The flames leapt into the sky as the party roared at the private beach. Most people were in celebration mode. School was done for the year: drinking, swimming and making out were the order of the day.
Mac leaned back trembling a little. It was finally going to happen: Beaver and her were going to take the next step in their relationship. She felt excited and terrified. Beaver's face appeared reddish and distorted in the bonfire. She moved her hand down his chest. Beaver grabbed her hand squeezing it until it felt like her bones were grinding together.
"Oww," Mac said. Tears sprang to her eyes as she tried to pull back her hand. Instead of releasing her hand, Beaver tightened his grip.
"My name is Cassidy," Beaver said.
Mac's heart thumped. It took a moment for her to realize it was from fear and not excitement. Mac sighed with relief when he released her hand. It was short lived.
Cassidy ripped her bikini top off. Mac tried to sit up, startled. His hand pressed down on her chest, pushing her flat. He shifted his hand and squeezed her left breast too tightly. The other hand went for the other one. Tears rolled down her face with the pain.
When he reached for the bikini bottom, she went crazy, scratching the demonic face above her. Her nails created grooves in his face. Cassidy snarled as his fist hit her across her face stunning her. No one had ever hit her like that. She shook it off, started fighting back and screaming for help.
The party's noise prevented the sound from going too far, but she kept on screaming as loud as she could.
A shaped slipped out of the shadows, "Dude, she's a noisy lay."
Cassidy jerked, and Mac took advantage of his surprise by pushing him off. She got up and ran toward the voice. She realized a moment later it was Dick, Cassidy's brother.
Dick took a moment to check out Mac's mauled breasts before looking back at his brother. Mac ran by Dick several steps and glanced back when she heard Dick say, "What's going on?"
Cassidy jumped up and punched Dick hard in the stomach. Dick buckled at the unexpected move. Cassidy punched Dick hard in the face. Dick spun around landing on his stomach. Cassidy punched Dick hard in the kidney. Cassidy sat on Dick pinning him down and spoke in his ear.
Dick bucked upwards trying to escape. "Get off of me, Beaver," he said.
"My name is Cassidy." Cassidy said, leaning back. "Remember Little League? Respect is earned. Tonight I will teach you to respect me." His voice was low and playful, which made him more frightening to Mac.
Mac stared, not believing her boyfriend's action. She ran toward Cassidy bowling him over. "Get off him." She crouched over Dick ready to fight.
Cassidy stood up, his face horrified and then it changed. "You better not tell anyone. Either of you." Mac realized Cassidy thought that she had run back to the party.
Dick sat up shaking. Mac's breath sobbed in and out as she watched Cassidy hurry away. Mac put her hands on her breasts scanning the beach. She picked up her ruined bikini top.
"Here," Dick said, taking off his shirt, handing it to her.
Mac put the shirt on and then hugged Dick as hard she could. "Thank you, thank you." She released him a minute later.
"I'll take you home," Dick said. He staggered a few steps before steadying himself as he walked past the fire and toward the parking lot.
Mac realized how drunk Dick was. "Here's my car," she said, pointing out her Beetle. "Let me drive you home."
"Okay," Dick said.
Mac unlocked her car and got in. She watched Dick get in on the other side. His hands shook so much that it took several tries before he could hook up the seat belt.
...
Dick stayed up to see if Cassidy would come home. But he never did. Dick grabbed his father's car from the garage. Running from the law, his father wouldn't need it.
His stomach and back hurt but he had enough experience being thrashed when surfing to disregard the pain.
He drove to the bank to get as much money as he could to bribe Mac.
"How can I help you, Mr. Casablancas?" the teller said.
"How much money do I have in my checking account?" Dick said.
"One moment, sir," The teller clicked some buttons not showing the least bit of surprise at the sudden monetary concern by the hung over surfer. "$ 897,255.47."
"Can you please make out a cashier's check for $ 500K."
The teller jerked his head up before putting his professional face back on. "Who do I make it out to?"
Dick realized he didn't know Mac's full name. He knew her last name was Mackenzie. "I'll fill that part in later."
The teller printed the cashier's check and handed it to Dick.
He looked up Mac's address on his phone and drove to her house. He didn't even have to get out of the car because he saw Mac hurrying towards him. He unlocked the passenger door and she got in. She held his shirt out to him.
"I washed it," Mac said.
"Thanks," Dick said, putting it in the back seat.
Dick looked at her bruised cheek. He had his hand on the check ready to offer it to her but the look in her eyes stopped him. They had the same look in them when she knocked Cassidy off him. She came back to protect him. No woman, not even his mother, ever came back. He finally opened his mouth to offer her the money but he heard his voice say, "Are you all right?"
After a long pause, Mac said, "Yes, are you?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I be," Dick said. He fell into an awkward silence. Usually, he knew what to say to a girl. For example 'Hi, I'm rich. Want to hook up?' That worked most of the time.
"Did you see Be… Cassidy," Mac said.
"No, he didn't come home," Dick said, noticing that Mac didn't call his brother Beaver anymore.
"What are we going to do?" Mac said.
Dick hesitated. No one had ever asked his opinion about something important before. He felt overwhelmed by the responsibility. "I don't know."
"Maybe we can get him some help," Mac said.
"Like therapy," Dick said. His mother lived by it.
"I know," Mac said. "But Cassidy … he."
Dick's hands moved up to clench around the steering wheel. "Do you think it will help?"
"Don't know," Mac said. "The only other thing is going to the police to fill out a report for attempted rape."
"No!" Dick said, not wanting to face that his brother was out of control. "He was drunk. He didn't know what he was doing."
"I know," Mac said, not wanting to face it either.
"I'll talk to him," Dick said. He felt his heart skip a beat at the pressure of talking to his brother about this.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Mac said.
"Yes," Dick said, relieved at the offer.
"Okay, we need to do research," Mac said. "Get a list of the best psychiatrists in the state."
"How long will that take?" Dick said.
"A couple of days," Mac said. "I'll meet you here."
"Okay," Dick said.
Mac got out of the car. She waved at him as he drove away.
He headed back to the bank to put the cashier's check back into his account.
...
Logan watched Veronica from the doorway. His concern about her state of mind has grown exponentially.
"Veronica," Logan said.
"I don't want to talk about it again," Veronica said.
"You haven't left the apartment in weeks," Logan said. "You're running through the same files over and over again. This isn't good for you. I can't watch you do this to yourself."
"Then leave," Veronica said. "I don't need you."
Logan's face crumbled. He tried not to be hurt by her statement knowing that she was lashing out. And she since she couldn't hurt the one who killed her father, he was the next best thing. "I'm heading out then."
"Logan," Veronica said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean ..."
"Not for long," Logan said. He would never leave Veronica when she was hurting. "We need more food. Come with me."
Veronica looked back at all her files and notes. "I can't."
Logan took a deep breath and headed out. He crossed the threshold from the third story apartment and into the offices of Mars Investigations.
"It isn't real," Keith Mars said. "You're dreaming."
"Dude … I hope so," Logan said. "Or I went straight to 'where's the padded room' crazy."
"That's Mr. Mars to you," Keith said.
"Mr. Mars," Logan said. Even in a dream Mr. Mars didn't take any guff. "I'm worried about Veronica."
Keith peered into the apartment where dream Veronica was busy working, ignoring both Keith and Logan. "Definitely got a bee in her bonnet."
"She hasn't left the apartment since we moved in."
"How Veronica," Keith said, grinning. "I think she needs another bonnet."
"What?" Logan said.
He jumped when he heard a voice behind him. "You're old school, Sheriff," Lilly said to Keith, her bikini barely covering the required spots.
"And you look cold," Keith said. Lilly's bikini was instantly covered up by a long tan raincoat.
"Sheriff," Lilly said in protest, but she didn't try to remove the coat. She then turned to Logan and said, "Think shoes."
"Shoes," Logan said, thinking his dream logic was completely gone.
"Veronica doesn't collect shoes," Keith said. "She collects …"
"Cases," Logan said.
"Give that man a cigar," Lilly said. A cigar appeared in Logan's mouth.
"It worked before," Keith said.
Logan nodded.
"Here let me get that," Lilly lit the cigar with his mother's lighter. Logan took the lighter back.
"Be careful," Keith said. "A little spark can cause so much damage."
"I'm sorry about the community pool," Logan said.
"That's a start," Keith said, his finger poking Logan in the chest. "Never pull the innocent into your vendetta."
Logan woke up with a start. He rubbed his chest, still feeling the poke of Mr. Mars's finger.
He reached over and turned on his laptop. He started researching crimes hoping for some open ones that Veronica could work on.
"Damn," Logan said. Another case solved by the police. He didn't know whether to feel discouraged by all the solved cases or by just how bad Neptune Sheriff Department now was.
Hours later he came across a case from last year. A high school boy, Seth Garber, disappeared a week after he received early acceptance to US Air Force Academy. Unsolved. Perfect. Just something to tempt Veronica.
From what he could glean, Seth had everything going for him: Straight A's, baseball star, pretty girlfriend, and a normal family. Seth was, in other words, a boringly happy kid. He would never fit in at Neptune a desperate group, not a lot of happiness there.
Logan researched Seth's school, Samuel Pitt High School. One of the top public schools in America, similar to Neptune in that respect, with a 91% graduation rate and 88% of those students went on to college. Perfect, Logan thought with a smirk. This will be easier than he thought.
"Veronica, come here," Logan said, patting the sofa. "Let's talk."
"I don't want to talk ab…," Veronica started.
"No, not about that," Logan said. "I'm going house hunting in Lawton."
"What?" Veronica said. She sat down next to Logan. "Where is Lawton?"
"It's a city about two hours away from here," Logan said.
"Why?" Veronica said, her voice sounded a little higher than normal.
"It has one of the best high schools in the area," Logan said.
"You want to go to high school?" Veronica said.
"Of course," Logan said, brushing hand against his forehead. "Don't want to be a high school dropout. I want my mother to be proud."
"Your mother is dead," Veronica said, her voice lowering in anger. She knew what he was up to.
"Still want her to be proud of me," Logan said with a sad smile.
"I know what you're doing," Veronica said, hating that Logan was playing her.
"When we were dating you told me that you dreamed of Lilly," Logan said. "And she showed up at the bus stop distracting you long enough to miss the bus before it exploded."
"That's different," Veronica said.
"No," Logan said. "It isn't. If it is true, there is life after death. What would your father say about spending every waking moment on his case? What would he want for you?"
Veronica took a breath that sounded like a sob. "No. You don't understand."
"Of course I don't," Logan said. "When my mother died I stoically accepted her death and went on with my life."
"No you didn't," Veronica said, laughing for the first time since her father's death. "You had me investigate to see if she was still alive."
"Of course I did," Logan said, after he grinned back at her. "There was no body."
"There was video of her jump," Veronica said. "And a witness who saw her jump."
"After it was proven she was dead," Logan said. "I stoically …"
"Cried in the middle of the hotel lobby," Veronica said. "Then got drunk and crashed the 80's party in a shirt and underwear ala Risky Business."
"Love that movie," Logan said. "And then I moved on."
"My father was murdered," Veronica said.
Logan leaned back against the sofa, his head touching the wall. "And the last thing my mother heard me say was that I was going to kill my father. That's when she left and committed suicide."
"Logan, I didn't know," Veronica said. "I'm sorry."
"Me too," Logan said. "But it doesn't matter. My mother and your father are dead and we're alive. We have to live our lives. That's what your father wanted for you."
"I miss him."
"Of course, you do," Logan said.
Veronica's shoulders shook as she started crying. Logan wrapped his arms around her and held her. She put her head in the crook of his shoulder. He felt her tears dampen his shirt.
...
Mac waited out front. From the corner of her eye, she saw her mother peer out of the window. Her mother didn't believe that the bruise on her cheek came from a fall. She wished she could tell her parents what happened, but they would insist that she go to the cops about the attempted rape. She wanted to help Cassidy, not put him in jail. Plus Sheriff Lamb was both dumb and corrupt. With the Casablancas being rich and her parents being poor, she knew how that would work out for her.
Dick's Audi pulled up so she ran out and jumped in, relieved to get out of her mother's sight.
"Hi," Mac said. She saw that Dick's face had a matching bruise.
"Hi," Dick said.
"Well," Mac said. "Let's get this over with."
"Okay," Dick said. He straightened his shoulders and locked his jaw. "How hard can it be?"
A half hour later that question was answered for both of them.
"Beaver …. Cassidy, we need to talk," Dick said.
"What's this, an intervention?" Cassidy said. His face had an unpleasant sneer on it.
"You attacked me," Mac said. "You beat up Dick. You need to get …"
"Help," Cassidy said. "There's nothing wrong. You're just a virgin who doesn't know foreplay."
"And what you were doing to me, was that foreplay?" Dick said.
"Shut up! Shut up!" Cassidy said. He clenched his fists at his side. Dick mimicked his motion.
"Cassidy, I love you," Mac said. Cassidy's chin trembled. "I want you to be happy. But you weren't even happy when we were on a date or playing on the computer. You don't have to tell me why you're unhappy but please … please tell someone."
"The only reason I'm unhappy is that I have a girlfriend like and a brother like him," Cassidy said, pointing at Dick. "But at least I can do something about the girlfriend."
"Mac just wants to help," Dick said. "You need … to talk to a psychiatrist … or something."
"Psychiatrist," Cassidy said, the word coming out like a bark. "How about you? You can't even go a day without drinking. And you talk about me needing help."
"I can stop anytime," Dick said.
Cassidy smiled and then said, "Sure you can. Let's make a bet, if you can go without drinking for the summer, I will go see a psychiatrist of your choice."
"Then prepare to hit the couch," Dick said. "Because I'm stopping."
"Right," Cassidy said, walking away. "Heard that delirium tremors are the worst."
"I can stop," Dick said to Mac.
"Is there any doubt?" Mac said. "Let's look up a rehab clinic."
"A clinic," Dick said.
"So Cassidy can't say you didn't stop drinking," Mac said, knowing that Dick would need all the help he could get.
"Okay," Dick said. "Find one that has surfing."
...
Veronica drove up to the rental agent's office. She wanted to review the case again, but she was worried about the house that Logan would pick. The money from her savings account could only stretch so far. She was scared they end up homeless if Logan decided to rent a mansion.
"Still don't know why you made us brother and sister," Logan said. "It is kind of …"
"Incestuous," Veronica said. "You know what high schools are like. To have two kids drop in during senior year and happen to become instant friends."
"Still," Logan said. "It's weird."
"It could bring unwanted attention on us," Veronica said. "Besides since I 'made' us brother and sister, you insisted on picking our names. Roland and Igraine Ronier. Igraine!"
"It's not that bad," Logan said, trying to keep a straight face. "I remember my mom being so happy in the off, off Broadway production of Camelot. And since your name is Igraine, it makes sense I would call you Ronnie."
"Don't believe you," Veronica said. "You're punishing me for the whole sibling thing."
Logan's lips twitched up. "Come on, it's better than my second choice."
"Second choice."
"Gertrude."
Veronica winced at the prospect. "Okay, Igraine it is."
...
Veronica and Logan peered up at the stone house that was a few feet away from a mansion in slight decay. Veronica took out her camera and filmed the house. This was the fifth house they saw. She still couldn't believe that Logan wanted to go to high school. No parents, no rules and still high school.
"How much per month?" Veronica said, worrying about the price of the rent. All of the houses that Logan picked were too much.
"Only $ 1,800 per month. Extremely reasonable for house like this. It was originally the Lawton's guest house," the rental agent said to Logan and Veronica. "About 30 years ago, this is where politicians, business men and other celebrities used to come. I remember coming here when I was a child. It was magical."
They walked into the house and Veronica pulled Logan away from rental agent. "We can't afford this." Veronica whispered. "Or any of the other houses."
"Sure we can," Logan said. "I have over $ 200K in a bank account Mac set up for me."
"What?" Veronica said, her voice carrying to the rental agent. She lowered it again. "What?"
"I was running away," Logan said in the same low voice. "I certainly wasn't going to run away to New York and sell my … services to the highest bidder."
"Does that include utilities?" Veronica said to the agent, deciding not to comment on that statement. She should have known Logan would have it all planned out. Although he could be impulsive, he was too smart to run without some sort of plan.
"Water only," the rental agent said.
"Okay." Veronica said.
Logan separated from Veronica and the real estate / rental agent to look out the back double glass doors. He saw an empty pool in back. "Does this still work?"
"What do you mean 'does it work'?" Veronica said. "It's a pool."
"Everything falls apart," Logan said. "Even pools need to be maintained."
"How do you know?" Veronica said.
"Remember that one summer, I was a pool boy," Logan said. "Dad thought it was important."
"Yes, the year of the scowl," Veronica said, remembering the year when Tinseltown Diaries was at the Echolls house. Aaron Echolls had Logan and Trina do a lot of work around the house. Logan hated it but she teased him by taking pictures of him doing house work and posting them in the school newspaper.
"Hated it," Logan said, laughing with her. The relief was evident in its tone. He turned back to the rental agent.
"Yes, it is a functioning pool," the rental agent said.
They wandered around the house. Veronica filmed the four bedrooms, dining room, kitchen and study. She checked out all the sinks and several bathrooms to see if they were functional.
The house was more than they needed but Logan seemed to like it, Veronica thought. And it was better than the dank apartment.
The rental agent seemed to want to say something to them and finally blurted out, "When can I schedule your parents to see it?"
"Dad died in a car accident," Veronica said, choking a little at the statement.
The rental agent murmured, "I'm so sorry."
"You couldn't have known," Veronica said.
Logan took Veronica's hand. "Mom … she wanted to come. She …"
"She … she is going to South East Hospital," Veronica said. Her voice had a world weary air. "She wanted to be here but she's so tired."
"Sorry," the rental agent said again.
"We're filming the houses," Logan said. "To see if she likes any of them."
He thought that Veronica was right on the money with a sick mother and dead father. The agent stopped asking any further questions.
...
Mac walked with Dick to the boat that was going to take him to the rehab center. "You're going to be okay. The rehab has surfing, everyday." She still couldn't believe she had actually found one that had surfing. Only in California. And what was worse was that it looked like a fancy hotel and not a rehab center. Oh, to be rich.
"I could really use a drink and a roll in the hay," Dick said. "Interested?"
"Dick," Mac said, making it his name and his main characteristic. "Women aren't all put on the earth to have sex with you."
"No, they also have babies," Dick said with a large grin. "And their bare feet also look good in the kitchen."
"Don't know why I bother with you," Mac said, trying to show solidarity with womankind by not laughing.
"Cassidy," Dick said.
"No …," Mac said, denying that statement. He saved her from being raped. And now he was going to rehab to save his brother. He lived down to his name most of the time but he was a good brother.
"Are you Dick Casablancas?" a man interrupted Mac. He walked up beside them.
"Yes," Dick said.
"It's time," the man said.
"I'll be there in a minute," Dick said. The man left to round up the other people who were saying goodbye to friends and family.
"Mac, promise me something," Dick said.
"What?" Mac said, stepping closer to him.
"Don't see my brother alone this summer," Dick said.
"I can't give up on him," Mac said. She didn't know if she could promise that. She loved Beaver.
"We're not," Dick said. "Promise me. I'm doing this. You can do that. In two months, we'll talk to my brother again. And he will have to go to therapy."
Mac blinked back her tears and then said, "Okay, I promise."
"Give me a kiss," Dick said.
"What?" Mac said.
"With lots of tongue," Dick said.
"Yuck," Mac said, holding out her hand. "How about we just shake hands?"
"You're such a prude," Dick said, shaking his head. "Need to pop that …"
"God," Mac said, dropping her hand unshaken.
"See ya, Mac," Dick said, laughing as he walked towards the boat.
"See ya," Mac said with a put upon sigh.
TWO MONTHS LATER
"What are you doing?" Veronica said, taking the laptop and shutting it down. "We're going to be late to school."
"Reading your case notes," Logan said, sitting on a loveseat next to the front door.
"You read them before," Veronica said.
"Not all of them," Logan said, heading to the door.
"Come on, it's the first day of school," Veronica said, changing the subject. She felt kind of awkward letting someone else see her notes on the case. She even felt uncomfortable when her father read them.
Logan got in the front seat. "I'm driving."
"What?" Veronica said, becoming use to being the one driving.
"Can't seem to be whipped," Logan said. "Not on the first day of school."
Veronica and Logan separated as they went to their different class. Veronica felt right at home with all the stares and whispers as she sat down in her first class. "Hi, I'm Karen. Are you the new girl?"
Veronica thought of all the sarcastic responses but simply said, "Yes. I'm Ronnie."
"Your brother is cute," Karen said.
The light bulb went on for Veronica. "Don't say it to him. He's already unbearable," Veronica said.
Karen giggled, somewhat inanely in Veronica's opinion.
Veronica talked to a few other kids beside Karen but felt separated from them by experience. After the first class, she walked down a hall then stopped at a bulletin board. There was a flyer about a missing boy.
"Isn't it sad," a dark hair girl said, coming up behind her. "Seth turned up missing, right after getting accepted to the US Air Force Academy. Sarah puts them up," she continued.
"Sarah?" Veronica said.
"Oh, I forgot you're new," she said. "Sarah's Seth sister. By the way I'm Linda."
"I'm Ronnie," Veronica said, struggling to restrain her anger. Logan picked this school because of this mystery. What happened to Seth: the honor student and captain of the baseball team?
"Should have seen Seth, he was so happy," Linda said.
"How awful?" Veronica said.
"Well, the cops think he ran away," Linda said. "The pressure and everything."
"You don't think that," Veronica said, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"He's a Garber," Linda said as if that meant something to Veronica.
"A Garber," Veronica said.
"Garbers are in the military," Linda said. "All the way back to the Revolutionary War."
"Maybe Seth didn't want that," Veronica said. "And that's why he ran away."
"NO!" a girl said. Veronica turned and saw a tall, freckled face girl. Her thin hands clasped her books to her chest. "He wouldn't have done that. Something happened to him. I know it."
"Sarah," Linda said. "She didn't mean anything by it. She's new."
"Seth lived for the Air Force," Sarah said. "He wanted to fly for long as I can remember. No way would he run away."
"Sorry," Veronica said, "I understand how you feel."
"Yes, your father," Sarah said.
"How?" Veronica said.
"Small town," Sarah said. "My mother is a friend of a friend of your rental agent."
"Oh," Veronica said. "That's …" disturbing was left unsaid as the bell rang. Linda and Sarah hurried away to their next class. Veronica glanced back at the flyer. Seth looked so hopeful in that picture.
...
Mac was eating lunch by herself when Cassidy sat down next to her. "Hi." Her heart thumped harder. She missed him terribly, but she kept her word to Dick.
"I know what you did," Cassidy said, shoving a finger in her face.
Mac's jaw dropped and stared at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Dick," Cassidy said.
"Hi, B … Cassidy, Mac," Dick said, sitting next to Mac. "How's it hanging?"
"Fine," Mac said, for once not noticing the sexual implication.
"Can't run from me forever," Dick said, leaning in close to Cassidy. "I won. Haven't had a drop all summer."
"Not doing it," Cassidy said.
"You're welshing on the bet," Dick said. "You know what dad says about bets."
"Never pay unless you have to," Cassidy said, getting up.
"No, never bet unless you're sure of winning," Dick said, standing up as well. "Doesn't pay to bet against me. You should have learned that by now. I won and it's time to pay the piper."
"No, I'm not going," Cassidy said, sounding more like a five-year-old not wanting to play anymore after losing a game than someone in high school.
Both of them watched as Cassidy left. Mac thought this was turning into a habit.
"What are we going to do now?" Dick said.
"Wear him down," Mac said. "Not let up until he agrees."
"Well, there is one good thing out of this," Dick said. "Vincent Talbert is coaching me for the local surfing tournament."
"Who?"
"He's only one of the best surfers, ever. He volunteers at the clinic," Dick said. "He's going to coach me. Down side? No drinking."
"That's great," Mac said. She was happy for Dick. She didn't know if she could have quit if she drank as much as he did.
"Come to the tournament," Dick said. "I need a groupie."
"Okay. But I'm the non-groupie, groupie," Mac said.
"What?"
"No kissing, no copping a feel and, most important, no sex groupie," Mac said.
"You're a stick," Dick said.
"A stick?"
"In the mud," Dick said.
"You better believe it," Mac said, wishing that Cassidy could admit that something was wrong and get help.
...
Logan waited for Veronica in the car. He saw her stomping across the parking lot. She opened the back door and threw her books in. She slammed the door shut. Another car door slam later, Veronica was in the car locking the belt into place.
"Bad day," Logan said with a smirk.
"You picked this school intentionally," Veronica said.
"It's one of the best schools in the state," Logan said as he drove out of the parking lot and headed back to the house.
"With a student," Veronica said. "Who disappeared a year ago."
"Really," Logan said. He looked over at her before facing forward again. "How horrible for the family."
"Please don't play dumb," Veronica said. "It doesn't suit you. Why did you do it?"
"You're not thinking clearly," Logan said.
"What do you mean?" Veronica's voice lowered.
"You rarely go outside," Logan said. "Had to do something or you would end up a shut in."
"Is that it?"
"No. Something I found out today," Logan said. "Your father gets killed and less than four hours later a plot is hatch to put you in a looney bin."
"So?" Veronica said. "Sheriff Lamb saw an opportunity and took it."
"And found the people to sign off on it," Logan said. "And if this bites them in the butt I'm sure that Sheriff Lamb would have enough pull to protect them."
"No," Veronica said. Her face fell when she realized Logan was right. "He doesn't."
"Someone further up the ladder did this," Logan said. "And considering my father knew about it hours before it happened, that means that he's part of it."
"God," Veronica said. "How could I have missed it?"
"You're not thinking clearly, Ronnie," Logan said again, pulling up to the house.
They both grabbed their stuff and headed to the house. They walked to the family room by habit and sat down on the sofa.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Veronica said.
"Thought you were already investigating that angle," Logan said. "You're like a doctor operating on her family."
"I'm making mistakes," Veronica said.
"You need a break from it," Logan said. "Remember Lilly's case. You were solving other cases in the middle of Lilly's. That made you come back to it with fresh eyes."
"You're right," Veronica said after a long silence. Logan puffed up. "Even a broken clock is right twice a day."
"You wound me," Logan said, clutching his chest.
"I'm going to e-mail Mac. Have her hack your father's computer. And see if Weevil can find out who signed off on putting me into an asylum."
"I've been meaning to ask you, what if someone hacked her email account?" Logan said.
"She created another email account that no one knows about but me and her."
"Road trip," Logan said, knowing Veronica would never risk sending an email from this location even to Mac's new email address.
"Road trip," Veronica said. "We have to leave now so we can get back tonight. Don't want to be too tired for school tomorrow."
Next Chapter Snakepit