Chapter 9:Swinging at the High School Hop

Leaning back in an offices chair, Veronica tapped out a rhythm on the desk while watching the clock. Smirking when it hit eight-ten, she spun it around so that she wasn't facing the door.

Minutes later, the office door opened. She observed the reflection in the plaques hanging on the wall before swinging around.

"Van." She said smiling. "How's life in these hallowed halls?"

The man blinked a few times in surprise. "Miss Mars?"

"Don't tell me I'm that easy to forget! Damn, here I thought we had a unique relationship."

"Unique is a nice way of putting it." Principal Clemmons frowned. "How did you get in here? I can't believe you kept my office keys for all these years."

Shaking her head, Veronica sighed. "How could you not remember your picture in my locker? The key has been sitting safely in a scrapbook under my bed that's covered in glitter with our initials."

"How can I help you Ms Mars?"

Smiling, Veronica rose from the chair. "I need some information on a student of yours."

Walking around her, Clemmons sat down. "You know I can't give you a student's private files. It's against school board policy and a violation of rights."

"Ah, but it's a past student. He no longer attends here, therefore the school board policy no longer applies."

"Why exactly do you need this information?" the older man asked, curious as to the reasoning behind his old student's return.

Veronica smiled and sat on the corner of the desk. "It's for my job. I'm an investigative journalist for the Chicago Sun."

Clemmons sighed. "I should have known you would have found a job where asking questions was a requisite. Do you like it there?"

"Yes Van, and I'm very good at my job." The blonde smirked as the corners of the principal's mouth tipped upwards. "So will you be telling me about Mark Ciotta's time here at Neptune High?"

His demeanor shifted from some-what friendly to defensive and professional. Veronica noticed the change and her eyes narrowed. "We're not leaving until you tell me what happened, Mr. Clemmons."

"We?" the man asked, glancing at the door. "Veronica, who else is here with you?"

"My coworkers. Here, they might as well come in to meet you." She rose and went to the door. Opening it, Veronica motioned for Alexis and Pete to come in to the office.

………………………………………………..

"Principal Van Clemmons, this is Alexis Pender and Pete Shapiro. We're here on the story of Mark Ciotta's arrest." Motioning for the two to be seated, the blonde perched herself once again on the older man's desk. "So what can you tell us Mr. C?"

Pete and Alexis exchanged glances, neither one knowing what to make of this over-confident and bantering demeanor in Veronica's voice. The woman they had known to be utterly ruthless is getting information was conversing playfully with the figurehead of a high school.

"Ms. Mars, I told you I can't tell you the details of a student here at Neptune High."

"And I told you that I wasn't going to leave here until you did. The policy is void once the student leaves the system, and you can be sure that there will be more press here soon."

Clemmons remained unflustered at the mention of the press. "I remind you, Veronica, that the press had a hard time coming here when you were a student. And there were many more instances that they tried during that time, if I remember."

A look of surprise, then understanding flashed across the two other reporter's faces. That's why Veronica Mars insisted that they come to Neptune first. That's why she was confident in her ability to get the information she needed from this principal. Alexis thought quickly, and then remembered the blonde woman's comments about high school in both the hotel room and the car. What was it about this place that Veronica had hated? She seemed perfectly at ease with the administration, and knew the goings-on quite well. Breaking her thought process, the brunette realized that Veronica had continued to speak.

"I did remember that. But then I remembered the number of times I came in to save your ass when they did show up. As well as all the other times that problems were 'magically' resolved here." Leaning in, Veronica tilted her head. "Don't you think it's time to cash in on those favors, Van?"

Sighing, Clemmons acquiesced. "What do you need to know?"

"Mark Ciotta. From the Ciotta and Newberry Publishing Empire." The blonde waited until recognition showed on Clemmons' face. "He was a student here for a while, was even suspended three times before his family moved to LA. Why was he suspended?"

"How many years ago was this?" the man asked. Smiling at Veronica with what could be construed as pride, he elaborated. "Not all of the classes from here were as… notorious as yours."

Once again, Pete and Alexis' eyes met, neither one of them saying a word. This was obviously Veronica's game, and neither one of them wanted to step on her toes.

She laughed, inciting another glance between her coworkers. "I should hope not, Van. I honestly don't think you could have handled another 2006. Mark Ciotta attended here two years ago. But you know that- you recognized his name. Stop stalling."

"Mr. Ciotta failed a locker inspection. Marijuana was found in his possession. That was the first suspension. The second one was for fighting, and the third suspension was when he was found to be making fake ids."

"If I recall, he wasn't charged with either of those two crimes." Veronica pointed out. "I assume that the Ciotta family is in good standing with the law enforcement of the town."

Clemmons smirked slightly. "Yes, but you were never charged for your fake id racket either and the Sheriff hates you."

Her mouth dropped open. "I was framed!" Glancing back at Alexis and Pete, Veronica winced as she remembered they were there.

"Who was he friends with while here? Are there any that he would be keeping in touch with?" she asked, switching tactics.

After a pause Clemmons nodded. "I do believe he had a few partners in crime. Robert Callinger, Annie Wall, Aaron Wolfe. It was a group of four who did a lot of pranks. Mr. Wolfe was also questioned in the id issue. All of them have been suspended for marijuana possession."

"Buster's really gotten good." Veronica mused. "Catching more kids than when I was a student."

"Only because you knew the dogs." The principal said gruffly. "And that you somehow got a hold of when the locker checks were going to occur."

"Any of the pranks ever involve illegal substances?" she asked, ignoring the older man's grumblings. "PCP in the homecoming punch bowl, replacing the Tylenol in the clinic for ecstasy?"

Eyebrows raised, Clemmons looked surprised. "No. Mostly vandalism and hazing the freshmen. Where did you think of those ideas, Ms. Mars?"

"Never you mind, Principal Clemmons." Veronica mocked, using his official term. "Can you remember any times where anyone overheard him saying that he may be getting some party drugs?"

The man was silent for a little, then shook his head. "Not that I remember. But then again, students aren't likely to talk about their... extracurricular activities in front of the principal."

"I'm not asking if they said anything to you. I'm asking if you heard anything about it." The woman said, repositioning herself on the desk. "Please don't lie and say you haven't. Teachers gossip as much as the students, if not more."

"Once again, things have died down as of the past few years. No murders, no trials, no publicity."

"Well there aren't many movie stars living in Neptune anymore." Veronica replied. "Of course the paparazzi would have backed off."

"It wasn't only the movie stars that brought the press, Ms Mars. You had a hand in a lot of the instances. Catching a government frame-up of a high school bully is bound to be newsworthy."

"Let's not go bringing up all that in front of my colleagues." She said offhandedly, as Alexis and Pete shared another look.

"Why not?" he questioned, eyes crinkling with slight amusement. "You're quite the legend at Neptune High."

"Because they don't need to hear all about my angsty teen years. I'm sure they lived through their own." She rose from her perch and picked up her bag. Alexis and Pete followed suit.

"Thank you for your help, Principal Clemmons." Veronica said, switching back into professional mode. "You can be assured that The Chicago Sun will use the information you've given to us in the best of journalistic integrity."

The two other people rose, nodding their appreciation to the older man. As they walked out of the office, Veronica turned her head back. "I thought I told you to stop taping your passwords to the stapler."

………………………………………………..

Outside of the office, Pete turned to Veronica. "That was... interesting."

"What?" she asked. "I told you I could get the information we needed. Now we have the names of Ciotta's friends. Ones that he may have been getting the drug for."

Shaking his head, the man replied. "There was never a doubt in my mind that you could get the information, Mars. You're one of the best god-damned reporters I've seen in years. What I'm referring to is the ease with which you obtained it."

Alexis nodded. "You never told us that one of the schools on the list was your old stomping ground, Veronica. And from what Mr. Clemmons in there said, I'd guess that you did a fair bit of stomping.

"Clemmons should learn to keep his mouth shut." She muttered. "You both know I'm from California, we talked about it last night."

"What is it about this place that you hated?" Pete asked as they walked towards the visitor's parking lot. "You seem to have left quite a statement."

"Loss." Veronica said darkly. "Neptune represents loss to me. Should we go to the other four schools on the list? Or was hearing about my past enough information?"

Picking up on the blonde's anger, the man switched subjects. "Yeah, I think we're good. Let's check the accomplices out, see if they've got anything to cover-up."