FIC: YLD2 (54-66/151) (NC-17)

[vanessagalore]

Previously on The Year of Living Dangerously Part II [Spoilers for chapters 1-53]

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Illegitimi Non Carborundum
Evidence that the paparazzi are still
stalking Logan surfaces; Wallace
asks Weevil for help.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
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CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: "ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM"

Mon. 3/2/09: Venice Beach, CA

Now that Logan has decided to return to Neptune with Veronica, he considers whether he should take his own car and follow her. Veronica vetoes the idea, saying that his BMW being moved would alert the paparazzi that he's back in town.

Logan thinks a moment, then says, "What do you think about another headline story of Logan Echolls being a bad boy in Europe?"

"What do you mean?" she asks.

"Well, that guy Jason Dohring is still being paid to be me for another week or so. I could tell Harvey Greenblatt that I need Dohring to do something newsworthy again. A bar fight, partying with Amy Winehouse, or maybe hitting on Heidi Montag," Logan suggests. "Just to keep the paparazzi thinking that I'm still out of the country."

"In case someone recognizes you, they'll think it can't be, since they heard that Logan Echolls was acting out again in...where is it that you'll be exactly?"

He replies, "I think I'm in Paris for the ready-to-wear fashion week."

"I'm a little scared that you know that," Veronica comments wryly.

"My mother used to go every year, first week in March. I used to dread it; if my dad wasn't on location...." Logan's voice drifts off. He shakes himself and refuses to look at Veronica's sympathetic face. "Listen, if we want to keep the ruse going, that I'm out of town, let's use the back entrance to the beach house, just to be sure."

"Right. When Dick and I were here, we parked at the public beach and walked in," Veronica says, and Logan nods his agreement at the plan. She goes around the block and heads for the public beach down the road. They park the car, and Veronica grabs her baseball cap from the back seat to cover her blonde hair. Both don sunglasses. Logan decides to leave his cane in the car, and Veronica says, "Don't worry, you can lean on me if you need to."

"I just want to grab a few things and check to see that everything's okay," Logan explains. They walk down the beach, with Logan's arm draped across Veronica's shoulders. "How did you and Dick get past the paparazzi anyway?"

Veronica explains, "I got Ming from Woo Too to make a distraction at the front door so Dick and I could get in the back way and snoop around the house. Nice job, clearing your computer cache."

"I've been paying attention all these years to your stories, you know," he comments. "I've picked up a few of your tricks, Ms. Snoop."

As they approach the house, Veronica scouts for paparazzi. "I think we're cool. No one's watching the house. You did a great job fooling everyone into believing you were in Madeira," she says, sarcastically.

"Thanks," he replies, not missing a beat. "Figured if I could fool you...." he shrugs.

Once in the house, Logan looks around quickly, then heads for the bedroom. He packs a small duffel bag with clothes and other items. He returns to the living room and is looking for a book on the shelf when Veronica silently waves at him, holding one finger to her lips.

"What?" he mouths.

She walks over to him and shows him an electronic device. She cups her hands and presses her lips to his ears. "I brought Dad's new signal detector today. You know, like the one he...." Veronica pulls away, and Logan nods, that he understands. She points to the readout, her meaning clear.

Logan mouths, "Paparazzi," and Veronica nods her agreement. She walks around the room, scanning for likely locations for a bug to be hidden. When she points the detector at the landline phone, the LED display shows additional lights, and she nods grimly. She looks around for a few minutes and finds additional listening devices in the bedroom and the living room area. She leaves all the devices where they are, then Veronica catches Logan's eye and points her thumb at the back entrance with a questioning look. He holds up a finger to indicate she should wait one minute, and he turns back to the shelf, looking for a particular book. He finds it, tucks it in his bag, and they leave the house quietly.

Once outside, she says, "Someone's gone to quite a bit of trouble to spy on you. The bug in the phone is an expensive model. More high tech than my dad and I usually use; more like the one we're going to use in Vermont. Small, and high-powered...probably voice-activated."

"Do you think they've been there since I've been out of town?"

"I would imagine," she replies. "I guess a recording of you would fetch a high price on the open market."

"Those were just audio devices, right?" Logan says, thinking aloud. "Wouldn't pictures be more valuable?" He catches her expression of distaste and continues, "I'm just saying."

"I suppose. What book were you looking for?" she asks.

Logan digs in the duffel bag and shows her the book. "'The Lucifer Effect'," he replies. "It's an account of the Stanford Prison Experiment by the guy who ran the experiment. I thought you should read it. We read it in Kinny's class."

"Wait, you read a book?" she teases.

"Yeah, that and 'Emma'," he replies. He points to the text under the title on the cover. "'Understanding How Good People Turn Evil', how could I resist?" Logan pauses, then continues, "It actually helped me. It deals with the psychological barriers that prevent good people from stopping the evil people in this world." He looks at her, and she realizes that he's talking about his mother, why Lynn never was able to stop Aaron from hurting him. He thumbs through the book until he finds a page, and he hands it to her, gesturing at a particular paragraph.

'If you were placed in a strange and novel cruel Situation within a powerful System, you would probably not emerge as the same person who entered that crucible of human nature. You would not recognize your familiar image if it were held next to the mirror image of what you had become. We all want to believe in our inner power, our sense of personal agency, to resist external situational forces of the kinds operating in this Stanford Prison Experiment. For some, that belief is valid. They are usually the minority, the rare birds, those who I will designate as heroic later in our journey. For many, that belief of personal power to resist powerful situational and systemic forces is little more than a reassuring illusion of invulnerability. Paradoxically, maintaining that illusion only serves to make one more vulnerable to manipulation by failing to be sufficiently vigilant against attempts of undesired influence subtly practiced on them.'(5)

Veronica unconsciously shivers, thinking about the robot-like reactions of Anthea Gittleman and the stories that Kavner told them the day before. "Are you trying to scare me?" she finally says, handing the book back to him.

Intensely, he says, "Yes, I am. It's still not too late to change your mind. If you decide to go through with it, I'll have your back, Veronica. But...I still wish you wouldn't go at all. A body-cavity strip search, Veronica? God. You can't think that I'm eager for you to have to go through that. And handcuffs and restraints...." he shakes his head. He puts the book back in his bag and turns to her. "I'll give you anything you want, if you just decide not to go. A house, a diamond necklace. A Ferrari. Whatever it takes."

"A bribe?" she replies.

He pulls her into his arms. "You're not going to change your mind, are you?"

She leans against him and shakes her head 'no'. "Logan...I can't give up. I promise you, I will stick to Dad's plan. I'll be safe as long as you're there to watch over me." Veronica pulls away, and they walk a short distance, finally reaching her Saturn.

When they get to the car, Veronica rummages in her handbag for her keys. As she triggers the door locks, she frowns, noticing something in her purse.

"What?" Logan says, from the opposite side of the car.

She holds up the bug detector, and he sees that the LED lights are lit again. She pulls out a small makeup mirror from her purse and crouches on the ground, looking underneath the vehicle. Finally, she finds something hidden in the chassis behind the rear wheel well. She carefully removes it and shows it to Logan.

Logan looks at her questioningly, and she responds, "It's a GPS tracking device. I've been checking the car all the time. Right after you disappeared, I found a tracker on my car. The paparazzi, maybe even Carrie. She hasn't stopped calling, trying to get an interview with me. Most of her messages are trying to provoke me into giving her a reaction. The girl's persistent," Veronica comments. "But...I didn't think to check this morning...I was too upset," she admits.

"Give it here, I'll crush it," he says angrily. Dammit, I didn't know Carrie was still bothering her.

Veronica shakes her head. She looks around and sees the taxi stand not far away. She hands the tracking device to him. "Logan, I'm going to go talk to the cab driver. While he's distracted, you put the tracker on the taxi. It's magnetic, just stick under the car as far as you can."

He laughs. "So the paps are following a taxi all day long?"

"That's the idea," she says. Veronica applies some lipstick and runs a comb through her hair. She opens the top button on her shirt and checks her appearance in the mirror; apparently satisfied with the results, she sashays over to the taxi stand.

"Hi...." Veronica says, winningly. "I'm only in town for a few days. I bet you know where all the hot clubs are. My girlfriends and I are anxious to see some celebrities."

As the cab driver turns to her and begins gesticulating, Logan approaches the taxi and stealthily places the tracking device. He watches in amusement as Veronica touches her index finger to her lips, apparently confused by the directions the taxi driver is giving her. As Logan walks away, he sees over his shoulder that she is tracing a route on a map, with a dazzling smile. She tosses her hair back over her shoulder at one point, and Logan almost laughs aloud.

He gets in the car, and a few minutes later she joins him. Logan remarks, "You didn't have to flip your hair, that's overkill."

"It always works on you," she replies. She double-checks the signal detector; satisfied that there are no other transmitting devices on the car, she starts the Saturn and heads for UCLA.

~ • ~

Mon. 3/2/09: Hearst College Food Court, CA

Wallace looks around the court, scanning faces. Finally he spots Weevil at the entrance, and he motions him to come over.

Weevil turns a chair and sits backward with his arms on the back of the chair. "You rang?"

"Yeah. I was wondering if–" Wallace starts.

"Listen, I'm not sure if Veronica owes me or if I owe her at this point, but I'm pretty sure I don't owe you anything," Weevil interrupts. "I got a busy day today. The air conditioning isn't going to repair itself, and that bitch at the bursar's office has been all over my ass since I got in today."

"Just hear me out. I think you owe me that much after taping me to a flagpole," Wallace says sarcastically.

"You know, you gotta let it go. A little duct tape doesn't mean we're going steady," Weevil retorts. "What are you looking for, an apology after all this time?" Placing one finger on the side of his face, he adds in a drawling, simpering voice, "Tell you what...truth is, sometimes I miss you so bad I can hardly stand it...."

Wallace stares at him.

Finally, Weevil sighs and wipes his brow with his hand. "Sorry, man, it's been a shitty day. These mother-fuckin' eggheads think I'm their personal slave."

Abruptly, Wallace says, "Keith said you might have a reason to be mad at the Fitzpatricks...since they're going to skate on the racketeering charges. I bet your uncle is looking forward to doing business with them again. Protection's a bitch, right?"

Weevil's eyes narrow. "What did you have in mind?"

"My girlfriend's brother, Shawn, went to Hearst. He disappeared a year ago, and his body turned up with a bullet hole up near the Canadian border. I've found out that he was dealing drugs, and I think he was working for the Fitzpatricks. Ciaran Fitzpatrick, to be specific," Wallace explains. "I'd like to find out for sure, see if I can get some hard evidence to turn over to the cops. But, you know, it's not like I can walk into the River Stix and start asking questions."

Weevil laughs without amusement. "Yeah, you wouldn't last a minute in there. Your girlfriend's brother...he was a black guy?"

Wallace nods.

Weevil muses, "It's not like the Fitzpatricks to go outside of the family like that...especially a ni– uh, an African-American," he amends.

"He was dealing something called meth-x, combination of meth and ecstasy. Maybe he had a connection that the Fitzpatricks needed."

"So why would he need the Fitzpatricks?" Weevil asks.

"You tell me. I'm a clean-livin' mama's boy; I don't know anything about slinging dope."

Weevil shrugs. "I suppose they could have supplied the financing, helped with distribution, who knows. Those micks aren't geniuses; I wouldn't look for a complicated scheme. But if Shawn crossed the Fitzpatricks, I'm not surprised he turned up dead. When they're tweaking, they would cap you just for shooting off your mouth."

"Logan told me you thought Ciaran and Padraig killed Gustavio Toombs," Wallace says.

"Yeah, that's true, they took out the Reaper."

"Who was in charge of the PCHers before the Reaper? Would they know anything?" Wallace asks.

"My cousin...Emilio Vargas. He's in Chino, serving a third strike sentence. He had my back while I was there," Weevil explains. "Ciaran was there too for a while, serving a couple months on a parole violation. That fucking culero got up in my face a few times, but Emilio and his boys made sure I got out of there intact, if you know what I mean." He raises his eyebrows.

"Emilio Vargas," Wallace repeats, writing a note. "What if we talked to him? Maybe he's heard something, or could ask around...."

"And what do I get out of this, other than the Fitzpatricks gunning for me?" Weevil asks.

"Well, if I get proof that Ciaran killed Shawn and can get him sent to prison...." Wallace shrugs expressively. "That's one less Fitzpatrick to deal with. And you'd be getting revenge for the Reaper."

"I'm going to need more than that to mess with those micks. How about a little inside information on Hearst's chances in the playoffs? Baby needs a new pair of shoes," Weevil entreats, rubbing his thumb against his fingers.

"Yeah, forget it, man. I'll figure something else out," Wallace stands up to leave.

"Yo, homie, sit your ass down. You've got traction with Vee; if I do this, she owes me, all right?" Weevil says quickly.

"Yeah, I think I can arrange that." Wallace holds out his fist, and Weevil stares at it a minute before bumping it with his own fist.

__________
(5) Zimbardo, Philip. The Lucifer Effect. New York: Random House, 2007, p. 180.

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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Tattoo You
Veronica and Logan meet with Mike Fields;
more preparation for Briar Hill.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mike: Michael Trucco.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: "TATTOO YOU"

Mon. 3/2/09: FBI Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA

When Veronica and Logan knock at Mike Fields' door, they hear, "Come in," and Veronica pushes open the door. Mike looks up and says sarcastically, "Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. I see you found Echolls. Nice job with the Madeira video."

Logan shrugs in reply.

Veronica says quickly, "Listen, Mike...I have some information about the Saturday Night Slasher."

Mike immediately forgets about Logan and focuses his attention on Veronica. She hands him a printout and explains her theory about the murder dates being connected by the times of the full moon. Then she shows Mike the rap sheets of all the other victims and says in conclusion, "Look, you and I both know, it's very unlikely that a prostitute would never have been arrested. Hannah didn't have a record at all. In fact, no one seems to know where she was after she ran away from the Briar Hill Academy."

Mike leans back in his chair. "A copycat murder?"

Veronica nods. "But, Mike, that means...someone had inside information. Someone knew about the design the Slasher has been carving on his victims."

Leaning forward suddenly, Mike replies, "You mean, someone in the FBI? Or the police?"

"Or someone who could hack into the FBI files," she answers. "Mike, are you familiar with the Cynthia MacKenzie case?"

"You mean, the girl who was targeted by the Russian mafia for discovering their identity theft scheme? Yeah, I've heard a little about it. She's in Witness Protection, right?"

"That's Mac. Cynthia MacKenzie is Mac...my friend, remember? And Mike, she sent me a coded message through a mutual friend. I think she's stumbled onto something in the Slasher case. She knows the theory I've been working on. Can you get in touch with her?"

"Veronica, I don't have any idea where she is. They don't make that information widely known."

"She's at the San Diego Regional Computer Forensics Lab. At least, I'm pretty sure that's where she is," Veronica says.

"Veronica, I don't know what you're suggesting here, but I think you should forget it," Mike answers. He stands up and adds, "Thanks for coming in, Veronica."

Logan chimes in, "Veronica just gave you a big lead in the Slasher case. Kind of a career-making lead, if you ask me. I think the least you could do is listen to her."

Mike carefully keeps his face blank, but Logan realizes that this guy absolutely hates him. Logan reminds himself not to screw around with the law anytime soon.

Veronica says, "Can you make contact with Mac and see what she wants to tell me? There's got to be some excuse why you need to go to the San Diego Computer Lab."

Mike says, "You're going to leave the Slasher case alone, right?"

Logan raises his eyebrows at Veronica; she swallows, then says abruptly, "My dad and I were hired to investigate Briar Hill Academy by Hannah Griffith's mother. It's a tough-love boarding school."

Mike says sharply, "Like those Outward Bound programs, where those kids were killed?"

"Yes. I'm going undercover as a student; Ms. Denenberg wants to shut down the school. I think there's a possibility Hannah was killed to cover up something that was going on at Briar Hill. Maybe she threatened to go public with something that happened to her–something that she had hard proof of. There's going to be two other people undercover with me," she glances at Logan, "protecting me, but also if they can, they're going to try to see if there's any evidence that points to someone at the school as Hannah's murderer."

"Such as?" Mike queries.

"Records of someone important at the school while Hannah was there; maybe a payoff that she witnessed; or maybe another girl was murdered, and it was covered up," Veronica muses. "I don't know."

"Tell me more about the undercover operation, Veronica," Mike asks.

Veronica goes into the specifics of their plans. When she mentions, hesitantly, that Logan will be undercover as well, Mike interrupts, "An amateur? Veronica, where's your head?"

"He knows me. He'll know if I'm in trouble and can't find a way to signal my dad."

Mike remains silent, staring at the two of them. Finally, he says, "What about the authorities there in Vermont?"

"That's the problem. What if it's a local police officer or a district attorney who's taking bribes to look the other way at what's going on? We would just be alerting them that someone's investigating at the school, and they'd make sure that the school is squeaky clean while we're there. They've always gotten high ratings from the state, so someone is tipping them off about surprise inspections. Dad's found evidence that a subsidiary corporation, BHA, has been making contributions to political campaigns. If we inadvertently bring the wrong person into the loop, we might never find out who had a reason to murder Hannah. I think we have to do it this way," Veronica concludes.

"I know an agent in the Boston field office. There's no way he'd be involved in any kind of coverup, and he was a cop in Boston before he joined the bureau. He's had a lot of experience with teenaged runaways and prostitution. You need to have a contact in law enforcement."

Veronica looks at Logan, and he shakes his head that he doesn't know what she should do. Veronica muses, "Could you see if he has an alibi for the time of Hannah's death?"

"He's been overseas until recently, working with the counterterrorism task force." Mike picks up the phone and asks his assistant to run a check on the whereabouts of Thomas Lynley in January. He drums his fingers impatiently on his desk while he waits, then hangs up the phone and addresses Veronica and Logan. "Like I said, he was out of the country until two weeks ago. This is someone I'd trust with my life, Veronica."

Logan thinks, It's not your life we're worrying about.

Mike continues, "You need to have a law enforcement official in the loop on this...someone you can call on for help if you need it. And he can help you with information on which politicians or cops are known to be dirty in that area."

Veronica looks at Logan again, and he nods. She turns back to Mike and says, "Okay. My dad's going early to have me 'committed' to the school; maybe my dad can brief your friend....But Mike, are you going to help me? Will you try to make contact with Mac and then let me or my dad know what she's found out?"

Mike stares at her, obviously worried.

"Mike, Mac is smart. She'll be a tremendous asset to this investigation. I know she's found out something," Veronica pleads.

Finally Mike nods. "I'll find a reason to go to the RFCL this week, and I'll talk to her. When do you leave for the undercover op?"

"Friday," Veronica replies.

"Okay, I'll be in touch. It might take a day or two," Mike adds.

"It's okay, that's great." Veronica stands up. She walks toward the door, then stops. She turns back toward Mike and asks quietly, "Mike, did you know that...they kicked me out of the FBI internship program?"

Mike flushes. "I was hoping...I was hoping that they'd changed their mind."

"When did you know? Before the last time I saw you, with my friend Eli?" she asks, hotly.

"Back in December. They demoted me for using Bureau resources to help you in your investigation. They said that your file was under review," he replies.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have–"

"No, you couldn't have. Anything you tried to do would have made it worse," he answers. "I'm sorry, Veronica. I know you had your heart set on being in the FBI. You can apply again next year."

Logan starts to speak, but Veronica nudges him. "Don't," she whispers under her breath. Aloud, she says to Mike, "Thanks for meeting with us today." She turns to leave with Logan close behind.

Mike watches Logan intently as he follows Veronica out of the office. At the last moment, Mike strides over and touches Logan on the shoulder. "Be careful. Don't let her get hurt," Mike says in a low voice.

"I won't let her get hurt," Logan replies.

Mike nods and watches them leave.

~ • ~

Mon.-Tues. 3/2-3/09: Neptune, CA

The next two days are a whirlwind of activity. Keith is enthusiastic about Logan's increased participation; Kavner agrees to put in a good word for Logan. They decide that Logan will fly out to Boston with Keith on Wednesday and start working at the school the next day. Later in the day, they hear from Kavner that the timing was perfect; another employee quit that morning, and he was able to suggest Logan as a replacement without raising any suspicions.

Veronica's alias, Connie Morris, has been selected to have similar phonemes to both her nickname, Ronnie, and her last name so that she will react when she is called by her new name. After a long discussion, they settle on 'Roger Oakley' for Logan's pseudonym, having discarded the previous suggestions of 'Joe Eckley' and 'Lowell Eckart' as being too close to 'Logan Echolls' for comfort. Keith sets up an identity for 'Roger Oakley' that will withstand a fair amount of scrutiny.

Since Briar Hill doesn't allow its employees to carry a normal cell phone–for fear that a student might be able to steal it to call out–Keith sets up a mobile phone for Logan similar to the one Kavner already has. The ultra-compact cell phone is designed to be hidden in a pack of cigarettes. Keith notes that Kavner and Logan can also use the excuse of a cigarette break to make contact with each other should the need arise. Keith also instructs Logan in the basics of installing surveillance devices. Veronica persuades her dad to give Logan a set of master keys for file cabinets, in case the opportunity arises for Logan to snoop in the files at the school. Keith exchanges a knowing glance with Logan; they silently agree to humor her, and Logan accepts the key ring along with a crash course in the various models of file cabinets.

On Tuesday morning, Veronica, accompanied by Logan, goes to a salon. Logan's dark hair color is touched up while Veronica undergoes a drastic makeover. Her hair is colored a vibrant red and permed into ringlets. When Veronica sees the results, she sighs aloud, but Logan is pleased. He knows that her safety depends on her keeping her identity concealed, and he thinks that even he might not have recognized her with this new look.

They stop at a tattoo artist that Mars Investigations has used before. Veronica gets a barbed-wire tattoo around her upper arm and the kanji symbol for love on her neck. Both are temporary tattoos done with silver nitrate that will fade after a few weeks.

Veronica looks at herself in the mirror at the results; Logan, standing behind her, massages her shoulders and kisses the top of her head. She rolls up her sleeve a little to display her tattooed arm more prominently and flexes her bicep. "Pretty scary," she muses. 'Check you out, Veronica Mars. You're like a rocker chick now.' Lilly's voice pops into her head unbidden, and Veronica shivers. Logan looks at her quizzically, and Veronica responds, "Lilly would have loved this." She traces the tattoo on her neck thoughtfully.

"Sometimes I still hear her voice," Logan replies. "I mean, I was so furious with her the day she died...I should have...."

Veronica turns around and looks at him. "What?" She remembers overhearing Logan talking to Miss James. 'You know Veronica was my friend too...and if she hadn't ratted me out...then Lilly and I would have stayed together. And Lilly wouldn't have been alone that day. I would have been there. So, yeah, I blame Veronica.' She's never told Logan what she heard that day–that she knows exactly why he hated her so much that year.

He looks down, avoiding her eyes. "Just, you know...I still sometimes think I should have known what was going on and could have stopped it. Stopped him. And instead I was...breaking up with her." He thinks about his confrontation with Veronica on the beach, mocking her sarcastically, 'Logan, I'm gonna go home and put my head in the oven because I can't go on living knowing what a heartless BITCH I am.' He remembers flinging the words in her face, his heart broken, his insides gutted by her doubts, but most of all, he remembers his despair: because, in the final tally, he knew he really was responsible for Lilly's death, as surely as if he had wielded the ashtray himself. Then he hears Agent Carney's voice, saying, 'After all, this is the second girlfriend of yours that was murdered,' and the roaring blackness of his grief suddenly threatens to overwhelm him again. Because of you...because of you, Hannah was sent away to that hellhole. Second girlfriend....

"I didn't stop it either. What kind of a best friend was I, that I didn't see what was going on with Lilly?"

Logan, completely oblivious and lost in his dark thoughts, realizes Veronica has said something. "What?"

"I said, I didn't stop it either. I wasn't a very good friend to Lilly," Veronica repeats, wondering what Logan was thinking.

"No, that's not true. You tried...you did what a best friend's supposed to do, you told Lilly what you saw." Logan tries desperately to focus. This time...this time I'm going to make sure...make sure that Veronica survives. He struggles for a moment, then he regains his control. "I can't wait to show your dad...see if he approves of your new look. Thanks...thanks for listening to me about the disguise. I think you'll be safer because of it." He plays with her unfamiliar hair. "Now I know how you feel when you look at my face. It's strange for you to look so different." He cups the back of her head with his hand and bends to kiss her. "Promise me...promise me you're going to be okay."

"I promise," she replies. "I'm not going to take any chances."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Codependence
Logan and Veronica meet with
Professor Kinny; Mike makes contact
with Mac; Keith and Logan head to
Boston for the operation.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Mike: Michael Trucco. Dr. Kinny: Dan
Castellaneta. Alan: Ned Vaughan.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: "CODEPENDENCE"

Tues. 3/3/09: Hearst College, Neptune, CA

Logan knocks on the door of Professor Kinny's office. "Hello?" he calls.

"Yes, may I help you?" the professor answers.

Logan and Veronica walk into the office. "Professor Kinny?" Logan starts. "Ah...you may not remember me. I took your Intro to Sociology course two years ago. Logan Echolls."

"Yes, I remember; you do look a little different," Kinny comments.

Logan runs his fingers through his dark hair and replies, "Yes, I'm trying a new look."

"Actually, I'm referring to your quite memorable class appearance sans clothing. It's nice to see you've turned over a new leaf," he says drily. "What can I do for you? I believe I heard that you had transferred, Mr. Echolls."

"This is my friend Veronica Mars. She's a private detective. She's investigating a boarding school for a client; the school is a tough-love school–I don't know if you're familiar with that term–and I thought you might be able to offer her some advice on the situation."

"Veronica Mars?" Kinny's eyes narrow as he evaluates Veronica. "Veronica Mars who was instrumental in solving the campus serial rapes and Dean O'Dell's murder?"

"One and the same," Veronica replies. "Professor Kinny, have you heard of the tough-love schools?"

"Of course. The schools are an outgrowth of the twelve-step programs and forcible drug rehabilitation programs that began in the sixties. There's currently little regulation of private schools, and there have been some cases of abuse in the press. What school are you looking at specifically?"

"Briar Hill Academy in Vermont," Veronica answers. "I'm going to be going undercover there to try to document what goes on at the school for a potential lawsuit, and Logan thought you might be able to help me prepare."

"You're not seriously thinking of going undercover at one these schools?" Kinny says in disbelief.

"If the schools are as bad as they appear to be, someone needs to expose what's going on there. And there will be two people undercover with me to protect me," Veronica replies defensively. Logan squeezes her hand, and she tries to calm down.

"This is an area I've been researching for thirty years. As Mr. Echolls probably told you, every year I conduct an experiment modeled on the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment. And every year, after just a forty-eight hour experiment, students report significant emotional disturbances."

Kinny stands up and begins to pace around the room. "The students who participate in my experiment are amateurs. The ones who act as prison guards are chosen at random and have no vested interest in acting cruelly towards their fellow students, yet they usually turn manipulative and even sadistic after a few short hours. Where you're going, on the other hand...many of these institutions recruit their employees from the damaged graduates of years past. The people who run these schools believe the students are incapable of acting morally and are committed to breaking them psychologically. They encourage the use of severe peer pressure to enforce their regulations and use a harsh system of reward and punishment to inculcate drastic behavioral changes."

"I know. I've met a graduate of the school. It was eerie; she was grateful for what the school had done, and she spoke of the honor of being allowed to help the newer students," Veronica comments.

"Yes, the school makes each student complicit in the damage that is done to the others. Everyone is afraid of having their program extended, so they willingly join in on the abuse of the others," Kinny explains.

Logan interrupts, "What was that about a twelve-step program?" More than a few people had urged Logan to look into Alcoholics Anonymous when his drinking was out of control, but he had always resisted because of the insistence on turning one's fate over to a higher power.

Kinny looks at him thoughtfully. "Some people regard Alcoholics Anonymous and the other twelve-step programs as cults. Now there's no doubt that some people have been helped by these programs, but if you look at the standard definition of a cult, there are intriguing similarities. For instance, one of the characteristics of a cult is a strong belief that anyone who does not embrace the tenets of the cult must be avoided and ostracized; in the case of AA, that refers to anyone who rejects the philosophy that they are powerless to resist drinking and therefore must turn their fate over to their higher power."

Veronica and Logan exchange a glance, both of them miserably thinking about their alcoholic mothers and their apparent helplessness.

Kinny continues, "AA preaches that it is only through the alcoholic's continued attendance at meetings, or 'working the program', that the drunk will continue to survive without alcohol. If you do not accept this belief, even if you stop drinking, you are what is termed a 'dry drunk', or you are said to be 'in denial'. They believe that an individual must renounce their belief that they have any control over their problems: that is, that the individual has no personal responsibility. You must submit to the group, attend meetings, and endlessly recite long stories of your past misbehaviors. If you question these principles, you are told that you are doomed to repeat your past mistakes and live a life of misery and shame. You are told over and over again that you are powerless and worthless."

Veronica swallows. "That does sound...a lot like what I've been hearing about Briar Hill's programs."

"Take for instance step four of the twelve steps, the moral inventory. You are expected to complete a checklist categorizing your moral failures. There are not too many self-aware individuals who would affirm that they have absolutely no moral failings; only a true sociopath is unable to admit their moral flaws. The program is designed to tear you down, and then rebuild you, or reprogram you, into a willing participant in the program. Let's look at some of AA's slogans: 'Your best thinking got you here;' 'You have a thinking problem, not a drinking problem;' 'Feelings aren't facts;' 'The program never fails; people just fail the program.'"(6)

Veronica remembers the slogan Kavner told them. "How about, 'There's no right or wrong, only what works.'"

"That's a new one to me, but it sounds like a typical saying. Think about the sponsor system in AA; isn't that just a glorified recruiting system for a cult? And no one ever graduates: you're in recovery, for the rest of your life. You'll never be free of the power of alcohol. And as far as the new recruits–they say that 'newcomers need fixing'; 'newcomers can't think right.'"

"Wait...that's what Kavner said. Newcomers are the new girls at the school, and the oldcomers are in charge."

"The oldcomers are in charge of fixing the newcomers, who are unable to fix themselves unless they accept the will of the group. Exactly," Kinny agrees.

Veronica says, "And the parents are encouraged to recommend other clients. They're doing the recruiting for the school. Oh my god. And the students have to admit that they need the school in order to graduate. The girl I talked to said, 'I'm so grateful that my parents sent me there; I tell them over and over again 'thank you for caring enough to help me'.'"

"When is this operation happening?" Kinny asks, curiously.

"Over spring break," Veronica replies, lost in thought.

Logan says to Kinny, "What are you thinking?"

"You're going to be monitored during this operation, Veronica?" Kinny persists.

"Yes, my dad and the attorney who's working on the case are going to be observing and listening. I'll have an audio bug, and another operative has already placed video surveillance devices around the school," Veronica answers, distractedly.

"This would be an incredible opportunity for me...to observe one of these schools firsthand. I've run my experiment numerous times, but it can't compare to actually witnessing the psychological abuse for myself," Kinny says. "Is there any chance–"

"I vote 'yes'," Logan interrupts. "The more eyes on Veronica, the better. I can't see that Mr. Mars or the attorney working with us would have an objection. You'd be willing to be an expert witness in a court case, right?" He turns to Veronica. "Don't you agree?"

Lost in her train of thought, Veronica jumps when Logan addresses her. "What?"

"Don't you think it's a good idea to have Dr. Kinny help with the monitoring?" Logan repeats.

"Oh, yes," she replies, still somewhat distracted. "I'm sure it would be okay."

"Dr. Kinny, maybe...maybe you could work with Veronica this week. Maybe there are ways you can help her prepare for what she'll be facing. Meditation, relaxation techniques, whatever."

Dr. Kinny looks at Logan sympathetically, realizing the extent of Logan's concern. He glances at Veronica and says, "Absolutely. We can do some role-playing, so she'll know what to expect." Kinny looks back at Logan, who nods his thanks.

Logan watches as Veronica literally shakes herself, steeling herself for the task she intends to do. Veronica says calmly, "Thanks for speaking to us, Dr. Kinny. I'll have my dad call you after I speak to him." She walks over to the desk and shakes Kinny's hand. Logan does the same, then he escorts her out of the office.

As they walk down the hallway, Veronica puts her arm around Logan. "What was that about you not wearing clothes?"

"Oh...I was hoping you missed that," he replies. "I had a side bet with Wallace on the outcome of the prison experiment."

"And you didn't invite me for the show?"

"You get a private showing anytime you want, m'dear. I think I might still have the mask I wore." At her quizzical expression, he explains, "Yeah...I wore a Lone Ranger mask."

Veronica chuckles. "And nothing else?"

"Nada. Zip. Buck-naked," he replies.

"Mmm...college hijinks. I'm going to take you up on that private show."

~ • ~

Tues. 3/3/09: San Diego RCFL, CA

When Mike steps out of the elevator, he walks slowly down the corridor, surreptitiously peering into each room and looking for a vaguely familiar face. Near the end of the hallway, he sees a young brunette with blue streaks in her hair working at a desk in a room with several other people. She nods slightly when he sees her; Mike enters the room and heads for the most senior-looking agent.

Mike clears his throat and asks, "Hi, I'm trying to find the hard-drive recovery service. This is a priority job from the LA bureau."

Alan replies, "Other end of the hall. The door is marked 'Data Recovery'."

"Thanks." Mike turns around and 'accidentally' drops a file folder as he passes Mac's desk. "Damn!" He stoops down and gathers the papers up; Mac unobtrusively presses a flash drive in his hand without looking at him. Mike pockets the drive and exits the room, heading for the other end of the hall. As he walks, he jiggles the flash drive in his pocket, wondering what it contains.

~ • ~

Tues. 3/3/09 evening: Sunset Cliffs Apartment, Neptune, CA

After a long day preparing for the operation, Logan and Veronica retire to the bedroom. They get ready for bed in silence and slip under the covers without saying a word. They lay facing each in the bed, and Logan caresses Veronica's new red hair. "Hey, stranger," he says finally.

"Hey yourself," she replies. "I'm going to miss you when you leave tomorrow."

"No, I'm going to miss you," he corrects her.

She scoffs. "You always have to have the last word."

Without saying anything, he puts his arms around her and rolls them over so that she is on top of him. Veronica kisses him, and he takes her breath away with the intensity of his response.

Finally he releases her mouth, and she breathes, "Wow. That was...nice."

"But I'm not a nice boy, remember?" he says.

"Oh, thank goodness," she replies, bending her lips to him again. Veronica draws back and says mischievously, "I know...I want to give you something to remember when we can't be together." She starts to inch down his body, kissing his chest and then his abdomen, but he grabs her and pulls her back up to him.

"No, stay up here," he begs her, kissing her again. "Just love me tonight...let me kiss you, I want to remember how you taste, how you feel." He holds onto her.

"Logan?" she asks.

"I just want to remember holding you like this, every time I see you and can't hold you. It's going to be hell for me," he says seriously. Keith drew him aside earlier that day and talked to him about making sure that he would be able to act the role of a guard at the school. 'Will you be able to physically restrain a young girl? What if it's Veronica, and you have to restrain her, even hurt her, while she pretends to fight you? Are you really going to be able to do this, Logan?' Logan said that he knew it was going to be difficult, but if it meant that Veronica would ultimately be protected, he thought he could act the part. He did well at his acting classes, he told Keith, and Keith nodded that he understood.

Logan didn't tell Keith about one frightening day at UCLA last year, when Logan was assigned the part of a villainous, evil character in an acting improv class. To his distress, at one point he found himself improvising lines his father had shouted at him during one of their pitched battles. The class applauded his efforts and lauded his realistic portrayal, but Logan had thrown up in the restroom after the class. He had looked at himself in the mirror, trying to see if he could spot any similarities to his father's famous face. Aaron's last words to him rang in his ears, 'I never stopped being your father, and I never will.' His stomach heaved again, and Logan stooped over the sink. He thought to himself, DNA's a motherfucking sonofabitch. He went straight from class to a bar and drank until he couldn't remember he was an Echolls.

Now, Logan concentrates on the softness of her skin and the feel of her supple body pressed against him, and he tells himself that he can act this part, he can do this role, just so that she will be okay.

"What are you thinking?" she asks curiously.

He shakes his head and kisses her again, trying to categorize the different flavors that make up Veronica Mars, memorizing the smell of her skin, her hair, her sweat, the various lotions and cosmetics she uses that add up to the overall scent of her. He closes his eyes and concentrates on her body pressed against him: the pebbled nipples jostling his chest; the slight bristle of a small patch of hair she missed shaving her legs; the dense thatch of hair between her legs that so titillates him when he brushes against it. Logan caresses her back and legs, stroking the full length of her, committing the curves and concavities of her body to memory. Finally, content that he's satiated himself with the unique loveliness of her, enough to sustain him over the coming days and nights, he reaches between her legs and begins to caress her slowly and gently. Logan contents himself with the sounds of her breath, hitching and gasping, as she allows herself to be stroked to arousal. Veronica begins to touch him, mimicking his languidness, and the feeling of her hand encircling him electrifies him.

When she moans her readiness, he adjusts their positions and slips up into her. Before she can sit up and set her own pace, he rolls them over again so that he is on top of her. Logan desperately wants to go slowly, to prolong and heighten the sensations, and for once he ignores her cues. He takes his time, frustrating her, lavishing and reveling in her. Veronica whimpers a little, and he kisses her again, silencing her with the proof of his intentions. Their bodies undulate and mingle as she acquiesces to his inexorable pace. He concentrates on the feel of her inside, trying to imagine their bodies merging and fusing.

Logan begins to stroke her clit at the same lazy, deliberate speed, and he suddenly hears her moan: a new susurration of acceptance and lust, a thorough succumbing to him; and he thrills as she shudders gently around him. Veronica grasps at him, holding on desperately as he inundates her with the tenderness of his implacable thrusting.

"What was that?" she whispers when he finally ceases moving within her.

"I think they call it making love," he replies. "It's how I want to think about you, when we can't be together."

~ • ~

Wed. 3/4/09: San Diego International Airport, San Diego, CA

Veronica drops off Keith and Logan at the departures area of the airport. Keith kisses her and says, "See you on Friday in Boston."

Logan takes a little more time. He hugs her gently, not wanting to let go. He stumbles a little over his words, saying, "When I see you...I won't be able to..."

"I know. But, Logan, remember..." Veronica deliberately scratches her cheek, as she did when they were at Duncan's suite at the Neptune Grand a few days ago. He smiles, remembering. She says, "You know I love you, right?"

"Love you too," he whispers before kissing her a final time. As he enters the terminal, he keeps looking over his shoulder at her. She waves goodbye again as he disappears from sight.

_____________
(6) http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult_a0.html. Retrieved 6/8/08.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Ruse
Keith arranges Veronica's admission
to the school; Veronica enlists Dick's
help again.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Keith: Enrico Colantoni.
Dick: Ryan Hansen. Dr. Castro: Bob Gunton.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN: "RUSE"

Wed. 3/4/09: Education Alternatives Office, Boston, MA

"Mr. Morris, the counselor will see you now," the receptionist tells Keith.

"Thank you," he replies, standing up and walking into the inner office.

"Mr. Morris, how can we help you today?" The man extends a hand in greeting, and Keith grasps it across the desk. "I'm Dr. Paul Castro. I understand you're here about your daughter."

"Please...call me Keith. Yes, I'm here about Connie." Keith pulls out a file folder from his briefcase and passes it to Dr. Castro. "I'm at my wit's end. She's been tested in the 98th percentile, but her grades have plummeted over the last year. Connie's mixed up with a bad crowd. I think they're drinking, maybe even doing drugs; she was arrested for shoplifting six weeks ago. I persuaded the judge to give her probation. Now I'm regretting that." He sighs heavily. "I wish I had let her spend a couple days in jail...maybe she would have smartened up. The last straw was two weeks ago. She got a tattoo on her neck; I don't know how she convinced them she was over eighteen. I'm assuming she has a fake ID." Keith pushes a picture across the desk of Veronica, with red hair and the tattoo on her neck clearly visible above a revealing top.

"How can we help, Keith?" Dr. Castro replies.

"There's a boy..." Keith starts hesitantly.

"There's always a boy, in my experience," Dr. Castro comments.

"I think if I can just get her away from him, that maybe...maybe she'll at least finish high school. She's threatened to run away. My wife died several years ago, and poor Connie has just deteriorated ever since."

Dr. Castro thumbs through the papers in the folder. "Keith, it sounds like it's been very frustrating for you. You probably had substantial legal bills resulting from your daughter's arrest."

Keith nods.

"And Connie's in real danger, make no mistake." Dr. Castro stands up and begins to pace around the office. "I've seen so many troubled girls in my career. Well-meaning parents are hesitant to take the necessary steps to help them. With the internet and all the raunchy shows on television, it's not surprising that young people have no moral boundaries." He looks at Keith shrewdly. "I'm betting there was a pregnancy scare as well. Maybe even an STD."

Keith nods and sighs again, his face the picture of a distraught father.

"You really don't have a choice. Your daughter needs a residential placement."

"Excuse me? I really was just interested in family counseling," Keith explains.

"I'm afraid it's way too late for that. It sounds like your daughter is in real danger: a drug overdose, running away and living on the streets, or even being arrested for a serious crime and spending her life in prison. I can cite you hundreds of cases of girls who didn't survive because their parents weren't willing to take the necessary precautions to safeguard them."

"What do you mean, a residential placement?"

"There's a boarding school where I've had a great deal of success with my clients. It's in Vermont, on a large campus. Girls only." Dr. Castro stresses. "The girls get a lot of physical exercise, they are assigned daily chores, and there's a strong emphasis on group therapy and personal responsibility. And 90% of the graduates go on to college, some even to elite schools like the Ivy League." Dr. Castro pulls a brochure from his desk and hands it to Keith.

Keith opens the brochure and begins to read. "I don't know about a boarding school."

"It's exactly the right idea for your daughter. No visitors are allowed. The inappropriate boyfriend will not able to be make contact, and your daughter will be safe. If she works hard and cooperates, she can talk to you every week. As her behavior improves, she can earn a trip home to visit." Dr. Castro looks somberly at Keith. "May I ask who referred you to us?"

"A business associate of mine raved about the work you did with his daughter." Keith mentions the name of a man whose daughter attended the Briar Hill Academy several years earlier; by doing dogged research, Keith learned that the man would be out of town and unreachable for several weeks, by the end of which time the operation would be concluded. "He said you saved her. He was certain she would be dead by now without your help."

"It's always gratifying to hear that my clients are happy with their results," Dr. Castro preens. "Do you have any questions about the school?"

"I'm concerned about the need of a security staff," Keith says nervously, pointing at the phrase on the brochure. "Are some of these girls dangerous?"

"Only to themselves," Dr. Castro answers smoothly. "Admittedly, many of the girls are resistant at first. Think of your own daughter. I bet she's cursed you, maybe even struck out at you."

Keith nods, ashamed.

"And you've probably yelled back in frustration, maybe even resorted to returning her physical violence. You're in a cycle of damage right now that needs to be broken. If you don't do something drastic, your relationship with your daughter may be lost forever. Based on what you're telling me, your daughter has a severe substance abuse problem and behavioral issues. The school is staffed by professionals–people who have been trained in therapeutic techniques and are experienced in the area of addiction treatment."

"Does that mean that Connie will be seeing a psychiatrist?" Keith asks.

"Of course she'll be evaluated when she enters the school and placed in a therapy group appropriate to her needs. We find that group therapy is ideal in these situations; the girls discuss their problems and help each other to change their behavioral patterns to more positive ones."

"What if she needs medication?" Keith says, worriedly.

"I'm not seeing any indications of that in her record; her school counselor didn't recommend it. But if she does need any kind of medical attention, of course she'll be treated immediately."

"And the school is accredited, right? She'll have the equivalent of a high school diploma?" Keith queries.

"Absolutely. Our graduates usually go on to college."

"I'm sorry to be such a worrier, it's just...it's been just the two of us now for the last five years, and we were so close at first..."

"Until she began to have problems," Dr. Castro concludes. "I know you want to do the right thing for your daughter, and I can guarantee you that if you hesitate to place her in some sort of residential program, she will suffer. One girl whose parents declined to place her in this kind of program committed suicide several years ago, and I'll never forgive myself for not convincing her parents that she truly needed help."

Keith remains silent, apparently processing this last statement. Finally, he speaks up. "I'm concerned about the fees. I'm not a wealthy man."

"How much would it cost if you had to engage a defense lawyer to defend her in court, or if you had to hire a private investigator to track her down when she runs away? Or perhaps more appropriately, what is it worth to you to have a healthy and happy daughter? Most parents would say that their child's happiness is priceless." Dr. Castro pulls out another brochure. It has several graphs, relating the total cost of private counseling sessions, lost wages due to time off work to attend therapy sessions and court appearances, costs of medications, and private tutors to the yearly cost of Briar Hill Academy. Finally, there is a brightly-colored graphic that ominously compares the recidivism rate of girls attending private counseling or nonresidential drug treatment programs compared to residential treatment. The caption claims that Briar Hill has nearly a 99% success rate. On the reverse side, the brochure lists payment options on a weekly or monthly basis, as well as an incentive program for referrals that lowers the total cost by 10% for each successful referral. Keith struggles to maintain his concerned, 'worried father' face and to hide his growing anger.

"Okay, you're right. I'm at my wit's end with Connie. The screaming match last night...she told me she wished I was dead. I'm willing to admit I don't know how to handle her," Keith concedes.

"You're doing the right thing. She will thank you for it. And she'll be alive and happy." Dr. Castro pulls some forms from his desk.

Keith reads the first form carefully. It specifies that the residential placement will be for at least ninety days, at which time the commitment will be reevaluated. The payment for the first ninety days is due in full at the time of commitment. It states that the student will not be allowed any contact with any family members for the first two weeks; at that time, limited contact with first-degree relatives on a weekly basis in permitted. The contract states that all communication is supervised by school staff; there are no mail privileges and no internet access whatsoever, and no visitors are allowed without prior written permission of the school's headmaster. Despite Dr. Castro's implication that new students were evaluated by a psychiatric professional, the contract makes no mention of such an evaluation.

Keith looks up and queries, "Connie will be evaluated by a psychiatrist when she gets there, right?"

"Yes, Keith. That's our policy."

Keith hopes that the bug he's wearing is picking up every word the slimeball is saying. He continues to read. "There's no mention in here of the living situation. Are there dorms? What are they like? What kind of recreation is available?"

"The girls sleep in bunk beds and share the responsibilities of maintaining the upkeep of their rooms. There aren't a lot of recreation options, to be frank. Most of the girls are at the school because of the lack of supervision of their free time at home. The girls are expected to participate in physical education daily, which is a state requirement, of course. The food is simple and nutritious at the school. The choices are limited; many of the girls' behavioral problems begin to improve due to a plain diet that restricts processed food and sugar. The girls all wear the same clothes, which means there is no opportunity to make poor clothing choices." Dr. Castro taps the photo of Veronica wearing a low-cut top and heavy eye makeup. "In short, the girls are given reasonable limits on their behavior to encourage them to make appropriate choices when they reenter the outside world. Most of the students welcome the restrictions at the school and tell us that they feel freer than they ever did before, now that there are no pressures on them to act inappropriately."

"That makes so much sense. Connie's so spoiled; she never had to work a day in her life, and she seems determined to throw away everything I've ever done for her," Keith says morosely. He continues to read the contract. He looks at the next section and reads it aloud.

'When it becomes necessary, in the sole discretion of the Academy, to restrain the Student, the undersigned authorizes the employees of the Academy to use pepper spray, taser, mace, restraints, and/or handcuffs as a means to or an alternative to avoid, whenever possible, the potential for injuries, complications, and/or altercations that can can arise from the employees having to physically restrain or wrestle with the student in order to subdue the student.'(7)

Keith doesn't have to act outraged; he merely reveals a small portion of his simmering anger to the doctor. "What the hell is this? Restraints? You've got to be kidding. And tasers? Why would you ever need to use something like that on a young girl?" He slams the contract on the desk.

"Mr. Morris...Keith...Please, listen to me." Dr. Castro waits a moment for Keith to calm himself. "Of course, the school has to have the option of controlling the girls in a safe manner should they become disruptive. They have these options, but they are rarely used. Such extreme measures would only be used if there is a danger of a girl hurting herself. I'm not going to lie to you: some of the students come from extremely disturbed backgrounds, and you would want us to protect your own daughter should another girl become violent."

Keith grimaces. He pretends to think a moment, then nods and continues to read.

'Briar Hill Academy tries to make medical decisions taking into consideration a balance between added costs to the parent for medical care, and the true medical need of the Student. The staff, like any parent, can miscalculate the timing or need of medical intervention. Such miscalculations can result in the student not getting medical care as soon as would be recommended or to avoid complications. As a result of such judgment calls by nonmedical staff, if the child is harmed, the program shall be held free from liability.'(8)

Keith asks, "I don't understand the section on medical care. Isn't there a nurse at the school? Why would there ever be a question whether a student needs medical attention?"

"The school has a nurse on call twenty-four hours a day, and the health needs of every student are taken care of. The waiver merely protects the school from frivolous lawsuits by overzealous malpractice attorneys. It's a standard legal release, similar to the situation at most public schools. If you had to pay to send your child to your local school, you would certainly be asked to sign a similar waiver."

Not likely, you bastard, Keith thinks. He pretends to waver. "I don't know. What proof can you offer me that this is the right thing for my daughter? What about this group therapy? What kind of therapeutic techniques are used?"

Dr. Castro sighs. "There are no guarantees, just as there is no guarantee that your baby will be healthy, that your smiling toddler won't grow up to be a screaming teenager who sneaks off to smoke marijuana and have sex with boys, that your teenager won't go to prison or buy a weapon and take their schoolmates hostage. But what the school does offer is the proven techniques of twelve-step programs and group therapy in a supportive environment, combined with limited access to the pressures that caused your daughter's problems in the first place." Dr. Castro looks at Keith sympathetically. "You obviously care about your daughter a great deal, and you're a knowledgeable parent trying to do what's right by asking questions. You took the most important step: you got a recommendation from a person you trust, and now you're examining your options carefully. Of course, if you're not comfortable making your decision today, you can come back at a later date to discuss it further. If there are no openings at Briar Hill at that time, we can look at some of the other options available to you. I know you want to do what's best for your daughter."

Ah, there's the hard sell. Limited time offer, Keith muses. "No, I think I've made up my mind." He signs the contract and pulls out his checkbook to make out a check. "So when do I bring my daughter to the school?"

"Keith, we don't recommend that parents bring their children to the school themselves. Your daughter is smart enough to know that her situation has changed, and I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to run away during your trip. We've had great success with a transport service, J. Silver and Associates. They're a bonded agency that will pick up your daughter at your home and take her safely and securely to the school for an additional one thousand dollars. I guarantee you that Mr. Silver will save you from a lot of anguish," Dr. Castro explains.

"I don't know...." Keith replies. Dr. Castro waits patiently. Finally, Keith sighs and begins to write out a check. "Can we...can we set this up for Friday night? It's my mother's birthday that day. We're having a family dinner, and I'd like Connie to be there."

"Of course. I'll tell Mr. Silver to make a pickup at, shall we say, one a.m.? We've found that picking up the girls in the middle of the night, when they're not prepared for a confrontation, makes for the easiest situation all around. She won't need any clothes other than her underwear and the most basic personal toiletries. Everything else will be provided by the school." Keith nods his understanding, and Dr. Castro concludes, "You've made all the right decisions, Keith."

~ • ~

Thurs. 3/5/09: Hearst College, Neptune, CA

Dick sees a girl that reminds him of Veronica with a red ponytail protruding from under a Che Guevara hat. He looks again, realizing it is Veronica, and hurries to catch up to her.

"Yo, wait up, Ronnie," he calls to her. "New look, huh? How's Emo Boy liking it?"

"Emo Boy?" she asks.

"You know, our friend who was caught on tape in Paris last night, chugging martinis with Mischa Barton." Dick arches an eyebrow, and Veronica laughs. He continues, "All of a sudden, he lands on the front page of 'The Smoking Gun' website after managing to behave himself for a month."

"It's tragic what's happened to him," Veronica replies. "I've begged him to seek help."

"Fer sure, dudette. So what up with the hair, Ronnie? New case?" he asks.

"Something like that," she responds. "Listen, Dick, he wanted to contact you but..."

"I know. He's worried about the paps."

"It's important no one knows where he really is. He's working with me on this case." She thinks for a moment. "Do you think you could maybe help us with this little ruse? Give Chip Diller a call on your cell and just casually say that you heard from him, he's really enjoying himself in Paris...throw in a few good details, maybe some celebrities he was hanging with?"

Dick nods that he can do it. "So, you really think the paps are monitoring my cell?"

"There's an easy way to find out," she says. "Make the call and see if the rumor shows up on TSG."

"When you see him, tell him the waves have been totally gnarlacious lately. The bone yard is waiting....Listen, Veronica, didya talk to Mac?"

"I didn't talk to her, but I was right about the code in her email. She made contact with my old boyfriend; she said she's doing all right, but she's bored. She's helping me too," Veronica adds. She starts to walk.

Dick falls in beside her, putting his arm over her shoulders. "What are you guys doing, trying to take down the president? Are we going to have to call you Jackie Bauer now?"

"Dick, I have killed two people since midnight. I have not slept for over 24 hours. So maybe, maybe you should be a little more afraid of me than you are," she replies sarcastically. Veronica tries to pry Dick's hand off her shoulder unsuccessfully.

"Oh, I've been afraid of you for a long time now. It's the taser. And, of course, I remember the good ol' days when you destroyed my surfboard without a second thought." Dick squeezes her shoulder. "But now, you're practically my boo. Don't forget, you said you owed me a favor, on the house."

"Don't remind me," she sighs. "Please don't waste it on a cheerleader."

~ • ~

Thurs. 3/5/09 very late: Sunset Cliffs Apartment, CA

VERONICA

The apartment seems too quiet. After I took Dad and Logan to the airport yesterday, I took Backup to the kennel, and now...the apartment feels too empty. My classes today seemed to drag; all I could think about was this evening's prep session with Dr. Kinny.

When I got to Kinny's office, we started with some role-playing, repeating the exercises until he was satisfied I was able to respond correctly. He talked about the warning signs that I needed to be watching for that would indicate that my anxiety and stress were building to dangerous levels. Then he spent an hour teaching me various mental techniques that helped Vietnam veterans survive their P.O.W. experiences. Then, Dr. Kinny led me through a series of guided imagery relaxation exercises, stressing that while I was undercover, I needed to maximize the benefit of whatever rest periods I was allowed. He talked for a long time about milieu control. He said that the school would be controlling every aspect of my existence while I was there, depriving me of sleep and adequate nutrition, and not allowing me to make any choices. I will be inundated with repetitive thought control techniques and intimidated physically and mentally.

Dr. Kinny scared me today. He seemed pleased by our session, but I can't help but think that to him this is just another experiment, like the prison simulation he runs every year. He said more than once that this is an incredible opportunity for him to do his research.

I'm tired...more tired than I remember feeling in a long time, but I know part of it is feeling alone again. I miss Dad and Logan. I know they need to be there ahead of time to prepare, but...I wish they were here with me.

Mike left me a message while I was working with Kinny; he said Mac gave him a flash drive with a list of all the FBI employees who had accessed the Slasher files along with the originating ISP addresses of several unauthorized incursions into the case files. Mike said she looked all right, but they couldn't talk. In a text file on the drive, Mac wrote, "Tell Veronica I'm okay, just bored out of my mind. I'll keep trying to find out who could have known enough to make Hannah's murder look like the Slasher did it." Mike offered to take a message back for me. I was too tired even to make a phone call, so I texted Mike to please tell Mac that I would be undercover at the school starting on Saturday, hopefully only for a week, and that Mike should arrange to meet up with Mac again in a few days and forward any new information to Dad's cell phone.

When I look in the mirror, my new look still startles me. I look tough and bitchy, like I belong in juvenile detention.

I've got to get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day; the plane flight to Boston, a last minute briefing with Dad, and then....I don't know how I'm going to make it through Briar Hill.

~ • ~

Fri. 3/6/09 late: Rented house, suburbs of Boston, MA

Keith knocks lightly on the bedroom door where Veronica is trying to nap. "Honey, they're here. I love you, Veronica. Remember, I'll be watching you every moment."

Veronica nods and closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep; her heart is pounding as she waits. She goes over the lines she rehearsed with her dad earlier that day. I'm not going to have to act scared. I'm terrified.
__________
(7) Szalavitz, p. 155.
(8) Szalavitz, p. 155.
For the purposes of this fic, I changed some of the language in these quotations. Read the original unedited text here.

Mexican-Spanish translations by Babushcka and princessbella24. ¡Muchas gracias!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Don't Let the Easy Entrance Fool You
Veronica is picked up the transfer service.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Carmen: Callie
Thorne. Joe: Tom Sizemore. Tony:
Romany Malco.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: "DON'T LET THE EASY ENTRANCE FOOL YOU"

Fri. 3/6/09 late: Rented house, suburbs of Boston, MA

Keith knocks lightly on the bedroom door where Veronica is trying to nap. "Honey, they're here. I love you, Veronica. Remember, I'll be watching you every moment."

Veronica nods and closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep; her heart is pounding as she waits. She goes over the lines she rehearsed with her dad earlier that day. I'm not going to have to act scared. I'm terrified.

She listens intently; first she hears a light tapping on the door, then quiet voices. Even though she can't make out the words, Veronica hears the tension in her dad's voice. She realizes he's not having to act scared, either, and for a moment, she thinks about bailing. Then Veronica takes several deep breaths and reminds herself of every single reason to do this: save other girls from having to go through this experience; prove that Hannah's death was a copycat murder; make sure that Logan recovers from Hannah's murder once and for all, and finally try to make Hannah's suffering and death count for something. Hannah had to do this without people watching over her. I can't imagine how scared she was. I'm going to be all right...I'm going to be all right.

The door to her room is opened; if she weren't listening for it, she would not have heard it. Veronica feels rather than hears someone approaching her bed. Suddenly, the blankets are ripped off the bed as the light switch is flipped on. She blinks against the sudden glare and mutters, "Wah?" She tries to block out the light with her hand.

A woman shakes her and says sternly, "Get up, Connie. We're going to go to the bathroom, and then you're going to get dressed. Your dad's arranged for you to go somewhere you can get the help you need."

"Go to hell. I don't need help, and I'm not going anywhere," Veronica says in a nasty tone. "Fucking bitch, get out of my bedroom."

"Connie!" Keith says. "Connie, get out of bed and do what they say, right now."

"Fuck you, Daddy," Veronica replies. She turns over and presses her face into the pillow.

Keith starts to walk toward the bed, but the man beside him holds up a restraining hand, saying, "No. Let us handle it."

The woman grabs Veronica's arm and rolls her over. She gets right into Veronica's face and says, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Doesn't matter to me, you end up in the same place either way." She pinches Veronica's arm hard, and Veronica squeals in pain. "Get up!" the woman screams in Veronica's face.

"All right, all right," Veronica answers, sitting up on the edge of the bed. "Look, this is fucking crazy. Dad, I'm not going anywhere."

"Connie, I've decided that I don't know how to help you, and I'm sending you to a school where you can work on your problems," Keith pleads. "Connie, please don't fight this. I found the best place for you."

Suddenly, Veronica pushes hard against the woman and tries to run out of the bedroom. The man takes a few quick steps and catches her, twisting her arm behind her back. In a low voice he says, "Don't resist. I will hurt you." He bends her arm a little more for emphasis, and Veronica cries out. "Connie. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to get dressed, then Carmen is going to take you to the bathroom. She's going to watch you. This is your last opportunity to go the bathroom for four hours, so don't waste it."

Veronica struggles against him. "You cocksucker, get your hands off me."

Keith rubs his forehead. "Dammit, Connie. Where did you learn language like that? I can't do this anymore!"

"I wish you were dead!" Veronica screams at him. "I wish it was you that died, not Mom!"

"Enough!" the man shouts in her ear. He pulls her arm back harder and forces her to kneel down on the floor.

Veronica gasps in pain and begins to cry. "Daddy, why are you letting them do this? They're hurting me!"

"Connie, you hurt me every day. I don't know what to do anymore. Please, go with these people quietly," Keith says in a frustrated voice, his hands clenched in fists at his side.

"Mr. Morris, I think you should leave the room so we can get her dressed," the woman suggests.

Keith nods. Of course, this entire incident is being videotaped, you bitch, he thinks as he leaves the bedroom.

The woman, Carmen, is looking through the drawers of the bureau. She sets out a bra and panties, a t-shirt, jeans, and socks. Veronica notes with satisfaction that the woman doesn't notice the unusual underwire in the bra. The man and woman drag her into the bathroom; the woman stays with her while the man exits, closing the door behind him.

"Okay, Connie, here's what's going to happen now. You're going to take off your pajamas and put on these clothes, then you're going to go to the bathroom." The woman motions to the clothes on the bathroom vanity.

"I'm not doing anything while you're watching me," Veronica snaps back.

"Oh yes you are. If necessary, I'll bring Joe in here, and we'll strip you and then hold you down and put your clothes on. It won't be the first time we've done it, and it certainly won't be the last time."

"God, what are you, a fucking lezzie? You get your thrills making young girls take off their clothes for you?" Veronica asks spitefully.

"It's time for you to accept that we're here to help you, and you need to do what you're told. The longer you resist us, the more trouble you're going to have," Carmen answers.

"There's no way that this is legal! You can't do this to me!" Veronica yells back.

"Actually, if you contacted a policeman right now, he'd have no choice other than to surrender you into our custody. We have all the paperwork with your dad's signature, committing you into a residential placement for ninety days," Carmen replies. "There's not a judge in the country that would dispute it."

Veronica swallows, staring at the woman. Finally, she turns her back to the woman and strips. She puts on the clothes and turns around. "Okay, I got dressed. I'll go to the bathroom if you get out of here."

"No. You go in front of me," Carmen says. "Get used to it. Where you're going, that's the rule. No unattended bathroom visits until you've proven you can be trusted."

"Where I'm going?" Veronica echoes. "What the hell is this place?"

"It's called Briar Hill Academy, and it's a school where parents send bad girls like you to get straightened out."

Veronica stares at the woman again. Finally, she pulls down her jeans and goes to the bathroom as Carmen watches. I knew this was going to happen, but still... She finishes and flushes the toilet, realizing that she's blushing red from the woman's constant staring.

"Good, Connie. Let's hope that you keep behaving," Carmen says. She knocks on the door, and the man, Joe, comes in to the bathroom. Carmen says, "Okay, Connie, put your hands out in front of you."

Veronica looks from the woman to the man and tries to back away from them, but is immediately stopped by the wall at her back. Joe walks toward her and grabs her hands strongly, with Veronica struggling all the while. Carmen takes a pair of handcuffs from her belt and puts them on Veronica, securing her hands in front of her. The man takes Veronica's arm and drags her back into the bedroom, where Keith is waiting, pacing nervously.

Keith says, "That's her stuff. I packed what they said." He notices the handcuffs and says nervously, "Are handcuffs really necessary?" but Joe and Carmen ignore him.

Seeing the smallness of the bag, Veronica cries out, "That can't be all my stuff! What about my laptop, my books, my phone? Ninety days, that's three months. There can't be enough clothes in there."

"Connie, honey, they're going to provide you with clothing and everything else you need. There's no internet and no phone privileges there, so you won't be able to contact your friends."

"I'll run away! You can't make me stay there!" Veronica shouts. She tries to pull free from the man's grasp, but Joe just tightens his grip on her arm. Veronica is certain that he's leaving a bruise mark, and she reminds herself to try to find a way to get Kavner or Logan to document it when they get to the school.

"Connie, no! Don't struggle! You're going to hurt yourself," Keith pleads. He sighs and continues, "Please, Connie, it's not that I want to do this. You've left me no choice. I'm afraid you're going to kill yourself or end up in prison if you keep going the way you have been."

Veronica changes tactics and says in a wheedling tone, "Please, Daddy, don't do this. I'll be good. I promise. I'll do whatever you say. Please don't send me away."

"No, Connie," he says sadly.

She screams at him again, "You fucker! Goddamn you!" Joe shakes her by the arm, and she tries to strike him with her manacled hands.

The man and woman take Veronica, still struggling and cursing, out of the bedroom and walk her down the hallway to the front door. Joe opens the door, and Keith calls out, "I love you, Connie. Please, try to behave so you can come home to me as soon as possible."

Carmen pushes Veronica toward the front stoop, and Veronica makes a break for it. The man and woman pursue her as she runs across the neighbor's lawn, her speed hindered by her hands cuffed in front of her. Joe catches her and tackles her to the ground. Veronica continues to struggle against him; he finally controls her, and the woman unlocks one cuff and pulls Veronica's arms behind her back, snapping the cuff in place again. Carmen says, "So you think you're tough, huh, Connie? We haven't lost a girl yet, and you're not going to be our first."

Joe pulls Veronica to her feet and walks her to a van parked in front of the house. He opens the sliding side door and pushes her in front of him. He follows her into the van and says, "Sit. Stop pissing me off, you little bitch." Veronica awkwardly sits down on a meager cushion he indicates. He kneels down and attaches another pair of cuffs to her ankles. Quietly, so Keith observing from the sidewalk won't hear, he says, "Enjoy the next four hours trussed up like a hog, you stupid cunt. If you keep your mouth shut, I won't put a gag on you. Right? Do you understand, Connie? Nod if you understand," Joe says.

Veronica nods. She lies down on her side, trying to get comfortable. Joe exits the van, sliding the door shut, and gets in the driver's seat. Carmen gets in the passenger side. She looks back at Veronica, meeting her eyes. Carmen says, "Behave yourself, Connie, and you'll get through this just fine. You need to accept that your life's going to be a lot different now, and the sooner that you do, the easier it will be for you."

Joe starts the van and pulls out into traffic. Carmen turns to Joe, and they start conversing about the other pickups scheduled for that week. Then the conversation absurdly turns to a discussion of the last round of "America's Next Top Model".

Veronica tries to relax. She knows that her dad is listening to the bug they had sewn into her jeans. After talking to several previous students from the school, Keith surmised that they could take the chance of bugging her that way since the students' outer clothes are taken from them as soon as they are admitted. Just in case, the bug has been disguised as one of the buttons on the button fly, with the transmitting wire sewn into the waistband.

Veronica reviews the different code words they have settled on during their preparation: 'Lianne', 'Lamb', and 'California'. Each indicates a different level of warning: 'Lianne' indicates that Veronica is nervous about being discovered and needs to be monitored more closely; 'Lamb' means send the cops in immediately; and 'California' means that the undercover operation urgently needs to be terminated–Logan and Kavner will go to Veronica's rescue and get her out of there immediately. They also have agreed that if Veronica uses the phrase, 'I want to call my dad', that will signify that she's okay and that they shouldn't worry. Similarly, if Logan or Kavner say the words "cutie-pie" to her, she will know that Keith has decided to terminate the operation and will be extracting her as soon as possible. Veronica tries to clear her head of her worries, and, despite her uncomfortable position, she attempts to get some rest.

~ • ~

Fri. 3/6/09 late: Boston, MA to Manchester Center, VT

About ten miles behind the van, Keith listens to the conversation between Carmen and Joe on his laptop monitoring program. So far, so good, he thinks as he drives down the highway. Veronica knocked that out of the park. Kavner texted him earlier that day that he had managed to switch shifts so he could be present at Veronica's intake and hand off the bug for her bra after the strip search.

~ • ~

Fri. 3/6/09 late: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Logan lies sleeplessly in his small room in the employees' housing. Today, his first full day working at the school, he had to drag a girl to an isolation room. What shocked him the most was the silence at the school. The girls don't chat; they move like zombies from their chores to the group therapy to the classroom where they silently fill out worksheets. The social structure here is obvious; the girls who have been here the longest seem almost to be in charge, and each newcomer's movement is completely restricted by the oldcomer assigned to them. The employees such as himself rarely have to intercede if someone misbehaves; the oldcomers mete out punishment on the newcomers without being urged. He is taking Keith's advice to mimic the words and actions of the other employees. Each time he hears an interaction, he takes note of the wording for later.

At his employee training yesterday, the manager of the school went over the use of the taser and mace that was supplied to Logan, and then reviewed the school's policies, glossing over the specifics. When Logan asked if there was a proper way to restrain the girls when necessary, the manager, Tony, looked at him blankly, then finally said, "Don't you get it? These girls are liars and drug addicts. They're going to try to manipulate you. You're going to restrain them however you can, because if you don't, they're going to hurt you or themselves."

Logan laughed weakly, saying, "Yeah, you're right. I guess they wouldn't be here if they didn't need to be. I really need this job, you know? I don't want to screw up."

"Don't worry so much about the girls. For most of them, their only choice is the school or the streets, and they're lucky their parents care enough to send them here. You got to realize: most of them need to be broken before we can put them back together again. I know, because I was a kid like this. I spent five years in STRAIT trying to get clean. I think Peter Klein, the headmaster here, saved my life. It was brutal in the program, but it was what I needed," Tony explained.

"Sounds like you really admire him," Logan commented.

"Not many people have the guts to do what he does. He got sued, you know, but he still wanted to help kids, so he started all over again with a new program. He puts his own life on the line every day to help these girls. You know, every girl here ends up thanking him at the end."

Yeah, because they have to, in order to graduate. That's if they aren't already brainwashed by the program, Logan thought. Aloud he said, "I didn't know that."

Tony nodded vigorously, clapping Logan on the back in a friendly manner.

Lying on his bed, trying hopelessly to sleep, Logan realizes that already he's started to be influenced by the subtle mental programming at the school. He has been taken into the guard's social circle and advised that all the girls have severe problems and deserve to be there. If I hadn't known ahead of time about the program, I might have believed what this guy was saying. After dinner, one of the other guards, Ron, was repeating one of the student's testimony in group; all the guards laughed at her tales of debauched sexual antics in return for free crack cocaine.

Then Logan's thoughts turn again to Veronica. He glances at his watch, realizing that by now, she's been picked up and is on her way to the school. At first, he wanted to be present at her intake, but Kavner forcefully told him, 'no, you're not ready for that.' Kavner's serious expression scared Logan more than anything he had heard during the preparation for the operation. Kavner promised that he would trade shifts with another guard so he could be there to hand off the bug to Veronica and to watch over her to make sure she was okay. Logan reluctantly agreed.

He vows again that he will somehow find a way to protect her during the operation, even if it means that she'll be mad at him later. Logan pulls his compact cell phone from its hiding place in his pack of cigarettes and compulsively checks to see if there are any text messages. He wills the words 'Operation Canceled' to appear on the screen, but, as in the last twenty times he checked, there are no messages.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
E-M-E-T-I-B
Veronica is delivered to Briar Hill;
Wallace and Weevil head out to Chino;
Duncan witnesses something.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Keith: Enrico
Colantoni. Wallace: Percy Daggs III.
Weevil: Francis Capra. Peter Klein:
Clancy Brown. Maria: Gina Mantegna.
Kavner: Eric Bana. Joe: Tom Sizemore.
Carmen: Callie Thorne. Duncan 2.0:
Chris Carmack. Mrs. Dominguez: Shelley
Morrison. Kendall 2.0: Katherine Heigl.
Tara: Kirsten Prout.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: "E-M-E-T-I-B"

Sat. 3/7/09 very early: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Veronica is jolted awake from her fitful dozing by the sound of the sliding door opening on the van. Joe shines a flashlight in her eyes and says, "Remember, I don't want to hurt you, Connie, but I will if I have to." He moves the flashlight slightly so that Veronica can see his taser held at the ready.

Veronica swallows and nods.

Joe watches as Carmen enters the van and unlocks the cuffs around Veronica's ankles. Carmen grabs Veronica's arm and helps her to her feet. Joe steps aside, allowing them to pass, and Carmen escorts Veronica out of the van, holding firmly onto her upper arm. Veronica says quietly, "Wait, my legs are asleep. Please...." and Carmen stops and gives Veronica a second to shake her legs out.

"Ready?" Carmen says, and Veronica nods. Carmen pulls Veronica along a sidewalk toward the front door of a large imposing building. It looks more like a hotel than a school, but there a few details that strike Veronica as odd. There are no lights showing in any windows, and Veronica realizes that all the windows are blocked by heavy shades or perhaps are boarded up on the inside, preventing anyone from looking out. Or seeing in, she muses. The front door opens. It's Kavner along with several adults and five girls. Veronica makes sure to avoid looking at Kavner.

One man is tall and distinguished-looking, and Veronica realizes this is the famous Peter Klein, headmaster of the school and CEO. To her surprise, he comes up to her and hugs her. He steps back and says in a sonorous voice, "Welcome to Briar Hill Academy, Connie. I just want you to know that we love you here. Your life is going to change now, and it may seem difficult at times. But if you trust us, with our love and understanding, you can reinvent yourself as a productive member of society."

As he pauses, as if on cue, the five girls say quickly in unison, "Love you, Connie."

Klein smiles graciously. "Connie, since you are a newcomer to our school, you will be assigned to an oldcomer who will help you with your transition. This is Maria."

Maria steps forward out of the line and hugs Veronica. Maria whispers into Veronica's ear, "You're going to do exactly as I say, bitch." Then Maria steps back and says aloud, "Love you, Connie."

Klein continues, "For the first ninety days, you will not be farther than six feet away from Maria. If you want to talk, you will tap her on the shoulder; if she agrees, you may speak only to her at that point. The only time this rule is not in effect is during group therapy or if you are addressed directly by a counselor or guard. If you stray farther than six feet away from Maria, there will be consequences. Maria is responsible for you; any mistake you make will be corrected by her. If she fails in her responsibilities, she will have time added to her own program. Maria is one of our success stories; she'll be graduating soon if all goes as planned."

Veronica blurts out, "The first ninety days? My dad said I was only going to be here for ninety days."

Maria reaches out and slaps Veronica, not hard, but enough to sting, and puts a warning finger in Veronica's face. "I didn't give you permission to speak." Veronica flinches.

Ignoring Maria's actions, Klein says, "I've read your file, Connie. I think you're in serious trouble. Your life is a mess; you are a mess, and it's going to take a lot of work to get you right. We love you, Connie, we're going to help you here if you're willing to help yourself by following the rules and working your program."

Klein nods at Carmen, who unlocks the handcuffs securing Veronica's hands behind her back. Joe hands the bag that Keith packed to one of the girls. Maria takes Veronica's arm and escorts her to a room at the back of the building. The other four girls and Kavner go with them. Klein watches their progress, smiling benevolently.

Maria drags Veronica into a well-lit room, followed by the other girls and Kavner. Once they are all in the room, Kavner locks the door behind him with a key on his ring and nods to Maria. Maria releases Veronica and says harshly, "Take off your clothes; we're going to search you."

Veronica looks from one blank face to the next. It's very clear that there will be no help from the other girls. She looks to her left and sees a doctor's examining table, with stirrups like a gynecologist's.

"Let's go, I don't have all day," Maria says. When Veronica doesn't begin to undress, Maria nods at the other girls, who grab Veronica and start to take off her top.

Veronica shakes them off, commenting bitterly, "All right, all right." She slowly takes off her clothes. Her legs begins to shake, and Veronica thinks, I'm not acting. She stops when she is wearing just her panties and a bra; she tries to cover herself and says, "Okay, I'm undressed. See? I'm not hiding anything." There is no response from Maria, and Veronica repeats, "I'm not hiding anything."

"All of it," Maria commands. Veronica shakes her head 'no', and the other girls rush her and drag her down to the floor; Veronica kicks and screams while the girls pull off the rest of her clothes. Kavner watches, looking uninterested, and Veronica realizes that he's seen this happen more than once already and is maintaining a poker face; if Veronica didn't know his true purpose here, his uncaring indifference would have been the most frightening part of this. Finally, Veronica is completely nude; she begins to sob and cries, "If my dad knew about this, he'd kick your ass. Goddamn it! I want to call my dad....You fuckers!" She struggles violently against the girls trying to hold her down.

The girls finally subdue Veronica, and one girl manages to get her hand over Veronica's mouth. Maria leans down and says, "You want to call your dad, huh?"

Veronica nods, the girl's hand still on her mouth.

"I'll tell you what: if you sign these papers voluntarily committing yourself to the Academy, I'll arrange for a phone call with your dad," Maria say solemnly. She gets some stapled pages from a counter and shows them to Veronica. "Okay? You want to sign these?"

Maria nods to the girl holding her hand over Veronica's mouth, and the girl removes her hand. Veronica spits out, "I'm not signing anything! I have the right to call my dad! I want to talk to him on the phone right now! I know if he knew about this, he'd have me out of here in a second."

Maria laughs. "Your dad signed the same contract my dad signed. Briar Hill is your guardian now. He agreed to the use of physical force to restrict your movements; he agreed to no contact with anyone outside the school, even your family, for ninety days. At that time, if you've earned the privilege, you can have a supervised phone call with a family member. But, Connie, if you're a good girl, sign this document, and let us complete this search without an argument, I'll bend the rules a little and see if I can get you a phone call to your dad."

Veronica stays silent, apparently processing the Orwellian nature of her situation. Finally, she says, "You promise? You'll let me talk to my dad?"

Maria nods and hands Veronica a pen to sign the voluntary commitment papers(9). Veronica, staring at Maria, thinks long and hard; she finally pretends to put the pen to paper, then she suddenly reverses the pen, stabbing Maria in the arm, and tries to run to the door.

"Fuck!" Maria screams. She and the other girls scramble to grab Veronica, who has reached the locked door and is struggling futilely to open it. Veronica gives up on the door and begins fighting with the other girls. She aims a punch at Maria and hits her nose; Maria begins to bleed profusely and mutters under her breath, "Fuck fuck fuck! Goddamn it!"

Veronica manages to land a few punches while the girls struggle to get control of the situation. One girl knocks Veronica in the mouth with her elbow, and Veronica's lip begins to bleed. Another girl shoves Veronica hard, and she lands on her shoulder on the floor, wincing at the pain. The girls jump on her, holding her down and controlling her movements. Maria walks over, stares down at Veronica, and slaps her face with all her strength, knocking Veronica's head back onto the concrete floor again. Kavner doesn't interfere; he lets the other girls subdue Veronica and appears unconcerned when Maria strikes Veronica.

The girls drag Veronica to the examining table and maneuver her on top of it, laying on her back. Maria holds her head back, with a paper towel held to her face, trying to get the nosebleed to stop. Breathing heavily through her mouth, she walks over to the table and mutters, "Her feet."

One girl is reluctant, and Veronica kicks at her. Maria says sharply, "Tara! Grab her foot. You know the rules." Tara winces at her tone and grabs Veronica's foot, preventing her from kicking. The girls working together manage to get Veronica's feet in the stirrups and hold her in place. Tara looks nauseous, but reluctantly works with the other girls to restrain Veronica; the other girls display no reservation in their expressions.

Veronica fights against them the entire time, screaming and cursing. Maria discards the paper towel on her nose and gets a pair of surgical gloves. She dons the gloves and forces Veronica's mouth open. She runs a finger along Veronica's teeth and gums, thoroughly searching for contraband, then moves to the end of the table and examines Veronica's vagina and rectum forcefully. Veronica jumps in response to the painful intrusions and begins to cry.

Maria discards the gloves and leans over Veronica. She whispers, "You're going to be my bitch." She touches Veronica's cheek in a parody of softness, then reaches and squeezes Veronica's breast viciously.

Veronica's sobs increase, and she yells, "Fuck you, I'm not your bitch."

Maria laughs. "We'll see about that." She turns to Kavner and says, "I think 'Observation Placement' for her...at least twenty-four hours. You know Klein will agree."

Kavner nods his response.

One of the girls gets the bag with Veronica's underwear and sets out a pair of underwear and panties, along with gray sweats, t-shirt, and sweatshirt similar to what all the girls are wearing. Veronica is crying and moans, "I think you gave me a concussion."

Maria replies, "Get dressed. It's time for you to quit your stinkin' thinkin'. You and only you are responsible for being here. You're the cause of all your problems. You are a damaged person, Connie. You can't function in society. You need to accept that we know what's right for you." She nods to the girls, indicating that they can let Veronica go.

Veronica curls up in a ball, sobbing; she jumps when a girl prods her, and she slowly sits up. "My head really hurts. I want to see a doctor." She rubs the back of her head where it hit the floor.

Maria scoffs. "Bullshit. Your manipulative ways aren't going to work here."

"No, I'm not bullshitting you," Veronica protests. "I think I should see a doctor. I want to call my dad."

Maria replies, "You're just faking it. The only thing wrong with you is your attitude. Get dressed!"

Veronica gets off the table, turning her back to everyone, and slowly puts on the clothes. Maria says, "Good girl. I love you, Connie." To Kavner, she says, "I'll tell Klein."

Maria grabs Veronica's arm as Kavner unlocks the door; the girls file out, then Kavner takes Veronica's arm from Maria and escorts her down the hallway in the opposite direction.

As soon as possible, Kavner eases his grip on Veronica's arm; to the casual observer, it still looks as if he is controlling her. He whispers, "What the fuck was that? You're going to really get hurt if you keep that up."

Veronica sighs, rubbing her lip. "I just hate her; I couldn't help it. I didn't plan on doing that...I just lost control for a moment," she replies, sotto voce. "Besides, we got them on tape now, denying me medical attention. And now you can give me the bug without worrying about anyone noticing."

"You know, it won't kill you to go along a little bit," Kavner mutters. He digs the bug out of his pocket and looks around surreptitiously before handing it to her. "Okay, go for it." She reaches under her sweatshirt and attaches the bug without looking, having practiced this maneuver with her eyes closed numerous times.

"You did get it all on video, right?" she whispers. He nods, shushing her. They keep walking, Kavner appearing to be manhandling her all the while. At a set of stairs, he motions up, and they climb the stairs slowly. When they pass another guard, Kavner nods, and Veronica pretends to struggle against his grip. On the third floor landing, Kavner says, "Left," and they turn down the hallway. At the end of the hall, they come to a reinforced door with several locks. Kavner uses several keys to unlock the door. Veronica looks around the dark room and sighs. The room contains only a very thin mattress and a blanket. The window is completely blocked, and the only light fixture doesn't have any light bulbs.

"What about a bathroom?" Veronica whispers.

Kavner quietly replies, shaking his head, "Someone will come and take you in a few hours. I can't take the chance they'll see us. It's part of their milieu control; they control your body functions too. I'm sorry. Are you okay? You didn't really get hurt, did you?"

"No, I'm all right. I'm just going to try to get some sleep," Veronica answers. "It's been a long week."

"I know you have to provoke them, but Veronica, you have to be more careful," Kavner warns. "The oldcomer who's assigned to you–Maria? That was unlucky. She was in charge of another girl who escaped, and Maria had six months added to her own program to punish her for being lax. She's going to be extremely tough on you. Don't push her, Veronica."

Veronica ruefully nods her agreement as Kavner leaves. When the door shuts behind him, the room becomes very dark. She listens as the multiple locks are engaged and imagines how frightening this would feel to a girl who wasn't being watched over as she is. She tries to find a comfortable position on the mattress and pulls the blanket over her. She whispers, "Dad, I'm okay. Really...I'm okay. We're going to get these bastards."

__________
(9) Apparently the concept is that if the student 'willingly' signs these papers, the school can legally keep them there against their wishes after their eighteenth birthday.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09 early: Navarro Residence, Neptune, CA

Wallace pulls up to the curb in front of Eli Navarro's house, located in the less desirable section of Neptune. Weevil's house is modest but well-kept; it's obvious that the owner is proud of his home.

The front door opens, and Weevil walks out, locking the door behind him. Weevil walks to the car and gets in the passenger seat. "This is fucking embarrassing," he comments. "Even soccer moms would be ashamed of this car. Some of my old crew is still in Chino, you know. I have a rep to keep up."

"I'll tell Veronica that's what you think about her Saturn," Wallace replies.

"She knows."

"Besides, the other option–me on the back of your motorcycle for the two hour ride to Chino–was completely unacceptable," Wallace says drily.

Weevil doesn't reply, just checks out Wallace's clothing. "Good, you paid attention to what I told you. No blue jeans, no fatigues, so you don't look like a prisoner or a guard."

"Yeah, and no spaghetti straps or mini-skirts either. I read the visitors' rules too. Somehow I held back. But you know how hard it is not to show off my fine Nubian body."

Weevil snorts. "Let's get going; we gotta get there early before the visitors' line is too long. How'd you get the visitor permission expedited anyways? It's usually a thirty-day wait to approve a new visitor for an inmate."

"It helps to have connections in law enforcement. Keith knows the warden up there," Wallace replies.

Wallace pulls out into traffic, and they ride for a while in silence. Weevil begins to play with the radio, changing all of Veronica's presets to new ones that he prefers. He notices that Wallace is looking at him surreptitiously. "What the fuck now?" he says in irritation.

"Uh...I've never seen eyelashes that long on a guy before," Wallace says.

"Dreamy, I know. Fuck! I can't help it. But...you know what? The girls love 'em." Weevil smirks. "They just line up for a taste of my chorizo caliente." He glances over at Wallace and adds, "Just drive, motherfucker, stop looking at my eyelashes."

Wallace rolls his eyes and keeps his attention on the road.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09: Rented house, Manchester Center, VT

Keith is drumming his fingers on the table, worrying about what's going on with Veronica at the school. The last thing the bug in her jeans picked up was 'Okay, I'm undressed. See? I'm not hiding anything.' There was a short pause, then Veronica repeated, 'I'm not hiding anything.' Then another voice said sharply, 'All of it.' There was sounds of a scuffle; then indistinguishable noises were all that could be heard. The wait seems interminable as he pictures possible scenarios similar to the horror stories he has been collecting from past students.

Finally, the audio monitor program indicates that Veronica's bug has been activated, and Keith turns up the gain. He listens carefully to Veronica's muted conversation with Kavner. When Veronica says, 'Dad, I'm okay. Really...I'm okay. We're going to get these bastards,' he sighs in relief.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09: Playground, Neptune, CA

With Mrs. Dominguez, the court-appointed social worker, tagging along behind them, Duncan and Lilly walk hand-in-hand in the playground. Lilly tugs her hand free and skips ahead. Duncan calls, "Don't go too far."

Lilly replies, "Okay, Daddy." She makes for the slide and quickly clambers up the step ladder. "Catch me!" she yells, before she hurtles herself down the slide toward Duncan. He catches her in his arms at the bottom, and she laughs happily.

Lilly amuses herself at the slide for a while before she tires of it and asks to go to the swings. She grabs Duncan's hand as they walk over to that area of the playground. Duncan pushes her on the swing, and she screams in delight as she soars high above the ground.

As he pushes her, he notices a blonde woman on the other side of the park. Kendall? he thinks. He stops pushing and looks again.

"Daddy! Why aren't you pushing?" Lilly complains as the swing loses momentum.

He pushes her again, watching the woman. It is Kendall. She's pacing, looking around nervously. Waiting for someone? Duncan notices a man walking toward Kendall. Kendall appears relieved when she sees him. They start to talk; the discussion appears to become heated, with Kendall angrily pointing at the man. He grabs her and shakes her viciously. Duncan does not recognize the man; he is certain that it's not Liam Fitzpatrick, whose picture has been in the papers recently due to the dismissal of his charges.

Duncan says to Lilly, "Let's take a little break. Just for a minute, honey." He catches the swing and slows it to a stop.

"Daddy, please."

"Just a moment, Lilly." Duncan pulls out his cell phone and takes a few pictures of Kendall and the man. The man shakes Kendall hard one final time and turns to walk away. Kendall appears frightened and uncertain; as the man walks away from her, Duncan is able to get a good shot of his face. The man gets in a car and speeds off. Kendall stares after him, then she quickly exits the park in the opposite direction.

What the hell is going on? I thought for sure Kendall would leave town after we figured out who she was. Duncan continues to stare into space long after Kendall has disappeared from view.

Mrs. Dominguez approaches. "Duncan? Is everything okay?"

He shakes himself. "Yes...just someone I didn't expect to see." Duncan turns to Mrs. Dominguez and smiles. "Can you watch Lilly for one minute? I need to make a very quick phone call." She nods, and Duncan steps away.

He tries Veronica's cell phone; there's no answer, and he leaves a brief message asking her to call him. He thinks a moment and then forwards the pictures he took to vmars@aol.com.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09: Sunset Cliffs Apartment, Neptune, CA

Veronica's cell phone vibrates in its charger on the desk in her bedroom. The screen reads 'CALL FROM DANIEL' and then changes to '7 missed calls'.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Incarceration
The monitoring team in place;
Wallace and Weevil in Chino;
Veronica in Observation Placement.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Epstein: Scott
Grimes. Dr. Kinny: Dan Castellaneta.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Weevil: Francis
Capra. Emilio Vargas: Vincent Laresca.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY: "INCARCERATION"

Sat. 3/7/09: Rented house, Manchester Center, VT

Keith is watching the computer screen as the video file sent by Kavner finishes downloading when the doorbell rings. Checking the peephole on the door, he lets Dr. Kinny and the attorney, James Epstein, into the house.

"I'm glad you guys are here finally. So this is our observation post," Keith says. He shows them around the house and summarizes what has happened so far.

"I'd really like to see the video of her intake," Kinny remarks.

The three men gather around the computer screen to watch. Keith is both proud of and horrified by his daughter's actions. At one point, Epstein turns to him and says, "This is all great for the case, but she's pushing it a little, don't you think?"

Keith replies, "Yeah, Kavner told her to cool it. This Maria girl is dangerous; from what Kavner told me, she's got a lot to lose if Veronica gets out of control."

"It's actually not that surprising. Veronica thinks of herself as a strong person. She is a strong person, in fact. And she reacts when she's bullied," Kinny says. "Did you notice the one girl who didn't join in as quickly as the others? I think Maria called her Tara or Terry. We should find out more about her."

Keith sighs wearily. "I could really use some sleep. Can I show you guys how to monitor the audio and video feeds? Everything is recorded, pretty much automatically, but I think we should take four hour shifts monitoring to keep alert. That way, nobody's staring at the screen for too long."

The other men agree; Keith demonstrates the Sonic Snoop Audio/Video Surveillance program and reviews the code words that he has worked out with Veronica. He leaves his cell phone by the monitor, explaining that Kavner is speed-dial two and Logan is speed-dial three if they need to make contact. Kinny offers to take the first shift, and Keith gratefully goes off to take a nap.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09: California Institution for Men, Chino, CA

Wallace reads the sign on the wall while they wait in line.

Visiting in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institutions/facilities must be conducted in as accommodating a manner as possible in keeping with the need to maintain order, the safety of persons, the security of the institution/facility, and the requirements of prison activities and operations. Failure to comply with the established regulations and policies may result in warning, termination, suspension, or revocation of visiting privileges. These rules will help ensure the continued safety and security of the institution, staff, visitors, and inmates.

'We hope you will assist us in making the visiting experience a pleasant one for you, your family, friends, and the person you are visiting.'(10)

A pleasant visiting experience? We're not in Disneyland here, Wallace thinks. He looks over at Weevil standing in line beside him.

Weevil seems to read his mind. "Yeah, you probably never thought about what it would be like to be in prison. 'Course, I have a cousin who's serving a life sentence. I've been visiting him for years, so...." he shrugs. "I knew the consequences when I joined up with the PCHers."

"It's not just that," Wallace replies. "This case Veronica's working on...where she is is worse than a prison. The girls there can't even get visitors or mail."

Weevil looks at him solemnly. "That's fucked up. Even in juvie hall, you can see visitors every weekend."

Wallace assisted with a lot of the research Keith and Veronica did while they were preparing for the operation. He typed up the notes on the interviews and organized all the research. Here in Chino, he's realizing just how sheltered a life he's actually lived. All the cases he's worked for Mars Investigations seem trivial compared to the experiences of the discouraged and toughened people around him here. And what Veronica is doing at Briar Hill–she's volunteered to put herself in this very situation or worse.

"It's the lack of control over your life," Weevil says, intruding on his thoughts about Veronica. "You can't do what you want, and someone else is in charge of your existence. It's impossible not to change in prison. People don't get it when they bitch about cons getting to watch TV and work out while they're doing time."

Finally, they reach the head of the line. They present their identification, and Weevil shows his proof of discharge from parole along with the written permission of the Warden of the prison. They submit to a search conducted by a businesslike corrections officer, and both open their wallets to show that they have less than thirty dollars each on their person. They prove that they are not carrying any contraband such as cigarettes, weapons, or cell phones, and they are allowed to proceed through the metal detector and into the visiting area.

Weevil points at the sign, '<––Visiting Room | Non-contact Booths––>', and leads Wallace to the right. They enter the visiting area, and they follow a corrections officer to a booth to wait for Emilio.

A Hispanic man about thirty years old, wearing blue jeans and a faded blue work shirt with a stenciled number on the chest pocket, approaches and sits on the other side of the glass. Weevil smiles broadly and picks up the phone. "Yo, Emilio."

Emilio looks at Wallace suspiciously and says to Weevil, "¿Qué onda con el negro, ese?"

Weevil replies, "He's okay. He works with that girl Veronica I told you about, the one that helped me find out who took out Felix."

Emilio regards Wallace and finally says to Weevil, "Órale, pelonito."

Weevil nods to Wallace, who clears his throat and says, "I'm trying to get some information about Ciaran Fitzpatrick. My girlfriend's brother...well, we think Ciaran had him murdered. This guy Shawn Blake was dealing a drug called Meth-X and turned up dead in Washington State."

Emilio looks from Wallace to Weevil and back. "Yeah, I heard something about that....This kid Shawn, he had a connection for this new drug, but the supplier would only deal in a large quantity. Shawn asked around and figured out that the Fitzpatricks were the most likely partners for that kind of a deal. Shawn had the connection, and the Fitzpatricks had the money to set it up."

"So what happened?" Weevil asks.

"I don't know. The story was that Ciaran was going to cut out the middleman, try to deal with the supplier himself. But then I heard that the kid tried to do an end run around him and cut out the Fitzpatricks."

"Pissing off Ciaran and getting himself killed," Weevil comments.

Emilio nods and leans toward the glass. "But there's more to it. Around that time, one of Fitzpatrick's boys was bragging that he would never get convicted because the Fitzpatricks had someone in the cops who would destroy the evidence in his case. The C.O.'s found him with a shiv in his back the next day."

Wallace echoes, "Someone in the cops?"

"You know Liam's racketeering charges got dismissed...este pinche puto pendejo baboso," Emilio comments bitterly. "The prison was buzzing with the news that Liam was finally going to go down. I was looking forward to giving him a little midnight justice. And then, ¡chingaos!, the evidence is excluded because of a fucked-up warrant, and Liam's back on the streets," he concludes sarcastically. "Got to be a dirty cop helping him."

"But why would they kill Shawn in Washington?" Wallace asks curiously.

"The Fitzpatricks always used a Mexican contact for their meth in the past. But there's a rumor that the Mexican border's too tight now, and some people are trying to get stuff in across the Canadian border...especially in Montana and Washington where the Border Patrol is stretched thin. It's all fucking trees and mountains up there, and a million places that aren't being watched," Emilio says.

"I'm pretty sure it wasn't actually Ciaran that shot Shawn," Wallace explains. "He and his brother Padraig were arrested on a drunk and disorderly charge around the time Shawn disappeared, and then they had to make a court appearance a few days later. Because of all their previous convictions, they had to surrender their driver's licenses and passports when they made bail. So they couldn't have flown up to Washington on a commercial flight, and I don't think they had enough time to drive up to Washington and back during that time."

"What about Liam? Was he around?" Weevil asks.

"I haven't made any progress on his alibi yet," Wallace replies. "It's not like I can go up to the guy and ask him where he was."

A corrections officer approaches and taps Weevil on the shoulder. "Two minutes."

Weevil nods and speaks quietly into the phone. "Emilio, maybe you could ask around about this? You know, see if we can find a way to make the fucking micks pay for what they did to the Reaper? And for Angel too. He says he's going to sell the junkyard rather than pay protection to the Fitzpatricks."

Emilio nods and says to Wallace, "Find out who the dirty cop is, güey."

__________
(10) http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/docs/InmateVisitingGuidelines.pdf

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09 afternoon: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Veronica wakes with a start and is disoriented in the dark room. Then she remembers where she is. After Maria finally took her to the bathroom and returned her without comment to 'Observation Placement', Veronica fell asleep fitfully, all the while wishing they would bring her something to eat or drink. She woke up several times; each time she was surrounded by deafening silence and unrelenting darkness.

She automatically looks at her wrist and realizes: of course...she doesn't have a watch anymore. It's got to be morning...maybe late Saturday night. I probably slept straight through the night. I can't believe they haven't brought me anything to eat or drink.

For a moment, she begins to mentally relive the brutal search that Maria performed on her; I knew it was...I knew it would be.... Not a rape, NOT a rape, I knew it would be like that.... Then Veronica deliberately refuses to think about the search anymore, putting it out of her mind, trying to deny the emotions she's feeling. I'm no one's bitch.

Veronica decides to try to explore the room in the dark. She feels her way around the room, remembering its dimensions from her brief view of it when Kavner brought her here. The room is bare of furniture or decorations other than the thin mattress and blanket. She finds her way to the window and tries to determine how it has been blocked. Boarded up? No...maybe painted black. She experimentally tries to scrape a fingernail on the window, but it appears to be typical window glass. Probably painted on the outside. She pushes on the double-hung window to see if it will budge; even using all her strength, the window refuses to give way. She feels her way around the sash and discovers several screws permanently fastening the window; she tries to unscrew one and realizes it is the type used in public bathrooms that can't be unscrewed without a special tool. She only succeeds in breaking a fingernail for her efforts.

She remembers reading in Logan's book about the Stanford Prison Experiment that one of the "prisoners" in the famous experiment used a fingernail to pry loose an electrical faceplate and then used that to unscrew the hinges on their "cell" door. She spends fifteen minutes futilely searching along the baseboards for an electrical outlet before she remembers that the door of the isolation room opens out. Veronica slides down the wall and sits on the floor, thinking absurdly of the scene in "The Big Lebowski" when the Dude braces the door shut by nailing a piece of wood into the floor only to realize, when the door flies open, that the door actually opens outward. She giggles, then starts to shake with laughter, and unaccountably a quiet sob.

What the hell is wrong with me? She takes a couple deep breaths. This is what they meant by milieu control. I don't know what time it is. I'm at their mercy for food and bathroom breaks. Veronica starts doing the breathing exercises that Dr. Kinny showed her and regains a little of her control. She focuses on everything that she can control in this room. She can control her breathing; she can walk around for a little activity; she can practice yoga poses or stretches; she can focus on the happy moments in her life. No one can take her memories away from her. She stands up and, holding her arms out in front of her, measures how many paces she can take before she runs into the opposite wall. Okay, five steps, and then I have to turn around. She starts to pace, one, two, three, four, five, turn around, one, two, three, four, five, turn around.... She begins to feel calm as she performs the ritual over and over. It feels good to be able to move around a little and work out the kinks from the long trip handcuffed in the van and the vicious fight at her intake.

Feeling much more relaxed, she sits down on the mattress again. Suddenly she hears the locks being unlocked and the door opens; Veronica is blinded by the light from the hallway. She shades her eyes trying to see who it is; the door shuts quietly, and she hears someone whisper, "Veronica?"

She recognizes Logan's voice and stands up quickly. As they move toward each other in the dark, she bumps into his outstretched arm. He folds her into a hug. "I can't stay long, they'll notice I'm not where I'm supposed to be," he whispers.

"It's okay, I'm glad you came," she breathes. "What time is it?"

"Four o'clock."

"Four o'clock a.m.?" she asks.

"No, four o'clock in the afternoon, Saturday," he says, mystified. "You've been in here for about ten hours."

Veronica is completely dumbfounded. "I thought it was...I don't know, middle of the night at least."

Logan strokes her forehead. "You're okay? Kavner said you really made a ruckus when you came in."

"A ruckus?" she echoes.

"His word, not mine," Logan explains. "That girl Maria, your oldcomer, she's a real bitch, always running to tattle on someone to try to get some brownie points." He presses a granola bar into her hand. "Veronica, I wish I could have brought something a little more substantial, but I can't take the chance. Give me the wrapper back."

Veronica unwraps the granola bar and gives him the wrapper. "Get out of here now." She kisses him quickly, and he leaves the room, locking the door behind him. She catches just a glimpse of his worried face as he leaves.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Briar Patch
Veronica ponders Maria's possible
involvement; Briar Hill classes;
Weevil's plan.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
Candice Pauling: Toy Connor. Maria: Gina
Mantegna. Tara: Kirsten Prout.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: "BRIAR PATCH"

Sat. 3/7/09 early evening: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Veronica sits cross-legged in the dark. When Logan told her that she had only been here for ten hours, she was confused and upset that her sense of time had already been distorted. Then she considers how much more frightened the average student would be: pulled out of bed in the middle of the night without warning, transported in shackles to an unknown location, and brutally strip-searched by strangers. Veronica changes her position, hugging her knees to her chest, unconsciously adopting a protective pose.

What was that Kavner said about Maria? 'She was in charge of another girl who escaped, and Maria had six months added to her own program to punish her for being lax.' Could Maria have been Hannah's oldcomer, and Hannah was the girl who escaped under her charge? Could Maria have been involved in Hannah's death? Veronica considers for a moment. Hannah was here in spring 2006. Most girls are here for several years before they are advanced to oldcomer status. Maria looks to be seventeen or eighteen now. She would have been fourteen or fifteen in 2006...which means she would have had to have been twelve or thirteen when she came to the school in order to advance.... Veronica shakes her head ruefully. The school only takes students fourteen and older. That would have been too easy...and it doesn't even matter if she was Hannah's oldcomer. Whoever killed Hannah was in Los Angeles in January, not trapped in a residential program in Vermont. But...it's likely that Maria was here when Hannah was here. If Hannah saw something she shouldn't have seen, Maria might have seen it too.

Veronica sighs, realizing that Maria seems too damaged by the school to be receptive to questions about another student three years earlier. In fact, Veronica decides that Maria might have been mentally unstable even before she came to the school. There's not a shred of humanity in those eyes.

She remembers what Dr. Friedman said. 'Although there haven't been any studies using control groups, the data seems to indicate that students with mental disorders actually get worse at schools like this, and students who are just going through normal teenaged rebellion are permanently traumatized. So the schools are completely ineffective for the worst students and damaging to the best students. They actually make every child worse.' Mental disorder...I think that describes Maria perfectly.

Veronica thinks, I hope Logan can get into the files. Logan had solemnly promised he would try his best without compromising the operation to obtain a list of students and employees from the time when Hannah was a student...and more importantly, Hannah's personal file. It took a bit of convincing to get Dad to agree to it, but he finally okay'ed it. Veronica winces, remembering that her dad had muttered under his breath that she was completely impossible to deal with. Then she remembers that her dad might be listening to her at this very moment. Quietly, Veronica says, "Dad...see if Logan can get a copy of Maria's personal file. See if she was here when Hannah was here. I'm all right. Please don't worry about me too much...I promise, I'm being careful. I won't provoke them more than I have to." She has another idea. "And Dad, see if Klein was here in January, when Hannah was killed." Veronica hopes that Kavner had thought to install a repeater device up here in Observation Placement and that her audio bug is sufficiently powerful to carry her voice to her dad.

Suddenly, Veronica hears the locks turning in the door. Her heart begins to pound, worrying that someone heard her talking to her dad.

Maria says from the doorway, "Get up. We're going to the bathroom again." Veronica notices that she sports a large bandage covering her arm where Veronica stabbed her with the pen.

Veronica stands up uncertainly, still nervous that she had been overheard. She walks cautiously to the door.

"Come on, I don't have all day. What the hell is your problem?" Maria says crossly. "Were you talking to your imaginary friend just now?" she adds jeeringly. "Already cracking under the stress...and you thought you were a tough girl, attacking me when all I was doing was trying to help you start your program. Typical druggie, lashing out at the people trying to help you keep straight."

"I'm not a druggie," Veronica replies defensively. "What do you know about me, anyways?"

Maria grabs her by the arms and screams in her face. "I know you're here because you're fucked up, and you need this program. You have a mental disease–you're an addict, and you don't know how to control your behavior. You have to accept that this program is your life now. You're going to have to work the program for the rest of your life if you don't want to end up in prison or dead. Those are your choices, Connie: the program, prison, or death. The sooner that you admit you have a problem, the sooner you'll start to get better. Your belief that you're smarter than everyone around you is what's causing the problems in your life. Stop choosing out, and let us help you!" Maria takes Veronica's arm and begins to walk her down the hallway, holding onto her bicep tightly.

Veronica knows exactly what her dad told the educational consultant about her because she watched the video of the meeting. 'Connie's mixed up with a bad crowd. I think they're drinking, maybe even doing drugs; she was arrested for shoplifting six weeks ago.' So now I've been promoted from 'maybe doing drugs' to 'druggie'. She doesn't argue the point as Maria propels her along the corridor to the bathroom.

They enter the bathroom; the door to the hallway has been removed as well as the stall door. Maria hands Veronica three squares of toilet tissue. Hesitantly, Veronica asks, "Please, can I have–"

Maria shuts her down, "No, you don't deserve more than that. Hurry up, or you won't have time for dinner before I have to go to class."

Veronica tries to hurry, but she keeps catching Maria's eyes accidentally, and her stare is unnerving. She does the best she can with the limited tissue and flushes. Veronica keeps her eyes averted from Maria as she pulls up her sweat pants. She quickly washes her hands; Maria grabs her arm again and takes her back to the isolation room.

Veronica is pushed into the room again; Maria hands her a paper plate with a sandwich and a paper cup that Maria had previously left on a small table in the hallway. Veronica expects Maria to leave her to eat her meager dinner, but Maria just stands there, waiting. Veronica awkwardly tries to balance the plate and cup with one hand as she eats the white bread and peanut butter sandwich. Maria stares at her as she eats and then drains the paper cup of its contents, a weak fruity drink made from a mix that Veronica remembers a former student calling 'bug juice'. Maria holds out her hand, and Veronica silently returns the paper plate and cup. "That's better," Maria says approvingly. "Maybe you'll make it through here after all."

Maria slams the door shut, locking it, and Veronica is once again alone in the dark.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09 early evening: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Logan has been assigned to the classroom this evening. He lounges against the wall as the girls file into the room. Many of the girls are paired with an oldcomer, who restricts their movements physically, sometimes pushing the girls forcefully down onto a chair. Logan assumes that the girls without an oldcomer have been here at Briar Hill long enough to have advanced in their program past the newcomer level. The teacher hands out worksheets to the girls, who begin to work on them silently. There is no instruction, no lecture, no discussion of the material being worked on. Each girl has a small flag on the right side of their desk. If they want to ask the teacher a question or if they have finished the worksheet, they move the flag to the left side. The girls work separately on their assigned worksheets; as they finish, they call the teacher over, and the work is corrected by the teacher. If the student gets 90% of the worksheet correct, they are given a new one; if not, they are given the same sheet again to try once more.

One girl seems to struggle more than most. When she finally completes the first worksheet, after most girls have done two or three, the teacher shakes her head and says, "You have to try harder, Tara." The girl nods and takes the new worksheet. Logan moves to the other side of the room so he can observe her; she closes one eye and looks closely at the worksheet before finally checking a box on the multiple choice question. Tara gets more and more frustrated as she works; at one point, she seems close to tears. Finally she seems to give up and begins to randomly check boxes. She signals that she's ready to hand in the worksheet and waits for her grade. The teacher says, "A little better," and Tara looks at her in disbelief. She takes another copy of the worksheet and tries again.

Logan hears someone quietly saying "Psst."

He turns around in time to see an oldcomer jump up from her seat and grasp the face of her newcomer. The oldcomer forces the other girl's head to the front. The oldcomer says sharply, "You don't talk to another newcomer. You know the rules."

The newcomer girl protests, "I dropped my pencil–"

The oldcomer stands up and hauls the other girl out of her seat. Four other girls join in quickly; they take the newcomer down to the floor. Logan steps toward them reluctantly, knowing that his job requires him to assist them in holding the girl on the floor if necessary.

The girl pleads, "No, please don't, I'm sorry..." but the other girls ignore her. Each girl takes a limb of the offending girl; she is held down and immobilized by the weight of the other girls pressing on her.

Her oldcomer grabs her chin again and says, "You know the rules. You know the consequences." She stares into the eyes of her charge and adds, "Do you understand why we have to do this?"

The girl nods, and the other girls let her up from the floor. Logan steps back, the bile rising in his throat. 'Logan!...Do you understand why I have to do this?' Aaron's words ring in his ears, and Logan realizes that he's almost flinching in a subconscious reaction to the phrase. He closes his eyes for a moment, reminding himself that he has to be here for Veronica, and somehow regains his composure.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09 early evening: Olympia Diner, Neptune, CA

After their visit to Chino, Wallace and Weevil hit hours of traffic on the I-5. When they enter the diner, Weevil is still berating Wallace for not taking the I-15 as he had suggested. "I told you we'd get slammed if we took the I-5," he says smugly.

"You know as well as I do, there's no guarantee you can avoid traffic on any highway in California," Wallace retorts in irritation. "Will you drop it already? Hey, there she is." He sees Candice in the back of the restaurant and waves to her.

Candice smiles as the two men approach. "Wallace, how'd it go?"

Wallace slides into the booth next to her and kisses her in greeting. "Lots of traffic on the way back. But...Emilio did have some ideas. Candice, this is Eli, also known as Weevil. He's a maintenance supervisor at Hearst now and went to Neptune High with Veronica and me."

"Nice to meet you, Eli," Candice says.

As they peruse the menus, Wallace tells Candice about Emilio's information about the suspected dirty cop. After they order, there's an awkward silence.

Candice finally tries to make conversation, "Eli, how did you get your nickname?"

"When I was little, I liked a cartoon character called El Gorgojito," Weevil mumbles.

"What was that?" Wallace says.

"It was a cartoon, all right? My grandmother gave me that name," Weevil replies defensively.

"Chill, dude! We all know you're a tough guy," Wallace responds, laughing.

"Yeah, well, you don't make fun of my abuela, okay?" Weevil retorts. "Maybe I should tell your girlfriend about how we met, huh?"

"That's okay," Wallace says quickly, putting up a hand in protest.

"No, come on, tell me," Candice pleads, laughing a little at Wallace's expression.

Ignoring Wallace's discomfort, Weevil leans forward and explains, "See, back then, I was the head of the PCHers, you know, the motorcycle gang?"

Candice nods that she's familiar with the name.

Weevil continues. "So our boy Wallace here was working the late shift at the Sac'n'Pac when a few of my boys decided to get a few items at the five-finger discount rate."

Wallace explains, "They stuffed a bunch of forties in their pockets and gave me a dollar. So I hit the silent alarm."

"Yeah, Mr. Law-and-Order here called the cops. But then he chickened out, said it was an accident that he hit the silent alarm."

"I was so thoroughly impressed with the competence of our local sheriff's department that I realized I must have been in error," Wallace tries to explain to Candice.

"Okay, if that's how you want to spin it," Weevil laughs. "Anyways, the security tape caught the whole thing; Hector and Phuong were arrested. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy to have my number two in jail," he shrugs, "so the next day, we duct-taped your boy to the flagpole at school. Buck-naked, except for his shorts."

"Yeah, thanks for that small bit of kindness. I was pretty happy not to get a bikini wax from the duct-tape," Wallace butts in.

Weevil snorts. "Yeah, when Logan did it to me, he wasn't as nice as we were. ¡Ay cabrón, mis ayotes!" He makes a face, remembering his own time on the flagpole. "Anyways, after we taped Wallace to the flagpole, we wrote 'SNICH' on him with a magic marker."

Wallace is fuming, but Candace laughs and smiles at him. Wallace adds, "Yeah, but they misspelled 'SNITCH': S-N-I-C-H...the Neptune High English Department at its finest."

"Bootsy never could spell for shit, in English or Spanish," Weevil muses. "Anyways, so Veronica...you've met her, right?"

Candice nods. "Yeah, we met when she dumped my lunch tray so Wallace could play the hero."

"Oh, that's so romantic," Weevil comments sarcastically, with a mock swoon. He puts his hands together and leans his cheek against them with a wounded puppy-dog expression, fluttering his eyelids. "And then you swept her off her feet." Once again ignoring Wallace's glare, he continues, shaking his head in commentary, "Now, Veronica...that chica is a total bad-ass. Everyone else was too chicken-shit to do anything, but she whipped out a knife and cut Wallace down. Then she made a deal with me, got the charges dropped against my boys in exchange for promising to leave your favorite sack-packer alone."

"Yeah, Veronica and her favors," Wallace concurs. "For some reason, we all let her talk us into doing whatever she wants."

"Yeah, because she's got your back when you need her," Weevil says firmly. "If she hadn't come along, you'd still be duct-taped to that flagpole, and a bikini wax would be the least of your worries."

Candice is still giggling at the image of Wallace taped to the pole. Wallace thinks, Hey...if it got her mind off Shawn for five minutes, it's worth the humiliation. Candice excuses herself and heads for the ladies' room. Wallace hunches over the table and says to Weevil, "So, have you thought anymore about how we can find out who the dirty cop is?"

"Yeah, actually I do have an idea. I say we drop a dime on Liam, set him up for something. What the hell, the guy's a crook all day long...all we have to do is catch him in the act of doing something illegal, rat him out, and see who he calls for help."

Wallace, thinking out loud, says, "We'd have to have a way into the Sheriff's Department to see who he calls."

"Nah, he's not that stupid. He'll call one of his brothers, and then they'll make contact."

Wallace nods, "I guess you're right. But there's only two of us...there's like twenty Fitzpatrick brothers."

"The only ones that are smart enough for Liam to trust are Ciaran, Padraig, and Father Patrick. So...let's try to implicate Ciaran and Padraig as well. Then he'll have to call on the mick priest for help," Weevil muses. He pauses, then says suddenly, "You know, I helped Keith with something a few weeks ago, something that was going on with the Fitzpatricks."

"What? What did you do?" Wallace asks curiously.

Weevil fidgets, trying to decide how to proceed. Finally, he says, cautiously, "Keith won't like it that I'm telling you this."

Wallace nods. "Okay. So we won't tell him you told me."

"Keith and I dressed up like we were from the coroner's office and paid a visit to the St. Mary's cemetery. He had all sorts of paperwork authorizing him to exhume a body," Weevil explains.

"You're kidding."

Weevil shakes his head. "Really fucking nasty work. He didn't let me see what he did, but he took something from one of the graves."

Wallace ponders this information. "Whose grave was it? Was it a guy named Matt Dannon?"

"No. It was in the Fitzpatrick family plot. There's a huge fucking tombstone on the grave of Liam's grandfather, Seamus Fitzpatrick. When I was a kid, we used to bust beer bottles on the monument to piss off the micks," Weevil comments.

"And we know Keith also burned down a shed on one of Liam's properties right around that time," Wallace adds. "So he was doing something related to the Fitzpatricks." He thinks a moment and continues. "I bet Keith was spying on the Fitzpatricks. He never told me exactly what was going on, but I'm sure of it. I saw him monitoring the Sonic Snoop program he uses with his surveillance gear right around that time. So maybe he hid some bugs in St. Mary's. Liam was still in prison at that point. Right after that went down, Keith was arrested for the arson. And then he was working on the undercover op. He wouldn't have had time to get the bugs out of there."

"Do you know how to listen to those bugs?" Weevil queries.

Wallace nods. "Veronica's laptop has the Sonic Snoop program on it too. And she didn't take her laptop with her; it's still in the apartment...and I have a key. I've seen her do it enough times, I think I can figure it out."

As Candice approaches, Weevil nods his understanding. "Sounds like a plan."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Observer Effect
Logan scouts Klein's office; Dick is
targeted; Veronica's night in OP.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Dick: Ryan Hansen. Peter Klein: Clancy
Brown. Tony: Romany Malco. Maria: Gina
Mantegna. Hallie: Keri Lynn Pratt. Shania:
Robyn Richards. Brittany: Adrianne Palicki.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: "OBSERVER EFFECT"

Sat. 3/7/09 late evening: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Once Logan's shift is over, he decides to try to scout Peter Klein's office to determine how best to get in there to look at the files. Cautiously checking to make sure he's unobserved, he makes his way to the end of the hallway. He checks the door; the office securely locked. Logan hears voices; he looks around. The only exit nearby is "baby-locked"; the door, operated by a panic bar, is rigged to stay locked for two minutes, sounding an alarm, before finally opening in case of an emergency. He sees a closet and ducks in just in time before Peter Klein and Tony turn the corner. He listens as they talk.

Tony says, "Yeah, Maria handled it. She said the new girl is behaving herself now, but we'll have to watch her closely. She's too smart for her own good."

"Aren't they always," comments Klein.

"You ain't kidding. Maria's watching her like a hawk; she thinks Connie's her ticket out of here," Tony replies.

Klein says, "Well, it's okay for Maria to think that. It's useful for us. She'll be at Serenity Bay soon enough."

Logan, hiding in the closet, thinks, Serenity Bay?

"I feel kind of bad about that. She's worked hard on her program here, really helps a lot with the newcomers," Tony protests.

"Her father is insistent. It's Serenity Bay for Maria when she turns eighteen," Klein says firmly.

"I guess so. See you later," Tony replies.

Logan listens carefully; when there is only silence for the next five minutes, he takes a chance and opens the door a crack. Seeing no one, he opens the door a little further, noticing a light burning inside Klein's office through the frosted glass window on the office door. He exits the closet, closing the door quietly, and walks down the hall. He uses his card key on the locked front door to exit the building and runs straight into Tony.

Tony says, "Hey, what's up, Rog? Weren't you off shift half an hour ago?"

"Yeah. But I thought I might have dropped my lighter during the class session tonight when one of the girls was taken down...I wouldn't want one of the girls to get a hold of it," Logan explains lightly.

"Christ, that would be a disaster. Did you find it?" Tony asks.

Logan nods. "Right where I dropped it. I'll be more careful in the future."

"Everything's going okay? Did you have any more questions?"

"Yeah, it's going okay. You're right about the girls. They're pretty messed up. They're lucky to have a place like this to go to," Logan replies.

"The STRAIT program I was at saved my life," Tony comments.

"That's what you told me. And you turned out okay."

"Because I worked hard. I still work hard. Every day I want to get high again, but I fight it. Helping these girls helps me keep straight," Tony says.

Logan nods again. "Listen, see you tomorrow, Tony. I'm going to hit the sack."

Tony waves goodbye. He watches Logan walk toward the employees' quarters.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09 very late: Zeta Theta Beta, Hearst College, Neptune, CA

Dick, dressed only in skin-tight jeans and a bow-tie, has volunteered his services as a bartender at a blowout hosted by the Zeta Theta Beta sorority. "Ladies...panty-droppers all round?" He extends a tray toward two girls.

Hallie and Shania exclaim, "Whoo!" and take the shot glasses proferred by Dick, quickly downing the drinks.

"It's all part of the full-service package...and when I say package, you know what I mean," Dick says, thrusting his pelvis at the girls.

Hallie puts her arm around Dick's naked torso and does a bump and grind against him. "Next week, we're thinking about hosting a pole-dancing contest."

"I am so there," Dick pledges. "Can I be a judge? I promise to be completely impartial and fair. But of course, I'll expect the winner to grease my pole." He rubs his crotch against Hallie, who giggles and wanders off.

Dick notices a beautiful girl dancing with one of his Pi Sig brothers. "Shania, who's the fresh meat over there? She looks too old to be a freshman."

Shania glances at the girl and replies, "She's from an east coast Zeta chapter...said she was thinking about transferring to Hearst."

The girl notices Dick looking at her and comes over. "Hi, I'm Brittany."

"Hello, I'm Dick, nice to eat you," Dick answers.

"Love your outfit, Dick. Why don't you put your tray down and dance with me?" Brittany suggests, laughing.

"I'd be delighted to do you." He puts down the tray and allows Brittany to drag him to middle of the dance floor.

Brittany puts her arms around his neck and presses her body against him. As the song progresses, Dick thinks, Whoa, she is totally sexing me up. "So, Brittany, Shania said you're thinking of transferring to Hearst? There's always enough room for one more hot chick here."

"Either Hearst or UCLA. What do you think of UCLA? Do you know anyone who goes there?" Brittany asks.

"It's not a party school like Hearst," he replies. "Of course, whatever school I'm at is automatically a party school."

"How do you know UCLA isn't a party school? Do you know anyone who goes there?" she repeats, continuing to rub her body against him.

"Yeah, a couple people," Dick answers cautiously, suddenly remembering what Veronica said about the paparazzi probably having a tap on his phone. He decides to set a trap. "My best friend in fact. He transferred there a couple years ago, but now he's decided to drop out."

"Really?" Brittany asks. "What's he doing?"

"He's just bumming around Europe, getting into trouble, spending his trust fund on booze and babes," Dick says. "Last I heard, he was in Paris. Somehow he hooked up with Mischa Barton. It's not fair; he's got looks and bucks. All the girls fall in love with him."

"What's his name? Would I have heard of him?" Brittany asks breathlessly.

"Ah, who cares? Tell me more about me, baby," he replies, looking at her lasciviously. "How do you see this evening ending? I'm thinking we take this to a more private location." He points upstairs.

"Ooh, I totally want to hit that. Just let me get something from my car first, okay? See you in a minute."

Brittany kisses Dick. Nice use of the tongue, he notes. She smiles at him and pushes through the crowd to the front door of the sorority. He follows her and pushes the curtain aside to watch through the window as she runs up to a car driven by a blonde woman. Fuck! Carrie, he thinks, recognizing the driver of the car. Brittany walks quickly back to the front door of the sorority house; just as she reaches for the door knob, Dick opens the door and says, "Got what you need? We've actually reached our limit on skanky reporters. See ya." He slams the door in her face and returns to the party.

~ • ~

Sat. 3/7/09 very late: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Veronica is running down the hallway of the school, pursued by Mercer. Panicked, she thinks, 'Where the hell is Logan?' But he is nowhere to be found. She runs up the stairs, stopping on the second floor landing to look for him. Veronica repeatedly whispers the code words, "California! I wish I was in California!" 'Why isn't anyone responding?' she thinks frantically. In desperation, she finally says, "Abort! We have to abort now! Please, Dad...somebody...help!"

It's been two days since she was caught by Maria, talking to her dad over the bug in her bra. Since then she was released, but she sees the guards scrutinizing her, and Kavner and Logan seem to have disappeared. 'Taken away? Killed? Would they really kill to keep the school open?' Then Mercer showed up at the school. When Veronica saw him talking to Klein, pointing at her, she ran. He followed her deliberately, knowing that all the doors and windows were secured.

Veronica hesitates on the third floor landing, looking behind her anxiously. Somehow, she knows this is a dead end; this last set of stairs leads to the roof, where the only escape is to jump off the edge. She turns in the opposite direction and runs straight into the arms of Peter Klein.

Klein says in his magnificent and sonorous voice, "Connie, or should I say, Veronica, why are you running? Don't you know we love you here?"

Veronica sees Maria further down the hall; Maria smiles and says, "Love you, Veronica. Let us help you, then we'll let you call your father." Maria approaches purposefully.

Klein chuckles and says, "Keith isn't available for calls right now anyways– something about taking the rap for arson to keep his daughter out of prison. That's a heavy weight to bear, Veronica; it's time for you to admit you need help. Your actions are affecting all the people who love you. We're going to help you get right."

Maria approaches and grabs Veronica's arm. Maria says, "Veronica, c'mon, you know we need to search you. We know you have a listening device hidden on you. Let's make this easy; just give us the bug so we can start our real work."

Veronica jumps when Mercer speaks directly into her ear from behind her. "I'm so looking forward to group therapy with you, Veronica; I really want to hear about everything you've been through. You've been such a bad, bad girl. And don't you worry about Logan; when I recognized him, I took care of him."

She whirls around and cries, "What did you do to Logan?"

Mercer shakes his head. "Just another one of your victims, Veronica. We had him arrested for trespassing...and, what a surprise, he had forged identification. I think that's a federal offense under the Patriot Act." He touches her shoulder in a parody of a caress, gripping her tightly and drawing her to him. "Relax, baby, I know what I'm doing. You're in good hands now. But I can't say I like the red hair; it doesn't suit you. 'Course it doesn't matter, you're going to lose it anyways." He slips his hand into her hair, grabbing a chunk of it and pulling her head back. "Time for you to work your program. Love you, Veronica."

As one, Klein and Maria echo, "Love you, Veronica." They drag Veronica down to the floor; Veronica struggles and screams as they relentlessly begin to strip her, determined to find the listening device.

Veronica wakes up suddenly, terrified and disoriented in the dark "Observation Placement" room. She's freezing; she realizes that it must be nighttime, and the late winter chill in Vermont has permeated the room now that the sun has set.

She pulls the thin blanket tighter around her and tries to put her nightmare out of her mind. Now that she's actually seen the school, the dream is filled with real-life details and the faces of the actual people at the school. Veronica tries to reassure herself that Maria couldn't possibly have heard her speaking to her dad. Then she starts to worry that she really did screw up by provoking Maria during the strip-search; she obsessively goes over her memories, ruthlessly trying to dissect how she should have handled the situation. Her anxieties torment her despite her best efforts to dismiss them.

How many girls spent cold and lonely nights in this room before me? I can get through this, she thinks, trying to talk herself into being courageous. She shivers again, uncontrollably, and she accidentally knocks her bruised shoulder against the wall, wincing from the unexpected pain. Remembering the vicious fight with Maria at intake, she wiggles her loose tooth with her tongue, hoping it will eventually tighten in its socket again; she smiles grimly, thinking that at least her opponent got the worst of it. Veronica finally gives up on getting back to sleep; she stands up and paces back and forth, flailing her arms to try to keep warm. One, two, three, four, five, turn around, one, two, three, four, five, turn around....

She realizes that she wants to use the bathroom again; now that she is denied routine access, her bladder seems to have a mind of its own and continually urges her to relieve herself. Damn it! She reminds herself that she's had less than eight ounces of fluid and doesn't really need a bathroom, but her bladder refuses to be convinced.

Veronica sits down again, carefully favoring her painful shoulder as she leans against the wall. She takes a shaky breath, closes her eyes tightly, and begins to perform the breathing exercises that had helped her earlier that day. Each time her mind starts to worry again, she quickly tries to block the thought by focusing on the counts of the exercise. It takes longer than it did that afternoon before she feels a measure of control over her situation.

She lies down again on the uncomfortable thin mattress. Veronica curls up in a fetal position and huddles under the blanket. She whispers, "I'm going to make these bastards pay. I'm not giving up." Determined to keep herself calm and focused, she conjures up a memory of the last time she and Logan were together; she remembers his deliberate lovemaking and his tenderness toward her. She tries to imagine his caress on her skin; she brushes the back of her own hand against her cheek to relive the sensation of his touch. Veronica knows that the employees' quarters are just a short distance away on the grounds of the academy. She knows that he is thinking of her, worrying about her; she wraps the idea of his love and care for her around her like a second blanket. Veronica lies awake through the night, calming herself with the knowledge that he will protect her.

~ • ~

Sun. 3/8/09 morning: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

The door to Observation Placement is unlocked and opened. Veronica shades her eyes and sits up on the mattress. It's Maria. Veronica stands up, trying to look obedient. Wordlessly, Maria takes her to the bathroom again, then takes a short length of rope and ties it first to Veronica's right wrist, then loops it around Maria's left wrist. "Let's go," she barks. Maria urges Connie to the stairs, and they begin to descend.

It's not so much the actual restraint of the rope, but rather the embarrassment of it that strikes Veronica. It's a badge of shame–this is a girl who cannot be trusted. As they enter the cafeteria, Veronica sees all the girls stare at her. One girl drops her eyes, and Veronica realizes that she too is tied to her oldcomer. The cafeteria is eerily silent; there are no conversations, no rude noises or the laughter that she would expect from a group of girls this age. Veronica and Maria stand in line and receive their portion of oatmeal. Due to Maria's more advanced status, she is also granted an orange. Veronica knows she somehow has to document this meal for the monitoring team. She taps Maria on the shoulder, and Maria looks at her questioningly. Veronica says, "Please...I'm so hungry. Just oatmeal? Can I have something else too?"

Maria replies sharply, "You haven't earned more than oatmeal. Work hard on your program, and you'll get more."

"Is that why–" Veronica starts.

"Yes, I've worked hard. That's why I get the extra food," Maria says smugly.

Veronica nods her comprehension. They sit down at a table and eat their meal in silence.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Back Doors
Mac has a break-through; Veronica is
interviewed by Klein; group therapy begins.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Mac: Tina Majorino. Peter Klein: Clancy
Brown. Alyssa: Christina Hendricks. Maria:
Gina Mantegna. Megan: Anna Lynn McCord.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE: "BACK DOORS"

Sun. 3/8/09 morning: Hotel, San Diego, CA

Mac lies on the hotel bed, flipping through channels on the television. Sundays are the worst. The rest of the week she goes to the computer forensics lab to work on reconstructing Rick Picket's efforts to track the Russian Mafia; at the lab, Mac is in her element with a great computer and people to talk to when she needs a break. But Alan won't let her have a computer in the hotel, saying that the risk that she'll be found is too great if she accesses a Wi-Fi network. When she suggested a computer without Wi-Fi, he still shook his head, saying he thought she was smart enough to rig up a way to connect to the wired hi-speed internet in her room. Mac promised that she wouldn't try, but Alan still said no. Who'm I kidding? Of course I would have gotten online somehow.

Mac has noticed a change in the way Alan treats her lately. His early enthusiasm for her work on the project has turned into half-hearted compliments for her very small successes. Yesterday, Alan casually mentioned that there would be a meeting with the U.S. Marshals next week in order to discuss long-term witness protection. She surmises that if she is unable to make any more progress, she will be taken into WitSec, her identity changed, doomed to live the rest of her life in Albuquerque or Peoria, hiding under the bed everytime she hears a car backfire or receives a spam email from an unidentified source. Unless she can pinpoint the perpetrators of the identify theft program, she'll always be in danger.

Try not to think about it. They're saving your life. She changes the channel a few more times and stops when she sees Sandra Bullock peering at a computer screen on the television. Mac remembers being eight years old, begging her parents to take her to see 'The Net', which was PG13 as she remembers. Her mom and dad finally agreed, and Mac remembers enjoying the movie more than anything she had ever seen previously. Even as an eight-year-old, she thought some of the plot was far-fetched, but she loved seeing a woman outsmart the bad guys with her computer skills. For months, she insisted on being called 'Sandy' instead of 'Cindy'. Her dad still teases her with that name when he thinks she's spending too much time on the 'internets', as he terms it. Mac puts down the remote and watches the movie. She chuckles as Sandra Bullock's character, Angela Bennett, learns that the cyberterrorist group called "The Praetorians" has wiped her identity, replacing it with that of a prostitute wanted on several drug charges.

As Angela Bennett learns about the backdoor to Gatekeeper security program used by the cyberterrorists, Mac's thoughts drift to the problems she's having tracing the origins of the Russian Mafia's identity theft program. Backdoor. The backdoor to the Gatekeeper security protocols. Mac sits up suddenly and turns off the television. Backdoor...Back Orifice. Back Orifice is the Cult of the Dead Cow's program to hack into Microsoft Windows. For a second, she forgets to breathe. That's what Rick did. He used that same method combined with the known flaws in encryption methods to trace the originating server. He used a backdoor on the server.

Mac goes to the door of the hotel room and asks the agent stationed outside to call Alan and tell him she wants to go into the computer lab as soon as possible.

~ • ~

Sun. 3/8/09: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

Maria escorts Veronica into Peter Klein's office. He sits behind the desk, tapping a pencil and regarding her curiously without speaking. After several minutes, Veronica says nervously, "I'd really like to call my dad." She fidgets a little, playing with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

"I bet," Klein comments. "But you know, Connie, the thing is that your dad did the best thing he could possibly do for you by sending you here." He opens a file on the desk. "It looks like you have a substance abuse problem. Drinking, out all night, hanging out with bad kids who don't have your best interests at heart. And I see that your dad thinks you're abusing drugs as well. Ecstasy, maybe even crack or meth. I'd be willing to lay odds that you've raided your father's medicine cabinet, too. Pain pills, tranquilizers."

"I never did that," Veronica says defensively. "And I'm not doing drugs. Maybe a little pot now and then...."

"You see? You're lying to yourself. You don't do drugs, but you smoke pot."

"That's ridiculous. Nobody thinks pot is that bad," Veronica responds.

"I do. I know that I started by smoking pot. And then it was cocaine, and then speedballs, and then the next thing you know, I was burglarizing houses to pay for my habit."

"I'm not you," Veronica replies. "I'm not–"

"YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING!!" Klein thunders at her, pounding his palm on the desk. He visibly calms himself. "Connie, you're wearing your denial like a cheap jacket. Everyone can see that you're fucked up except for you. I have to tell you, I'm very concerned that this program's going to be difficult for you with your attitude."

"There's nothing wrong with my attitude. What do you expect when you lock somebody up in a dark room for a whole day?"

"Connie, the record for consecutive days spent in Observation Placement is 643 days."

Veronica swallows. You need to cooperate a little, Veronica. You are not going to get the evidence you need if you are stuck in that room for a week. Or two weeks.

"I'd like you to tell me about your boyfriend," Klein suggests.

"There's nothing to tell," she says.

"His name?"

She hesitates.

"Connie, tell me his name. You see, what we've learned over the years is that it's important to identify our backdoors: the people who help us to be self-destructive, the habits we cling to in order to do the things we shouldn't, even the places where we hang out and slip into our old patterns of behavior. I need to know the name of your boyfriend."

"Scott Rennick," she says reluctantly.

Klein smiles. "Good girl." He pushes a composition book and a pencil across the desk. Veronica notes that the notebook is fabric bound, not spiral bound, and assumes that is to prevent the notebook from becoming a weapon.

Maria picks up the notebook and the pencil. She holds the pencil up in the air and looks at the bandage on her arm where Veronica stabbed her the night before. "Can we trust you with a pencil? Or do we need to give you a crayon to write with?"

Veronica nods and takes the pencil and the notebook.

Klein says quietly, "Write down his name and address. Then we're going to go on to all your other druggie friends."

Veronica looks up when he says 'druggie' and takes a breath to speak, then pretends to think better of it and begins writing. Maria watches closely, wary of Veronica. At one point, Veronica can't resist raising the pencil to her face and tapping the eraser against her lips, as if trying to remember. She feels perversely satisfied when Maria flinches. Klein prompts her to write down more names.

Despite her apparent confusion, Veronica knows exactly why they are asking for the names of 'Connie's' friends: the parents of these friends will be contacted with an intense sales pitch for the school. In addition, should 'Connie' manage to escape from the school, they now have a list of the people she would turn to for assistance. Knowing that the school would be asking for such a list, Keith prepared a list of fictitious names, addresses, and phone numbers that all lead back to him, and Veronica has memorized the contact info in advance.

Maria looks on as Veronica writes. Finally, Veronica says, "That's it. I'm trying here. Really...I'm trying. That's everybody."

Maria takes the composition book back along with the pencil and looks over the names. "This is good, Connie. You're making progress. This is the beginning of your moral inventory."

"My what?" Veronica asks.

"Your moral inventory. It's a listing of all the things you've ever done, all the things you wish you'd done different, all your character traits that cause your problems. Once we start making our moral inventory, then we can start fixing our problems. First, you have to admit that there's a problem, which means you have to be totally honest," Maria explains.

Klein adds, "The moral inventory is not something that you can ever finish. You must keep track of your failings and bad thoughts every day. Once you begin to get better, you'll need your inventory to help you keep on the right path."

"So...like, 'today I wanted to go partying with my boyfriend,' that kind of thing?" Veronica asks.

"Or just your feelings. 'Today I felt envious.' 'Today I was selfish.' 'I realize I am frightened by the thought that I can never have a drink or do drugs.'" Klein turns around to the shelf behind his desk and gets a sheet of paper. He pushes it across the desk to Veronica, who picks it up and looks at it. "Some people need to use a checklist. It helps them to organize their thoughts."

The chart has three columns. In each column, on the left side there are negative characteristics or behaviors, such as 'angry' or 'apathetic'; each characteristic is countered on the right side by its positive opposite, such as 'forgiving & calm' and 'interested & alert'. Veronica looks over the long list of moral failings. (11)



He stands up and begins to pace around the room. "You see, your current beliefs are what's causing the problems in your life. You need to let go of your beliefs and let us help you create a new system for yourself. You have to learn that you don't know everything. You aren't as smart as you think you are. In fact, you aren't smart at all. You're dumb; your actions that got you here prove it, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll start to improve your life."

Veronica stares at him furiously; even acting the role of 'Connie', she's pissed as hell at Klein's assumptions.

"Right now, you're thinking, 'He doesn't know what he's talking about.'" Klein says, leaning against desk and looking down on Veronica. "Look on your list. 'Defiant and contemptuous'. And the opposite is 'Respectful'. Further down...'Resisting growing'. And the opposite is 'Willing to grow'. Connie, I think you'll find that you're going to identify with all the terms on the left side of the chart. I know I did."

He leans forward, emphasizing his point. "We have a disease. It's a moral disease, a disease of the soul. And society is unwilling to put up with people who have our disease. If you don't change the way you're behaving, you're going to end up dead or in prison. Those are your only choices. The program...death...or prison. And the truly sad thing about our disease is that it's not 100% curable. You're going to have to fight this disease for the rest of your life, the way that I'm fighting it every day of my life. Think about it. The program, death, or prison. I choose the program. Right now, you're choosing out. You're making the wrong choice, Connie. The first step is to admit you have a problem. I'd like to hear you say that."

"All right. I have a problem. Now...I'd really like to call my dad. Please. What do I have to do to earn a phone call?" Veronica asks.

"Did you believe her?" Klein asks Maria. Maria shakes her head 'no'. "Yeah, I didn't believe her either."

Veronica says defensively, "Okay, I admit it, I have a problem, I'm fucked-up, I'm a total shit, what do you want from me? And how the hell do I get rid of this tether?" She holds up her right wrist with the rope attaching her to Maria.

Klein stares at her silently. Finally, he says, "I can't say I'm surprised at your attitude."

"It reminds me of the way I was," Maria comments.

This statement chills Veronica to the bone, and she stares at Maria.

Maria says, "You think I'm a bitch, don't you? You're going to thank me one day. And then, if you work really hard, you might earn the privilege of helping another girl the way I'm helping you."

Fat chance, Veronica thinks.

"You need to learn to go along, Connie. Accept that your life is going to be different now and work the program, so it can work for you," Klein adds. "I'll see you two in group later. Connie, you've got a lot to think about."

~ • ~

Sun. 3/8/09: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

When the girls file into the meeting room for group therapy, Logan watches for Veronica, hoping that she's been released from Observation Placement. She walks into the room and looks right past him. Damn, she's good...no reaction at all. He notes that she looks okay except for a small bruise on her mouth and a general air of fatigue. Then he notices the tether on her wrist that he has seen on a few other newcomers. Without looking at him directly, she deliberately scratches her cheek, and he lets out the breath that he didn't even realize he was holding. Am I protecting her or is she protecting me?

Maria leads Veronica to the front of the room as the other girls take their seats. The girls sit down; every one of them sits up straight with their hands carefully placed on their knees. Maria addresses the girls. As she speaks, Logan notices that Peter Klein enters the back of the room and sits down unobtrusively. "This is Connie. She's a druggie and an alkie, and she sleeps around. And she got arrested for shoplifting. So she's got a lot of work to do before she can get right."

The girls answer, "Love you, Connie." Veronica looks at the assembled girls, uncertain what her response is. Maria grabs her arm and leads Veronica to the chairs. She takes the tether off Veronica and pushes her into one of the blue plastic chairs. "Sit, and pay attention." Maria carefully places Veronica's hands on her knees. She takes Veronica's chin and roughly turns Veronica's head to the front. She yells in Veronica's ear, "Don't move, and LISTEN!" Veronica reacts by flinching; Maria shakes her shoulder roughly, and Veronica tries to imitate the attentive posture of the girls around her as Maria sits down beside her.

One of the counselors goes to the front of the room and writes 'Utilize, Don't Analyze' on the blackboard. She looks straight at Veronica and says, "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Alyssa, and I'm your counselor. I graduated from Briar Hill in 1996, and I know what you're thinking, because it's what I used to think. I'm a druggie, and I struggle with eating disorders. Briar Hill saved my life, and now I've dedicated my life to helping girls like me. I know if I hadn't come to Briar Hill, I'd be dead." Alyssa waits a moment for her point to sink in, then she points at the phrase on the blackboard and asks the girls, "'Utilize, don't analyze.' What does this mean?"

Most of the girls respond immediately; they begin to silently pump their arms in the air, alternating left and right in what looks like a perverse cheer. Some of the girls tap their feet as well. Veronica looks around, trying to make sense of it. Alyssa chooses one of the girls who is waving her arms energetically. The girl jumps to her feet and says, "It means don't question the program. The program works, you just have to work your program."

"Give me an example, Megan."

Megan begins to tell a long-winded story about trying to buy crack. Maria begins to pump her fists violently in the air, trying to get the counselor's attention. Finally, Alyssa points to Maria, who stands up and says to Megan, "That's bullshit, Megan." Maria addresses the counselor. "It has nothing to do with the topic, and it's bullshit besides. She's not digging deep enough."

"What do we think, girls?" the counselor asks.

"Bullshit!" "She's a liar." The girls join in on denouncing Megan, who sits down in frustration. Another girl is called upon to tell a story, and again the others attack her. Logan realizes that each girl is trying to top the last in creatively rewriting her history. No matter how debauched or immoral the story, the other girls jeer that it's not good enough, it's not real, the testifier is not working hard enough.

Alyssa finally stops the discussion and begins a lecture. "Now we're going to talk about retraining the way we think. The idea is that we need to change the way we experience life so that the situations that tend to get us into trouble are instead an opportunity to find a new way to deal with them. The reason why you're here, ladies, is because your lives don't work the way you've been living them. Your lives were shit before you got here. You didn't know what you were doing, and you were screw-ups. We need to change the way you think, get rid of your beliefs that are holding you back from being a functioning member of society." The counselor continues in this vein for an hour, telling the students they are assholes, subhuman, and worthless.

Logan begins to fidget; the long period standing aggravates his knee injury, and he finally has to walk around a little to relieve the sensation. Klein notices and stands up as well; he motions that Logan should join him outside the meeting room. Klein asks, "Everything okay? You're the new guy, right?"

Logan answers, "Yeah, it's fine. I just had surgery on my knee a few months ago; it locks up on me sometimes." He extends his hand and says, "Roger Oakley."

"Nice to meet you, Roger. So...what do you think of our program so far?"

"It's intense," Logan answers truthfully. "Tony explained a few things to me; I understand a little better now, I think."

"Tony's been working for me for a long time now. He's really earned my trust....We better get back in there," Klein suggests.

They reenter the room; the counselor's droning speech is still continuing. Logan notices that Veronica's head is drooping. Shit! Don't fall asleep. Don't fall asleep! Her head bobs a little, and her eyes close. The girl sitting next to her pokes Veronica to wake her up, and Veronica wakes up with a start, accidentally hitting the girl who poked her.

Alyssa stops mid-sentence and focuses on Veronica. "You!!"

Veronica is obviously still half-asleep and looks up, confused. The counselor approaches and starts to scream at her. "Why aren't you paying attention? What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you know we're trying to help you here?"

Veronica tries to protest reflexively before realizing she should just take the abuse.

Alyssa motions with her hand towards the floor. "Take her down."

Maria takes the lead, grabbing Veronica and pulling her down to the floor. The other girls quickly gather around and help to secure Veronica's limbs. Veronica fights against the takedown, and, knowing that Klein is watching him, Logan joins in holding her down. He grabs her left arm and firmly holds it against the floor, praying that she'll stop resisting. Veronica still struggles against the confinement, and the counselor kneels down and puts her hand over Veronica's nose and mouth; now Veronica really kicks and writhes as Alyssa screams at her, "WHY CAN'T YOU ACCEPT THAT WE LOVE YOU AND KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU!" Veronica finally stops struggling, and the counselor releases her. Veronica is breathing heavily, the girls still holding her pinned to the floor.

Maria says contemptuously, "You're fucking up and making me look bad!" She aims a punch at Veronica's stomach, and Veronica tries to roll away.

Logan grabs Maria's arm and says, "Enough!" He feels something on the underside of Maria's arm, and he turns her arm to look at it. He sucks in his breath; it's a perfect match to the cigarette burn scar on his own shoulder. Logan's eyes meet Maria's; she knows that he knows exactly what the scar is, and she pulls her arm away violently.

Maria hisses at him, "You're new, aren't you? You don't get it. She's a newcomer. We have to teach her how to behave."

Logan just stares at her.

Veronica says tearfully, "You fuckers! I want to talk to my dad! Why won't you let me call him?" Logan meets her eyes for a split-second and realizes she's saying this to reassure him.

Maria says intensely, "Don't make it worse! Stop resisting. Let us help you, Connie....Are you going to behave? You're going to sit and listen quietly?"

Veronica finally nods, and the girls let her up. Maria and the other girls say in unison, "Love you, Connie."

Logan stands ups and walks to the rear of the room. He only dares to glance once over his shoulder at her as Veronica shakily stands up and retakes her seat, replacing her hands on her knees and staring straight ahead in imitation of the girls around her.

Klein walks over to him and says in a low voice, "It's hard in the beginning. Once you see some girls improve and graduate, it'll be easier for you. We have to tear them down before we can build them up again."

Logan nods, averting his eyes. He's not quite sure, but he thinks that Klein actually believes he's saving these girls. It scares him to realize that Klein isn't just a superlative con artist, but rather a true believer. If a man is willing to brutalize young girls to 'save' them, just how far would he go to the protect the cause?

__________
(11) http://www.royy.com/step4.pdf

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Scars
Logan compares notes with
Keith and the monitoring team.
Logan: Jason Dohring. Keith: Enrico
Dr. Kinny: Dan Castellaneta. Epstein:
Scott Grimes.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR: "SCARS"

Sun. 3/8/09 late evening: Rented house, Manchester Center, VT

Keith answers the knock at the door. "Hey, Logan, come on in." Dr. Kinny and Epstein look up from the computer screen and acknowledge Logan.

"The video from the group therapy?" Logan asks as he and Keith walk over to join the others.

"Yeah. We've watched the takedown several times," Keith replies.

Epstein adds, "It's obvious that they brutalized Veronica for what was an accidental reaction to the other girl poking her. It's completely out of line with an appropriate response."

Keith says, "I'm glad we were able to get video for the group therapy room. It's one thing to describe what's going on there, but the video makes it clear how insidious the therapy is. They're using all the classic brainwashing techniques."

Logan interrupts, "How can you be so calm about this? That's your daughter being hauled down to the floor. And that's me, helping to hold her down." He watches as Dr. Kinny rewinds and watches the scene again. This is like a nightmare, where you have to watch yourself being tortured over and over again...or in my case, I get to be the instrument of evil.

Keith pulls Logan aside, and they go into the dining room as Dr. Kinny and Epstein continue to talk about today's group therapy session.

Keith sits at the table and motions for Logan to join him. "Logan, I know this is hard, having to watch and not be able to stop them from hurting her. It's hard for me too. I wish there was another way to do this, but Veronica was right. There's not a lot of girls her age who have the experience and know-how to pull this off. And my god, what they do to these girls is horrific, and these schools need to be closed, permanently. But don't think I'm not worried about her. I'm worried about her every minute, and every time the bug goes silent when she's not on camera, I'm torturing myself with pictures of her living through the stories we've heard."

Keith continues, "I know how you feel; it's how I'm feeling. But I'm counting on you to keep it together so you can help her if she really needs it. You know that Veronica is a great actor; she's been helping me for years now, and I'm always impressed with the way she can take on another persona at the drop of a hat."

"I know, but–"

"Logan, she's all right. She made certain to let you know that. She used the code words, 'I want to call my dad'. You know she's all right," Keith responds.

Logan sighs heavily, ruffling the hair on his head.

Keith thinks, He's not saying anything that I haven't been thinking over and over again since I let Veronica talk me into this. Aloud, he just says, "You gotta keep it together, Logan; I'm counting on you. Have you learned anything else?"

"I think we need to find out more about Maria."

"Veronica's oldcomer?" Keith asks.

"She has a cigarette burn scar on her arm," Logan explains. "I don't think she got it at the school. It's an old scar."

Keith studies Logan, wondering how he knows what the scar is, and finally realizes with a sudden burst of anger.... "Aaron?" he asks tersely.

Logan says evasively, "It's not just that. I heard Tony and Klein talking about her. They said she was going to be transferred to something called "Serenity Bay" just before her eighteenth birthday. 'At her father's insistence', Klein said."

"Before she ages out?" Keith says sharply.

"They implied that Maria thinks that if she manages to break Veronica, Maria will be allowed to graduate and leave the school, but instead, no matter what happens, she's going to go to this Serenity Bay place," Logan adds.

"Serenity Bay, that sounds familiar. Hey, James, can you come in here for a minute?"

Epstein joins them at the dining room table, and Logan repeats what he said to Keith.

Keith says, "What can you tell us about Serenity Bay, where they're planning on transferring Maria?"

Epstein sucks in his breath. "Serenity Bay is in Jamaica. It's the worst of all the tough-love programs, and there's absolutely no government regulations or oversight there."

"It sounds like Maria's father is going to 'warehouse' her there. He's trying to keep her locked up even after she's an adult," Keith muses. (12)

Logan stares at him. "This is sick. I mean, I think Maria's a total bitch for the way she's treating Veronica. But if she has that scar, you know that means someone was abusing her. And then maybe they locked her away, to keep her from talking about it." If Aaron had known that there were schools like this, he might've...he tries to clear his mind of the black thoughts he's been inundated with since he saw Maria's scar. "I don't understand how this is legal. I know what you said, that parents have the right to educate their children the way they want, but this is abuse."

"We need to see Maria's file; maybe it will shed some light on what's going on," Keith responds.

Logan asks uneasily, "Is there any chance...is there any chance that Maria could have been punished with a cigarette at Briar Hill? I mean, if there's a chance that Veronica could get–"

Epstein interrupts, "No. Maybe in a different program, but not at Briar Hill. The worst physical abuse that I've heard of at the school was paddling or neglect–kids who didn't get medical attention soon enough. I don't think they'd take the chance of doing something like burning a kid which would be direct evidence of the problems at the school. They're too smart; they prefer psychological abuse. I think you're right, it must be an old scar on Maria."

"Have you made any progress on getting into Klein's office to look at the files?" Keith asks.

Logan replies, "Not really. Klein's office is locked with a magnetic card reader like every other door. I think only he and his secretary have access."

"Does she wear the card on a chain around her neck?"

"No, I think she keeps it in her purse, and she locks her purse in her desk while she's working," Logan answers.

"Klein's secretary doesn't live on the campus," Keith thinks out loud. He pauses, then says, "All right. Let's try this. Tonight I'll go to the secretary's house and put a slow leak in one of her tires. Tomorrow, James and I can follow her, using the same route she would take to the school. When she pulls off to change the tire, we'll stop and offer to help. James can distract her, and I'll get her card and use a magnetic card reader to copy the magnetic stripe. Then I'll dummy up a new card and get it to you. If it doesn't work, we'll have to try to break into her house or come up with something else."

"Tomorrow would be a good time to try to get into Klein's office. Tony mentioned that Klein's heading up to Montpelier for an important meeting at one o'clock. And they're taking all the girls on a day-long hike, so most of the staff will be involved with that," Logan explains.

"Day-long hike?" Keith queries.

Logan nods. "Tony said that they find it helpful to push the girls to their physical limits in order to help them 'progress'." He makes air-quotes around the word 'progress'."

"Break them down, you mean," Epstein clarifies.

"Yep," Logan replies succinctly. "I'm worried about Veronica on this hike. The bug on her isn't going to transmit audio very far without the repeaters that you installed in the building."

Keith says. "Are you supposed to go on this hike?"

"No. Tony said my knee would be a liability, so I'm excused from duty for the hike. What they do is, they split the employees into teams. When the girls reach a predetermined point, the employee team is replaced by another team that reached the point via the school jeep. Then they switch again at the next stopping point. That way the employees don't get tired, and they can really push the girls to physical exhaustion," Logan explains.

Epstein mutters, "I hope Veronica's in good shape."

"She is. She's been working out and running on the beach every day. She's a lot tougher than she looks," Keith replies. "Don't let her size fool you. That's my bad-ass action-figure daughter we're talking about."

But she's not as tough as you think, Logan worries, thinking about Veronica's nightmares.

Keith thinks a moment, then says, "We have an audio recorder that can record up to twelve hours. It's small; Kavner can hand it off to Veronica at some point, and she can hide it in her sock so we can at least document what happens on the hike. Then she can get it back to him, or even drop it somewhere at the end of the hike. Veronica will know what to do when Kavner hands it to her."

Logan mutters, "It's killing me not to be able to talk to her or touch her."

"Logan, you're really helping Veronica just by being there," Keith says. "And you're helping me too. I know Veronica's a lot safer with you there."

Logan nods. "There's another girl I want to check out too. Tara."

Epstein says, "We noticed her in the intake video. She was reluctant to join in on holding Veronica down, and Maria had to yell at her."

"She's probably new. She's paired with an oldcomer, so she hasn't been there for long. What I noticed was during school; I think she's got a learning disorder or dyslexia. She was really struggling, and the school's not providing any extra help for her. And she seems frightened to death every time I see her," Logan remarks.

"See if you can look at her file too. You remember how to use the camera I gave you?" Keith asks.

Logan lifts up his wrist; the ordinary-looking wristwatch is actually a powerful digital camera. "Yeah, I remember."

Epstein interrupts their discussion. "You said Klein was going to Montpelier tomorrow?" Logan nods, and Epstein continues, "That's the state capital. If there's any kind of graft going on–anyone that Klein is paying off to keep the school open–this meeting might be evidence of that."

"You're right. There won't be much to do in terms of monitoring tomorrow because we won't be able to hear Veronica while she's on the hike. Maybe you and I could tail Klein and see what his business is in Montpelier," Keith suggests.

Epstein nods.

Logan stands up to leave. "So you'll let me know when you have the new magnetic card?"

Keith replies, thinking out loud, "Yeah, I can bring the encoder with me and do it right there in the car. I'll text you when it's ready. If Klein's meeting is at one, he'll have to leave around ten-thirty or eleven. I can get his license plate from the Vermont DMV, and we can pick him up once he leaves the school property....Logan, try not to worry. Except for Veronica pushing it a little at intake, she's doing a great job; she's gotten a lot of evidence already. We might be able to end the operation early."

Logan nods glumly and turns to leave. He stops and turns back, "Do you think it's worth the risk to plant a bug in Klein's office? I...I'm starting to think Veronica was right, that Hannah was killed because of something that happened at the school. Klein is a fanatic. He believes in what he's doing. He's not just a con man."

Keith studies Logan's worried expression. "You really think he would kill to protect his program? What could Hannah have done to him?"

"I don't know. Maybe she saw something and was going to go public with it," Logan offers.

"But there have been plenty of exposés on the schools. Former students have come forward and testified before Congress, but still the laws haven't changed and still the schools operate exactly as before. The public believes that these kids deserve to be put away and ignores the bad publicity. What could have Hannah have seen while she was at the school?"

"Maybe another student was murdered that we don't know about. Maybe a student suffocated while in restraints, or an infection was left untreated for too long...you read the same horror stories that I did. Maybe Hannah witnessed a payoff. Maybe Klein got an underage girl pregnant; maybe he even got Hannah pregnant. DNA doesn't lie," Logan theorizes. I can see Klein justifying just about anything.

Keith is silent, momentarily panicked that he has put Veronica in jeopardy. "You really believe Klein is capable of something like that? What did he say exactly?"

"He said, 'It's hard in the beginning. Once you see some girls improve and graduate, it'll be easier for you. We have to tear them down before we can build them up again.' And it didn't sound like just a pep talk to a reluctant employee. He believes what he's doing is the right thing to do. He was completely sincere. He believes that he has to hurt the girls to help them. How do we know he wouldn't kill someone in order to save this program that he's devoted his life to?" Logan says passionately. Since his conversation with Klein, he has replayed the man's words over and over in his head, trying to decipher any hidden meaning; nothing about Klein's words or the research about the schools that he read back in Neptune has reassured him that Klein wouldn't murder to avoid prison or even a lawsuit. And here we are, collecting evidence for a lawsuit, against someone who might be willing to kill to protect his cause.

Keith studies Logan, taking Logan's opinions seriously. "You're right. We should take the opportunity to bug Klein's office. And we're going to be more careful about provoking him until we can get Veronica out of there."

"But I think we should end this right now–"

Keith interrupts, "If Klein murdered Hannah, how did he get access to the FBI case files to make her murder look like another one of the serial killer's victims?"

Logan stares back, unable to come up with a plausible scenario. Finally, he replies, "What about that FBI guy, Mike Fields? Can you ask him to investigate a possible connection with Klein? Something that would show how Klein could know about the serial killer victims."

Keith nods. "It's a good idea. I'll ask him to check to see if Klein has any ties to the FBI." He pauses, then continues, "I am going to think about ending this sooner. Veronica's already managed to document the strip search and got a video of the school denying her request for medical attention. And she got assigned to Observation Placement very quickly. She's doing very well; I'm confident we're going to be able to end this after no more than a week, maybe less than that."

"A week? Keith, that's–"

"I know, Logan, but we have a responsibility to the other girls as well." Keith sighs. "I just can't see how Klein could possibly know the details of the Saturday Night Slasher murders; it's just too far-fetched that he would go to that much trouble to conceal something that happened three years ago. And how did he even know that Hannah was in Los Angeles? Her parents haven't heard from her since she ran away from the school, and it's my understanding that FBI hasn't been able to determine where she's been in that time. How would Klein have gotten this information?"

Keith continues, "Logan, this operation is too important to abandon. Too many young girls have been hurt, and Veronica's eyewitness testimony along with our surveillance is essential to doing something about these programs. Let's see if you can get the bug in Klein's office tomorrow. I promise you; I'll listen to every word he says and if anything indicates that he suspects Veronica of being a plant, I'll end this immediately." Keith rummages in a bag of surveillance supplies that he brought along with him from Neptune. "Okay. This one is easy. It's small enough you can put it in an electrical socket; just unscrew the cover, stick it in place with the double-stick tape, and replace the cover. It's voice activated; with the repeaters we have installed at the school boosting the signal, the battery supply should last for the whole operation." Keith demonstrates how to toggle the switch to 'voice-activate', 'on', and 'off'. Logan nods that he understands.

Epstein clears his throat. "You know, if you really want to find out what Hannah might have witnessed, you need to stir up a hornet's nest."

Keith looks at him questioningly, and Epstein continues, "Send a reporter in to interview him, asking about Hannah's time at the school. Maybe the reporter could say that Hannah kept a journal, and he's come into possession of it. And if we see something when we tail him to Montpelier, we can use that to try to get a reaction...see what he does."

Keith nods slowly, thinking about how to work this. "It's a great idea, but I'm not even going to consider doing that while Veronica is undercover. I want to make sure that we keep Veronica's safety our prime objective until she's out of there. And then, we can provoke Klein into a reaction, using the evidence that we've collected. Logan, I'm counting on you to help me with this. Get the bug into Klein's office, and keep watching Veronica and reporting to me," he concludes firmly.

Logan replies reluctantly, "Yeah. Okay. But I still wish we were....It's...well, this is even harder than what I thought it would be. I hope we can wrap this up and get Veronica out of there quickly." His voice cracks a little at the end.

Keith walks over to him and hugs him. He whispers in Logan's ear, "You're going to be okay. Veronica's going to be okay. We'll be back in California before you know it."

Logan holds on for a second before releasing Keith. How can he forgive me, love me even, after everything that's happened over the years...I can't believe he thinks I'm worthy of being loved. "Yeah. I better get going," he mutters aloud, heading for the door.

Keith watches out the window as Logan gets in his car and drives off. Epstein takes over for Dr. Kinny at the computer monitor, and Dr. Kinny comes over to Keith. He says, "So how's he doing?"

"Sorry?" Keith replies, lost in thought.

"It's not just Veronica you should be worrying about. In the Stanford Prison Experiment and in the short experiments I ran every year, the guards were affected psychologically as much as the prisoners," Kinny explains.

"Right, I remember, that was what set in motion the relationship between Mercer and Moe."

"I've berated myself since their arrest, trying to find some sign that I should have recognized, that they were damaged by my experiment. I've stopped running it. The ethics of the original Stanford experiment are still debated among my colleagues," Kinny says ruefully. "But I'm quite sure that I personally contributed to their psychosis."

"I'm sure they were already insane before they participated in your experiment," Keith protests.

"No. I don't think so. Something about the experiment triggered a change. I've requested permission to interview them. I'd like to write a book about the Hearst rapists, but they've denied every request for an interview....You know, I know a little of Logan's history from the ridiculous stories on tabloid news shows. But there's obviously more to Logan's history that I'm not privy to." Kinny puts up his hand to stop Keith from interrupting. "I don't want to know the details; you shouldn't tell me anything confidential without his permission. But...just in general, Logan's relationship with his father was...toxic, even harmful, yes?"

Keith nods.

Kinny continues, "I'm going to assume the worst. Keith, we need to be monitoring Logan as well as Veronica. For someone with that kind of history, playing the violent role of a strict prison guard can bring up long-buried memories. And if he has to act in a way that reminds him of his father...well, that might be very traumatic for him. We need to monitor him as well as Veronica, assessing his psychological state so that he too is not harmed by this."

Keith thinks, If this is the only thing that Kinny contributes to the mission, he's already proven his worth. Keith sits for a long time staring out the window, thinking about men who murder young girls and fathers who strike their sons. He remembers, a long time ago, noting with a police officer's suspicion that the new boyfriend of his daughter's best friend Lilly was wearing a long-sleeved shirt on the hottest day of the summer. Keith thinks about what he knows of Logan's youth and what he can guess happened behind the closed doors of the finest mansion in Neptune.

__________
(12) Parks, Alexia. An American Gulag. Eldorado Springs, CO: Quality Books, Inc., 2000. p. 166.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Breaking It Down
Mac has a break-through; the girls go
on a hike; Logan breaks into Klein's
office; Keith and Epstein tail Klein.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Alan: Ned Vaughn. Peter Klein: Clancy Brown.
Maria: Gina Mantegna. Kavner: Eric Bana.
Tony: Romany Malco. Epstein: Scott Grimes.
Megan: Anna Lynn McCord. Alyssa: Christina
Hendricks.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: "BREAKING IT DOWN"

Sun. 3/8/09 very late: RCFL, San Diego, CA

Mac types furiously on her computer. Alan asks, "So how close–"

Mac silences him by holding up a hand and closing her eyes. She says, "More coffee. Less talking."

Alan sighs and gets another cup. When he returns, Mac is leaning back in her chair with a satisfied smile. "You got it?" he asks.

"I think so. This is the ISP address," Mac says, pointing at the screen. "Forget the coffee, I want to go to bed."

Alan nods as he places a call to a federal judge for a warrant.

~ • ~

Mon. 3/9/09 early morning: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

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."

A hike? Veronica remembers interviewing a former student who complained bitterly about hiking until the students were completely exhausted, then having to sit through lectures on working your program.

She sits up and jumps down off her top bunk. All the girls are jostling each other in order in a mad rush to get their shoes on and get to the bathroom. The girls have started lining up at the entrance to the room, and she hurries to do the same. It never fails to shock her how quiet it is without the usual teenager bickering and teasing. Maria ties the tether to Veronica's wrist again, and Veronica tries not to react. The group marches single-file to the common room, where they stand at attention until Peter Klein enters the room and walks to the front. He surveys the girls and finally begins to speak.

"We are all here because we're fighting. We're fighting the moral decay that we've allowed to creep into our souls. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have the opportunity to accept the love that the program instills in us. Those of us that have been through the program know that it never fails; people just fail the program. You girls are lucky that you've been given the chance to reform your life and to change your bad habits and screwed-up thinking. But in order to change, you have to beat your old habits. Remember your habits don't want to let go of you, and they're ready to take you over again the moment you let down your guard.

"Make no mistake; we're in a battle, a battle for your soul. And it's not an easy battle. Your character defects are waiting for you to slip again. You need to be tough to win this battle. So we're going to get tough. We're going to build up our body and our mind. We're not going to give our sins a chance to get hold of us again. We're going to beat them, body and soul.

"You need to decide that you are tough enough to refuse to let your flaws determine the rest of your life. You need to know this like you know you have to breathe to live. Choose life. Choose the program."

The girls quickly repeat, "Choose life. Choose the program."

Veronica tries to join in and manages to mumble "program" with the others.

Maria frowns at her and mutters, "Make sure you get it next time."

Out of the corner of her eye, Veronica sees Kavner with two other employees, a man and a woman. They sport down jackets and hiking boots, in contrast to the girls who have no jackets to protect them from the cold Vermont weather. Kavner meets her eyes briefly, and Veronica quickly looks back at the front of the room. Something's up, she guesses. She decides to try to give him an opportunity to make contact as soon as possible.

The woman calls out, "Let's go," and she leads the girls to the front door of Briar Hill Academy. She uses her card key to unlock the door; Kavner holds the door open as the girls file outside.

Veronica tries to hold back a little; crossly, Maria says, "What is your problem?"

Kavner approaches from behind and says, "You need help with this one?"

Maria says, "I think she's trying to set a record for the most number of months added to her program."

"Tough girl, huh?" Kavner comment. He takes Veronica's arm and, with Maria tugging on the tether, forces Veronica to catch up with the other girls. When Maria head is turned, Kavner passes Veronica a small device and mouths, "Sock." Veronica keeps the device concealed in her hand. When they catch up to the other girls, Veronica bends over, pretending to retie her shoelace but actually putting the device inside her sock.

Kavner says to Maria, "You got her now?"

Maria nods and yanks on the tether; she and Veronica fall in with the other girls who have started hiking a clearly-marked path in the woods.

Veronica muses, I didn't realize how much I missed the sun. The contrast of the cloudy Vermont sky with the almost-constant mild weather in Neptune is vast; still Veronica breathes in the air, enjoying the illusion of freedom and the sheer joy of being outside after not even having a window to look out for forty-eight hours. The stifling atmosphere of the school is already having an effect on her, and she thinks dismally of the students who spend five or six years at the school. There are small patches of snow at intervals, and Veronica wonders if they make the students do this hike if there is substantial snow on the ground.

Kavner hangs back to be the "sweeper", preventing any girls from straggling behind; the other two leaders set a brisk pace. Veronica is glad that she's been working out on the treadmill for the past few weeks in preparation for the operation; when Epstein made it clear that students were pushed to physical exhaustion, she began to schedule extra workouts, trying to be in top physical condition to get through the operation. But when Maria looks at her, Veronica pretends to pant through her mouth and breathe heavily, as if the hike is taking a great toll on her. As she hikes, she feels the digital recording device Kavner handed off to her in her sock. Not much to record so far, she thinks.

She tries to keep her mind off her hunger; no breakfast today, and last night's dinner was ridiculously small, oatmeal and an apple, along with the ever-present bug juice. Maria was granted a peanut-butter sandwich as well, and Veronica reflected that the food limitations were a powerful motivating device to make the girls compliant. Maria lorded it over Veronica, obviously masticating the sandwich and making sounds of contentment as she ate her extra ration.

They hike for about an hour before a short rest stop is called. After five minutes, they set off again, resuming the fast pace. After what Veronica estimates is five miles of strenuous hiking, the trail meets up with a rough forest road, where a jeep is waiting. The girls line up for a cup of water. Kavner and the other two leaders get in the jeep and three other employees take their place. Veronica realizes that the tradeoff means that the employees never get tired, but the girls are being pushed to their limit. Veronica sees that all the girls are tired and miserable, but no one says a word. After a short rest, they begin hiking again at a relentless pace.

She reflects that at least Hannah Griffith was on the track team; this was probably one activity that was not too difficult for her. Despite not knowing her well, Veronica is constantly trying to create a mental picture of what Hannah's experience had been at the school. Hannah seemed to be trusting; she apparently forgave and excused Logan's misbehaviors despite the bad publicity. Someone like that would be more susceptible to the mental programming going on at the school. But Veronica knows that Hannah was also on the dean's list, with consistent good grades despite her involvement in sports and spirit organizations. Hannah wasn't dumb; she had to have known that the school's programs were based on fallacies. And it must have been particularly awful to be accused of being a druggie and a sex addict merely for the crime of falling for Logan, especially when her father was doing cocaine. She imagines Hannah protesting in group therapy that she had done nothing wrong and being told that she was too screwed-up to see how bad she really was.

Why did Hannah's father choose such an extreme school for his daughter? How did he even know about this school? Mrs. Denenberg implied that the school was chosen partially for its distance from California and the tight security. Did they really think Logan would mount a rescue to bring his beloved home? Of course, the irony of Logan's presence at the school now is not lost on Veronica.

So, what happened that made Hannah decide to run away? Veronica remembers the tale that Epstein told her of a student who was tracked by dogs and caught hiding in the woods. The student was sentenced to public paddling and subsequent observation placement for 90 days, and twelve months were added to his program. The swift retribution for the smallest offense is such an ingrained feature of the school that Veronica finds it hard to believe that a student would take the chance of running away. Something convinced her to run; and she obviously had a good plan, because it worked. Or she had help.

I keep coming back to Maria. She had to have been here when Hannah was here. She might have even been a newcomer at the same time. If only I could talk to her, get her to tell me what happened....

~ • ~

Mon. 3/9/09 early afternoon: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

At 12:30, Klein's secretary leaves for lunch; Logan watches as she gets in her car and drives off, presumably to get her flat tire fixed on her lunch hour. He quickly enters the main building, fingering the new card key in his pocket. The building is deserted, with a large proportion of the employees working on the hike. Logan stealthily makes his way to Klein's office. He inserts the card in the reader, half-expecting a loud alarm to go off as the reader detects a forged card. The lock clicks quietly and the reader's LED signal changes to green. He turns the handle and enters the office.

Logan peruses the paperwork on Klein's desk. Most of it relates to the yearly budget; he uses the camera in his watch to quickly take a few photos of the papers, not wanting to spend time reading them. He looks around to find an electrical outlet; the nearest one has a fax machine plugged into it, and Logan hesitates, wondering if a power interruption will cause the time on the machine to be reset. He decides it's not worth the risk, and he looks for another outlet. Near one of the bookcases, he finds another that is unused, and he places the bug as Keith had instructed him.

He turns to the lateral file cabinets. He reads the brand name 'HON' and tries the file cabinet master keys with that label on the key ring. The third one fits perfectly and unlocks the first cabinet, labeled 'Current Students'. Logan makes note of the key, 'HON 600 series', and pockets the key ring. He pulls the file for Connie Morris and photographs its contents. He runs his finger over the tabs on the files, looking for the first names 'Maria' and 'Tara'. He sees 'Frazzino, Maria' and pulls a hefty file; he makes sure it's the correct one, checking the enrollment date, age, and other data, then photographs every page in the file. He carefully replaces all the pages as they were and looks for Tara's file. Logan photographs the entire file for 'Connolly, Tara', which is substantially thinner than Maria's. Despite his rush, he takes the time to notice that the file includes a police report, and Tara's date of enrollment is listed as 2/11/09. Logan replaces Tara's file and relocks the cabinet.

The next file cabinet is labeled 'Former Students, A-H', and Logan uses the key to open this cabinet. Logan locates Hannah's file and copies it. He checks the time, realizing he has a few minutes. He walks to the desk, thinking; he decides to scroll through the caller ID on the phone. He takes a small piece of paper from the wastebasket, and finds a pen, carefully noting its position on the desk. The phone saves the last 30 incoming calls, and Logan writes all of them down, pocketing the list. He checks the time again and decides to get out while he can.

Logan opens the door silently and checks that the hallway is clear. He hears voices and shuts the door, his heart pounding. He realizes it's Tony, going over a maintenance request with another employee. He listens to the voices, which gradually diminish in volume. With his allowed time quickly slipping away, he decides to chance it and open the door. He exits the office and shuts the door behind him; the LED stays red, and when he tries to door handle, it's firmly locked. He tries to appear confident and certain as he strolls to the front door.

"Hey, Roger!!" Tony calls.

Logan turns around and tries to keep his voice calm. "Tony, I was looking for you. Someone said they thought you might be here."

"Yeah, we have a plumbing problem I need to take care of. What's up?"

"I didn't know what I was supposed to do on my shift today since the girls are all on that hike."

"Right," Tony says, nodding. "You can run a couple errands for me. The girls should be back at four for group." He starts walking to the front door, inclining his head to indicate that Logan should follow.

Logan walks with Tony, realizing he is totally jazzed by the adrenaline rush from breaking into Klein's office. He remembers feeling the same way after rescuing Veronica from the River Stix–shaky and excited and scared all at once–and he reflects that this feeling could get addictive.

~ • ~

Mon. 3/9/09 afternoon: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

After a brief rest stop, Maria yanks at Veronica's tether harder than necessary to get her going, and Veronica suppresses a flash of anger. Then she reflects that a newcomer, especially a newcomer like herself, would probably act out a little, or at least complain about the rigors of the hike. Let's have a little performance for the digital recorder. She deliberately steps on a small rock; it causes her to lurch to the side. As she staggers sideways, she pulls on the tether, and Maria turns around crossly.

"What is your problem, Connie?"

"I'm sorry, my leg hurts," she replies piteously.

One of the leaders, Alyssa, the group therapy specialist, hears their talking and jogs back. She yells at Veronica, "Stop being so lazy! Keep up with the group."

"I have a cramp in my leg," Veronica protests, rubbing her calf. "Can't we rest a little bit longer?"

Alyssa blows her whistle, stopping the hike. "Fifty pushups. Let's go."

Veronica stares at her in apparent disbelief. Alyssa gets behind her and shoves her in the back. Veronica loses her balance and stumbles forward onto the ground. All the girls stare at Veronica. No help there, she thinks.

Alyssa is furious at Veronica's disobedience. She looks at the other girls and proclaims, "If she doesn't do the pushups, no one will have dinner today. And five extra miles on the hike."

Every girl, even Tara, begins to scream at Veronica. "Do it!" "Goddamn it, do the pushups!" A few of the oldcomers are not satisfied with verbal taunts; they approach and look as though they are going to kick and punch Veronica.

Veronica gets on her hands and knees and begins to do pushups. Of course, in her training at the FBI, she managed to become quite proficient at the male version of pushups, but for right now, she acts the part of a typically out-of-shape teenaged girl perfectly. She deliberately slows down, trying to appear as if she's struggling as the count gets into the thirties, and Alyssa mocks her, "Come on, tough girl, let's go. You're never going to make it if you don't work harder than that." Veronica finally finishes, the last few pushups appearing to exhaust her. Maria yanks on her tether again, and Veronica gets up on her feet, pretentiously breathing hard and rubbing her supposedly aching arms.

Alyssa blows the whistle again, and the hike resumes.

~ • ~

Mon. 3/9/09 afternoon: Montpelier, VT

Keith and Epstein, following behind Klein's car, watch as he turns into a construction site. Keith drives past, circles the block, and finds a parking place with a good vantage point. The signs posted declare that building permits have been filed under the name of Brannigan and Sons. Keith hands Epstein his telephoto-equipped camera and instructs him to document Klein's activities. Keith opens his laptop, thinking, thank god for wi-fi, and looks up Brannigan on the business section of yellowbook.com. With a little more research, he finds that John Brannigan is listed as chief executive officer, and he locates an image of Brannigan via Google. Keith comments to Epstein, "What did we do before the internet?", and Epstein nods, taking a few photos. "What's happening?" Keith asks.

Epstein replies, "A guy just came out and shook hands with Klein."

"Let me see," Keith says. He takes the camera and confirms that it is Brannigan meeting with Klein. He watches as Klein hands Brannigan an envelope; they talk for a moment, then Klein turns to walk away. Keith starts up the car, waiting for Klein to get back to his car. They follow Klein long enough to determine that he's on his way back to Briar Hill; Keith takes the next exit and pulls off the road. He sends a text to Logan, 'K on way back', then turns to Epstein. "Let's check out Brannigan, see what the connection is to Briar Hill." He makes a U-turn and heads back to Montpelier. Upon Keith's instructions, Epstein gets the address of the Building Inspector's Office, located in the Fire Department central building on Main St. They park and enter the building.

A young woman is staffing a desk in the office. "Yes, may I help you?"

"Hi, I'm doing a report on Montpelier for the corporate headquarters of TransNational Enterprises." Keith selects a business card from his wallet that matches his statement and hands it to the woman. She holds the card by the edges, looking at it carefully. "We're doing a feasibility study on possible cities in the Northeast for our planned relocation. Is it possible to take a look at the building permits issued in the last year? We'll need to do extensive renovation on the possible site we've located, and I want to make sure that your local construction companies can handle the work. Of course, if we do decide to locate here, the positive impact on your commercial property taxes would be substantial, and we would be hiring local people to work for the company."

"Certainly, I can help you with that. I believe we had 112 permits issued last year." The woman stands up and walks to a filing cabinet. She removes several file folders and hands them to Keith, who has taken a seat next to the desk. He peruses the files, taking notes and carefully obscuring his true target by looking closely at several different construction companies. Brannigan and Sons has applied for five building permits. The permits only list the address of the sites without identifying the property owners.

"I think that'll do it," Keith says finally.

"Are there any questions I can help you with? If you want, I can set up a meeting with our building inspector or the mayor. I know Montpelier is aggressively seeking new commercial enterprises, and the mayor would certainly be willing to discuss a tax break," the secretary says hopefully.

"It's still very preliminary," Keith replies. He leans towards the woman and continues, "But between you and me, it's down to three different cities. The thing is...our CEO hates being courted by town officials. He's strictly a by-the-numbers guy, so let's just keep this between us."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed," she swears.

They leave the building, and Epstein comments, "Very smooth. So I assume we're heading to the assessor's office to look up the owners of these parcels?"

"You got it," Keith says.

At the assessor's office, Keith gets the names of the property owners of the five sites under construction by Brannigan and Sons. Back in the car, they run the names through Google search.

"Bingo. Carl Behr," Keith says.

Epstein looks over his shoulder at the laptop screen. He says, "Commissioner Carl Behr. Of the Vermont Department of Education."

"Let's drive by this address," Keith suggests.

They take a tour through what is obviously one of the wealthier sections of Montpelier. Behr's house shows signs of an extensive remodel that will double the square footage of the already large house.

Keith taps on the steering wheel. He turns to Epstein, "So how much you want to bet that Klein is financing this remodel in exchange for favorable reports on the school?"

"And probably a heads-up on surprise visits by inspectors," Epstein adds. "I'll take that bet."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Tip-Off
Weevil and Wallace; after the
hike; Keith reviews the files.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Eli: Francis Capra.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Maria: Gina
Mantegna. Alyssa: Christina Hendricks.
Coach: Richard T. Jones.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: "TIP-OFF"

Mon. 3/9/09 afternoon: Athletic Center, Hearst College, Neptune, CA

A whistle blows during the Rough Riders practice scrimmage. "Get your head in the game, Fennel!" the coach yells.

"Okay, okay," Wallace replies, nodding. He takes the ball and dribbles down the court looking for an opening. He passes the ball, and the throw is way high, resulting in a turnover.

The coach blows the whistle again and tells the team to hit the showers. "Unh-uh, not you, Fennel. Get over here."

Wallace trots over, knowing this isn't going to be pretty. He keeps his mouth shut; there really is no excuse for the way he's playing today. Sitting in a car with Eli Navarro until three a.m. is, not surprisingly, the worst way to prepare for a playoff game. And nothing to show for it. Liam Fitzpatrick sat in the River Stix downing beers until an hour past closing time; despite Weevil's assertion that Liam spent his whole day committing crimes, the man appears to be walking the straight and narrow path these days.

"You know what tomorrow is, right?" the coach asks. "Because I'm not sure you do, based on the way you're playing out there....C'mon, let's hear it, because I think you might be confused."

Wallace nods. "First round, Mountain West Conference Tournament, against Air Force."

"Oh, so you do know," the coach replies sarcastically. "What the hell's going on out there, Fennel?"

"Didn't get much sleep last night," Wallace mumbles evasively.

The coach turns away in disgust. He turns back around and yells, "Didn't get much sleep!! What the hell are you thinking?"

"Sorry, coach. It won't happen again," Wallace says.

The coach points his thumb at the locker room disgustedly, and Wallace quickly leaves the court before the coach can change his mind and really lay into him.

When Wallace exits the locker room, Weevil is waiting. "Yo."

Wallace bumps fists with Weevil and says, "What up?"

"I got a tip from my uncle that Liam is accepting delivery on some cars with shaky documentation," Weevil relates.

"When's this going down?" Not tonight, not tonight, Wallace hopes.

"Wednesday," Weevil says. "Good thing it's not during your game tomorrow, right? I got some money on you. You better not screw up."

"Oh, hell no, we wouldn't want you to lose some money over this," Wallace retorts sarcastically. "What's the line?"

"They've got Hearst at -7 1/2."

"Great. So not just a win, a big win."

"Yeah, I'm counting on you to cover the spread," Weevil says, throwing his arm over Wallace's shoulders.

"Hey, anything for you, big guy," Wallace shoots back, shaking off Weevil's arm.

"You, uh, talk to Keith?" Weevil asks, trying to sound casual.

Wallace looks at him. "Yeah. I talked to him today. Veronica's kicking serious ass."

"Of course. I knew she'd do great. Girl's practically a superhero," Weevil says, relieved.

"True dat." Wallace adds quietly, "I'm worried too."

~ • ~

Mon. 3/9/09 late afternoon: Briar Hill Academy, Manchester Center, VT

When the girls finally return from the hike, Veronica sees Kavner working unobtrusively outside the building. He looks at her briefly then turns back to his work. She stumbles and stops for a moment, forcing Maria on the other end of her tether to stop as well. For once, Maria is too tired to bark at her and just waits while Veronica 'adjusts' her shoe. All the girls look exhausted, and no one notices when Veronica surreptitiously dumps the recording device as she straightens up. Kavner walks past the girls toward the employees' living quarters, and Veronica resists the temptation to look back.

The girls file into the common room, and Alyssa begins lecturing them on willpower and mental toughness. Each of the girls stands up in turn to talk about she has learned about herself that day on that hike.

When Veronica stands, she hesitates for a long moment, trying to gauge what the percentage play is here. Provoke again? Submit? She finally stammers, "I don't really understand what you guys are talking about most of the time. But I'm trying." She sits back down, waiting for an explosion from Maria or Alyssa.

After a long pause, Alyssa says, "Well, Connie, I think you're trying to be honest. You've got a long way to go, but this may be a good first step. Keep paying attention."

Unaccountably, Veronica feels real relief. She stares into space for a moment, then realizes she should be focusing on what the other girls are saying. She tries to listen but keeps zoning out.

At last the girls are released from group therapy and head for the showers. The oldcomer girls go first, taking quick showers; by the time the newcomers are allowed to shower, there is no more hot water. Veronica undresses carefully, making sure to keep the bug in her bra obscured from Maria's constant supervision. She quickly soaps up and rinses in the freezing water; Maria waits for her impatiently, watching her closely for any signs of misbehavior. Again Veronica seethes at the complete lack of privacy. What the hell am I going to do in the shower? She fantasizes briefly about stealing the bar of soap to make it into a weapon. I suppose I could put it in a sock to make a crude sap. She pictures swinging her improvised weapon at Maria's head. Yeah, this school is doing a good job of rehabilitating me.

In the dining room, Veronica takes her peanut-butter sandwich and sits down with Maria. Everyone looks completely miserable and worn-out from the hike and the lectures. Even though she was in excellent physical condition before coming here, Veronica too is exhausted. The stress of the operation combined with the lack of sleep for the last several nights and now the added physical exertion have taken a toll on her. She stares at her sandwich on the plate, thinking, I might be too tired to eat. Except...I'm starving. She looks around at the other girls. The oldcomers, now easily recognizable to Veronica due to their added privileges, are relishing their dinner, taking tiny bites of their sandwiches. She realizes they are savoring the pathetic meal, enjoying every bite as if it's filet mignon. Veronica knows she has to eat; she picks up the sandwich and takes a bite, replacing it on her plate to rest while she chews. She forces down some of the bug juice, trying to replace the fluids she knows that she lost during the hike.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Logan entering the dining room, relieving another employee. Veronica steadfastly keeps her eyes away from him, worrying that he might inadvertently betray her. She notices Peter Klein walking up to him and engaging him in conversation. When Klein walks away, she takes a chance and looks directly at Logan, who nods just the slightest amount possible and immediately directs his gaze at Klein's back. I bet he got into Klein's office.

Veronica starts to perk up at the thought of learning what Logan has found out, until she realizes that he can't take the chance of talking to her. Goddammit, I want to know what's going on! She slumps again, depressed and tired, wishing this could just be over already. She closes her eyes for a minute, and she starts to dream about sleeping, not in the uncomfortable bunk bed here at Briar Hill, but in the waterbed her dad bought at a tag sale a few years ago.

The bed was awful, with the constant motion making her queasy at times; still, it took her months before she would admit to her dad that she hated it. Now, it makes her smile, thinking about her dad remembering that she wanted one and going to a lot of trouble to set it up as a surprise for her. She thinks about the special sheets she bought for the bed, picturing their lurid design. When she picked them out, she giggled at the leopard-skin print more appropriate for a 1970's swinging bachelor pad. She imagines slipping into those sheets now, smelling the familiar, wonderful, normal smells of the Mars' favorite laundry soap and fabric softener. And the best part? Knowing that her dad was sound asleep in the next room and Backup was sleeping next to the bed–one jump onto the waterbed was enough to convince Backup that the new bed was pure evil–and knowing that both her dad and her dog were ready to leap into action to protect her from anything that threatened her.

She starts awake with a jolt, realizing she was actually sleeping, her hand holding the sandwich now drooping toward the plate. Veronica shakes herself and forces herself to eat the last few bites of the sandwich. She pours herself another glass of the hated bug juice, knowing how important it is for her to avoid dehydration. Got to stay sharp, got to stay on my game. No more wishful thinking, Veronica; you've got a school to take down and evil headmasters to expose.

~ • ~

Mon. 3/9/09 early evening: Rented house, Manchester Center, VT

Keith surmises that Logan, after his obviously successful foray into Klein's office, somehow found a way during his 2:00 to 10:00 shift to sneak off and email the jpegs from the digital camera. The short text file that accompanies the pictures is brief.

'All is fine, exactly as discussed. This is a list of the last 30 phone calls from caller ID.'

Thirty phone numbers follow. Keith nods his head. That was good thinking; I guess Veronica's rubbing off on him. He decides to look at the pictures first before tackling the phone numbers. He prints hardcopies of all the photos that Logan took; the pictures of the files appear uniformly clear and legible to Keith's great satisfaction.

Tara Connolly's file is unremarkable: it contains a copy of her birth certificate, her immunization records, and her previous school transcript. Her parents admitted her to Briar Hill for ninety days in lieu of a felony conviction; when Tara completes the program at Briar Hills, her juvenile record will be expunged. Keith looks at the police report; sixteen year-old Tara and a seventeen year-old boy were arrested breaking into a vacation home in Bennington, Vermont. Both were legally drunk at the time of arrest; the boy additionally had a record of several misdemeanors and was on parole for felony car theft at the time. The boy was sentenced as an adult and is now serving a one-year sentence at St. Johnsbury Regional Correctional Facility.

He peruses Tara's school records. She was diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Disorder and dyslexia at the age of ten and is supposed to be taking Adderall, 20 mg two times per day. Keith looks up the dosage and finds that that amount appears to be the maximum allowable dosage; he assumes that Tara is significantly impaired by her ADD. Despite this diagnosis, Tara was a solid 'B' student at her previous school. She had had no previous trouble with the law before the break-in, and Keith assumes that her clean record led the court to recommend an alternate sentence. When Keith looks at Tara's intake records, Keith finds that Briar Hill's psychologist recommended the complete cessation of her medication; he notes the date when the psychologist supposedly saw Tara, reminding himself to try to check to see if Tara was actually seen by the doctor. He recognizes the name of the psychologist as the man who Epstein believes signs off on whatever diagnosis the school requests for a substantial fee. Perhaps we can check the doctor's records to see if he was seeing other patients elsewhere at that same time. Despite Tara's short term at the school, she has already had a month added to her treatment plan for the infraction of 'disobedience'.

Putting Tara's records aside, he finds Hannah's records and sighs. Most of the file is familiar to him; he has reviewed Ms. Denenberg's copies of these documents numerous times. But there are pages that are new to him that review Hannah's lack of progress in group therapy. Hannah was sentenced to Observation Placement for several days approximately two weeks before she ran away. The psychologist reiterates that Hannah had a 'cutting' disorder, a sexual addiction, and a drug addiction. Some of the staff have contributed reports that Keith suspects were completed after Hannah ran away. They tell tales of her defiant behavior and emotional outbursts during group therapy, and relate Hannah's unwillingness to work on her problems. The final page is a detailed police report filed by Briar Hill when Hannah ran away. Keith puts the file aside, intending to spend more time examining every detail of Hannah's time at the school, and picks up Maria's paperwork.

Maria Frazzino is listed as seventeen years old, with a birth date of 5/22/91. Keith frowns. The spaces next to 'parents' are blank. He checks through the files, looking for a reference to a guardian. On the last page of her file, there is a form that acknowledges that VF Inc. will be financially responsible for her charges at Briar Hill Academy. There is a signature scrawled at the bottom, which does not appear to be 'Frazzino'. Keith compares the file to Hannah's, Tara's, and Connie's, which all simply state the parents' names on the first page of the file. He goes back to Maria's files and finds a copy of a canceled check from VF, Inc. in the amount of $50,000. He makes a note of the bank's name and routing number. Bank of America, 555 Capitol Mall, Sacramento. Keith ponders various ruses to try to identify the owner of the account. He decides, what's the point of having a contact in the FBI if you don't use them? He leaves a message on Mike Fields' cell phone, asking him to call as soon as possible.

Keith goes through the rest of Maria's file. The file also seems to be lacking the birth certificate and immunization records that Hannah's and Tara's contain, and Keith knows that he was asked to provide these items for 'Connie'. Maria was admitted on 6/3/05, soon after her fourteenth birthday. The file has no police reports, no school counselor assessments, no history of Maria's behavior prior to her admission to the school.

After her admission, the file documents violation after violation: assignment to Observation Placement numerous times, at one time for over 40 days consecutively; cryptic notations that indicate that Maria was resistant to group therapy and was punished in various ways; and psychologist's reports that diagnose her as having 'oppositional defiant disorder'. The same doctor who recommended that Tara stop her ADD medication also signed Maria's psych report. Maria's 'Plan of Treatment' was initially twelve months; she has had months added at various points along the way to reach her current total of forty-five months, or 3 3/4 years at Briar Hill. She is currently scheduled to graduate in June, soon after her eighteenth birthday. Keith finds a letter from Serenity Bay School in Jamaica, confirming that Maria will be transferred to the new school on June 1st.

Suddenly Keith realizes why the name Frazzino seems so familiar to him. He googles a list of state assemblymen from California; he clicks on the page listing the California Assembly leadership. 'Vincenzo Frazzino' is listed as Speaker, but Keith knows that Frazzino is also a rising star in Republican politics who is positioning himself for a U.S. Senate run in the fall. Recalling a particularly virulent battle over a proposition added to the ballot several years ago, Keith looks up Frazzino's webpage and finds a glowing report that states: 'Frazzino's leadership in the battle to pass Proposition 38 in 2004 resulted in California's being the first state in the nation to hold parents financially responsible for the crimes of their minor children. Since the passage of the Parental Responsibility Act, juvenile crime has declined by ten percent.'(13)

Keith sits back in his chair, stunned. If Frazzino's juvenile delinquent daughter was outed to the press, the Assemblyman's ambitious plans to run for U.S. Senate would be dashed. No wonder the bastard wants to keep her locked away. He personally sponsored legislation intended to force parents to be liable for their children's actions, which only encourage parents to lock their children away until they are adults. In Maria's case, even after she's eighteen, any misbehavior on her part would reflect poorly on Frazzino. Keith recalls the intense press scrutiny on the twin daughters of President George W. Bush before the relatively tame stories of underage drinking were crowded out of the press by the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

He searches for press stories on Frazzino's family. Prior to 2004, family portraits feature a carefully coifed brunette wife and two neatly dressed children, a boy and a girl. Keith peers at the photo, but it is impossible to determine if the somber young girl in the photo is in fact the Maria currently in charge of his daughter. A press release in July of 2005 mentions the wife and son on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, but makes no mention of Frazzino's daughter. In September of that year, the Assemblyman's bio was updated and mentions that his daughter is at a boarding school in Switzerland. Keith assumes that a new bio will be published in the fall, mentioning that Maria is 'traveling abroad' or 'enrolled in an exclusive Swiss university' or some other equally vague statement about her whereabouts.

Keith rubs his forehead, thinking about everything he has learned about Maria. If someone threatened to expose Frazzino's secret juvenile delinquent daughter...now that's a solid motive for murder. And a state assemblyman could probably request to review an ongoing FBI investigation into a serial murderer.

He has another thought. I wonder how much extra Klein charges Frazzino to keep his secret.

__________
(13) Please note that the 'Parental Responsibility Act' and the associated juvenile crime statistic are completely fictional, but the 'Act' is based on current statutes in many states, including California. Details here.
Parks, Alexia. An American Gulag. Eldorado Springs, CO: Quality Books, Inc., 2000. p. 153.

Chapter Sixty-Seven