The Castle in The Sand:A metaphor referring to the idea that nothing (good) lasts forever.
Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars or related characters and settings.
Chapter 1: Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking
I was lying on my bed staring at my ceiling. I had nothing to do; no one to see. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so bored and idle. I hated it. There was homework of course, being a college student wasn't all fun and games, you know. On the other hand I was severely lacking in motivation. Nothing was due in the near future and let's be real. If I had to I could pull an all nighter and still get an A. That was nothing short of a small miracle and not just anyone was capable of it. Especially if you consider what I do in my spare time. Most kids partied or played sports. Some kids collected postage stamps or comic books. Not me. I helped my dad run his small P.I. business. Not just filing paperwork or answering phones either. I took on real, bonafide cases.
It started with the death of my best friend Lilly Kane. When my dad, Keith failed, I was determined to solve her murder and in the meantime solving missing persons cases or finding out if Mrs. So-and-So was cheating on Mr. Big Bucks with the gardener became my life. My dad wasn't a huge fan of the idea but after losing his job as Sheriff and my mom running off, well, we needed the money. I was good at it and it's not like people in Neptune were jumping up and down to help us. After the death of Lilly, we could only help ourselves.
I shook my head trying to forget the bad memories. Permanently if at all possible. I learned pretty quickly that dwelling on the past will get you nowhere. The only thing you can do is look forward. Life changes, people change, things, places, they all change and you, you'll change too. I know I did. The sooner one accepts this, the better off one will be.
I rolled over on my stomach at the sound of my cell phone ringing. I smiled at the name that appeared on the screen. I pressed the talk button, "This is Veronica Mars speaking, how may I help you?"
"Don't worry Veronica, I don't need help finding the lost city of Atlantis. Though I'm sure if anyone could do it, it'd be you." laughed my boyfriend, Piz. His real name was Stosh Piznarski but everyone just called him Piz. Everyone except my dad that is, who believed in calling everyone by their given names.
"You flatter me. I quite like it." I teased, "So what's up?"
"Come to the carnival with me?" asked Piz.
"We talked about this. " I deadpanned.
"It's for a good cause." Piz protested. This had been his go-to argument for the last week.
"I'm sorry, I just don't think funding for Delta Pi whatever they're called qualifies as a 'good cause.'" I replied. This had been my go-to argument for the last week.
"But you'll be with me! What's better than that?" Piz argued.
"Being with you away from the obnoxious frat boys and sorority girls of Hearst." I replied without missing a beat.
I could practically see him frowning. "Are you going to make me beg, really?"
"Isn't there anything else you'd rather do?" I pleaded.
"I just want to go to a carnival with my girlfriend. Forget everyone else. " said Piz.
I sighed. I supposed it wouldn't be that bad. After all, I dealt with the general public of Hearst five days a week. What was a couple of hours on a Saturday night? "Okay Piz, you win. Come pick me up in a half an hour."
"You're the greatest!" breathed Piz.
"I know." I grinned and we both hung up.
I got off my bed and wandered over to my closet. I figured you didn't have to be particularly dressed up for a carnival but it was a date and sweats didn't exactly scream effort. After a few minutes deliberation I put on a pair of dark denim jeans, a green fleece sweater and a pair of black boots. I tied my hair in a pony tail and put on some lip gloss. There, good enough. All that was left to do was wait.
Barely even ten minutes after I sat back down on my bed the doorbell rang. I went to the door and sure enough, it was Piz.
"Honey," I said in mock accusation, "It's only been fifteen minutes and I was sure I told you thirty."
"Please, the day you take longer than ten will be a cold day in hell." retorted Piz, smiling.
"You know me so well." I smiled back before he pecked me on the lips.
"Forgetting anything?" Piz asked, as he laced his fingers through mine.
"Just my sanity. Wait no, that'll be at the end of the carnival." I said.
"It won't be that bad. I bet you'll even have fun." Piz shot back as we got into his car.
"What do I get if I don't?" I laughed.
"Well, you already have my eternal gratitude. I'll be forever in your debt." Piz promised.
"Hmm, yes I do like the sound of that. Drive on, my good sir." I replied happily.
When we got there it was as expected, complete chaos. A million different coloured lights, wall to wall people, screaming kids begging their parents for stuffed animals, music blaring from loudspeakers and concessions all over every available surface. No one seemed to mind though, especially not Piz who eagerly led me to the ticket gate.
"Two please." said Piz to the guy in the booth.
Piz gave the guy some money and got two tickets in return. Piz took my hand again and we walked into the carnival together.
"What do you want to do first?" asked Piz.
"You pick." I replied. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle, if not a bit unappreciative of it.
"Ferris Wheel it is, then." decided Piz.
"Could you be any more cliché?" I teased.
"What?" retorted Piz, "Can't a guy be cliché once in awhile? Would you prefer mini golf?"
"No, no! Anything but mini golf!" I exclaimed.
"Didn't think so." said Piz grinning. "Let's get in line."
**********
"Logan! Logan slow down, will ya?"
I heard the calls of Dick behind me but I was doing my best to ignore them. I had brought him for some reason or other that had seemed good at the time yet now I couldn't remember exactly why. I was getting antsy and that was annoying me. I slowed down and waited for Dick to catch up.
"Jesus Christ, Logan it's not like the carnival's going anywhere!" Dick exclaimed.
I narrowed my eyes at him. We both knew it wasn't the Merry-Go-Round I was excited about. "Shut up! Can't you just help me without comment?"
Dick smiled coyly at me. "But it's so much fun! What makes you think she's here anyway? I don't pretend to know Veronica Mars very well but if there's one thing she's made very clear, it's that mixing with the likes of us –and here Dick gestured with his hand to the surrounding area –is not something she's particularly fond of."
I followed the path of his hand with my eyes and saw various booths set up by Hearst's Fraternities and Sororities. The people that were manning them were all of a certain breed. Most of the girls were fairly good looking; all of them had the depth of a wading pool. They were hyper and giggly. They squealed at unexceptional things and believed in no higher importance than the well-being of their precious houses. The guys were more of the same except not so squeaky.
"She'll be here." I replied matter-of-factly.
"I think you're on a wild goose chase, myself." said Dick as he walked up to a cotton candy booth.
"She'll be here." I repeated, "Because her radio-loving boyfriend's idea of fun is 'mixing with the likes of us', as you so nicely put it."
"Say she is here." Dick paused to take a bite of cotton candy, "So what? It's not like she'll dump Mr. DJ on the spot and run away with you. This isn't Madison Sinclair we're talking about."
Dick had a point. Veronica had made it clear that she was happy with Piz. She didn't want to be with me blah, blah, blah. I was ninety-nine percent sure that even if she hated Piz, she'd stay with him just to spite me.
"I just want to talk to her." I replied. "It's not like I have anything to lose."
"Except your dignity." muttered Dick.
"I heard that." I snapped.
"Come on, Logan! She should be begging you to take her back. Not the other way around!" Dick insisted.
"Grow up, Dick. We're not in middle school." I sighed. "Just help me look for her."
We walked around for awhile with no success. It became obvious that Dick was bored with the whole idea when he started lagging behind me. I rolled my eyes. It wasn't like I hadn't helped him with something like this before. At least this time we knew the girl in question. At least we knew what she looked like.
"Dude, just give up. She's obviously persuaded what's-his-face to stay home and do the dirty instead!" Dick huffed.
I glared at him. I want to punch him in the gut for that comment but only because Dick was voicing my fears. I resisted the urge to hit him and said, "Fine Dick, go find a floozy or something. I'll see you back at home."
Dick was gone in the blink of an eye. So much for my wingman. Whatever, it'd be easier without his help. I walked around the fairgrounds a bit more when I saw Wallace Fennel. Perfect. If anyone would know where Veronica Mars was at any given moment, it'd be him. He was leaning against a fence post talking to some girl I didn't know. I silently apologized for what I was about to do.
"Hey Wallace, what's up?" I greeted.
He and the unknown girl both looked up at me. "Oh hey, Logan. Can this wait until tomorrow, maybe? I'm kind of busy." Wallace inclined his head in the direction of the girl.
I half-grinned at him. "Sorry Wallace but your pretty friend will have to wait." I yanked him by the arm and led him away from the girl, away from the carnival in general. We were practically by the entrance when I finally let go.
"Dude, why! I was totally about to pick up that girl! Don't you know anything about the guy code?" Wallace protested.
"Wait, you didn't even know her name?" I asked, laughing.
"I would've known it by now, if your tall ass hadn't interrupted!" complained Wallace.
"Whatever Wallace. I need you to tell me where Veronica is." I said.
Wallace looked at me like I had an extra head. "What makes you think I know where she is?"
"Please, you're her best friend! You have to know where she is!" I shot back.
"Okay, okay she's here. I don't know exactly where, so don't ask. Best friend is not a code phrase for baby-sitter!" retorted Wallace.
"I need you to help me look for her." I explained.
"Why? The only thing you want is her and she's made it clear that that's what she doesn't want." replied Wallace.
"I know, I know." I sighed. This night was not going as I had hoped.
Wallace looked me up and down then said, "Alright fine. I can't let you stand there looking all pathetic, can I?"
"I owe you. Big time." I replied.
"Damn right, you do." said Wallace. "Come on, let's go."
**********
It was nearing midnight when there was a knock on the door of my P.I. office space. It was a fairly small three room unit that included a lobby, a tiny kitchen, a front office and my own slightly smaller office. I was staying late at work yet again going over the details of a case trying to find out if I had missed something. I sighed and got up. I stretched and then made my way to the door. I wasn't pleased to see who it was.
"Well well, Sheriff Don Lamb. What brings you here?" I asked calmly.
"Don't bother with pleasantries, Keith. It's not like I wanted to be the one to have to drive all the way down to your dingy little office." replied Lamb snidely.
I sighed. No matter how hard you tried to be nice to this guy, he was always an asshole in return. Though the effort was clearly in vain, I was never less than cordial with him. Then again, I wasn't much more. I couldn't imagine what turn of events had made him willing venture into my 'dingy little office.'
"Don't let me keep you, Don." I replied, "Say whatever it is you came to say and be on your way."
"Sit down." said Lamb indifferently, "There's something you should know."
**********
"Tell me right now, that you aren't having fun!" Piz demanded.
Two hours had passed and I hadn't even noticed. "I can't do it, Piz."
"I knew it! Underneath it all, Veronica Mars enjoys a good carnival. Just like the rest of us." Piz exclaimed victoriously.
"Yes yes but don't tell anyone else. I don't know what I would do if that ever got out." I laughed.
"If what got out?"
Piz and I looked away from each other and in the direction the unknown voice had come from. I groaned internally. Logan Echolls was standing there with, strangely enough, Wallace. The latter looked apologetic while the former looked agitated. It was obvious to me that Logan and sought out Wallace's help in finding me. One could guess the reason why.
I decided to play dumb."Logan, Wallace. I didn't realize you two were such good friends."
Wallace replied, all the while glaring at Logan, "We're not."
"Don't mind him. He's just frustrated that he missed out on what I'm sure would've been an amazing evening." Logan said.
"Frustrated? You ignored the guy code!" exclaimed Wallace.
Logan rolled his eyes. "You didn't even know her name!"
Piz and I glanced at each other. Piz stepped in, being as polite as he was, "Well nice seeing you guys. We're going to head out."
"Wait!" Logan protested.
"What's the matter?" I asked mockingly, "Did you want some help learning the guy code?" All four of us knew the words had double meaning.
"I'm out of here! Bye Veronica." said Wallace.
"Bye Wallace." I replied. If there was one thing Wallace liked to avoid, it was a confrontation. I couldn't blame him. Why stick around for something ugly you weren't directly involved in? Especially if you could just get the details later?
Piz held my hand. He wasn't one for confrontations either but this was something he'd never back down from. At the same time, he'd never be reduced to name calling or god forbid, fighting. Which was good in my opinion. Not like Logan who punched first, asked questions later.
"Just go home, Logan." said Piz.
"I just want to talk to Veronica." said Logan, standing his ground.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Piz replied.
"What, she can't talk to me now?" demanded Logan before turning to me, "We're friends aren't we? We're allowed to talk to each other."
I sighed and said, "That's not the point Logan. You don't just want to be my friend. I don't know how else to put it. I'm with Piz. That's how it is. You're certainly welcome to be my friend. But if that's not enough for you then there's nothing else to say."
I turned away leading Piz behind me when my cell phone rang. I stopped and answered it. "Hello?"
"Veronica? It's dad, you have to come home right now!" my dad said urgently.
"Why, what's the matter?" I asked. That didn't sound good at all.
"It's about your mom. Just come home and I'll explain everything." dad said hurriedly and hung up.
I pressed the end button. I didn't know what to feel. Dad didn't normally bring up my mother. So for him to do so and in so urgent a manner could only mean something was wrong.
"Veronica, what happened?" asked Piz gently.
"I, I don't really know." I said slowly. I shook my head and looked up. "I have to get home immediately! Whose car is nearest?"
"Mine!" Piz and Logan answered at the same time. I glowered at them both.
"My car is about half way between the entrance and the end of the parking lot." said Piz.
"Mine is right by the ticket booth." said Logan.
I nodded, "Let's go!"
The three of us piled into Logan's Xterra and we zoomed out of the parking lot. It was good to know his driving habits hadn't changed from the last time I was in his car. The feeling that we might crash into a building at any second was something I hadn't missed.
"I know Veronica said to hurry, but would it be possible to slow down?" Piz asked from the back seat.
"I won't hit anybody, relax." said Logan.
"It's not anybody else I'm worried about." Piz mumbled. I glanced back at him and grinned slightly seeing the way he clutched the door handle. I wondered if he realized he was doing it.
"Piz is right. Slow down." I ordered.
"Aw, come on Ronnie, don't you trust me?" asked Logan.
"About driving? Not really." I answered, crossing my arms, "And don't call me Ronnie."
Logan merely laughed. Despite the continuous protests of Piz and I, Logan sped all the way through town. He arrived at my apartment complex in half the time it would've normally taken. We all jumped out of the car and dashed up the stairs to my apartment. I burst in to see only my dad, sitting in dim lighting. I flipped on more lights but immediately wished I hadn't. It wasn't that bad I suppose, I just knew it meant something worse. My dad was paler than I had ever seen him and shaking slightly.
I took a few steps towards him and asked, "Dad, are you okay?"
He looked up at me then past me at Logan and Piz. "Boys Veronica, really?"
"They were my source of transportation for the night, dad tell me what's wrong! You're scaring me!" I declared.
"It's Lianne. She's…she's.." dad didn't finish.
"She's what dad, what's wrong with mom?"
I was only vaguely aware of Piz wrapping an arm around me. Logan even took my hand. We all knew that whatever was coming was bad. Maybe they needed the support as much as I did, who knows?
"She's been murdered, Veronica!" dad blurted out, "I'm so sorry but your mother is dead!"