A/N I promised LoVe, eventually. We're getting closer, but I don't want to force him into the story sooner than makes sense. He's coming soon, I promise.
Veronica sighed as they entered Neptune. The sight of her hometown made her realize that she actually missed the place.
Olsen announced from the driver's seat, "We don't have time to check in to our motel before the meeting, I'm taking us straight to the sheriff station."
Veronica's stomach clenched a little in anticipation. This was her first trip to the Sheriff's office as a law enforcement official, as an equal. She'd been there many times as a suspect, as a thorn in the late Sheriff Lamb's side and even visiting her father, but never like this.
"You grew up here?" Carter asked, breaking into Veronica's thoughts.
"Yes I did." They drove past the Hut and she pointed toward it. "That's where I did my traditional high school student evening and weekend servitude."
No one asked more and Veronica was glad to have the natural curiosity of her fellow investigators not turned toward her and her youth in Neptune.
Olsen pulled into a spot in front of the sheriff station, and the FBI agents disembarked. Veronica walked sedately, trying not to rush into the station in her excitement. The rest of their team arrived while they were still entering the building and Veronica entered ahead of them, not wanting to get stuck with Seth in the entrance.
The sheriff wasn't waiting inside for them, but Inga was at the front desk. She hadn't yet noticed Veronica's entrance and was giving instructions to Carter.
"The Sheriff is in the conference room with the DEA agents. If you'd like to join them, the briefing will start soon."
Inga looked past Carter to the other agents and spotted Veronica.
"Veronica! Your father didn't tell me you were coming!" Inga proclaimed, as Veronica approached the desk.
"He doesn't know yet," Veronica explained, smoothing her suit as she tried to look as professional as she could while Inga proclaimed over her and talked about her father.
"Oh, what a nice surprise," Inga said, lowering her voice.
The rest of her team filed past, Callie and Seth paying close attention to Veronica and Inga's conversation.
"It is for me," Veronica said as she followed her team to the conference room. "Good to see you," she called over her shoulder.
The sheriff was standing just inside the door, shaking hands with the agents as they entered.
"Sheriff Mars," he said, introducing himself to Carter, the first to enter the room.
"Mars?" Carter asked, casting a look back at Veronica.
"Like the planet," Keith replied.
"Agent Carter," Carter said before moving further into the room.
Keith repeated this with Olsen and Thomas, the other agent assigned by Hendrix, before he caught sight of Veronica and a grin spread across his face. Both Keith and Veronica waited patiently for the other agents to enter and be greeted.
"Agent Mars," Keith said proudly.
"Sheriff Mars," Veronica replied with pride in her voice too.
She leaned in and whispered. "No hugs Dad, otherwise the other kids won't think I'm the toughest one here."
"Marshmallow Mars, isn't that what they call you?" he replied just as quietly. "You didn't tell me you were working this case," he admonished.
"I wanted it to be a surprise," she explained. "Surprise!"
The other FBI agents were making introductions with the DEA team, but some of Veronica's teammates kept casting looks at her and her father.
"And what a wonderful surprise. Dinner soon?" Keith asked.
"Yes please," Veronica replied. "Probably not tonight, though. We haven't checked into our motel yet and I'm sure we'll have lots to do tonight."
"You could stay with us honey, there's room," Keith offered.
"If I weren't here for work, I would. I think I need to be with my team."
The sound of voices and feet approaching the room signaled the arrival of the ATF agents, so Veronica made her way over to the DEA agents and made her introductions.
"Sheriff Mars? Any relation?" Seth asked from just over Veronica's shoulder.
Veronica turned. "Can't you tell? We have the same jaw line, the same charm, the same quick thinking on our feet and investigative genius." She nodded in Keith's direction, "I'm a chip off the old block."
Keith made his way to the front of the room and the federal agents all took seats.
"I'm glad to have you all here to help us with our Fitzpatrick problem. They've been running drugs in Neptune for years now, and I was able to secure cases against several members of the family, but we believe that there is a bigger syndicate operating, most likely using the Fitzpatricks as middlemen. Unfortunately, the Balboa County Sheriff's Department doesn't have the manpower to bring down the Fitzpatricks and whoever they're working with on our own. That's why you are all here.
"I've prepared briefing packets for all of you, and you'll find information on previous arrests, as well as our current surveillance and evidence against them.
"Conveniently, most of their crimes will be prosecuted at the federal level, allowing us to call you in and have the trials held outside of their power base here."
Deputy Sacks entered the room with the packets and began passing them out. He paused at Veronica and smiled.
"Good to see you too, Deputy," Veronica whispered, taking a packet from him.
"I'd like to open this up to your questions," Keith announced.
Seth stood. "Field Director Hendrix has asked me to go undercover to infiltrate the Fitzpatricks."
"That's not a great idea, as you'll see from your packet," Keith replied. "The Fitzpatricks almost solely employ family. They've been known to use outsiders, but usually ones with whom they are already familiar."
Veronica tried to tamp down the smirk she was sure was on her face. Being proven right was one of her favorite feelings.
An ATF agent stood. "We'd like to send someone in undercover as well."
A DEA agent stood too. "As would we."
"I know I'm outranked here," Keith began, "but I think one undercover agent is more than enough in such a tenuous situation and Agent…"
"Morris," Seth offered.
"Agent Morris offered first, so I'm inclined to use him since he looks like he can pass as an Irish criminal, as long as we can construct a convincing story. We may need agents to pose as buyers as well."
*-*-*-X-*-*-*
The Q and A went on for several hours, educating Veronica on the affairs of the Fitzpatricks since the last time she had tangled with them a few years earlier. They were busy little angry brawlers, and it seemed they got in over their heads, which was only good in that it was going to make it possible for her dad to finally shut down their operation. All with a little help from Sheriff Mars favorite sidekick, Veronica and her new teammates.
The agents stopped at a drive through on their way to their motel. It had been a Woody's Burger when Veronica was growing up, but the Widow Goodman had sold most of the chain, and it was now a Carl's Jr. Veronica was glad about the change, she hadn't been able to stomach the thought of Woody, let alone his food, since she found out about his secrets her senior year of high school.
Olsen drove their car a familiar route, terminating in the parking lot of the Camelot. If I'd only found someone to take that bet, I'd be twenty dollars richer, Veronica thought.
Her gaze automatically pulled up to the second story walkway that still haunted her and she froze, unable to unbuckle or open the car door until she banished thoughts of Logan Echolls.
