what's going on with Woody Goodman," Veronica said, changing the subject.

"Yes, I'm going to look at some e-mails from Lucky," her father said. "I think he had some video on Woody."

"Lucky," Veronica said.

"Give you an update when I get home."

"Mayor Woody and Lucky, the janitor with the gun," Beaver said.

"Yes," Veronica said, not wanting to get into it. "Going to the Summer Fling?"

"All the beer you can up-chuck," Mac said. "Wouldn't miss it."

"What?" Veronica said.

"Dick," Beaver and Mac said together.

"Are you going Wallace?" Veronica said.

"Don't know," Wallace said, pulling himself from his depression.

…..

Logan strolled up to Mac not able to move any faster with his cracked ribs. "Did everything sell?"

"Yes," Mac said. Her head shook back and forth. "For 277K minus 19K and change. Can't believe 99K of that was for a utility belt. A utility belt."

"Obviously not a comic book fan," Logan said.

"Not that much of one. Here is the account," Mac said. "Do you want to check it?"

"No, Veronica trusts you," Logan said.

Mac restrained the impulse to help him out with Veronica. For the first time, she wasn't intimidated by him. The guy had it bad for Veronica. At that moment, she knew for Logan there were two types of women: Veronica and all of the rest.

…..

Keith Mars pulled out of his office. He listened to the audio file of the boys describing Woody as a perv. It didn't take a rocket science to figure out that the little league Woody supported for years was an endless supply of boys for sex. What those boys went through. Woody should be shot after being castrated with a rusty knife.

He copied the recording and put it in a place only Veronica knew about. He wasn't going to make the same mistake he had made with Aaron Echolls' video.

Keith stopped back at the office to pick up the disk that held the obscure threats to the Mayor. He then called Sheriff Lamb in the off chance Lamb was willing to do his job. "Lamb."

"Mars," Lamb said. "Have another case that you want to ruin?"

"Got an e-mail from Lucky's account," Keith said. "I'm coming in."

There was a long pause before Lamb said, "20 minutes. Any longer and I'm gone."

Keith rolled his eyes at Lamb trying to play the alpha with him. "20 minutes."

Keith threw the bag in the passenger seat and got into the car. He turned the key and an explosion tore the car apart. "Veronica," was the last thought that went through his mind.

…..

Veronica adjusted a picture on the computer tilting it rakishly, or so the teacher assured her. Personally, she thought the style was old and busted. The door opened distracting her from her task. Principal Clemmons entered the room and stopped, looking right at her. Veronica's face twisted in a combination of 'what now' and resignation. She sharpened her gaze when she saw Clemmons's eyes. She saw those eyes just before her father told a client that a loved one was dead.

Veronica stood up, her face going pale. From the corner of her eye, she saw Logan stand up as well.

"Veronica, please come with me," Clemmons said.

Veronica automatically gathered her laptop and books. Logan stood beside her like a guard.

"Just Veronica," Clemmons said.

"No," Logan said.

Veronica saw his expression. It reminded her of when the undercover cop kidnapped her: Dangerous and vicious. Veronica looked back at Clemmons in time to see him swallow hard.

This time she knew she wouldn't be able to call Logan off. She held her hand out to Logan. He took it and they headed to the door.

"Come with me," Clemmons said, conceding defeat.

They headed in silence to his office. The halls were empty. Lonely lockers lined the halls like statues of fallen soldiers or an honor guard. Veronica's mind whirled madly with those insane thoughts. Logan squeezed her hand and she came back to the present.

Once they were in the office, they sat down. "Veronica …," Clemmons said.

"How?" Veronica interrupted.

"Bomb," Clemmons said. "He didn't feel a thing."

"When can I see the body?"

"Can I call someone?" Clemmons said, not answering the question.

Veronica said, "Mrs. Fennel."

…..

Logan didn't want to leave Veronica's side but his father insisted that he come home. He sat beside the pool trying to figure out what to do next. He wanted to leave this weekend but he couldn't leave Veronica. He decided to wait until Veronica's mother came and picked her up.

"Give me your wallet," his father said, holding out his hand. Logan looked up he saw his father with scissors in one hand.

Logan reluctantly handed his wallet.

"I closed down all your credit cards and checking account." His father took his cards and sliced them in front of him. He then took the cash out of the wallet and shoved it in his pocket. "Car keys and cell."

"What?" Logan said, handing both over. His heart rose to his throat. Did his father found out about the account?

"Don't want you to help Veronica?" his father said. His eyes were filled with a terrible glee.

"Her mother …" Logan started.

"Can't be found. Veronica's going to be put into a sanitarium for suicide watch after the memorial."

"She isn't crazy," Logan said. "Or suicidal."

"From what I heard she was raped … her mother ran off … she was ostracized and she believes that I murdered Lilly"

"You did murder her," Logan said.

"And now her father is dead." His father laughed. "I'm sure Veronica will love it. The drugs are great for things like that."

Logan came closer to killing his father than he ever thought possible. But that wouldn't help Veronica. Now his escape plan expanded to include her.

Weevil's grandmother still worked here. He would pass a note to her. They'd save Veronica and people would pay for threatening Veronica, he swore.

SIX HOURS BEFORE THE FUNERAL

The funeral originally was planned for Sunday but a few friends at the M.E. department delayed it until Tuesday. Veronica spent most of the morning with sympathy callers. Her father had helped a lot of people over the years as both a Sheriff and a private detective.

Weevil came to the door with his current girlfriend, a short pretty girl with long black hair. Veronica knew her enough to wave at but not really friends. "This is Nylsa."

"Hi Nylsa. Come in," Veronica said. She waved at the cop outside the apartment. "Probably bugging the apartment."

"Wouldn't put it past them," Weevil said.

"I'm glad you stopped by," Veronica said.

"Sorry about your father," Weevil said.

"I'm sorry too," Nylsa said, swinging a black helmet in her hand. "He saved my baby brother five years ago."

"I remember…Tomas?" Veronica said.

Nylsa nodded.

"Do you want something to eat? People keep bringing food."

"No, we can't stay long," Weevil said. "Looks like you can feed a small country,"

"It's going to the restaurant." Veronica said. "After the funeral, we're all heading there."

"Yes, I know," Weevil said. "We're going to meet you there. I wanted to come by and personally give you my condolences."

"Thanks," Veronica said.

"Can I use your bathroom?" Nylsa said.

"Sure let me show where it is," Veronica said.

After about ten minutes, Weevil stepped back out and waved back at the apartment. He saw a hand waving back. Nylsa put her helmet on and climbed on the back of the bike. Weevil got on soon after and drove off.

…..

Dick arrived at the house. Logan rushed out and got in the car. "What's going on I didn't see you at school yesterday."

"Out sick," Logan said. "Let's…"

"Don't look sick, say 'ahh'. Oh... the Veronica Mars fever…," Dick said, reaching out to touch Logan's forehead.

Logan grabbed Dick's hand and pushed it away from him. "Let's go."

"Logan," his father said, taking a hold of his arm. "Get out of the car."

Logan's father clenched his fist around Logan's arm shifting the material of his sleeve almost dragging him from the car. "Say goodbye."

"Bye."

"Bye," Dick said, looking at Logan. He drove off with a blowing the car horn.

Logan pulled his long sleeve down his arm to covers his bruises. His father caught the action. "Told you not to try to go to her. We're going out to Neptune Grand Hotel and Restaurant. And stay the night. Don't want you tempted by any more of your friends."

"What about clothes?" Logan said, following his father to the garage.

"Get in the car."

Logan didn't say a word as he climbed into the car.

They headed into the restaurant where Logan's father tossed back one drink after another. Logan sipped at his soda. His father was half past drunk when Kendell walked in. Her dress was tight as usual. Her hips rotated in an exaggerated motion. She came towards the table like a shark scenting blood.

"Hi Aaron," Kendell said. "What are you doing here?"

"Celebrating my fantastic luck," Logan's father said.

"Speaking of luck I have a deal…," Kendell said. "It would triple your money at least in a few months."

"I'm sure Logan's trust fund could use a more aggressive management," His father said. "Where's the waiter? Never mind. What's your poison?"

"The house wine," Kendell said.

"Go get it," his father said to Logan.

Logan went to the bar to order the wine for Kendell and a whiskey for his father. Logan looked at the drinks with a quick smile. After a moment, he twirled the whiskey and then walked back to the table.

Minutes later, his father staggered into the elevator with Kendell. His eyes fixed on Kendell ignoring his son completely.

"See you later," Kendell said with a wink as the doors shut in Logan's face.

TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE THE FUNERAL

Wallace stepped into the apartment. His first thought was she was so tiny. It must be the large hat and the long skirt that fell almost to her ankles. The combination made her look small and insignificant. Definitely not Veronica on good day most of the time you were surprised how small she was. That personality seemed to make her huge. Today she came across as a waif.

"What's with the hat?" Wallace said.

"Don't want them to see me cry," Veronica said.

He wrapped an arm around her and headed to his mother's waiting car. "Sorry Veronica."

The only response was a choking sound. She turned and put her head on Wallace's shoulder.

Veronica stepped out of the car. Wallace was about to follow when his mother said, "What's with the hat?"

"She doesn't want Lamb and the rest to see her cry," Wallace said.

The service started after Veronica arrived. The minister was perfectly solemn, with a voice that didn't sound like he had read it a thousand times before.

When the minister was done, Veronica leaned on Wallace as she reached down and picked up the dirt. She reverently dropped the dirt on her father's coffin. Wallace did the same. He glanced back at his mother and saw her wipe a tear away.

As Veronica walked back to Mrs. Fennel's car she tripped. Mrs. Fennel caught her with a gasp.

"Mom," Wallace said, coming up to her. "Veronica, are you alright."

Veronica nodded. His mother looked at Veronica and then looked at Wallace's worried face. "Yes, no harm done."

They drove in silence to the restaurant with a line of cars following them. Veronica stepped out of the car.

Mac rushed out, "I'm sorry Veronica about not showing up at the funeral."

"I told her that you were helping out here with the preparations." Wallace said.

"Thanks," Veronica's voice whispered out. "I'm going to bathroom to clean up."

Veronica headed back to the ladies room. Wallace saw her go in and waited outside. Various women came and went. He glanced around the room, glaring at Neptune's cops stationed there.

Weevil came up to Wallace. Wallace frowned, still pissed after two years of the humiliation of being taped to a post by Weevil and his gang.

Nylsa came walking out in a short black skirt and top. Her black bag swung at her side.

"Is Veronica okay?" Wallace asked.

"Yes," Nylsa said. "She needs some alone time."

Wallace waited for a few moments and then wandered out to find food.

About a half hour later, the wake celebrating Keith Mars' life was in full form. Sheriff Lamb barreled through the groups of people chatting with Wallace.

"Where is Veronica?" Lamb said.

"Think I saw her over there," Wallace said, pointing towards the raised stage.

Lamb looked where Wallace pointed. He grabbed Wallace by his shirt. "Where is Veronica?"

Wallace's mother rushed up to them, "Let go of my son."

"Where is she?" Lamb said, releasing Wallace.

"Have you tried the food table?" Wallace's mother said.

"Don't think you can fool me," Lamb said to her before turning back to Wallace. "My men went through the restaurant. Where is she?"

"Maybe she went home," Wallace said.

"My men would have seen her," Lamb said. His voice was loud enough to cut through the all of the conversations. The guests turned toward the Sheriff.

"Then she must be still here," Wallace's mother said. "Why are you interrogating my son? Obviously, he doesn't know anything."

"Sheriff," one of the deputies said. "The bathroom window is open. She must have climbed out."

"What!" Lamb said. He snatched up his phone and punched in some numbers. "Border control. Need the border locked down for a young girl, Veronica Mars. I just sent the picture through."

FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE FUNERAL

Logan stepped out of an ancient car and into an equally ancient house. Veronica was waiting at the door: A ray of sunshine in the middle of all the dirt and grime.

Logan rushed forward to hug her.

"I'm glad you came to say goodbye," Veronica said.

"I'm coming with you," Logan said.

"No," Veronica said. "Your life is here."

"Veronica," Logan said.

Veronica opened her mouth to say something but stopped when Logan turned around facing the door. He lifted his shirt. His ribs and back protested the motion but he continued. He heard Veronica gasp and felt a soft hand touch his back.

"I can't stay. My father will kill me," Logan said. "I was going to leave this weekend, but with your father's death, I wanted to be here for you."

He let his shirt drop again and turned back to her. Veronica leaned up against him. He wrapped his arms around her. Veronica gently did the same. A moment later they stepped apart.

"Let me drive," Veronica said. Logan smiled at the assumption of control: How very Veronica.

Veronica drove down the road with Logan at her side. Logan glanced at her from time to time before saying, "Are you okay?"

"Wish I could go to the funeral and memorial."

"I know." Logan said. "But your father would rather you be free."

"It won't work."

"Nylsa will play you perfectly," Logan said.

"But the hat," Veronica said.

"The Sheriff department isn't the same as when your father ran it," Logan said. "They should be renamed Keystone."

Veronica laughed but Logan wasn't fooled when he saw a tear roll down her face. Logan rested his back against the seat and looked at the highway. It appeared to stretch on forever. And, in a year's time, they would come back.

And the ones who destroyed their lives would pay.

And pay dearly.