Okay, this is a new territory for me. Up until now, I never done a story that's based on something that's live action, nor a mystery story. Oh well, first time for everything I guess... This is my "Veronica Mars" and "Rent" crossover!

A few notes before we start, this takes place after the "Veronica Mars" movie and somewhere around 20 years after the events of "Rent". Also, when I say "Rent" I mostly mean the movie adaptation because I never had the chance to watch the actual musical and the movie was the only thing aviable to me. Either way, they are the same from what I read and heard, so hopefully there isn't much difference.

Anyway, I hope you will enjoy this, because I had a lot of fun writing this! I own nothing and please review if you have something to say! Enjoy!

Who thought that the private detective business has lost its popularity, especially in the city of Neptune? It has been a few months since I came back here and took over my father's business. Dare I even say, since I fulfilled my destiny? Nothing has changed since then, for better or worse. My name is Veronica Mars and I'm the head of "Mars Investigations", probably the best PI you can find in Neptune, without getting to cocky. My dad, Keith Mars, former sheriff of Neptune, was back in the department after the last one was "lambed" out. My boyfriend, Logan Echolls, is still serving in the USA navy and is set to return home in a week. My best friend, Wallace Fennel, is still teaching sports in "Neptune High", the same high-school we went to. And my other best friend, also my new assistant, Mac, was making life easier for me whenever we had a case going.

Truth be told, I'm starting to hate the slow business. Don't get me wrong, I'm not what you would call a "Work-o-holic" by any way, nor will I wish anything bad to happen to anyone for my own profit; but slow business is slow business and that means less income, and less action.

Maybe there is a downside to when your father is one of the best sheriffs this pathetic town has ever had. Back when he ran the business and someone else was sitting in the sheriff's chair, we had A LOT of people coming in with all sorts of problems and cases. And you will be surprised how many different cases came, went and resolved at that time.

But now, once my dear old dad went back to his old job, it seems like crime around here slowed down. We would get a new case every now and again; hell, we will get to work on 2 cases back to back if we were lucky, but these occasions were very few. Either people finally learned that crime doesn't pay, or they just tend to skip the detective agency that's right under their noses.

But that's enough about my life so far, what I wanted to talk about was my latest case. It was just an ordinary day at the office. Me and Mac shared our lunch, like most days, and started talking about all sorts of things. From reminiscing about the past to just having a casual girl talk, we somehow reached the subject of what we think our next case is going to be. We threw bets at each other, until both of us decided on what our bets are. My money was on some kind of murder that went on, I had my share of practice with finding murderers, so might as well keep it simple. Mac, on the other hand, thought about a worried person whose significant other was cheating on him or her. Not all that exciting, but certainly more plausible.

Eventually, I went back to my office, as I had some business to take care of in there. Mac returned to her computers, what she did there is beyond me. The day was moving on as slow and boring as usually, and it continued to be like that until an hour before we closed down for the night.

I was just done organizing all of my stuff, checking my equipment to see it didn't get rusty since the last time I used it and going through my desk draw, looking through old files that started to collect dust in there. As I'm going through all of these things, I found a picture of my ex-best friend, Lily Kane. Why "ex-best friend" you might ask? Let's just say, I didn't get into PI from reading too much "Sherlock Holmes" or watching too much "Batman" and thinking "Women can do this to!" because that would have been charming and adorable. She was murdered back when we were in high school and ever since, my world turned upside down. My father lost in the sheriff votes as he blamed Lily's father for the deed, because why would a father kill his own daughter? If only people knew how common this thing is today.

Once he was out of the office, he got his PI license and the then sheriff quote on quote "found the real murderer". To make a long story short, my dad still investigated the case, because some things never added up, until we eventually caught the real cuprite. So, in a sense, my dead best friend was what got me into my "crime fighting" life. I always kept a picture of her with me wherever I go, for both good luck and motivation.

As I smile at the tiny picture that I held, the sound of the door being pushed open reached my ears. I barley heard what the person who just entered said, but I did hear Mac telling her that someone is right through the door. Seeing how I'm the only person that's through this door, I returned everything to its place and fixed my sitting to be as elegant and professional as I could get. My old man always told me, "If you want to be respected, you need to respect as well", unless the person doesn't deserve respect, I always added.

Shortly after, the door to my office opened, and in front of me stood a familiar figure. One I didn't expect to see. On the door, was a woman with somewhat dark skin and black curly hair, who also wore clothes that I personally considered way too fancy and formal in order to be a Neptune resident; thus, proving my suspicion that she wasn't from around her. Once I convinced myself with that fact, I realized that I do know this woman. The way she looked at me, as if she recognized me as well, added to that feel.

"Veronica Mars?" She asked me with surprise in her voice.

"Joanne Jefferson?" I asked back, before she nodded at the name.

Around 9 to 10 years ago, I moved away from Neptune after I have done something that cost my dad the opportunity to become sheriff again. Where did I go? New-York, where new beginnings are possible, and a new beginning was what I needed. When I started attending law school there, I crossed paths with Joanne Jefferson. She is a lawyer, who usually came over to the school in order to give us words of advice on the occupation.

I actually had the chance of talking to her when she visited. She was really smart, professional, and even a great person to talk to. The tips she gave me were also pretty helpful during my stay in law school. Ever since I graduated, I hoped I will get to maybe work with her, but that changed once I moved back to Neptune. Now, however, it looks like she found me.

After a few seconds of silence, due to the unexpected encounter, she took the client seat that was positioned in front of my desk.

"I have to say, I never would have guessed that "Mars Investigations" meant you."

"Well, the FBI didn't want me, so I settled for the family business."

"Still the same Veronica." She said it with a smile, another proof that I never lost my wit. "Anyway, I need your help with something, as wired as it may sound."

It did sound wired. I mean the woman is a lawyer, what does she need a PI for? "I'm listening."

"Have you ever heard of Maureen Johnson?"

The name was familiar. After thinking for about a second on where I knew it from, I remembered hearing about this Maureen on TV a lot. She was a very successful singer, very controversial too. I personally never thought much of her, her music didn't really tickle my fancy and she seemed like someone who is craving for attention. She sang really well, don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't my thing.

"I am familiar with her." I eventually replied. "Not a fan, but I can't deny the girl can sing."

"I know that."

"So, what does she has to do with what you need?" I asked, because I was curious about this. I mean, a lawyer comes over to a PI to talk about a singer. How many situations with that scenario ever accrued?

"She is my wife."

My eyes went wide. This day just got weirder and weirder. She was a lesbian?! I have nothing against gay people at all, but I just never imagined Joanne being one. And she was married to Maureen Johnson of all people?! Wow, life can really be unexpected.

"Maureen Johnson is your wife?" I asked, she nodded, and I was in a loss for words. "Don't get me wrong, I totally pro-gay and lesbian marriage but… You and she are probably the most different people in the world."

"Opposites attract, Veronica."

"So, what is wrong with your wife that you came all the way from New-York for?" I asked, though personally I thought I knew the answer. Maureen seemed like a party animal that will hit on everything that's not an animal or an unanimated object, based on videos of her I saw. So when Joanne said that she suspects Maureen is cheating on her, I wasn't all that surprised.

"I want to ask her about it but… Last time I put too much pressure on her because of her nature, we broke into a fight that almost cost us our engagement. I don't want that again, so I looked for a detective agency online… And I found you. Will you please help me, Veronica?"

Seeing how I had no other case to take besides that and that Joanne was a friend, I decided to take the job. After I agreed to the case, Joanne gave me some stuff that I might need. Keys to the apartment, Maureen's schedule, tickets to nearby concerts and behind the scenes passes and a name. Mark Cohen. According to Joanne, he used to date Maureen and is a film maker, who also edits her music videos.

After we discussed more vital information, Joanne and I shook hands and she headed out the door. I exited a bit later to update Mac on the new case.

"Who was she?"

"Let's say that you won the bet on what the next case is going to be."

"Who's the cheating husband?"

"Maureen Johnson." Mac's face when I said those words was, without a doubt, priceless.

As I filled her in on the details, I told her that I will have to fly to New-York for the case and that she is in charge of accepting clients, in case some do show up when I'm not around. She promised to get me all the information she could about Maureen, first thing in the morning and that whenever I needed her, she will be available.

We closed up for the night and went home. A new case is upon you Veronica; you are back in action again.

Not much to say, just that it's beginning.

Come to think about it, this is also the first time I have ever written a POV story. It's Veronica Mars after all, what's Veronica without her monologues?

Hope you enjoyed this! I will try and upload this as soon as I can.