The Case Against Veronica
The next morning, Logan wakes up and heads downstairs in his PJ bottoms to eat. He is off today and was planning on going surfing with his friends. He is late and has missed the best waves but he needs to get out on the water. He walks down the front stairs and through the living room. Veronica has put away her coffee cup and his glass. There is no sign that she was there last night. He softly whistles for his dog. When he doesn't come, he wanders down the front hallway and checks the three bedrooms at the front of the house. He finds her sleeping peacefully in the bedroom farthest from the stairs. His heart skips a beat when he finds that she didn't even lock the door. She picked one of the smaller rooms with only a double bed. Sleeping beside her is Lariot. Veronica has her arm over him and her face is resting against his back. Standing in the doorway he has to admit that she looks really beautiful and innocent while she is asleep. Lariot seeing his master, wags his tail. Logan sees his dog has bonded with her. He clearly senses she is vulnerable and needs protection. Logan can relate. He sighs knowing that this is how Veronica must have felt when Back Up so obviously loved him. Logan leaves the door open so his dog can come out if he needs to go outside and he heads back towards the kitchen.
Logan makes some oatmeal, cuts up some fruit and toasts some brown bread. He has a cup of coffee and then cleans up after himself. He decides to head out to meet his friends and goes upstairs to change. When he comes back downstairs, Lariot is waiting by the back patio door. Logan disables the alarm and lets him out. He sips the last of his coffee while he waits for his dog to finish checking the yard and come back in. Logan pats his head and then goes to the garage. He packs his four wheel drive Jeep and loads his surfboard. He carries his cooler into the kitchen and fills his ice chest. As he carries the chest out to his Jeep, he hesitates. He is not sure if he should stay and try to talk to Veronica or just go about his day. After a brief pause, he heads out to the garage, loads his cooler, lets Lariot into the back of the Jeep and then gets inside himself.
On his way out of the complex, he stops and asks the guards if anyone came through the gate headed to his mansion yesterday. The guard looks at the list and tells Logan that no one visited him yesterday. Logan thanks him and drives off. It is clear that he won't be able to keep Veronica out even if he wanted to. He calls his security officer and asks him if anyone called him and asked for the gate security or house security code. He is told that no one called. Logan shakes his head. Too bad she didn't stay in the FBI, she is amazing!
After a great morning of surfing and lunch with some of his friends, Logan heads home. It is a beautiful day and he really enjoyed seeing his friends, surfing and relaxing. The guys invite him out clubbing and when he finds out they are going to Odyssey, he tells them he has plans. He doesn't want to be rebuffed at the door and then have to explain to his friends why he can't get them in a club he has been taking them to for weeks. They all know that Veronica owns the club and they will question why she won't let him in.
When he had been called in on this case, he had expressed his reservations that Veronica would even want to talk to him; much less confide in him. Apparently Agent Howard was right and Veronica seemed happy to see him. Once he had established trust with her, he had been systematically checking her home on his visits. He took her copy of the condo and business keys and had copies made. Since that time, other agents have been checking her condo while he focused on her office. Over the last week, he had been in her office alone a few times. He had planted a few bugs and had put a decoder into her USB port and broke her password. He had gotten a good look at the club and her personal finances. It is clear that Roscoe is filtering money through her club but they really don't have a definitive connection to the drugs. Now they have learned that she is getting money a significant amount of money each month from an overseas bank account into her personal account. In addition, she is making a lot of really lucrative investments with her personal money. They have more questions than answers.
Agent Howard had been very sure that he was the only one that would be able to get Veronica to admit who was giving her the money she got from overseas each month and how she was making so much money in her personal portfolio. The FBI was sure that once they knew what all she was up to, they could turn her for a bigger fish. Now she has shut him down.
Logan doesn't know what to think. The money from Roscoe each week as well as her dealings with known crime bosses was enough to make the authorities believe she is dirty. Now the large amount of money in the club and her personal accounts is damning. Originally he thought that she got in over head and the FBI could help her. Now he is not sure what to think She looked him in the eye and she told him she was not involved in any illegal activities. He really wants to believe she is telling him the truth but it is hard to believe her when the evidence is so clear that she is not a simple business woman. He imagines that is how she felt when she found out he lied about his alibi for Lilly's murder.
To top it all off, Agent Howard is sure the FBI has a mole. He believes that there is no way that Veronica made him to be FBI. Someone told her about the investigation and about Logan being an agent. Logan is wondering how she got the codes to get in his house and estate. He is worried that she has his personal cell phone number when only a handful of people have it.
He understands Veronica and two things are clear to him. Yesterday when she talked to him while he was wired, she effectively cut him from the case. Although his superiors are keeping him on the case, Logan understands that Veronica took him out of the front and he is going to be protected from any fallout if the case goes badly. Secondly, Veronica has a plan; she always has a plan. If she has her way, things are going to go very badly for his superiors on this case and she is making sure he is not going to be hurt by the fallout.
When Logan arrives home he is not sure if Veronica is still there or not. He has a very advanced alarm system. He can believe that she bypassed the front gate, his gate security and his electronic alarm system but he can't believe Lariot just let her in. Lariot is a very well trained guard dog. He doesn't let anyone in that Logan doesn't tell him is OK; yet he found Veronica sitting in his living room and his dog obviously trusts Veronica.
He comes into the kitchen through the garage and sees Veronica sitting at the island. She is wearing a deep royal blue skirt suit with a rose blouse. Her hair is up in a professional bun and she has only a touch of make up on. Her heels are high and she has her legs crossed as she sits at the island reading the paper looking completely at home as she drinks her coffee. He stops for a second and looks at her, watching as Lariot rushes over to greet her. Her face lights up as she leans down to pet him. It is really obvious that his dog loves her; his butt is wagging his tail. Logan shakes his head and leans against the door frame as he watches her happiness. She is cooing to Lariot telling him he is handsome. It reminds him of when she used to greet Back Up.
After she is done petting his dog, she leans up and says, "Good Morning Logan."
He straightens and walks towards her, "Good Afternoon."
Smiling she admits, "I have really become a night owl since I opened the club." Tilting her head she asks, "How was surfing?"
A smile graces his features as he admits, "It was great today." Stopping in front of her he asks, "Are you headed out?"
She nods at her suitcase which is by the front door and pronounces, "As promised, I am out of your hair in twenty more minutes." Reaching over, she takes his hand and tells him earnestly, 'Thank you for letting me crash here." Meeting his gaze she tells him, "It is the best sleep I have had in a long time."
Looking at her he sees that she looks rested. Making a decision to not tell his boss that Veronica showed up at his place, he says, "It can never happen again."
She nods, "You didn't get removed from the case now your all access pass has been revoked?"
Shaking his head he warns her, "You should be careful."
"It is not the FBI that makes me lose sleep," she shares quietly. Letting go of his arm, she calmly folds the paper and picks up her cup. Standing she goes over and dumps the rest of her coffee into the sink and puts her cup into the dishwasher. Looking at him from across the island she tells him sadly, "I tried calling you when I left the FBI." He looks puzzled. He didn't get any calls from her. She clarifies, "I called you for three days and then I gave up."
A little disbelieving he asks "When was this?"
Quietly she answers, "March 5th, 2007." He thinks back and realizes that he was on a training mission for the FBI.
Sadly he admits, "Training mission." He knows that she will understand how he had to be out of touch. Curious, he asks, "Why didn't you call Dick?"
Snorting a little she says, "I did."
Turning her back on him, she walks over to look out his patio. She wraps her arms around herself. Logan walks closer and asks, "What happened?"
Without looking away from the view, Veronica quietly tells him, "It was just another day that I learned a valuable life lesson." He goes to speak when his phone buzzes. Reaching in his pocket, he pulls out his phone as she informs him, "That would be my ride."
His eyes widen as he puts the phone to his ear and listens as the security guard at the front gate asks him if he ordered a limo. He tells them to let it through and asks her, "Who did you bring to my home?"
Frowning, she says a little impatiently, "Don't be stupid Logan. They are my people." She looks at him a moment and then tries, "I know that you probably won't heed my warning but you should stay away from this case Logan. Your bosses have not told you everything and you are operating in the dark."
"Tell me what I need to know then," he steps close and puts his hands on her arms gently rubbing them.
Shaking her head she warns, "Stay away from this Logan. I won't be able to protect you anymore."
When he starts to tell her that he doesn't need her protection she gives him a look. He goes quiet and she reaches up to caress his cheek. Her eyes are full of sadness but her voice is placid, "You might have the best horse but unfortunately the race is fixed and not in your favor." Reaching back to touch the hair on the back of his neck she looks up at him and swallows trying to keep her emotions in check. Her poker face is gone as she whispers, "I am sorry I fucked everything up between us in college. I will always regret letting you go. It was a turning point and now there is no going back." It almost seems like she is taking to herself at the end but her eyes focus back on him and she pronounces, "Logan Echolls, you are the guy who got away."
Touched and emotional himself, he answers, "You have always been the girl for me."
She tears up and bites her lip. He reads her emotions clearly in that moment. Gently putting her lips to his, she says, "Thank you for telling me that." Her phone buzzes and she sighs stepping away from him. Reaching into her pocket, she depresses a button on her phone . She looks up at him one more time and says, "Bye Logan. Take care of yourself." Then she resolutely turns away. Without looking back at him she walks over to the front door, picks up her suitcase and lets herself out. He watches as she walks out and gets in the limo. The driver let her in. He looks like security. There doesn't appear to be anyone in the back of the limo when she gets in. Logan automatically makes note of the license plate. He will get Mac to run it but he is almost sure that the security and the limo belongs to Veronica. She has millions of dollars in the bank. Her club is doing very well. She makes almost as much from her investments as she does at the club. Either she paid attention in FBLA in high school or she is getting some inside help.
The next few weeks, Logan does surveillance, listens carefully in meetings and sees that Veronica has occasional meetings with known associates of crime bosses and one drug boss frequents her night club every Saturday night. Logan has no further contact with Veronica. Mac tells him that Veronica did report Agent Howard but the file disappeared. There is only the barest mention of her going to the hospital after a bust. Veronica left the FBI soon after. Logan looks at the information Mac gave him and sees that the date is March 5, 2007. He carefully takes the names down of who was on that bust and the doctors who looked after Veronica in the hospital. He will find out what happened but he will have to be very careful.
The next time he was over visiting Dick, Logan asked him if Veronica called. He admitted that she came to his place looking for him. Shrugging he says, "You were gone on one of your retreats and I didn't want to bother you with her drama." Looking at his friend he tells him, "You are better off without her." Frowning Logan thinks about how Veronica tried to call him when she left the FBI. She might have been in the hospital when she first tried. Then she probably went to his place and Dick's looking for him. He is frustrated that Dick made the decision for him and tells him that in the future, he should pass on any messages and let him decide if they should be answered or not.
Dick looks his friend in the eyes and says, "Look how upset you are now you talked to her again. She is nothing but heartache for you."
Pissed Logan tells his best friend that Veronica was injured, in the hospital and needed him. He adds, "I would be mad at her if she didn't tell me you needed me." Logan decides to leave. There is no point trying to reason with him when he is so sure that Veronica needs to stay away from him. Dick watches his friend leave and sighs. He didn't know Veronica was actually in the hospital; he just thought she was back and going to bother Logan.
The FBI investigation into Veronica and her club has stalled. They can't definitively prove any wrongdoing with the money that Roscoe is putting into Veronica's club, they can't find out who is sending her money from overseas each month and they don't know how she is making so much money with her personal investments. They also don't know who tipped Veronica off that Logan is an agent. Of course Veronica is now extra careful to ensure that her condo and the club are safe for her operation.
Finally Veronica is brought in for questioning. She is put in an interrogation room and Logan watches through the one way mirror. Agent Howard walks in the room and sits across from her opening a file folder. Veronica doesn't even look at him. She looks at the one way glass where Logan is watching without expression on her face. When Agent Howard tells Veronica that he has been looking forward to this day for a while, she merely says in a bored tone, "Lawyer."
Logan sees her posture through the glass and sees that she is not happy to be alone in a room with Agent Howard. When he gets and walks behind Veronica, Logan finds himself stiffening in anger. How dare he get so close to her after what he did to her? Veronica doesn't move or even change the expression on her face but Logan can see her reaction to his nearness. He leans in behind her and whispers something very quietly in her ear. Veronica moves her head away but doesn't give any other reaction. Logan wants to run in there and pull Agent Howard away from her but he knows that now is not the time. Agent Howard is just trying to rattle her. He talks about how he never imagined when she left the service that she would become one of the people they have to arrest.
Veronica looks bored and intones, "I want to talk to my lawyer." When Agent Howard tells her they are not arresting her, they just want to talk to her, she looks at him and repeats, "I want my lawyer here."
He tells her that they have her on using her club to run drugs for Roscoe. He talks about the money she receives each month from overseas and how they know she laundering money. He waits for her to say something and when she doesn't, he tells her that out of personal respect for her, he is giving her the chance to make a deal. Watching closely Logan sees Veronica stretch her neck a little like she does when she is coming out of her skin. Logan also knows that most of the group will not notice her discomfort. He desperately wants to stop what has to be a horrible experience for her. She doesn't say a word until her lawyer comes. She doesn't respond to any of Agent Howard's comments on her club, her money or her not being able to hack it in the FBI. Logan listens very frustrated that Agent Howard is really treading on her rights. Finally the door opens and Veronica's lawyer walks in. He sits next to her and looks at Agent Howard as he says placidly, "I want to talk to my client alone."
The group all looks at him. Logan doesn't know what to think. He is very expensive and works almost exclusively for Zack Roscoe.
He leans in and says something in Veronica ear. She nods and then leans back waiting for Agent Howard to return. He makes them wait forty minutes. Neither moves or says anything. Logan admires their poise and patience.
When Agent Howard comes in he apologizes profusely for making them wait and then sits down. Neither looks upset or makes any complaints. Agent Howard starts asking Veronica questions about her business and it's connection to drugs and drug money. He asks her about the five thousand each week from Roscoe. Veronica tells him calmly that it is purely a business deal. He is an investor in the club. When Agent Howard accuses her of letting Roscoe sell drugs through her club, she frowns at him and denies any direct or indirect knowledge of any drug use in her club. He shows her the printout of her personal bank account and the one hundred thousand dollar per month deposits are highlighted. He points to the number from an overseas bank and asks her who is sending her the money. She tells him it was from a private donor who wishes to remain anonymous. He then asks her how she makes such a large rate of return from her investments. She merely tells him she took some business courses in university and has been very lucky so far in her investments. Agent Howard tells her that with letting Roscoe invest in her club and her money each month from her anonymous donor, she looks dirty. Veronica merely comments, "Well you would know what dirty looks like."
Her lawyer immediately intercedes and suggests that Agent Howard asks his next question. An hour later, Agent Howard leans closer to Veronica and comments that he knows her well and can see she is hiding something. Veronica says nothing and continues to look just past his shoulder. Finally when it is clear that he can't rattle Veronica, Agent Howard tells her this is her last chance to speak up. After this, she won't be given the opportunity to make a deal. Veronica has nothing to say and her lawyer asks if the questioning is over. When he is told that it is, he stands and prepares to leave. He smoothly gives Agent Howard his card and tells him that if he wants to talk to his client again, to call him first. Veronica stands when the lawyer politely pulls out her chair. She doesn't look at Agent Howard or the window again as she leaves. Logan watching out the window of the building sees Veronica get into a limo with her lawyer. It is hard to believe in her when she hangs with the mob and his crooked lawyer.
In the meeting after the interview, Agent Howard and the rest of the team are sure that Veronica Mars is accepting drug money from Roscoe and believe that she also laundering money from the overseas bank. They still haven't been able to tie the money from Roscoe to drugs but they all believe it is. The DA doesn't think they have enough to charge Veronica. They really need Veronica to turn. Logan, as he listens, keeps his mind on the facts and tries to relegate his feelings about what they are saying about Veronica to the back of his mind. This Veronica is not the girl he used to know. This Veronica left the FBI and she is choosing the life she has now. She could have worked with her father or gone back to college. She has made her choices. Now it looks like she is going to have to accept the consequences of them.