Goren excitedly called Logan's attention one brisk Monday morning. "Look what I found.!"
"What?", said a weary Logan. "The little creep! I ran his prints through Connecticut. He has two bicycle thefts on his sheet." Logan stood there confused. "Don't you get it?" Bobby said. Three strikes and you're out! Driver could use this as leverage to make him roll.
"I know," said Logan. But I want him to do time, serious time."
"So do I", said Bobby. " But we both know how hard it is to get a rapist convicted. Especially…" his voice trailing off knowing he had walked into it and couldn't walk out.
"Especially what?" said Logan, his voice rising. "Because she let him in our house she wanted it? That makes my daughter a slut?"
"No! But you know how hard it will be for Driver to make it stick". "Logan," Bobby whispered, "They knew each other. They kissed before. Harvest has already been dragged through the mud. This could be the ticket out. You know I want justice for her."
"I'll talk to her,"said Logan.
Hours later at the Logan residence
"Honey," Logan tentatively said as they sat at their dinner table, "there's been a development in the case. It could work for us but I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do.
'"What?" she said.
"They've discovered he stole bicycles in Connecticut. I'm pretty sure Terri Driver would offer him a deal for a lighter sentence."
"Bicycles? That's what my body, my life, my dignity is worth? Bicycles?
"I know," Logan said, in the quietest of tones.
"I want him to do time!"she yelled as Logan had his head down. "What do you want? Do you want this over quick and easy?"
"I want what's best for you," he said quietly.
"What is best for me?", she cried. To know that he'll get off scot free unless I take a deal that wouldn't even happen if he hadn't stolen a lousy bicycle?" My body is worth no more than rusted metal and even less without it? He pushed me on the floor, he shoved himself inside me, and this is the best that I get!"
"You don't have to.. but you've been through so much already.." Logan offered.
"Don't you mean YOU have?" she cried.
"Yes, I have, but this is about you. Don't you think this has been hell on me too? Don't you think I've had to fight the urge to kill him?!"
His tone softened again. "You want to go back into that courtroom. I'll support you. You want to call an end to this now I'll support you."
He put his arm on her shoulder as she was still shaking."The place he would go to is not paradise. He would do some time."
"Some. And then have it expunged just in time for college."
"I don't know about that. But you would get some justice and peace. I think it would be a lot easier on you."
"Easy is dead."
After a moment she pushed her plate away. "I'll think about it."
He stewed over his macaroni, alone at the table. No matter what he did lately he never felt like Father of the Year.
"