DISCLAIMER: I don't own any rights to Veronica Mars. This story is written as a tribute only. No celebrity endorsement is implied by product placements. All real persons' names are used in the sense of "wouldn't it be cool if this person had this gig?"
A/N: Beta-ed by Kazy, Poniesforall, and Aly88. All mistakes that remain are my responsibility.
If you have any questions about the legal issues I'm referring to in this fic, go to my profile page where I've posted a summary of my legal research.
Veronica is roused from a deep sleep. She is shaken roughly, and when she doesn't move fast enough, she is slapped twice on the face and hears, "Do you think you're special? Let's go. Get your shoes on right now, or you can hike without them." Veronica quickly gets out of bed and pushes her feet into her tennis shoes; like her roommates, she lines up and keeps quiet. Single-file, they march to the common room, where they stand at attention to listen to a diatribe about the value of exercise and spiritual toughness. The hike leaders, wearing down jackets and hiking boots, hustle the girls outdoors. Veronica shivers in her light sweatshirt, but by now knows better than to ask for a jacket. The leaders set a fast pace, and the girls struggle to keep up. Veronica is starving; last night's meager dinner of oatmeal and an apple seems a distant memory.
After five miles of relentless hiking, they are met by two different leaders who take over for the first set. Veronica sees that all the girls are tired, but no one says a word when they set off again after a minute or two. Veronica's leg begins to cramp, and she starts to limp and fall behind. One of the leaders jogs back and yells. "Stop being so lazy! Keep up with the group!"
Veronica says weakly, "I have a cramp."
The leader blows a whistle, stopping the hike. All the girls stop, staring at Veronica. "Fifty pushups, let's go!" the leader says. When Veronica doesn't get down fast enough, the hike leader shoves Veronica on the back, and Veronica falls to the ground.
The hike leader looks around at the girls and says, "If she doesn't do the pushups, no one will have dinner today. And five extra miles on the hike."
The girls begin to scream at Veronica, "Do it! Goddamn it, do the pushups." A few begin to approach Veronica, making as if to kick and punch her, and Veronica shakily begins to do her assigned pushups.
Two months earlier...
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Deep Down and Dirty
Candice checks out; Veronica suggests a
new tactic in Duncan's custody case; a new
exposé on Logan; Keith gets in deeper.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Wallace: Percy
Daggs III. Duncan 2.0: Chris Carmack.
Logan: Jason Dohring. Keith: Enrico
Colantoni. Eli: Francis Capra.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER EIGHT: "DEEP DOWN AND DIRTY"
Thurs. 1/22/09: Hearst College, Neptune, CA
Veronica enters Wallace's dorm room. "Wallace, I don't know how to tell you this," she says somberly.
"What is it? Is Candice married? I know, she's got a criminal record, doesn't she?" Wallace moans, holding his head.
"Wallace, I can't find a single thing wrong with this woman. Except that she's way too smart. She got a perfect score on her SAT's and entered college at sixteen. She graduated Georgia Tech summa cum laude. She spent the last year in the Peace Corps and wrote several articles about her experiences." Veronica hands Wallace some printouts. "No quickie marriages, no criminal record, no bankruptcies. There is one thing though."
"What??" he asks, despairing.
"She doesn't appear to be a basketball fan. And I see no evidence that she knows how to bake snickerdoodles."
Wallace glares at her. "Thanks a lot. What about hobbies, things like that?"
"You're on your own for that, dude. I will, however, agree to set up a bump and dump should you need it."
Wallace looks at her thoughtfully. "Bump and dump, huh?"
"I did happen to get a copy of her schedule. Looks like Thursdays she's free between one and two."
"Okay, you're on. Lunch today, one o'clock."
"See ya then, studmuffin."
Veronica leaves Wallace's room smiling. No clandestine mob connection to Candice's parents? Check. No secret love-child in Brooklyn? Check. Her cell rings and she hits the talk button.
"Veronica?" Duncan asks.
Ah, speaking of a secret love-child... "Hey, uh, Daniel," she says, looking around to see if anyone can overhear her conversation. "I talked with Dad and Cliff yesterday. They are not optimistic about me testifying. Cliff said there's no chance of a deal with the prosecutor's office."
Duncan/Daniel says quickly, "Then what are we going to do? My deal with the prosecutor's office is going to expire in three weeks if I don't turn myself in."
"I did have an idea. There is someone else who can testify about the abuse that was going on in the Manning house," Veronica says. "Lizzie."
"Lizzie?" Duncan asks. "She hates us. She'll never testify for us."
"She hates us. But, Duncan, she's never met Lilly. What if we surprised her and showed her how happy Lilly is? And the other thing is..." Veronica starts.
"What?"
"Lizzie feels like she got screwed out of a normal teenager's life because of Meg's pregnancy and Lamb blackmailing her family. What if we offered that to her...what if you paid her enough money that she could go to whatever college she wants and get out from under Stewart's thumb?" Veronica suggests. "Just think how you feel. You've been screwed out of that too."
"Yeah. You're right," he agrees.
"It'd be worth it. Just pay her, and both of you can put Stewart Manning behind you."
"Do you think she would tell her parents if she turns us down?" Duncan worries.
"It doesn't matter. They know we're desperate. How much worse could it get? Right now, you're considering turning down the prosecutor's deal and returning to a life in exile," Veronica replies logically.
"I guess you're right... Hey, how's Logan doing? This exposé that's running is completely unreal. It makes the Tinseltown Diaries look like kid stuff."
"What are you talking about?"
"The story on TSG? The one about the FBI suspecting him of being the serial killer?"
Veronica hears a commotion behind her. She whirls around and sees a reporter and a video cameraman. "Got to go. I'll be in touch about Lizzie." She hustles back to Wallace's room and bangs on the door. "Let me in, Wallace!"
The reporter, hurrying to catch her, calls out, "Any comment, Ms. Mars?"
Wallace opens his door, saying, "You need to chillax, Vee! What the hell"
She pushes him inside and slams the door shut. "Get up the Smoking Gun web site."
Her heart sinking, Veronica reads a report titled "Son of Murderer Aaron Echolls Arrested in Connection with Serial Murder Case" complete with pictures of Logan being escorted into an FBI vehicle and entering LAPD headquarters with the agents. She winces as she hears knocking on the door and voices calling her name.
"Oh shit," Wallace says.
The article speculates on comparisons of Aaron murdering his girlfriend with the possibility that Logan killed his ex-girlfriend Hannah. No motive is given, although the article implies that Hannah was murdered to protect Logan's current relationship with Veronica. There is a prominent picture of Madison Sinclair, and she is quoted extensively throughout the article.
"This doesn't have any basis in reality," Wallace comments.
"The FBI didn't arrest him, they just asked him to provide a statement about the last time Hannah contacted him," Veronica moans. "He has an alibi, and the motive is ridiculous."
"God, Madison sure hates you. Talk about a bunny boiler!"
"It's mutual. I should have cubed her car when I had the chance." At Wallace's quizzical look, she adds, "Never mind. It's not important." She tries to call Logan, even though she's certain his phone will be off. The call goes directly to voicemail, and she hears a message, 'Voicemail box is full. Please try your call later.' Veronica hangs up and looks closer at the web page. She gasps when she sees that the byline reads, 'Story by Norman Phipps. Additional reporting by Carrie Murray.' She sits down heavily on the bed, and Wallace joins her, hugging her.
- • -
Thurs. 1/22/09: Logan's house, Venice Beach, CA
In Venice Beach, Logan shuts down his computer with a shaky hand. He stands up, trembling with rage and humiliation, and goes to the window. Leaning on his cane, he peeks out and sees that there are reporters lining the driveway. He quickly moves away from the window, his stomach beginning to clench and heave. The room begins to spin around him, and he stumbles toward the bathroom, just barely making it before he loses his breakfast in the sink. He runs some water in the sink and splashes cold water on his face. He looks at his face in the mirror, and suddenly the room appears to tilt sideways. Logan's breathing quickens, and his heart begins to pound, seeming to fill the silent room with its thumping. Logan falls to the floor in a faint, his cane clattering to the tile floor next to him.
When he comes to a few minutes later, he is at first uncertain where he is. He looks around the bathroom and focuses on the glass shower door. Logan stares at the glass door for long minutes as, unbidden, memories of the night of the accident a few months previously begin to surface. He groans and shuts his eyes to try to block out the flashes that besiege him: the crash of the glass door when he slams his hand into it; Dick's panicked assessment of Logan's wound; the nightmarish trip through the jostling crowd of screaming reporters; and finally leaning against Dick's car door, thinking that everything is so blurry and why is there so much blood.
He lays on the floor of the bathroom for a long time, trying to sort out the flashes into some sort of coherence. The neurologist had told him it was unlikely that he would ever completely remember that night considering the head trauma that he sustained in the car accident. The elusive nature of the memories is frustrating and terrifying. Suddenly another memory assaults him: Aaron screaming at the top of his lungs at eleven-year old Logan cowering on the bathroom floor. Aaron begins to strike him repeatedly with an open hand as Logan tries to avoid the blows, a punishment for some infraction of the rules that Logan cannot fathom to this day. In the present day, Logan mentally relives the traumas, drawing himself into a fetal position and crying soundlessly, hopelessly, until at last he falls into an exhausted sleep.
- • -
Thurs. 1/22/09: El Cajon, CA
Working on phase two of his plan to help Vinnie Van Lowe, Keith drives down to El Cajon Gun Exchange.
"I'm looking for a Smith & Wesson 539 9-millimeter semi-automatic," he says to the man behind the counter, perusing the contents of the display cases.
"They only made that model for a few years in the eighties. It's pretty rare. I know I don't have any in stock," the man says, thoughtfully.
Keith shows his PI license to the man and says, "It has to be that particular gun. It's for a case I'm working on."
"Hey, are you any relation to Veronica Mars? She used to shoot here all the time last fall."
Keith suppresses a sigh. "I'm her father."
"Well, tell her hi from Fred. Mr. Mars, I can make some calls, and see if any other dealers have one. In the meantime, do you see anything else you like?" Fred motions to the impressive assortment of modern weaponry.
"No thanks. If you could just let me know right away if you find a 539, I'd appreciate it. I'll tell Veronica you said hello."
- • -
Thurs. 1/22/09: Hearst College, Neptune, CA
"Break it up!" Eli Navarro calls out. Veronica has called him for help, asking him to get rid of the reporters who have besieged Wallace's room. "You guys don't have permission to be on campus. I've called the local sheriff's department, and they're on their way." Sirens can be heard approaching the campus, and the reporters reluctantly leave, grumbling about their free speech rights.
"Veronica, it's Weevil, let me in."
She cautiously opens the door and allows him to enter.
"This is some sick shit that going on," he says. "It's worse than the Aaron Echolls trial. I never thought I'd feel sorry for Logan."
She glances at him, startled.
"Get your stuff; I'll take you to class and make sure these guys leave you alone," Weevil suggests.
They walk together. Twice reporters try to approach, and both times Weevil menacingly orders them to leave her alone.
"My personal bodyguard," Veronica comments.
"About time you let someone protect you," he replies.
"You know that tomorrow there will be pictures of you and me with the caption 'Veronica Mars leaves Logan Echolls, runs to her Latin lover'."
"As long as they spell my name right, I'm okay with it." He throws an arm over her shoulder. "So you're not going to look for this serial killer. I'm not asking. I'm telling you. I know you think you're invincible, but you're not."
"I hadn't thought of it."
"Bull, Veronica. You're just this guy's type, you know."
"Now you're calling me a hooker?" she asks.
"No, but you're young and female. And he gets off on hurting people. You're not gonna mess with this," Weevil says.
"I'm not going to," she swears.
Weevil stares at her, hoping she's telling the truth for once.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Flirting with Disaster
Nerd bonding; Keith probes St. Mary's;
Veronica helps Wallace with his crush;
the FBI comes calling.
Mac: Tina Majorino. Max: Adam Rose.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Veronica: Kristen
Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring. Wallace:
Percy Daggs III. Candice: Toy Connor.
Morris: Lucy Lawless. Carney: Jason Isaacs.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER NINE: "FLIRTING WITH DISASTER"
Fri. 1/23/09: Neptune, CA
Max plugs a USB cord into the hard drive from Dick's computer and begins to copy the files onto his own computer. While waiting for the copying to finish, he leans back in his chair and regards Mac. "So how've you been? I checked out your web site. It definitely serves a need. There are way too many noobs on the internet."
"Things are good. I'm still going out to Vegas playing cards, but the pressure to make money is off so I can have more fun. What about your business?" Mac replies.
"Fortunately, there aren't too many college kids who actually care about getting an education, and I'm right there to supply them with the papers and tests they need to get their degree with the minimum amount of work," he answers. The drive finishes copying, and Max sits up quickly, banging the front two legs of his chair on the floor. "Let's see what we got here." He scrolls through the same files that Mac had found, but more warily, keeping in mind her warning. He stops and points to the screen. "You're right, your client did have a malware program on his drive. You said that the screen was overwritten with the Dead Cow logo?"
Mac nods.
"That's totally crazy. Those guys are my heroes. They're hackers, to be sure, but their agenda is about exposing software flaws, not unleashing malicious viruses. Lately, they've been working on the Goolag project," Max comments.
"Right, I read about that. They're protesting Google's decision to comply with China's Internet censorship policy. 'GoolagExporting censorship, one search at a time.'"
"Mac, can you bring up the chat program that you told me about?" Max says.
Mac turns the keyboard and logs onto the porn site that Dick had been on. Max raises his eyebrows questioningly. She says, "The client is sort of lowbrow."
"Client, huh?" Max clicks on the system profiler window and highlights the text 'Dick Casablancas' Computer'. "I heard you were seeing Dick Casablancas, but I didn't believe it."
"Are you keeping tabs on me?" she says in surprise.
"Isn't stalking just another way to say 'I love you'?" he replies, laughing.
She punches him in the shoulder. He rubs the shoulder ruefully and says, "I'm not ever going to wash this shirt."
She explains, "I'm not seeing Dick anymore. It was just temporary insanity, okay? He promised to stop bothering me if I helped him and his frat buddies with this."
Max looks at her for a moment, then continues, "Okay, I'm going to try to get the attention of the IM program." He begins to click on various salacious photos and browses through the linked pages.
Suddenly, a message window opens.
BRANDY42: hello anybody there
Mac and Max exchange a glance, and Max types:
MAXIMAN: hi baby
BRANDY42: i've been waiting for you
MAXIMAN: i'm looking for something special
BRANDY42: like what
MAXIMAN: more personal
BRANDY42: what are you into baby
MAXIMAN: i have needs
BRANDY42: are you on facebook i'd like to see your picture
MAXIMAN: i'd rather meet face to face
BRANDY42: i can't do that i need to check you out first
MAXIMAN: how old are you
BRANDY42: twenty-one how old are you
MAXIMAN: thirty-five
Mac looks at Max in surprise, and he says, "Just wait."
BRANDY42: i like older men
MAXIMAN: i bet
Max signs off and turns to Mac. "I've heard about this, but this is the first time I've seen it. It's called a 'flirt-bot'. The software was developed in Russia. It's been seen on dating sites and porn sites. The idea is to mimic human interaction to try to get the user to supply personal information, or to get them to go to a remote site which will then infect the computer with malware that will collect data."
"'Flirt-bot'? You mean that's a computer program, not a human? It's been different every time," Mac says in amazement.
"It's designed to gauge the responses of the human and respond in kind. Some people think it actually passes the Turing test of artificial intelligence," Max replies, almost reverently.
"So how do we get rid of it on our website? And how do I prevent it from reinfecting my...uh...clients when they surf onto porn sites?" Mac asks. "I don't want them coming back to me for help because it happened again. And what's with the Dead Cow logo stuff?"
Max ponders. "I guess whoever's responsible for this is trying some misdirection by blaming a known hacker group. I have a contact in the group. Let me get in touch with him and see if he has any ideas how to keep it off your site."
- • -
Fri. 1/23/09: Mars Investigations, Neptune, CA
Keith checks on the bugs that he placed at St. Mary's. He accesses the Sonic Snoop program and enters the serial numbers of the devices he planted in the priest's office and in the church itself. He listens to a short one-sided phone conversation, then checks the bug he left in the phone, which recorded both sides. He nods with satisfaction that the voice-activated audio recorders are functioning properly. Keith then peruses the image captures from the video devices in the church. He chuckles when he realizes that he has inadvertently taped a young couple making out in the confessional booth.
- • -
Fri. 1/23/09: Hearst College, Neptune, CA
In the Hearst Food Court, Veronica tries Logan's cell phone again with no success. She calls Dick, who answers, "Hey Ronnie. Thanks for getting Mac to help us."
"At triple rates, it's hard to say no...Dick, have you talked to Logan?"
"Not since yesterday."
"Me either," she replies. "I'm pretty worried after what happened because of the Dateline interview. But he told me not to come."
"And you're going to start doing what you're told NOW?"
She is silent for a minute, then says, "Dick, I think he's ashamed about Hannah. He blames himself. He said he doesn't want to see me. Can you try to call him? He's not picking up for me."
"All right. I'll call you right back," Dick acquiesces.
She waits impatiently, drumming her fingers on the table. She sees Wallace and waves at him to come over. Her phone vibrates, and she grabs it quickly. "Hello? Dick?"
"No, it's me," Logan says. "Dick said you were worried. Listen, I'm okay. It's crazy here; I'm not going to lie. I'm just going to stay in. I hired a limo to take me to Neptune for the funeral Saturday. I'll pick you up at your dad's at ten," Logan says.
"Logan, talk to me. What's going on? I think I should come up"
"NO, VERONICA."
Veronica is stunned into silence. Wallace looks on, worriedly.
Logan continues, more calmly, "I don't want the reporters harassing you too."
"But"
"No. I'll call you later." He ends the call abruptly, and she stares at the phone in disbelief.
"Hey, are you okay?" Wallace asks. "You know, we don't have to do this today. My love life is not that important."
She turns her head so Wallace can't see her wipe a tear from her eye. "No, let's do it. It'll be fun. Are you sure you can handle your end of it?"
"Vee, I can't even believe you said that. Nothin' but net, baby!" He pantomimes shooting a basketball.
"Remember to do it just like I taught you, Fennel," she smiles back wanly.
They scan the crowd of students entering the Food Court for lunch. When Candice enters, Wallace nudges Veronica. "Spiffy," she comments, nodding, and Wallace elbows her again. They walk over toward Candice, who has a loaded lunch tray and is making her way to the cash register to pay.
As they approach, Veronica begins to speak animatedly, gesturing with her hands. "So then he says to me, can you believe it, he ACTUALLY SAYS, 'I don't think this is working for me'. After I caught him talking to that skank at the party" she turns around, continuing to come closer to Candice as she walks backward. When Wallace subtly nods, she 'accidentally' bumps into Candice, slipping her hand underneath Candice's tray and knocking it to the floor, making sure to push it away from Candice so she won't be splattered.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, let me help you," Veronica exclaims.
"Why don't you ever watch where you're going? I can't believe you did that," Wallace says. He grabs napkins from a dispenser, and kneels down to help Candice. "My friend is such a klutz. Can I get you a new lunch?"
Candice, trying to salvage her lunch, says, "It's okay, I'm sure it was an accident." She looks at Wallace and says, "Wait, we met the other night. Walter? Wally? Something like that?"
Wallace is crushed, but recovers quickly, "Wallace. Wallace Fennel. The Tau Beta Pi dinner."
"Right," Candice says.
Wallace takes the tray, dumps its contents in the garbage, and says, "Let me buy you a new lunch. My treat, to make up for my friend." He quickly makes his way to the counter to order a replacement lunch.
"I'm so sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me," Veronica says again. "It didn't get on your clothes, did it? Wallace is always having to clean up my messes."
"It's all right," Candice replies.
"My name's Veronica. I'm a criminology major." Veronica extends her hand for Candice to shake.
"Candice. I just started in the master's engineering program." She smiles as she releases Veronica's hand.
Wallace joins them with a new tray for Candice. "Don't you have class now, Veronica?" he says.
"Oh you're right. Nice to meet you, Candice," Veronica says, wiggling her fingers as she walks away.
Veronica turns and watches Wallace pay for the lunch and lead Candice to a table. He catches her eye and smiles, and she thinks, Poor woobie, he's got it bad. She sighs, worrying about Logan alone in Los Angeles, wishing he'd let her come be with him.
- • -
Fri. 1/23/09: Mars Investigations, Neptune, CA
Keith accesses the PryingEyez database. He's been thinking about what Vinnie said, that Liam Fitzpatrick claimed to know 'where the body is buried', and he's had an idea. Liam's not a trusting guy, and he doesn't leave anything to chance...especially something as important as a dead body that was necessary to keep a bought-and-paid-for sheriff in line. He types in 'obituaries' and 'St. Mary's cemetery' and limits his search to a period from the date of Sheriff Lamb's accidental death to six months after Vinnie's election as sheriff. Keith finds that there were six interments in the small cemetery adjacent to St. Mary's during that time. One name stands out on the list: Cormac Fitzpatrick. He thinks a minute, then requests information on requests for exhumations approved by the Department of Health during the same period. The results of this search adds two names to his list. The second of the two names is Mary MacDonald, and the family member requesting the exhumation is listed as Liam Fitzpatrick.
- • -
Fri. 1/23/09: Hearst College, Neptune, CA
Veronica is trying to study without much success when there is a knock on her dorm room door. "Ms. Mars? FBI." Veronica opens the door cautiously. Her heart sinks when she recognizes Agent Morris along with another FBI agent.
"Come in," Veronica says with resignation.
The two agents offer their ID for Veronica to inspect, and she looks at them carefully. The other agent is Thomas Carney, who appears to outrank Agent Morris. Veronica hands back the IDs and is surprised when Agent Morris runs the interview.
"Well, Ms. Mars, I can't say I'm surprised to see you in trouble again. I couldn't believe it when I heard you passed the background check for the FBI internship program. You really must have friends in high places," Morris comments.
"What's this about, Agent Morris?" Veronica says abruptly.
"Just routine questions. Were you with Logan Echolls on the night of Saturday, January 17th?"
"Yes, we took a break from studying and went out to hear some music. There were paparazzi at the club who took pictures of us; I think it was E! Online."
"Yes, that's exactly what Mr. Echolls told us," Agent Carney comments, glancing at Morris.
Veronica remains quiet, her lips pressed in a thin line of anger.
"Were you friends with Hannah Griffith in high school?" Agent Morris continues.
"I saw her around school, but I never even spoke to her."
"You knew she was seeing Mr. Echolls though?"
Veronica frowns, and says, "What are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything. Did you know she was involved with Mr. Echolls?" Morris presses.
"Of course. The whole school knew," Veronica explains.
"Was this is a serious relationship?"
"I'm not sure why you would ask me about this."
Morris stands, and clasps her hands behind her back. She walks around the room and approaches Veronica. "We're just wondering if Mr. Echolls continued to see Hannah after she left Neptune."
"My understanding is that she was taken away from Neptune by her parents. You make it sound like Hannah had a choice in her actions," Veronica replies.
"You do know that she contacted him in the summer of 2006?" Morris asks. Carney stares at Veronica, and she falters a little under his stern gaze.
"I didn't know at the time. But he mentioned it to me when he heard she had been killed. He was upset that he didn't know that she needed help, and he wished that he could have assisted her."
"You mean he wished he had helped her to run away?" Carney says quickly.
Veronica realizes her error. "He wished that she had asked him for help, and he would have done whatever was LEGALLY possible to help her."
"Legally? Hmm..." Agent Morris turns to Carney. "What's the status on the Kane kidnapping case? That's still open, right?"
Carney responds, "The Kane case is still unsolved. But the scuttlebutt is that it's just a matter of identifying his accomplice."
Veronica narrows her eyes at the not-so-subtle threat. "I heard that Jake Kane is close to working out an amnesty agreement with the prosecutor's office on his son's behalf. And I'm really not understanding the connection between the Kane kidnapping and Hannah's murder."
"Your boyfriend flees the country with his love-child. Another one of your boyfriends dates a girl who then runs away. Maybe the connection is you. You were busted for making false ID's, as I recall. Perhaps you've got a little business setting up new identities," Morris says.
"Those charges were dropped," Veronica protests.
"It all comes down to connections, Ms. Mars. Must be nice to have a dad in law enforcement who watches your back. Oh that's right, your dad's not in law enforcement anymore; something about a hard drive being erased while in his possession at the sheriff's department," Carney says sarcastically.
Veronica remains silent for a moment, then says, "You know, as much as fun as this is, I really have to get to class. Let me know if you have any other questions for me, and I'll be happy to answer them." She stands up and pointedly opens the dorm room door for the two agents to exit.
"Really nice to see you again, Ms. Mars," Morris says as they leave.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Eulogy
Hannah's memorial service.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Dr. Griffith: Rick Peters.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER TEN: "EULOGY"
Sat. 1/24/09: Neptune, CA
Veronica waits impatiently at the Sunset Cliffs apartment for Logan to pick her up for Hannah's memorial service. Logan called her two times in the last two days; both times he refused to say more than that he was doing alright and was keeping a low profile. She checks her phone again, but Logan has not called since the last time she checked thirty seconds ago.
Finally there is a car horn outside. She quickly checks to make sure that there are no reporters. She grabs her dark suit jacket that she bought for her FBI internship and puts in on over her conservative black dress. My funeral dress, she thinks. She's worn it to three funerals: Lilly's, Meg's, and her mother's. She dons her oversized sunglasses, acknowledging the cliché to herself, but nonetheless unwilling to exhibit her naked face to the world at this event.
Veronica slides into the backseat and joins Logan in the limo. She removes the sunglasses and kisses him. She pulls back to look at his face and is shocked at his haggard appearance, despite the expensive dark suit he is wearing. She subtly sniffs and is ashamed of her suspicions but relieved not to smell alcohol. "Logan, when's the last time you ate something?" she worries.
"I had breakfast this morning," he says shortly.
She doesn't believe him, but doesn't press the issue. "It's good to see you. Will you stay for the weekend? I've missed you, Logan." She leans against him. When he doesn't automatically put his arm around her, she takes his arm and places it over her shoulder.
"I think I'm going to go back right after the service," he replies.
She sits forward and turns to look at him. "Why are you pushing me away? You said you were scared I was going to run away again, and now you're the one who's running away."
"I'm not running away, I'm protecting you," Logan says vehemently.
"Protecting me? From some asshole reporters?" she responds angrily. "I don't need you to protect me. I do need to be with you. And Logan... You. Need. Me. Look at you. You haven't slept or eaten in how many days now?"
"I'm protecting you from me. All the women around me always get hurt, because of me," he bites off.
She is stunned into silence. Finally, she says, "What about the times you saved me? Beaver? The River Stix? MERCER??"
"Again, you're missing the point. You wouldn't have needed saving from the River Stix or Mercer if it hadn't been for me. And Beaver? Don't you think I should have noticed something was wrong with him? He's my best friend's brother; he tagged along with me and Dick that whole summer before senior year. I should have realized he was a psychopath. Yep, you can put me down as responsible for that one too."
Defeated, she slumps against the seat. What is going on? Is he breaking up with me? Why is he acting like this?
She tries again. With a superhuman effort, she keeps her voice calm. "Logan, all I know is that I love you, and I've never doubted that you loved me too."
"I've never? I've never...done anything to hurt my girlfriends," he says sarcastically, pantomiming drinking. "I've never...corrupted a naïve freshman." Again, he pretends to drink. "I've never...introduced my underaged girlfriend to my statutory rapist father. Shall I continue? There's probably not enough alcohol in the world for me to play this game right."
Veronica crosses her arms and huffs a breath, trying to think how to deal with this new incarnation of psychotic jackass...a psychotic jackass determined to punish himself. Her eyes fill with tears, and she tries valiantly to keep Logan from noticing.
Finally, he takes pity on her. "Veronica, all I want to do is protect you, and it seems that all I ever do is hurt you. I just...couldn't take it if anything happened to you." He reaches for her hand, and she hangs on for dear life.
As they approach the church where the memorial is being held, Veronica raps on the divider and asks the limo driver to stop. "Logan, I think it would be less obvious if we get out here and walk."
"All right," he agrees.
They exit the limo and, seeing a group of somberly dressed people ahead, rush to tag along, hoping to blend in with the crowd. Both Logan and Veronica put on sunglasses, though neither is optimistic that they will remain unrecognized. Logan struggles a little to keep up, leaning heavily on his cane. At the front of the church, Sheriff D'Amato and several deputies are posted, preventing reporters from entering and disturbing the memorial. Logan and Veronica nod at Leo and enter the church, sitting in a pew well to the back.
The church is packed with multitudes of curious onlookers unable to disguise their prurient interest in the latest Neptune scandal. The murmurs of the crowd are a constant humming background to the eulogies being given from the altar. Veronica discreetly looks around and is relieved to see that everyone's attention is on the grieving families at the front of the church: Hannah's mother, Stephanie Denenberg, sits on one side of the church with an older woman, presumably Hannah's grandmother; Dr. Tom Griffith sits on the other side with a woman and a baby. Did the cokehead doctor remarry? She tries to think if she heard anything about Griffith, but draws a blank. Why didn't the Fitzpatricks ever punish Griffith for not testifying against Logan? Maybe they did, and we just don't know about it. What the hell, we never figured out why they were so determined to frame Logan in the first place. She continues to scan the crowd, recognizing a few familiar faces from Neptune High School, including Principal Clemmons, Ms. James and several students whose names she does not recall.
She turns toward Logan. His eyes are closed, and she's certain he's still torturing himself with regrets about Hannah. She takes his hand, and Logan opens his eyes and regards her. She pulls his hand to her lips and gently kisses his hand. The faintest smile possible touches the corners of his lips, only to disappear immediately.
Several girls come up to the altar together. One approaches the lectern and speaks hesitantly. "We were on the track team with Hannah. She was the sweetest girl we ever knew, the best friend you could have; she was always ready to believe the best of everybody. It was hard for her when her parents got divorced; she loved them so much." The girl pauses, and stares at Dr. Griffith. "But we lost Hannah twice: when her parents took her away from us and now permanently to a horrible killer. She never did anything wrong, and she was punished as if she was a criminal. We loved you, Hannah. We miss you." The girls traipse down the steps of the altar, staring accusingly at Dr. Griffith as the crowd murmurs excitedly.
Logan reflexively tightens his hand into an angry fist in Veronica's hand; she caresses his hand until he relaxes.
Dr. Griffith stands and slowly makes his way to the altar. The gossiping silences, as the audience eagerly awaits. "I'd like to thank you all for coming today. Hannah was my jewel, my princess. She was a precious gift to her mother and me. When she began to have trouble with depression and anger, it was the hardest decision her mother and I ever had to make to send her away for help."
Veronica notices out of the corner of her eye that Ms. James frowns when she hears Dr. Griffith mention 'depression and anger'. The undercurrent of whispered gossip begins again.
Dr. Griffith continues, "Regrettably, we waited too long to get help for Hannah, and we lost her to god knows what horrors." His voice breaks, and he says, "I'm sorry...Hannah, we loved you so much, I'm sorry we couldn't help you." He covers his eyes with his hand, apparently weeping. The reverend stands and helps Dr. Griffith return to his seat in the front row.
Logan whispers intensely, "Liar."
Veronica turns to him and shushes him. "Don't," she says under her breath.
He looks at her with unfocused eyes, then his gaze clears, and he nods imperceptibly at her.
The reverend ends the service, and the family stands to leave the church first. As Dr. Griffith passes Veronica's and Logan's pew, he notices Logan and stops dead. "You. What the hell are you doing you here, you bastard?"
"I'm grieving for your daughter," Logan says, standing angrily. Veronica puts her hand on his arm and tries to force him to sit down. Logan continues spitefully, "Your precious jewel, the one you dragged to boarding school against her will."
"Logan, no!" Veronica says.
Dr. Griffith aims a punch at Logan's face. Instead of avoiding the blow, Logan allows it to land; he sags a little, then stands again, saying bitterly, "Go ahead, hit me again; you can't make me feel any worse than I already feel." Dr. Griffith complies, and Logan goes down. Reporters break past Sheriff D'Amato and his deputies, and the crowded church rushes to witness the spectacle at the back.
Veronica tries to go to Logan, but she is pushed aside as several people try to restrain Dr. Griffith, who continues to beat on Logan. She fights her way toward him, screaming, "Stop it!" She is buffeted by the throngs of people trying to get a look at the scene. Flashes from cameras blind her, and someone pushes her; Veronica is knocked off her feet, hitting her head on the edge of the pew. The world goes dark as she blacks out.
- • -
Sat. 1/24/09: Neptune, CA
"Honey? Open your eyes. Come on, Veronica, wake up," Keith says.
Veronica opens her eyes. She sees her dad staring at her with concern, and she realizes that she's in the emergency room.
"Honey? You got knocked out," Keith explains.
The doctor pulls the curtain shut around the bed and flashes a light in Veronica's eyes. "It's probably just a minor concussion but it's a good thing the paramedics brought you in to be sure."
Veronica asks, "Logan?"
"He's right here, honey," Keith says. Logan stands up and approaches the bed.
"You are such a jackass," she says quietly. "You practically begged him to hit you."
"That's me, I'm a jackass," he answers. "Are you okay?"
"Better than you, apparently," Veronica replies, noting his cut and swollen lip and black eye. She reaches up and touches his face tenderly. He winces. "What possessed you to bait him like that?"
"I'm going to discharge her. Keep an eye on her for the next twenty-four hours. Head injuries are unpredictable," the doctor says, leaving the area.
Veronica rolls her eyes and tries to sit up, but is hit with a wave of nausea and sinks back to the bed.
"Slowly, honey," Keith cautions her.
- • -
Sat. 1/24 - Sun. 1/25/09: Sunset Cliffs Apartments, Neptune, CA
The next twenty-four hours are a blur for Veronica. Keith brings her back to the Sunset Cliffs apartment and puts her to bed. Her head aches intensely. At one point, she thinks she hears Leo speaking with Logan in the living room. Then Logan comes in the bedroom and sits with her. She drowses off, unable to stay awake. Sometime later, Logan approaches the bed, kisses her, tells her he loves her, and leaves the bedroom. She falls into a deep sleep and does not wake until late in the afternoon the next day.
"Dad?" she calls. "Logan?" She manages to sit up. Her head throbs, but it's bearable.
"Honey, how do you feel today? You slept for almost twenty-four hours," Keith says concernedly.
"My head hurts a little, and I'm starving," she replies.
"Starving is good."
"Where's Logan?" she asks.
"He left yesterday around dinner time," Keith says slowly. "I told him that he should stay, but he just muttered about not wanting to be in the way and took off."
She repeats uncomprehendingly, "In the way?"
"Leo came by and asked him if he wanted to press charges against Dr. Griffith. Logan refused, said the grieving father defense is a pretty good one, and he doesn't need any more bad press. There were a lot of reporters outside, but most of them left when Logan did."
"That's why he left," she explains. "He was going on about protecting me and not wanting me to get hurt."
"He was very upset in the emergency room; he wouldn't let the doctors look at him until they examined you," Keith says gently.
"Get my phone, will you?" Veronica asks.
Keith finds her purse, which somehow survived the stampede at the church, and gives Veronica her cell.
The display reads 78 missed calls. The message waiting indicator is lit, and she scrolls through the menu. "54 voicemail messages and twenty text messages," she muses. She looks for Logan's number in the list of missed calls unsuccessfully, then peruses the text messages. She recognizes one as coming from Logan's cell.
The message reads:
Veronica, I love you so much, and all I ever do is hurt you. I'm going away for a while. Please don't try to find me. If I can figure this out, I'll come back. Know that I'll always love you. Your loving jackass, Logan
She lets the phone slip out of her fingers and begins to cry.