The text from Keith said for them to come and pick up Veronica's car at 9:00 am, and that they all needed to "talk." Logan didn't like the sound of that, but Veronica assured him it was probably nothing.
When Keith opened the door, it looked like he hadn't slept all night. He had shaved and showered that morning but he still seemed haggard. "What's wrong?" Snapped Veronica, before she even said hello.
Keith pulled the door wider to let the couple in. "Have a seat in the living room. I have something big to tell you."
Veronica reached for Logan and they crossed the house and sat together on the couch. Keith chose to stand, pacing a bit before talking.
"I found something out last night about Duncan." He began, choosing his words carefully. "I debated even telling you but you need to know so you both know what we are dealing with." He stood still and stared at the couple, fear in his eyes.
"Dad, just tell us, please. You're scaring me." Said Veronica, her eyes wide and her fingers digging into Logan's palm.
Keith closed his eyes, what he heard last night coming back in his head like a nightmare. "Duncan is molesting Lilly." He said quietly. "I overheard it last night."
The words hit Veronica like a wave. The first crash knocked the wind out of her. The second made her sick. Jumping up from her seat, she dropped Logan's hand and ran to the kitchen sink, where she lost her breakfast. Logan was behind her a few seconds later, taking her hair back from her face and rubbing her back. When she pulled her head up again she was sobbing.
"I helped him take her away from Neptune!" She cried. "I handed that poor, sweet baby to a MONSTER!"
Logan quickly wrapped her in his arms. "You didn't know he was capable of this. No one would guess he was capable of this." He said, still in shock.
Keith walked into the kitchen. "Don't you DARE take this on yourself, Veronica. This man IS a monster, but there was no indication that he would be like this when you were younger."
Veronica laughed ironically. "How about raping me when I was unconscious. That's pretty deranged. If only I recognized that he was lying to me back then, I wouldn't have gone back to him and helped him take Lilly away." A fresh round of angry tears sprang up. "Someone needs to stop that asshole. Someone needs to do something, now!"
Keith put up his hand. "Veronica, I know how upsetting this is, but we need to talk and come up with a plan. Come and sit down. There is more I have to tell you."
Veronica got a hold of herself and let Logan lead her back to the couch. Her head was filled with both rage and sorrow as she tried to focus on the task at hand.
Once they were settled, Keith sat down with them and continued. "There is one person protecting Lilly right now – Clarence Wiedman. He interrupted Duncan in his bedroom and rescued Lilly before a lot more happened. From the sounds of it, he has known about it since they lived in Australia. That is why he was working to bring them back to the U.S. before Jake was killed; he wanted Jake to take care of the situation." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Except it sounds like Wiedman doesn't know what to do, now that Jake is gone."
There was silence as everyone contemplated their next move. "We have to reach out to C.W." Began Veronica. "He needs to know that someone else knows and can be an ally in trying to protect Lilly."
"You are right, but I need to be the one who talks to him." Corrected Keith. "One of the reasons I am telling you this is because I want you to know that Duncan truly is operating without morals or filter. He could do anything at any time to you or Logan. A man that would do that..." He choked on his words. "...to his own daughter is capable of anything."
Veronica and Logan knew he was right. He slipped his arm around his wife and kissed the side of her head. "We have to go into this with our heads, not our emotions." He said quietly.
Keith nodded. "Exactly. Now, I have been up all night trying to think of some way to take Duncan out of the picture: frame him for something, ship him off somewhere, anything to get him away from Lilly. My tapes would be inadmissible in court and I'm pretty sure Lamb can be bought. Any other ideas?"
Veronica's brain kicked into overdrive. She leaned forward, towards her dad. "Okay...first things first. We need a burner phone so you can contact Weidman without it being traced. Mac can delete the records so it can't be connected to Dad if something happens later on." She looked from her Dad to Logan and back again. "Set up the meeting with Weidman somewhere we control, but he doesn't know we do."
Logan smiled. "The Purple Onion?"
His wife smiled back. "Exactly."
Keith frowned. "The strip club off the boardwalk? How do we control that?"
Logan laughed. "I own it. Correction...Dick owned it and now I own it. We have used the VIP room several times for meetings. It's safe – the bouncer checks people for weapons. No windows, one door. No one notices you because it's so dark. And no recording devices allowed."
"Fine. This is good." Said Keith, starting to formulate a plan in his head.
"What is your best-outcome/worst-outcome for this, Dad?" Veronica asked.
Keith rubbed his tired eyes. "Best outcome: Weidman agrees to help send Duncan away for a long time. Worst case: he makes one of us take the fall for setting Duncan up." He looked at his daughter, his face deadly serious. "I know he wants to help Lilly, we just have to make sure none of us become part of his plan."
Veronica nodded. Logan took his chance to speak. "What about Veronica? Did he say anything about her?"
Keith dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to look at his daughter as he spoke. "Yes. He mentioned her. He told Lilly that he was doing this to her because he didn't have Veronica to keep him 'happy.'" He rubbed his face with his palms and continued. "Which makes me think that his plan for you is driven by some deviant sexual impulses. So we need to make sure he doesn't get anywhere near you."
Veronica closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her argument with Duncan all those years ago, at his front door, flashed through her head. His revelation that he had sex with her, even though he thought she was his sister. Deviant impulses indeed, no matter how stoned and drunk he was. "At the time he raped me, he was still under the belief that I was his half-sister. I think we can safely say that he is not above thinking incest is okay." She said out loud.
Everyone thought about her comment for a moment. She was right. The signs were there, all those years ago. This was just the final act of this terrible Greek tragedy.
"We need to go away." Interjected Logan into the silence.
Veronica turned to her husband. "I can't. Now that I know what is happening to Lilly, I can't go away." Logan opened his mouth to speak but she started talking again. "Please. We have argued enough in the past two days. I don't want this to be a fight. I will not go out alone. I will have you or someone else with me at all times. I will swallow a GPS device. I will check in with you every half hour. I will do everything I can to be safe, but I can't leave. Not now." She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. He was frowning.
"Fine. We won't fight. But promise me that you won't do anything on your own to try and 'handle' this." Logan grumbled.
Veronica smiled. "Thank you. I promise, I won't try and handle this." She turned back to her father. "Dad...go to sleep. We'll go back to the office and arrange things with Mac, then come back with the phone in a few hours."
Keith nodded. "Okay. Alicia is out running errands. I have the system recording the Kane mansion. Duncan is currently out, as is Weidman...but they are not together." He took a deep breath. "Call me and wake me up before you come back. And bring coffee."
Veronica rose and came around to her father and kissed his bald head. "I love you, dad." She said, looking down at him.
He took her hand and kissed it tenderly. The thought that Duncan had touched his daughter filled him with a rage that was indescribable. But he would never let her see it. "I love you too. See you both soon."
Logan got up and gave a small salute to his father-in-law before taking Veronica's hand and walking out the front door.
Keith leaned back in his chair. He thought about how far he would may need to go to protect his family from Duncan. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he may need to take the law into his own hands.
When Veronica and Logan returned later that day, with the equipment and coffee, Keith was rested and back at the computer. Veronica sat in the other chair near the computer, listening on the headphones with one ear, while Logan leaned against the wall close by. Keith sat, staring at the text display, mentally composing what to write to Weidman, who was currently discussing Kane Software business with Duncan.
The work conversation ended and the tone of Duncan's voice changed. "I'll be going up to the cabin tomorrow to check on the supplies in the refrigerator and bring some more items for Veronica's stay."
Veronica's heart went cold. "They're talking about me." She said in a monotone and unplugged the headphones so everyone could hear.
"Sir. I thought she rejected your offer to stay with you there."
"Once she sees how beautiful it is, she won't be able to leave. I just have to get her up there." He paused. "You've been very helpful thus far, C.W. but I think I need to do this myself. I have a plan that I have set in motion with some of the contacts you gave me. I think you need to focus on the business and keeping Lilly safe. I'll take care of Veronica."
Panic began to rise in Weidmen's voice. "What are you planning to do, Mr. Kane?"
Duncan laughed. "Don't worry about it. You have other concerns right now." He said and moved his chair. "You can go."
"Shit." Muttered Logan. "He's now operating without Weidman keeping him in check." He walked over and put his hands on his wife's shoulders.
Veronica plugged the headphones back in, her hand shaking slightly. Not making eye contact with anyone, she quietly put the headphone back on and continued listening to the rustling of papers.
"We need to end this. Quickly." Keith said, looking from Veronica to Logan. He then looked down at the phone and began to text.
I know about what Mr. Kane is doing to his daughter. I can help make it stop.
He let the text sit for a moment. There was a response almost immediately.
Who is this?
A friend. We need to meet.
When and where?
The Purple Onion. 17:00. No weapons. No cell phones. No listening devices. Tell them you are there for a 'meeting.'
Fine. I will meet you then.
Keith looked at the couple. "Meeting Weidmen at the club at 5:00 pm."
Logan nodded. "I'll set it up." He said and looked down to Veronica.
Veronica was listening so intensely that she didn't notice the men talking. Logan tapped her on the shoulder and she looked up. "He's texting someone. His alert keeps going off every minute or so." She turned to Logan. "Whatever he may be planning for me, he may be arranging outside the area we are monitoring."
Logan nodded. "Then we step it up. I'll call the club to arrange the meeting, you call Mac and get her to hack into his texts, and let her know she can erase the conversation between your dad and C.W."
Veronica handed her headphones over to Keith, her eyes were sad and serious. "Okay. I'll call her from the other room." She stood and picked up her purse. Walking past Logan, she lowered her head so he wouldn't see her expression, allowing herself to get lost in her own mind. Logan made eye contact with Keith, both of them knowing that Veronica overthinking things could mean trouble.
The couple were gone a few minutes, allowing Keith to continue listening to the silence and contemplate his meeting that evening. Logan returned first. "Everything is arranged at the club. If you show up at 4:30, the manager, Seth, will meet you and show you the room."
Veronica came around him. "Good. We can get there around the same time and wait in the office." She said, standing beside Logan, her arms crossed.
Keith swivelled his chair towards the couple. "No. You can stay at home and I will call you when it's done." He said, carrying his best 'dad' tone in his voice.
Veronica stepped forward. "Dad..." She started.
Keith Mars stood, his face growing angry. "Do NOT fight me on this, Veronica!"
Veronica took one step toward her father, setting her shoulders back for a brawl. "I need to..."
"NO!" Keith barked, making her jump slightly. "I will only involve you as needed, other than that, stay out of my way, do you hear me?"
"I want to but..." She tried again, narrowing her eyes for the push-back.
"For Christ's sake, Veronica! I said NO!" Keith stepped up to her, his voice vibrating with anger. "I have already lost my grandchild, I will NOT lose you too because of this man! This disgusting human being will not touch you or any other girl again, when I am done with him! But you need to listen to me and stay out of this!" He screamed.
Veronica was too shocked to react. She wanted to cry. She wanted to run. She wanted to crawl into a little ball and hide. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and whispered. "I'm sorry dad. I'll stay away. I promise. You won't lose me."
Keith wrapped his arms around her, tears springing to his eyes. "I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, Dad." She responded, her heart pounding in her chest.
After a minute, Veronica pulled out of the embrace. "We'll go home. Call me when you are done, just so I know you'received okay?" She asked and kissed him on the cheek.
Keith nodded, too emotional to speak any more. Veronica turned and extended her hand to Logan. He took it, his face deadly serious, and nodded to Keith. The couple then headed through the house and out the front door. They both quietly climbed into the Range Rover, with Logan in the drivers seat. Only once the doors were locked did she exhale loudly.
"Fuck." She intoned and leaned back.
"Ditto." Responded Logan.
"Now what do we do?" She asked. "I may go insane in the next few hours, waiting to see how the meeting goes."
Logan arched one eyebrow. "I have an idea." He said with a grin and started the engine. Veronica scowled. What was her husband up to now?
Veronica's crotch was inches away from Logan's face. She was breathing hard and she could see the sweat on his brow.
"Had enough?" She looked up and asked, twisting her legs harder around his neck and chest.
"Have you?" He gasped, still attempting to wriggle out of her powerful hold.
"Yes." She said and released her legs. He dropped on the workout mat. She lay her head down and began panting at the ceiling. They both stayed, unmoving, for a time, composing themselves before Logan rose and went to the fridge for two bottles of water. He returned and lay down on his side, next to his wife, handing her one bottle.
"Not bad for someone who hasn't done it in a while." He said and took a long sip of his water.
Veronica sat up cross-legged in her shorts and sports bra. "Thanks. We really should get back into the habit of practicing my self defence moves once a month. And I should start working out again." She removed the cap off her bottle and took big swig.
Logan smiled. "I think the last time we practiced together we ended up having sex on the weight bench." He laughed.
"I thought we weren't going to talk about that again! I mean really, how fucked up is it that we were turned on by trying to beat the snot out of each other." Veronica chastised him.
"Speak for your own kink...I was turned on by my sweaty fiancée rolling around on top of me...holding me down...putting your pussy so close I could..." Logan's voice changed to a husky whisper as he inched closer to her ear.
Veronica laughed and scooted away a bit. Logan gave her a lascivious smile and a wink. She shook her head and stood, offering her hand to him. "Come on. I need a long hot bath and you need a cold shower."
Logan took her hand and popped up to a standing position. His t-shirt was dishevelled and his shorts showed an obvious bulge. They both took in the sight of his erection; Veronica giggling a bit. "Cold shower. Good." He said and walked up to her, throwing a sweaty arm around her shoulders. The couple then made their way out the elevator and upstairs to the loft.
Across town, Keith sat at a lone table and chair, sipped his scotch neat, waiting for his guest to arrive. Scenarios ran through his head of what could transpire, and he individually made his peace with them.
He got there early and had already memorized every detail if the room; the bright purple walls, the mirrors and spotlights on the ceiling, the leather couches and chairs, the chunky black end tables. This may be the scene of his last stand, he thought.
When the door opened Keith looked up, but made no other move as Seth entered, followed closely by Clarence Wiedman. Wiedman approached, showing no emotion and sat down at the table across from Keith. There was a pause as they considered who would be the first to speak.
"Drink?" Asked Keith and took another sip of his.
"No. Thank you." Replied Wiedman.
Keith nodded at Seth and the young man proceeded to leave the room quietly.
"He needs to be stopped." Said Keith, leaning across the table.
Wiedman nodded. "I know."
"Any ideas?" Asked Keith.
"A few." Answer Wiedman. "Do you have any ideas?"
"A few." Keith arched his eyebrow. "Any of your ideas...will they keep him away from my daughter and her family, permanently?"
Wiedman leaned closer to Keith. "Yes. Veronica and Lilly will no longer need to worry."
Keith paused. Wiedman was serious. He could see it in the man's eyes. "Good."