What better way was there to be preparing for her Christmas holidays than to be reviewing the Lilly Kane murder case file? Veronica Mars mused.

The things she was sure of, were that Abel Koontz could not have killed Lilly Kane because he was being paid off by the Kanes. She just couldn't figure out why yet.. what good would money do him if he was on Death Row? The Kane Families head of security, Clarence Weidman had been the one to make the anonymous call to the Sheriff's Office about Abel Koontz house boat. They had planted the shoes from the original crime scene pictures onto his houseboat along with her book bag. None of the Kane's had alibi's which held up now because Lilly's time of death was now two hours later than the coroner's report had claimed. This was all a cover up.. a conspiracy… and she would get to the truth. This case may or may not have been about the murder of her own sister. She had moments when she regretted not finding out for sure, but what good would knowing that do?

The evidence in front of her made if even harder to tolerate the retaliation from the 09ers at school sometimes. Her father had been right all along. Her instincts to stick by him, her faith in the man who had raised her had been true.

Who had killed Lilly Kane? It was the thought that kept her up at night.

She tried her best to ignore it, to just focus on all of the shiny Christmas decorations and watch Charlie Browns Christmas with her dad… Life still had to go on for those us left behind she thought sadly.

Logan had torn apart the pool house all morning, this was really pissing him off. He had invited Weevil along to the card game, mostly at his insistence because honestly, a part of him liked the Biker, he had a similar streak of Fuck You attitude that Logan admired. He could respect it. Plus he was a sucker for that whole Easy Rider lifestyle but he would never admit it that he just thought those bikes looked damn cool. Someone had stolen the cash, and if it hadn't been for Trina's latest shopping binge and his father putting a limit on their credit cards this month due to the Holidays, Logan would have just written Weevil a cheque, or like went to an ATM or something. $5000 wasn't exactly the kind of cash that Logan just left laying around. He hadn't discovered that Weevil had taken the Egg until this morning. He had to get it back.. before someone noticed.

Stripping down to his underwear during a poker game was something he usually preferred to leave to the Ladies. Especially if it meant he had to compare himself to Connor Larkin, Hollywoods current Abs of the Month. It had bothered him so much he hadn't been able to sleep much… even his fantasy version of Veronica had pouted at him and strutted around the room in her cigar girl uniform doing her Sexy Sleuth impression and inviting him to help her check under her clothes for the rolled up wad of notes. He was hungover, and the room was trashed. He would have to clean this room himself or the staff would complain to his parents, or worse, assume someone had broken in and then he would really be in trouble.

It looked like there had been a police raid in here. He had cleaned half of the room when he decided it was time to stop and make himself something to eat, the good thing about the pool house is that it came complete with its own small kitchen and espresso machine. So Logan spent a lot of his time in here when his father was home so he could avoid the main house. He still couldn't believe that Weevil had beaten him with a pair of 2's.

He had taken the morning off so his parents wouldn't venture this far out, but he had received several angry texts from Duncan that Weevil had taken his laptop… Duncan was very private, he didn't even keep a paper journal.. his entire life was on that laptop, all of his memories of Lilly were in there. This had to be remedied fast. Apparently Veronica had said something about Logan having fleas? She thought he was a dog.

Veronica was glad she had convinced Weevil to agree to give back the laptop if she could get the $5000 back, if someone read that journal of Duncans rumours of her reputation would go from barely tolerable to heading to visit Wallace in the administration office to filling out transfer papers to Pam High. She could only tolerate the things people said about her because she knew none of them were true… she had to get that laptop back.

So far, she knew Weevil was innocent, otherwise why would he be going to all this trouble of taking 09ers stuff? He had a theory that the culprit was Logan… so after she got hold of Duncan's version of events, she was going to have to visit Mr Echolls.

Logan made it to school about Lunchtime, he had brought in sushi as a treat and made up some lame excuse about a dentist appointment, the school rarely ever checked these things anyways.

"Bon Appetite" he said as he left the tray down and the others at the table started to take their share.

"Logan.. so we hear that Weevil got your Egg?" Cole asked.

Logan did his best to laugh it off.

"Well what did I expect huh? I tried to be nice!" he joked as he sat down in the chair beside Duncan who glared at him and stormed off from the table without a word. Woah.. what was that about?

"Hey Man… you have something to say to me… you say it" Logan demanded as he followed him down the steps.

"Did you take the Money?" Duncan asked him angrily.. and there it was… Duncan standing in front of him but Veronica's words coming out of his mouth. The same disapproving look in his eyes, he turned up his mouth in disgust and walked away again.

"You were so drunk last night you wouldn't know if Kris Kringle had come in and took the Money" Logan snapped as he followed him.

"When did you get like this?" Duncan complained. What? NOW Duncan disapproved of his behaviour? NOW he cared to reel him in? After a fricking year? "It's like you have been going over to the dark side so slowly that I didn't notice until you became a full fledged JACKASS" he continued.

This was some amazing Veronica ventriloquist trick.. he would have to check Duncan for strings.

Jackass? She called him that all the time.

"What I'm a jackass?" Logan scoffed defensively, but honestly, the words hurt.. coming from Duncan… the last link he had to Lilly? He was his best friend, how could he think something like this of him?

"Yeah.. and I'm over it" Duncan spat before he walked away. Over it? Had that bitch finally succeeded in coming between him and Duncan?

He had to fix this… he had to fix it today.

He knew that the Super Sleuth was on the case from his chatting with Sean earlier… never before had he needed her annoying blondness to hurry up and do that Nancy Drew Stuff she did so well.

"What are we breaking up now?" Logan joked. It was his go to response when something was hurting him… be a Jackass was his default setting when emotionally threatened.

He had torn through the pool house again when he got home, mostly because he had been infuriated and surprised to find Keith Mars in his foyer talking to his mother and Deputy Sacks about some grotesque piece of pumpkin related art work… personally, Logan thought the carving of his dads head stabbed with a knife was a masterpiece but they had seemed pretty upset. Logan was annoyed at the state of his friendship with Duncan. He had been waiting on him to come back to the land of the living for an entire year… and when he did.. he was a Veronica carbon copy. He tried playing a few video games to burn off some of the tension.

"I love the smell of testosterone in the morning" that sexy sultry voice declared and for a moment, Logan had thought he had fallen asleep. He turned around to see Veronica Mars in the flesh, standing in his pool house.. he could tell this obviously wasn't a dream because wasn't wearing a skimpy naughty school girl uniform.

Was there no place sacred?

"This is why I suggested attack dogs… but no… my mother wanted an alpaca!" Logan declared as he looked at her.

"My father sent me with paperwork for you mom" she told him simply, producing a brown envelope.

"And you thought you would just call in and say hi?" he said sarcastically. Oh God… she was standing beside the poker table he had been imaging screwing her on not more than an hour ago as he had been resting from his raid on the other side of the room with his coffee.

"I wanted to ask you about the game" she said in a serious tone, putting the envelope down on the counter beside her.

Of course she did. It was always business with her.

As much as a jackass as he had been to her… not once in that entire year since Lillys death had she ever just called over to his house to hang out with him anymore or to say hi.

"And I've been meaning to ask you something" he declared, putting down controller. "Did your Super Sleuth kit come with a decoder ring? Do you have a pen that writes with invisible ink?" he asked theatrically. She glared at him again. Was she standing beneath the mistletoe? He thought distracted. "Never mind… don't care.. Mush Mush…" he said pointing at the door.

She looked at him in frustration and turned to walk out when he had an idea…

"Hey Wait… " he called out after her. "Maybe you should talk to Connor" he said, flashing his eyebrows at her suggestively.

He knew from old posters in Lilly's bedroom that Veronica had a bit of a crush on Connor Larkin, Hollywood heartthrob and star of John Enbomns "A Magical Night In Rome" one of her favourite gushy rom-coms. He could maybe use this opportunity to send her home with her pulse racing… she might even get a little hot under the collar… then he could picture her later all flustered and horny.

"Connor? As in Connor Larkin?" she spluttered.

"He's a mortal believe me" Logan thought sullenly. He really didn't get the attraction… Logan had seen him with his shirt off last night.. and honestly there wasn't much difference between the two of them if only she would take the time to notice. Why couldn't he have been swimming in the pool when she arrived?

"He probably has a team of security to keep him safe from girls like me" she replied. Ugh..

"I honestly don't get it" Logan sighed as he pulled out his phone and called the movie set. "Hey Francisco.. its me Logan… hey could you get my friend.." the word was out of his mouth before he even realised, the two of them exchanged an awkward look "to get a drive on today to see Connor? Name is Veronica"

"Monica?"

"No Veronica… V… as in Virgin" he said looking at her obvious annoyance.

"Look at you all helpful" she said sarcastically.

Oh he could be helpful alright.. if she would take that ridiculous jacket off and climb into his lap he would be all kinds of helpful…

"Hey.. your peskiness being unleashed on Connor.. brings me joy" he mused as he stood beside her… hadn't she noticed the mistletoe yet? Besides… he knew how flustered this little trip would make her. Maybe she would have to take matters into her own hands today herself?

She smiled politely and turned to leave.

"Annoy tiny blond one… Annoy like the wind!" Logan said as she walked away… he couldn't stop staring at her ass in those jeans all the way to the house. Damn he had problems.

Veronica was definitely sure that Logan wasn't to blame for the money, that pool house looked like it had been raided by the FBI and Connor had seemed like an innocent chiselled Greek god… she honestly hadn't known they made actual humans in the flesh who looked like that. She called Wallace, her next lead was Sean and she needed to check his address. Her father was currently working on a stalker case at the Echolls house, some kind of crazed fan was threatening Aaron Echolls. Seems like they were both have Echolls Family Christmas issues this week. She needed to get that Diary back. Her visit out to Sean's house showed his father in a suit in the middle of the day at 3pm… that just didn't seem right. Why would he be that dressed up to sit at home? Why wasn't he at work?

Logan had tried sitting at lunch with Duncan today but he had blown him off and stormed away again. Was this ever going to end?

"Would you two kiss and make up already?" Sean complained.

He was just about to take his first taste of Pizza when there was again. Veronica… her breasts in her pink t-shirt were directly eye level with him as he sat at the table.

"Okay.. so here's the good/bad news" she declared proudly.

"Yeah?" Logan asked, sitting back, he would have said something more suggestive but Weevil had just followed closely behind her and Duncan was still standing right next to him.

"The good news is… I know who stole the money" she smiled. "The bad news is… I know who stole the money… so here is my brilliant holiday idea.. filled with holiday spirit. Logan will host another game" she beamed, smiling at him. Would she actually dress up for realz in a cigar uniform for him this time?

"I will?" Logan mused.

"I'm thinking tonight…" she declared.

"Nope… my mothers Christmas party is tonight" he declined.

"Okay so no BYOB.. here's what I'm thinking, I'll tell you who did it, and you buy me in using that persons buy in" she said as she slid into the seat beside him. The warmth of her was right next to him.. she was challenging him.. it was a dare. "I'll just take the place of whoever stole the money" she reasoned.

"You know.. even if you keep talking.. its not going to happen" Logan told her simply, he could just reach out and cup her face… would kissing her shut her up?

"Oh no…." she pouted "I thought you guys might all want your stuff back" she said in a teasing girly voice. It was the same tone his Fantasy Veronica used when she asked him to remove her imaginary panties with his teeth in his dreams.

"I get my $5000 grand you guys get your stuff back" Weevil declared and Duncan nodded.

"It's a bit of a no brainer.. whoever doesn't think this is a great idea.. is obviously the thief" she said pointedly. If he didn't do this.. he would look guilty. Check mate.

"Do you even know how to play poker?" he mused. If she didn't he was so going to suggest they strip again tonight.

"No… but it must be really hard if you know how to play" she said teasingly before she got up and walked away.

The Echolls family home was in full guest dazzling mode, with an army of red hat wearing waiting staff and the whose who of Neptune's Elite.

"Hey Veronica" Duncan said as she finally arrived, Logan had been waiting with the rest of them on her for the last twenty minutes.

"Ho… Ho.. Ho" Logan said as he looked directly at her.

"Hey" she said as she picked up the Jack Daniels bottle in front of Duncan and started to drain half the bottle.

"Damn girl" Weevil said in awe.

"Iced tea right?" she winked at Duncan who had started to blush.

Logan looked at Duncan in surprise, was he guilty?

"Duncan played drunk to win your money.. but he didn't steal your money" she explained. "Oh and Connor is innocent too.. its that tea he's drinking" she said dramatically as Veronica wandered around the table.

"And then theres bachelor number 3.. Logan. Looks like an evil doer. Smells like an evil doer.. surprisingly.. not so much. When I came in here earlier.. it looked like this place had been raided by the FBI. That only leaves Sean" she smiled.

"Sean?" Duncan spluttered.

"Yep.. turns out I nearly got THIS close to being able to say the Butler did it.. except it was the Butlers Son who did it" she said.

Veronica went on to explain how Sean had used those Ghetto brews of his to smuggle the money out in the trash that he collected the next day from the recycling. Logan had to admit… he was pretty impressed. They watched as Weevil took Sean outside for a little Chat about his repayment plan and Veronica slid into the seat beside Logan. Damn that Super Sleuth thing she did was sexy when you got to see her in action.

It was only made hotter when started to deal the cards at the table.. exactly like the Pros did in the Casino when he had been in Vegas with Dick and Beaver during the summer. Talent hands… and she had completely wiped the floor with them all.

Damn she was even hotter than she had been this morning. She had bested him at his favourite game.

"Okay.. I say we take a break.. let the Cosmos realign because something is obviously up" Logan mused as he took the rest of his companions into the main house for some food.

"So I uh… you know" Duncan said awkwardly.

"Yeah.. I know" Logan smiled back.

"Sorry about the whole…" Duncan apologised but Logan stopped him.

"I've done plenty of other things" he admitted.

"So we are cool?" Duncan asked.

"Yeah.. yeah we are" Logan said, grateful that he hadn't just lost his best friend.

Veronica had just accused Jake Kane of being the one to hire someone to send those pictures to her mother when he had fled from the Echolls family study and confronted his wife Celeste. "What did you do?" he demanded.

"What?" Celeste hissed.

"Get your coat.. we are leaving" he growled.

Okay.. so perhaps she had been accusing the wrong Kane?

Lynn Echolls attracted everyone's attention to follow the hired Santa's outside to see the Snow Machine that they had organised and the choir which was singing Deck the Halls.

It all happened so fast, Veronica had seen her father Keith Mars briefly in the crowd before there was a scream as one of the waitresses dropped her tray and stabbed Logan's father, Aaron Echolls in the stomach. Her father had pulled the girl away moments too late, but before she could inflict anymore damage, she watched helplessly as Logan rushed to his father's side and started to dial an ambulance.

Keith Mars slapped the handcuffs he carried onto the woman's wrists to restrain her and Veronica looked at the floor to see the bloodied ice pick lying on the floor.

Nope.. there was no such thing as Santa Claus or a Merry Christmas in Neptune.