vanessagalore (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vanessagalore) wrote2008-02-01 12:14 am
vanessagalore) wrote2008-02-01 12:14 am
FIC: YLD2 (131-140/151) (NC-17)
Previously on The Year of Living Dangerously Part II [Spoilers for chapters 1-130] (for those of you who didn't take notes)
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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
The Soul Uneasy and Confin'd From Home
Wallace and Weevil take their suspicions to
Leo; Mike follows a hunch; the van arrives.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Leo: Max Greenfield.
Mac: Tina Majorino. Wallace: Percy Daggs III.
Eli: Francis Capra. Mike Fields: Michael Trucco.
Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Brian: Scott Elrod.
Frank: Stephen Dorff. Man: Peter Greene.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE: "THE SOUL UNEASY AND CONFIN'D FROM HOME"
Sat. 3/21/09 late afternoon: Neptune Sheriff's Department
Wallace strides into the sheriff's department with Weevil following close behind. "Deputy Sacks, we need to see the sheriff right away."
Sacks replies, "He's on his way back to the station. Take a seat; I expect him in about ten minutes."
Weevil says, "Not good enough."
"Excuse me?" Sacks says.
Wallace adds quickly, "We have some important information about the Fitzpatrick case. And...we haven't been able to get in touch with Veronica and her dad. They're up in Northern California, checking out a few leads, and they're not answering their phone. We're worried something happened to them."
"Maybe they're in a bad cell area," Sacks offers. "How long since you spoke to them?"
"I talked to them this morning. I don't think they're in a bad cell area. Something's wrong! They have security guards following them, and I can't get in touch with them either."
Weevil interjects, "We need to do something now."
"What do you want me to do?" Sacks asks.
"Call the Rio Linda police, put out an APB...whatever," Wallace suggests.
"Because you can't reach them by phone for..." Sacks checks his watch. "Approximately six hours? The Rio Linda Sheriff's Department is going to laugh in my face. Just have a seat, the sheriff will be back soon and you can talk to him."
They turn around and go into the hallway to wait impatiently. Weevil pulls out a pack of cigarettes and nervously taps it against his palm. Wallace asks curiously, "Since when do you smoke?"
"I quit a long time ago." Weevil looks embarrassed and puts the cigarettes away.
"So?"
Weevil scowls. "I'm stressed, okay? It started when I upset Veronica the other night. And then—" He stops short.
"What happened with you and Oswaldo last night?" Wallace presses.
"Shh," Weevil says quickly, looking around. "Let's not talk about it, okay?"
"What did you do?" Wallace whispers.
"You don't want to know," Weevil blurts. "Leave it alone."
Wallace stares at him. "It's not going to help Veronica if you get into trouble."
"I know, all right? Shut the fuck up, will you?"
Wallace pulls out his cell phone and tries Veronica again with no success. He checks the voicemail at Mars Investigations as well. There's a message from Dick, trying to get in touch with Veronica.
Leo strides into the department, ignoring the two boys seated in the waiting area.
"Sheriff," Wallace begins.
"What is it? I'm busy," Leo says distractedly.
"I'm Wallace Fennel, I work with Keith Mars. We have some information about the Fitzpatricks and—"
"Right, Wallace. I remember you. Come into my office," Leo barks as he leads the way. "Sacks, get some coffee in here."
Wallace mutters to Weevil, "Let me do the talking okay?"
"All right," Weevil agrees.
They sit down and wait while Leo writes a few notes before looking up at them. His eyes light on Weevil, who is still wearing his leather jacket, and Leo's eyebrow raise questioningly. Wallace hurries to introduce him as Eli Navarro.
Leo says thoughtfully, "Right. They call you Weevil, right? I remember arresting you a few years ago—you broke into Lilly Kane's bedroom. And for some unknown reason, Celeste Kane dropped the charges."
"She knew I didn't take anything," Weevil lies smoothly.
"Yeah, I also remember you were head of the PCHers."
"Ancient history," Weevil replies. "I work at Hearst College now."
"We caught one of the PCHers with a large quantity of heroin last night. Guy named Oswaldo Cortez. Coincidence?"
Wallace flinches slightly at this revelation, and Weevil unobtrusively kicks him in the leg. Weevil says calmly, "I don't think Oswaldo was ever in the PCHers. His cousin Hector took over for me after I left, but Oswaldo was never in the gang. And the PCHers don't sell drugs...at least we never did when I was in charge. That sounds more like the Fitzpatricks, if you ask me."
Wallace is suddenly thinking that Weevil should have just stayed in the car. Shut up, Weevil.
Leo replies, "Could be. He's lawyered up. It's kind of a coincidence; he's also the one who told me about Logan's affair with Kendall Casablancas. Lots of coincidences lately." Leo assesses Weevil for a long moment before turning his attention back to Wallace. "What is it you wanted to tell me about the Fitzpatricks?"
"You know Mr. Mars was looking for a connection between the FBI and the Fitzpatricks. Well, we found it." Wallace pushes the photo of Kevin Carney talking with Liam Fitzpatrick across Leo's desk.
"This is one of the photos that Keith gave me," Leo notes. "You found out who this kid is?"
"His name is Kevin Carney; he works as a delivery boy for the Fitzpatricks. His uncle is an FBI agent."
"Carney?" Leo frowns. He picks up a pencil and taps it on the desk. "That sounds familiar. Sacks!"
Sacks brings a cup of coffee into the office and places it on Leo's desk. "Sorry it took me so long, Sheriff."
"Never mind. Do you remember an Agent Carney from the FBI?"
Sacks thinks a minute. "Yeah, he was from the serial killer task force. The Behavioral Sciences Unit. He was interviewing people who knew Hannah Griffith back in January."
"He was working the serial killer case?" Wallace asks incredulously. "Then he would have known how to make Hannah's murder look like the Slasher did it."
"They arrested the Slasher early this morning in Los Angeles," Sacks interjects. "They didn't charge the guy with Hannah Griffith's murder though; just the other eight women. I thought it was weird when I heard the news." He heads back to the outer office and shuts the door behind him.
Leo taps a few keys on his computer. "Kevin Carney has a juvenile record." He frowns and peers at the screen. "Sentenced to nine months in a county facility for car theft when he was sixteen. It looks like he's been keeping out of trouble since then." He accesses another file and announces, "His uncle applied to be named as the boy's guardian, but his mother opposed the petition, and it was denied. Of course, he's over eighteen now, so...." He sits back heavily in his chair and stares into space, thinking hard. "I have to say...I didn't put much stock in Keith's theory. But you're right—this is a pretty big coincidence, given what we know about Griffith."
"The Fitzpatricks have been running the show in this town for too long not to have friends in high places," Weevil notes.
Wallace says anxiously, "Sheriff...Veronica, Mr. Mars, and Logan Echolls went up to Rio Linda today to try to look into Hannah's murder. And we've lost touch with them."
"Rio Linda?"
"Just outside of Sacramento," Wallace explains. "They found out that's where Hannah was living after she ran away from the school. And once Duncan's hearing was, uh," he stumbles momentarily, thinking of Leo's involvement, "Uh, resolved...they headed up there to see what they could find out for Hannah's mother. You know, Ms. Denenberg is really struggling with what happened to her daughter."
Leo frowns. "Okay...they went to Rio Linda. What are you suggesting?"
"I'm worried they stumbled onto something about Hannah's murder, or somebody intercepted them. Maybe this Agent Carney realized they were investigating up there."
Leo rubs his forehead and closes his eyes in fatigue. "When's the last time you heard from them?"
"Late this morning....I know, it's only a few hours, but given the situation..." Wallace explains.
Leo turns to his computer and types a few keystrokes before picking the phone. "May I speak to the sheriff please?...Sheriff Leo D'Amato, from Neptune in Balboa County." He plays with the pencil again while he waits. "Sheriff. We may have a situation here. I have an associate of Keith Mars here in my office; Mr. Mars is a private investigator here in—" He breaks off and scribbles a few notes as he listens. "Mr. Mars' associate claims that he hasn't been able to reach Mr. Mars for over five hours. You saw them about two o'clock?...Do you have any idea where they were heading?...I see. Sheriff, I would consider it a great personal favor if you would send a patrol car to check out that address....There's been some developments that Mr. Mars is unaware of that may put him and his, uh, colleagues in danger....Thanks, I appreciate that."
He hangs up the phone and looks at Wallace and Weevil. "They checked in with the sheriff when they got to town. The sheriff remembers the address they were asking about, and he's sending a car out."
"So we know they got to Rio Linda," Wallace muses. "What about the FBI agent? Are you going to arrest him?"
"You can't just arrest an FBI agent. I can't even bring him in for questioning."
Wallace presses, "Why didn't you mention him to the Rio Linda sheriff?"
Leo sighs. "I've got to follow protocol for this. This evidence is highly circumstantial."
"Then what the fu— I mean, what can you do?" Weevil says, catching himself.
"I can talk to his bureau chief. In the meantime, I can bring in this Kevin Carney, see what he has to say for himself."
"That's it?" Weevil asks in frustration. "They could be killing Veronica right this minute."
Hearing the actual words that he's been trying to avoid thinking slams Wallace in the gut. Attempting to keep the tremble out of his voice, Wallace says, as persuasively as he can, "Mr. Mars was pretty nervous. He hired security guards to trail them and keep an eye out for trouble, and the agency hasn't been able to reach them either. I think we should really try to—"
"You know as well as I do that they could just be in a bad cell area, and if the guards are following, then they'd be in the same bad area." Leo shrugs. "The sheriff said he would call me back after they checked out the house. I'll let you know what he says. Leave your cell number with the deputy." He stands up, indicating that the discussion is over.
"Sheriff, please," Weevil pleads loudly, trying like hell to resist punching a wall or throwing a chair. "You know the Fitzpatricks don't screw around. And if they think Veronica has solid evidence against them, they won't hesitate to take her out."
Leo's voice betrays that he is frustrated as well. "What would you have me do? I promise, I'm not blowing you off, Mr. Navarro, Mr. Fennel. I'm just as concerned as you are. I'm going to call the Los Angeles Bureau Chief right now, and I'll send a car out to pick up Kevin Carney. Thanks for bringing this evidence to my attention."
Wallace looks into Leo's face; there's a slight twitch below Leo's left eye, and the man is obviously tense. This is much more complicated than just a sheriff trying to run an investigation...there's an awful lot of emotion here. Aloud he says, "Thanks for listening to us, Sheriff."
Wallace and Weevil leave the office; Weevil is just barely keeping himself in check. When they get into Wallace's car, Weevil slams the door too hard, and Wallace says with aggravation, "Hey. It's my mom's car. You're not helping by slamming the door."
"Sorry. I'm just...." Weevil pounds his fist on the dashboard, and Wallace flinches at his anger. Bitterly, he comments, "You know, when it was me on the hook for murder, they hauled me out of my graduation in handcuffs and asked questions later. When it's some fucking FBI agent, everyone's worried about protocol and following the goddamn rules."
Wallace starts up the car. "I know. But Weevil, he didn't blow us off. He listened to us, and I think he's going to pursue it. ...Look it, we don't have to just sit around and wait for him to do something. Let's go to the office. I have a few ideas."
Weevil is still glowering, upset about Leo's attitude.
Wallace says forcefully, "We have to stay focused. Veronica's counting on us."
"Right," Weevil mutters.
Mike Fields shows his FBI identification and goes to the head of the line at the check-in counter. He holds his breath as the agent checks over the ID; if the agent calls it in, he'll quickly discover that Mike is still on suspension. However, the agent merely glances at the ID cursorily. Mike purchases a ticket and checks an overnight bag with his disassembled weapon after filling out the necessary paperwork.
He hurries to the gate, quickly passing through security with another flash of his identification. He paces nervously and tries to call Veronica again, but like the last twenty times he has tried, there is no response. Finally, the 5:30 flight to Sacramento is called for boarding. Mike takes his seat on the plane, and, after a last check of the screen to make sure Veronica hasn't called, he shuts off his phone for the duration of the flight.
The rear doors of the van are yanked open. While pointing a gun at them, Brian orders sharply, "The girl first. Take her down to the boat while I watch the other two." Frank nods and easily hoists her over his shoulder.
The new position puts stress on Veronica's wrist bonds, and she struggles to hold her arms together to prevent the now-flimsy duct tape binding from letting go. She grits her teeth against the pain until she realizes that crying will help her look more vulnerable. Veronica gives in to the pain, letting the tears run down her cheeks as the man carries her down a wooden boardwalk. She catches a glimpse of Brian tapping her dad's face lightly, trying to make him come around, and she tries desperately to control her panic.
She resolutely focuses on the situation: she observes her surroundings as her head bobs upside down as she is carried along the boardwalk. Definitely northern California, probably on the coast, not a lake, she thinks; too cool for southern California. She listens closely and thinks she discerns the faint sound of the ocean. She tries to figure driving times, but her sense of time is completely distorted by her panic attack in the van. Way too dark for the afternoon, Veronica decides. Early evening. 6:00, 7:00, maybe; so three or four hours from Rio Linda. She tries to picture a map of California in her head. How long was I freaking out before Logan started working on my wrist bindings? Was he really clawing at them for three hours? Got to focus...I can't let myself panic like that again. Frank adjusts her on his shoulder, and she can see a little more of their surroundings. Veronica notes a small solitary tree nestled among the rocks on the rugged shoreline with the Pacific Ocean beyond. The ocean is rough this evening, with whitecaps from a stiff breeze.
Veronica cranes her neck and to her right sees a contemporary house, with floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the ocean. Where the hell are we? She tries to look to her left, but her transporter takes a large step forward, jolting her, and she realizes they've stepped onto a private dock. A single boat, maybe 40 feet long, is tied up to the dock; Frank walks to it and steps easily onto the deck. The movement of the boat underneath them combined with her upside-down positioning makes her a little queasy. Her captor carries her to the companionway to go down below; she is jostled carelessly against the sides and helplessly moans as her shoulder makes contact with the hard surface.
Another man unfamiliar to her is already down there, seated on a banquette in the galley. "Hey. About time," he says briefly. Veronica's heart is pounding; the number of men involved in this operation and their competence is completely frightening.
Her captor, Frank, replies, "Where do you want her?"
"In the forward berth for now, with the other girl," the man replies. Upside down, Veronica watches as he unlocks a padlock securing a door and opens it for Frank.
The other girl?? Veronica forgets to breathe: a girl...oh no...it can't be....
"Where is he?" Frank asks, interrupting her panicked musing.
"Up in the pilothouse," the man answers.
"I'm going to need your help with the other two."
Frank walks into the cabin and dumps her roughly on the bed before exiting. She allows herself to moan behind the gag, but the man ignores her.
The darkened cabin is vee-shaped, with a bed taking up the majority of the space and very little light filtering in from the portholes high up on the walls. The door is shut, and the padlock is once again secured noisily. She hears the men conversing in low voices, and someone laughs.
Veronica rolls over to see who the girl is in the cabin with her. She immediately recognizes the dark hair with blue streaks. Please, it can't be...oh my god, 'Ronnie'...that's why she said that. She scuttles over on the bed, wincing against the pain, and nudges the body which is bound with duct tape as she is. Mac rolls over, her mouth gaping and her eyes closed.
Veronica tries again to wake her, and Mac protests weakly, mumbling incoherently. Her eyes flutter open, and she says faintly, "Veronica?"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Loose Ends
Wallace contacts Mike Fields; Veronica
assesses their situation.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Mike Fields: Michael
Trucco. Brian: Scott Elrod. Frank: Stephen Dorff.
Andy ('Man'): Peter Greene.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO: "LOOSE ENDS"
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento, CA
When the commuter flight touches down in Sacramento, Mike Fields unbuckles his seat belt and stands up, in order to be the first one off the plane. The flight attendant frowns at him. "Sir, I need you to—"
Mike flashes his ID at her, and she nods 'okay'. He waits at the door and deplanes as soon as the door is open. He triggers the power button on his cell as he hustles through the jetway to the terminal. No calls, he thinks despondently when he looks at the screen.
After Veronica had called him and told him about the witness in the Rio Linda diner, he had begun checking into Rio Linda and had found out that the FBI had been involved in an investigation of a suspicious plane crash there in late December. One of three men killed in the crash had been a deputy from the Rio Linda Sheriff's Department. He had immediately tried to call Veronica without success, but he didn't start worrying until he didn't hear back from her for half an hour. Mike threw a few items into a bag, including his weapon, and hurried to the airport, determined to get to Rio Linda as quickly as possible, via a commuter flight to Sacramento.
More than once during the flight, Mike had thought that he would have been really happy to have been proven wrong about this hunch. The idea that Veronica actually might be pursuing someone with access to all the FBI resources had frankly terrified him.
On the flight to Sacramento, he had reviewed some files that an agent friend had forwarded to him. The FBI had suspected that the plane that crashed in late December had been carrying drugs, but it had been completely incinerated in the accident. The high temperature fire had obliterated all the evidence, and no charges were filed. Without other evidence to the contrary, the NTSB had tentatively determined that pilot error had probably caused the crash. The NTSB investigation remained open, but it had been removed from the active FBI case list since there was no evidence of a federal crime. Mike had compared the names of the FBI agents who had been assigned to the investigation and had found several who were also able to access the Slasher case files. And it had made his blood run cold.
The crash investigation placed the FBI in Rio Linda a couple weeks before Hannah Griffith was murdered. A big coincidence, if that's truly where she was living, Mike thinks. And I don't believe in coincidences.
At baggage claim, he retrieves his bag and heads for Avis. "Agent Michael Fields. I called about a priority rental on bureau business." He flashes his ID again. If I get busted for doing this, there won't be any turning back. Private sector, here I come.
"Yes, sir. We'll bring it right around for you while you sign the papers."
Mike checks his watch...about seven o'clock. Thirty minute drive to Rio Linda, he thinks as he hurriedly scribbles his signature and initials all the little boxes on the rental form. His phone rings, and he hits the 'send' button eagerly, holding the phone up to his ear with his shoulder. "Veronica?" he asks.
"No, it's Wallace Fennel."
"Wallace," Mike says in disappointment. "Have you heard from Veronica?"
"No, that's why I called you. Have you talked to her today?"
Mike sighs loudly. "Yes, but now I can't reach her."
Wallace asks excitedly, "So you know they were heading to Rio Linda?"
"Yeah. They met with me in Los Angeles yesterday. I tried to talk them out of going there, but they wouldn't listen to me."
Wallace says, "We found out they checked in with the Rio Linda sheriff at about two o'clock, but no one's seen them since then. And I haven't been able to reach her or the security guards who were supposed to be following them."
"I talked to her today around three-thirty. They found a witness, someone who saw a man who seemed to be interested in Hannah right before she disappeared. I checked into a few things and tried to call Veronica back, but I haven't been able to get a hold of her since then." The rental car pulls up; he tosses his bag in the back seat and gets in the car. He fumbles with the navigation system as he talks to Wallace, entering the address of the diner they had found in Rio Linda.
"You know the name of the witness?" Wallace presses.
"Yeah, I'm headed there right now. When I couldn't get in touch with her, I got on a plane to Sacramento. I probably jumped the gun but—" Mike hears Wallace take a deep breath and sigh, and he wonders what the hell is going on. "What is it, Wallace?"
"We think we know who the FBI agent is." Mike stops playing with the navigation and just listens. Wallace continues, "We found a connection. Agent Thomas Carney—it looks like his nephew Kevin works for the Fitzpatricks."
"Agent Carney? From the Behavioral Science unit assigned to the Slasher case?" Mike stares into space, turning this new information over in his head. He says, disbelieving, "Tom Carney's one of the most decorated agents in the bureau. Personally responsible for hundreds of busts. He transferred into the Behavioral Unit about a year ago after years of working on Organized Crime." Carney wasn't one of the agents assigned to the Rio Linda plane crash investigation, he thinks.
"So we know this agent had access to the inside information on the serial killer."
"They just arrested a suspect in the Slasher killings earlier today," Mike says, thinking aloud.
"Except they didn't charge him in Hannah's murder." Wallace reads aloud from the news report. "Listen to this: 'Acting on a tip provided by an eyewitness, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Andrew Shekar, age 36, a resident of the Altadena section of Los Angeles. Mr. Shekar has been charged with the murders of Catherine Kerr, Theresa Drummond, Lysa Dean, Evangeline Bellemer, Gloria Doyle, Elizabeth Kapp, Mary Alice McDermit, and Linda Lewellen. He remains a suspect in the murder of Hannah Griffith.'"
"'Remains a suspect'...sounds like Shekar had an unbreakable alibi for Hannah's murder, otherwise they would have charged him," Mike muses. His eyes refocus on the GPS device in the cars dash, and another thought occurs to him. "Wallace...they're in Veronica's Saturn right?"
"Yeah."
"It has On-Star." Mike hits 'enter' on the navigation panel and starts the car, pulling out into the traffic at the terminal as he keeps speaking on the phone.
Wallace asks hopefully, "Can you call the company, get them to turn on the GPS locator?"
"No...I better not." Mike clears his throat. "I'm still, um, suspended from the bureau because I was helping Veronica. What about your local sheriff? You'd have to report the car stolen and give them the owner's identification codes. Then he'll contact On-Star."
"Okay, I can do that. I'm in Keith's office; I'm sure the codes are in the files. Wait...Mike...what did you find out that you wanted to tell Veronica?"
He says grimly, "The FBI was investigating a plane crash in Rio Linda a few weeks before Hannah Griffith was found murdered in Los Angeles."
"Could Carney have been one of the agents in Rio Linda?" Wallace asks.
"Not officially," Mike admits. "But he would have know about the crash from the daily briefing sheet. There was something in the file about a discrepancy in the filed flight plan, and it sounds like drugs were involved."
Wallace notes, "And where there's drugs, there's usually Fitzpatricks."
"Exactly."
"Shit."
Mike concurs, "Yeah. Shit. I'll be in touch, Wallace. Call me if you hear anything." He terminates the call and pulls off to the side of the road. He grabs his carry-on from the back seat and assembles his weapon, grimly donning his holster and securing the gun under his arm before pulling back onto the road to Rio Linda.
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Somewhere in the United States
Mac finally opens her eyes and says weakly, "Veronica?"
Veronica, with her mouth gagged, can't respond, but she nods furiously. She raises her eyebrows questioningly.
"Veronica, didn't you notice that I called you Ronnie?" Mac whispers weakly.
Veronica nods, closing her eyes. She raises her eyebrows again and looks toward the doorway.
Mac says, with her voice husky from sleep and disuse, "I don't know what they want. They had someone watching you at Duncan's trial, and then they lost you. They made me call your voicemail, and then I watched them track the prepaid phone you were using. They have access to the FBI databases, Veronica. They...they killed Alan, my FBI handler. They said they would...they said they'd go after my brother Ryan if I didn't call you. They drugged me, Veronica." Her voice trembles with anxiety.
Veronica closes her eyes, realizing how scared Mac has been. How long has she been.... She tries to count back. I talked to Mac on Thursday. Two days? Have they had her for two days? Oh god...Mac.
Mac whispers intensely, "What about Logan...your dad? Do you think...do you think they might find us?"
Veronica shakes her head. They hear voices, and the boat rocks in its berth. Heavy footsteps resound from the companionway, with muttered exclamations and a few loud thumps against the bulkheads. Veronica ostentatiously closes her eyes. Mac takes the hint; she rolls over and pretends to be asleep again. Veronica tries to look panicked and upset; it's not a hard role to play, she thinks ruefully. The door opens, and Frank and the other man deposit Logan on the bed with them, bitching all the while about how heavy he is. As soon as the door is closed, he awkwardly rolls himself over and looks at Mac, who opens her eyes. Mac says quietly, "You...and Mr. Mars too?"
Logan nods.
Mac exhales tremulously and whispers, "What the hell are we going to do?"
Veronica nods once, staring intently at Mac, and then winks broadly. She mimes breaking down crying for a few moments before suddenly stopping and giving Mac a questioning look.
"You guys have some sort of plan?" Mac says breathlessly.
Veronica nods again.
"Veronica, why are they keeping us alive?" she asks despondently. "What do they want?"
Veronica shrugs. She thinks, Loose ends. They want to know who else knows what we know. She considers for a moment. Who does know? Mike, Leo, Wallace...they all know bits and pieces. If they find Kavner and Harris' bodies, they'll contact the agency and know we hired them. The agency knows we were headed to Rio Linda, and maybe they’ll call Wallace. But...we're not in Rio Linda any more. ...We stopped and got gas along the way...but we used cash...maybe someone will.... She is flooded with a sense of hopelessness and struggles to focus on the situation.
They hear loud noises, and the door opens again. Her dad is brought in the room and dumped unceremoniously on the foot of the bed. Keith has come around a bit, although he still seems groggy. He is moving his head from side to side and moaning inaudibly.
Heavy footsteps pound up the companionway. Veronica tries to count how many men are involved. Brian, Frank, the man in the galley...Frank asked 'Where is he?', so there's another one. Four men. The boat's engine starts with a roar. After a few minutes, they hear raised voices arguing on the deck right above them. Veronica strains to listen over the vibrations of the boat's engines.
"You did what?" Even from down below, the voice's fury is unmistakable and chilling.
She thinks that it's Brian responding apologetically to the angry voice. "I told you, we had to separate them from the guys who were following them. We got in front of them and blocked them until they were out of sight. Then we watched as the cops pulled them over and arrested—"
Veronica tries to concentrate. 'The guys who were following'...'arrested'...maybe they're not dead?
"You're a fucking moron. The guards saw the van?"
Brian protests, "Yeah, but they're not gonna—"
Veronica's heart leaps. 'They're not gonna'...they're alive. They're alive! They know where we were going.
"Fuck. FUCK!"
"It's not going to be a problem!" Brian insists. "It was better than leaving a couple more dead bodies around. You said to be careful not to raise an alarm."
"But they saw your fucking van, you idiot!"
Veronica listens closely and thinks she hears a scuffle and a grunt of pain.
"I'm sorry! I fucked up, all right? Geez," Brian protests loudly.
Another voice says with disgust, "What the fuck do you expect? I told you, you gotta do it yourself if you want it done right." The speaker lowers his voice, and Veronica strains to hear the inaudible words. Who the hell is that? she wonders. I think I've heard that voice before. She rapidly calculates. Shit! that makes five men.
The man who seems to be in charge says, "Frank, you and Andy get rid of the van. Take it to that chop shop down the highway and tell them it's a rush job, high priority. The license plate and every VIN number needs to be obliterated, do you understand? Pay extra if you have to. We'll have to handle them without you. I'll be in touch."
Veronica shivers. Handle us. She hears mumbling voices, and the boat shifts in the water slightly. There are loud footsteps on the wooden dock, and one of the men says, "I'll take the van, you follow in the Mercury." There is a muttered response that she can't quite make out.
"That was your last chance, Brian. Check on them. No more mistakes, you understand? Get down there and check on them."
She hears heavy steps going down the companionway. Okay...Andy must be the guy in the galley...Frank and Andy are getting rid of the van, she thinks. Brian is still on the boat, plus at least two others. Three guys. Against the four of us. She pulls against the duct tape experimentally and feels a sharp twinge in her shoulder.
The padlock scrapes against the door, and the door is opened again. Veronica sucks in a breath, hoping he won't be looking closely at her bonds. Brian enters the berth, rubbing a reddened spot on his cheek with the back of his hand. Veronica avoids looking at him. Brian reaches down and taps Keith's face lightly. "Hey, daddy. Who'd think an ugly old fart like you'd have a babe like her for a daughter?" He moves his hand to Veronica's leg and strokes her calf. Veronica jumps, startled. "Relax, baby. I ain't gonna hurt you. Well, not much." Brian runs his hand up the inside of her thigh, and she tries to pull away unsuccessfully as he laughs under his breath.
From on deck, they hear, "Brian, what the fuck are you doing now? Get up here so we can cast off." The boat's engine revs slightly.
"Catch you later, Ve-ron-i-ca," Brian chants as he leaves.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Insecurity
Kavner and Harris tell their story; one of
the captors reveals himself.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Kavner: Eric Bana. Sheriff: William Sadler.
Brian: Scott Elrod. Harris: Steve Harris.
Rio Linda Deputy #1: Ryan McPartlin.
Special guest star: ???
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE: "INSECURITY"
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Rio Linda Sheriff's Department, Rio Linda, CA
The deputy knocks on the open door of the sheriff's office. "Uh, Sheriff?"
"What is it?"
Nervously, the deputy explains, "Those two guys we arrested for the hit-and-run...you know, the ones with the crazy story. Uh, it turns out they're telling the truth. Their employer verifies their story. They're security guards, tailing a private detective named Keith Mars. And now this Mars seems to have disappeared."
The sheriff frowns. "Keith Mars? I just got a call from the Neptune Sheriff's Department asking about this Mars guy. He checked in with us around two o'clock. I sent a unit out to the address Mars was heading to."
"They tried to call him again just now, and Mars isn't answering. The guards claim that if they got separated, the procedure was that they would check in with the agency. Sheriff, it really looks like that anonymous tip was a setup."
"Bring them in here, I want to talk to them. See if you can raise the unit I sent out," the sheriff says tersely. "And get the Neptune Sheriff on the horn again."
"Yes, sir."
Kavner and Harris are escorted into the office. The sheriff tries to apologize, but Kavner quickly interrupts. "I'm concerned about Mr. Mars and his companions. We were following them as they were trying to locate Ms. Griffith's place of employment. They spoke to a neighbor of hers who identified the bus route, and Mr. Mars was following that route, stopping in likely establishments—restaurants, small stores, somewhere where a young girl could work for cash."
Kavner continues, "We were tailing them when a white van pulled out in between our two vehicles. The van acted as if it was looking for an address, slowing and stopping, then starting up again. Finally it turned out of our way. By that time, Mr. Mars had pulled out of sight. We were just about to check in with him when we were pulled over and arrested."
"Pretty bold maneuver," the sheriff muses. "Again, I'd like to apologize—"
"There's no time for apologies, Sheriff. We need to try to find them as soon as possible. Mr. Mars was concerned about the rumored involvement of a federal agent, and I have to say, the ease with which they disposed of us makes me believe that's possible."
"A federal agent?"
Kavner nods. "Yes, sir. We do have a bit of luck: Harris here wrote down the license of the van in his notebook, if you could get his personal effects for us."
The sheriff nods at the deputy, who goes to the property room. He explains to the two guards, "I was contacted a short while ago by Neptune Sheriff's Department. Apparently someone else is concerned about Mr. Mars: a Mr. Wallace Fennel."
"Yes, he's Mr. Mars's assistant."
"I sent a patrol car out to the address where Mr. Mars said he was heading when he checked in with us."
"I don't believe you'll find anything there. The house was empty; they talked to a few neighbors. The only one who was helpful was a Mrs. Evelyn Blake. She told Mr. Mars about the bus route."
"I'll have her brought in to see if she can add anything," the sheriff comments, making a note.
The deputy brings in two plastic bags with the items that were taken from the car during the arrest. Harris quickly finds his notebook and flips through to the last page of writing. "Here it is. California license 2WC L12."
Kavner adds, "Mr. Mars was also planning on speaking to the man who owned the house where Hannah Griffith was last living. We need to check there as well. Harris, give him the address." Harris tears out a sheet from his notebook and hands it to the sheriff.
The sheriff says to the deputy, "Call unit fourteen; have them bring in the neighbor, Evelyn Blake. Send another car out to this address to look around and put out an APB on this vehicle."
Kavner adds, "Sheriff, can one of your men take us along the bus route to see if we can retrace their steps?"
"Of course. I'll go with you personally."
The deputy pokes his head back in. "Sheriff, it's D'Amato from Neptune again."
The sheriff picks up the phone. "Yes, this is the sheriff...There have been some developments here. There are two gentlemen here in my office who were assigned to act as security for Mr. Mars and the others. They were mistakenly arrested on false charges; they were released, of course, as soon as we realized the error, and I'm speaking with them now. There's quite a bit of evidence that this was a scheme to get Mr. Mars and his companions.....Yes, I'm certain. I believe it's very likely they've been harmed. I'll be issuing a missing persons advisory as soon as I hang up....On-Star? That's a lucky break. Okay, we'll wait for them to contact us with a location. In the meantime, I'll get an emergency court order to trace their cell phone. Do you know anything about a federal agent being part of this? The security guards mentioned—...I see. Agent Thomas Carney. I'll have one of my men look into that angle....Yes, we'll be in touch." He cradles the phone.
"The agent?" Kavner queries.
"Mr. Mars' associate found some evidence implicating an agent named Thomas Carney with family ties to Neptune. Sheriff D'Amato is speaking to the bureau chief in Los Angeles. In the meantime, he's sending us a photograph to show to witnesses."
"Sheriff, I think we need to get going on that trail before it gets cold."
"I agree." They hear a quiet ding from the sheriff's computer indicating an email has arrived. He swivels around and taps a few keys; the printer whirrs into action, and a sheet of paper emerges. "Apparently this is Agent Carney," the sheriff says, passing the sheet to Kavner and Harris.
They shake their head, indicating they hadn't seen him. The sheriff grabs his jacket, and the three of them leave the office. In the main area of the station, the sheriff leaves instructions that any information from On-Star is to be pursued immediately and relayed to him. He has copies of the picture of Carney reproduced and distributes it to all the officers, explaining that the man is a potential witness or suspect in a murder. "Priority one, folks," the sheriff announces somberly as they leave the station. "Let's find these people."
The padlock on the door scrapes again, and Veronica unconsciously holds her breath, waiting. Brian steps into the room followed by Liam Fitzpatrick, who's holding a large gun in his hand.
I knew I recognized that voice, she thinks, her heart sinking, remembering just how psychotic this guy is. She flashes on the story her dad had finally told her about Liam killing his own brother in the desert. And she realizes: It's never felt quite so horrific to be so completely right.
Logan remembers Liam too. For just a moment, he angrily recalls what Kendall had told them about reporting back to Liam regarding their sexcapades. He imagines this prick laughing hysterically as Kendall mocked his youthful sexual efforts. But then...he completely forgets his anger and his entire body stiffens in fear, as he realizes they've been entirely too successful in discovering just what happened to Hannah. He starts to think about how many people this man is responsible for killing; resolutely he forces himself to stop obsessing and just think about getting the fuck out of there ALIVE. He closes his eyes momentarily, trying to send Veronica strength. You can do it, Veronica. Watch for your opportunity. I'll have your back...somehow. Even if I get killed in the process.
Liam looks at Keith closely, tapping him lightly on the cheek to try to rouse him. Veronica holds her breath, worrying about her dad. Why won't you wake up? What's wrong with him? Dad! Keith moans but doesn't open his eyes.
Brian says defensively, "I told you, the old guy is out cold."
Liam steps back, saying "Yeah. All right. Let's get 'em up on the deck. Cut their feet loose." Brian pulls out a knife and slices through the duct tape on Logan's ankles. Then he repeats the procedure on Veronica and Mac.
Liam says menacingly, "Mr. Echolls, you and Brian will carry Sheriff Mars up on deck. Veronica and the little computer nerd will follow. I got nothing to lose by shooting you so don't fuck around. Understand?" He glares at Logan. "I said, do you understand, rich boy?"
Logan nods. If there was ever any doubt that Liam knew who I was, it's gone now.
"Sit up and turn around," Brian orders. Logan turns and presents his wrists to Brian, who cuts the tape off his wrists.
Liam says, "Brian, take his head and go first with Echolls holding the feet. Then Mac, and little Veronica right in front of me where I can keep my eyes on her."
Veronica thinks, It's time to win that Academy Award, Veronica. Make them think they've broken you. As Brian and Logan begin to maneuver Keith out of the cabin, Logan has a momentary chance to look at her, and he winks subtly. You can do it, Veronica. You can do it.
"Let's go, Mackenzie," Liam orders sharply. Mac stumbles a little getting off the bed but manages to keep her balance.
Veronica tries to remember the way she felt in the van; she wants to be tearful and to appear completely helpless. So she recalls all the terror-filled events that had flashed before her eyes a few hours before, and she relives that brief time when she had utterly lost hope. She summons up her panic and hopelessness; then she thinks about never seeing Wallace or Weevil or Backup again, and that does it. She starts to cry, little sobbing sounds escaping from behind her taped lips. Veronica presses her arms together behind her back, and the pain helps her cry a little harder.
Her moans and tears are noticed by Liam, who shoves her hard, making her bump into Mac right in front of her. He puts his gun in her back and his mouth right by her ear. His voice rises gradually as he talks until he's screaming incoherently. "'Bout time I got my vengeance on the Mars family. I know your fucking dad had something to do with all of Kendall's money going missing. And then the conspiracy charges last fall...and now, you manage to RUIN THE BEST FUCKING MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME EVER!" He prods her hard with the gun, and it doesn't take much effort for Veronica to cry even harder. "Stop your fucking bawling already," he says with disgust.
Now Brian and Logan are carrying her dad up the companionway. Mac looks at Liam nervously, wanting to wait until they clear the top step. Liam says sharply, "Go," and Mac follows, leaving just a little space behind Logan. Liam pushes Veronica again, and she goes for it. She tumbles face first, keeping her hands tightly locked behind her back. As she falls onto the narrow steps, she feels a few more threads of the tape rip slightly. Veronica lies on the steps crying and shuddering as Liam kicks her twice in the leg.
Logan turns around and stops dead; he knows she's acting, but it's killing him inside. He grunts as loudly as he can underneath the gag, making eye contact with Liam and trying to sear him with his glare. Brian mutters, "What the fuck?!"
Mac, completely terrified and not sure if Veronica's acting or not, doesn't know where to look and ends up closing her eyes. As the only one whose mouth is not gagged, Mac's moans are audible. Veronica knows she's close to a breaking point. Hold on, Mac, hold on.
Liam grabs Veronica's arm—thankfully, her left uninjured arm—and hauls her to her feet. He leans right into her face and says in an ominous voice, "It's time you finally learned to stop sticking your nose in other people's business, you stupid bitch. Wish I'd tattooed your face when I had the chance." Some of his spittle hits her face, and she closes her eyes. Liam spins her around and pushes her forward; she bumps into Mac, who starts climbing again. Logan turns back, his shoulders overtly heaving with the effort to control himself, and begins to move up the last few steps as well.
They emerge onto the deck. Night has fallen; it would be beautiful out here in the ocean if only.... Veronica swallows, suddenly very afraid. The shore is already disappearing from sight, and the boat is traveling fast, making a lot of wake as it progresses at top speed. The boat suddenly hits a wave wrong, and they lurch sideways. The water is black, reflecting the dark sky, and it looks cold and forbidding.
Veronica watches Mac, who seems to be in shock. She has stopped moaning, but her eyes are glazed over with fear and her body trembles involuntarily. Veronica hopes that Mac will be able to help if she needs it.
Liam barks, "Put the old guy over there." He points to seats near the railing.
Dad, Veronica thinks. Wake up. PLEASE wake up and help me. Her dad's head is lolling to the side as Logan and Brian place him on the seat. His color has improved somewhat. Dad...I can't lose you.... She watches closely and thinks she sees his eyes flutter open momentarily. Is he...maybe he's coming around. Dad, I need your help! You've got to wake up! I can't bear it if.... She tries to push the thought away and concentrates on the situation, watching and waiting for an opportunity.
Liam grabs a roll of duct tape and tosses it underhand to Brian, nodding his head toward Logan. "Tape him up again. You girls don't move a muscle." He brandishes the weapon.
Brian roughly shoves Logan. "Turn around...hands behind your back, fucker." He secures Logan's hands and then his feet.
Veronica continues to cry, her shoulders shaking and her eyes downcast. How the hell do actors do this in the movies? It's friggin' exhausting to cry. She tries to watch as Brian tapes up Logan, looking for a potential weakness she can exploit. With Liam's gun so close to her head, she doesn't dare try anything.
When Brian finishes with Logan, Liam motions with the gun that she and Mac should sit next to him. Brian tapes her ankles, pulling her feet close together. He pulls her forward, intending to check her wrists.
Suddenly, Logan throws himself off the seat and onto Brian, knocking him flat on his back on the deck.
Veronica is so startled that she stops crying, but she knows immediately that Logan is trying to distract Brian from checking her wrists. She braces herself, expecting Liam to blow his cool and put a bullet in Logan's head. Do I throw myself at him if he moves the gun? Fuck...what do I do?? As Brian tussles with Logan, whose sole advantage was surprise, she pulls her wrists slightly apart and feels another tenuous fiber come loose. But Liam doesn't move his gun, and she decides to hold off for the moment, sweating profusely as she dithers over her response. Brian easily rolls Logan over onto his back and punches him in the chin and, for good measure, in the stomach as well. Liam sighs loudly and says with disgust, "What the fuck are you doing, Brian? Get it done!!" Mac sobs quietly during the entire altercation, gasping when Brian punches Logan viciously.
Standing up, Brian pushes his long greasy brown hair back out of his eyes and glares at Logan. He mutters, "Asshole," as he hauls Logan back up onto the seat more roughly than necessary and then moves to Mac to tape her ankles. Mac sways a little, shutting her eyes and grimacing as her feet are secured. Liam appears satisfied and tucks his gun into the waist of his jeans.
It worked, Veronica thinks with relief. We've still got a chance. She's very worried about Mac, who seems at the point of a complete collapse after her ordeal. But Logan manages to discreetly press his leg against hers, and she knows that somehow he'll help her again when she makes her move.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Currents Turn Awry
The investigation continues in Rio Linda;
Kevin Carney is taken in custody; Wallace
tries desperately to help; Liam's partner
reveals himself.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
Dick: Ryan Hansen. Leo: Max Greenfield.
Agent Carney: Jason Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick:
Rod Rowland. Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Brian:
Scott Elrod. Kevin Carney: Noel Fisher. Mike
Fields: Michael Trucco. Deputy Clark: Zadran
Wali. Cashier: Soledad St. Hilaire.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOUR: "CURRENTS TURN AWRY"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Abandoned lot near the airfield, Rio Linda, CA
The deputy pulls up to a vehicle parked on the road. The Saturn VUE has had its license plates removed, but the deputy checks the VIN number through the windshield, and it matches. He dons latex gloves and tries the door, which turns out to be unlocked. He does a cursory inspection of the car, finding only several overnight bags. He triggers his radio. "Come in, Sheriff."
"Go ahead."
"I've got the victims' Saturn. It's empty."
"Dammit. Any signs of foul play?"
"Negative. I'll call the Crime Scene techs."
Sheriff D'Amato waits, his weapon drawn, outside the door to Kevin Carney's apartment. From inside the apartment, a television is blaring the San Diego-DePaul basketball game. Leo nods at Deputy Sacks, who knocks on the door and calls out, "Neptune Sheriff's Department, open up." They strain to hear an answer over the sound of the television. When they don't hear a response, Leo nods to the super, who quickly opens the lock and gets out of the way, running full tilt down the stairway. Leo pushes the door open cautiously and calls, "Kevin Carney?" The room is empty; on the table in front of the couch are several beer bottles, including one knocked over on its side with liquid running out. D'Amato runs to the open window and looks out onto a fire escape. They hear footsteps banging on the wrought iron, and D'Amato triggers his radio and says quietly, "Coming your way, Clark."
In the alley behind the building, Deputy Clark crouches behind a dumpster. A young man rushes down the fire escape, jumping the last few feet to the ground before hustling toward the street. Recognizing their quarry, Clark steps out and points his gun. "Kevin Carney...put your hands where I can see 'em!"
Wild-eyed, Carney tries to evade Clark, who grabs his arm and throws him down to the ground. "Lace your fingers behind your head," he instructs; Carney keeps struggling as Clark tries to get his hands cuffed. Clark's radio crackles, and he responds, "I got him, Sheriff."
Carney begins to protest. "This is bullshit...I didn't do anything!"
"Then why were you running?" Clark asks. "Got any weapons on you?"
"Fuck you," Carney spits.
Leo and Sacks hustle around the corner and help Clark subdue and search Carney. They find a knife and a handgun and escort him into the cruiser. Leo tries to read Carney his rights, but Carney keeps interrupting, saying, "I want a lawyer...and I want my phone call."
Mike Fields pulls into the parking lot of the Good Food Fast Diner. He checks his cell phone display again, hoping despite his fears for a call from Veronica. He walks into the diner, which has four or five customers eating late dinners. He shows his FBI identification to the cashier and asks, "I'm looking for Melvin Jones."
"Mel's popular tonight," she muses.
Mike looks at her quizzically, and she adds, "One of the sheriff's deputies was just here looking for him. Mel left for the night about, hmm, about half an hour ago."
"Really," Mike comments, thinking about the deputy who was killed in the recent plane crash. Why the sudden interest in Mel...are there dirty cops in Rio Linda?? It didn't sound like Veronica was planning on reporting her suspicions to the authorities here. "Were you here this afternoon? Two men and a young woman, private detectives, were here talking to Mel about one of your former employees. You knew her as Meredith Grey."
"We knew her as..." the woman repeats puzzled. "You mean...."
"That wasn't her real name," Mike explains. "Were you here this afternoon?"
"No. I just came on shift."
"So you didn't see them? I believe they were trying to find where Meredith had been living before she disappeared. Do you know her address?"
The cashier says, "No...we weren't close. Meredith really kept to herself. I tried to invite her out a couple times, and she would never join us."
Mike sighs. "I need Mel's home address, please. This is very important. I'm extremely concerned for his safety."
The cashier gulps visibly. "His safety? Mel?"
"He's an important witness in a federal case," Mike explains. "I can get his address from the federal database, but you'll save me some time, and maybe Mel won't get hurt."
The cashier looks at Mike's ID again, then, biting her lip, she writes Mel's address on an order pad. She tears off the sheet and hands it to Mike. "Take Elverta Boulevard, make a left on Ninth, and a right on Wagon Trail Road," she explains quickly.
"Did you tell the deputy Mel went home?"
She nods.
Mike asks, "Does Mel have a cell phone?"
"He never turns it on," she says, pursing her lips.
"If you get in touch with him, tell him to stay put at home until I get there. Make sure you give him my name. How long ago did he leave?"
"Half an hour ago...." She pauses. "But he was going to stop and have a quick drink at Howie's Bar."
"Did you tell that to the deputy?"
She shakes her head. Reluctantly, she says, "Mel's already got one DUI."
"What kind of car does Mel have?" Mike asks.
"It's a blue Buick. Four door. Howie's is about half a mile down Elverta Boulevard before you get to Ninth Street."
As Mike leaves, he thinks despondently, What if other agents are working with Carney? How the hell do we keep this witness safe?
Suddenly, he realizes that he is the only one who knows Mel's name. As he drives, he dials his old friend Thomas Lynley and fills him in on every detail...just in case.
The boat's engines throttle down, and the boat slows in the water. To Brian, Liam says tersely, "Go see what's happening."
A few minutes later, a man walks down onto the deck as the boat gets underway again.
Agent Carney? Veronica thinks, shocked. She trades a glance with Logan, who appears equally dumbfounded. Of course. Carney knew how to copy the Slasher because he was on the serial killer task force; he knew the killer's M.O. She mentally tries to replay his interview of her back in January; he had let Agent Morris do most of the talking. It was perfect: Carney could direct the investigation so that it would appear as if Hannah was just another of the Slasher's victims. But why kill Hannah? And what's his connection to the Fitzpatricks? Carney...Carney.... Something is nagging at her, but she can't quite figure it out.
The agent is tall, with cropped brown hair, sinewy arms, and cold blue eyes. Veronica notes that he has a pistol tucked in his waistband behind his back. Liam seems to defer to him; they huddle and speak in low tones. Veronica strains to hear their conversation.
Carney mutters, "It's being taken care of. He'll be dead within the hour."
"It should have been done a long time ago," Liam responds. "Too many loose ends."
"There wouldn't have been a problem except for—" Carney nods toward Veronica.
"She's been a thorn in my side for years. And her father...well, you remember what Keith Mars did to me and my business." Liam snorts disgustedly.
Veronica's completely overwhelmed by panic. These men think nothing of killing. Hannah, Kendall, Candice's brother, Gustavio Toombs, Cormac—Liam's own brother, and god knows who else they've murdered over the years.
Carney turns slightly and sees Veronica's eyes on him. He walks to her and rips the tape off her mouth in one harsh motion. She cries out as her skin is abraded. "Veronica Mars," he says with eyes narrowed. "You've caused us a lot of trouble."
"Agent Carney," Veronica replies.
He stares at her, assessing her. "So you do remember me," he muses.
"I don't get questioned in a murder investigation all that often," she retorts, with bravery she doesn't feel.
Carney looks at her intently, his eyes harsh and unforgiving. "Funny, your file seems to say that you've been involved in quite a few murders."
"Not as a suspect," she says, her voice quivering slightly.
"Let's just kill her," Liam suggests. "I don't even like looking at her."
Carney shakes his head. "No...we need to know who else knows what they know."
"A lot of people know everything. The Rio Linda Sheriff, the Neptune Sheriff, a friend in the FBI—" She stops short. Mike's our best chance at a rescue. He knew about the witness. If Carney finds him.... Veronica keeps her voice steady. "I'm sure a lot of people are searching for us. We missed several prearranged check ins by now."
"Really," Carney replies, not bothering to keep the skepticism out of his voice. "Doesn't matter...you're far from Rio Linda now. No one will think to look for you here. And the Pacific Ocean's a big place."
He paces a little on the deck before whirling back around to her. "I want to know everything. I want to know what you've found out."
"Why should I tell you anything?" she says, her voice breaking despite her efforts.
"You and your friends can die easy or you can die hard. You can watch the three people you love the most in the world suffer excruciating pain for hours, or you can all go peacefully—drowning or a gunshot to the head. I'll even let each of you choose."
She is about to swear that she'll never make it easy for him, that she'll fight to the very end...but she remembers. Make them think they've broken you. Tell them a line of bullshit, keep them talking, give Mike time, give Wallace time to maybe find us. And watch...watch for an opening. Four of us...three of them...and they don't know I can get my hands free.
She inhales shudderingly. It's easy to let her voice tremble. She closes her eyes and thinks again about never seeing the people she loves...all the things she wants to do in her life that she'll never get to do...and her eyes fill with tears. "Please don't do this, please...you don't need to do this. You don't have to kill us," she sobs. "What do you want to know?"
Sheriff D'Amato pushes Kevin Carney into an interview room, telling Sacks that they'll book him later—he wants to question the suspect immediately.
Kevin says sarcastically, "You can't question me. I asked for a lawyer."
"I can question you. You just don't have to answer. But that's not very smart. You're on the hook for accessory to murder. Plus whatever you've been doing for the Fitzpatricks. You're looking at a lot of prison time...hard time, not the bullshit juvie time you've done so far. A lawyer really isn't your best option here."
"I want a lawyer," Kevin replies stubbornly.
"Where's your uncle, Kevin? I called his bureau chief, and, surprise, your uncle's already in hot water. They arrested the Slasher, and your uncle had disappeared. Pretty odd behavior for someone so high up in the Serial Killer Task Force."
"He'll turn up," Kevin mutters.
"What's so important that he doesn't show up for the press conference announcing the arrest of one of the worst serial killers ever in California? Perhaps he was busy tracking down Veronica Mars? Or cleaning up another Fitzpatrick mess?" Leo suggests.
Kevin twitches slightly at the mention of the Fitzpatricks.
Leo continues harshly, "We have photographic evidence that you were working for the Fitzpatricks."
"Like, you got a picture of me punching a timecard for the micks? I don't think so," Kevin sneers.
Leo stares at Kevin silently. Finally, he says, "I'm going about this all wrong." He stands up, hauls Kevin onto his feet, and leads him to one of the cells. Kevin, completely confused, looks behind him into Leo's stony face. Leo ignores him and calls to Sacks. "Get Ciaran Fitzpatrick's lawyer on the phone. Tell him we have a cooperative witness, and we're going to file some additional charges."
Sacks nods and reaches for the phone. "Okay to tell the lawyer who the witness is?"
Kevin swallows in fear. "No...no, you can't. I'm NOT cooperating."
"Tell that to the other prisoners when we transfer you to county," Leo says, shrugging. "I'm sure they'll believe you when we put you in solitary for your own protection. Of course, accidents have been known to happen, even in solitary. It's criminal what happens in prison."
"I'll refuse!"
"Don't think you can, Kevin. You're really kind of new at this, aren't you? I don't think the Fitzpatricks are going to be very happy with you. You might get on their bad side."
"You're bluffing," Kevin blusters. "This is bullshit. I want my lawyer."
"I got a few hours before I have to give you your phone call. Paperwork, you know. In the meantime, I got a couple confidential informants who'd be happy to spread some rumors for me in Balboa County Jail." Leo walks away, leaving Kevin to stew in his cell. "Have a nice day, Kevin."
Wallace is running a background check on Thomas Carney while Weevil paces back and forth in the office. "Come on, there's got to be something I can do," Weevil pleads.
"Shh," Wallace replies distractedly, concentrating on the computer screen.
"I'm going out," Weevil announces, shrugging into his leather jacket.
Wallace looks up. "Wait...what are you doing?"
"I'm going to get a few PCHers, and we'll bust some Fitzpatricks' heads until I get some answers," Weevil replies. "Somebody's got to know something. I can't just sit here any more."
"You're not helping her," Wallace sighs and stands up to stretch. "Come on, I'll find something for you to do."
Weevil, not happy at all, sits down across the desk.
"Knock, knock." They turn skittishly; Weevil pokes his head out into the waiting room to see Dick Casablancas wandering in. "Yo, Wallace...Weeves," he says cheerfully, with a slight wave.
Weevil says impatiently, "We don't have time for bullshit tonight. What do you want, Casablancas?"
"Whoa, what's with the attitude? I was just wondering if Veronica had heard from Mac. She's supposed to be coming home tomorrow. I'm planning a little welcome-home bash at the Pi Sig house...I'm calling it 'Witless Protection'. Ahh...you're invited, I guess."
Weevil looks about to explode, but Wallace jumps in first. "Veronica, her dad, and Logan are missing, Dick."
"Missing? I just talked to Veronica this morning."
Weevil asks curiously, "You talked to her? What'd you talk about?"
To both Wallace and Weevil's surprise, Dick looks abashed. "Um.... She, uh, had some questions about Beaver. Something was on her mind. You know she's been acting a little...weird lately. Veronica even had an opening the other night, and she totally let me slide. Pretty sure that's never happened before."
"More than a little weird," Weevil comments. He wonders about Dick's reaction: in his experience, it took a lot to shame Dick Casablancas.
Wallace, as one of the few people who knows the details of Veronica's rape, immediately makes the connection. What did Dick do? In the middle of everything that's going on, Veronica called Dick. What did Veronica ask him? Aloud, he says, "Did she sound okay when you talked to her?"
"She was pretty upset," Dick admits reluctantly. "I don't understand....What do you mean, they're missing?"
Wallace explains, "We can't get in touch with them. They're up in Rio Linda, investigating Hannah Griffith's murder. Veronica talked to her ex-boyfriend, that FBI guy, around three-thirty, and that's the last anyone's seen or heard of them." He has a thought. He walks over the computer and begins typing.
"What is it?" Weevil asks.
"I'm checking Veronica's cell phone records. Not the prepaid phone she had with her, her regular cell phone." Wallace frowns at the screen. "Just two calls. Duncan, and a Los Angeles number. Both of them are short calls, about a minute. They probably left messages. And it looks like Veronica checked her messages this morning—there's an incoming call from the prepaid they're using."
"Can you trace the other number?"
Wallace taps a few keys and shakes his head. "No, it's probably blocked. But Sheriff D'Amato might be able to trace it." He stands up. "Let's go over to Veronica's apartment...see if the messages are still on her voicemail."
"I'll go," Weevil suggests. "You stay, keep working on the background check."
"Can I help?" Dick asks. "I was wondering if you thought a call to Governor Schwarzenegger might be a good thing. My mom's married to his business manager."
Wallace and Weevil exchange a glance. Wallace replies quickly, "Do it." He gives the keys to Veronica's apartment to Weevil.
As Weevil and Dick leave Mars Investigations, Dick comments, "So you guys are like friends now? That's awesome. It's like Veronica's personal Scooby gang, except without the whole vampire thing."
"Shut the fuck up, will you?" Weevil replies, irritated.
"I know you're all like tense and stuff, but yelling at me is not—"
"Do you not fucking understand me? I'm concentrating on finding Veronica alive."
Dick falls silent. "Sorry, dude," he mutters finally. "You really think...?"
"Yeah, we really think." Weevil sighs. "Call your mom, okay? See if the governor can help. This is bad, do you get it?"
"Yeah, I got it."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Bearing Witness
Carney and Liam question Veronica; Mike
looks for the witness; a break in the case;
Veronica's cell phone reveals a clue.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Eli: Francis Capra. Dick: Ryan Hansen.
Leo: Max Greenfield. Agent Carney: Jason
Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick: Rod Rowland. Mike
Fields: Michael Trucco. Mel: George Gerdes.
Rio Linda Deputy #2: Victor Slezak.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE: "BEARING WITNESS"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Somewhere in the United States
"What do you want to know?" Veronica says tremulously.
"How did you find out about Rio Linda?" Carney snaps.
"There was...Hannah sent a postcard to someone who helped her when she escaped. It was postmarked 'Rio Linda'."
"And you just decided to stumble around Rio Linda until...?" Liam asks scornfully.
Why are they so pissed about Rio Linda? Veronica stares at him, frightened for real. Finally, she mumbles, "One of Hannah's friends had a relative there. It seemed like too great of a coincidence." She can't decide if she'd be putting Julie Silver in danger by telling her part of the story, so she cautiously omits it.
"Bullshit," Carney roars, turning around and screaming at her. He motions at Mac. "Your little friend here was snooping in the FBI files. She wouldn't tell me what she found."
"I didn't find anything," Mac pleads, her body trembling with fear. "I told you a hundred times. All I did was figure out who accessed the Slasher files. No one knows. You can let us go."
Veronica swallows. There's no way they're letting us go. "We didn't know you were involved. We never would have known if...." She gapes at him. "No one knows. You don't have to do this...please!" A sob escapes her lips.
"Then why was I transferred off the Mackenzie funeral? Huh?! Explain. Who knows?!" Carney thunders.
Veronica stares back, completely confused. "I don't know anything about Mac's funeral. I was undercover on the East Coast when the bombing happened."
Mac protests again, "Alan told you...for a while, he thought that maybe the bombing of my parents' house was because of the research I'd been doing into the Slasher killings. He was worried someone in the FBI was trying to make it look like a mafia hit. So he took the precaution of removing everybody who had had access to the case files from the FBI detail at my fake funeral."
Veronica is thinking furiously. Alan—Mac said that was her handler—Alan thought the bombing was because of the copycat murder. So then Alan inadvertently alerted Carney that something was up by taking him off the funeral detail. When they realized Mac was my friend, and then there was all the publicity about Briar Hill...that's why they took Mac and Alan. Shit. Carney looks at her, and she quickly stammers, "You don't need to do this. Please...you don't need to hurt us. Please let us go."
Liam says sarcastically, "You know you can't trust a word she says. Lying little bitch. You should heard the crap she told us when we caught her in the River Stix."
Carney is still thinking, staring at each of them in turn. He whirls around and goes down below, returning a few minutes later with a bottle that looks like a cleaning solution. He opens the bottle and waves it for a moment under Keith's nose; Keith's head jerks up and his eyes open.
Ammonia, Veronica guesses. Dad....
Keith looks around blearily; he appears confused. Carney rips the tape off his face, and Keith coughs a little, still affected by the ammonia. "Hello, Mr. Mars. We've never met. I'm Agent Carney."
"FBI," Keith says warily. He tries to move his arms without success. "Why have you taken us? Where are we?"
"I'm asking the questions here. You've got a lot to answer for, Mr. Mars."
"Please let the others go. They've done nothing to you. There's no need to do this." Keith tries to keep his voice rational, as if speaking to a colleague. "There's no evidence against you.
"Not any more," Carney comments, chillingly. "The diner owner—that was definitely an oversight on my part." He checks his watch. "But I believe that little problem has gone away by now."
Mike drives down Elverta Boulevard to Howie's Bar, a dingy neighborhood bar with a neon rendition of a martini glass in the window. There are only a few cars in the lot; none of them are a blue Buick, and Mike quickly pulls out of the lot and heads for Mel's house. He turns left on Ninth Street. As he rounds a curve in the road, he sees two cars pulled over to the side of the road. A police cruiser, with lights flashing is just behind a blue Buick LeSabre. A deputy is exiting the police car.
Mike slows his car to watch. The police officer unsnaps his holster and places his hand over the gun on his waist as he approaches the Buick. The occupant of the Buick appears to be rifling in the glove compartment.
Mike quickly parks the car and pulls out his own weapon, keeping it held low as he jumps out of the car. In his other hand, he holds his federal ID with the badge clearly displayed. He stands behind his open car door and calls out, "Officer! I'm a federal agent. Do you need assistance?"
The deputy whirls around and reflexively fires off a bullet as Mike quickly takes cover behind the car door. He leans out and fires a shot, taking cover again. He looks over the door cautiously and sees the deputy running to the Buick. The passenger door is open: apparently Mel has exited the car during the shooting and run into a nearby patch of woods. The police officer begins to run after Mel, firing his weapon at the fleeing man. Mike pursues, taking several shots. One shot hits the deputy in the shoulder, and he falls to the ground facedown, writhing in pain.
Mike runs to the officer; he steps on the man's wrist and takes the gun. Mel can still be heard, running panicked through the trees. Mike calls out, "Melvin! Melvin Jones, I'm from the FBI. I'm here to protect you. I'm a friend of the people you spoke to today, Veronica Mars, her father Keith, and Logan Echolls. Mr. Jones...let me help you. This man was going to kill you. You're safe now."
Mel stops running and begins to walk back toward Mike. He approaches tentatively, his chest heaving from exertion. Mike pulls out his identification again and shows it to him. Mel says breathlessly, "What the hell is going on?"
The deputy tries to get up from the ground, and Mike says sternly, "Don't do it. I will shoot you again if I have to." He turns to Mel and relates grimly, "Those people you talked to today are missing. I believe they've been killed or kidnapped. And I think this man wanted to kill you because you're the only eyewitness in the Hannah Griffith murder case."
Mel's eyes widen in shock. "Killed?"
Mike nods. Keeping his weapon trained on the officer, Mike directs Mel to take the officer's handcuffs off his belt and secure his hands tightly behind his back. Mike asks brusquely, "Where's the key?"
The deputy shakes his head and refuses to answer.
"If you want me to call for medical attention, you'd better cooperate." Mike tells Mel, "Search his pockets. They often keep a spare key in their wallet as well, so look there too."
Mel gingerly searches the deputy's pockets, finally coming up with two identical handcuff keys. "Why can't we just call 9-1-1?"
"What makes you think this is the only Rio Linda policeman that wants to kill you?" Satisfied that the deputy is secure, Mike examines the bullet wound. "Just a flesh wound," he remarks. "It's already stopped bleeding. You'll live...unfortunately."
"Fuck you. You're interfering with an officer performing his duty," the deputy spits. "The sheriff will eat your ass for dinner."
"I'm already on suspension; I've got nothing to lose," Mike says sarcastically. "But someone I care about is missing and probably dead because of the people you work for." I'm going to be shit-canned for sure...I've broken every rule in the book by now...but at least the witness is still alive.
Mike looks up a number in his cell and dials his former and hopefully future supervisor at the FBI. "Sir...it's Michael Fields. I have a situation." He explains the situation tersely, summarizing his decisions over the past few hours and mentioning Agent Carney as a possible suspect. He listens, pulling the phone away from his ear and wincing at his boss's angry words. "Here he is." Mike passes the phone to Mel, explaining, "This is my supervisor; he wants to talk to you."
Mel reviews the day's events and confirms that the deputy lying handcuffed in front of them had, in fact, been shooting at him. He passes the phone back to Mike.
"Yes, sir. I understand. I'll stay on the line." He waits for several minutes, pacing, then responds, "The Neptune Sheriff has already spoken to the L.A. ADIC? And the local sheriff?" Mike sighs in relief. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He terminates the call. Mike looks up. "He's sending the nearest ranking field agent to take charge of the situation and to coordinate with local law enforcement. It looks like the Rio Linda sheriff has been working with the Neptune Sheriff's department. The sheriff is on his way here."
"But you said...."
"Too many people know what's happening now. I think you're safe, Mel." I wish I could say the same for Veronica.
Two Watsonville police officers are driving down Lee Road when a white van passes them going in the other direction. "What was that APB again in that possible kidnapping?" one officer muses thoughtfully.
"California plates, 2WC L12."
"That's the van. Hit the hammer."
His partner activates the siren, and they make a U-turn. The van slows down momentarily before taking off at high speed. The police officers pursue and call for backup.
Unnoticed by the police, a car following the van turns onto a side street and drives away.
In the Mars apartment, Weevil heads straight for Veronica's bedroom. He finds her cell in the charger and brings it out to the living room.
Dick asks, "Do you know Veronica's code?"
Weevil muses, "I'm pretty sure she preprogrammed it into the speed dial. I've watched her get her messages enough times. She just hits '1'. You know how she is..." He snaps his fingers twice. "She's got people to see, things to do; she can't waste time entering PIN numbers."
He hits '1', and the prompt says, "Please enter your password—" and the phone begins dialing five digits. "You have two saved voice messages. To listen to your messages, press one."
Weevil's eyes glaze over as Duncan begins to talk about his daughter Lilly. He hits '9' to save the message. The next message begins to play.
"What?"
"You listen." He hands the phone to Dick.
Dick listens to the message twice. "Yeah, it's Mac. But...no way...she doesn't call Veronica 'Ronnie'. She always gave me shit for doing that, said that Veronica hated it."
"Do you think she could be making a joke?" Weevil asks.
"Let's call the number, see if Mac's there," Dick suggests. He dials the number and gets a recording: 'The number you have reached, area code 323, 555-7839 is not in service'.
Weevil is thoughtful. Finally, he says, "Let's take it to the sheriff."
"Sheriff Looney Tunes, are you kidding? He was trying to arrest Logan for killing Kendall," Dick says incredulously.
"Yeah, but he's helping us now, and we can't trace this number. Something's really wrong," Weevil says, slapping the phone in his palm.
"What are you talking about? What's going on?"
"We think an FBI agent killed Hannah Griffith, and Mac was in FBI custody. Figure it out," Weevil replies.
"What the hell are you talking about? An FBI agent killed Hannah?!"
Weevil nods. "Yeah, that's what Veronica thinks. You're sure Mac would never call her Ronnie, right?"
"Never," he says, emphatically. "Not like that."
"I think Mac was trying to warn Veronica," Weevil says.
"Wait...you mean?"
"I think Mac's in trouble too."
Veronica watches as Carney keeps checking his phone, obviously expecting a call. Liam asks, "Nothing?" and Carney replies, "Not yet." The boat keeps driving through the water, heading further from shore every minute. The stars are incredibly bright tonight, mocking her with their ethereal beauty, and she feels defenseless and vulnerable.
Veronica's entire consciousness is consumed by her hatred for Carney. As much as she loathes Liam Fitzpatrick, Carney is even more fearsome: intelligent as well as evil. She tries to comfort herself by thinking about Mike doggedly pursuing every lead in Rio Linda, trying to discover what happened to her. Her eyes blur with tears as she imagines Wallace begging Leo to help investigate her disappearance.
Carney walks over. He squats down and stares at her face. "Let's start at the beginning, Veronica. You've been quite diligent in your efforts against us."
She exhales softly. "It wasn't against you. I just...I was trying to clear Logan of suspicion in Hannah's murder. The press was saying horrible things about him."
"Quite the little detective, aren't you?"
She doesn't know how to respond.
Carney stands. He prods, "What made you think there was somebody from the FBI involved?"
Hesitantly, she explains. Got to keep him talking. Got to think. "I got copies of the case files. I didn't see anything at first except...."
"What?"
"Hannah hadn't been using drugs, but she tested positive for heroin. And she didn't have a record for solicitation. And...I couldn't imagine that she had become a prostitute and a drug addict. So I thought...maybe it was a copycat killer."
He snaps his fingers in her face, making her jump. "Answer my question...why an FBI agent? And you seemed awfully sure this wasn't the Slasher. Why?"
"When I looked at the dates...the real Slasher only killed on Saturdays with a full moon. It wasn't a full moon the night Hannah was killed." With Carney staring at her angrily, she looks away and mumbles, "But Hannah had the mark carved on her chest. So the killer knew that the victims had been marked by the Slasher. Hannah's murderer had to have had inside information."
"Fuck, a full moon," Carney comments bitterly. "Fucking psychopaths and their crazy obsessions. Who else knows about this full moon business?" When she doesn't answer right away, he repeats angrily, "WHO KNOWS?!"
"A lot of people," she whispers. "I've known for weeks. But...a lot of people accessed the files who could have known the killer's M.O. And they could have gossiped about it. You don't need to do this! No one knows it's you. I didn't know it was you until...." She stumbles on the words. "Until you took us. You don't need to do this."
"You're not that stupid," he says chillingly. "Of course we need to do this. I want a list...everyone who knows."
Keith interrupts, "Are you really going to kill everyone Veronica told? And everyone they told? When does it stop?"
"Shut the fuck up, I'm trying to think," Carney yells. "Who did you tell, Veronica?"
Veronica tries to stall, staring at him nervously as she tries to think what to say to him.
Liam snorts. "She needs some motivation." He walks over to Logan and rips off the tape on his mouth. "I think this guy screaming might make her a little more cooperative. Stupid fuck," he says contemptuously, and he punches Logan hard in the nose.
Logan is rocked by the blow; his nose streams bright red blood, and he shakes his head trying to clear it so he can breathe. "Ah!!...Shit!...why the fuck do you hate me so much anyways?" Logan asks bitterly, his voice ragged and strained. He takes a snuffling breath and says rashly, "Why the hell did you set me up for Felix's murder? Why didn't you just let the case die? No one would have ever cared about a Mexican gang member killed in a knife fight, and the sheriff wasn't looking into it. What did I ever do to you anyways?"
"Not you...your bastard father."
"Aaron?" Veronica can't help asking. "What did Aaron do to you?"
Liam sneers, "About twenty-five years ago, I delivered some drugs to a wild party up the PCH...it was just after he filmed 'The Long Haul': Echolls was throwing a party, with all sorts of Hollywood types and a couple young girls—fourteen years old, sweet young things. One of them had really nice tits, a cute ass, and a heavy buzz on even before I got there. I remember the dirty fuck had her on his lap; he was holding a joint to her lips and teaching her how to inhale...with his hand halfway up her skirt. I guess Echolls forced her to have sex with him later that night. The next day, the girl accused him of rape."
Veronica glances at Logan. He's shell-shocked: even knowing intimately and explicitly just how evil Aaron was, the details still have the capacity to rock him to his core.
Liam whoops at Logan's dumbfounded expression. "You didn't think Lilly Kane was the first young girl he fucked, did you? I thought I was gonna bust a gut laughing when he finally got nailed for that one." He throws his head back and sniggers at Logan, enjoying the boy's fury. Finally, he continues, "So...when this girl started crying rape the next day, Echolls immediately tried to blame me...he said the girl was drunk, and he claimed he saw me take her into a bedroom. I had a record, only bullshit stuff, but it didn't matter...he was the big star, and I was the low-life mick drug dealer with a couple misdemeanor convictions. He must have paid off the girl, because she changed her story and said it was me. Five years in Chino because that cocksucker couldn't keep his dick in his pants." He laughs harshly. "Yeah, your dad was a hell of an actor."
Logan says intensely, "Don't you know I hate him too?"
"I don't give a fuck! I swore I'd make him pay, someday. Then you were stupid enough to be on the Coronado that night when Thumper took out Felix...." Liam shrugs. "I really enjoyed watching you squirm that year. My girl Kendall gave me all the details...while she was making you think you were God's gift to women. Hah!" Liam shakes his head incredulously. "As if you could satisfy a woman like Kendall."
Veronica says bitterly, "Your girl Kendall? You mean the girl you murdered. Nice way to treat a girl...but I guess murder's what you should expect if you get involved with the Fitzpatricks."
"I didn't kill Kendall," Liam replies. "I don't know who did, but they did me a huge favor."
Logan says, "Bullshit."
"Nope...didn't kill her. Wish I had...I really wanted to kick her ass after that crap she pulled on me with the Phoenix Land Trust. Stupid bitch, didn't know when she had it good," he muses. "Yeah...somebody did me a big favor killing Kendall. Why do you think we killed Hannah Griffith?"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Bound and Determined
Wallace stumbles on a clue; the conspiracy
starts to fall apart; Liam and Carney confront
Veronica; Kevin Carney makes a deal.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
Leo: Max Greenfield. Dick: Ryan Hansen.
Agent Carney: Jason Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick:
Rod Rowland. Cliff: Daran Norris. Mike Fields:
Michael Trucco. Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Kevin
Carney: Noel Fisher. Sheriff: William Sadler.
Rio Linda Deputy #1: Ryan McPartlin. Frank:
Stephen Dorff. Mel: George Gerdes.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX: "BOUND AND DETERMINED"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Mars Investigations, Neptune, CA
Wallace tries to ignore the panic he feels as each minute goes by without word from Veronica. He keeps looking at his cell and willing it to ring before tearing his attention back to the computer screen. Using all the tricks that Veronica has shown him in the past, he's obtained Carney's social security number and run a credit check. The report from Experian is pristine: too pristine, Wallace thinks. Nobody has a flawless credit report these days. Carney's finances reflect a high-level bureau level employee with slightly above average, but not ostentatious, spending. He has a very normal mortgage on a modest home in Los Angeles and has cosigned a car loan for his nephew. All his payments are made on time, for the exact amount owed.
The only blot on Carney's record is a lawsuit from ten years ago, settled in Carney's favor. Wallace looks up the case; it's apparently a personal injury claim filed against Carney, dismissed with prejudice against the party who filed it. Wallace notes the name of the attorney of record for the case and, almost by habit, runs the lawyer's name through several databases. He frowns: the attorney went to the same college as Carney, Santa Clara University near San Jose. It takes some work, but he discovers that both Carney and the attorney were in the same fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and graduated one year apart. Wallace calls a friend of Keith's at AT&T; he explains the situation, and Keith's friend emails him Carney's telephone records. There are numerous phone calls to the attorney's San Francisco office.
Wishing that Veronica was there to help him, Wallace tries to research the attorney, wondering about a possible connection with Carney. The attorney is listed as a statutory agent for several offshore corporations whose principal stockholders are obscured. A search on the filings prepared by the attorney reveals that he seems to be a specialist in real estate trusts and holding corporations. Real estate trusts with hidden corporate officers, based in foreign countries, Wallace thinks. Perfect place to stash the proceeds of money laundering.
Wallace keeps digging, and after an hour of hard work, comes up with a list of assets owned by the corporations, including extensive real estate holdings in California. He prints out a list of the properties and heads over to the sheriff's department.
Frank nervously places a call. There's no answer, and he leaves a message. "Yo, it's me. Andy's been intercepted by our friends in blue. And there's a fucking Amber Alert for these people. What the fuck did you get me involved in? I'm out of it."
He terminates the call and throws the phone off the next overpass. Several miles ahead, he passes another roadway sign proclaiming 'Amber Alert', and he grimly speeds up, trying to put as much distance as possible between him and Thomas Carney.
Everyone is talking at once, and the Rio Linda Sheriff's Department is buzzing with activity. The sheriff is trying to get Mike and Mel's story, but they are constantly interrupted. The deputy walks into the sheriff's office and announces, "They've located the van, in Watsonville. And someone with connections called the Governor, and he's employing the Amber Alert system." He puts a stack of photos on the sheriff's desk and walks out.
The sheriff exhales. "That's a lot of juice. Mr. Jones, we have some photos for you to look at. Have you ever seen any of these people?"
Mel Jones looks at all the photos carefully. "Yeah, this guy," he says, pointing at the picture of Thomas Carney. "He came in my diner last January. He was asking questions about Meredith...you know, that girl those people said was really...what was the name again?"
"Hannah Griffith," Mike supplies helpfully.
"Right, Hannah. Yeah, this is definitely the guy."
Liam says scornfully, "Yeah...somebody did me a big favor killing Kendall. Why do you think we killed Hannah Griffith?"
"I don't understand," Veronica says, genuinely confused.
"Yeah, I needed Kendall dead. We had a bank account together in the Caymans: all the money we took from Casablancas...fucking millions, and I couldn't get it out. It was her stupid idea—a way to make sure we didn't screw each other over. It needed both of our signatures to get the money...or else a death certificate. So that money's been sitting there since she disappeared in the desert."
Once Liam begins talking, he seems unable to stop. "Last September one of my spies down in the Caymans told me a blonde woman was nosing around at the bank, trying to figure out how to get into that account. Yeah, a blonde bitch with big tits and an attitude...I knew it was fucking Kendall right away and figured that asshole Griffith did the work on her. Griffith was acting all squirrelly after I got back from the desert—real uptight, avoiding me. I thought it was 'cause he was nervous about the money laundering."
"But why did you kill Hannah?" Veronica asks, puzzled.
"I told Griffith I'd kill his family one by one if he didn't give me a picture of Kendall's new face. He tried to bullshit me for a couple months...I think he was afraid I would kill him anyway after I got a hold of Kendall's new face. Griffith told me he'd go to the feds with our money-laundering scheme if I didn't leave him alone. So...when Tom here stumbled on Hannah in Rio Linda, we upped the ante, showed him we meant it. The little fucker gave me Kendall's picture the next day...and he stopped talking about going to the feds."
"But you didn't kill Kendall. Of course not," Veronica says sarcastically. "So how did you stumble on Hannah?"
Carney says angrily, "Stop telling her this shit."
"Don't tell me what to do, dickhead. It's not like she's going to be able to tell anyone." Liam leans into Logan's face. "You know, one thing about Kendall...she was really good at fucking with your head. I bet you didn't know which way was up after she screwed you into the ground. She had a lot of talent in the bedroom." He breathes in, obviously remembering.
Suddenly Liam laughs brusquely. "Yeah, I hated your fucking father, Echolls. I was hoping you'd get your soft white ass tapped in prison the way mine was." He slaps Logan's cheek lightly with a sick smile on his face. "Pretty boy," he jeers. "Think the joint would have been tough on you. I was looking forward to telling your daddy how I fucked you over. Too bad he got himself killed."
"Go fuck yourself!" Logan whispers intensely. Suddenly he leans forward and bites Liam on the wrist hard, drawing blood, and falling off the seat in the process. Liam shakes his arm, trying to get Logan to let go. He pushes against Logan's head, screaming in pain. Logan kicks hard with his bound ankles and manages to topple Liam to the deck. Carney steps in and tries to separate them.
Veronica lets out a startled cry, "Logan, no!" But as Logan fights against Liam, she pulls her wrists apart, with her shoulder screaming in protest, and she unobtrusively starts to pick at the duct tape on her ankles. She watches closely, making sure that Carney's not looking in her direction.
Out of the corner of his eye, Keith notices what she's doing and immediately kicks out with his legs, knocking Carney flat to the deck. "Fucking asshole!" Carney yells. He struggles with Keith, and the four men tussle on the deck for several minutes before Carney grabs his gun and jams it into Keith's temple. Logan headbutts Liam one final time before Keith says in a stressed voice, "Logan, stop. Logan...stop, now."
During the fight, Veronica frantically gets the tape on her ankles loose; it's almost all the way off, and she's desperately trying to decide what to do next when Carney pulls his gun on her dad, and the fighting suddenly stops. She quickly pats it back into place and resumes her position with her hands behind her back just before Liam pushes Logan onto the seat next to her.
Liam is shaking his bleeding wrist. "You fucker! YOU FUCKER! You're going to pay for that." With his uninjured arm, he grabs Logan's hair and bends his head viciously back, spitting into his face, "I'm going to cut your cock off and shove it down your throat before I feed you to the sharks, motherfucker."
Veronica is completely petrified that they'll notice that the duct tape around her ankles isn't quite the same; she didn't have time to look at it when she had to abandon her task. She shakes with terror, completely frightened that all their lives depend solely on her. Her legs are trembling with the stress, and the tears run down her cheeks again...I can't do this, I'm not strong enough. Please don't look at the tape.
Suddenly Veronica realizes, horrified, that the piece of tape that had been on her wrists has fallen to the deck near Mac's feet. She looks toward Mac, trying to get her attention subtly, but Mac is oblivious. She tries to send the message: move your foot, put your foot on it, hide it.... Mac is keening and rocking back and forth in distress. Veronica's panic level is rising exponentially...think...think. She tries to press her leg against Mac's to no avail. Veronica doesn't dare speak for fear of attracting Carney's or Liam's attention. It's obvious now...there's no turning back. She needs to make her move soon.
Liam, holding his bleeding wrist tight against his torso, stomps down below into the galley, muttering to himself. Carney stares at her face thoughtfully, and she gazes back, frozen in terror. Keep focused on his eyes...keep him looking up. He taps the barrel of his gun on the palm of his other hand, almost playfully. Mac is now weeping heartrendingly beside her, and Logan is twitching and shaking. The blood running from Logan's nose and from a deep cut over his eye forces him to breathe through his mouth, and the sound of his agitated breathing and Mac's sobs fills Veronica's ears, ramping up her anxiety even more.
I don't want to die. Please...not yet. Please, I don't want to die.
Carney puts the barrel of his gun under her chin, pushing her jaw upward and her head back. He says calmly, "You're going to tell me everything I want to know. If you hold back, I'll make sure that they suffer while you watch and listen...and then, before I kill you, I'm going to turn you over to Brian. He's been begging me to let him play with you. You see, Veronica...there's no way I'm going to prison. And you're going to help me stay free."
Liam emerges from the companionway with a large band-aid plastered on his arm. He glowers at Logan, who glares back, unrepentant.
Carney glances at Liam and says, "I think you're right...Miss Mars does need a little more motivation. I've decided to give her a demonstration of our seriousness." He turns back and begins pointing to Keith, Logan, and Mac in turn, "Eeny, meeney, miney...moe," ending up on Keith again. "Yeah. The old guy. I don't trust him anyways."
This time, Wallace is shown into Sheriff D'Amato's office quickly. Leo, on the phone, motions to the chair opposite the desk. "Yes, sir. If I need anything, I'll be sure to call. And I'll apprise you of any developments." He hangs up and looks at Wallace. "Any idea how the governor came to be involved? He's authorized using the Amber Alert system to try to find them."
Wallace says, "Dick Casablancas...Logan and Veronica's friend? His mom's married to Schwartzenegger's business manager. He offered to contact the governor." He pushes the paper he's holding across the desk to Leo.
Leo looks at the list of properties briefly before asking, "What am I looking at?"
"These are all properties held by offshore corporations and holding companies with the same statutory officer. I think he's Carney's lawyer. So..." Wallace shrugs.
"So maybe these are really Carney's properties?"
"Maybe," Wallace replies. "When I looked at Carney's credit report, it looked a little too perfect. This lawyer went to college with Carney, and—" He breaks off speaking.
"What?"
"Carney calls him pretty often," Wallace adds reluctantly.
"How did you— Never mind, I don't want to know. I can get a warrant for the phone records myself," Leo muses. "It's good, maybe it'll be proof that Carney is involved with the money laundering, if we can trace how the money got into these accounts. But I don't think it will help us find Veronica and the others."
"Don't you think these properties should be checked out? Maybe he's kidnapped them and—"
Leo is shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I think you need to prepare yourself that they might already be dead."
Wallace is silent for a moment. Finally he says insistently, "You've got to try."
"All right," Leo replies reluctantly.
Sacks pokes his head in. "Sheriff, I've got Rio Linda on the line for you. And Kevin Carney's lawyer is here."
"Sacks, put Carney in interview two." Leo picks up the phone and listens. "You found Veronica's car....Really." He scribbles some notes. "That's...that's interesting. I have Mr. Mars' assistant here in my office. He's found some real estate that he suspects belongs to Agent Carney....No, none of the properties are in Rio Linda or Sacramento. Let's see...one's in Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta, Rockport, Monterey." He pushes his chair backward and looks at a wall map of California as he talks. "Watsonville, you said? Anything in the van?...Okay, ask them to call me when they're done processing the vehicle. I'll pursue these addresses on my end. I'll be in touch."
Leo hangs up and turns to Wallace. "Veronica's car was found abandoned in Rio Linda, with no sign of them. No sign of foul play either, though."
He sighs and continues, "Before the security guards got arrested, they noticed a van that might have been trying to intercept them. And police have located that vehicle in Watsonville, California. One guy, driving the van, with no one else inside, and nothing in it. The driver's not talking, but they found a blonde hair in the back. They're processing the van now for other evidence."
"Watsonville?"
Leo scoots backward to the wall map and beckons for Wallace. They look at the map. Rio Linda is just to the left of Sacramento, in the central northern part of the state. Watsonville is on the coast, just below San Jose. Wallace stabs at the map. "Monterey's not far from Watsonville. See?"
Leo calculates driving times as he ponders the map. "We last heard from them around 3:30 in Rio Linda, right? You said Veronica called Agent Fields at that time."
Wallace nods.
"If they were taken around 4:00..." Leo exhales thoughtfully. "If they pushed it, they could get to Monterey by 8:00, or 8:30, and then...up to Watsonville...that'd be about an hour north of Monterey."
"Why Watsonville?" Wallace muses.
"I don't know. The van was picked up around 10:00. So it's possible." He calls the local police in Monterey and ask them to check around the property there.
As he hangs up, the intercom buzzes, and Sacks announces, "Sheriff, Eli Navarro and Dick Casablancas are here. They're insisting on talking to you...something about Veronica's voicemail."
A few seconds later, Sacks brings Weevil and Dick into Leo's office; Wallace nods a greeting.
Leo says drily, "You've got some serious connections, Casablancas. The governor?" He shakes his head.
"I just hope it helps Veronica and Logan," Dick replies, with uncharacteristic solemnity.
Wallace glances at him, wondering again what the hell was going on between him and Veronica.
"You said you had something for me?" Leo says abruptly.
Weevil puts Veronica's phone on the desk. "Veronica got two calls on her cell phone in the last twenty-four hours. One was from Duncan Kane and the other from Cindy Mackenzie...you know...."
"Right, Mac, the one in witness protection...the funeral. So? They're friends, it's not surprising that she'd call Veronica."
"Mac doesn't sound right," Weevil explains. "We think she was trying to send Veronica a message by calling her 'Ronnie'. It looks like Veronica listened to both messages—there's an incoming call from the prepaid cell she was using up in Rio Linda. Check it yourself...it's speed dial '1', her PIN is already programmed in. It's the second message."
Leo picks up the phone and listens to the voicemail. He listens carefully twice before hanging up. "What time did she check in to get her messages?"
Wallace says, "Around twelve o'clock according to her phone records. Let me hear the message." He takes the phone and listens to the message. He shakes his head and hands the phone back to Leo, saying, "Something's definitely up."
Weevil says, "We tried to call the number on the message, and it just says that it's not in service. It's an L.A. number. See for yourself, it's on the outgoing calls list."
Leo hits the menu key and 'send' and listens to the automated message before hanging up.
Dick butts in, "I talked to Veronica around twelve o'clock. She called me asking—" He hesitates, "She was asking about something to do with my little brother...something that she just realized." His eyes flick to Wallace momentarily. He explains to Leo, "You know, Cassidy?"
Leo nods.
Dick continues, "Veronica was pretty upset. If Mac was trying to send her a message, she might have been too freaked out to catch it."
Wallace suggests, "You know, you could probably get in touch with Mac through the U.S. Marshals and see what's going on. Maybe Veronica did talk to her. It's worth checking out."
Leo thinks for a minute. "All right. Thanks for coming in. If you find anything else, let me know right away."
As Wallace, Weevil, and Dick leave, Sacks tells Leo, "Carney and his lawyer are ready in interview two."
Before Leo can even sit down, Kevin Carney blusters, "How long are you going to keep me here? What are the charges?"
Cliff McCormack says to Leo, "They're so cute when they're young, aren't they?" He turns to Kevin. "Mr. Carney, I've explained to you several times that you should avail yourself of the right to remain silent."
Leo says abruptly, "Counselor, we found eight ounces of methamphetamine in your client's apartment, so it looks like he's going to be a guest of the county. And, as I told him, I've been making sure that everyone knows how cooperative he's been."
"This is bullshit!" Kevin yells furiously. "You're going to get me killed." He turns to Cliff and asks, "Can he do this? Can he lie to everyone and say that I ratted?"
Cliff replies, "I can't control what the sheriff does. Unfortunately, he can say whatever he wants, as long as it's not actually slander. And I don't think calling you cooperative rises to the level of slander."
"This is your last chance to tell me what I need to know, Mr. Carney." Leo stands up to leave. "Maybe you'll be lucky, and your bail bondsman will be faster than the Fitzpatricks."
"Wait," Kevin says.
Leo turns and stares at Kevin without speaking. Kevin whispers in Cliff's ear. Cliff shrugs and says, "See what they're offering."
Kevin announces, "I want to make a deal."
Leo looks skeptical. "What have you got to make a deal?"
"I talked to Uncle Tom last night."
"And?" Leo presses. "Do you know where he is now?"
"Unh-unh. I want a deal in writing. I want the meth charges and the bullshit accessory charges dropped."
Leo puts a piece of paper in front of Cliff. Cilff reads the document quickly and says shrewdly, "You're very prepared, Sheriff."
"I was hoping your client would see the light."
Kevin asks, "What? What is it?"
Cliff explains, "This agreement gives you immunity on the methamphetamine possession, and any charges for intent to sell, resisting arrest, and accessory to murder, provided that the information you give the sheriff is true to the best of your knowledge."
"It expires in five minutes," Leo adds. "Take it or leave it."
"Whose murder are we talking about here?" Cliff asks, reading the document again. He looks up, startled. "Veronica...Keith...Logan Echolls? Sheriff, what's going on?"
"They've been kidnapped and are presumed to be in danger. Kevin, you've got four minutes to decide."
Cliff seems upset and struggles to maintain his composure. "Mr. Carney, the deal appears to be in order," he manages. He glances at Leo, who puts a pen in front of Kevin suggestively.
Kevin looks at Cliff uncertainly. Cliff nods, and Kevin signs the paperwork.
"Where's your uncle, Kevin?" Leo asks.
"I heard him say something about getting the boat ready. He keeps a boat at the house in Monterey. That's all I know."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Lex Talionis
Showdown.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Agent Carney: Jason Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick:
Rod Rowland. Brian: Scott Elrod.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN: "LEX TALIONIS"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Pacific Ocean, near Monterey, CA
Carney points at Keith, Logan, and Mac in turn, saying, "Eeny, meeney, miney...moe," and ending up on Keith again. "Yeah. The old guy. I don't trust him anyways." Carney motions with his head, and he and Liam drag Keith by his upper arms to the side of the boat.
Keith struggles, saying as calmly as possible, "Don't do this. Please don't do this." He tries to resist with his bound feet, dragging them on the deck to no avail.
"Shut the fuck up," Liam growls. "Should have taken you out years ago."
Carney yells up to the pilothouse, "Shut down the engines, Brian." A few seconds later, the engines throttle down to an idle. They push Keith up to the rail, and Carney says, "Say bye-bye to your lovely daughter."
"I love you, Veronica," Keith says, choking back tears. He looks behind him and tries to smile at her. "I'm so proud of you. Logan, take care of her."
Her dad is silhouetted against the dark night sky, with nothing beyond but the sea. No...no...please, don't let this be the last time I see him...I don't want to see this in my mind's eye every time I think of him. For a second, she closes her eyes, ridiculously trying to avoid this, trying to make it go away by refusing to look at it. And she is overwhelmed by self-doubt, certain that there is no way she will be able to save them. It's just not possible...how can I possibly...Dad...I'm so sorry. Please...somebody...come and help us...please help me....
I have to do it now. Now.
"Dad," Veronica breathes. She tries again to placate Carney and force a delay. "Please, Agent Carney, I'll tell you what you want to know. Please don't do this! Please don't hurt my dad." They ignore her, and she looks around the boat desperately. I need a weapon...something...they're so much stronger than me. Two of them...I need help. Behind her back, she clasps and unclasps her hands, trying to decide how to make a move...when to make a move. Beside her, Mac is sobbing loudly, completely out of control.
Liam and Carney push Keith over the rail into the water. They hear a loud splash, and Liam starts laughing. He points down to the water, nudging Carney, who nods approvingly.
No...Dad...No!....
Veronica pictures her dad, trying to keep his head above water with his wrists bound behind his back. They hear the sound of Keith's frenzied movements in the water. She feels completely nauseated, realizing that he can't possibly last long in the cold water with his recent head injury and bound limbs.
No one's coming to help. It's now or never. Now. Now.
About ten feet away, she sees a red fire extinguisher mounted to the bulkhead just past the companionway. She stares at it, trying to calculate if she can get to it and then use it as a weapon without being intercepted.
Liam takes his gun from his waistband and aims it at the water. "A little target practice, what do you think?" They hear three loud bangs as he squeezes the trigger, and the splashing sounds stop. Liam peers into the darkness, trying to locate Keith in the water. He fires wildly into the waves. "There he is...fuck! Missed him." Carney watches, enjoying the show.
Veronica bends over and releases her ankles from the duct tape. She sprints soundlessly to the fire extinguisher. She pulls on it sharply with her left hand, and the quick-release mechanism opens, freeing the device. Without hesitation, she takes five quick steps to a spot just behind Liam, lining up her right side with his back. Veronica swings the extinguisher as hard as she can from her left to the right, aiming the device for Liam's head. As her right arm reaches its full extension, her shoulder displaces again with an agonizing flash of pain, but the fire extinguisher makes contact with Liam's head with a sickening thud. She loses her grip on the extinguisher, and it clatters to the deck with a loud bang as Liam crumples, with his gun flying over the side. Liam lies on the deck, his body slack and unmoving.
Carney turns toward her in surprise, and she viciously kicks him in the crotch. Before he can recover, she throws her entire body weight against him and knocks him off-balance. She kicks his leg out from under him, and he hits the deck. Carney's head bounces brutally on the teak wood with a resounding smack. Using the heel of her left palm, she strikes him as hard as she can in the nose. Carney tries to get the gun that is tucked behind his back in his waistline, but suddenly Logan is there, wavering on his bound feet. Logan throws his own weight on top of the agent, and Veronica scrambles for the gun.
She manages to get it loose from his belt but loses it underneath him. The three of them roll around, with Carney cursing loudly and trying to inflict as much damage as possible. Carney gets the advantage and rolls her under him, with Logan clumsily trying to maneuver himself and using his body to try to knock against Carney. Carney bears down, putting his full weight and pressure on her damaged shoulder, and she screams. With a superhuman effort, Logan throws himself into Carney and pushes him off her...directly into the path of Mac's kicking legs. Mac connects with Carney's face, and he finally stops moving.
Veronica scuttles to the gun and takes it in her left hand. She crawls over to Carney and places the barrel under his chin, exactly as he had done to her a short while before. "Don't fucking move...I have no reason to keep you alive," she whispers intensely, gasping for breath. "Hands where I can see 'em."
Logan rolls to her, pushing himself with his feet. "Your dad," he pants. They listen, hoping to hear splashes from the water.
Veronica violently shoves the gun upward into Carney's neck and hisses, "Do you have a knife?" Carney stares back coldly, and she strikes him on the cheek with the butt of the gun. "A knife!" she repeats with hostility.
"Left front pocket," he finally replies, his fury barely concealed.
It kills her to use her right hand to dig in his pocket, with every nerve ending screaming in agony and the pain shooting from her shoulder throughout the length of her arm. She keeps the gun pressed firmly under his jaw and doesn't break eye contact with Carney while she fumbles for the knife. Finally it's in her hand. She uses her teeth to grasp the blade and open the penknife. Logan extends his hands to her, and she holds the blade steady while Logan moves his wrists until the tape separates. He takes the knife from her; she relinquishes it gladly and presses her throbbing arm against her side. Logan saws through the tape on his ankles and then goes to Mac and releases her. He walks over to Liam and kneels, checking his pulse. He shakes his head, and Veronica realizes she just doesn't care that Liam's dead.
Logan comes back to her and motions with his head toward the pilothouse. "Brian," he whispers. He rubs at his bloodied face without much effect.
She nods. "Try...Dad...please," she says incoherently, her eyes blurring over, hoping that the lack of sounds from the water doesn't mean what she's sure it means.
He nods. He kicks off his shoes and strips to his shorts as quickly as possible.
Mac whispers, "I think I saw some more duct tape down below."
Veronica nods, and Mac quickly and silently goes down the companionway. Logan slips over the side of the boat into the water, meeting Veronica's eyes momentarily before he disappears from her view. Mac returns with a roll of duct tape; she tears off a strip and puts it over Carney's mouth. He glares at her with hatred.
Veronica orders, "On your face, hands behind your back." Carney stares back balefully, and she says bitterly, "Oh, fuck this," and moves to pull the trigger. He breathes out and rolls over, putting his hands behind his back. Veronica mutters, "Tight, Mac."
Mac wraps the duct tape around his wrists, yanking his arms together as tightly as possible, and using far more tape than absolutely necessary. Veronica checks the result and nods. Mac tapes his ankles thoroughly as well. Veronica watches, thinking hard, with her eyes narrowed in concentration. As menacingly as she can, she whispers, "Bring your ankles to your wrists. Do it!!" She motions to Mac that she should secure Carney's ankles to his wrists, hogtying him. The agent looks significantly uncomfortable, and Veronica smiles in satisfaction. She kneels to the deck and quickly but thoroughly searches him, finding no other weapons. She takes his cell phone and puts it in her pocket.
Veronica whispers, "Help Logan. I'm going to get Brian."
Mac peers over the side of the boat as Veronica walks around the boat stealthily to the steps leading to the pilothouse. Mac strains her eyes and sees Logan diving underneath the water. He stays under for a minute before emerging to try again.
Veronica tiptoes around the corner and stops, listening intently. She holds the gun so tightly that her knuckles begin to ache; she consciously reminds herself to relax and focuses on her breathing. She counts to twenty-five, and still she hears nothing. She peers around the corner, but she can't see Brian. As quietly as she can, she places her foot on the first step and begins to climb. On the top step, she is suddenly able to see Brian's shoulder. She stops and holds her breath. She listens intently for movement and thinks she hears a faint sound. She closes her eyes momentarily to gather her courage before she rounds the corner into the pilothouse.
Brian is sitting down beside the steering console, obliviously reading FHM Magazine. He looks up, startled, and she points the gun at him and says, struggling to keep her voice steady, "Don't move. I've already killed Liam, and I'll kill you too if I have to."
He keeps his eyes on her and stays silent. She instructs him, "Put your hands up. Stand up slowly and walk down to the deck."
"What about—"
"Shut up," she replies.
On deck, Mac divides her attention between watching Logan diving and checking on Carney. She keeps glancing over at Liam, who is still and unmoving. She catches herself shaking and wills herself to be calm, but her body is uncooperative and trembles uncontrollably.
Brian walks around the corner, his hands held up in front of him. Veronica is right behind, with the gun pointed at his back. Veronica asks quietly, "My dad?" and Mac shakes her head. Mac grabs the duct tape and tapes up Brian as they had with Carney, hogtying him as well. Veronica cautiously searches him for weapons, finding only another knife. Before they tape his mouth, she asks, "Are there any other guns?"
He refuses to answer and spits at her. "Fuck you, bitch."
Veronica presses, "What was the plan? Where are we headed?" but Brian stays silent.
Mac goes back to the side of the boat and looks for Logan again. Logan emerges from underwater again...but this time he is supporting Keith's head above the water. He cries weakly, "Mac..." and goes underwater again.
"Veronica! He's got your dad!" Mac cries.
Veronica rushes to the side. Logan struggles to the surface, obviously having a hard time keeping Keith above the waterline. She looks around for a rope or a life preserver. "Dammit!" she swears loudly. She runs to the bow and finds a long line. Tucking the gun into the waistband of her pants, she fumbles with the knot, cursing her ineptitude. Veronica finally frees the rope and runs back to the stern.
Logan sees her tying the line to one of the stanchions. Veronica hands the rope to Mac, saying, "You do it. I can't throw it left-handed." Mac is about to try to toss the rope to him when Veronica hears him yell, "Stop!" His next words are garbled by the wind and the waves. Veronica looks at Mac helplessly. "What did he say?"
Logan yells again, and Mac and Veronica strain to hear his words. Mac turns to Veronica and says, "Loop, I think he's saying tie a loop." Demonstrating, Mac yells to Logan, "You want us to make a loop?" Logan nods; he and Keith disappear beneath the waves again momentarily before reemerging.
Mac struggles with the rope, trying to make a knot. Veronica takes the line from her and ties a loop with a two-foot diameter. She holds it up to show Logan. He nods and motions with his head, and Veronica passes the rope to Mac again. Mac throws the rope, but it falls far short. She pulls it back in quickly. Veronica suddenly realizes the problem and says, "Use the weight of the rope: gather up more of it, and then throw it." Mac coils the line messily and throws it again. It lands in the waves about five feet from Logan, and he swims toward it, managing to grasp it. He pulls the loop over his head and under his and Keith's shoulders.
It's obvious that Logan is close to exhaustion; he closes his eyes for a second. He yells weakly, "Pull!"
Veronica looks at Mac. "You've got to do most of the work, Mac. I can't use my right arm at all now." Her right arm is hanging limply by her side; she thinks that she would have passed out by now without all the adrenaline coursing through her system.
Mac pulls hard, but she too is weakened. Veronica realizes she may not have even eaten for two days, and Mac makes little progress against the forceful waves. She grabs Mac around the waist with her left arm, and the two of them strain and struggle to pull in the line. Finally they draw Logan and Keith beside the boat.
Logan slips the loop from under his arms and ties an additional length of line around Keith's torso before attempting to get out of the water. With Mac's help, he finally heaves himself up and out of the water. Gasping for breath and shivering with cold, he and the girls maneuver Keith out of the water and onto the deck.
"Dad...Dad!" Veronica exclaims worriedly. "Is he breathing? Logan, did he get shot?"
Logan, still out of breath, shakes his head. "Don't think so. Mac, go below and get us all the blankets you can find. Veronica...you need to do mouth-to-mouth...I'll do compressions."
They lay Keith flat on the deck and take their positions. Veronica tilts Keith's head back and breathes in two slow breaths. Logan positions his hands on Keith's chest and chants quietly, "And one, and two..."
Mac reappears with blankets. When Logan takes a break from the compressions so Veronica can breathe for Keith, he arranges the blankets on top of Keith. He starts pumping up and down again on Keith's chest, and Veronica says, "Logan...you're shivering."
"I can do it," Mac offers. "You have to get warm, Logan."
On the next break for the rescue breaths, Logan helps Mac get in position and watches her until she gets the hang of doing compressions. When he's satisfied, he grabs his clothes and gets dressed. Logan says, "I'm going to call for help."
He goes up to the pilothouse and turns the VHF radio to channel sixteen. "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday." Glancing at the metal identification plaque on the steering console and the GPS, he continues, "This is the vessel Busted Flush. I repeat, Mayday. Our position is 26.58 Latitude by 122.65 Longitude. We need immediate assistance for a medical emergency. We have one dead, one unconscious; we need police and medevac. Seven people on board. Mayday." There is no response, and Logan repeats the message.
"Come in, Busted Flush. This is the Coast Guard, we read you, medical emergency. Can you give me your name and the names of the passengers?"
"Logan Echolls, Veronica Mars, Keith Mars, Cindy Mackenzie, Thomas Carney, Liam Fitzpatrick, and Brian...I don't know his last name. This is a police matter, I repeat, we require law enforcement assistance."
There is a sudden silence, and Logan panics. He triggers the radio button again, "Do you read me? This is Logan Echolls on the vessel Busted Flush. Mayday."
"We read you. The Coast Guard is in your area. They've been searching for you. Is the ship's captain injured? Is your vessel underway?"
"The captain is not able to operate the vessel. I'm an experienced sailor and the vessel is operable, but I am not familiar with the area."
"Set your course as follows, and the cutter Matagorda will intercept you." Logan follows the instructions and engages the engines.
Down on the deck, Keith takes a gasping breath and pukes up a large quantity of seawater, with most of it going onto Veronica. Veronica begins to cry in relief. Keith's eyes flutter open and close again. She tucks the blanket tightly around him and checks his pulse. "Weak, but steady. He's so cold," she reports to Mac in a quavering voice. She counts his respirations, still worried. The boat begins to move, and Veronica says, "Go see what's happening, Mac."
"You did it, Veronica," Mac says quietly. "I don't know how you did it. I can't believe how brave you are."
The Coast Guard meets up with them a half-hour later. The paramedics determine that Keith is in stable condition and transport him to the Coast Guard cutter. When they are all finally safe on the Coast Guard vessel, Veronica collapses into Logan's arms and refuses to speak. The paramedics attempt to examine her, but she shakes her head. She buries her face into Logan's shoulder as he gently rocks her and murmurs, "It's over, it's over."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Back From the Brink
Logan, Keith, Mac, and Veronica
recover in the hospital.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Mac: Tina Majorino. Nurse #1: Angel Laketa
Moore. Nurse #2: Linda Shing. Dr. Kellerman:
David Spielberg.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT: "BACK FROM THE BRINK"
Sat. 3/21/09, very late: Monterey Community Hospital, Monterey, California
In the darkened hospital room, Logan sits watching Veronica breathe as she sleeps in her hospital bed. He remembers doing this compulsively back in Vermont—unbelievably, just a week ago—counting eleven breaths, twelve breaths a minute, trying to see some sign in normalcy in her visage, even though he was desperately afraid she would never be normal again after what Klein had put her through. Now, she is sedated and resting comfortably. He wonders momentarily what the hell 'normal' means, anyway.
On the Coast Guard cutter, she had watched fearfully from Logan's encircling arms as the paramedics worked on her dad, trying to raise his core body temperature and assessing his head injury. One of the EMTs had tried unsuccessfully to examine her, but she had shaken her head, refusing to leave the comfort of Logan's lap while steadily keeping her eyes trained on her father. Logan finally persuaded her to allow the paramedic to look at her. Veronica had sucked in her breath with an audible gasp when the EMT maneuvered her arm. He radioed in for permission to administer narcotics; Veronica protested loudly, but Logan had convinced her to allow it. As the IV began to work, she had visibly relaxed and her eyes had drooped. She sighed aloud; her eyes fluttered open, and she said to Logan, "Take care of Dad...and Mac." He had nodded, and she had dropped off to sleep.
When they had arrived at the hospital, Logan had taken charge. The doctors had shooed off the waiting federal agents, telling the agents that none of them were in any condition to be questioned, and for that small favor, Logan was eternally grateful. Mac still seemed to be in shock, and Veronica and Keith were barely conscious, so it had fallen to Logan to sign papers and tell nurses that no one had allergies and just what traumas they had all been through. He had snapped loudly at the nurse when she asked him for their insurance cards, explaining in a loud voice that they had been kidnapped against their will and who the hell knew where their possessions were. She had stared back, almost frightened at his angry demeanor. He muttered an apology and impatiently gave the information as best he could.
Once Keith was admitted to the ICU and Mac had been determined to be suffering from nothing more than dehydration and exhaustion—at least physically—he had rushed back to Veronica's side. Upon feeling the touch of his hand on hers, she had opened her eyes and whispered, "Dad?"
He nodded and replied, "They think he's going to be fine. They're watching him for internal bleeding or pressure on the brain."
"Right, subdural hematoma...like you had," she mused weakly.
Logan added, "They said the cold water probably helped him survive...but it was lucky the Coast Guard was nearby."
She closed her eyes in mute response.
He didn't tell her that they had said the next few hours were important and that there was always a possibility of long-term neurological problems from the near-drowning. Whatever happened, they would get through it. He had to believe that Keith was tough. He tried to push away the memory of that cold, limp body that he had struggled to keep above the buffeting waves.
A nurse frowned and leaned in to look at Logan's bloody forehead. "Has anyone looked at this cut? It needs stitches."
Logan had brushed her aside carelessly, squeezing Veronica's hand. "Everything's going to be fine, Veronica. Don't worry about your dad. They're taking good care of him. I'm making sure of it."
The nurse persisted. "Sir...you need to have stitches."
Veronica grimaced and her eyes reopened. "Don't let an intern stitch you. Get a plastic surgeon. You have enough scars. ...Promise me."
He scoffed, but had finally agreed under Veronica's intense stare. "You're so bossy," he had muttered, not meaning a word of it. "All right, I promise."
The doctor had shaken his head worriedly while examining her shoulder. "You must have been hurting a great deal," he commented. Despite the strong painkillers, Veronica had visibly winced as he palpated her joint. The doctor pulled Logan aside to speak to him privately. "The officer told me she swung a fire extinguisher at a man who was threatening to kill you. It must have been excruciating for her."
"There wasn't a choice," Logan had responded. He had thought, 'She didn't just swing at Liam. She hit the motherfucker, killed him dead. She took on an armed man, with only a fire extinguisher for a weapon and saved us all.'
The doctor sighed. "Her temperature is slightly elevated. You said she's recovering from a kidney infection? I need to speak to the treating physician."
Logan provided the name of Veronica's doctor in Vermont, and after a hurried phone consultation, antibiotics were added to her IV.
"Sir, step back; we're going to sedate her and move her to a private room. I've ordered a surgical consult with our chief of orthopedics for the morning. Right now, she needs to rest." After pushing a vial of medication into Veronica's IV, the rails were raised on the side of her hospital gurney. The doctor pushed Logan aside, and he reluctantly watched as they wheeled Veronica out of the room.
Logan turned to the nurse and said, "You heard the lady. Where's the nearest plastic surgeon?" The nurse began to protest, spluttering about unnecessary caution for a simple wound stitch, but Logan shut her down with a firm shake of his head. "Plastic surgeon," he reiterated. "I have excellent insurance."
The nurse sighed and picked up the phone to issue a page.
After the plastic surgeon had finished fastidiously stitching the cut over Logan's eyebrow and the nurse had cleaned all the dried blood from his face, the federal agents became more persistent and had insisted that Logan give a statement. Their questions had taken a solid hour; Logan had described the man called 'Frank', who had apparently eluded capture. At times, the agents had fallen silent and looked at Logan in disbelief, seemingly unwilling to accept that 5'1" Veronica Mars had somehow managed to kill 6'2" Liam Fitzpatrick with a fire extinguisher and then subdued a seasoned, armed FBI agent. Logan related the revelations that Carney had made and tied them to the money-laundering scheme that was already splashed across the news. The agents seemed to be shaken by the idea that a high-level FBI agent could be responsible for everything Carney had freely admitted on the boat. When Logan asked what Carney had said when he was questioned, the two agents exchanged a quick glance and admitted that Carney had refused to say a word except to ask for an attorney.
When the agents had finally concluded questioning Logan, the hospital admissions department had offered him a private room, but he had asked for a cot in Veronica's room instead. They had argued, saying that it "was contrary to hospital policy" for a non-relative, but Logan was adamant. He wasn't leaving her. He had tried to lie down, intending to close his eyes, but sleep eluded him. Logan was exhausted, physically and emotionally, but he kept reliving the fight on the boat—he was still incredulous that they had somehow managed to survive. He finally gave up and moved to the chair next to Veronica's bed where he could sit and watch her sleep.
She stirs a little now in her sleep, and he tenses, waiting to see if he needs to call the nurse. She relaxes again, and he realizes he had stopped breathing. He catches himself timing his breaths to hers, somehow symbiotically tied to her without even trying.
It all seems so fucking random, and that's what scares the shit out of him. If Liam had turned around and ducked when Veronica was aiming the fire extinguisher at his head...if Mac hadn't been able to kick Carney in the face when she did...if Keith hadn't kept his head above water for as long as he did...if Liam had been a better shot...if he hadn't been provoked into biting Liam...if Veronica hadn't grabbed the gun before Carney could.... He shakes his head. They had been so goddamn close to dying.
He hears the quiet snick of the door opening, and he turns. Mac walks in, trailing an IV on a wheeled metal stand, her face pale and her movements uncertain. "The nurse said...she said I could see how Veronica's doing. She's okay? She looks...." Mac sighs anxiously. "She looks so tired."
"Mac, you should be sleeping," Logan protests. "Veronica's okay. They have her on antibiotics and painkillers. The surgeon's going to look at her shoulder tomorrow. You should go back to bed and try to get some rest."
"When I close my eyes, all I see is...." Mac's voice trails off. After a silence, she continues shakily, "You know, my...my last hope was Veronica, that she would understand the message I left her...when they brought you guys on the boat, I knew...I knew I was going to die. Logan, I keep seeing them push Mr. Mars off the boat, and Liam...pointing his gun, pulling the trigger...." She starts to cry and shake visibly.
"Mac, it's all right, you're safe now," Logan says. He stands up and folds her into his arms, careful to avoid the IV coming from the back of her hand. "Are your parents coming?"
She nods against his chest. Mac mumbles, "Tomorrow." Suddenly, she laughs incongruously. "Dick apparently got the governor involved; Schwarzenegger sent his personal jet to fly my parents up here first thing in the morning."
"Dick did what?" Logan replies, surprised.
"One of the agents said the governor authorized sending out the Coast Guard...that's why they were already in the area."
"How did they know where to go?" Logan asks, puzzled. He strokes Mac's back, trying to calm her shaking.
"I think Wallace figured it out. I don't know. I think...everyone was trying desperately to figure out where they had taken us. Somehow they figured out that something was wrong."
Logan thinks, not for the first time, how foolish they had been to traipse up to Rio Linda. Their precautions now seem ridiculously inadequate: hiding by using cash, with just two security guards following, both he and Keith armed...not nearly enough. But then he realizes: if it hadn't been Rio Linda, Carney and Liam would have tracked them down in Neptune sooner or later, probably with tragic results. He shakes his head again; the effort of assimilating all the traumas of the last twenty-four hours is still beyond him. And he knows that it's even worse for Mac, trembling in his arms after living with this terror for two—almost three—days. He whispers into the top of Mac's head, "Mac, you need to rest. You're exhausted."
"Logan...I keep thinking this is the dream; I'm going to wake up and still be tied up with Carney pointing a gun at me." She says tremulously, "You know, he killed Alan in front of me. He just picked up a gun and shot him...there was blood everywhere...on the wall, it dripped down, oozing...." Mac sobs quietly. "I was too scared even to scream. Logan, he killed him. He killed him." As she talks, her voice speeds up and rises in pitch, betraying her anxiety. "I can't close my eyes, I can't! You're sure Mr. Mars is okay? He was in the water for so long!"
"He's fine. Mac, you're safe now; Carney's in custody, there's no way he can hurt you. It's all right." He pats her shoulders, trying to soothe her. "You were so brave to try to send Veronica a message. You must have been so scared. You're all right now, Mac. Let me get the nurse. Maybe you should have something to help you sleep."
"No!" she protests loudly. "He made me take something. I won't take anything!"
"Okay, okay, I won't call the nurse. Mac, I'm right here. This isn't a dream. We're all safe. Your mom and dad are going to be here soon."
"Logan, I'm so sorry...I wanted to warn Veronica about them, but I couldn't think of anything else. I'm so stupid. Of course she didn't figure it out," she says with bitter self-loathing.
"Mac—you did great. If you hadn't been there, we might not have—" Logan breaks off suddenly, realizing the almost coincidental nature of their victory over Carney and Liam is not the best way to reassure her. "Mac, it's all right. We're all safe."
"Please don't make me go back to my room. I don't want to be alone," she begs him, desperately clutching his waist. "Please don't make me be alone. Let me stay here with you and Veronica. I'm so scared."
"Of course you can stay." He sits down and cautiously pulls her onto his lap. "Just put your head against me. You can close your eyes if you want. I'm right here. Veronica's right there. We're all okay. Look at Veronica. She's doing fine. Her dad's okay, you're okay, I'm okay."
Mac whimpers softly, and he rocks her gently in his arms. Gradually she relaxes her head against his chest as he strokes her back. He is suffused with fury at Carney for doing this to Mac.
He remembers going with Veronica to find Mac quaking with fear in her room at the Neptune Grand after Beaver had abandoned her; this is too much for her. Mac doesn't deserve this. He recalls silently rejoicing with Veronica freshman year as Mac began to date again and seemed to forget about Beaver. Their conversations had been oblique and vague, with neither he nor Veronica willing to spell out just what Beaver had done to all of them. 'Mac's doing good, don't you think?' 'She seems happy.' They never said the unspoken words: 'after what that bastard did.'
And then...he abruptly thinks about Hannah, begging for her life, protesting as Carney shot heroin into her veins and dyed her hair back to her natural color. Poor Hannah, after enduring the school and finally turning eighteen so that she could maybe resume her life and then...suddenly they took her, and she wouldn't have understood why this was happening. Did Carney gain her confidence by showing her his FBI identification? Logan remembers how fragile and delicate she had appeared...but tougher inside than she looked, willing to defy her father to continue seeing him, and brave enough to run from the school when she got her chance. And then...living all alone in Rio Linda: unwilling to make friends, lying low and surviving any way she could.
He pictures the gruesome autopsy photos that Veronica had reluctantly shown him and angrily imagines Carney wielding a scalpel on Hannah's chest, carefully imitating the design from the Slasher's victims. He has a vivid flash of Carney frowning, concentrating as he worked on the dead girl's tender skin, comparing his efforts to a crime scene photo and then staging the body exactly as it needed to be, with Hannah's limp form nestled up against a reeking dumpster in a seedy Los Angeles alley.
He shakes his head to try to erase the horrifying image. Logan realizes that Mac has fallen into an exhausted slumber in his arms.
The overwhelming question—the one that sucks all the oxygen from his body when he lets himself go there—is how will Veronica be?
He knows. He saw it in her eyes. She had almost given up, had almost refused to let him rebind her wrists, even knowing that it would mean giving up their only chance. She had been so close to broken. Klein had started the job—well, if he's honest with himself, he had been the one to start the process, by running away from her back in January—Klein had started to break her and almost succeeded, but Carney had been determined to finish her off. And she had accepted that fact. She had accepted that she had been beaten.
Somehow he had managed to pull her back from the brink...Logan had convinced her not to give up, and somehow she had done it, she had saved them.
But he wonders how she will be...now that it's over, now that she knows she can be broken.
The nurse gently taps Logan's shoulder. "Mr. Echolls. We need to get Veronica ready to see the surgeon. Ms. Mackenzie, I think your parents are going to be here soon."
Logan opens his eyes. Mac is still clinging to him. "Mac, are you okay?"
She nods. "My parents are here?" she says to the nurse as she struggles to sit up on Logan's lap.
"Soon. Come on, Cindy, I'll take you back to your room. Mr. Echolls, you can use the bathroom to freshen up."
Logan looks down at his clothes; he's filthy, and his shirt is stained with blood from the cuts on his face. "I don't suppose you have any clothes I could wear."
She looks at him sympathetically. "I'll have an orderly bring you some scrubs."
Logan splashes some water on his face, avoiding the dressing on his forehead wound. Someone taps on the bathroom door and passes him a set of hospital scrubs and a plastic bag with a toothbrush and other toiletries. He hesitates, then throws his clothes in the wastebasket. He emerges and goes to the nurses' station. "How is Mr. Mars doing?" he asks anxiously. He doesn't even remember falling asleep, but his neck is stiff from sleeping in the chair. He had intended to check on Keith periodically through the night, and now he's suddenly nervous that something happened while he was sleeping.
She smiles broadly. "He's doing fine. We're going to keep him for observation for a couple days, just to make sure there are no aftereffects from the blow to his head or his time in the water."
His time in the water, Logan notes. Not—his almost drowning, his use as a target by a psychopathic methhead.
He returns to the room. The nurse has helped Veronica to a seated position and arranged breakfast on a tray for her. She glances at Logan and says, "I can order a meal for you, as well, if you'd like to stay with her."
"Yes, please. Thank you." The nurse leaves, and Logan says to Veronica, "How are you feeling today?" He sits down on the chair again.
"Did I dream that Mac was sleeping on your lap last night?" she asks, a little puzzled.
"She couldn't sleep. She didn't want to be alone, so she stayed in here with us."
"I'm glad," Veronica says quietly. "Is she okay?"
Logan shrugs. "Yeah. She was dehydrated and exhausted, but no injuries. How are you feeling?"
"It hurts," she says quietly, avoiding his eyes.
"Do you want me to get the nurse?" he offers quickly.
She shakes her head. "Not until after I see the surgeon. What about Dad?"
"He's doing fine. They're going to keep him for a couple days just to be sure."
Veronica sighs in relief and looks away again.
He has a million things to say to her, and he can't think of a single one. Finally, he settles for, "I'm sorry you're hurting."
Veronica glances at him. "Did you get stitched up?"
"By a plastic surgeon, just like you ordered." He pretends to salute, and she smiles weakly. "Veronica...you're going to be fine."
"Right."
He stands up and sits down cautiously on the bed next to her. "You are going to be all right. You...you did an amazing thing, Veronica." Logan caresses her cheek gently. "I'm going to take care of you. Whatever you want, whatever you need."
She swallows, and her eyes fill with tears. "You're not mad at me?" she chokes out.
"What?"
"You know, for insisting we go to Rio Linda and...you know. The usual. Not being careful."
"You saved us, Veronica."
"I almost—" She breaks off suddenly as a doctor strides into the room.
"I'm Dr. Kellerman. I understand we have a little shoulder problem here." The doctor glances at Logan meaningfully, and Logan moves to the chair to allow the doctor to begin his examination. "Let's see what's going on here. Can you get out of bed? I need to see you standing." The doctor helps Veronica out of the bed and has her stand in front of him. "Turn around, please. There's definitely some asymmetry. Can we sit back on the bed? Sit up straight, now."
'We?' Logan is pretty sure that the doctor is an ass. He sucks in his breath and tries to hold his tongue.
Veronica grimaces as she struggles to sit down and keep her back straight. The doctor uses the back of his hand to feel the temperature of her shoulder joint, then begins to check her clavicle from the sternum to her arm. He palpates the muscles in her upper back. Veronica suppresses a gasp at several points, and the doctor presses harder.
"You're hurting her," Logan finally comments in exasperation.
"It's necessary for the examination. You're the husband?"
"Boyfriend," Veronica replies through gritted teeth as the doctor touches a particularly tender spot. "Ahh!" she exclaims.
"Sorry. Can you put your arms up? Clasp your hands behind your head."
Veronica complies, slowly, in obvious pain.
"Now, behind your back."
"I can't," she whispers, and Logan realizes, she's scared. She's scared of the pain, and she's scared of this doctor.
"Try."
Her left arm goes easily behind her back, at waist level, but she can't force her right arm to rotate backward at all. The doctor tsks audibly and palpates the joint once again, and Veronica emits a sharp cry of pain before the doctor gives up. He walks over to a light box and, apparently angry, shoves the x-rays onto the screen to examine them.
"How did this happen?" The doctor turns and faces her.
"I'm a private investigator. About a week ago, the man I was investigating forced my arm behind my back and dislocated it. Then...." She glances at Logan for moral support.
Logan jumps in. "We had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow with an orthopedist in Neptune, where we're from. We...we ran into some difficulties over the weekend and the shoulder was stressed again."
The doctor opens a file folder and reads the case notes. "You were kidnapped and used a fire extinguisher to assault a man?" He looks up at Veronica. "What were you thinking? Weren't you supposed to be resting?"
She's stunned by his words. "I...."
Logan interrupts defensively, "She was taking it easy. They couldn't do surgery until she recovered from a kidney infection."
"And you thought the way to recover from an infection was to travel around and get kidnapped?" the doctor responds sarcastically. "I'm sorry, this is ridiculous."
"What?" Logan says, stunned.
She says, "I'm sorry."
Logan glances at her in shock. "Veronica! Why are you sorry?"
"I shouldn't have—"
"Veronica, this isn't your fault," Logan protests. "You were assaulted."
Kellerman says rudely, "The likelihood of a complete recovery is very low at this point. You can't expect miracles from surgery. You'll be lucky if you recover fifty percent of your mobility and strength. And the pain? It's always going to be a problem." He shakes his head in disgust.
Veronica's lip is quivering, and her eyes fill with tears.
"Get out!" Logan says angrily.
"Excuse me?" the doctor replies.
"You're fired. Terminated. Your services are no longer required," Logan bites off. When the doctor merely stares at him, Logan continues, "Get the fuck out. You're not the only surgeon in the world. We'll be consulting someone else." Finally Kellerman shrugs and leaves.
Veronica is crying soundlessly, trying to hold herself still. Logan walks to her and helps her lie back down, pressing the call button for the nurse.
The nurse hurries in. "What happened? Dr. Kellerman threw her file on the desk and stormed out."
"She needs her pain medication, please," Logan says in a tone that indicates there will be no discussion. The nurse backs out of the room quickly. Logan gently hugs her, making sure not to hurt her, and whispers, "I'll call my orthopedist. We'll go down to LA. That guy's a jerk."
"He's right," she sobs. "What was I thinking? I should have been staying in bed at home, not running around getting hurt even worse. Now...Logan, what if he's right?"
"He's not right." Logan tries not to mentally replay the scene of her slamming the fire extinguisher into Liam's skull and the subsequent brutal fight with Carney. "You're going to be fine." He smoothes the hair from her forehead. "Trust me. I'm going to take care of you."
The nurse returns with a small bottle and inserts Veronica's pain meds into her IV. Logan continues to hug her and caress her until her face demonstrates that she has some relief. Veronica closes her eyes, and Logan lifts the handset on the phone by Veronica's bed and dials a number he has memorized.
"Dick...yeah...yeah, we're okay. Listen, I need you to do me a big favor. Do you still have Barry Randall on speed-dial?...Right, our favorite trust attorney....Tell him I need to talk to my orthopedic surgeon, today, as soon as possible. Dr. Remick at UCLA Medical Center. He's probably on the golf course today. Randall goes to him too, for his back, and I bet he has Remick's cell phone number....Yeah, have Remick call me on this number."
When Logan hangs up, Veronica protests, "We can't go to LA."
"Why not? I'll rent a private ambulance. Or a helicopter. Whatever."
"We can't leave Dad. I won't leave Dad. I won't let him wake up alone."
"I won't let that guy operate on you, Veronica." They stare at each other, at an impasse. A few minutes later, the phone rings suddenly, and Logan grabs it.
"This is Logan Echolls," he answers. "Dr. Remick, thanks for calling so quickly." He puts his hand over the mouthpiece and says quietly to Veronica. "I think I have a solution, Veronica."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Confiteor
Veronica has her shoulder surgery;
a guilty conscience in Neptune.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Leo: Max Greenfield. Keith: Enrico Colantoni.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Rebecca: Paula
Marshall. Dr. Remick: Christopher Grove.
Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Tom Griffith: Rick
Peters. Father Patrick: James Joseph O'Neill.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE: "CONFITEOR"
Tues. 3/24/09, morning: UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Wallace sits with Logan in the waiting room outside surgery. Logan drops his unread magazine and stands up to pace around the room again. Wallace comments, "She's gonna be fine...wrestling bad guys to the ground 'fore you know it."
Logan scoffs, "She better not be wrestling bad guys." His cell phone, brought by Wallace from Neptune, rings again, displaying the name JAMES, R. He triggers the send button. "Rebecca? Oh, hey Keith. No, she's still in surgery. Rebecca's taking good care of you?...That's good. I'll call you the second the doctor comes out."
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Remick emerges and reports that the surgery went very well, and he expects her to make a full recovery. "Thank you, doctor," Logan says sincerely.
"She's going to need to do a lot of physical therapy," Remick warns.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she does it."
Remick raises his eyebrows. "The way you did?" Remick had severely chastised Logan for skipping out on his physical therapy. Logan explained that he spent his time in Texas doing his exercises and walking on the beach. Remick had quickly examined his knee, and, laughing, said, "I don't know how you did it, but you're doing great."
"I had a good surgeon," Logan had replied. Now, he says, "Veronica is much more compliant than I am."
Remick says, "You can come in to see her in a few minutes. The nurse will come get you."
A short while later, Logan is holding Veronica's hand in the recovery room. "How do you feel?"
"Dopey," she says crankily.
"Wallace is outside too, remember? Your dad called, and Weevil. Mac too."
"That's good," Veronica replies drowsily.
"Dr. Remick said it went very well. He told me to crack the whip to make you do your PT."
"We've got to stop getting hurt," she murmurs before shutting her eyes again.
Sacks triggers his radio. "Sheriff, come in."
"D'Amato here."
"We got a jumper on the Coronado. Abandoned car. There's a note on the front seat."
Leo sighs. "You're sure they jumped?"
"Yeah. There was a witness."
"Do you have a name?"
Sacks pauses. "Um, Sheriff? The note's addressed to Stephanie Denenberg."
"I'll be right there."
One day post-surgery, Logan and Veronica are hanging out quietly in her hospital room. Their conversations are still punctuated by long silences where neither knows exactly what to say. The focus of the last few days has been on Veronica's surgery: Logan took charge, speaking to the doctors and presenting Veronica with all her options. Dr. Remick had recommended open surgery rather than arthroscopic, since the joint had been stressed several times and he was concerned about hidden damage that might be missed arthroscopically. So when the conversation lagged, it was easy to deflect by turning the topic to medical concerns.
After accidentally changing the channel to a cable news station and seeing her picture on the television screen, Veronica had asked to leave the television off. Federal agents have questioned her several times; each time Logan notes that her mouth settles into a tight frown and her brow creases with worry.
Logan's phone rings and he triggers the send button. "Hello?...Hey, Mac; yeah, she's awake." He starts to offer the phone to Veronica but realizes that her face is filled with dread. He puts the phone back up to his ear and says quietly, "Mac...can Veronica call you later?...All right...Me too." He puts the phone down. "Veronica? What's the matter?"
"Nothing," she lies, avoiding looking at him.
"I don't believe you. What's going on?"
She sighs and looks down at her lap. Her left hand fiddles nervously with the blanket. "I know Mac is probably blaming me for what happened."
"I don't think so."
"I almost got her killed," Veronica says vaguely. "And she witnessed her FBI handler getting killed."
"She's not blaming you, Veronica. No one's blaming you. You know that Carney and Liam were responsible for a lot of murders, and who know how many people's lives you saved by investigating."
"Uh-huh," Veronica agrees without conviction.
"You solved Hannah's murder," he tries.
"I'm just not sure it was worth it."
"I'm sure it was worth it to Ms. Denenberg." He falls silent, watching her, trying to figure out what to say. He runs through all the possibilities in his head but her apathy is completely unnerving. Logan suddenly says, "Do you think Liam was telling the truth?"
"What?" she replies, turning to look at him.
"Liam said he didn't kill Kendall. Do you believe him?"
"I suppose. Maybe one of the other Fitzpatricks did it," she answers listlessly.
"Aren't you curious at all?" he says, surprised.
"No. I don't care about Kendall."
Cautiously, he offers, "In the newspaper, it said that they are presuming Liam was responsible for her murder."
Veronica shrugs. "He had an alibi for that night. Wallace and Weevil were watching him, and then he was arrested."
"I think the exact phrase they used was criminal conspiracy to commit murder. And what about the forensic evidence?"
"What forensic evidence?"
Logan pulls out the newspaper he had hidden in the drawer beside Veronica's bed. "The article says 'hair and fiber evidence belonging to the victim were found on items recovered from Paddy's Used Car Emporium.'" He watches her face: momentarily, she looks interested, but she struggles against it and shrugs again, refusing to look at the newspaper. He continues, "If Liam didn't do it, then somebody sure wanted to make it look like he did."
"Let's talk about it later, okay? I'm tired now."
Bullshit, he thinks. She uses the remote to lower the head of her bed; she lies down and closes her eyes, but he's quite certain she's not sleeping. After a few minutes, he leaves the room and makes a few phone calls.
About an hour later, Logan is reading a magazine while Veronica sleeps. He keeps casting a glance in her direction, certain she's avoiding talking about what's really on her mind. There's a light tap on the door.
"Knock, knock? Veronica?" Keith walks into the room slowly, followed by Rebecca James. He looks weak and gaunt, but he is smiling.
Rebecca says to Logan, "He insisted on coming. The doctors wanted to keep him for another day, but he convinced them to release him."
"Dad!" Veronica sits up and grins broadly.
Keith sits on the bed and hugs her gingerly. He helps her adjust the bed so she can sit up easily and plumps her pillows for her. "I wish I could have been here for you, honey. How are you feeling?"
"What are you doing out of bed?" Veronica asks sternly. "Logan told me they ordered bed rest."
"You can't crack Keith Mars' head that easily," he jokes.
"What about—" she worries aloud.
"I'm fine, Veronica. I just have to take it easy. I wanted to see my little girl, and since I have a chauffeur...." Keith shrugs, grinning. "Chauffeuse?" He glances at Rebecca, who blushes slightly. "How are you feeling, Veronica? Are you hurting? I'm glad Logan brought you here to a surgeon that he had confidence in."
Veronica replies quietly, "I'm okay. I didn't want you to wake up alone."
"I wasn't alone. Rebecca was there," Keith corrects. "What did the doctor say?"
"They said the surgery went very well, and they're going to release me tomorrow morning if I'm still doing okay." She sighs. "Four months of rehab."
"That's okay. Rehab is not a big deal, Veronica. It's just some exercises...you're used to working out. You'll be chasing down the bad guys again in no time."
A shadow crosses her expression. "You're really okay, Dad?" she asks nervously. "I'm so sorry about—"
"Shh. There's nothing to be sorry about." Keith glances at Logan, who frowns slightly. "Honey, I'm so proud of you."
Veronica flushes deeply. "I was lucky."
"No, you used your training and took advantage of an opportunity the way you're supposed to."
Rebecca interjects, "Veronica, is there anything you need? We could get you some books to read, or some magazines."
"Some manicotti?" Keith suggests.
Veronica barely smiles, and he frowns. "Honey? What's going on?"
"Nothing," she lies.
Before he can press her further, there is another knock on the door. Leo D'Amato walks in hesitantly. "Keith. I'm glad you're here. I was hoping to speak with Veronica and Logan." He glances at Rebecca.
Rebecca says, "I think I'm going to get something to eat. Veronica...what can I get for you? Please...let me do this."
Veronica sighs. "I don't know...I guess a cheeseburger."
Keith draws Rebecca aside and murmurs in her ear; Rebecca nods and leaves. Keith says, "What was so important that you drove up to Los Angeles, Leo? Did something happen with the case?"
Leo draws up a chair and sits down. "I don't know if you saw the news about a jumper off the Coronado last night."
Veronica immediately tenses. "Who was it?" She glances at Logan, who swallows compulsively.
"Tom Griffith," Leo replies brusquely. "His body was recovered this morning. He left a note for his ex-wife. She gave her permission for you to read it." He begins to read aloud.
Keith remarks, "Stephanie told us about her. So Griffith is confirming that the Fitzpatricks did arrange to have her killed in a car accident?"
Leo nods.
Veronica nods.
He continues reading.
Leo notes Logan's expression. "Probably that guy Oswaldo Cortez who told me about you and Kendall. I have a feeling he was watching you for Liam. It's a funny thing: we arrested Oswaldo the other night on a pretty solid drug bust. Almost too solid...like somebody wrapped him up with a shiny bow and gave him to us. But Oswaldo's not talking. Somebody really scared him." He glances from Logan to Veronica. "If you know anything about Oswaldo's bust, I'd love to hear it."
They are silent. Finally Veronica says quietly, "We don't know anything about Oswaldo."
"Uh-huh." Leo looks dubious. "Why was Liam having Logan watched? Any ideas?"
Veronica glances at Logan, who nods slightly. She explains, "On the boat, Liam told us...Liam claimed that Logan's father set him up to take the rap on a statutory rape twenty-five years ago and that's why he hated Logan so much. Liam brought drugs to a party, and when the girl accused Aaron of raping her, he blamed it on Liam and got the girl to change her story...and probably paid her off." She knows Leo will eventually see the reports from the interviews they did with the FBI agents; there's no point in trying to conceal this.
"Do you think it's true?" Leo asks Logan.
Logan sighs and mutters, "Yeah, I do. When I talked to my dad after he was arrested...it was almost like he had convinced himself that he didn't have a choice, that Lilly was to blame for her own death. I could see him blaming the drug dealer at the party, even justifying it to himself that the guy was actually responsible for what happened, and convincing himself that God's gift to womankind deserved to be free." He looks out the window. "I think Aaron was a sociopath." He turns back and focuses a challenging gaze on Leo. "And it doesn't surprise me at all to hear that he raped another young girl."
"I guess there's no way to prove it now."
Logan tries for a diffident tone. "If there's any way...if you don't have to mention it in your report...."
Keith finishes for him, "If this doesn't have to be public knowledge, we'd appreciate it, Leo."
Leo nods thoughtfully. "I can't see that it would be necessary, and the publicity would be unreal, possibly even prejudicial for a trial. I'll try to keep it out of the reports."
Logan's relief is palpable.
Leo looks down at the note again and continues reading.
He clears his throat. A mesh screen slides open, and a voice says quietly, "Yes, my son."
"I was told to confess my sins. Uh...Father."
"The Lord told you to come?" the priest says leadingly.
Griffith is genuinely confused and wonders if he misinterpreted the voice's instructions. "Father, I'm not Catholic, I don't know how to do this."
"I see. Say with me if you can, 'In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'"
Griffith mumbles along as best he can.
There is a silence, and then the priest prompts, "Have you anything to confess, my son?"
"Yes, uh, bless me Father, for I, uh, I have sinned." Griffith waits. When there is response, he says hesitantly, "I helped a very bad woman. She knew...she knew something that I had done...before." He had debated all day just what the Fitzpatricks were trying to accomplish with this charade. "I made a deal with the devil...I went against the men who were my...uh, business partners to save another man from prison."
"Why would you do that?"
"He was threatening to hurt my daughter if I didn't help him. This woman heard me talking to him."
"I see," the priest says leadingly. "And how did you help this bad woman?"
"I gave her a new face to protect her from my partners. I...I felt I had no choice."
"You always have a choice, my son. In Deuteronomy, the Lord said, 'Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.'" The priest's voice turns cold and harsh. "'Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!'"
Griffith's heart stops when the priest says 'so that your descendants might live.' He says quickly, "I'm trying to make the right choice now. Please...I know I...I sinned before." He waits expectantly, but the priest is silent. "I have her picture," he finally mumbles.
The priest intones, "'God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." After a pause, the priest adds, "Amen?"
"Oh yeah, Amen," Griffith hurries to add. "Are we uh...am I okay here?"
"That's between you and your God."
Suddenly angry, Griffith says, his voice slightly raised, "What about my daughter?"
"Go in peace." The sliding panel slides shut.
"WHAT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER?" Griffith asks again angrily, pounding on the partition. There is no response.
Griffith stands up, breathing heavily; he leaves the envelope in the booth and gets out of the church as fast as he possibly can.
(END FLASHBACK)
Leo continues reading.
She nods without speaking.
"Why did you...why are you telling us this?" Logan asks curiously. "I'm assuming you won't make this letter public."
"Ms. Denenberg asked me to share it with you, after everything you went through to catch Hannah's murderer."
"We still don't know who killed Kendall," Logan observes. "I think if Griffith had done it, he would have admitted it. What do you think, Veronica?"
She shakes her head. "No, he didn't do it. He's a coward. He wouldn't use murder to solve his problems. He let them force him into working for them rather than take a stand. He sent his daughter away instead of going to the police. He lied to his wife...his wives."
Logan glances at her, happy to see a hint of the normal Veronica, thinking aloud and deducing. She catches him looking and frowns slightly. Logan says aloud, "What's the status of the investigation into Kendall's murder?"
"We're at a dead end. The district attorney intends to file charges against Padraig and Ciaran Fitzpatrick for conspiracy to commit. But the case is weak; I don't think they'll be bound over for trial."
"There's forensic evidence, right?" Logan presses.
Leo shrugs. "Hair and fiber from Kendall. No other forensics. All it really proves is that Kendall was in that particular car at one point."
Keith frowns. "Was the car clean?"
"We only recovered part of the car; it had already been chopped for parts. But we found the seats, and the owner identified them by a stain on the upholstery. And the forensic techs were able to lift a hair and a few fibers from the passenger seat."
Keith asks, "How did you find the seats?"
"A witness saw Kendall getting into the car. He identified the make and model, although he didn't see the driver. The car was reported missing by Lawrence Crawford, and the stereo system turned up in a chop shop in San Diego. They got the stereo from Paddy's," Leo explains. "By the time we got to Paddy's, every valuable part from the car was gone, probably scattered across the country and already installed into other vehicles. We're still hoping that more of it turns up."
"Not likely at this point," Keith observes.
"And Ciaran and Padraig both have pretty solid alibis for the night in question, and of course, Liam was in police custody that night."
"What about some other Fitzpatrick flunky?" Keith asks. He turns to Veronica. "What do you think, honey? Do you have any ideas?"
She shakes her head and stays silent. For a moment, they all seem to be staring at her, and she flushes under the scrutiny. "I don't know," she says finally in a low voice. "I don't want to think about it, okay?"
"Okay," Keith replies, puzzled. He is about to add something, but out of the corner of his eye, he sees Logan shake his head imperceptibly, and he holds his tongue.
Leo says, "I have to get back to Neptune."
Keith stands up and offers his hand. "Thanks, Leo."
They watch as Leo leaves. Veronica says quietly, "Do you think it's going to be okay with him now? You know. Are you going to be able to work with him, Dad?"
Keith nods. "I think so. He didn't have to come all the way here. I think he wanted to make sure we heard the news from him."
Rebecca returns with several large pizza boxes. Keith smiles and says, "Excellent."
Veronica smiles wanly and says, "What did you do?"
"Well, it's not Mama Leone's, but close enough. The nurse said this restaurant was one of the best in Los Angeles," Rebecca explains as she sets the boxes. "Keith thought...pizza might be easy to eat with one hand."
Logan braces himself. Veronica tenses slightly but forces herself to relax. She says unenthusiastically, "Thanks, Rebecca. That was very thoughtful."
Rebecca laughs nervously, picking up on Veronica's tension. "Come on, I hardly ever eat carbs. I want to enjoy this."
With a faint smile, Veronica says sincerely, "Thanks for staying with Dad, Rebecca. I really didn't want to leave him alone in Monterey."
"I know, Veronica. Anytime. I'm glad you thought to call me," Rebecca responds. She opens one of the boxes and hands Veronica a slice on a paper plate as Logan maneuvers the table in front of her. "It's got to be better than hospital food, right?"
Keith grabs a slice and bites into it without bothering with a plate. With his mouth full, he mumbles, "I don't know about you, honey, but I needed some real food." He chews a little and continues, "I feel better already."
Veronica laughs quietly. "Dad, don't make me laugh." She takes a tentative bite and then, despite herself, begins to go at it with gusto.
A little while later, Logan's cell phone rings and he takes the call, muttering into the mouthpiece. "Okay, I'll talk to her and get back to you." He ends the call and looks at Veronica. "I was thinking...I think we need to get away for a couple days. I talked to my travel agent. There's a room available at the Hotel Villa Portofino in Catalina this weekend. Just the two of us, nothing but lying around on a deck chair, enjoying the sunshine and the ocean breezes. Lots of silly drinks with fruit and umbrellas, room service. No doctors, no FBI agents, no stress."
Veronica protests weakly, "I don't know, Logan. I think I just want to be home."
"Veronica, I need to get away too," he reminds her softly. "A change of scenery would really do me good, with nothing to remind us of the last few weeks." She finally nods her agreement hesitantly.
Keith adds, "I think it's an excellent idea. Honey, Rebecca and I are going to head out. We're going to stay at Logan's beach house for the night, and we'll come back in the morning to get you out of here." Veronica looks at him quizzically, and he admits reluctantly, "I'm a little tired, and my head hurts."
Her brow creases with worry. "Dad, maybe you should see the doctor—"
Firmly, he replies, "Veronica, I'm okay. I just need to take it easy for a while. Don't worry, Rebecca won't let me do anything." He sits down on the bed and hugs her gently.
She whispers, "Dad, I love you so much. I thought I...I can't lose you. You're sure you're okay?" She grabs on tight with her left arm, wishing she could throw both her arms around him.
"I"m sure," he says. "I love you too, honey. I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do it."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
It's Called Self-Surrender
Veronica and Logan get away for the weekend.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY: "IT'S CALLED SELF-SURRENDER"
Fri. 3/27/09, afternoon: Villa Portofino, Catalina Island, California
The ferry ride across the bay from San Diego to Catalina Island is uneventful. After a few comments about the last time they were here, Logan allows the conversation to lull. They sit outside, enjoying the sun despite the relatively cool temperature. He watches her as she stares silently across the water, thinking unknown thoughts, huddled in one of his oversized sweatshirts with the sleeve dangling. The stiff breeze keeps whipping her hair into her face, and he gazes at her as she brushes it from her eyes without comment.
At one point he tenses, realizing to his horror that perhaps the trip was reminding her of that summer after senior year, when she had been so traumatized by Beaver and her dad's brush with death at his hands. "Veronica," he says in a low voice. "Are you sure this trip is okay...maybe it's too...I'm sorry, I didn't think about it that you might not want to focus on almost losing your dad again. We can turn around and get the next ferry back—"
Veronica whirls around to face him. "No. It's perfect. You were right, we both need a change of scenery. And...I'll always remember that trip...you were so patient with me, so loving. I wanted to tell you I loved you that day." She leans gently against him, and finally he relaxes. He puts his arms around her, keeping her warm and safe, wishing it was always that easy to take care of her.
Logan's travel agent had pulled a few strings and managed to secure the Capri Suite, with a private balcony overlooking the ocean so they wouldn't need to mingle with other guests unless they wanted to. Logan carries their two small bags into the room; he had told Veronica salaciously that all she would need for clothes was her bikini, and maybe not even that.
Veronica sits down on the comfortable king bed and smiles at him. "Alone at last," she comments quietly. Her legs swing a short distance from the floor as she relaxes on the luxuriously high bed. "Maybe we could...lay down for a little while before dinner?"
He kneels down in front of her and begins untying her sneakers, removing them gently and rubbing the arches of her feet. Logan glances up at her; she is watching him intently. He slides a finger under the cuff of one of her socks and, keeping his eyes trained on her face, eases it slowly off her foot and presses a delicate kiss to her instep, suddenly horny as hell and hoping the feeling is reciprocated. "I've missed this foot," he murmurs.
"Just that one? What the hell's wrong with the other one?" she teases gently.
"Mmm. Let me take a look." He grasps the other sock and slides it off as he follows the fabric with light kisses down her ankle to her foot. Logan massages her foot as he places it on his shoulder, running his other hand under her calf to stroke her leg through her jeans. "This foot is acceptable as well," he says matter-of-factly, following his words with a sly grin.
"Don't you dare tickle me," she warns.
"I would never." He caresses his hand firmly under her leg, remembering that she is extremely ticklish behind her knee, even through her jeans. "How do you feel about biting?" He pulls her calf to his mouth and pretends to take a bite.
"Maybe," she admits. "As long as I get to be the biter, as well as the bitee."
"Ooh, kinky." Logan stands up, carefully allowing her leg to drop. He moves to the head of the bed and grabs several pillows, arranging them in a pile behind her. "Lie down, so I can pleasure you," he says smarmily. He sits next to her on the bed and eases her down gently. "Comfy?" She nods, and he adds, "Would you like something to bite on so you don't scream? We don't want to disturb the other guests."
"Cocky, aren't we?" she teases him as he pops open the button on her jeans.
He slides the zipper down and trails his fingers across her exposed satiny underwear. "High standards. I'm not going to quit until you're hoarse from moaning my name."
"What was your name again? Bill? Danny? I know, Harold."
There's just the slightest quiver in her voice, and for a second he wonders what she's thinking. She's trying too hard. He lies down next to her and cuddles with her, his hand tracing patterns on her stomach. "We don't have to...we have all weekend, you know; we have forever if you want." When she doesn't respond, Logan adds, "You've been so quiet today—"
"No," she whispers. "I'm okay. Please don't." She breathes out hard, not quite a sigh.
Don't, he thinks. Don't stop? Don't ask me? Don't say it? He contents himself with stroking her torso. "You feel so nice," he whispers, and he takes the chance of slipping his hand under her blouse, just feeling the edge of her bra. "I love to just be alone with you; it feels like forever since we could just be together."
"Yeah," she exhales.
And then he feels it: she consciously relaxes into his caress. She rolls her head sideways, closing her eyes, and her hand fumbles for his hand trapped under his body. Her fingers lace with his, and she holds on tight.
"I've missed this," he mumbles, brushing his lips against her extended neck.
"Me, too," she says, turning her head to graze his lips with hers and opening her eyes to look at him.
There's something playing behind those eyes...she's still concealing whatever it is she's thinking. "It's okay, Veronica, we're okay," he tries, between kisses.
"I know. Love you, Logan."
When he tongues her, she shudders a little and closes her eyes. Her hand clasping his tightens almost painfully.
Almost dreamily, she says, "What was that about making me scream your name?"
He leans down and nuzzles her neck. "I want to make you forget your own name before I'm through. Veronica, Veronica, Veronica," he whispers into her ear as his hand skims the skin underneath her breast.
"Yes," Veronica whispers. "Make me forget...." She arches into his hand, and he slips under her bra, his fingers splayed, gently drawing his fingertips across her breast. Almost too quietly to discern, she says, "Touch me there, play with me...please, Logan."
He feels the heat on her face from her blush, and he kisses her cheek soothingly. "Feels good?" he asks. "I love this, tell me what you want." His finger circles her areola, almost but not quite touching her pebbled nipple.
"Don't hold back," she breathes. "Come on...." She inhales and says more bravely, "Come on, big boy."
He almost snorts with laughter. "Big boy?" He lightly tweaks her nipple between thumb and forefinger, and she gasps.
"Harder...please," she says; he obliges, tormenting her nipple, and her answering moan is unforced and instinctual. Almost hoarsely, her voice raw with need, she admits, "God, I love it when you touch me there. Flick...flick your finger against me, Logan, please."
She never talks as much or as explicitly as this; his cock is suddenly painfully erect and straining against his jeans. He rises up on his elbow, letting her hand go, and positions himself over her, his left hand toying gently with her nipple. Logan leans down and kisses her gently. "What's going on, Veronica? Talk to me."
She presses her leg against his crotch, and he groans a little. "I am talking," she replies distantly.
"It's not that I mind all this sexy talk, but usually foreplay for us is you calling me an asshat," Logan reminds her, unable to keep the worry out of his voice.
"Asshat."
"If only you meant it," he says, kissing your neck. "You're okay? You trust me, right?"
"You have no idea," she says, almost wringing out the words. Heartrendingly, she begins, "Logan, just—" She stops short and says instead, "Please, Logan. Joke around with me. Tell me again how you're going to make me scream. Come on, where's my obligatory psychotic jackass when I need him?"
He's uncertain, but he can't see the harm if it makes her happy. So he whispers in her ear, "Such a horny little girl. You want me to touch you, don't you? You always did like the unreformable bad boys." He pinches her nipple a little stronger, and she presses hard against him.
"Mmm, unreformable. I bet you know all sorts of tricks," she snarks quietly, not quite convincingly.
"Oh, I do. And I'm going to use all of them." He remembers suddenly how excited she got on the airplane back from Texas, and he nuzzles her ear, flicking her earlobe with his tongue as he works her nipple. He murmurs hoarsely, "You're wet for me right now, aren't you? It's all you can do not to grab my hand and pull it to your pussy."
"Oh, god," she replies, arching beneath him.
Releasing her nipple, he trails his hand slowly down to her crotch and caresses her lightly through her underwear, making sure not to touch her where she most wants him to. To his surprise, she's already damp with arousal.
"You're such a tease," she groans in frustration, pushing her crotch wantonly against his hand. He's unrelentless, touching her lightly, pulling away as she tries to press against him, and Veronica moans again. "Damn you."
"I'm just returning the favor, baby; you know you've been working that sling for two weeks now, trying to drive me crazy. You know how gimps turn me on."
"Ugh. Differently-abled, please, is the proper term." She reaches down and tries to guide his hand, but he bats her away and sits up.
Logan stands up again at the end of the bed and reaches to pull her jeans over her hips. "Lift up, darling," he commands. He makes sure to leave her panties on; she tries to push them down as well, and he grabs her hand and kisses it to prevent her. "Not yet...I'm taking my time with you." The jeans slide down her legs; he pulls them free and tosses them behind him onto the floor and settles himself again between her knees. He makes eye contact with her as he begins to kiss from the inside of her knee up her thigh; he listens for that slight catch in her breath as he gets close and then...her frustrated exhalation as he stops just short. Making sure she's watching, he places his fingers on the front of her panties, with his thumb poised above her slit. As lightly as possibly, he caresses her with his thumb, and she twitches helplessly at his too-gentle touch. He teases her with his restraint, and she tries again to guide his hand with her own, but he prevents her by lacing the fingers of his other hand with hers.
The whisper-light strokes torment her, and she moans, "You're not playing fair."
"I love your panties," he whispers and leans in to kiss her on the damp fabric. She almost rises up at the sensation but winces at the resulting pain in her shoulder. Logan immediately pulls back. "Are you all right?" he asks with concern.
"Dammit. Don't stop...please don't stop," she pants. "Lohhgahhn. Are you happy? I'm moaning your name," she adds, slightly cranky. "Dammit!"
He huffs a laugh. "And you're so sweet about surrendering to me, aren't you." Mischievously, he pulls the crotch of her panties to one side and blows a hot breath on her. She arches in response, and he pulls back to look at her suggestively as he lets her panties go back in place.
Veronica moans again in frustration. "I surrender, okay? Just...kiss me there again...harder...please?" she begs. "I surrender, Logan."
He puts his thumb back to stroke her incrementally harder, and she breathes deeply, exhaling in pleasure at the feeling. "Let yourself go, Veronica," he murmurs. "Let me love you." Logan kisses her gently and begins to tongue her through her panties, feeling the contours of her arousal through the soft slippery fabric. Her legs raise slightly, and he pulls her calves on top of his shoulders and sucks at her hard.
"God, Logan. I've missed you. I've missed this. Oh, please...."
He releases her momentarily and whispers, "Tell me what you want." He sucks again, and she arches helplessly against him.
"God...I'm already begging you, Logan please, what do you want from me...." Her head moves from side to side; he knows she would be flailing against the sheets without the restraining sling on her arm. "Please...take my panties off...fuck me with your tongue...I surrender...." she pants desperately.
"Say it a little louder, the whole hotel didn't hear you yet," he says smugly.
"Dammit, if I didn't love you so much—"
"But you do." He pushes her legs down and moves up over her on the bed, kissing her intensely, letting her taste herself on his tongue. "You taste so good, Veronica. I love the way you feel under my tongue." He hoists himself up and reaches for the slim waistband of her panties, drawing it down over her hips and down her legs. Veronica, impatient, pushes at the flimsy material, trying to be rid of it, and he chuckles. "You're so beautiful."
"Shut up and fuck me," she whines. He kneels back down and bends to her. His thumb presses harsh circles against her clit as his tongue dips into her, sucking out her wetness and probing as far as possible. "Oh god, oh god, Logan, I love you, please," she begs.
He switches, beginning to flick his tongue diligently against her clit and inserting two fingers into her slowly. She arches and gasps, panting out, "Logan, Logan." She's never been this vocal, and he loves it. "God, love you, love you." His tongue is spurred on, battering her tender flesh as she thrashes around his thrusting fingers. "Logan, Logan, I love you," she mutters repeatedly. She lets out a loud cry and arches high, and Logan is thrilled, secretly hoping that half the hotel does hear her in her abandon. She vibrates against his tongue and clenches around his fingers deep inside her; he feels her intimate muscles pumping wildly against his cheek as she tries to draw him in further with her legs. When she finally calms down, he moves up to kiss her mouth again; she grasps the back of his head with her hand and tongues him fiercely. Breathlessly, she whispers, "I want you inside me. Make me come again. Please, Logan. Love you."
He finds their bags beside the bed, feeling her eyes on him the entire time. He locates a condom and quickly shucks off his shoes and jeans, not even bothering to pull off his socks or his shirt before stroking himself quickly to a full erection and sheathing himself in the condom. He's hard as a rock; Veronica's arousal always does that to him and her unusual vocalizations today were like an electrical charge to his cock.
She reaches for him, gazing directly into his eyes as she caresses him, just the way he likes it, just hard enough. He's unbearably excited, and he positions himself quickly at her entrance, whispering hopefully, "Yes?" She nods, closing her eyes, and he thrusts into her wetness. With two quick strokes, he's in her fully and moving quickly, barely able to control himself. "God, Veronica, you feel so good."
"Yes...Logan, god, fuck me," she replies breathlessly.
He tries to slow down but fuck he's excited...his cock has a mind of its own right now. He maneuvers her up on the bed a little, trying to get a better angle. "You're okay? You're okay?" he pants, trying to hold his body weight up off her, desperate for more friction. She angles her legs a little differently, and he moans gutturally as he goes a little deeper.
"Yes...yes...please, god, love you, Logan," she groans as his cock slides in and out. "Logan, Logan, Lo— ah!" He's frenzied now, trying so hard, moving faster, flailing, pumping, trying to find her clit between them, feeling the nub—right there, right THERE—and her urgent response, her throbbing walls clasping him tightly, her legs pulling, urging, her hand wildly pulling at his hair. "Logan!" she cries suddenly, and he thrusts hard, again, again, again, into the sudden tension and release of her body as she lets go...and he follows her, his vision blackening, his muscles uncontrolled and spastic, his cock pulsing and turbulent, with every nerve ending in his body firing intensely. Somehow, he manages to roll onto the bed, pulling her over with him to keep his weight off her even in his incoherence. His heart racing, he breathes wildly, trying to gather enough oxygen again. He hears the sharp exhalations of her own aftermath as the pounding gradually recedes in his ears.
When he can breathe again, he opens his eyes to look at her. There are tears running from the corners of her eyes, and he quickly pushes up onto his elbow. "Hey! Hey, what's wrong? Veronica...talk to me!"
"No, I love you...I'm fine."
"You're crying, you're not fine," he whispers as he traces his thumb over the wetness on her temples.
"We're alive," she chokes out. "I...I thought we were going to die. I love you so much...I was so afraid that...Logan, I didn't think we'd ever do this again. I thought we were going to die."
"I knew you'd save us," he says simply. He brushes her hair, messy and damp, from her forehead. "I believed in you, Veronica."
"Oh god, don't say that," she sobs.
"What? Talk to me, Veronica." He lays down beside her, focusing on her as he caresses her stomach gently.
"I can't do it anymore. I'm not going to be an investigator anymore. I'm going to change my major. No more PI work, no FBI." Her voice is desolate but resolute.
"Veronica, that's crazy! There's no one better than you at this."
She turns to him in shock. "I thought you'd be happy. You don't have to worry about me anymore." She looks back up at the ceiling. "I'm not going to put the people I love at risk anymore."
"Veronica...give it some time. Don't make any decisions now. You've been through so much these last few weeks," he begs.
Her breath hisses in frustration. "I can't believe you! For years, you've been telling me I'm not invincible and how it made you crazy when I took chances! And now I'm ready to give it up, and you're still arguing with me."
"I love you, Veronica, not some girl who sits at home afraid. It took me a long time to realize it, but I love all of you, even the part of you that takes crazy chances. That's the girl I fell in love with." Logan tenderly touches her cheek with the back of his hand.
Veronica sobs helplessly, "That girl doesn't exist anymore. I'm afraid, okay? I can't do this anymore. I'm afraid."
Chapter One Hundred Forty-One
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
The Soul Uneasy and Confin'd From Home
Wallace and Weevil take their suspicions to
Leo; Mike follows a hunch; the van arrives.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Leo: Max Greenfield.
Mac: Tina Majorino. Wallace: Percy Daggs III.
Eli: Francis Capra. Mike Fields: Michael Trucco.
Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Brian: Scott Elrod.
Frank: Stephen Dorff. Man: Peter Greene.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE: "THE SOUL UNEASY AND CONFIN'D FROM HOME"
Sat. 3/21/09 late afternoon: Neptune Sheriff's Department
Wallace strides into the sheriff's department with Weevil following close behind. "Deputy Sacks, we need to see the sheriff right away."
Sacks replies, "He's on his way back to the station. Take a seat; I expect him in about ten minutes."
Weevil says, "Not good enough."
"Excuse me?" Sacks says.
Wallace adds quickly, "We have some important information about the Fitzpatrick case. And...we haven't been able to get in touch with Veronica and her dad. They're up in Northern California, checking out a few leads, and they're not answering their phone. We're worried something happened to them."
"Maybe they're in a bad cell area," Sacks offers. "How long since you spoke to them?"
"I talked to them this morning. I don't think they're in a bad cell area. Something's wrong! They have security guards following them, and I can't get in touch with them either."
Weevil interjects, "We need to do something now."
"What do you want me to do?" Sacks asks.
"Call the Rio Linda police, put out an APB...whatever," Wallace suggests.
"Because you can't reach them by phone for..." Sacks checks his watch. "Approximately six hours? The Rio Linda Sheriff's Department is going to laugh in my face. Just have a seat, the sheriff will be back soon and you can talk to him."
They turn around and go into the hallway to wait impatiently. Weevil pulls out a pack of cigarettes and nervously taps it against his palm. Wallace asks curiously, "Since when do you smoke?"
"I quit a long time ago." Weevil looks embarrassed and puts the cigarettes away.
"So?"
Weevil scowls. "I'm stressed, okay? It started when I upset Veronica the other night. And then—" He stops short.
"What happened with you and Oswaldo last night?" Wallace presses.
"Shh," Weevil says quickly, looking around. "Let's not talk about it, okay?"
"What did you do?" Wallace whispers.
"You don't want to know," Weevil blurts. "Leave it alone."
Wallace stares at him. "It's not going to help Veronica if you get into trouble."
"I know, all right? Shut the fuck up, will you?"
Wallace pulls out his cell phone and tries Veronica again with no success. He checks the voicemail at Mars Investigations as well. There's a message from Dick, trying to get in touch with Veronica.
Leo strides into the department, ignoring the two boys seated in the waiting area.
"Sheriff," Wallace begins.
"What is it? I'm busy," Leo says distractedly.
"I'm Wallace Fennel, I work with Keith Mars. We have some information about the Fitzpatricks and—"
"Right, Wallace. I remember you. Come into my office," Leo barks as he leads the way. "Sacks, get some coffee in here."
Wallace mutters to Weevil, "Let me do the talking okay?"
"All right," Weevil agrees.
They sit down and wait while Leo writes a few notes before looking up at them. His eyes light on Weevil, who is still wearing his leather jacket, and Leo's eyebrow raise questioningly. Wallace hurries to introduce him as Eli Navarro.
Leo says thoughtfully, "Right. They call you Weevil, right? I remember arresting you a few years ago—you broke into Lilly Kane's bedroom. And for some unknown reason, Celeste Kane dropped the charges."
"She knew I didn't take anything," Weevil lies smoothly.
"Yeah, I also remember you were head of the PCHers."
"Ancient history," Weevil replies. "I work at Hearst College now."
"We caught one of the PCHers with a large quantity of heroin last night. Guy named Oswaldo Cortez. Coincidence?"
Wallace flinches slightly at this revelation, and Weevil unobtrusively kicks him in the leg. Weevil says calmly, "I don't think Oswaldo was ever in the PCHers. His cousin Hector took over for me after I left, but Oswaldo was never in the gang. And the PCHers don't sell drugs...at least we never did when I was in charge. That sounds more like the Fitzpatricks, if you ask me."
Wallace is suddenly thinking that Weevil should have just stayed in the car. Shut up, Weevil.
Leo replies, "Could be. He's lawyered up. It's kind of a coincidence; he's also the one who told me about Logan's affair with Kendall Casablancas. Lots of coincidences lately." Leo assesses Weevil for a long moment before turning his attention back to Wallace. "What is it you wanted to tell me about the Fitzpatricks?"
"You know Mr. Mars was looking for a connection between the FBI and the Fitzpatricks. Well, we found it." Wallace pushes the photo of Kevin Carney talking with Liam Fitzpatrick across Leo's desk.
"This is one of the photos that Keith gave me," Leo notes. "You found out who this kid is?"
"His name is Kevin Carney; he works as a delivery boy for the Fitzpatricks. His uncle is an FBI agent."
"Carney?" Leo frowns. He picks up a pencil and taps it on the desk. "That sounds familiar. Sacks!"
Sacks brings a cup of coffee into the office and places it on Leo's desk. "Sorry it took me so long, Sheriff."
"Never mind. Do you remember an Agent Carney from the FBI?"
Sacks thinks a minute. "Yeah, he was from the serial killer task force. The Behavioral Sciences Unit. He was interviewing people who knew Hannah Griffith back in January."
"He was working the serial killer case?" Wallace asks incredulously. "Then he would have known how to make Hannah's murder look like the Slasher did it."
"They arrested the Slasher early this morning in Los Angeles," Sacks interjects. "They didn't charge the guy with Hannah Griffith's murder though; just the other eight women. I thought it was weird when I heard the news." He heads back to the outer office and shuts the door behind him.
Leo taps a few keys on his computer. "Kevin Carney has a juvenile record." He frowns and peers at the screen. "Sentenced to nine months in a county facility for car theft when he was sixteen. It looks like he's been keeping out of trouble since then." He accesses another file and announces, "His uncle applied to be named as the boy's guardian, but his mother opposed the petition, and it was denied. Of course, he's over eighteen now, so...." He sits back heavily in his chair and stares into space, thinking hard. "I have to say...I didn't put much stock in Keith's theory. But you're right—this is a pretty big coincidence, given what we know about Griffith."
"The Fitzpatricks have been running the show in this town for too long not to have friends in high places," Weevil notes.
Wallace says anxiously, "Sheriff...Veronica, Mr. Mars, and Logan Echolls went up to Rio Linda today to try to look into Hannah's murder. And we've lost touch with them."
"Rio Linda?"
"Just outside of Sacramento," Wallace explains. "They found out that's where Hannah was living after she ran away from the school. And once Duncan's hearing was, uh," he stumbles momentarily, thinking of Leo's involvement, "Uh, resolved...they headed up there to see what they could find out for Hannah's mother. You know, Ms. Denenberg is really struggling with what happened to her daughter."
Leo frowns. "Okay...they went to Rio Linda. What are you suggesting?"
"I'm worried they stumbled onto something about Hannah's murder, or somebody intercepted them. Maybe this Agent Carney realized they were investigating up there."
Leo rubs his forehead and closes his eyes in fatigue. "When's the last time you heard from them?"
"Late this morning....I know, it's only a few hours, but given the situation..." Wallace explains.
Leo turns to his computer and types a few keystrokes before picking the phone. "May I speak to the sheriff please?...Sheriff Leo D'Amato, from Neptune in Balboa County." He plays with the pencil again while he waits. "Sheriff. We may have a situation here. I have an associate of Keith Mars here in my office; Mr. Mars is a private investigator here in—" He breaks off and scribbles a few notes as he listens. "Mr. Mars' associate claims that he hasn't been able to reach Mr. Mars for over five hours. You saw them about two o'clock?...Do you have any idea where they were heading?...I see. Sheriff, I would consider it a great personal favor if you would send a patrol car to check out that address....There's been some developments that Mr. Mars is unaware of that may put him and his, uh, colleagues in danger....Thanks, I appreciate that."
He hangs up the phone and looks at Wallace and Weevil. "They checked in with the sheriff when they got to town. The sheriff remembers the address they were asking about, and he's sending a car out."
"So we know they got to Rio Linda," Wallace muses. "What about the FBI agent? Are you going to arrest him?"
"You can't just arrest an FBI agent. I can't even bring him in for questioning."
Wallace presses, "Why didn't you mention him to the Rio Linda sheriff?"
Leo sighs. "I've got to follow protocol for this. This evidence is highly circumstantial."
"Then what the fu— I mean, what can you do?" Weevil says, catching himself.
"I can talk to his bureau chief. In the meantime, I can bring in this Kevin Carney, see what he has to say for himself."
"That's it?" Weevil asks in frustration. "They could be killing Veronica right this minute."
Hearing the actual words that he's been trying to avoid thinking slams Wallace in the gut. Attempting to keep the tremble out of his voice, Wallace says, as persuasively as he can, "Mr. Mars was pretty nervous. He hired security guards to trail them and keep an eye out for trouble, and the agency hasn't been able to reach them either. I think we should really try to—"
"You know as well as I do that they could just be in a bad cell area, and if the guards are following, then they'd be in the same bad area." Leo shrugs. "The sheriff said he would call me back after they checked out the house. I'll let you know what he says. Leave your cell number with the deputy." He stands up, indicating that the discussion is over.
"Sheriff, please," Weevil pleads loudly, trying like hell to resist punching a wall or throwing a chair. "You know the Fitzpatricks don't screw around. And if they think Veronica has solid evidence against them, they won't hesitate to take her out."
Leo's voice betrays that he is frustrated as well. "What would you have me do? I promise, I'm not blowing you off, Mr. Navarro, Mr. Fennel. I'm just as concerned as you are. I'm going to call the Los Angeles Bureau Chief right now, and I'll send a car out to pick up Kevin Carney. Thanks for bringing this evidence to my attention."
Wallace looks into Leo's face; there's a slight twitch below Leo's left eye, and the man is obviously tense. This is much more complicated than just a sheriff trying to run an investigation...there's an awful lot of emotion here. Aloud he says, "Thanks for listening to us, Sheriff."
Wallace and Weevil leave the office; Weevil is just barely keeping himself in check. When they get into Wallace's car, Weevil slams the door too hard, and Wallace says with aggravation, "Hey. It's my mom's car. You're not helping by slamming the door."
"Sorry. I'm just...." Weevil pounds his fist on the dashboard, and Wallace flinches at his anger. Bitterly, he comments, "You know, when it was me on the hook for murder, they hauled me out of my graduation in handcuffs and asked questions later. When it's some fucking FBI agent, everyone's worried about protocol and following the goddamn rules."
Wallace starts up the car. "I know. But Weevil, he didn't blow us off. He listened to us, and I think he's going to pursue it. ...Look it, we don't have to just sit around and wait for him to do something. Let's go to the office. I have a few ideas."
Weevil is still glowering, upset about Leo's attitude.
Wallace says forcefully, "We have to stay focused. Veronica's counting on us."
"Right," Weevil mutters.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 late afternoon: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, CAMike Fields shows his FBI identification and goes to the head of the line at the check-in counter. He holds his breath as the agent checks over the ID; if the agent calls it in, he'll quickly discover that Mike is still on suspension. However, the agent merely glances at the ID cursorily. Mike purchases a ticket and checks an overnight bag with his disassembled weapon after filling out the necessary paperwork.
He hurries to the gate, quickly passing through security with another flash of his identification. He paces nervously and tries to call Veronica again, but like the last twenty times he has tried, there is no response. Finally, the 5:30 flight to Sacramento is called for boarding. Mike takes his seat on the plane, and, after a last check of the screen to make sure Veronica hasn't called, he shuts off his phone for the duration of the flight.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Somewhere in the United StatesThe rear doors of the van are yanked open. While pointing a gun at them, Brian orders sharply, "The girl first. Take her down to the boat while I watch the other two." Frank nods and easily hoists her over his shoulder.
The new position puts stress on Veronica's wrist bonds, and she struggles to hold her arms together to prevent the now-flimsy duct tape binding from letting go. She grits her teeth against the pain until she realizes that crying will help her look more vulnerable. Veronica gives in to the pain, letting the tears run down her cheeks as the man carries her down a wooden boardwalk. She catches a glimpse of Brian tapping her dad's face lightly, trying to make him come around, and she tries desperately to control her panic.
She resolutely focuses on the situation: she observes her surroundings as her head bobs upside down as she is carried along the boardwalk. Definitely northern California, probably on the coast, not a lake, she thinks; too cool for southern California. She listens closely and thinks she discerns the faint sound of the ocean. She tries to figure driving times, but her sense of time is completely distorted by her panic attack in the van. Way too dark for the afternoon, Veronica decides. Early evening. 6:00, 7:00, maybe; so three or four hours from Rio Linda. She tries to picture a map of California in her head. How long was I freaking out before Logan started working on my wrist bindings? Was he really clawing at them for three hours? Got to focus...I can't let myself panic like that again. Frank adjusts her on his shoulder, and she can see a little more of their surroundings. Veronica notes a small solitary tree nestled among the rocks on the rugged shoreline with the Pacific Ocean beyond. The ocean is rough this evening, with whitecaps from a stiff breeze.
Veronica cranes her neck and to her right sees a contemporary house, with floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the ocean. Where the hell are we? She tries to look to her left, but her transporter takes a large step forward, jolting her, and she realizes they've stepped onto a private dock. A single boat, maybe 40 feet long, is tied up to the dock; Frank walks to it and steps easily onto the deck. The movement of the boat underneath them combined with her upside-down positioning makes her a little queasy. Her captor carries her to the companionway to go down below; she is jostled carelessly against the sides and helplessly moans as her shoulder makes contact with the hard surface.
Another man unfamiliar to her is already down there, seated on a banquette in the galley. "Hey. About time," he says briefly. Veronica's heart is pounding; the number of men involved in this operation and their competence is completely frightening.
Her captor, Frank, replies, "Where do you want her?"
"In the forward berth for now, with the other girl," the man replies. Upside down, Veronica watches as he unlocks a padlock securing a door and opens it for Frank.
The other girl?? Veronica forgets to breathe: a girl...oh no...it can't be....
"Where is he?" Frank asks, interrupting her panicked musing.
"Up in the pilothouse," the man answers.
"I'm going to need your help with the other two."
Frank walks into the cabin and dumps her roughly on the bed before exiting. She allows herself to moan behind the gag, but the man ignores her.
The darkened cabin is vee-shaped, with a bed taking up the majority of the space and very little light filtering in from the portholes high up on the walls. The door is shut, and the padlock is once again secured noisily. She hears the men conversing in low voices, and someone laughs.
Veronica rolls over to see who the girl is in the cabin with her. She immediately recognizes the dark hair with blue streaks. Please, it can't be...oh my god, 'Ronnie'...that's why she said that. She scuttles over on the bed, wincing against the pain, and nudges the body which is bound with duct tape as she is. Mac rolls over, her mouth gaping and her eyes closed.
Veronica tries again to wake her, and Mac protests weakly, mumbling incoherently. Her eyes flutter open, and she says faintly, "Veronica?"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Loose Ends
Wallace contacts Mike Fields; Veronica
assesses their situation.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Mike Fields: Michael
Trucco. Brian: Scott Elrod. Frank: Stephen Dorff.
Andy ('Man'): Peter Greene.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO: "LOOSE ENDS"
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento, CA
When the commuter flight touches down in Sacramento, Mike Fields unbuckles his seat belt and stands up, in order to be the first one off the plane. The flight attendant frowns at him. "Sir, I need you to—"
Mike flashes his ID at her, and she nods 'okay'. He waits at the door and deplanes as soon as the door is open. He triggers the power button on his cell as he hustles through the jetway to the terminal. No calls, he thinks despondently when he looks at the screen.
After Veronica had called him and told him about the witness in the Rio Linda diner, he had begun checking into Rio Linda and had found out that the FBI had been involved in an investigation of a suspicious plane crash there in late December. One of three men killed in the crash had been a deputy from the Rio Linda Sheriff's Department. He had immediately tried to call Veronica without success, but he didn't start worrying until he didn't hear back from her for half an hour. Mike threw a few items into a bag, including his weapon, and hurried to the airport, determined to get to Rio Linda as quickly as possible, via a commuter flight to Sacramento.
More than once during the flight, Mike had thought that he would have been really happy to have been proven wrong about this hunch. The idea that Veronica actually might be pursuing someone with access to all the FBI resources had frankly terrified him.
On the flight to Sacramento, he had reviewed some files that an agent friend had forwarded to him. The FBI had suspected that the plane that crashed in late December had been carrying drugs, but it had been completely incinerated in the accident. The high temperature fire had obliterated all the evidence, and no charges were filed. Without other evidence to the contrary, the NTSB had tentatively determined that pilot error had probably caused the crash. The NTSB investigation remained open, but it had been removed from the active FBI case list since there was no evidence of a federal crime. Mike had compared the names of the FBI agents who had been assigned to the investigation and had found several who were also able to access the Slasher case files. And it had made his blood run cold.
The crash investigation placed the FBI in Rio Linda a couple weeks before Hannah Griffith was murdered. A big coincidence, if that's truly where she was living, Mike thinks. And I don't believe in coincidences.
At baggage claim, he retrieves his bag and heads for Avis. "Agent Michael Fields. I called about a priority rental on bureau business." He flashes his ID again. If I get busted for doing this, there won't be any turning back. Private sector, here I come.
"Yes, sir. We'll bring it right around for you while you sign the papers."
Mike checks his watch...about seven o'clock. Thirty minute drive to Rio Linda, he thinks as he hurriedly scribbles his signature and initials all the little boxes on the rental form. His phone rings, and he hits the 'send' button eagerly, holding the phone up to his ear with his shoulder. "Veronica?" he asks.
"No, it's Wallace Fennel."
"Wallace," Mike says in disappointment. "Have you heard from Veronica?"
"No, that's why I called you. Have you talked to her today?"
Mike sighs loudly. "Yes, but now I can't reach her."
Wallace asks excitedly, "So you know they were heading to Rio Linda?"
"Yeah. They met with me in Los Angeles yesterday. I tried to talk them out of going there, but they wouldn't listen to me."
Wallace says, "We found out they checked in with the Rio Linda sheriff at about two o'clock, but no one's seen them since then. And I haven't been able to reach her or the security guards who were supposed to be following them."
"I talked to her today around three-thirty. They found a witness, someone who saw a man who seemed to be interested in Hannah right before she disappeared. I checked into a few things and tried to call Veronica back, but I haven't been able to get a hold of her since then." The rental car pulls up; he tosses his bag in the back seat and gets in the car. He fumbles with the navigation system as he talks to Wallace, entering the address of the diner they had found in Rio Linda.
"You know the name of the witness?" Wallace presses.
"Yeah, I'm headed there right now. When I couldn't get in touch with her, I got on a plane to Sacramento. I probably jumped the gun but—" Mike hears Wallace take a deep breath and sigh, and he wonders what the hell is going on. "What is it, Wallace?"
"We think we know who the FBI agent is." Mike stops playing with the navigation and just listens. Wallace continues, "We found a connection. Agent Thomas Carney—it looks like his nephew Kevin works for the Fitzpatricks."
"Agent Carney? From the Behavioral Science unit assigned to the Slasher case?" Mike stares into space, turning this new information over in his head. He says, disbelieving, "Tom Carney's one of the most decorated agents in the bureau. Personally responsible for hundreds of busts. He transferred into the Behavioral Unit about a year ago after years of working on Organized Crime." Carney wasn't one of the agents assigned to the Rio Linda plane crash investigation, he thinks.
"So we know this agent had access to the inside information on the serial killer."
"They just arrested a suspect in the Slasher killings earlier today," Mike says, thinking aloud.
"Except they didn't charge him in Hannah's murder." Wallace reads aloud from the news report. "Listen to this: 'Acting on a tip provided by an eyewitness, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Andrew Shekar, age 36, a resident of the Altadena section of Los Angeles. Mr. Shekar has been charged with the murders of Catherine Kerr, Theresa Drummond, Lysa Dean, Evangeline Bellemer, Gloria Doyle, Elizabeth Kapp, Mary Alice McDermit, and Linda Lewellen. He remains a suspect in the murder of Hannah Griffith.'"
"'Remains a suspect'...sounds like Shekar had an unbreakable alibi for Hannah's murder, otherwise they would have charged him," Mike muses. His eyes refocus on the GPS device in the cars dash, and another thought occurs to him. "Wallace...they're in Veronica's Saturn right?"
"Yeah."
"It has On-Star." Mike hits 'enter' on the navigation panel and starts the car, pulling out into the traffic at the terminal as he keeps speaking on the phone.
Wallace asks hopefully, "Can you call the company, get them to turn on the GPS locator?"
"No...I better not." Mike clears his throat. "I'm still, um, suspended from the bureau because I was helping Veronica. What about your local sheriff? You'd have to report the car stolen and give them the owner's identification codes. Then he'll contact On-Star."
"Okay, I can do that. I'm in Keith's office; I'm sure the codes are in the files. Wait...Mike...what did you find out that you wanted to tell Veronica?"
He says grimly, "The FBI was investigating a plane crash in Rio Linda a few weeks before Hannah Griffith was found murdered in Los Angeles."
"Could Carney have been one of the agents in Rio Linda?" Wallace asks.
"Not officially," Mike admits. "But he would have know about the crash from the daily briefing sheet. There was something in the file about a discrepancy in the filed flight plan, and it sounds like drugs were involved."
Wallace notes, "And where there's drugs, there's usually Fitzpatricks."
"Exactly."
"Shit."
Mike concurs, "Yeah. Shit. I'll be in touch, Wallace. Call me if you hear anything." He terminates the call and pulls off to the side of the road. He grabs his carry-on from the back seat and assembles his weapon, grimly donning his holster and securing the gun under his arm before pulling back onto the road to Rio Linda.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Somewhere in the United States
Mac finally opens her eyes and says weakly, "Veronica?"
Veronica, with her mouth gagged, can't respond, but she nods furiously. She raises her eyebrows questioningly.
"Veronica, didn't you notice that I called you Ronnie?" Mac whispers weakly.
Veronica nods, closing her eyes. She raises her eyebrows again and looks toward the doorway.
Mac says, with her voice husky from sleep and disuse, "I don't know what they want. They had someone watching you at Duncan's trial, and then they lost you. They made me call your voicemail, and then I watched them track the prepaid phone you were using. They have access to the FBI databases, Veronica. They...they killed Alan, my FBI handler. They said they would...they said they'd go after my brother Ryan if I didn't call you. They drugged me, Veronica." Her voice trembles with anxiety.
Veronica closes her eyes, realizing how scared Mac has been. How long has she been.... She tries to count back. I talked to Mac on Thursday. Two days? Have they had her for two days? Oh god...Mac.
Mac whispers intensely, "What about Logan...your dad? Do you think...do you think they might find us?"
Veronica shakes her head. They hear voices, and the boat rocks in its berth. Heavy footsteps resound from the companionway, with muttered exclamations and a few loud thumps against the bulkheads. Veronica ostentatiously closes her eyes. Mac takes the hint; she rolls over and pretends to be asleep again. Veronica tries to look panicked and upset; it's not a hard role to play, she thinks ruefully. The door opens, and Frank and the other man deposit Logan on the bed with them, bitching all the while about how heavy he is. As soon as the door is closed, he awkwardly rolls himself over and looks at Mac, who opens her eyes. Mac says quietly, "You...and Mr. Mars too?"
Logan nods.
Mac exhales tremulously and whispers, "What the hell are we going to do?"
Veronica nods once, staring intently at Mac, and then winks broadly. She mimes breaking down crying for a few moments before suddenly stopping and giving Mac a questioning look.
"You guys have some sort of plan?" Mac says breathlessly.
Veronica nods again.
"Veronica, why are they keeping us alive?" she asks despondently. "What do they want?"
Veronica shrugs. She thinks, Loose ends. They want to know who else knows what we know. She considers for a moment. Who does know? Mike, Leo, Wallace...they all know bits and pieces. If they find Kavner and Harris' bodies, they'll contact the agency and know we hired them. The agency knows we were headed to Rio Linda, and maybe they’ll call Wallace. But...we're not in Rio Linda any more. ...We stopped and got gas along the way...but we used cash...maybe someone will.... She is flooded with a sense of hopelessness and struggles to focus on the situation.
They hear loud noises, and the door opens again. Her dad is brought in the room and dumped unceremoniously on the foot of the bed. Keith has come around a bit, although he still seems groggy. He is moving his head from side to side and moaning inaudibly.
Heavy footsteps pound up the companionway. Veronica tries to count how many men are involved. Brian, Frank, the man in the galley...Frank asked 'Where is he?', so there's another one. Four men. The boat's engine starts with a roar. After a few minutes, they hear raised voices arguing on the deck right above them. Veronica strains to listen over the vibrations of the boat's engines.
"You did what?" Even from down below, the voice's fury is unmistakable and chilling.
She thinks that it's Brian responding apologetically to the angry voice. "I told you, we had to separate them from the guys who were following them. We got in front of them and blocked them until they were out of sight. Then we watched as the cops pulled them over and arrested—"
Veronica tries to concentrate. 'The guys who were following'...'arrested'...maybe they're not dead?
"You're a fucking moron. The guards saw the van?"
Brian protests, "Yeah, but they're not gonna—"
Veronica's heart leaps. 'They're not gonna'...they're alive. They're alive! They know where we were going.
"Fuck. FUCK!"
"It's not going to be a problem!" Brian insists. "It was better than leaving a couple more dead bodies around. You said to be careful not to raise an alarm."
"But they saw your fucking van, you idiot!"
Veronica listens closely and thinks she hears a scuffle and a grunt of pain.
"I'm sorry! I fucked up, all right? Geez," Brian protests loudly.
Another voice says with disgust, "What the fuck do you expect? I told you, you gotta do it yourself if you want it done right." The speaker lowers his voice, and Veronica strains to hear the inaudible words. Who the hell is that? she wonders. I think I've heard that voice before. She rapidly calculates. Shit! that makes five men.
The man who seems to be in charge says, "Frank, you and Andy get rid of the van. Take it to that chop shop down the highway and tell them it's a rush job, high priority. The license plate and every VIN number needs to be obliterated, do you understand? Pay extra if you have to. We'll have to handle them without you. I'll be in touch."
Veronica shivers. Handle us. She hears mumbling voices, and the boat shifts in the water slightly. There are loud footsteps on the wooden dock, and one of the men says, "I'll take the van, you follow in the Mercury." There is a muttered response that she can't quite make out.
"That was your last chance, Brian. Check on them. No more mistakes, you understand? Get down there and check on them."
She hears heavy steps going down the companionway. Okay...Andy must be the guy in the galley...Frank and Andy are getting rid of the van, she thinks. Brian is still on the boat, plus at least two others. Three guys. Against the four of us. She pulls against the duct tape experimentally and feels a sharp twinge in her shoulder.
The padlock scrapes against the door, and the door is opened again. Veronica sucks in a breath, hoping he won't be looking closely at her bonds. Brian enters the berth, rubbing a reddened spot on his cheek with the back of his hand. Veronica avoids looking at him. Brian reaches down and taps Keith's face lightly. "Hey, daddy. Who'd think an ugly old fart like you'd have a babe like her for a daughter?" He moves his hand to Veronica's leg and strokes her calf. Veronica jumps, startled. "Relax, baby. I ain't gonna hurt you. Well, not much." Brian runs his hand up the inside of her thigh, and she tries to pull away unsuccessfully as he laughs under his breath.
From on deck, they hear, "Brian, what the fuck are you doing now? Get up here so we can cast off." The boat's engine revs slightly.
"Catch you later, Ve-ron-i-ca," Brian chants as he leaves.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Insecurity
Kavner and Harris tell their story; one of
the captors reveals himself.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Kavner: Eric Bana. Sheriff: William Sadler.
Brian: Scott Elrod. Harris: Steve Harris.
Rio Linda Deputy #1: Ryan McPartlin.
Special guest star: ???
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE: "INSECURITY"
Sat. 3/21/09 early evening: Rio Linda Sheriff's Department, Rio Linda, CA
The deputy knocks on the open door of the sheriff's office. "Uh, Sheriff?"
"What is it?"
Nervously, the deputy explains, "Those two guys we arrested for the hit-and-run...you know, the ones with the crazy story. Uh, it turns out they're telling the truth. Their employer verifies their story. They're security guards, tailing a private detective named Keith Mars. And now this Mars seems to have disappeared."
The sheriff frowns. "Keith Mars? I just got a call from the Neptune Sheriff's Department asking about this Mars guy. He checked in with us around two o'clock. I sent a unit out to the address Mars was heading to."
"They tried to call him again just now, and Mars isn't answering. The guards claim that if they got separated, the procedure was that they would check in with the agency. Sheriff, it really looks like that anonymous tip was a setup."
"Bring them in here, I want to talk to them. See if you can raise the unit I sent out," the sheriff says tersely. "And get the Neptune Sheriff on the horn again."
"Yes, sir."
Kavner and Harris are escorted into the office. The sheriff tries to apologize, but Kavner quickly interrupts. "I'm concerned about Mr. Mars and his companions. We were following them as they were trying to locate Ms. Griffith's place of employment. They spoke to a neighbor of hers who identified the bus route, and Mr. Mars was following that route, stopping in likely establishments—restaurants, small stores, somewhere where a young girl could work for cash."
Kavner continues, "We were tailing them when a white van pulled out in between our two vehicles. The van acted as if it was looking for an address, slowing and stopping, then starting up again. Finally it turned out of our way. By that time, Mr. Mars had pulled out of sight. We were just about to check in with him when we were pulled over and arrested."
"Pretty bold maneuver," the sheriff muses. "Again, I'd like to apologize—"
"There's no time for apologies, Sheriff. We need to try to find them as soon as possible. Mr. Mars was concerned about the rumored involvement of a federal agent, and I have to say, the ease with which they disposed of us makes me believe that's possible."
"A federal agent?"
Kavner nods. "Yes, sir. We do have a bit of luck: Harris here wrote down the license of the van in his notebook, if you could get his personal effects for us."
The sheriff nods at the deputy, who goes to the property room. He explains to the two guards, "I was contacted a short while ago by Neptune Sheriff's Department. Apparently someone else is concerned about Mr. Mars: a Mr. Wallace Fennel."
"Yes, he's Mr. Mars's assistant."
"I sent a patrol car out to the address where Mr. Mars said he was heading when he checked in with us."
"I don't believe you'll find anything there. The house was empty; they talked to a few neighbors. The only one who was helpful was a Mrs. Evelyn Blake. She told Mr. Mars about the bus route."
"I'll have her brought in to see if she can add anything," the sheriff comments, making a note.
The deputy brings in two plastic bags with the items that were taken from the car during the arrest. Harris quickly finds his notebook and flips through to the last page of writing. "Here it is. California license 2WC L12."
Kavner adds, "Mr. Mars was also planning on speaking to the man who owned the house where Hannah Griffith was last living. We need to check there as well. Harris, give him the address." Harris tears out a sheet from his notebook and hands it to the sheriff.
The sheriff says to the deputy, "Call unit fourteen; have them bring in the neighbor, Evelyn Blake. Send another car out to this address to look around and put out an APB on this vehicle."
Kavner adds, "Sheriff, can one of your men take us along the bus route to see if we can retrace their steps?"
"Of course. I'll go with you personally."
The deputy pokes his head back in. "Sheriff, it's D'Amato from Neptune again."
The sheriff picks up the phone. "Yes, this is the sheriff...There have been some developments here. There are two gentlemen here in my office who were assigned to act as security for Mr. Mars and the others. They were mistakenly arrested on false charges; they were released, of course, as soon as we realized the error, and I'm speaking with them now. There's quite a bit of evidence that this was a scheme to get Mr. Mars and his companions.....Yes, I'm certain. I believe it's very likely they've been harmed. I'll be issuing a missing persons advisory as soon as I hang up....On-Star? That's a lucky break. Okay, we'll wait for them to contact us with a location. In the meantime, I'll get an emergency court order to trace their cell phone. Do you know anything about a federal agent being part of this? The security guards mentioned—...I see. Agent Thomas Carney. I'll have one of my men look into that angle....Yes, we'll be in touch." He cradles the phone.
"The agent?" Kavner queries.
"Mr. Mars' associate found some evidence implicating an agent named Thomas Carney with family ties to Neptune. Sheriff D'Amato is speaking to the bureau chief in Los Angeles. In the meantime, he's sending us a photograph to show to witnesses."
"Sheriff, I think we need to get going on that trail before it gets cold."
"I agree." They hear a quiet ding from the sheriff's computer indicating an email has arrived. He swivels around and taps a few keys; the printer whirrs into action, and a sheet of paper emerges. "Apparently this is Agent Carney," the sheriff says, passing the sheet to Kavner and Harris.
They shake their head, indicating they hadn't seen him. The sheriff grabs his jacket, and the three of them leave the office. In the main area of the station, the sheriff leaves instructions that any information from On-Star is to be pursued immediately and relayed to him. He has copies of the picture of Carney reproduced and distributes it to all the officers, explaining that the man is a potential witness or suspect in a murder. "Priority one, folks," the sheriff announces somberly as they leave the station. "Let's find these people."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Somewhere in the United StatesThe padlock on the door scrapes again, and Veronica unconsciously holds her breath, waiting. Brian steps into the room followed by Liam Fitzpatrick, who's holding a large gun in his hand.
I knew I recognized that voice, she thinks, her heart sinking, remembering just how psychotic this guy is. She flashes on the story her dad had finally told her about Liam killing his own brother in the desert. And she realizes: It's never felt quite so horrific to be so completely right.
Logan remembers Liam too. For just a moment, he angrily recalls what Kendall had told them about reporting back to Liam regarding their sexcapades. He imagines this prick laughing hysterically as Kendall mocked his youthful sexual efforts. But then...he completely forgets his anger and his entire body stiffens in fear, as he realizes they've been entirely too successful in discovering just what happened to Hannah. He starts to think about how many people this man is responsible for killing; resolutely he forces himself to stop obsessing and just think about getting the fuck out of there ALIVE. He closes his eyes momentarily, trying to send Veronica strength. You can do it, Veronica. Watch for your opportunity. I'll have your back...somehow. Even if I get killed in the process.
Liam looks at Keith closely, tapping him lightly on the cheek to try to rouse him. Veronica holds her breath, worrying about her dad. Why won't you wake up? What's wrong with him? Dad! Keith moans but doesn't open his eyes.
Brian says defensively, "I told you, the old guy is out cold."
Liam steps back, saying "Yeah. All right. Let's get 'em up on the deck. Cut their feet loose." Brian pulls out a knife and slices through the duct tape on Logan's ankles. Then he repeats the procedure on Veronica and Mac.
Liam says menacingly, "Mr. Echolls, you and Brian will carry Sheriff Mars up on deck. Veronica and the little computer nerd will follow. I got nothing to lose by shooting you so don't fuck around. Understand?" He glares at Logan. "I said, do you understand, rich boy?"
Logan nods. If there was ever any doubt that Liam knew who I was, it's gone now.
"Sit up and turn around," Brian orders. Logan turns and presents his wrists to Brian, who cuts the tape off his wrists.
Liam says, "Brian, take his head and go first with Echolls holding the feet. Then Mac, and little Veronica right in front of me where I can keep my eyes on her."
Veronica thinks, It's time to win that Academy Award, Veronica. Make them think they've broken you. As Brian and Logan begin to maneuver Keith out of the cabin, Logan has a momentary chance to look at her, and he winks subtly. You can do it, Veronica. You can do it.
"Let's go, Mackenzie," Liam orders sharply. Mac stumbles a little getting off the bed but manages to keep her balance.
Veronica tries to remember the way she felt in the van; she wants to be tearful and to appear completely helpless. So she recalls all the terror-filled events that had flashed before her eyes a few hours before, and she relives that brief time when she had utterly lost hope. She summons up her panic and hopelessness; then she thinks about never seeing Wallace or Weevil or Backup again, and that does it. She starts to cry, little sobbing sounds escaping from behind her taped lips. Veronica presses her arms together behind her back, and the pain helps her cry a little harder.
Her moans and tears are noticed by Liam, who shoves her hard, making her bump into Mac right in front of her. He puts his gun in her back and his mouth right by her ear. His voice rises gradually as he talks until he's screaming incoherently. "'Bout time I got my vengeance on the Mars family. I know your fucking dad had something to do with all of Kendall's money going missing. And then the conspiracy charges last fall...and now, you manage to RUIN THE BEST FUCKING MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME EVER!" He prods her hard with the gun, and it doesn't take much effort for Veronica to cry even harder. "Stop your fucking bawling already," he says with disgust.
Now Brian and Logan are carrying her dad up the companionway. Mac looks at Liam nervously, wanting to wait until they clear the top step. Liam says sharply, "Go," and Mac follows, leaving just a little space behind Logan. Liam pushes Veronica again, and she goes for it. She tumbles face first, keeping her hands tightly locked behind her back. As she falls onto the narrow steps, she feels a few more threads of the tape rip slightly. Veronica lies on the steps crying and shuddering as Liam kicks her twice in the leg.
Logan turns around and stops dead; he knows she's acting, but it's killing him inside. He grunts as loudly as he can underneath the gag, making eye contact with Liam and trying to sear him with his glare. Brian mutters, "What the fuck?!"
Mac, completely terrified and not sure if Veronica's acting or not, doesn't know where to look and ends up closing her eyes. As the only one whose mouth is not gagged, Mac's moans are audible. Veronica knows she's close to a breaking point. Hold on, Mac, hold on.
Liam grabs Veronica's arm—thankfully, her left uninjured arm—and hauls her to her feet. He leans right into her face and says in an ominous voice, "It's time you finally learned to stop sticking your nose in other people's business, you stupid bitch. Wish I'd tattooed your face when I had the chance." Some of his spittle hits her face, and she closes her eyes. Liam spins her around and pushes her forward; she bumps into Mac, who starts climbing again. Logan turns back, his shoulders overtly heaving with the effort to control himself, and begins to move up the last few steps as well.
They emerge onto the deck. Night has fallen; it would be beautiful out here in the ocean if only.... Veronica swallows, suddenly very afraid. The shore is already disappearing from sight, and the boat is traveling fast, making a lot of wake as it progresses at top speed. The boat suddenly hits a wave wrong, and they lurch sideways. The water is black, reflecting the dark sky, and it looks cold and forbidding.
Veronica watches Mac, who seems to be in shock. She has stopped moaning, but her eyes are glazed over with fear and her body trembles involuntarily. Veronica hopes that Mac will be able to help if she needs it.
Liam barks, "Put the old guy over there." He points to seats near the railing.
Dad, Veronica thinks. Wake up. PLEASE wake up and help me. Her dad's head is lolling to the side as Logan and Brian place him on the seat. His color has improved somewhat. Dad...I can't lose you.... She watches closely and thinks she sees his eyes flutter open momentarily. Is he...maybe he's coming around. Dad, I need your help! You've got to wake up! I can't bear it if.... She tries to push the thought away and concentrates on the situation, watching and waiting for an opportunity.
Liam grabs a roll of duct tape and tosses it underhand to Brian, nodding his head toward Logan. "Tape him up again. You girls don't move a muscle." He brandishes the weapon.
Brian roughly shoves Logan. "Turn around...hands behind your back, fucker." He secures Logan's hands and then his feet.
Veronica continues to cry, her shoulders shaking and her eyes downcast. How the hell do actors do this in the movies? It's friggin' exhausting to cry. She tries to watch as Brian tapes up Logan, looking for a potential weakness she can exploit. With Liam's gun so close to her head, she doesn't dare try anything.
When Brian finishes with Logan, Liam motions with the gun that she and Mac should sit next to him. Brian tapes her ankles, pulling her feet close together. He pulls her forward, intending to check her wrists.
Suddenly, Logan throws himself off the seat and onto Brian, knocking him flat on his back on the deck.
Veronica is so startled that she stops crying, but she knows immediately that Logan is trying to distract Brian from checking her wrists. She braces herself, expecting Liam to blow his cool and put a bullet in Logan's head. Do I throw myself at him if he moves the gun? Fuck...what do I do?? As Brian tussles with Logan, whose sole advantage was surprise, she pulls her wrists slightly apart and feels another tenuous fiber come loose. But Liam doesn't move his gun, and she decides to hold off for the moment, sweating profusely as she dithers over her response. Brian easily rolls Logan over onto his back and punches him in the chin and, for good measure, in the stomach as well. Liam sighs loudly and says with disgust, "What the fuck are you doing, Brian? Get it done!!" Mac sobs quietly during the entire altercation, gasping when Brian punches Logan viciously.
Standing up, Brian pushes his long greasy brown hair back out of his eyes and glares at Logan. He mutters, "Asshole," as he hauls Logan back up onto the seat more roughly than necessary and then moves to Mac to tape her ankles. Mac sways a little, shutting her eyes and grimacing as her feet are secured. Liam appears satisfied and tucks his gun into the waist of his jeans.
It worked, Veronica thinks with relief. We've still got a chance. She's very worried about Mac, who seems at the point of a complete collapse after her ordeal. But Logan manages to discreetly press his leg against hers, and she knows that somehow he'll help her again when she makes her move.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Currents Turn Awry
The investigation continues in Rio Linda;
Kevin Carney is taken in custody; Wallace
tries desperately to help; Liam's partner
reveals himself.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
Dick: Ryan Hansen. Leo: Max Greenfield.
Agent Carney: Jason Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick:
Rod Rowland. Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Brian:
Scott Elrod. Kevin Carney: Noel Fisher. Mike
Fields: Michael Trucco. Deputy Clark: Zadran
Wali. Cashier: Soledad St. Hilaire.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOUR: "CURRENTS TURN AWRY"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Abandoned lot near the airfield, Rio Linda, CA
The deputy pulls up to a vehicle parked on the road. The Saturn VUE has had its license plates removed, but the deputy checks the VIN number through the windshield, and it matches. He dons latex gloves and tries the door, which turns out to be unlocked. He does a cursory inspection of the car, finding only several overnight bags. He triggers his radio. "Come in, Sheriff."
"Go ahead."
"I've got the victims' Saturn. It's empty."
"Dammit. Any signs of foul play?"
"Negative. I'll call the Crime Scene techs."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Apartment, Neptune, CASheriff D'Amato waits, his weapon drawn, outside the door to Kevin Carney's apartment. From inside the apartment, a television is blaring the San Diego-DePaul basketball game. Leo nods at Deputy Sacks, who knocks on the door and calls out, "Neptune Sheriff's Department, open up." They strain to hear an answer over the sound of the television. When they don't hear a response, Leo nods to the super, who quickly opens the lock and gets out of the way, running full tilt down the stairway. Leo pushes the door open cautiously and calls, "Kevin Carney?" The room is empty; on the table in front of the couch are several beer bottles, including one knocked over on its side with liquid running out. D'Amato runs to the open window and looks out onto a fire escape. They hear footsteps banging on the wrought iron, and D'Amato triggers his radio and says quietly, "Coming your way, Clark."
In the alley behind the building, Deputy Clark crouches behind a dumpster. A young man rushes down the fire escape, jumping the last few feet to the ground before hustling toward the street. Recognizing their quarry, Clark steps out and points his gun. "Kevin Carney...put your hands where I can see 'em!"
Wild-eyed, Carney tries to evade Clark, who grabs his arm and throws him down to the ground. "Lace your fingers behind your head," he instructs; Carney keeps struggling as Clark tries to get his hands cuffed. Clark's radio crackles, and he responds, "I got him, Sheriff."
Carney begins to protest. "This is bullshit...I didn't do anything!"
"Then why were you running?" Clark asks. "Got any weapons on you?"
"Fuck you," Carney spits.
Leo and Sacks hustle around the corner and help Clark subdue and search Carney. They find a knife and a handgun and escort him into the cruiser. Leo tries to read Carney his rights, but Carney keeps interrupting, saying, "I want a lawyer...and I want my phone call."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Good Food Fast Diner, Rio Linda, CAMike Fields pulls into the parking lot of the Good Food Fast Diner. He checks his cell phone display again, hoping despite his fears for a call from Veronica. He walks into the diner, which has four or five customers eating late dinners. He shows his FBI identification to the cashier and asks, "I'm looking for Melvin Jones."
"Mel's popular tonight," she muses.
Mike looks at her quizzically, and she adds, "One of the sheriff's deputies was just here looking for him. Mel left for the night about, hmm, about half an hour ago."
"Really," Mike comments, thinking about the deputy who was killed in the recent plane crash. Why the sudden interest in Mel...are there dirty cops in Rio Linda?? It didn't sound like Veronica was planning on reporting her suspicions to the authorities here. "Were you here this afternoon? Two men and a young woman, private detectives, were here talking to Mel about one of your former employees. You knew her as Meredith Grey."
"We knew her as..." the woman repeats puzzled. "You mean...."
"That wasn't her real name," Mike explains. "Were you here this afternoon?"
"No. I just came on shift."
"So you didn't see them? I believe they were trying to find where Meredith had been living before she disappeared. Do you know her address?"
The cashier says, "No...we weren't close. Meredith really kept to herself. I tried to invite her out a couple times, and she would never join us."
Mike sighs. "I need Mel's home address, please. This is very important. I'm extremely concerned for his safety."
The cashier gulps visibly. "His safety? Mel?"
"He's an important witness in a federal case," Mike explains. "I can get his address from the federal database, but you'll save me some time, and maybe Mel won't get hurt."
The cashier looks at Mike's ID again, then, biting her lip, she writes Mel's address on an order pad. She tears off the sheet and hands it to Mike. "Take Elverta Boulevard, make a left on Ninth, and a right on Wagon Trail Road," she explains quickly.
"Did you tell the deputy Mel went home?"
She nods.
Mike asks, "Does Mel have a cell phone?"
"He never turns it on," she says, pursing her lips.
"If you get in touch with him, tell him to stay put at home until I get there. Make sure you give him my name. How long ago did he leave?"
"Half an hour ago...." She pauses. "But he was going to stop and have a quick drink at Howie's Bar."
"Did you tell that to the deputy?"
She shakes her head. Reluctantly, she says, "Mel's already got one DUI."
"What kind of car does Mel have?" Mike asks.
"It's a blue Buick. Four door. Howie's is about half a mile down Elverta Boulevard before you get to Ninth Street."
As Mike leaves, he thinks despondently, What if other agents are working with Carney? How the hell do we keep this witness safe?
Suddenly, he realizes that he is the only one who knows Mel's name. As he drives, he dials his old friend Thomas Lynley and fills him in on every detail...just in case.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Somewhere in the United StatesThe boat's engines throttle down, and the boat slows in the water. To Brian, Liam says tersely, "Go see what's happening."
A few minutes later, a man walks down onto the deck as the boat gets underway again.
Agent Carney? Veronica thinks, shocked. She trades a glance with Logan, who appears equally dumbfounded. Of course. Carney knew how to copy the Slasher because he was on the serial killer task force; he knew the killer's M.O. She mentally tries to replay his interview of her back in January; he had let Agent Morris do most of the talking. It was perfect: Carney could direct the investigation so that it would appear as if Hannah was just another of the Slasher's victims. But why kill Hannah? And what's his connection to the Fitzpatricks? Carney...Carney.... Something is nagging at her, but she can't quite figure it out.
The agent is tall, with cropped brown hair, sinewy arms, and cold blue eyes. Veronica notes that he has a pistol tucked in his waistband behind his back. Liam seems to defer to him; they huddle and speak in low tones. Veronica strains to hear their conversation.
Carney mutters, "It's being taken care of. He'll be dead within the hour."
"It should have been done a long time ago," Liam responds. "Too many loose ends."
"There wouldn't have been a problem except for—" Carney nods toward Veronica.
"She's been a thorn in my side for years. And her father...well, you remember what Keith Mars did to me and my business." Liam snorts disgustedly.
Veronica's completely overwhelmed by panic. These men think nothing of killing. Hannah, Kendall, Candice's brother, Gustavio Toombs, Cormac—Liam's own brother, and god knows who else they've murdered over the years.
Carney turns slightly and sees Veronica's eyes on him. He walks to her and rips the tape off her mouth in one harsh motion. She cries out as her skin is abraded. "Veronica Mars," he says with eyes narrowed. "You've caused us a lot of trouble."
"Agent Carney," Veronica replies.
He stares at her, assessing her. "So you do remember me," he muses.
"I don't get questioned in a murder investigation all that often," she retorts, with bravery she doesn't feel.
Carney looks at her intently, his eyes harsh and unforgiving. "Funny, your file seems to say that you've been involved in quite a few murders."
"Not as a suspect," she says, her voice quivering slightly.
"Let's just kill her," Liam suggests. "I don't even like looking at her."
Carney shakes his head. "No...we need to know who else knows what they know."
"A lot of people know everything. The Rio Linda Sheriff, the Neptune Sheriff, a friend in the FBI—" She stops short. Mike's our best chance at a rescue. He knew about the witness. If Carney finds him.... Veronica keeps her voice steady. "I'm sure a lot of people are searching for us. We missed several prearranged check ins by now."
"Really," Carney replies, not bothering to keep the skepticism out of his voice. "Doesn't matter...you're far from Rio Linda now. No one will think to look for you here. And the Pacific Ocean's a big place."
He paces a little on the deck before whirling back around to her. "I want to know everything. I want to know what you've found out."
"Why should I tell you anything?" she says, her voice breaking despite her efforts.
"You and your friends can die easy or you can die hard. You can watch the three people you love the most in the world suffer excruciating pain for hours, or you can all go peacefully—drowning or a gunshot to the head. I'll even let each of you choose."
She is about to swear that she'll never make it easy for him, that she'll fight to the very end...but she remembers. Make them think they've broken you. Tell them a line of bullshit, keep them talking, give Mike time, give Wallace time to maybe find us. And watch...watch for an opening. Four of us...three of them...and they don't know I can get my hands free.
She inhales shudderingly. It's easy to let her voice tremble. She closes her eyes and thinks again about never seeing the people she loves...all the things she wants to do in her life that she'll never get to do...and her eyes fill with tears. "Please don't do this, please...you don't need to do this. You don't have to kill us," she sobs. "What do you want to know?"
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Neptune Sheriff's Department, Neptune, CASheriff D'Amato pushes Kevin Carney into an interview room, telling Sacks that they'll book him later—he wants to question the suspect immediately.
Kevin says sarcastically, "You can't question me. I asked for a lawyer."
"I can question you. You just don't have to answer. But that's not very smart. You're on the hook for accessory to murder. Plus whatever you've been doing for the Fitzpatricks. You're looking at a lot of prison time...hard time, not the bullshit juvie time you've done so far. A lawyer really isn't your best option here."
"I want a lawyer," Kevin replies stubbornly.
"Where's your uncle, Kevin? I called his bureau chief, and, surprise, your uncle's already in hot water. They arrested the Slasher, and your uncle had disappeared. Pretty odd behavior for someone so high up in the Serial Killer Task Force."
"He'll turn up," Kevin mutters.
"What's so important that he doesn't show up for the press conference announcing the arrest of one of the worst serial killers ever in California? Perhaps he was busy tracking down Veronica Mars? Or cleaning up another Fitzpatrick mess?" Leo suggests.
Kevin twitches slightly at the mention of the Fitzpatricks.
Leo continues harshly, "We have photographic evidence that you were working for the Fitzpatricks."
"Like, you got a picture of me punching a timecard for the micks? I don't think so," Kevin sneers.
Leo stares at Kevin silently. Finally, he says, "I'm going about this all wrong." He stands up, hauls Kevin onto his feet, and leads him to one of the cells. Kevin, completely confused, looks behind him into Leo's stony face. Leo ignores him and calls to Sacks. "Get Ciaran Fitzpatrick's lawyer on the phone. Tell him we have a cooperative witness, and we're going to file some additional charges."
Sacks nods and reaches for the phone. "Okay to tell the lawyer who the witness is?"
Kevin swallows in fear. "No...no, you can't. I'm NOT cooperating."
"Tell that to the other prisoners when we transfer you to county," Leo says, shrugging. "I'm sure they'll believe you when we put you in solitary for your own protection. Of course, accidents have been known to happen, even in solitary. It's criminal what happens in prison."
"I'll refuse!"
"Don't think you can, Kevin. You're really kind of new at this, aren't you? I don't think the Fitzpatricks are going to be very happy with you. You might get on their bad side."
"You're bluffing," Kevin blusters. "This is bullshit. I want my lawyer."
"I got a few hours before I have to give you your phone call. Paperwork, you know. In the meantime, I got a couple confidential informants who'd be happy to spread some rumors for me in Balboa County Jail." Leo walks away, leaving Kevin to stew in his cell. "Have a nice day, Kevin."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Mars Investigations, Neptune, CAWallace is running a background check on Thomas Carney while Weevil paces back and forth in the office. "Come on, there's got to be something I can do," Weevil pleads.
"Shh," Wallace replies distractedly, concentrating on the computer screen.
"I'm going out," Weevil announces, shrugging into his leather jacket.
Wallace looks up. "Wait...what are you doing?"
"I'm going to get a few PCHers, and we'll bust some Fitzpatricks' heads until I get some answers," Weevil replies. "Somebody's got to know something. I can't just sit here any more."
"You're not helping her," Wallace sighs and stands up to stretch. "Come on, I'll find something for you to do."
Weevil, not happy at all, sits down across the desk.
"Knock, knock." They turn skittishly; Weevil pokes his head out into the waiting room to see Dick Casablancas wandering in. "Yo, Wallace...Weeves," he says cheerfully, with a slight wave.
Weevil says impatiently, "We don't have time for bullshit tonight. What do you want, Casablancas?"
"Whoa, what's with the attitude? I was just wondering if Veronica had heard from Mac. She's supposed to be coming home tomorrow. I'm planning a little welcome-home bash at the Pi Sig house...I'm calling it 'Witless Protection'. Ahh...you're invited, I guess."
Weevil looks about to explode, but Wallace jumps in first. "Veronica, her dad, and Logan are missing, Dick."
"Missing? I just talked to Veronica this morning."
Weevil asks curiously, "You talked to her? What'd you talk about?"
To both Wallace and Weevil's surprise, Dick looks abashed. "Um.... She, uh, had some questions about Beaver. Something was on her mind. You know she's been acting a little...weird lately. Veronica even had an opening the other night, and she totally let me slide. Pretty sure that's never happened before."
"More than a little weird," Weevil comments. He wonders about Dick's reaction: in his experience, it took a lot to shame Dick Casablancas.
Wallace, as one of the few people who knows the details of Veronica's rape, immediately makes the connection. What did Dick do? In the middle of everything that's going on, Veronica called Dick. What did Veronica ask him? Aloud, he says, "Did she sound okay when you talked to her?"
"She was pretty upset," Dick admits reluctantly. "I don't understand....What do you mean, they're missing?"
Wallace explains, "We can't get in touch with them. They're up in Rio Linda, investigating Hannah Griffith's murder. Veronica talked to her ex-boyfriend, that FBI guy, around three-thirty, and that's the last anyone's seen or heard of them." He has a thought. He walks over the computer and begins typing.
"What is it?" Weevil asks.
"I'm checking Veronica's cell phone records. Not the prepaid phone she had with her, her regular cell phone." Wallace frowns at the screen. "Just two calls. Duncan, and a Los Angeles number. Both of them are short calls, about a minute. They probably left messages. And it looks like Veronica checked her messages this morning—there's an incoming call from the prepaid they're using."
"Can you trace the other number?"
Wallace taps a few keys and shakes his head. "No, it's probably blocked. But Sheriff D'Amato might be able to trace it." He stands up. "Let's go over to Veronica's apartment...see if the messages are still on her voicemail."
"I'll go," Weevil suggests. "You stay, keep working on the background check."
"Can I help?" Dick asks. "I was wondering if you thought a call to Governor Schwarzenegger might be a good thing. My mom's married to his business manager."
Wallace and Weevil exchange a glance. Wallace replies quickly, "Do it." He gives the keys to Veronica's apartment to Weevil.
As Weevil and Dick leave Mars Investigations, Dick comments, "So you guys are like friends now? That's awesome. It's like Veronica's personal Scooby gang, except without the whole vampire thing."
"Shut the fuck up, will you?" Weevil replies, irritated.
"I know you're all like tense and stuff, but yelling at me is not—"
"Do you not fucking understand me? I'm concentrating on finding Veronica alive."
Dick falls silent. "Sorry, dude," he mutters finally. "You really think...?"
"Yeah, we really think." Weevil sighs. "Call your mom, okay? See if the governor can help. This is bad, do you get it?"
"Yeah, I got it."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Bearing Witness
Carney and Liam question Veronica; Mike
looks for the witness; a break in the case;
Veronica's cell phone reveals a clue.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Eli: Francis Capra. Dick: Ryan Hansen.
Leo: Max Greenfield. Agent Carney: Jason
Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick: Rod Rowland. Mike
Fields: Michael Trucco. Mel: George Gerdes.
Rio Linda Deputy #2: Victor Slezak.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE: "BEARING WITNESS"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Somewhere in the United States
"What do you want to know?" Veronica says tremulously.
"How did you find out about Rio Linda?" Carney snaps.
"There was...Hannah sent a postcard to someone who helped her when she escaped. It was postmarked 'Rio Linda'."
"And you just decided to stumble around Rio Linda until...?" Liam asks scornfully.
Why are they so pissed about Rio Linda? Veronica stares at him, frightened for real. Finally, she mumbles, "One of Hannah's friends had a relative there. It seemed like too great of a coincidence." She can't decide if she'd be putting Julie Silver in danger by telling her part of the story, so she cautiously omits it.
"Bullshit," Carney roars, turning around and screaming at her. He motions at Mac. "Your little friend here was snooping in the FBI files. She wouldn't tell me what she found."
"I didn't find anything," Mac pleads, her body trembling with fear. "I told you a hundred times. All I did was figure out who accessed the Slasher files. No one knows. You can let us go."
Veronica swallows. There's no way they're letting us go. "We didn't know you were involved. We never would have known if...." She gapes at him. "No one knows. You don't have to do this...please!" A sob escapes her lips.
"Then why was I transferred off the Mackenzie funeral? Huh?! Explain. Who knows?!" Carney thunders.
Veronica stares back, completely confused. "I don't know anything about Mac's funeral. I was undercover on the East Coast when the bombing happened."
Mac protests again, "Alan told you...for a while, he thought that maybe the bombing of my parents' house was because of the research I'd been doing into the Slasher killings. He was worried someone in the FBI was trying to make it look like a mafia hit. So he took the precaution of removing everybody who had had access to the case files from the FBI detail at my fake funeral."
Veronica is thinking furiously. Alan—Mac said that was her handler—Alan thought the bombing was because of the copycat murder. So then Alan inadvertently alerted Carney that something was up by taking him off the funeral detail. When they realized Mac was my friend, and then there was all the publicity about Briar Hill...that's why they took Mac and Alan. Shit. Carney looks at her, and she quickly stammers, "You don't need to do this. Please...you don't need to hurt us. Please let us go."
Liam says sarcastically, "You know you can't trust a word she says. Lying little bitch. You should heard the crap she told us when we caught her in the River Stix."
Carney is still thinking, staring at each of them in turn. He whirls around and goes down below, returning a few minutes later with a bottle that looks like a cleaning solution. He opens the bottle and waves it for a moment under Keith's nose; Keith's head jerks up and his eyes open.
Ammonia, Veronica guesses. Dad....
Keith looks around blearily; he appears confused. Carney rips the tape off his face, and Keith coughs a little, still affected by the ammonia. "Hello, Mr. Mars. We've never met. I'm Agent Carney."
"FBI," Keith says warily. He tries to move his arms without success. "Why have you taken us? Where are we?"
"I'm asking the questions here. You've got a lot to answer for, Mr. Mars."
"Please let the others go. They've done nothing to you. There's no need to do this." Keith tries to keep his voice rational, as if speaking to a colleague. "There's no evidence against you.
"Not any more," Carney comments, chillingly. "The diner owner—that was definitely an oversight on my part." He checks his watch. "But I believe that little problem has gone away by now."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Rio Linda, CAMike drives down Elverta Boulevard to Howie's Bar, a dingy neighborhood bar with a neon rendition of a martini glass in the window. There are only a few cars in the lot; none of them are a blue Buick, and Mike quickly pulls out of the lot and heads for Mel's house. He turns left on Ninth Street. As he rounds a curve in the road, he sees two cars pulled over to the side of the road. A police cruiser, with lights flashing is just behind a blue Buick LeSabre. A deputy is exiting the police car.
Mike slows his car to watch. The police officer unsnaps his holster and places his hand over the gun on his waist as he approaches the Buick. The occupant of the Buick appears to be rifling in the glove compartment.
Mike quickly parks the car and pulls out his own weapon, keeping it held low as he jumps out of the car. In his other hand, he holds his federal ID with the badge clearly displayed. He stands behind his open car door and calls out, "Officer! I'm a federal agent. Do you need assistance?"
The deputy whirls around and reflexively fires off a bullet as Mike quickly takes cover behind the car door. He leans out and fires a shot, taking cover again. He looks over the door cautiously and sees the deputy running to the Buick. The passenger door is open: apparently Mel has exited the car during the shooting and run into a nearby patch of woods. The police officer begins to run after Mel, firing his weapon at the fleeing man. Mike pursues, taking several shots. One shot hits the deputy in the shoulder, and he falls to the ground facedown, writhing in pain.
Mike runs to the officer; he steps on the man's wrist and takes the gun. Mel can still be heard, running panicked through the trees. Mike calls out, "Melvin! Melvin Jones, I'm from the FBI. I'm here to protect you. I'm a friend of the people you spoke to today, Veronica Mars, her father Keith, and Logan Echolls. Mr. Jones...let me help you. This man was going to kill you. You're safe now."
Mel stops running and begins to walk back toward Mike. He approaches tentatively, his chest heaving from exertion. Mike pulls out his identification again and shows it to him. Mel says breathlessly, "What the hell is going on?"
The deputy tries to get up from the ground, and Mike says sternly, "Don't do it. I will shoot you again if I have to." He turns to Mel and relates grimly, "Those people you talked to today are missing. I believe they've been killed or kidnapped. And I think this man wanted to kill you because you're the only eyewitness in the Hannah Griffith murder case."
Mel's eyes widen in shock. "Killed?"
Mike nods. Keeping his weapon trained on the officer, Mike directs Mel to take the officer's handcuffs off his belt and secure his hands tightly behind his back. Mike asks brusquely, "Where's the key?"
The deputy shakes his head and refuses to answer.
"If you want me to call for medical attention, you'd better cooperate." Mike tells Mel, "Search his pockets. They often keep a spare key in their wallet as well, so look there too."
Mel gingerly searches the deputy's pockets, finally coming up with two identical handcuff keys. "Why can't we just call 9-1-1?"
"What makes you think this is the only Rio Linda policeman that wants to kill you?" Satisfied that the deputy is secure, Mike examines the bullet wound. "Just a flesh wound," he remarks. "It's already stopped bleeding. You'll live...unfortunately."
"Fuck you. You're interfering with an officer performing his duty," the deputy spits. "The sheriff will eat your ass for dinner."
"I'm already on suspension; I've got nothing to lose," Mike says sarcastically. "But someone I care about is missing and probably dead because of the people you work for." I'm going to be shit-canned for sure...I've broken every rule in the book by now...but at least the witness is still alive.
Mike looks up a number in his cell and dials his former and hopefully future supervisor at the FBI. "Sir...it's Michael Fields. I have a situation." He explains the situation tersely, summarizing his decisions over the past few hours and mentioning Agent Carney as a possible suspect. He listens, pulling the phone away from his ear and wincing at his boss's angry words. "Here he is." Mike passes the phone to Mel, explaining, "This is my supervisor; he wants to talk to you."
Mel reviews the day's events and confirms that the deputy lying handcuffed in front of them had, in fact, been shooting at him. He passes the phone back to Mike.
"Yes, sir. I understand. I'll stay on the line." He waits for several minutes, pacing, then responds, "The Neptune Sheriff has already spoken to the L.A. ADIC? And the local sheriff?" Mike sighs in relief. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He terminates the call. Mike looks up. "He's sending the nearest ranking field agent to take charge of the situation and to coordinate with local law enforcement. It looks like the Rio Linda sheriff has been working with the Neptune Sheriff's department. The sheriff is on his way here."
"But you said...."
"Too many people know what's happening now. I think you're safe, Mel." I wish I could say the same for Veronica.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Watsonville, CATwo Watsonville police officers are driving down Lee Road when a white van passes them going in the other direction. "What was that APB again in that possible kidnapping?" one officer muses thoughtfully.
"California plates, 2WC L12."
"That's the van. Hit the hammer."
His partner activates the siren, and they make a U-turn. The van slows down momentarily before taking off at high speed. The police officers pursue and call for backup.
Unnoticed by the police, a car following the van turns onto a side street and drives away.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Sunset Cliffs Apartments, Neptune, CAIn the Mars apartment, Weevil heads straight for Veronica's bedroom. He finds her cell in the charger and brings it out to the living room.
Dick asks, "Do you know Veronica's code?"
Weevil muses, "I'm pretty sure she preprogrammed it into the speed dial. I've watched her get her messages enough times. She just hits '1'. You know how she is..." He snaps his fingers twice. "She's got people to see, things to do; she can't waste time entering PIN numbers."
He hits '1', and the prompt says, "Please enter your password—" and the phone begins dialing five digits. "You have two saved voice messages. To listen to your messages, press one."
Weevil's eyes glaze over as Duncan begins to talk about his daughter Lilly. He hits '9' to save the message. The next message begins to play.
'Hey, Ronnie. Give me a call at 323-555-7839, that's my new cell. I can't wait to hang out in Neptune tomorrow night.'Weevil hits '1' to rewind and listens again. "It's Mac," he tells Dick. "But it's weird...."
"What?"
"You listen." He hands the phone to Dick.
Dick listens to the message twice. "Yeah, it's Mac. But...no way...she doesn't call Veronica 'Ronnie'. She always gave me shit for doing that, said that Veronica hated it."
"Do you think she could be making a joke?" Weevil asks.
"Let's call the number, see if Mac's there," Dick suggests. He dials the number and gets a recording: 'The number you have reached, area code 323, 555-7839 is not in service'.
Weevil is thoughtful. Finally, he says, "Let's take it to the sheriff."
"Sheriff Looney Tunes, are you kidding? He was trying to arrest Logan for killing Kendall," Dick says incredulously.
"Yeah, but he's helping us now, and we can't trace this number. Something's really wrong," Weevil says, slapping the phone in his palm.
"What are you talking about? What's going on?"
"We think an FBI agent killed Hannah Griffith, and Mac was in FBI custody. Figure it out," Weevil replies.
"What the hell are you talking about? An FBI agent killed Hannah?!"
Weevil nods. "Yeah, that's what Veronica thinks. You're sure Mac would never call her Ronnie, right?"
"Never," he says, emphatically. "Not like that."
"I think Mac was trying to warn Veronica," Weevil says.
"Wait...you mean?"
"I think Mac's in trouble too."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Somewhere in the United StatesVeronica watches as Carney keeps checking his phone, obviously expecting a call. Liam asks, "Nothing?" and Carney replies, "Not yet." The boat keeps driving through the water, heading further from shore every minute. The stars are incredibly bright tonight, mocking her with their ethereal beauty, and she feels defenseless and vulnerable.
Veronica's entire consciousness is consumed by her hatred for Carney. As much as she loathes Liam Fitzpatrick, Carney is even more fearsome: intelligent as well as evil. She tries to comfort herself by thinking about Mike doggedly pursuing every lead in Rio Linda, trying to discover what happened to her. Her eyes blur with tears as she imagines Wallace begging Leo to help investigate her disappearance.
Carney walks over. He squats down and stares at her face. "Let's start at the beginning, Veronica. You've been quite diligent in your efforts against us."
She exhales softly. "It wasn't against you. I just...I was trying to clear Logan of suspicion in Hannah's murder. The press was saying horrible things about him."
"Quite the little detective, aren't you?"
She doesn't know how to respond.
Carney stands. He prods, "What made you think there was somebody from the FBI involved?"
Hesitantly, she explains. Got to keep him talking. Got to think. "I got copies of the case files. I didn't see anything at first except...."
"What?"
"Hannah hadn't been using drugs, but she tested positive for heroin. And she didn't have a record for solicitation. And...I couldn't imagine that she had become a prostitute and a drug addict. So I thought...maybe it was a copycat killer."
He snaps his fingers in her face, making her jump. "Answer my question...why an FBI agent? And you seemed awfully sure this wasn't the Slasher. Why?"
"When I looked at the dates...the real Slasher only killed on Saturdays with a full moon. It wasn't a full moon the night Hannah was killed." With Carney staring at her angrily, she looks away and mumbles, "But Hannah had the mark carved on her chest. So the killer knew that the victims had been marked by the Slasher. Hannah's murderer had to have had inside information."
"Fuck, a full moon," Carney comments bitterly. "Fucking psychopaths and their crazy obsessions. Who else knows about this full moon business?" When she doesn't answer right away, he repeats angrily, "WHO KNOWS?!"
"A lot of people," she whispers. "I've known for weeks. But...a lot of people accessed the files who could have known the killer's M.O. And they could have gossiped about it. You don't need to do this! No one knows it's you. I didn't know it was you until...." She stumbles on the words. "Until you took us. You don't need to do this."
"You're not that stupid," he says chillingly. "Of course we need to do this. I want a list...everyone who knows."
Keith interrupts, "Are you really going to kill everyone Veronica told? And everyone they told? When does it stop?"
"Shut the fuck up, I'm trying to think," Carney yells. "Who did you tell, Veronica?"
Veronica tries to stall, staring at him nervously as she tries to think what to say to him.
Liam snorts. "She needs some motivation." He walks over to Logan and rips off the tape on his mouth. "I think this guy screaming might make her a little more cooperative. Stupid fuck," he says contemptuously, and he punches Logan hard in the nose.
Logan is rocked by the blow; his nose streams bright red blood, and he shakes his head trying to clear it so he can breathe. "Ah!!...Shit!...why the fuck do you hate me so much anyways?" Logan asks bitterly, his voice ragged and strained. He takes a snuffling breath and says rashly, "Why the hell did you set me up for Felix's murder? Why didn't you just let the case die? No one would have ever cared about a Mexican gang member killed in a knife fight, and the sheriff wasn't looking into it. What did I ever do to you anyways?"
"Not you...your bastard father."
"Aaron?" Veronica can't help asking. "What did Aaron do to you?"
Liam sneers, "About twenty-five years ago, I delivered some drugs to a wild party up the PCH...it was just after he filmed 'The Long Haul': Echolls was throwing a party, with all sorts of Hollywood types and a couple young girls—fourteen years old, sweet young things. One of them had really nice tits, a cute ass, and a heavy buzz on even before I got there. I remember the dirty fuck had her on his lap; he was holding a joint to her lips and teaching her how to inhale...with his hand halfway up her skirt. I guess Echolls forced her to have sex with him later that night. The next day, the girl accused him of rape."
Veronica glances at Logan. He's shell-shocked: even knowing intimately and explicitly just how evil Aaron was, the details still have the capacity to rock him to his core.
Liam whoops at Logan's dumbfounded expression. "You didn't think Lilly Kane was the first young girl he fucked, did you? I thought I was gonna bust a gut laughing when he finally got nailed for that one." He throws his head back and sniggers at Logan, enjoying the boy's fury. Finally, he continues, "So...when this girl started crying rape the next day, Echolls immediately tried to blame me...he said the girl was drunk, and he claimed he saw me take her into a bedroom. I had a record, only bullshit stuff, but it didn't matter...he was the big star, and I was the low-life mick drug dealer with a couple misdemeanor convictions. He must have paid off the girl, because she changed her story and said it was me. Five years in Chino because that cocksucker couldn't keep his dick in his pants." He laughs harshly. "Yeah, your dad was a hell of an actor."
Logan says intensely, "Don't you know I hate him too?"
"I don't give a fuck! I swore I'd make him pay, someday. Then you were stupid enough to be on the Coronado that night when Thumper took out Felix...." Liam shrugs. "I really enjoyed watching you squirm that year. My girl Kendall gave me all the details...while she was making you think you were God's gift to women. Hah!" Liam shakes his head incredulously. "As if you could satisfy a woman like Kendall."
Veronica says bitterly, "Your girl Kendall? You mean the girl you murdered. Nice way to treat a girl...but I guess murder's what you should expect if you get involved with the Fitzpatricks."
"I didn't kill Kendall," Liam replies. "I don't know who did, but they did me a huge favor."
Logan says, "Bullshit."
"Nope...didn't kill her. Wish I had...I really wanted to kick her ass after that crap she pulled on me with the Phoenix Land Trust. Stupid bitch, didn't know when she had it good," he muses. "Yeah...somebody did me a big favor killing Kendall. Why do you think we killed Hannah Griffith?"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Bound and Determined
Wallace stumbles on a clue; the conspiracy
starts to fall apart; Liam and Carney confront
Veronica; Kevin Carney makes a deal.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Eli: Francis Capra.
Leo: Max Greenfield. Dick: Ryan Hansen.
Agent Carney: Jason Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick:
Rod Rowland. Cliff: Daran Norris. Mike Fields:
Michael Trucco. Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Kevin
Carney: Noel Fisher. Sheriff: William Sadler.
Rio Linda Deputy #1: Ryan McPartlin. Frank:
Stephen Dorff. Mel: George Gerdes.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX: "BOUND AND DETERMINED"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Mars Investigations, Neptune, CA
Wallace tries to ignore the panic he feels as each minute goes by without word from Veronica. He keeps looking at his cell and willing it to ring before tearing his attention back to the computer screen. Using all the tricks that Veronica has shown him in the past, he's obtained Carney's social security number and run a credit check. The report from Experian is pristine: too pristine, Wallace thinks. Nobody has a flawless credit report these days. Carney's finances reflect a high-level bureau level employee with slightly above average, but not ostentatious, spending. He has a very normal mortgage on a modest home in Los Angeles and has cosigned a car loan for his nephew. All his payments are made on time, for the exact amount owed.
The only blot on Carney's record is a lawsuit from ten years ago, settled in Carney's favor. Wallace looks up the case; it's apparently a personal injury claim filed against Carney, dismissed with prejudice against the party who filed it. Wallace notes the name of the attorney of record for the case and, almost by habit, runs the lawyer's name through several databases. He frowns: the attorney went to the same college as Carney, Santa Clara University near San Jose. It takes some work, but he discovers that both Carney and the attorney were in the same fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and graduated one year apart. Wallace calls a friend of Keith's at AT&T; he explains the situation, and Keith's friend emails him Carney's telephone records. There are numerous phone calls to the attorney's San Francisco office.
Wishing that Veronica was there to help him, Wallace tries to research the attorney, wondering about a possible connection with Carney. The attorney is listed as a statutory agent for several offshore corporations whose principal stockholders are obscured. A search on the filings prepared by the attorney reveals that he seems to be a specialist in real estate trusts and holding corporations. Real estate trusts with hidden corporate officers, based in foreign countries, Wallace thinks. Perfect place to stash the proceeds of money laundering.
Wallace keeps digging, and after an hour of hard work, comes up with a list of assets owned by the corporations, including extensive real estate holdings in California. He prints out a list of the properties and heads over to the sheriff's department.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Watsonville, CAFrank nervously places a call. There's no answer, and he leaves a message. "Yo, it's me. Andy's been intercepted by our friends in blue. And there's a fucking Amber Alert for these people. What the fuck did you get me involved in? I'm out of it."
He terminates the call and throws the phone off the next overpass. Several miles ahead, he passes another roadway sign proclaiming 'Amber Alert', and he grimly speeds up, trying to put as much distance as possible between him and Thomas Carney.
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Sheriff's Department, Rio Linda, CAEveryone is talking at once, and the Rio Linda Sheriff's Department is buzzing with activity. The sheriff is trying to get Mike and Mel's story, but they are constantly interrupted. The deputy walks into the sheriff's office and announces, "They've located the van, in Watsonville. And someone with connections called the Governor, and he's employing the Amber Alert system." He puts a stack of photos on the sheriff's desk and walks out.
The sheriff exhales. "That's a lot of juice. Mr. Jones, we have some photos for you to look at. Have you ever seen any of these people?"
Mel Jones looks at all the photos carefully. "Yeah, this guy," he says, pointing at the picture of Thomas Carney. "He came in my diner last January. He was asking questions about Meredith...you know, that girl those people said was really...what was the name again?"
"Hannah Griffith," Mike supplies helpfully.
"Right, Hannah. Yeah, this is definitely the guy."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Somewhere in the United StatesLiam says scornfully, "Yeah...somebody did me a big favor killing Kendall. Why do you think we killed Hannah Griffith?"
"I don't understand," Veronica says, genuinely confused.
"Yeah, I needed Kendall dead. We had a bank account together in the Caymans: all the money we took from Casablancas...fucking millions, and I couldn't get it out. It was her stupid idea—a way to make sure we didn't screw each other over. It needed both of our signatures to get the money...or else a death certificate. So that money's been sitting there since she disappeared in the desert."
Once Liam begins talking, he seems unable to stop. "Last September one of my spies down in the Caymans told me a blonde woman was nosing around at the bank, trying to figure out how to get into that account. Yeah, a blonde bitch with big tits and an attitude...I knew it was fucking Kendall right away and figured that asshole Griffith did the work on her. Griffith was acting all squirrelly after I got back from the desert—real uptight, avoiding me. I thought it was 'cause he was nervous about the money laundering."
"But why did you kill Hannah?" Veronica asks, puzzled.
"I told Griffith I'd kill his family one by one if he didn't give me a picture of Kendall's new face. He tried to bullshit me for a couple months...I think he was afraid I would kill him anyway after I got a hold of Kendall's new face. Griffith told me he'd go to the feds with our money-laundering scheme if I didn't leave him alone. So...when Tom here stumbled on Hannah in Rio Linda, we upped the ante, showed him we meant it. The little fucker gave me Kendall's picture the next day...and he stopped talking about going to the feds."
"But you didn't kill Kendall. Of course not," Veronica says sarcastically. "So how did you stumble on Hannah?"
Carney says angrily, "Stop telling her this shit."
"Don't tell me what to do, dickhead. It's not like she's going to be able to tell anyone." Liam leans into Logan's face. "You know, one thing about Kendall...she was really good at fucking with your head. I bet you didn't know which way was up after she screwed you into the ground. She had a lot of talent in the bedroom." He breathes in, obviously remembering.
Suddenly Liam laughs brusquely. "Yeah, I hated your fucking father, Echolls. I was hoping you'd get your soft white ass tapped in prison the way mine was." He slaps Logan's cheek lightly with a sick smile on his face. "Pretty boy," he jeers. "Think the joint would have been tough on you. I was looking forward to telling your daddy how I fucked you over. Too bad he got himself killed."
"Go fuck yourself!" Logan whispers intensely. Suddenly he leans forward and bites Liam on the wrist hard, drawing blood, and falling off the seat in the process. Liam shakes his arm, trying to get Logan to let go. He pushes against Logan's head, screaming in pain. Logan kicks hard with his bound ankles and manages to topple Liam to the deck. Carney steps in and tries to separate them.
Veronica lets out a startled cry, "Logan, no!" But as Logan fights against Liam, she pulls her wrists apart, with her shoulder screaming in protest, and she unobtrusively starts to pick at the duct tape on her ankles. She watches closely, making sure that Carney's not looking in her direction.
Out of the corner of his eye, Keith notices what she's doing and immediately kicks out with his legs, knocking Carney flat to the deck. "Fucking asshole!" Carney yells. He struggles with Keith, and the four men tussle on the deck for several minutes before Carney grabs his gun and jams it into Keith's temple. Logan headbutts Liam one final time before Keith says in a stressed voice, "Logan, stop. Logan...stop, now."
During the fight, Veronica frantically gets the tape on her ankles loose; it's almost all the way off, and she's desperately trying to decide what to do next when Carney pulls his gun on her dad, and the fighting suddenly stops. She quickly pats it back into place and resumes her position with her hands behind her back just before Liam pushes Logan onto the seat next to her.
Liam is shaking his bleeding wrist. "You fucker! YOU FUCKER! You're going to pay for that." With his uninjured arm, he grabs Logan's hair and bends his head viciously back, spitting into his face, "I'm going to cut your cock off and shove it down your throat before I feed you to the sharks, motherfucker."
Veronica is completely petrified that they'll notice that the duct tape around her ankles isn't quite the same; she didn't have time to look at it when she had to abandon her task. She shakes with terror, completely frightened that all their lives depend solely on her. Her legs are trembling with the stress, and the tears run down her cheeks again...I can't do this, I'm not strong enough. Please don't look at the tape.
Suddenly Veronica realizes, horrified, that the piece of tape that had been on her wrists has fallen to the deck near Mac's feet. She looks toward Mac, trying to get her attention subtly, but Mac is oblivious. She tries to send the message: move your foot, put your foot on it, hide it.... Mac is keening and rocking back and forth in distress. Veronica's panic level is rising exponentially...think...think. She tries to press her leg against Mac's to no avail. Veronica doesn't dare speak for fear of attracting Carney's or Liam's attention. It's obvious now...there's no turning back. She needs to make her move soon.
Liam, holding his bleeding wrist tight against his torso, stomps down below into the galley, muttering to himself. Carney stares at her face thoughtfully, and she gazes back, frozen in terror. Keep focused on his eyes...keep him looking up. He taps the barrel of his gun on the palm of his other hand, almost playfully. Mac is now weeping heartrendingly beside her, and Logan is twitching and shaking. The blood running from Logan's nose and from a deep cut over his eye forces him to breathe through his mouth, and the sound of his agitated breathing and Mac's sobs fills Veronica's ears, ramping up her anxiety even more.
I don't want to die. Please...not yet. Please, I don't want to die.
Carney puts the barrel of his gun under her chin, pushing her jaw upward and her head back. He says calmly, "You're going to tell me everything I want to know. If you hold back, I'll make sure that they suffer while you watch and listen...and then, before I kill you, I'm going to turn you over to Brian. He's been begging me to let him play with you. You see, Veronica...there's no way I'm going to prison. And you're going to help me stay free."
Liam emerges from the companionway with a large band-aid plastered on his arm. He glowers at Logan, who glares back, unrepentant.
Carney glances at Liam and says, "I think you're right...Miss Mars does need a little more motivation. I've decided to give her a demonstration of our seriousness." He turns back and begins pointing to Keith, Logan, and Mac in turn, "Eeny, meeney, miney...moe," ending up on Keith again. "Yeah. The old guy. I don't trust him anyways."
~ • ~
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Neptune Sheriff's Department, Neptune, CAThis time, Wallace is shown into Sheriff D'Amato's office quickly. Leo, on the phone, motions to the chair opposite the desk. "Yes, sir. If I need anything, I'll be sure to call. And I'll apprise you of any developments." He hangs up and looks at Wallace. "Any idea how the governor came to be involved? He's authorized using the Amber Alert system to try to find them."
Wallace says, "Dick Casablancas...Logan and Veronica's friend? His mom's married to Schwartzenegger's business manager. He offered to contact the governor." He pushes the paper he's holding across the desk to Leo.
Leo looks at the list of properties briefly before asking, "What am I looking at?"
"These are all properties held by offshore corporations and holding companies with the same statutory officer. I think he's Carney's lawyer. So..." Wallace shrugs.
"So maybe these are really Carney's properties?"
"Maybe," Wallace replies. "When I looked at Carney's credit report, it looked a little too perfect. This lawyer went to college with Carney, and—" He breaks off speaking.
"What?"
"Carney calls him pretty often," Wallace adds reluctantly.
"How did you— Never mind, I don't want to know. I can get a warrant for the phone records myself," Leo muses. "It's good, maybe it'll be proof that Carney is involved with the money laundering, if we can trace how the money got into these accounts. But I don't think it will help us find Veronica and the others."
"Don't you think these properties should be checked out? Maybe he's kidnapped them and—"
Leo is shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I think you need to prepare yourself that they might already be dead."
Wallace is silent for a moment. Finally he says insistently, "You've got to try."
"All right," Leo replies reluctantly.
Sacks pokes his head in. "Sheriff, I've got Rio Linda on the line for you. And Kevin Carney's lawyer is here."
"Sacks, put Carney in interview two." Leo picks up the phone and listens. "You found Veronica's car....Really." He scribbles some notes. "That's...that's interesting. I have Mr. Mars' assistant here in my office. He's found some real estate that he suspects belongs to Agent Carney....No, none of the properties are in Rio Linda or Sacramento. Let's see...one's in Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta, Rockport, Monterey." He pushes his chair backward and looks at a wall map of California as he talks. "Watsonville, you said? Anything in the van?...Okay, ask them to call me when they're done processing the vehicle. I'll pursue these addresses on my end. I'll be in touch."
Leo hangs up and turns to Wallace. "Veronica's car was found abandoned in Rio Linda, with no sign of them. No sign of foul play either, though."
He sighs and continues, "Before the security guards got arrested, they noticed a van that might have been trying to intercept them. And police have located that vehicle in Watsonville, California. One guy, driving the van, with no one else inside, and nothing in it. The driver's not talking, but they found a blonde hair in the back. They're processing the van now for other evidence."
"Watsonville?"
Leo scoots backward to the wall map and beckons for Wallace. They look at the map. Rio Linda is just to the left of Sacramento, in the central northern part of the state. Watsonville is on the coast, just below San Jose. Wallace stabs at the map. "Monterey's not far from Watsonville. See?"
Leo calculates driving times as he ponders the map. "We last heard from them around 3:30 in Rio Linda, right? You said Veronica called Agent Fields at that time."
Wallace nods.
"If they were taken around 4:00..." Leo exhales thoughtfully. "If they pushed it, they could get to Monterey by 8:00, or 8:30, and then...up to Watsonville...that'd be about an hour north of Monterey."
"Why Watsonville?" Wallace muses.
"I don't know. The van was picked up around 10:00. So it's possible." He calls the local police in Monterey and ask them to check around the property there.
As he hangs up, the intercom buzzes, and Sacks announces, "Sheriff, Eli Navarro and Dick Casablancas are here. They're insisting on talking to you...something about Veronica's voicemail."
A few seconds later, Sacks brings Weevil and Dick into Leo's office; Wallace nods a greeting.
Leo says drily, "You've got some serious connections, Casablancas. The governor?" He shakes his head.
"I just hope it helps Veronica and Logan," Dick replies, with uncharacteristic solemnity.
Wallace glances at him, wondering again what the hell was going on between him and Veronica.
"You said you had something for me?" Leo says abruptly.
Weevil puts Veronica's phone on the desk. "Veronica got two calls on her cell phone in the last twenty-four hours. One was from Duncan Kane and the other from Cindy Mackenzie...you know...."
"Right, Mac, the one in witness protection...the funeral. So? They're friends, it's not surprising that she'd call Veronica."
"Mac doesn't sound right," Weevil explains. "We think she was trying to send Veronica a message by calling her 'Ronnie'. It looks like Veronica listened to both messages—there's an incoming call from the prepaid cell she was using up in Rio Linda. Check it yourself...it's speed dial '1', her PIN is already programmed in. It's the second message."
Leo picks up the phone and listens to the voicemail. He listens carefully twice before hanging up. "What time did she check in to get her messages?"
Wallace says, "Around twelve o'clock according to her phone records. Let me hear the message." He takes the phone and listens to the message. He shakes his head and hands the phone back to Leo, saying, "Something's definitely up."
Weevil says, "We tried to call the number on the message, and it just says that it's not in service. It's an L.A. number. See for yourself, it's on the outgoing calls list."
Leo hits the menu key and 'send' and listens to the automated message before hanging up.
Dick butts in, "I talked to Veronica around twelve o'clock. She called me asking—" He hesitates, "She was asking about something to do with my little brother...something that she just realized." His eyes flick to Wallace momentarily. He explains to Leo, "You know, Cassidy?"
Leo nods.
Dick continues, "Veronica was pretty upset. If Mac was trying to send her a message, she might have been too freaked out to catch it."
Wallace suggests, "You know, you could probably get in touch with Mac through the U.S. Marshals and see what's going on. Maybe Veronica did talk to her. It's worth checking out."
Leo thinks for a minute. "All right. Thanks for coming in. If you find anything else, let me know right away."
As Wallace, Weevil, and Dick leave, Sacks tells Leo, "Carney and his lawyer are ready in interview two."
Before Leo can even sit down, Kevin Carney blusters, "How long are you going to keep me here? What are the charges?"
Cliff McCormack says to Leo, "They're so cute when they're young, aren't they?" He turns to Kevin. "Mr. Carney, I've explained to you several times that you should avail yourself of the right to remain silent."
Leo says abruptly, "Counselor, we found eight ounces of methamphetamine in your client's apartment, so it looks like he's going to be a guest of the county. And, as I told him, I've been making sure that everyone knows how cooperative he's been."
"This is bullshit!" Kevin yells furiously. "You're going to get me killed." He turns to Cliff and asks, "Can he do this? Can he lie to everyone and say that I ratted?"
Cliff replies, "I can't control what the sheriff does. Unfortunately, he can say whatever he wants, as long as it's not actually slander. And I don't think calling you cooperative rises to the level of slander."
"This is your last chance to tell me what I need to know, Mr. Carney." Leo stands up to leave. "Maybe you'll be lucky, and your bail bondsman will be faster than the Fitzpatricks."
"Wait," Kevin says.
Leo turns and stares at Kevin without speaking. Kevin whispers in Cliff's ear. Cliff shrugs and says, "See what they're offering."
Kevin announces, "I want to make a deal."
Leo looks skeptical. "What have you got to make a deal?"
"I talked to Uncle Tom last night."
"And?" Leo presses. "Do you know where he is now?"
"Unh-unh. I want a deal in writing. I want the meth charges and the bullshit accessory charges dropped."
Leo puts a piece of paper in front of Cliff. Cilff reads the document quickly and says shrewdly, "You're very prepared, Sheriff."
"I was hoping your client would see the light."
Kevin asks, "What? What is it?"
Cliff explains, "This agreement gives you immunity on the methamphetamine possession, and any charges for intent to sell, resisting arrest, and accessory to murder, provided that the information you give the sheriff is true to the best of your knowledge."
"It expires in five minutes," Leo adds. "Take it or leave it."
"Whose murder are we talking about here?" Cliff asks, reading the document again. He looks up, startled. "Veronica...Keith...Logan Echolls? Sheriff, what's going on?"
"They've been kidnapped and are presumed to be in danger. Kevin, you've got four minutes to decide."
Cliff seems upset and struggles to maintain his composure. "Mr. Carney, the deal appears to be in order," he manages. He glances at Leo, who puts a pen in front of Kevin suggestively.
Kevin looks at Cliff uncertainly. Cliff nods, and Kevin signs the paperwork.
"Where's your uncle, Kevin?" Leo asks.
"I heard him say something about getting the boat ready. He keeps a boat at the house in Monterey. That's all I know."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Lex Talionis
Showdown.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Keith: Enrico Colantoni. Mac: Tina Majorino.
Agent Carney: Jason Isaacs. Liam Fitzpatrick:
Rod Rowland. Brian: Scott Elrod.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN: "LEX TALIONIS"
Sat. 3/21/09 evening: Pacific Ocean, near Monterey, CA
Carney points at Keith, Logan, and Mac in turn, saying, "Eeny, meeney, miney...moe," and ending up on Keith again. "Yeah. The old guy. I don't trust him anyways." Carney motions with his head, and he and Liam drag Keith by his upper arms to the side of the boat.
Keith struggles, saying as calmly as possible, "Don't do this. Please don't do this." He tries to resist with his bound feet, dragging them on the deck to no avail.
"Shut the fuck up," Liam growls. "Should have taken you out years ago."
Carney yells up to the pilothouse, "Shut down the engines, Brian." A few seconds later, the engines throttle down to an idle. They push Keith up to the rail, and Carney says, "Say bye-bye to your lovely daughter."
"I love you, Veronica," Keith says, choking back tears. He looks behind him and tries to smile at her. "I'm so proud of you. Logan, take care of her."
Her dad is silhouetted against the dark night sky, with nothing beyond but the sea. No...no...please, don't let this be the last time I see him...I don't want to see this in my mind's eye every time I think of him. For a second, she closes her eyes, ridiculously trying to avoid this, trying to make it go away by refusing to look at it. And she is overwhelmed by self-doubt, certain that there is no way she will be able to save them. It's just not possible...how can I possibly...Dad...I'm so sorry. Please...somebody...come and help us...please help me....
I have to do it now. Now.
"Dad," Veronica breathes. She tries again to placate Carney and force a delay. "Please, Agent Carney, I'll tell you what you want to know. Please don't do this! Please don't hurt my dad." They ignore her, and she looks around the boat desperately. I need a weapon...something...they're so much stronger than me. Two of them...I need help. Behind her back, she clasps and unclasps her hands, trying to decide how to make a move...when to make a move. Beside her, Mac is sobbing loudly, completely out of control.
Liam and Carney push Keith over the rail into the water. They hear a loud splash, and Liam starts laughing. He points down to the water, nudging Carney, who nods approvingly.
No...Dad...No!....
Veronica pictures her dad, trying to keep his head above water with his wrists bound behind his back. They hear the sound of Keith's frenzied movements in the water. She feels completely nauseated, realizing that he can't possibly last long in the cold water with his recent head injury and bound limbs.
No one's coming to help. It's now or never. Now. Now.
About ten feet away, she sees a red fire extinguisher mounted to the bulkhead just past the companionway. She stares at it, trying to calculate if she can get to it and then use it as a weapon without being intercepted.
Liam takes his gun from his waistband and aims it at the water. "A little target practice, what do you think?" They hear three loud bangs as he squeezes the trigger, and the splashing sounds stop. Liam peers into the darkness, trying to locate Keith in the water. He fires wildly into the waves. "There he is...fuck! Missed him." Carney watches, enjoying the show.
Veronica bends over and releases her ankles from the duct tape. She sprints soundlessly to the fire extinguisher. She pulls on it sharply with her left hand, and the quick-release mechanism opens, freeing the device. Without hesitation, she takes five quick steps to a spot just behind Liam, lining up her right side with his back. Veronica swings the extinguisher as hard as she can from her left to the right, aiming the device for Liam's head. As her right arm reaches its full extension, her shoulder displaces again with an agonizing flash of pain, but the fire extinguisher makes contact with Liam's head with a sickening thud. She loses her grip on the extinguisher, and it clatters to the deck with a loud bang as Liam crumples, with his gun flying over the side. Liam lies on the deck, his body slack and unmoving.
Carney turns toward her in surprise, and she viciously kicks him in the crotch. Before he can recover, she throws her entire body weight against him and knocks him off-balance. She kicks his leg out from under him, and he hits the deck. Carney's head bounces brutally on the teak wood with a resounding smack. Using the heel of her left palm, she strikes him as hard as she can in the nose. Carney tries to get the gun that is tucked behind his back in his waistline, but suddenly Logan is there, wavering on his bound feet. Logan throws his own weight on top of the agent, and Veronica scrambles for the gun.
She manages to get it loose from his belt but loses it underneath him. The three of them roll around, with Carney cursing loudly and trying to inflict as much damage as possible. Carney gets the advantage and rolls her under him, with Logan clumsily trying to maneuver himself and using his body to try to knock against Carney. Carney bears down, putting his full weight and pressure on her damaged shoulder, and she screams. With a superhuman effort, Logan throws himself into Carney and pushes him off her...directly into the path of Mac's kicking legs. Mac connects with Carney's face, and he finally stops moving.
Veronica scuttles to the gun and takes it in her left hand. She crawls over to Carney and places the barrel under his chin, exactly as he had done to her a short while before. "Don't fucking move...I have no reason to keep you alive," she whispers intensely, gasping for breath. "Hands where I can see 'em."
Logan rolls to her, pushing himself with his feet. "Your dad," he pants. They listen, hoping to hear splashes from the water.
Veronica violently shoves the gun upward into Carney's neck and hisses, "Do you have a knife?" Carney stares back coldly, and she strikes him on the cheek with the butt of the gun. "A knife!" she repeats with hostility.
"Left front pocket," he finally replies, his fury barely concealed.
It kills her to use her right hand to dig in his pocket, with every nerve ending screaming in agony and the pain shooting from her shoulder throughout the length of her arm. She keeps the gun pressed firmly under his jaw and doesn't break eye contact with Carney while she fumbles for the knife. Finally it's in her hand. She uses her teeth to grasp the blade and open the penknife. Logan extends his hands to her, and she holds the blade steady while Logan moves his wrists until the tape separates. He takes the knife from her; she relinquishes it gladly and presses her throbbing arm against her side. Logan saws through the tape on his ankles and then goes to Mac and releases her. He walks over to Liam and kneels, checking his pulse. He shakes his head, and Veronica realizes she just doesn't care that Liam's dead.
Logan comes back to her and motions with his head toward the pilothouse. "Brian," he whispers. He rubs at his bloodied face without much effect.
She nods. "Try...Dad...please," she says incoherently, her eyes blurring over, hoping that the lack of sounds from the water doesn't mean what she's sure it means.
He nods. He kicks off his shoes and strips to his shorts as quickly as possible.
Mac whispers, "I think I saw some more duct tape down below."
Veronica nods, and Mac quickly and silently goes down the companionway. Logan slips over the side of the boat into the water, meeting Veronica's eyes momentarily before he disappears from her view. Mac returns with a roll of duct tape; she tears off a strip and puts it over Carney's mouth. He glares at her with hatred.
Veronica orders, "On your face, hands behind your back." Carney stares back balefully, and she says bitterly, "Oh, fuck this," and moves to pull the trigger. He breathes out and rolls over, putting his hands behind his back. Veronica mutters, "Tight, Mac."
Mac wraps the duct tape around his wrists, yanking his arms together as tightly as possible, and using far more tape than absolutely necessary. Veronica checks the result and nods. Mac tapes his ankles thoroughly as well. Veronica watches, thinking hard, with her eyes narrowed in concentration. As menacingly as she can, she whispers, "Bring your ankles to your wrists. Do it!!" She motions to Mac that she should secure Carney's ankles to his wrists, hogtying him. The agent looks significantly uncomfortable, and Veronica smiles in satisfaction. She kneels to the deck and quickly but thoroughly searches him, finding no other weapons. She takes his cell phone and puts it in her pocket.
Veronica whispers, "Help Logan. I'm going to get Brian."
Mac peers over the side of the boat as Veronica walks around the boat stealthily to the steps leading to the pilothouse. Mac strains her eyes and sees Logan diving underneath the water. He stays under for a minute before emerging to try again.
Veronica tiptoes around the corner and stops, listening intently. She holds the gun so tightly that her knuckles begin to ache; she consciously reminds herself to relax and focuses on her breathing. She counts to twenty-five, and still she hears nothing. She peers around the corner, but she can't see Brian. As quietly as she can, she places her foot on the first step and begins to climb. On the top step, she is suddenly able to see Brian's shoulder. She stops and holds her breath. She listens intently for movement and thinks she hears a faint sound. She closes her eyes momentarily to gather her courage before she rounds the corner into the pilothouse.
Brian is sitting down beside the steering console, obliviously reading FHM Magazine. He looks up, startled, and she points the gun at him and says, struggling to keep her voice steady, "Don't move. I've already killed Liam, and I'll kill you too if I have to."
He keeps his eyes on her and stays silent. She instructs him, "Put your hands up. Stand up slowly and walk down to the deck."
"What about—"
"Shut up," she replies.
On deck, Mac divides her attention between watching Logan diving and checking on Carney. She keeps glancing over at Liam, who is still and unmoving. She catches herself shaking and wills herself to be calm, but her body is uncooperative and trembles uncontrollably.
Brian walks around the corner, his hands held up in front of him. Veronica is right behind, with the gun pointed at his back. Veronica asks quietly, "My dad?" and Mac shakes her head. Mac grabs the duct tape and tapes up Brian as they had with Carney, hogtying him as well. Veronica cautiously searches him for weapons, finding only another knife. Before they tape his mouth, she asks, "Are there any other guns?"
He refuses to answer and spits at her. "Fuck you, bitch."
Veronica presses, "What was the plan? Where are we headed?" but Brian stays silent.
Mac goes back to the side of the boat and looks for Logan again. Logan emerges from underwater again...but this time he is supporting Keith's head above the water. He cries weakly, "Mac..." and goes underwater again.
"Veronica! He's got your dad!" Mac cries.
Veronica rushes to the side. Logan struggles to the surface, obviously having a hard time keeping Keith above the waterline. She looks around for a rope or a life preserver. "Dammit!" she swears loudly. She runs to the bow and finds a long line. Tucking the gun into the waistband of her pants, she fumbles with the knot, cursing her ineptitude. Veronica finally frees the rope and runs back to the stern.
Logan sees her tying the line to one of the stanchions. Veronica hands the rope to Mac, saying, "You do it. I can't throw it left-handed." Mac is about to try to toss the rope to him when Veronica hears him yell, "Stop!" His next words are garbled by the wind and the waves. Veronica looks at Mac helplessly. "What did he say?"
Logan yells again, and Mac and Veronica strain to hear his words. Mac turns to Veronica and says, "Loop, I think he's saying tie a loop." Demonstrating, Mac yells to Logan, "You want us to make a loop?" Logan nods; he and Keith disappear beneath the waves again momentarily before reemerging.
Mac struggles with the rope, trying to make a knot. Veronica takes the line from her and ties a loop with a two-foot diameter. She holds it up to show Logan. He nods and motions with his head, and Veronica passes the rope to Mac again. Mac throws the rope, but it falls far short. She pulls it back in quickly. Veronica suddenly realizes the problem and says, "Use the weight of the rope: gather up more of it, and then throw it." Mac coils the line messily and throws it again. It lands in the waves about five feet from Logan, and he swims toward it, managing to grasp it. He pulls the loop over his head and under his and Keith's shoulders.
It's obvious that Logan is close to exhaustion; he closes his eyes for a second. He yells weakly, "Pull!"
Veronica looks at Mac. "You've got to do most of the work, Mac. I can't use my right arm at all now." Her right arm is hanging limply by her side; she thinks that she would have passed out by now without all the adrenaline coursing through her system.
Mac pulls hard, but she too is weakened. Veronica realizes she may not have even eaten for two days, and Mac makes little progress against the forceful waves. She grabs Mac around the waist with her left arm, and the two of them strain and struggle to pull in the line. Finally they draw Logan and Keith beside the boat.
Logan slips the loop from under his arms and ties an additional length of line around Keith's torso before attempting to get out of the water. With Mac's help, he finally heaves himself up and out of the water. Gasping for breath and shivering with cold, he and the girls maneuver Keith out of the water and onto the deck.
"Dad...Dad!" Veronica exclaims worriedly. "Is he breathing? Logan, did he get shot?"
Logan, still out of breath, shakes his head. "Don't think so. Mac, go below and get us all the blankets you can find. Veronica...you need to do mouth-to-mouth...I'll do compressions."
They lay Keith flat on the deck and take their positions. Veronica tilts Keith's head back and breathes in two slow breaths. Logan positions his hands on Keith's chest and chants quietly, "And one, and two..."
Mac reappears with blankets. When Logan takes a break from the compressions so Veronica can breathe for Keith, he arranges the blankets on top of Keith. He starts pumping up and down again on Keith's chest, and Veronica says, "Logan...you're shivering."
"I can do it," Mac offers. "You have to get warm, Logan."
On the next break for the rescue breaths, Logan helps Mac get in position and watches her until she gets the hang of doing compressions. When he's satisfied, he grabs his clothes and gets dressed. Logan says, "I'm going to call for help."
He goes up to the pilothouse and turns the VHF radio to channel sixteen. "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday." Glancing at the metal identification plaque on the steering console and the GPS, he continues, "This is the vessel Busted Flush. I repeat, Mayday. Our position is 26.58 Latitude by 122.65 Longitude. We need immediate assistance for a medical emergency. We have one dead, one unconscious; we need police and medevac. Seven people on board. Mayday." There is no response, and Logan repeats the message.
"Come in, Busted Flush. This is the Coast Guard, we read you, medical emergency. Can you give me your name and the names of the passengers?"
"Logan Echolls, Veronica Mars, Keith Mars, Cindy Mackenzie, Thomas Carney, Liam Fitzpatrick, and Brian...I don't know his last name. This is a police matter, I repeat, we require law enforcement assistance."
There is a sudden silence, and Logan panics. He triggers the radio button again, "Do you read me? This is Logan Echolls on the vessel Busted Flush. Mayday."
"We read you. The Coast Guard is in your area. They've been searching for you. Is the ship's captain injured? Is your vessel underway?"
"The captain is not able to operate the vessel. I'm an experienced sailor and the vessel is operable, but I am not familiar with the area."
"Set your course as follows, and the cutter Matagorda will intercept you." Logan follows the instructions and engages the engines.
Down on the deck, Keith takes a gasping breath and pukes up a large quantity of seawater, with most of it going onto Veronica. Veronica begins to cry in relief. Keith's eyes flutter open and close again. She tucks the blanket tightly around him and checks his pulse. "Weak, but steady. He's so cold," she reports to Mac in a quavering voice. She counts his respirations, still worried. The boat begins to move, and Veronica says, "Go see what's happening, Mac."
"You did it, Veronica," Mac says quietly. "I don't know how you did it. I can't believe how brave you are."
The Coast Guard meets up with them a half-hour later. The paramedics determine that Keith is in stable condition and transport him to the Coast Guard cutter. When they are all finally safe on the Coast Guard vessel, Veronica collapses into Logan's arms and refuses to speak. The paramedics attempt to examine her, but she shakes her head. She buries her face into Logan's shoulder as he gently rocks her and murmurs, "It's over, it's over."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Back From the Brink
Logan, Keith, Mac, and Veronica
recover in the hospital.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Mac: Tina Majorino. Nurse #1: Angel Laketa
Moore. Nurse #2: Linda Shing. Dr. Kellerman:
David Spielberg.
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT: "BACK FROM THE BRINK"
Sat. 3/21/09, very late: Monterey Community Hospital, Monterey, California
In the darkened hospital room, Logan sits watching Veronica breathe as she sleeps in her hospital bed. He remembers doing this compulsively back in Vermont—unbelievably, just a week ago—counting eleven breaths, twelve breaths a minute, trying to see some sign in normalcy in her visage, even though he was desperately afraid she would never be normal again after what Klein had put her through. Now, she is sedated and resting comfortably. He wonders momentarily what the hell 'normal' means, anyway.
On the Coast Guard cutter, she had watched fearfully from Logan's encircling arms as the paramedics worked on her dad, trying to raise his core body temperature and assessing his head injury. One of the EMTs had tried unsuccessfully to examine her, but she had shaken her head, refusing to leave the comfort of Logan's lap while steadily keeping her eyes trained on her father. Logan finally persuaded her to allow the paramedic to look at her. Veronica had sucked in her breath with an audible gasp when the EMT maneuvered her arm. He radioed in for permission to administer narcotics; Veronica protested loudly, but Logan had convinced her to allow it. As the IV began to work, she had visibly relaxed and her eyes had drooped. She sighed aloud; her eyes fluttered open, and she said to Logan, "Take care of Dad...and Mac." He had nodded, and she had dropped off to sleep.
When they had arrived at the hospital, Logan had taken charge. The doctors had shooed off the waiting federal agents, telling the agents that none of them were in any condition to be questioned, and for that small favor, Logan was eternally grateful. Mac still seemed to be in shock, and Veronica and Keith were barely conscious, so it had fallen to Logan to sign papers and tell nurses that no one had allergies and just what traumas they had all been through. He had snapped loudly at the nurse when she asked him for their insurance cards, explaining in a loud voice that they had been kidnapped against their will and who the hell knew where their possessions were. She had stared back, almost frightened at his angry demeanor. He muttered an apology and impatiently gave the information as best he could.
Once Keith was admitted to the ICU and Mac had been determined to be suffering from nothing more than dehydration and exhaustion—at least physically—he had rushed back to Veronica's side. Upon feeling the touch of his hand on hers, she had opened her eyes and whispered, "Dad?"
He nodded and replied, "They think he's going to be fine. They're watching him for internal bleeding or pressure on the brain."
"Right, subdural hematoma...like you had," she mused weakly.
Logan added, "They said the cold water probably helped him survive...but it was lucky the Coast Guard was nearby."
She closed her eyes in mute response.
He didn't tell her that they had said the next few hours were important and that there was always a possibility of long-term neurological problems from the near-drowning. Whatever happened, they would get through it. He had to believe that Keith was tough. He tried to push away the memory of that cold, limp body that he had struggled to keep above the buffeting waves.
A nurse frowned and leaned in to look at Logan's bloody forehead. "Has anyone looked at this cut? It needs stitches."
Logan had brushed her aside carelessly, squeezing Veronica's hand. "Everything's going to be fine, Veronica. Don't worry about your dad. They're taking good care of him. I'm making sure of it."
The nurse persisted. "Sir...you need to have stitches."
Veronica grimaced and her eyes reopened. "Don't let an intern stitch you. Get a plastic surgeon. You have enough scars. ...Promise me."
He scoffed, but had finally agreed under Veronica's intense stare. "You're so bossy," he had muttered, not meaning a word of it. "All right, I promise."
The doctor had shaken his head worriedly while examining her shoulder. "You must have been hurting a great deal," he commented. Despite the strong painkillers, Veronica had visibly winced as he palpated her joint. The doctor pulled Logan aside to speak to him privately. "The officer told me she swung a fire extinguisher at a man who was threatening to kill you. It must have been excruciating for her."
"There wasn't a choice," Logan had responded. He had thought, 'She didn't just swing at Liam. She hit the motherfucker, killed him dead. She took on an armed man, with only a fire extinguisher for a weapon and saved us all.'
The doctor sighed. "Her temperature is slightly elevated. You said she's recovering from a kidney infection? I need to speak to the treating physician."
Logan provided the name of Veronica's doctor in Vermont, and after a hurried phone consultation, antibiotics were added to her IV.
"Sir, step back; we're going to sedate her and move her to a private room. I've ordered a surgical consult with our chief of orthopedics for the morning. Right now, she needs to rest." After pushing a vial of medication into Veronica's IV, the rails were raised on the side of her hospital gurney. The doctor pushed Logan aside, and he reluctantly watched as they wheeled Veronica out of the room.
Logan turned to the nurse and said, "You heard the lady. Where's the nearest plastic surgeon?" The nurse began to protest, spluttering about unnecessary caution for a simple wound stitch, but Logan shut her down with a firm shake of his head. "Plastic surgeon," he reiterated. "I have excellent insurance."
The nurse sighed and picked up the phone to issue a page.
After the plastic surgeon had finished fastidiously stitching the cut over Logan's eyebrow and the nurse had cleaned all the dried blood from his face, the federal agents became more persistent and had insisted that Logan give a statement. Their questions had taken a solid hour; Logan had described the man called 'Frank', who had apparently eluded capture. At times, the agents had fallen silent and looked at Logan in disbelief, seemingly unwilling to accept that 5'1" Veronica Mars had somehow managed to kill 6'2" Liam Fitzpatrick with a fire extinguisher and then subdued a seasoned, armed FBI agent. Logan related the revelations that Carney had made and tied them to the money-laundering scheme that was already splashed across the news. The agents seemed to be shaken by the idea that a high-level FBI agent could be responsible for everything Carney had freely admitted on the boat. When Logan asked what Carney had said when he was questioned, the two agents exchanged a quick glance and admitted that Carney had refused to say a word except to ask for an attorney.
When the agents had finally concluded questioning Logan, the hospital admissions department had offered him a private room, but he had asked for a cot in Veronica's room instead. They had argued, saying that it "was contrary to hospital policy" for a non-relative, but Logan was adamant. He wasn't leaving her. He had tried to lie down, intending to close his eyes, but sleep eluded him. Logan was exhausted, physically and emotionally, but he kept reliving the fight on the boat—he was still incredulous that they had somehow managed to survive. He finally gave up and moved to the chair next to Veronica's bed where he could sit and watch her sleep.
She stirs a little now in her sleep, and he tenses, waiting to see if he needs to call the nurse. She relaxes again, and he realizes he had stopped breathing. He catches himself timing his breaths to hers, somehow symbiotically tied to her without even trying.
It all seems so fucking random, and that's what scares the shit out of him. If Liam had turned around and ducked when Veronica was aiming the fire extinguisher at his head...if Mac hadn't been able to kick Carney in the face when she did...if Keith hadn't kept his head above water for as long as he did...if Liam had been a better shot...if he hadn't been provoked into biting Liam...if Veronica hadn't grabbed the gun before Carney could.... He shakes his head. They had been so goddamn close to dying.
He hears the quiet snick of the door opening, and he turns. Mac walks in, trailing an IV on a wheeled metal stand, her face pale and her movements uncertain. "The nurse said...she said I could see how Veronica's doing. She's okay? She looks...." Mac sighs anxiously. "She looks so tired."
"Mac, you should be sleeping," Logan protests. "Veronica's okay. They have her on antibiotics and painkillers. The surgeon's going to look at her shoulder tomorrow. You should go back to bed and try to get some rest."
"When I close my eyes, all I see is...." Mac's voice trails off. After a silence, she continues shakily, "You know, my...my last hope was Veronica, that she would understand the message I left her...when they brought you guys on the boat, I knew...I knew I was going to die. Logan, I keep seeing them push Mr. Mars off the boat, and Liam...pointing his gun, pulling the trigger...." She starts to cry and shake visibly.
"Mac, it's all right, you're safe now," Logan says. He stands up and folds her into his arms, careful to avoid the IV coming from the back of her hand. "Are your parents coming?"
She nods against his chest. Mac mumbles, "Tomorrow." Suddenly, she laughs incongruously. "Dick apparently got the governor involved; Schwarzenegger sent his personal jet to fly my parents up here first thing in the morning."
"Dick did what?" Logan replies, surprised.
"One of the agents said the governor authorized sending out the Coast Guard...that's why they were already in the area."
"How did they know where to go?" Logan asks, puzzled. He strokes Mac's back, trying to calm her shaking.
"I think Wallace figured it out. I don't know. I think...everyone was trying desperately to figure out where they had taken us. Somehow they figured out that something was wrong."
Logan thinks, not for the first time, how foolish they had been to traipse up to Rio Linda. Their precautions now seem ridiculously inadequate: hiding by using cash, with just two security guards following, both he and Keith armed...not nearly enough. But then he realizes: if it hadn't been Rio Linda, Carney and Liam would have tracked them down in Neptune sooner or later, probably with tragic results. He shakes his head again; the effort of assimilating all the traumas of the last twenty-four hours is still beyond him. And he knows that it's even worse for Mac, trembling in his arms after living with this terror for two—almost three—days. He whispers into the top of Mac's head, "Mac, you need to rest. You're exhausted."
"Logan...I keep thinking this is the dream; I'm going to wake up and still be tied up with Carney pointing a gun at me." She says tremulously, "You know, he killed Alan in front of me. He just picked up a gun and shot him...there was blood everywhere...on the wall, it dripped down, oozing...." Mac sobs quietly. "I was too scared even to scream. Logan, he killed him. He killed him." As she talks, her voice speeds up and rises in pitch, betraying her anxiety. "I can't close my eyes, I can't! You're sure Mr. Mars is okay? He was in the water for so long!"
"He's fine. Mac, you're safe now; Carney's in custody, there's no way he can hurt you. It's all right." He pats her shoulders, trying to soothe her. "You were so brave to try to send Veronica a message. You must have been so scared. You're all right now, Mac. Let me get the nurse. Maybe you should have something to help you sleep."
"No!" she protests loudly. "He made me take something. I won't take anything!"
"Okay, okay, I won't call the nurse. Mac, I'm right here. This isn't a dream. We're all safe. Your mom and dad are going to be here soon."
"Logan, I'm so sorry...I wanted to warn Veronica about them, but I couldn't think of anything else. I'm so stupid. Of course she didn't figure it out," she says with bitter self-loathing.
"Mac—you did great. If you hadn't been there, we might not have—" Logan breaks off suddenly, realizing the almost coincidental nature of their victory over Carney and Liam is not the best way to reassure her. "Mac, it's all right. We're all safe."
"Please don't make me go back to my room. I don't want to be alone," she begs him, desperately clutching his waist. "Please don't make me be alone. Let me stay here with you and Veronica. I'm so scared."
"Of course you can stay." He sits down and cautiously pulls her onto his lap. "Just put your head against me. You can close your eyes if you want. I'm right here. Veronica's right there. We're all okay. Look at Veronica. She's doing fine. Her dad's okay, you're okay, I'm okay."
Mac whimpers softly, and he rocks her gently in his arms. Gradually she relaxes her head against his chest as he strokes her back. He is suffused with fury at Carney for doing this to Mac.
He remembers going with Veronica to find Mac quaking with fear in her room at the Neptune Grand after Beaver had abandoned her; this is too much for her. Mac doesn't deserve this. He recalls silently rejoicing with Veronica freshman year as Mac began to date again and seemed to forget about Beaver. Their conversations had been oblique and vague, with neither he nor Veronica willing to spell out just what Beaver had done to all of them. 'Mac's doing good, don't you think?' 'She seems happy.' They never said the unspoken words: 'after what that bastard did.'
And then...he abruptly thinks about Hannah, begging for her life, protesting as Carney shot heroin into her veins and dyed her hair back to her natural color. Poor Hannah, after enduring the school and finally turning eighteen so that she could maybe resume her life and then...suddenly they took her, and she wouldn't have understood why this was happening. Did Carney gain her confidence by showing her his FBI identification? Logan remembers how fragile and delicate she had appeared...but tougher inside than she looked, willing to defy her father to continue seeing him, and brave enough to run from the school when she got her chance. And then...living all alone in Rio Linda: unwilling to make friends, lying low and surviving any way she could.
He pictures the gruesome autopsy photos that Veronica had reluctantly shown him and angrily imagines Carney wielding a scalpel on Hannah's chest, carefully imitating the design from the Slasher's victims. He has a vivid flash of Carney frowning, concentrating as he worked on the dead girl's tender skin, comparing his efforts to a crime scene photo and then staging the body exactly as it needed to be, with Hannah's limp form nestled up against a reeking dumpster in a seedy Los Angeles alley.
He shakes his head to try to erase the horrifying image. Logan realizes that Mac has fallen into an exhausted slumber in his arms.
The overwhelming question—the one that sucks all the oxygen from his body when he lets himself go there—is how will Veronica be?
He knows. He saw it in her eyes. She had almost given up, had almost refused to let him rebind her wrists, even knowing that it would mean giving up their only chance. She had been so close to broken. Klein had started the job—well, if he's honest with himself, he had been the one to start the process, by running away from her back in January—Klein had started to break her and almost succeeded, but Carney had been determined to finish her off. And she had accepted that fact. She had accepted that she had been beaten.
Somehow he had managed to pull her back from the brink...Logan had convinced her not to give up, and somehow she had done it, she had saved them.
But he wonders how she will be...now that it's over, now that she knows she can be broken.
~ • ~
Sun. 3/22/09, very early: Monterey Community Hospital, Monterey, CaliforniaThe nurse gently taps Logan's shoulder. "Mr. Echolls. We need to get Veronica ready to see the surgeon. Ms. Mackenzie, I think your parents are going to be here soon."
Logan opens his eyes. Mac is still clinging to him. "Mac, are you okay?"
She nods. "My parents are here?" she says to the nurse as she struggles to sit up on Logan's lap.
"Soon. Come on, Cindy, I'll take you back to your room. Mr. Echolls, you can use the bathroom to freshen up."
Logan looks down at his clothes; he's filthy, and his shirt is stained with blood from the cuts on his face. "I don't suppose you have any clothes I could wear."
She looks at him sympathetically. "I'll have an orderly bring you some scrubs."
Logan splashes some water on his face, avoiding the dressing on his forehead wound. Someone taps on the bathroom door and passes him a set of hospital scrubs and a plastic bag with a toothbrush and other toiletries. He hesitates, then throws his clothes in the wastebasket. He emerges and goes to the nurses' station. "How is Mr. Mars doing?" he asks anxiously. He doesn't even remember falling asleep, but his neck is stiff from sleeping in the chair. He had intended to check on Keith periodically through the night, and now he's suddenly nervous that something happened while he was sleeping.
She smiles broadly. "He's doing fine. We're going to keep him for observation for a couple days, just to make sure there are no aftereffects from the blow to his head or his time in the water."
His time in the water, Logan notes. Not—his almost drowning, his use as a target by a psychopathic methhead.
He returns to the room. The nurse has helped Veronica to a seated position and arranged breakfast on a tray for her. She glances at Logan and says, "I can order a meal for you, as well, if you'd like to stay with her."
"Yes, please. Thank you." The nurse leaves, and Logan says to Veronica, "How are you feeling today?" He sits down on the chair again.
"Did I dream that Mac was sleeping on your lap last night?" she asks, a little puzzled.
"She couldn't sleep. She didn't want to be alone, so she stayed in here with us."
"I'm glad," Veronica says quietly. "Is she okay?"
Logan shrugs. "Yeah. She was dehydrated and exhausted, but no injuries. How are you feeling?"
"It hurts," she says quietly, avoiding his eyes.
"Do you want me to get the nurse?" he offers quickly.
She shakes her head. "Not until after I see the surgeon. What about Dad?"
"He's doing fine. They're going to keep him for a couple days just to be sure."
Veronica sighs in relief and looks away again.
He has a million things to say to her, and he can't think of a single one. Finally, he settles for, "I'm sorry you're hurting."
Veronica glances at him. "Did you get stitched up?"
"By a plastic surgeon, just like you ordered." He pretends to salute, and she smiles weakly. "Veronica...you're going to be fine."
"Right."
He stands up and sits down cautiously on the bed next to her. "You are going to be all right. You...you did an amazing thing, Veronica." Logan caresses her cheek gently. "I'm going to take care of you. Whatever you want, whatever you need."
She swallows, and her eyes fill with tears. "You're not mad at me?" she chokes out.
"What?"
"You know, for insisting we go to Rio Linda and...you know. The usual. Not being careful."
"You saved us, Veronica."
"I almost—" She breaks off suddenly as a doctor strides into the room.
"I'm Dr. Kellerman. I understand we have a little shoulder problem here." The doctor glances at Logan meaningfully, and Logan moves to the chair to allow the doctor to begin his examination. "Let's see what's going on here. Can you get out of bed? I need to see you standing." The doctor helps Veronica out of the bed and has her stand in front of him. "Turn around, please. There's definitely some asymmetry. Can we sit back on the bed? Sit up straight, now."
'We?' Logan is pretty sure that the doctor is an ass. He sucks in his breath and tries to hold his tongue.
Veronica grimaces as she struggles to sit down and keep her back straight. The doctor uses the back of his hand to feel the temperature of her shoulder joint, then begins to check her clavicle from the sternum to her arm. He palpates the muscles in her upper back. Veronica suppresses a gasp at several points, and the doctor presses harder.
"You're hurting her," Logan finally comments in exasperation.
"It's necessary for the examination. You're the husband?"
"Boyfriend," Veronica replies through gritted teeth as the doctor touches a particularly tender spot. "Ahh!" she exclaims.
"Sorry. Can you put your arms up? Clasp your hands behind your head."
Veronica complies, slowly, in obvious pain.
"Now, behind your back."
"I can't," she whispers, and Logan realizes, she's scared. She's scared of the pain, and she's scared of this doctor.
"Try."
Her left arm goes easily behind her back, at waist level, but she can't force her right arm to rotate backward at all. The doctor tsks audibly and palpates the joint once again, and Veronica emits a sharp cry of pain before the doctor gives up. He walks over to a light box and, apparently angry, shoves the x-rays onto the screen to examine them.
"How did this happen?" The doctor turns and faces her.
"I'm a private investigator. About a week ago, the man I was investigating forced my arm behind my back and dislocated it. Then...." She glances at Logan for moral support.
Logan jumps in. "We had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow with an orthopedist in Neptune, where we're from. We...we ran into some difficulties over the weekend and the shoulder was stressed again."
The doctor opens a file folder and reads the case notes. "You were kidnapped and used a fire extinguisher to assault a man?" He looks up at Veronica. "What were you thinking? Weren't you supposed to be resting?"
She's stunned by his words. "I...."
Logan interrupts defensively, "She was taking it easy. They couldn't do surgery until she recovered from a kidney infection."
"And you thought the way to recover from an infection was to travel around and get kidnapped?" the doctor responds sarcastically. "I'm sorry, this is ridiculous."
"What?" Logan says, stunned.
She says, "I'm sorry."
Logan glances at her in shock. "Veronica! Why are you sorry?"
"I shouldn't have—"
"Veronica, this isn't your fault," Logan protests. "You were assaulted."
Kellerman says rudely, "The likelihood of a complete recovery is very low at this point. You can't expect miracles from surgery. You'll be lucky if you recover fifty percent of your mobility and strength. And the pain? It's always going to be a problem." He shakes his head in disgust.
Veronica's lip is quivering, and her eyes fill with tears.
"Get out!" Logan says angrily.
"Excuse me?" the doctor replies.
"You're fired. Terminated. Your services are no longer required," Logan bites off. When the doctor merely stares at him, Logan continues, "Get the fuck out. You're not the only surgeon in the world. We'll be consulting someone else." Finally Kellerman shrugs and leaves.
Veronica is crying soundlessly, trying to hold herself still. Logan walks to her and helps her lie back down, pressing the call button for the nurse.
The nurse hurries in. "What happened? Dr. Kellerman threw her file on the desk and stormed out."
"She needs her pain medication, please," Logan says in a tone that indicates there will be no discussion. The nurse backs out of the room quickly. Logan gently hugs her, making sure not to hurt her, and whispers, "I'll call my orthopedist. We'll go down to LA. That guy's a jerk."
"He's right," she sobs. "What was I thinking? I should have been staying in bed at home, not running around getting hurt even worse. Now...Logan, what if he's right?"
"He's not right." Logan tries not to mentally replay the scene of her slamming the fire extinguisher into Liam's skull and the subsequent brutal fight with Carney. "You're going to be fine." He smoothes the hair from her forehead. "Trust me. I'm going to take care of you."
The nurse returns with a small bottle and inserts Veronica's pain meds into her IV. Logan continues to hug her and caress her until her face demonstrates that she has some relief. Veronica closes her eyes, and Logan lifts the handset on the phone by Veronica's bed and dials a number he has memorized.
"Dick...yeah...yeah, we're okay. Listen, I need you to do me a big favor. Do you still have Barry Randall on speed-dial?...Right, our favorite trust attorney....Tell him I need to talk to my orthopedic surgeon, today, as soon as possible. Dr. Remick at UCLA Medical Center. He's probably on the golf course today. Randall goes to him too, for his back, and I bet he has Remick's cell phone number....Yeah, have Remick call me on this number."
When Logan hangs up, Veronica protests, "We can't go to LA."
"Why not? I'll rent a private ambulance. Or a helicopter. Whatever."
"We can't leave Dad. I won't leave Dad. I won't let him wake up alone."
"I won't let that guy operate on you, Veronica." They stare at each other, at an impasse. A few minutes later, the phone rings suddenly, and Logan grabs it.
"This is Logan Echolls," he answers. "Dr. Remick, thanks for calling so quickly." He puts his hand over the mouthpiece and says quietly to Veronica. "I think I have a solution, Veronica."
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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
Confiteor
Veronica has her shoulder surgery;
a guilty conscience in Neptune.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
Leo: Max Greenfield. Keith: Enrico Colantoni.
Wallace: Percy Daggs III. Rebecca: Paula
Marshall. Dr. Remick: Christopher Grove.
Sacks: Brandon Hillock. Tom Griffith: Rick
Peters. Father Patrick: James Joseph O'Neill.
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE: "CONFITEOR"
Tues. 3/24/09, morning: UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Wallace sits with Logan in the waiting room outside surgery. Logan drops his unread magazine and stands up to pace around the room again. Wallace comments, "She's gonna be fine...wrestling bad guys to the ground 'fore you know it."
Logan scoffs, "She better not be wrestling bad guys." His cell phone, brought by Wallace from Neptune, rings again, displaying the name JAMES, R. He triggers the send button. "Rebecca? Oh, hey Keith. No, she's still in surgery. Rebecca's taking good care of you?...That's good. I'll call you the second the doctor comes out."
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Remick emerges and reports that the surgery went very well, and he expects her to make a full recovery. "Thank you, doctor," Logan says sincerely.
"She's going to need to do a lot of physical therapy," Remick warns.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she does it."
Remick raises his eyebrows. "The way you did?" Remick had severely chastised Logan for skipping out on his physical therapy. Logan explained that he spent his time in Texas doing his exercises and walking on the beach. Remick had quickly examined his knee, and, laughing, said, "I don't know how you did it, but you're doing great."
"I had a good surgeon," Logan had replied. Now, he says, "Veronica is much more compliant than I am."
Remick says, "You can come in to see her in a few minutes. The nurse will come get you."
A short while later, Logan is holding Veronica's hand in the recovery room. "How do you feel?"
"Dopey," she says crankily.
"Wallace is outside too, remember? Your dad called, and Weevil. Mac too."
"That's good," Veronica replies drowsily.
"Dr. Remick said it went very well. He told me to crack the whip to make you do your PT."
"We've got to stop getting hurt," she murmurs before shutting her eyes again.
~ • ~
Tues. 3/24/09, very late: Coronado Bridge, Neptune, CaliforniaSacks triggers his radio. "Sheriff, come in."
"D'Amato here."
"We got a jumper on the Coronado. Abandoned car. There's a note on the front seat."
Leo sighs. "You're sure they jumped?"
"Yeah. There was a witness."
"Do you have a name?"
Sacks pauses. "Um, Sheriff? The note's addressed to Stephanie Denenberg."
"I'll be right there."
~ • ~
Wed. 3/25/09, afternoon: UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CaliforniaOne day post-surgery, Logan and Veronica are hanging out quietly in her hospital room. Their conversations are still punctuated by long silences where neither knows exactly what to say. The focus of the last few days has been on Veronica's surgery: Logan took charge, speaking to the doctors and presenting Veronica with all her options. Dr. Remick had recommended open surgery rather than arthroscopic, since the joint had been stressed several times and he was concerned about hidden damage that might be missed arthroscopically. So when the conversation lagged, it was easy to deflect by turning the topic to medical concerns.
After accidentally changing the channel to a cable news station and seeing her picture on the television screen, Veronica had asked to leave the television off. Federal agents have questioned her several times; each time Logan notes that her mouth settles into a tight frown and her brow creases with worry.
Logan's phone rings and he triggers the send button. "Hello?...Hey, Mac; yeah, she's awake." He starts to offer the phone to Veronica but realizes that her face is filled with dread. He puts the phone back up to his ear and says quietly, "Mac...can Veronica call you later?...All right...Me too." He puts the phone down. "Veronica? What's the matter?"
"Nothing," she lies, avoiding looking at him.
"I don't believe you. What's going on?"
She sighs and looks down at her lap. Her left hand fiddles nervously with the blanket. "I know Mac is probably blaming me for what happened."
"I don't think so."
"I almost got her killed," Veronica says vaguely. "And she witnessed her FBI handler getting killed."
"She's not blaming you, Veronica. No one's blaming you. You know that Carney and Liam were responsible for a lot of murders, and who know how many people's lives you saved by investigating."
"Uh-huh," Veronica agrees without conviction.
"You solved Hannah's murder," he tries.
"I'm just not sure it was worth it."
"I'm sure it was worth it to Ms. Denenberg." He falls silent, watching her, trying to figure out what to say. He runs through all the possibilities in his head but her apathy is completely unnerving. Logan suddenly says, "Do you think Liam was telling the truth?"
"What?" she replies, turning to look at him.
"Liam said he didn't kill Kendall. Do you believe him?"
"I suppose. Maybe one of the other Fitzpatricks did it," she answers listlessly.
"Aren't you curious at all?" he says, surprised.
"No. I don't care about Kendall."
Cautiously, he offers, "In the newspaper, it said that they are presuming Liam was responsible for her murder."
Veronica shrugs. "He had an alibi for that night. Wallace and Weevil were watching him, and then he was arrested."
"I think the exact phrase they used was criminal conspiracy to commit murder. And what about the forensic evidence?"
"What forensic evidence?"
Logan pulls out the newspaper he had hidden in the drawer beside Veronica's bed. "The article says 'hair and fiber evidence belonging to the victim were found on items recovered from Paddy's Used Car Emporium.'" He watches her face: momentarily, she looks interested, but she struggles against it and shrugs again, refusing to look at the newspaper. He continues, "If Liam didn't do it, then somebody sure wanted to make it look like he did."
"Let's talk about it later, okay? I'm tired now."
Bullshit, he thinks. She uses the remote to lower the head of her bed; she lies down and closes her eyes, but he's quite certain she's not sleeping. After a few minutes, he leaves the room and makes a few phone calls.
About an hour later, Logan is reading a magazine while Veronica sleeps. He keeps casting a glance in her direction, certain she's avoiding talking about what's really on her mind. There's a light tap on the door.
"Knock, knock? Veronica?" Keith walks into the room slowly, followed by Rebecca James. He looks weak and gaunt, but he is smiling.
Rebecca says to Logan, "He insisted on coming. The doctors wanted to keep him for another day, but he convinced them to release him."
"Dad!" Veronica sits up and grins broadly.
Keith sits on the bed and hugs her gingerly. He helps her adjust the bed so she can sit up easily and plumps her pillows for her. "I wish I could have been here for you, honey. How are you feeling?"
"What are you doing out of bed?" Veronica asks sternly. "Logan told me they ordered bed rest."
"You can't crack Keith Mars' head that easily," he jokes.
"What about—" she worries aloud.
"I'm fine, Veronica. I just have to take it easy. I wanted to see my little girl, and since I have a chauffeur...." Keith shrugs, grinning. "Chauffeuse?" He glances at Rebecca, who blushes slightly. "How are you feeling, Veronica? Are you hurting? I'm glad Logan brought you here to a surgeon that he had confidence in."
Veronica replies quietly, "I'm okay. I didn't want you to wake up alone."
"I wasn't alone. Rebecca was there," Keith corrects. "What did the doctor say?"
"They said the surgery went very well, and they're going to release me tomorrow morning if I'm still doing okay." She sighs. "Four months of rehab."
"That's okay. Rehab is not a big deal, Veronica. It's just some exercises...you're used to working out. You'll be chasing down the bad guys again in no time."
A shadow crosses her expression. "You're really okay, Dad?" she asks nervously. "I'm so sorry about—"
"Shh. There's nothing to be sorry about." Keith glances at Logan, who frowns slightly. "Honey, I'm so proud of you."
Veronica flushes deeply. "I was lucky."
"No, you used your training and took advantage of an opportunity the way you're supposed to."
Rebecca interjects, "Veronica, is there anything you need? We could get you some books to read, or some magazines."
"Some manicotti?" Keith suggests.
Veronica barely smiles, and he frowns. "Honey? What's going on?"
"Nothing," she lies.
Before he can press her further, there is another knock on the door. Leo D'Amato walks in hesitantly. "Keith. I'm glad you're here. I was hoping to speak with Veronica and Logan." He glances at Rebecca.
Rebecca says, "I think I'm going to get something to eat. Veronica...what can I get for you? Please...let me do this."
Veronica sighs. "I don't know...I guess a cheeseburger."
Keith draws Rebecca aside and murmurs in her ear; Rebecca nods and leaves. Keith says, "What was so important that you drove up to Los Angeles, Leo? Did something happen with the case?"
Leo draws up a chair and sits down. "I don't know if you saw the news about a jumper off the Coronado last night."
Veronica immediately tenses. "Who was it?" She glances at Logan, who swallows compulsively.
"Tom Griffith," Leo replies brusquely. "His body was recovered this morning. He left a note for his ex-wife. She gave her permission for you to read it." He begins to read aloud.
'Dear Stephanie,Leo looks up and says, "Ms. Patrino was a patient of Dr. Griffith's who was suing him for malpractice."
'If you are reading this, I finally had the guts to do what I should have done three years ago. I'm sorry for destroying our marriage with my drinking and drugging. As I'm sure you suspected, I allowed myself to get into debt with the Fitzpatricks, and they slowly began to take control of my life and my business. At first it was small things: stitching up a knife wound, writing prescriptions for Percocet, lasering off a gang tattoo. And then I found out that they had killed Ms. Patrino to quash her lawsuit against me...and then they owned me.'
Keith remarks, "Stephanie told us about her. So Griffith is confirming that the Fitzpatricks did arrange to have her killed in a car accident?"
Leo nods.
'Then they needed a credible witness. For some reason, Liam Fitzpatrick wanted to set Logan Echolls up for murder. He told me they had evidence to prove that I had been the one to murder Ms. Patrino. He made it clear...I would go to prison if I didn't do what he said. So I did it. I lied to the police and said that I witnessed Logan Echolls with a bloody knife in his hand standing over that dead gangbanger's body.Leo pauses. "I assume Hannah found out because Veronica was investigating Dr. Griffith on Logan's behalf."
'When Echolls found out I was the witness, he went after Hannah. He told me in no uncertain terms what he would do to her. I made a deal with Echolls: I would drop my testimony, and he would stop seeing Hannah. I told Liam that the police had found a discrepancy in my statement, and I had to withdraw it. Liam didn't believe me, but the damage was done. I couldn't go back to the police and change my story a second time.
'Then Hannah started arguing with me, telling me that she intended to have a relationship with Logan whether I liked it or not. She told me she knew I was doing drugs and was working for the Fitzpatricks. I don't know how she found out.'
Veronica nods.
He continues reading.
'The next day, Liam called me in a rage: Hannah was with Logan Echolls at the Neptune Grand; what the hell was she doing with him? I rushed over there and got her out.'Logan looks nauseous. Someone told Liam that Hannah was with me? Of course...I never thought about how Griffith knew Hannah was there that day.
Leo notes Logan's expression. "Probably that guy Oswaldo Cortez who told me about you and Kendall. I have a feeling he was watching you for Liam. It's a funny thing: we arrested Oswaldo the other night on a pretty solid drug bust. Almost too solid...like somebody wrapped him up with a shiny bow and gave him to us. But Oswaldo's not talking. Somebody really scared him." He glances from Logan to Veronica. "If you know anything about Oswaldo's bust, I'd love to hear it."
They are silent. Finally Veronica says quietly, "We don't know anything about Oswaldo."
"Uh-huh." Leo looks dubious. "Why was Liam having Logan watched? Any ideas?"
Veronica glances at Logan, who nods slightly. She explains, "On the boat, Liam told us...Liam claimed that Logan's father set him up to take the rap on a statutory rape twenty-five years ago and that's why he hated Logan so much. Liam brought drugs to a party, and when the girl accused Aaron of raping her, he blamed it on Liam and got the girl to change her story...and probably paid her off." She knows Leo will eventually see the reports from the interviews they did with the FBI agents; there's no point in trying to conceal this.
"Do you think it's true?" Leo asks Logan.
Logan sighs and mutters, "Yeah, I do. When I talked to my dad after he was arrested...it was almost like he had convinced himself that he didn't have a choice, that Lilly was to blame for her own death. I could see him blaming the drug dealer at the party, even justifying it to himself that the guy was actually responsible for what happened, and convincing himself that God's gift to womankind deserved to be free." He looks out the window. "I think Aaron was a sociopath." He turns back and focuses a challenging gaze on Leo. "And it doesn't surprise me at all to hear that he raped another young girl."
"I guess there's no way to prove it now."
Logan tries for a diffident tone. "If there's any way...if you don't have to mention it in your report...."
Keith finishes for him, "If this doesn't have to be public knowledge, we'd appreciate it, Leo."
Leo nods thoughtfully. "I can't see that it would be necessary, and the publicity would be unreal, possibly even prejudicial for a trial. I'll try to keep it out of the reports."
Logan's relief is palpable.
Leo looks down at the note again and continues reading.
'I didn't know what to do. Liam was psychotic, ranting about Hannah and Logan. I knew I had to get her out of town and away from him. I remembered a client telling me about a private school, a boot-camp type place where he had sent his son. He was bragging about how it turned his kid around; it made me sick to my stomach. But I remembered what he said about the security: the students were supervised at all times, and no one could get in or out. Liam was calling every five minutes, screaming at me that I had to fix this.Leo pauses. Logan's face is particularly pained.
'I called the school; they said they could take Hannah immediately. They could arrange a pickup for that night. It was just a temporary solution, for a month or two while I looked for something better. I always knew Hannah was stronger than she appeared. She stood up to me about Logan, and she got through the divorce better than most kids do. No matter how bad the school was, I thought she'd be okay there for a short while. I managed to convince you that Hannah was going to end up pregnant or worse because of Echolls. You believed me when I told you that Echolls had already been in rehab twice and had a long record of arrests that had been settled with big payoffs. When I told you that I had found narcotics and condoms in Hannah's room, you said okay, and I let the school take her away. I'm glad you didn't see her crying, begging me not to send her away. It was the hardest thing I ever did. But I knew she'd be safe from Liam at the school.
'I was frantically trying to get the money together for a high-security boarding school in Europe that caters to the children of royalty. I didn't know how I was going to explain it to you. And then...the school called. Somehow, Hannah had managed to escape.'
'I swear to you that I sent Hannah to that school to protect her.Keith muses, "They were keeping him off balance, making sure he'd cooperate."
'And then...a year later, Kendall Casablancas showed up and blackmailed me into doing surgery on her face. She had heard me making my deal with Logan and threatened to tell Liam everything. I had no choice...I did what she asked.
'I don't know how Liam found out about Kendall's plastic surgery. Maybe my scrub nurse talked...I paid her a lot of money to keep quiet, but maybe she went to Liam and asked for more. I denied it, but Liam was persistent. His threats were getting more violent; he broke into my house and searched it. I had to hire a bodyguard for my wife, and I was constantly looking over my shoulder. You didn't know it, but I paid a guard to sit outside your house and watch as well. Then Liam got arrested in November, and I thought he was going to go to prison. I thought maybe it was all over. Maybe I could finally stop working for the Fitzpatricks. Stephanie, it's all true, what the papers are saying. The Fitzpatricks were running their drug money through my clinic.
'Then in January, I got a picture of Hannah in the mail. She had dark brown hair and there was a newspaper in the photo supposedly proving that it was recent. At first I thought it might be a fake; Hannah looked very different. But the more I looked at it...I couldn't take a chance. I knew Liam was still in prison waiting for trial. But I was scared. There wasn't a letter with the photo. I didn't know who I was supposed to contact. I thought about turning myself in, but if they had Hannah, I thought they might kill her anyway. I thought about killing myself, but I didn't have the guts, and I was worried they'd still hurt her. The next day, I got a phone call. A girl's voice—it sounded like Hannah—she just said "Daddy," and then the line went dead.'
'Two days later, I got another phone call. A voice I didn't know said, "Confess your sins. All will be forgiven," and hung up. At first I couldn't figure out what they wanted, then...I went to St. Mary's Church and delivered a picture of Kendall's new face to the Fitzpatricks.'FLASHBACK: Dr. Griffith parks in front of St. Mary's Church. Looking around nervously, he walks quickly into the church past a sign that says 'CONFESSION HOURS: Tues./Thurs. 4:00-6:00pm.' He carries a manila envelope under his arm. He looks around and notes three booths on the right side of the church. There is a light burning on top of the center compartment. Griffith checks his watch: 4:05. He approaches cautiously, then, taking a deep breath, he pulls back the curtain on the rightmost compartment and enters the booth. He looks around and realizes he's supposed to kneel.
He clears his throat. A mesh screen slides open, and a voice says quietly, "Yes, my son."
"I was told to confess my sins. Uh...Father."
"The Lord told you to come?" the priest says leadingly.
Griffith is genuinely confused and wonders if he misinterpreted the voice's instructions. "Father, I'm not Catholic, I don't know how to do this."
"I see. Say with me if you can, 'In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'"
Griffith mumbles along as best he can.
There is a silence, and then the priest prompts, "Have you anything to confess, my son?"
"Yes, uh, bless me Father, for I, uh, I have sinned." Griffith waits. When there is response, he says hesitantly, "I helped a very bad woman. She knew...she knew something that I had done...before." He had debated all day just what the Fitzpatricks were trying to accomplish with this charade. "I made a deal with the devil...I went against the men who were my...uh, business partners to save another man from prison."
"Why would you do that?"
"He was threatening to hurt my daughter if I didn't help him. This woman heard me talking to him."
"I see," the priest says leadingly. "And how did you help this bad woman?"
"I gave her a new face to protect her from my partners. I...I felt I had no choice."
"You always have a choice, my son. In Deuteronomy, the Lord said, 'Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.'" The priest's voice turns cold and harsh. "'Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!'"
Griffith's heart stops when the priest says 'so that your descendants might live.' He says quickly, "I'm trying to make the right choice now. Please...I know I...I sinned before." He waits expectantly, but the priest is silent. "I have her picture," he finally mumbles.
The priest intones, "'God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." After a pause, the priest adds, "Amen?"
"Oh yeah, Amen," Griffith hurries to add. "Are we uh...am I okay here?"
"That's between you and your God."
Suddenly angry, Griffith says, his voice slightly raised, "What about my daughter?"
"Go in peace." The sliding panel slides shut.
"WHAT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER?" Griffith asks again angrily, pounding on the partition. There is no response.
Griffith stands up, breathing heavily; he leaves the envelope in the booth and gets out of the church as fast as he possibly can.
(END FLASHBACK)
Leo continues reading.
'I was a wreck. My wife insisted we get out of town for a while to relax or she would divorce me. While we were away, Hannah's body turned up in Los Angeles. It was a message: "Don't ever fuck with us again."Leo says quietly, "It's signed, 'I always loved you, Tom.'" He sighs wearily. "It confirms a lot of your theories, Veronica."
'I swear to you, Stephanie, I thought the picture was a fake. I couldn't believe Hannah was alive after all that time. None of the private detectives had turned up any sign of her. But I gave them Kendall's picture anyway, to protect you and my family. I swear to you, I would have done anything they wanted to prevent them from hurting Hannah.
'When Kendall showed up in Neptune a few weeks later, she insisted on meeting me in the park. She tried to blackmail me again, tried to squeeze some money out of me. It sounded like some scheme of hers had fallen through, and she needed money desperately. I told her that Liam already knew what she looked like, and if she was smart she'd run for her life. A few days later, she was dead.
'I don't expect you to forgive me, but I wanted you to know that I tried to protect Hannah and my family. But I can't live with the choices I made. I can't face my family, my son.'
She nods without speaking.
"Why did you...why are you telling us this?" Logan asks curiously. "I'm assuming you won't make this letter public."
"Ms. Denenberg asked me to share it with you, after everything you went through to catch Hannah's murderer."
"We still don't know who killed Kendall," Logan observes. "I think if Griffith had done it, he would have admitted it. What do you think, Veronica?"
She shakes her head. "No, he didn't do it. He's a coward. He wouldn't use murder to solve his problems. He let them force him into working for them rather than take a stand. He sent his daughter away instead of going to the police. He lied to his wife...his wives."
Logan glances at her, happy to see a hint of the normal Veronica, thinking aloud and deducing. She catches him looking and frowns slightly. Logan says aloud, "What's the status of the investigation into Kendall's murder?"
"We're at a dead end. The district attorney intends to file charges against Padraig and Ciaran Fitzpatrick for conspiracy to commit. But the case is weak; I don't think they'll be bound over for trial."
"There's forensic evidence, right?" Logan presses.
Leo shrugs. "Hair and fiber from Kendall. No other forensics. All it really proves is that Kendall was in that particular car at one point."
Keith frowns. "Was the car clean?"
"We only recovered part of the car; it had already been chopped for parts. But we found the seats, and the owner identified them by a stain on the upholstery. And the forensic techs were able to lift a hair and a few fibers from the passenger seat."
Keith asks, "How did you find the seats?"
"A witness saw Kendall getting into the car. He identified the make and model, although he didn't see the driver. The car was reported missing by Lawrence Crawford, and the stereo system turned up in a chop shop in San Diego. They got the stereo from Paddy's," Leo explains. "By the time we got to Paddy's, every valuable part from the car was gone, probably scattered across the country and already installed into other vehicles. We're still hoping that more of it turns up."
"Not likely at this point," Keith observes.
"And Ciaran and Padraig both have pretty solid alibis for the night in question, and of course, Liam was in police custody that night."
"What about some other Fitzpatrick flunky?" Keith asks. He turns to Veronica. "What do you think, honey? Do you have any ideas?"
She shakes her head and stays silent. For a moment, they all seem to be staring at her, and she flushes under the scrutiny. "I don't know," she says finally in a low voice. "I don't want to think about it, okay?"
"Okay," Keith replies, puzzled. He is about to add something, but out of the corner of his eye, he sees Logan shake his head imperceptibly, and he holds his tongue.
Leo says, "I have to get back to Neptune."
Keith stands up and offers his hand. "Thanks, Leo."
They watch as Leo leaves. Veronica says quietly, "Do you think it's going to be okay with him now? You know. Are you going to be able to work with him, Dad?"
Keith nods. "I think so. He didn't have to come all the way here. I think he wanted to make sure we heard the news from him."
Rebecca returns with several large pizza boxes. Keith smiles and says, "Excellent."
Veronica smiles wanly and says, "What did you do?"
"Well, it's not Mama Leone's, but close enough. The nurse said this restaurant was one of the best in Los Angeles," Rebecca explains as she sets the boxes. "Keith thought...pizza might be easy to eat with one hand."
Logan braces himself. Veronica tenses slightly but forces herself to relax. She says unenthusiastically, "Thanks, Rebecca. That was very thoughtful."
Rebecca laughs nervously, picking up on Veronica's tension. "Come on, I hardly ever eat carbs. I want to enjoy this."
With a faint smile, Veronica says sincerely, "Thanks for staying with Dad, Rebecca. I really didn't want to leave him alone in Monterey."
"I know, Veronica. Anytime. I'm glad you thought to call me," Rebecca responds. She opens one of the boxes and hands Veronica a slice on a paper plate as Logan maneuvers the table in front of her. "It's got to be better than hospital food, right?"
Keith grabs a slice and bites into it without bothering with a plate. With his mouth full, he mumbles, "I don't know about you, honey, but I needed some real food." He chews a little and continues, "I feel better already."
Veronica laughs quietly. "Dad, don't make me laugh." She takes a tentative bite and then, despite herself, begins to go at it with gusto.
A little while later, Logan's cell phone rings and he takes the call, muttering into the mouthpiece. "Okay, I'll talk to her and get back to you." He ends the call and looks at Veronica. "I was thinking...I think we need to get away for a couple days. I talked to my travel agent. There's a room available at the Hotel Villa Portofino in Catalina this weekend. Just the two of us, nothing but lying around on a deck chair, enjoying the sunshine and the ocean breezes. Lots of silly drinks with fruit and umbrellas, room service. No doctors, no FBI agents, no stress."
Veronica protests weakly, "I don't know, Logan. I think I just want to be home."
"Veronica, I need to get away too," he reminds her softly. "A change of scenery would really do me good, with nothing to remind us of the last few weeks." She finally nods her agreement hesitantly.
Keith adds, "I think it's an excellent idea. Honey, Rebecca and I are going to head out. We're going to stay at Logan's beach house for the night, and we'll come back in the morning to get you out of here." Veronica looks at him quizzically, and he admits reluctantly, "I'm a little tired, and my head hurts."
Her brow creases with worry. "Dad, maybe you should see the doctor—"
Firmly, he replies, "Veronica, I'm okay. I just need to take it easy for a while. Don't worry, Rebecca won't let me do anything." He sits down on the bed and hugs her gently.
She whispers, "Dad, I love you so much. I thought I...I can't lose you. You're sure you're okay?" She grabs on tight with her left arm, wishing she could throw both her arms around him.
"I"m sure," he says. "I love you too, honey. I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do it."
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VERONICA MARS
10:00PM SHO ch: 340 60min 2009 TV-MA
It's Called Self-Surrender
Veronica and Logan get away for the weekend.
Veronica: Kristen Bell. Logan: Jason Dohring.
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY: "IT'S CALLED SELF-SURRENDER"
Fri. 3/27/09, afternoon: Villa Portofino, Catalina Island, California
The ferry ride across the bay from San Diego to Catalina Island is uneventful. After a few comments about the last time they were here, Logan allows the conversation to lull. They sit outside, enjoying the sun despite the relatively cool temperature. He watches her as she stares silently across the water, thinking unknown thoughts, huddled in one of his oversized sweatshirts with the sleeve dangling. The stiff breeze keeps whipping her hair into her face, and he gazes at her as she brushes it from her eyes without comment.
At one point he tenses, realizing to his horror that perhaps the trip was reminding her of that summer after senior year, when she had been so traumatized by Beaver and her dad's brush with death at his hands. "Veronica," he says in a low voice. "Are you sure this trip is okay...maybe it's too...I'm sorry, I didn't think about it that you might not want to focus on almost losing your dad again. We can turn around and get the next ferry back—"
Veronica whirls around to face him. "No. It's perfect. You were right, we both need a change of scenery. And...I'll always remember that trip...you were so patient with me, so loving. I wanted to tell you I loved you that day." She leans gently against him, and finally he relaxes. He puts his arms around her, keeping her warm and safe, wishing it was always that easy to take care of her.
Logan's travel agent had pulled a few strings and managed to secure the Capri Suite, with a private balcony overlooking the ocean so they wouldn't need to mingle with other guests unless they wanted to. Logan carries their two small bags into the room; he had told Veronica salaciously that all she would need for clothes was her bikini, and maybe not even that.
Veronica sits down on the comfortable king bed and smiles at him. "Alone at last," she comments quietly. Her legs swing a short distance from the floor as she relaxes on the luxuriously high bed. "Maybe we could...lay down for a little while before dinner?"
He kneels down in front of her and begins untying her sneakers, removing them gently and rubbing the arches of her feet. Logan glances up at her; she is watching him intently. He slides a finger under the cuff of one of her socks and, keeping his eyes trained on her face, eases it slowly off her foot and presses a delicate kiss to her instep, suddenly horny as hell and hoping the feeling is reciprocated. "I've missed this foot," he murmurs.
"Just that one? What the hell's wrong with the other one?" she teases gently.
"Mmm. Let me take a look." He grasps the other sock and slides it off as he follows the fabric with light kisses down her ankle to her foot. Logan massages her foot as he places it on his shoulder, running his other hand under her calf to stroke her leg through her jeans. "This foot is acceptable as well," he says matter-of-factly, following his words with a sly grin.
"Don't you dare tickle me," she warns.
"I would never." He caresses his hand firmly under her leg, remembering that she is extremely ticklish behind her knee, even through her jeans. "How do you feel about biting?" He pulls her calf to his mouth and pretends to take a bite.
"Maybe," she admits. "As long as I get to be the biter, as well as the bitee."
"Ooh, kinky." Logan stands up, carefully allowing her leg to drop. He moves to the head of the bed and grabs several pillows, arranging them in a pile behind her. "Lie down, so I can pleasure you," he says smarmily. He sits next to her on the bed and eases her down gently. "Comfy?" She nods, and he adds, "Would you like something to bite on so you don't scream? We don't want to disturb the other guests."
"Cocky, aren't we?" she teases him as he pops open the button on her jeans.
He slides the zipper down and trails his fingers across her exposed satiny underwear. "High standards. I'm not going to quit until you're hoarse from moaning my name."
"What was your name again? Bill? Danny? I know, Harold."
There's just the slightest quiver in her voice, and for a second he wonders what she's thinking. She's trying too hard. He lies down next to her and cuddles with her, his hand tracing patterns on her stomach. "We don't have to...we have all weekend, you know; we have forever if you want." When she doesn't respond, Logan adds, "You've been so quiet today—"
"No," she whispers. "I'm okay. Please don't." She breathes out hard, not quite a sigh.
Don't, he thinks. Don't stop? Don't ask me? Don't say it? He contents himself with stroking her torso. "You feel so nice," he whispers, and he takes the chance of slipping his hand under her blouse, just feeling the edge of her bra. "I love to just be alone with you; it feels like forever since we could just be together."
"Yeah," she exhales.
And then he feels it: she consciously relaxes into his caress. She rolls her head sideways, closing her eyes, and her hand fumbles for his hand trapped under his body. Her fingers lace with his, and she holds on tight.
"I've missed this," he mumbles, brushing his lips against her extended neck.
"Me, too," she says, turning her head to graze his lips with hers and opening her eyes to look at him.
There's something playing behind those eyes...she's still concealing whatever it is she's thinking. "It's okay, Veronica, we're okay," he tries, between kisses.
"I know. Love you, Logan."
When he tongues her, she shudders a little and closes her eyes. Her hand clasping his tightens almost painfully.
Almost dreamily, she says, "What was that about making me scream your name?"
He leans down and nuzzles her neck. "I want to make you forget your own name before I'm through. Veronica, Veronica, Veronica," he whispers into her ear as his hand skims the skin underneath her breast.
"Yes," Veronica whispers. "Make me forget...." She arches into his hand, and he slips under her bra, his fingers splayed, gently drawing his fingertips across her breast. Almost too quietly to discern, she says, "Touch me there, play with me...please, Logan."
He feels the heat on her face from her blush, and he kisses her cheek soothingly. "Feels good?" he asks. "I love this, tell me what you want." His finger circles her areola, almost but not quite touching her pebbled nipple.
"Don't hold back," she breathes. "Come on...." She inhales and says more bravely, "Come on, big boy."
He almost snorts with laughter. "Big boy?" He lightly tweaks her nipple between thumb and forefinger, and she gasps.
"Harder...please," she says; he obliges, tormenting her nipple, and her answering moan is unforced and instinctual. Almost hoarsely, her voice raw with need, she admits, "God, I love it when you touch me there. Flick...flick your finger against me, Logan, please."
She never talks as much or as explicitly as this; his cock is suddenly painfully erect and straining against his jeans. He rises up on his elbow, letting her hand go, and positions himself over her, his left hand toying gently with her nipple. Logan leans down and kisses her gently. "What's going on, Veronica? Talk to me."
She presses her leg against his crotch, and he groans a little. "I am talking," she replies distantly.
"It's not that I mind all this sexy talk, but usually foreplay for us is you calling me an asshat," Logan reminds her, unable to keep the worry out of his voice.
"Asshat."
"If only you meant it," he says, kissing your neck. "You're okay? You trust me, right?"
"You have no idea," she says, almost wringing out the words. Heartrendingly, she begins, "Logan, just—" She stops short and says instead, "Please, Logan. Joke around with me. Tell me again how you're going to make me scream. Come on, where's my obligatory psychotic jackass when I need him?"
He's uncertain, but he can't see the harm if it makes her happy. So he whispers in her ear, "Such a horny little girl. You want me to touch you, don't you? You always did like the unreformable bad boys." He pinches her nipple a little stronger, and she presses hard against him.
"Mmm, unreformable. I bet you know all sorts of tricks," she snarks quietly, not quite convincingly.
"Oh, I do. And I'm going to use all of them." He remembers suddenly how excited she got on the airplane back from Texas, and he nuzzles her ear, flicking her earlobe with his tongue as he works her nipple. He murmurs hoarsely, "You're wet for me right now, aren't you? It's all you can do not to grab my hand and pull it to your pussy."
"Oh, god," she replies, arching beneath him.
Releasing her nipple, he trails his hand slowly down to her crotch and caresses her lightly through her underwear, making sure not to touch her where she most wants him to. To his surprise, she's already damp with arousal.
"You're such a tease," she groans in frustration, pushing her crotch wantonly against his hand. He's unrelentless, touching her lightly, pulling away as she tries to press against him, and Veronica moans again. "Damn you."
"I'm just returning the favor, baby; you know you've been working that sling for two weeks now, trying to drive me crazy. You know how gimps turn me on."
"Ugh. Differently-abled, please, is the proper term." She reaches down and tries to guide his hand, but he bats her away and sits up.
Logan stands up again at the end of the bed and reaches to pull her jeans over her hips. "Lift up, darling," he commands. He makes sure to leave her panties on; she tries to push them down as well, and he grabs her hand and kisses it to prevent her. "Not yet...I'm taking my time with you." The jeans slide down her legs; he pulls them free and tosses them behind him onto the floor and settles himself again between her knees. He makes eye contact with her as he begins to kiss from the inside of her knee up her thigh; he listens for that slight catch in her breath as he gets close and then...her frustrated exhalation as he stops just short. Making sure she's watching, he places his fingers on the front of her panties, with his thumb poised above her slit. As lightly as possibly, he caresses her with his thumb, and she twitches helplessly at his too-gentle touch. He teases her with his restraint, and she tries again to guide his hand with her own, but he prevents her by lacing the fingers of his other hand with hers.
The whisper-light strokes torment her, and she moans, "You're not playing fair."
"I love your panties," he whispers and leans in to kiss her on the damp fabric. She almost rises up at the sensation but winces at the resulting pain in her shoulder. Logan immediately pulls back. "Are you all right?" he asks with concern.
"Dammit. Don't stop...please don't stop," she pants. "Lohhgahhn. Are you happy? I'm moaning your name," she adds, slightly cranky. "Dammit!"
He huffs a laugh. "And you're so sweet about surrendering to me, aren't you." Mischievously, he pulls the crotch of her panties to one side and blows a hot breath on her. She arches in response, and he pulls back to look at her suggestively as he lets her panties go back in place.
Veronica moans again in frustration. "I surrender, okay? Just...kiss me there again...harder...please?" she begs. "I surrender, Logan."
He puts his thumb back to stroke her incrementally harder, and she breathes deeply, exhaling in pleasure at the feeling. "Let yourself go, Veronica," he murmurs. "Let me love you." Logan kisses her gently and begins to tongue her through her panties, feeling the contours of her arousal through the soft slippery fabric. Her legs raise slightly, and he pulls her calves on top of his shoulders and sucks at her hard.
"God, Logan. I've missed you. I've missed this. Oh, please...."
He releases her momentarily and whispers, "Tell me what you want." He sucks again, and she arches helplessly against him.
"God...I'm already begging you, Logan please, what do you want from me...." Her head moves from side to side; he knows she would be flailing against the sheets without the restraining sling on her arm. "Please...take my panties off...fuck me with your tongue...I surrender...." she pants desperately.
"Say it a little louder, the whole hotel didn't hear you yet," he says smugly.
"Dammit, if I didn't love you so much—"
"But you do." He pushes her legs down and moves up over her on the bed, kissing her intensely, letting her taste herself on his tongue. "You taste so good, Veronica. I love the way you feel under my tongue." He hoists himself up and reaches for the slim waistband of her panties, drawing it down over her hips and down her legs. Veronica, impatient, pushes at the flimsy material, trying to be rid of it, and he chuckles. "You're so beautiful."
"Shut up and fuck me," she whines. He kneels back down and bends to her. His thumb presses harsh circles against her clit as his tongue dips into her, sucking out her wetness and probing as far as possible. "Oh god, oh god, Logan, I love you, please," she begs.
He switches, beginning to flick his tongue diligently against her clit and inserting two fingers into her slowly. She arches and gasps, panting out, "Logan, Logan." She's never been this vocal, and he loves it. "God, love you, love you." His tongue is spurred on, battering her tender flesh as she thrashes around his thrusting fingers. "Logan, Logan, I love you," she mutters repeatedly. She lets out a loud cry and arches high, and Logan is thrilled, secretly hoping that half the hotel does hear her in her abandon. She vibrates against his tongue and clenches around his fingers deep inside her; he feels her intimate muscles pumping wildly against his cheek as she tries to draw him in further with her legs. When she finally calms down, he moves up to kiss her mouth again; she grasps the back of his head with her hand and tongues him fiercely. Breathlessly, she whispers, "I want you inside me. Make me come again. Please, Logan. Love you."
He finds their bags beside the bed, feeling her eyes on him the entire time. He locates a condom and quickly shucks off his shoes and jeans, not even bothering to pull off his socks or his shirt before stroking himself quickly to a full erection and sheathing himself in the condom. He's hard as a rock; Veronica's arousal always does that to him and her unusual vocalizations today were like an electrical charge to his cock.
She reaches for him, gazing directly into his eyes as she caresses him, just the way he likes it, just hard enough. He's unbearably excited, and he positions himself quickly at her entrance, whispering hopefully, "Yes?" She nods, closing her eyes, and he thrusts into her wetness. With two quick strokes, he's in her fully and moving quickly, barely able to control himself. "God, Veronica, you feel so good."
"Yes...Logan, god, fuck me," she replies breathlessly.
He tries to slow down but fuck he's excited...his cock has a mind of its own right now. He maneuvers her up on the bed a little, trying to get a better angle. "You're okay? You're okay?" he pants, trying to hold his body weight up off her, desperate for more friction. She angles her legs a little differently, and he moans gutturally as he goes a little deeper.
"Yes...yes...please, god, love you, Logan," she groans as his cock slides in and out. "Logan, Logan, Lo— ah!" He's frenzied now, trying so hard, moving faster, flailing, pumping, trying to find her clit between them, feeling the nub—right there, right THERE—and her urgent response, her throbbing walls clasping him tightly, her legs pulling, urging, her hand wildly pulling at his hair. "Logan!" she cries suddenly, and he thrusts hard, again, again, again, into the sudden tension and release of her body as she lets go...and he follows her, his vision blackening, his muscles uncontrolled and spastic, his cock pulsing and turbulent, with every nerve ending in his body firing intensely. Somehow, he manages to roll onto the bed, pulling her over with him to keep his weight off her even in his incoherence. His heart racing, he breathes wildly, trying to gather enough oxygen again. He hears the sharp exhalations of her own aftermath as the pounding gradually recedes in his ears.
When he can breathe again, he opens his eyes to look at her. There are tears running from the corners of her eyes, and he quickly pushes up onto his elbow. "Hey! Hey, what's wrong? Veronica...talk to me!"
"No, I love you...I'm fine."
"You're crying, you're not fine," he whispers as he traces his thumb over the wetness on her temples.
"We're alive," she chokes out. "I...I thought we were going to die. I love you so much...I was so afraid that...Logan, I didn't think we'd ever do this again. I thought we were going to die."
"I knew you'd save us," he says simply. He brushes her hair, messy and damp, from her forehead. "I believed in you, Veronica."
"Oh god, don't say that," she sobs.
"What? Talk to me, Veronica." He lays down beside her, focusing on her as he caresses her stomach gently.
"I can't do it anymore. I'm not going to be an investigator anymore. I'm going to change my major. No more PI work, no FBI." Her voice is desolate but resolute.
"Veronica, that's crazy! There's no one better than you at this."
She turns to him in shock. "I thought you'd be happy. You don't have to worry about me anymore." She looks back up at the ceiling. "I'm not going to put the people I love at risk anymore."
"Veronica...give it some time. Don't make any decisions now. You've been through so much these last few weeks," he begs.
Her breath hisses in frustration. "I can't believe you! For years, you've been telling me I'm not invincible and how it made you crazy when I took chances! And now I'm ready to give it up, and you're still arguing with me."
"I love you, Veronica, not some girl who sits at home afraid. It took me a long time to realize it, but I love all of you, even the part of you that takes crazy chances. That's the girl I fell in love with." Logan tenderly touches her cheek with the back of his hand.
Veronica sobs helplessly, "That girl doesn't exist anymore. I'm afraid, okay? I can't do this anymore. I'm afraid."
Chapter One Hundred Forty-One