CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Veronica stripped and stepped into the shower. It was a long and frustrating day. She'd started with the hotels within walking distance of the Sandpiper Lounge and worked her way out from there and nothing. Not one clerk remembered seeing Piz. Nor was he a registered guest at any of them. Of course, she assumed that he was staying under a false name, but what name, was anybody's guess. Her plan was to take a break and head back tonight with her picture of Piz; first, to the lounge itself and then back to the hotels to see if any of the night staff recognized him.
She'd just finished towel drying her hair when the pounding on the front door started. Dick's exclaimed, "what the hell?" was answered with, "warrant." Veronica recognized Lamb's voice. She tugged Logan's shirt over her head seconds before Dan Lamb threw open the bedroom door. Two deputies she didn't know were standing behind him.
"We have a warrant to search the premises." He advanced on her, "and a warrant to arrest you." Lamb grabbed her arm and spun her away from him so she was facing the wall. With his foot he kicked her legs apart. His hands roamed down her body, traveled each of her bare legs, first down and then back up. She clearly wasn't armed since she was naked except for the shirt, but it didn't stop Lamb from assaulting her under the guise of a 'frisk.' "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
Veronica tuned him out. She could recite the Miranda warning in her sleep. Instead she thought about the forensic report and the waiting on results of the sweater found at the SDCC notation. Whatever the results, they were enough to give him probable cause for the search and arrest warrants. For the first time in a long time, she was scared. Lamb handcuffed her before dragging her from the bedroom.
Dick came barreling toward them, "what the fuck are you doing?"
"She is under arrest for the murder of Stosh Piznarski."
"Dude, at least let her put some clothes on." Dick blocked their path and gave no signs of moving any time soon.
"If you don't get out of my way, I will arrest you too."
Dick opened his mouth to argue and Veronica shook her head. She had no doubt that Lamb would carry through with his threat to arrest Dick. "It's okay, just move."
He shot Lamb a nasty look, but reluctantly stepped out of the way. "Don't worry Ronnie; I'll get you a lawyer."
Lamb sneered, "she's gonna need a good one. I've got her dead to rights on this." He took her outside and shoved her in the police car. Then he proceeded to make her wait while they finished their search. Finally he climbed into the driver's side. He held up a plastic evidence bag with a 9mm Ruger inside. Veronica felt her stomach drop, this was not good. "I couldn't get your boyfriend, but I've got you, Veronica Mars."
He started to drive. When they pulled up to the station she understood why the long wait at the house. It was so they could time their arrival for the evening news. The perp walk wearing next to nothing was meant to humiliate her, like she humiliated him on national television. Plus there was the added advantage of it being too late for her to have an arraignment hearing.
Not that it mattered in her case. A regular murder charge had a set bail amount of a million dollars, which would require her putting up a non-refundable down payment of one hundred thousand dollars, plus having the assets to secure the bond. Even if that were in the realm of possibility, the D.A. was probably going to charge her with special circumstances, capital murder. They were going to contend that she murdered Piz for financial gain. Special circumstances meant no bond.
Lamb walked her right through the center of the reporters. Veronica wondered when he called them. On his way to arrest her, or once he had her in custody. It was hard being pulled through the crowd in handcuffs while simultaneously trying to keep the t-shirt covering the essentials. They were probably going to charge her for indecent exposure too.
Once they were at the door, Lamb passed her off to one of the deputies for booking so he could take his spotlight. They took her fingerprints and mugshot and put her in a holding cell. Thankfully she was alone, but she was freezing and starving and a little dizzy. Veronica sat on the bottom bunk, pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled the shirt over them. It was going to be a long night.
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. There was little chance of her falling asleep. Dick would probably call her dad and he would show up with the only lawyer they knew and could afford, Cliff. Somehow that sweater must have traced back to her and now there was the gun they "found" at Dick's house. While she thought her arrest was inevitable, she'd been hoping for more time. Now she was going to have to rely on her dad to clear her name and get her out of this.
"Veronica?" She'd lost all track of time. It could've been twenty minutes, or twenty hours, but the sight of Norris filled her with relief.
"Have you come to bust me out of this joint?" Her attempt at levity failed and she realized just how close she'd been to crying.
"Thought you could use these," he pushed blue prison scrubs through the bars along with a pair of white canvas shoes, "they are the smallest I could find. Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"I'll be right back."
The few extra pregnancy pounds were enough to hold up the pants. She cuffed the bottoms and put on the shoes, but she passed on the shirt. Wearing Logan's shirt gave her a modicum of comfort. When Norris returned he passed a large paper sack through the bars. The bag he handed her held a chicken parmesan hero, a container of pasta salad, two bags of potato chips, sugar cookies, an apple, and a large bottle of chocolate milk. "Is this your dinner?"
"Don't worry about it Veronica. I can always get something else. You," he tapped the bars, "can't go anywhere."
"How long have I been down here?"
"Few hours."
"How bad is it?"
"Maybe you should eat first."
"That bad, huh?" She took his advice and bit into the sandwich. It was like heaven in her mouth. Then again, she was so hungry; the canvas shoes probably would have tasted good. In between bites of sandwich she alternated between chips and sips of the chocolate milk. Once she was done with the sandwich and both bags of chips, she started on the pasta salad.
"I'm in awe. How does such a little person eat so much?"
"I got mad food skills." She saved the apple and cookies for later. "Okay, break it to me, what does he have?"
"They found a bloody sweater and gloves in a trash bin at the San Diego Convention Center. DNA on the sweater came back this morning, two donors. The blood belonged to Stosh Piznarski and the other DNA was yours. Before you ask, an anonymous tip led them to the clothes."
Veronica wondered about the prenatal care in prison. It wouldn't be as good as the über expensive ob/gyn she was currently seeing, but maybe Logan could pay extra for special house calls. Or would they be prison calls?
"Hey Norris, her attorney is here."
He disappeared from view. Veronica pressed herself against the bars for a better look, but it wasn't the men she was expecting to see. Instead it was Dick and an older gentleman. He was dressed in slacks, a polo shirt and topsiders, casual, but expensive. "Told you I'd get you a lawyer, Ronnie."
"You could have just called my dad."
"Are you crazy? If I didn't get you the best money could buy, Logan would've kicked my ass, especially now."
"Thanks, Dick, I…what do you mean, especially now?"
He gave her a duh look, "uh, since you're preggers."
"Logan told you?"
"Ronnie. This is Dick you're talking to, boob expert, and those," he pointed at her chest, "are baby boobs."
"While this is a riveting conversation, I need to discuss the arraignment and bond hearing with my client."
Veronica scoffed, "bond."
Dick jerked his thumb toward the lawyer, "that's what Mr. Thousand Dollars an Hour is here for, to get you out."
"And I can't do that while you're still present, Mr. Casablancas. I need to speak to my client, alone."
"Whatevs." Dick sauntered away.
When they were alone he introduced himself as David Bartlitt and Veronica was floored. She knew David Bartlit, everyone knew David Bartlitt, by reputation alone. He was the top of the criminal defense food chain, up there with F. Lee Bailey, Alan Dershowitz, and the late Johnny Cochran. When Dick said the best money could buy, he wasn't kidding around.
He explained the charges to Veronica. It was as she suspected- murder with special circumstances due to reasons of financial gain. His plan was to get the special circumstances dropped so he could request bail. The way he moved on to "once that is accomplished" made it seem like a foregone conclusion that he would be victorious in his argument, he would ask for bail to be set. He warned her that while at a minimum it would be a million dollars, the judge would probably ask for more.
"I can't post that kind of bail."
"Mr. Casablancas has agreed to take care of it, which is why I've already scheduled a 1275 Hearing." His confidence was soothing. "My paralegals are gathering the paperwork we'll need, but it won't be a problem with Mr. Casablancas' resources. Are you familiar with a 1275 Hearing?"
He didn't wait for her answer. "Since the bond needs to be collateralized with real property equal to one hundred and fifty percent of the bail, the purpose of the hearing is to make sure the funds weren't obtained illegally."
"How much do you think the judge will ask for?"
"In my experience he will ask for five, and I will get him down to three."
"Three million?" The math was easy, a non-refundable down payment of three hundred grand and security worth $4.5 million. Veronica felt ill.
He glanced at his Patek Philippe watch, "I will meet you at the courthouse in the morning. In the meantime, try to get some rest." His eyes moved past her to the cell beyond, "I will make sure they bring you pillows and blankets and something to eat."
"Thanks."
"Don't talk to anybody, including your friend Deputy Clayton. If they try to interrogate you, insist on having your lawyer present and either I or one of my associates will be here. I'm serious Miss Mars, not one word to anyone."
Treatment post-lawyer visit was a complete 180-degree difference. Two deputies entered her cell, one bearing sheets, blankets, and pillows and the other a tray of hot food. They pulled the mattress from the top bunk and added it to the second bunk for extra comfort and made her bed. "Are you going to tuck me in too? Do I get a mint?"
Not one word probably included her sarcastic, snappy comments, but the deputies didn't seem all that interested in her witty repartee anyway. They left her alone and the time ticked slowly toward dawn. Veronica managed some sleep, but she felt worn down and ragged by the time they came to collect her for her day in court.
The scales of justice in Neptune were unequally balanced, but this time they were tipped in her favor. Her arraignment was handled with little fanfare; charges were read, her plea of 'not guilty' was entered, and she was to be held without bond. Then things got interesting. David Bartlitt was impressive to watch. He moved through the courthouse like it was his own personal chessboard and he was a grandmaster player.
A different judge was hearing his motions to quash the special circumstances and to request bond. When they entered the courtroom, her dad, Mac, Wallace, and Dick were in the first row of seats behind the defense table. Another familiar face was on her side of the room, a few rows back- Dottie. Veronica smiled, "my very own cheering section."
"Are you okay honey?" Dad looked worse than Veronica felt. If their daughter caused even half as much trouble as her parents, both she and Logan would be completely gray by thirty-five.
"Don't worry about me- three hots and a cot with plenty of yard time." Keith scowled at her. "Too soon?"
The District Attorney made his argument for the special circumstances. Veronica murdered Piz to get her hands on his two hundred and fifty thousand dollar life insurance policy. It was a premeditated, cold-blooded killing for profit. Bartlitt called it implausible. "To wit, Miss Mars is engaged to Logan Echolls and, as such, she is his Attorney-in-Fact with access to funds in excess of fifty million dollars." He entered the Power of Attorney and bank records into evidence. He argued that it was "highly unlikely" she would kill someone for the "paltry" sum of money she would receive from the life insurance. He then produced a sworn affidavit from the insurance investigator, Chris Holley, attesting to the fact that from his initial investigation Veronica was "unaware of the policy" and had "made no claims" against it.
His easy conversational style with the judge made it seem like they were old friends and that this was clearly a show for the prosecution. The judge dismissed the special circumstances and moved on to the matter of bail. No surprise, the District Attorney was adamantly opposed.
Again, David Bartlitt was well prepared. There must have been a bevy of paralegals and associates working through the night to prepare. Veronica could practically see the legal fees spinning out of control like the numbers going up on a gas pump. He gave the standard; my client poses no flight risk, ties to the community speech and offered the surrender of her passport. Then he mentioned that she was "currently in escrow on a new home."
She thought the argument lacked flair and apparently so did the District Attorney who brought up Duncan Kane and the suspicion that she helped him flee the country on more than one occasion. He contended that a surrendered passport would do little to stop Veronica Mars from fleeing jurisdiction.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think His Honor is interested in your groundless accusations and wild speculation. This is about the facts of the case." Now that he'd silenced his opponent, he moved in for the coup de grace. "Your Honor, my client is an innocent, pregnant woman, who does not deserve to spend even one more night behind bars."
Dear Modern Maternity, how do I tell my two best friends I'm having a baby? Signed, Locked Up and Knocked Up. Dear Locked Up and Knocked Up, Have your attorney do it in open court.
The judge set bail at five million and Bartlitt countered with the three million. After providing him with proof of her "access to over fifty million dollars," Veronica didn't see how he was going get the reduction, but with a little fancy legal footwork regarding "terms of the trust," he got the judge down to three. He also got him to waive the need for a 1275 Hearing and they were done.
"Pregnant?" was the first word out of Mac's mouth.
"Really, that's what you're choosing to focus on? Accused of murder, recent millionaire, engaged to Logan Echolls, buying a house, and you pick pregnant?"
"Oh I was going to get to those too."
Dottie chose that moment to join them and Veronica gave her a big hug for both showing up and for saving her from The Awkward Inquisition. She introduced Dottie to everyone.
Bartlitt interrupted the festivities and said he would take care of processing her bond and that he would be in touch regarding a meeting to plan her defense. Veronica hoped the only planning meeting necessary would be for her "you're not going to jail party," which she would throw as soon as she caught Piz's killer.
Her dad pulled her close to his side, "Dottie thought you might be hungry and suggested lunch. What do you say rich lady, want to treat us to a meal?"
Inspiration struck and she looked at Dick, "maybe Mr. Casablancas will take us to his restaurant, he owns five of them you know." Now that everyone was focused on the fact that Dick actually had a job, instead of her courtroom bombshells, Veronica relaxed. It didn't last. On their way out of the courthouse she saw the headline of The Neptune Register: Neptune's Own Bonnie & Clyde.
She plucked the paper off the bench. A photo of her and Logan from high school with the caption, Deadly Lovers was featured along with each of their mugshots; his for Bonnie's murder and hers from last night.
Veronica Mars was arrested last night on charges that she murdered her ex-boyfriend, Stosh Piznarski to collect on his life insurance policy. Ms. Mars is expected to be charged with special circumstances for the cold-blooded killing and held without bond. Just a few short months ago, Logan Echolls, son of movie star, Aaron Echolls was also charged with murder in the killing of his famous popstar girlfriend.
Ms. Mars has a long and sordid history with the notorious bad boy. Friends since the age of twelve, the couple began dating in high school and continued their romantic relationship through college. Recently the couple has been seen around town and rumors suggest that they are in fact back together. Now that this deadly couple has been reunited it can only mean bad things are in store for the city of Neptune.