Chapter 9
This was not how Veronica's first day was supposed to go. She was supposed to dazzle the lawyers of CLM with her quick wit and sharp legal prowess. She was supposed to endear herself to clients and to the staff and have them wondering how they ever survived without her. But when did anything ever go smoothly for Veronica Mars?
She should have been insulted to be dismissed like she was by Don, well Carrie really, but to honest Veronica was grateful for the time to process her encounter with Logan Echolls. Not knowing where Logan was or who he was with, Veronica took the stairs down to the first floor, she wasn't sure she could risk a run-in in a small space like an elevator with Logan just yet. Once she made it to the safety of her car Veronica let out a deep sigh, she needed some reassurance, she need a sense of stability, she needed someone who loved her, she needed her Dad.
Veronica spent the drive to Neptune trying to ignore the voices in her head. Logan had a girlfriend, a pretty and talented girlfriend. A girlfriend who was accustomed to the parties and glad handing Logan had experienced his entire life. Carol and Logan were a good fit. Veronica was Logan's past. Logan was Veronica's past. You, Veronica have a boyfriend. Piz cares for you. You care for Piz; you wouldn't be with him if you didn't right? You live in New York, you are a lawyer. You have made a life without Logan. Logan has obviously made a life without you. Logan has a girlfriend. Logan has a girlfriend. Logan has a girlfriend; that was the sentence playing on a continuous loop in her mind by the time she pulled up outside her Dad's office.
Veronica walked into the office of Mars Investigation and smiled; it was exactly the way she remembered it right down to smell. She traced her fingers along the desk and sat in her old chair, spinning around she called out "Honey I'm home!"
Keith Mars stuck his head out of his office door and smiled at his daughter, "Now what on earth are you doing here?"
"It was an early dismissal day at the office." Veronica replied.
"Ah, a vague and slightly unnerving response. It's like you've never left. Now come give your Daddy some sugar." Keith Mars opened his arms and Veronica leapt into her father's embrace.
"I miss you Dad." She whispered.
"I know you do honey, I miss you too."
The Mars reunion was interrupted by a brunette in heavy eye makeup and loud leopard print dress, "Hey Keith I have lunch and some gossip to go with it. Oh I'm sorry am I interrupting?"
"Oh, no Ruby." Keith said. "This is the long lost Veronica Mars, home to visit her Poppa and raise a little hell in her old stomping grounds while she can."
"Veronica!" Ruby exclaimed as she walked up and wrapped her arms around a thoroughly confused Veronica.
Veronica in turn looked at her father and gave him one of her signature "what the what" looks. Keith responded with a laugh as he pulled the two girls apart, explaining "Veronica, meet Ruby Jetson my receptionist and assistant extraordinaire."
"Nice to finally have a face to go with the name." Veronica said as she took in her replacement in her dad's business.
"You know we went to Neptune together too. I wasn't nearly as well-known as you, I mean come on Veronica Mars was a name that could strike fear in evil doers and hope in the innocent. You name it and Veronica could solve it. We finally had some classes together at the beginning of our senior year but then I spent most of my senior year at home, wicked case of mono." Ruby was talking a mile a minute.
It was all Veronica could to smile and nod.
"Ruby." Keith interrupted. "Lunch and gossip please."
"Right. Sorry." Ruby grabbed the bag she had brought in and pulled out several sandwiches and chips and laid them out on the table in front of the couch in the lobby. "Good thing I got extras." She said smiling at Veronica.
Veronica was glad to see the food especially since her lunch meeting ended without an actual lunch. Once everyone was settled Ruby started in on her story "So I ran into Inga getting lunch and she was saying that Sherriff Lamb had discovered a new level of douche baggery, well she said difficulty but I like my word better. So I asked if he had changed hair gels or something to get him all riled up and she said no that they had found another body!"
Keith put down his bag of chips. "Just like the other two?" he asked.
"Yep. Lamb is trying to keep everything hush hush, but apparently it similar enough to a body found in San Diego and they are sending a detective down to compare notes."
Veronica raised her hand "Question. What the hell are you guys talking about?"
Ruby responded, "Some whack job has been going around and tying up and killing young blonde prostitutes, cutting out their tongues and leaving the bodies to wash up on the beach. Oh and whoever it is also carves a big letter L on the chest above the heart. Twisted right?"
Veronica looked in shock to her dad who nodded in agreement adding "Three bodies in Neptune and apparently San Diego makes four."
Veronica shivered. "Some people really need more socially acceptable hobbies."
Ruby laughed. "So Veronica, are you looking forward to the reunion this weekend?"
Veronica wanted to go back to talking about serial killers, root canals, a million other things than the reunion, but she just shrugged and said "Yep. Should be a real blast."
