"V…"
"Look, Weevil, we can figure this out."
"Oh, really?" He raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "Do please fill me in on this new master plan, mastermind."
"Okay, we can hack into their security-"
Mac glanced up indignantly. "First off, when you say 'we', you actually mean 'me', and as I've told you multiple times in my lovingly crafted presentations which no one seems to pay attention to, Kane Software makes their money by designing specialized data security. Look, I own the most powerful personal computer on the western seaboard. There is no personal computer faster or better than mine. And using this incredible computer of mine, it will take me twenty years to hack into Jake Kane's security."
Veronica tapped her finger against her mouth in thought. "So what you're saying is that I need to get you more Red Bull?"
Mac shot her a dangerous look, and Weevil stepped in.
"V. She's saying we need a grifter. We need-"
"We do not need him!" She declared as the loft door opened.
"Ah, come on Supafly. Don't hurt me like that." Wallace called out.
Veronica opened her arms welcomingly. "I didn't mean you, Sodapop. You are a vital part of this team."
An offended noise came from behind the computer screen.
"So are you, Mac. You are all vital parts of this team."
Weevil rolled his eyes and Wallace bounded up to the table with a wide grin.
"Thanks V. That's why I'm always in your corner."
"Thank you! See, Wallace agrees with me. We don't need a grifter."
"Oh, we definitely need a grifter. Did you see bad we got our asses handed to us? We need a new face, and a new approach. Oh, you know who we should call-"
"Wow. From best friend to betrayer in point five seconds. Really?"
Wallace shrugged his shoulders and grabbed a soda from the fridge.
"Besides, I thought you all hated him!" She turned to encompass her whole team.
Mac, who was pouting behind her computer, commented casually. "He's actually pretty cool. At least he appreciates my mad skillz. And took my suggestion to watch Star Wars in Machete Order."
Wallace helped himself to one of Mac's gummy frogs, dodging a slap from the hacker with the same skill that marked him as an expert pickpocket. "I mean, yeah, he was kind of a jackass, but he did save our lives on that emerald job."
Her hitter waited a moment, then added, "Look, he's an arrogant prick. But he's good at what he does. And right now, our choices are to go back to Norris Clayton and tell him that we have no proof that Jake Kane stole his software, or to man up-"
"Woman up!" Mac corrected.
"And use the tools that the job requires. Even if they're giant tools."
Mac and Wallace giggled at the pun, which Weevil acknowledged with a slight smirk.
"Look, we don't even know where he is-" She tried to argue.
"He's currently staying at the Aria hotel and just bought a scotch on the rocks at the Mercury club downtown." Mac supplied with a twinkle of mischief in her eye. "Under two different aliases. Adorable."
Even Veronica had to admit they had her surrounded. "Fine." She grumbled, putting her hands up in surrender. "I will ask."
...
As a mastermind, she really should have seen this coming. She could easily come up with Plans A through M for breaking into the Department of Defense, but she had somehow not accounted for the possibility that he would be waiting for her.
She walked into the loud nightclub, silver dress hugging her curves and helping her skip the line. She swept the room once, then frowned.
"Looking for someone?" A low, amused voice asked.
She froze, then settled a tight smile. "Nope."
"You sure? I mean, you keep scanning the room, then breaking eye contact with all of the guys who are clearly admiring the fit of that dress, so you're not looking for a hook-up, which makes me think you're looking for someone in particular."
"Oh? And in this scenario of yours, who am I looking for?"
Logan Echolls leaned forward with a smirk, dark gray suit tailored perfectly to his form, and took a slow sip of his drink. "Depends. Who do you want me to be?"
She rolled her eyes and purposefully kept her eyes on the room. "You are unbelievable."
"Almost as unbelievable as the famous mastermind Veronica Mars coming to beg for my help a second time."
She whirled around in outrage, then saw his smug smile and realized he wanted her to look at him. Pulling pigtails, like the nine-year-old he was.
"First, I have not ever asked you for help."
"Oh sure. I just swooped in to save your team's collective ass and with no thank you, might I add, after you screwed up my perfect con."
"Please. Your plan had more holes than swiss cheese. Honestly, you should be thanking us for bailing you out."
"Then why are you asking for my help tonight?"
Veronica opened her mouth, then closed it. "Well, I needed the best grifter I could think of, but she was busy. So I called the second best grifter I knew, and she was working with the first one! So then-"
He gave her an infuriating smile. "Is insulting me really the best way to convince me to help you?"
Reminding herself that she was supposed to be the adult in this situation, she took a calming breath, then raised one knowing eyebrow.
"I don't have to convince you to help me. I already know you're going to."
He frowned slightly, intrigued. "And why is that?"
For the first time that night, she turned to fully face him. "Because you're bored." She informed him in a breathy tone. "You're tired of conning little rich boys out of their money, of listening to spoiled heiresses talk about their designer dogs. You want to do something meaningful? You really want to get back at your dad?"
Logan's dark eyes flashed in warning, and she stepped towards him.
"Then work with us. Take guys like him down, make them pay for what they did."
As he stood there, carefully not displaying any emotion, she knew that he was on the edge. Smiling, she took a sip of her martini, then set it down on the table.
"Or you can go back to Caitlin Ford. I'm sure her newest story about how immigrants are ruining the country and her nails will be absolutely fascinating. Ciao."
She walked away, satisfied smile playing across her mouth.
As she headed to her car, she slowed, then glanced smugly over her shoulder.
"Coming?" She asked carelessly.
A tall silhouette stepped out of the shadows of the alley. "I have few conditions." Logan told her, tone implying he was playing this off as a win.
Grinning slightly, Veronica continued to her car. "I'm sure you do."