Opening Cases

By Michael Weyer

Okay, this is my little entry in a popular bit of fandom: Imagining short crossover pieces with a certain show. Some will be more detailed than others. If anyone feels like taking a piece as inspiration for a bigger story, well, go ahead. I don't own Veronica Mars or any of the other shows or properties shown here. So all comments are welcomed!

One: Beat the Clock

"So let me get this straight," Veronica was telling the young woman sharing the restroom with her. "You're convinced your dad is being stalked by the school's new janitor?"

The girl, Amber, nodded. "Yeah. I know it sounds crazy but he's been driving around our house and I swear he's been following me."

"Can't you try the cops?"

Amber shook her head. "No. I told my dad and he just said he'd handle it. He didn't seem that concerned, said it was just my imagination. He's been so busy with some big overseas deal anyway."

"But you think it's bigger than that."

Amber nodded. "Yeah, I do. So can you help? Please?"

Veronica pursed her lips and then shrugged. "Ah, why not? Not much else on my plate today."

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It was getting close to the final bell when Veronica made her way to the far end of the school. She mentally reviewed the information she'd received. Frank Tanner, 45, no criminal history. In fact, as far as Veronica could see, he had no history whatsoever. There was no family, he had only been in Neptune a few weeks, his credit rating was perfect and he didn't even seem to have a bank account.

In other words, if he was a stalker, he was a cheap one.

She saw him wiping out the trophy case. He wasn't too bad looking with dark hair cut quite short and filled out his uniform with an athletic build. His face looked perpetually haggard and his eyes seemed cool as he watched Veronica walk up. "Hi, Frank Tanner?" she spoke.

He nodded. "Yeah?"

"Sorry but Amber Heibert wanted me to talk to you." Veronica thought a direct approach would suit well here.

Tanner stiffened, letting her know she'd scored. "What's your connection to her?" he asked in a hard tone.

"Just a concerned citizen," Veronica said, a bit thrown by how intense his tone was. "She's a bit concerned about how you've been following her."

Tanner stared at the trophy case before calmly putting his rags into the bucket. "I see. And she went to you?"

"Well, she did complain to her dad first but he seemed reluctant to go to the cops and…"

Tanner's face suddenly turned grey as he faced her. "She what?" he hissed, grabbing Veronica by the arms. She tried to push him off but he held tight, his face intense. "She told her father she'd seen me? She recognized me?"

"Hey, hey, easy!" Veronica said as she tried to push him off. "Yeah, she did! You may be a janitor but she knows a face…"

"Dammit," Tanner hissed as he turned. "I told them this was a sloppy set-up."

All of Veronica's alarms were ringing as she took in the sudden change in Tanner, how he was now more alert and ready for a fight. "Okay, buddy, I don't want to make a fuss but maybe I should call my dad."

Without warning, Tanner grabbed her and yanked her aside. Veronica yelped just as something whizzed past her shoulder and shattered the trophy case. Tanner pushed her aside, stating "Stay down!" Veronica saw a man in a dark suit aiming a gun with a silencer as he moved in.

The man fired but Tanner ducked and grabbed his arm. He punched the man in the face and then pulled him in, smashing his face through the trophy case. Tanner yanked the arm and the gun fell away. The man tried to backhand him but Tanner grabbed his hair, yanked up and then pushed him down.

The man gasped as his neck landed on the jagged edge of the broken glass. He gurgled as blood seeped down his neck. Tanner let go and the man slumped to the ground, twitching as he bled out.

Veronica stared in shock at the scene, her eyes wide, fighting to breathe. Tanner knelt to examine the body, finding a small wallet and opening it. He looked at the ID inside and scowled. "Damn."

He rose to face Veronica. "Are you all right?"

Veronica weakly nodded. "Yeah…I guess…um…wh….what the hell was that?"

Tanner began to walk off, seeing the clock coming to the end of the day. "We have to get out of here before people find us. Come on, you'd better come with me."

Veronica managed to get to her feet, staring at the dead body before hustling to keep up with Tanner. "Wh…what are you doing?"

Tanner was pulling out a cell phone and dialing a number. "I'll get you to my safehouse. We can figure things out there."

"Figure out what?" Veronica demanded as she followed him out of the school. "What is going on here, Frank? If that is your real name?"

"It's not." He turned to her and when he spoke it was in a much deeper and more assertive voice. "It's Bauer. Jack Bauer."

2:59:57…2:59:58…2:59:59….3:00:00.