Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars or any of the characters.
Author's Note: I would have had this chapter done sooner, but I couldn't figure out how to end it. I finally figured it out and I hope you like it.
XOXOXOXOXO
The next day in school Lilly pushed Veronica into Troy who was at his locker picking up some books. Troy smiles as Veronica shoots Lilly the death look.
"Well if it isn't Veronica. Nice of you to bump into me," Troy says with a smile on his face.
"Hey Troy. Sorry about that. Lilly pushed me."
"Remind me to thank her." Troy gave her that look again, and Veronica could feel her cheeks heat up a little, as Logan snorted in disgust.
Troy closed his locker and put a hand on the small of her back and led her down the hallway. "So, Veronica. Since I'm new, why don't you do the right thing and be my tour guide. Show me around town?"
Veronica didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to say yes and spend the whole day with him. But the other HUGE part of her was screaming at her to say no. it's not like she didn't find Troy attractive, cuz lord knows she did. She was warm for his form, so to speak. But the rest of her was scared of guys. After what happened to her in her room the night of that party has her swearing off guys for life. The other part of her that doesn't want to admit it, even to herself, was starting to really like someone else. Even if that someone else is no longer among the living. Veronica couldn't help it. If she wasn't careful, she could very well be on her way to falling in love.
"Well Troy, I am still new. I mean I've only been here for a month. And as much as I would like to help you out, I'm working after school. Maybe you can ask Lilly and Dick to take you." There. Maybe that'll be good enough to give him the signal that I'm not interested, but I wouldn't mind being his friend.
Troy looked hurt. "Awe come on. You can't be working every night? Why not take me another day?"
Veronica was starting to feel annoyed. Can't he take the hint? What more do I have to do without coming off as a bitch?
"Sorry Troy, but my weeks booked. Besides, I can't drive. I'm sure there are some other girls just dying to take you out."
The cocky smile was back in place. Which annoyed Veronica even more. No need to come off as arrogant.
Before he could answer, the bell rang and Veronica said she had to get to class.
XOXOXOXOXO
The rest of the day with Troy felt awkward. Thankfully he went back to acting normal around her. Even if that means constant flirting. It didn't help that Lilly kept shooting looks at them. If she had her way, then Veronica and Troy would already be a couple. Even though it's only his second day of school.
Veronica asked Troy how his brother was. Troy was telling her how shocked his parents are with him. Ever since Veronica left the house yesterday, Jack's been acting like a whole new person. He's finally acting his age.
XOXOXOXOXO
At Mars Investigation, Keith had another case to handle and asked Veronica if she wanted to join him. She agreed.
They ended up at a local seedy bar. They were to prove that a cheating husband goes to the bar, gets drunk and picks up women.
Veronica wondered why she was here. She didn't think she would be able to get into the bar if they needed to go inside, and it's not like she could do much. Except maybe take some pictures while Keith is driving.
Currently the three of them, Logan included, were parked outside the bar in the car. They were waiting for the guy to show up. When the guy arrived and proceeded to spend three hours getting nice and drunk, they waited for him to stroll out of the bar with a woman on his arm. Finally he did.
Veronica had her camera ready and started snapping away. When the woman processed in Veronica's head, she gasped out loud and jumped out of the car. With Logan following close behind her and Keith watching her through his camera, Veronica ran up to the guy and the woman.
"Mom?" Veronica asked hesitantly.
The woman turned her head to Veronica, and her jaw opened. All Veronica could do was stare. It was her mother. The only thing different about her was that her hair was short. And that she was in Neptune, drunk, and about to hook up with some random guy.
Tears came to Veronica's eyes. "What are you doing here?"
The guy was looking between the two ladies. The guy and Leanne seemed to be supporting each other's weight. Leanne had an arm around his neck and he had an arm around her waist.
"Oh, Veronica! You're not supposed to see me like this!" Leanne tried to walk away. The guy cooperated.
Thinking quickly, Veronica ran up to her mother and wrenched her away from the guy. Leanne stumbled and Veronica almost lost her balance. In the distance she could hear a car door open and hoped it was Keith coming to help. Veronica wrapped her mother's arms around her neck and tried leading her away. Leanne protested and the guy looked like he wanted to step in and stop what was happening, but wasn't sure If he wanted to.
Keith came up and asked Veronica if she needed help. She nodded and he helped her lead her mother to his car. They helped her into the back seat and Veronica got in next to her. Leanne wouldn't look at her. Logan was up front with Keith, but he never took his eyes off of the woman behind him.
Veronica was at a loss for words. Last she knew her mother was in Rhode Island trying to straighten her life out so she could win her daughter back. At least that's what Veronica thought was supposed to happen. She never thought her mother would just get worse and end up in Neptune. Veronica knew she had history in Neptune. How else did she know Jake? After all they met in High School. Veronica never thought about it and her mother never mentioned it, but maybe her mother was born and raised in Neptune, found out Jake cheated on her and moved to Rhode Island. Veronica was realizing there was a lot she didn't know about her mother. Like for instance, what was she doing in Neptune and where was she staying?
"Where are you staying?" Veronica asked her mother.
Leanne refused to look at her daughter or to even answer her. Veronica refused to cry. But the woman in front of her was breaking her heart. Never had she ever seen her this bad before. Sure the courts called her an alcoholic and forced her to join rehab, but Veronica rarely ever saw this side of her mother. She must have been really good about hiding this side of her. Veronica had to make sure Jake didn't find out about this and send them back to court. Then she would never get the chance to go back home.
Without asking or knowing where to go, Keith pulled up to an apartment complex. He parked the car and helped Veronica help her mother out of the car. Leanne wouldn't look at anyone, and she tried to refuse the help. Eventually Veronica with a hand around her waist and Keith with an arm around her shoulder and Logan following, they managed to get her moving. They made it up the stairs and stopped in front of apartment number 110. Keith unlocked the door and helped Leanne over to the couch where she flopped down. Veronica looked around and realized they must be at Keith's place. She finally noticed the pit bull watching them from a chair in the corner. Keith later told her his name was Backup.
Veronica watched as Keith got a bottle of water and some aspirin for her mother. After he handed them to Leanne, he turned to Veronica and said the two of them were welcome to spend the night. Veronica called Jake and said she was spending the night at a friend's house. He said it was fine. She then helped her mother out of her shoes and lay her down on the couch where Keith handed her a blanked that she lay across her mother who passed out after downing the aspirin.
Veronica went over to the island in the kitchen and sat down facing her mother. Keith and Logan followed her. Keith sat down next to her.
"You're mother huh?" Keith asked.
All Veronica could do was nod. Right now she felt that if she opened her mouth all that would come out would be a sob. There was something growing in her throat, causing her speech to be cut off.
Keith seemed to understand and told her he had a spare room in the back and that she was more than welcome to sleep there tonight. He said he was going to call it a night and went into his bedroom giving her some space.
XOXOXOXOXO
Veronica ended up falling asleep in the chair Backup was on. He was now on the floor with his head on her feet. She fell asleep watching her mother.
When Veronica finally woke up, she was surprised to see the sun was up. She looked at the clock and realized it was almost 9 o'clock. Good thing she didn't have school today. She got up to stretch her legs, use the bathroom and get something to drink. On her way to the bathroom, Veronica noticed Keith's bedroom door was open and his bed was made. She didn't see him anywhere and found a note on the kitchen table saying he went to work early and to help themselves to anything. Veronica was surprised she didn't hear him leave. She must have been really tired.
Veronica didn't know what to do with herself until her mother woke up. From experience she knew that wouldn't be until at least after noon. She didn't have Logan around to keep her busy. Instead she thought about calling someone to come pick her up. But before she could do that, someone appeared suddenly in front of her. It was Kendall Casablancas.
"Well?" Kendall demanded once she saw Veronica.
"Well what?" Veronica wasn't in the mood to deal with her today. From what she knew about Kendall so far, was that she was a major bitch.
"Did you find out who was with me at the hotel?" Kendall asked.
Before Veronica could answer, Kendall interrupted her. "Wait, let me guess. That would be a no, since I'm obviously still around. Geez and I was told you were good. That you helped people out. Boy were they wrong."
Veronica was getting mad. "Listen lady, I don't have time for your attitude. If you keep that up, I won't help you at all. Got it?"
Kendall rolled her eyes. "Fine." She took a deep breath and let it out. "What have you found out so far?"
"I went to the hotel room you were last seen in and found your driver's license. That proves that you were at least there, but doesn't prove when you were there. Also, it seems someone booked that room under a different name and paid cash for it. Later you showed up in a disguise. That was the last time you were seen. Someone called the new person on shift to book out of the room, but there's no way to prove who made the call."
"Did you find out who I shared the room with? Who was the last person to see me?" Kendal wanted to know.
"The last person to see you was the person behind the desk to give you the key to the room."
Veronica paused. She wasn't sure if she should mention Logan's name. But then again this information could be the key to everything.
"Who was it who booked the room?" Kendall persisted.
Finally Veronica told her. "Logan Echolls. It was Logan Echolls who booked the room under a fake name and paid in cash. I think you were secretly having an affair with him. I also think he was one of the last people to see you alive." But I don't think he killed you. Unless he shot you and turned the gun on himself.
"There's no way of knowing how you died without your body. Do you know where your body is?" Veronica asked Kendall.
Kendall thought about this. "I think I was buried in a ditch somewhere in the woods."
Since Veronica was new to Neptune. She didn't know where the woods were. But she figured there must not be a lot of them. All they had to do was find a search dog with Kendall's scent. I'm sure Keith has some pull with the sheriff's department. Let's hope she was buried somewhere in Neptune. Otherwise we're really out of luck.
Veronica nodded her head in understanding. "I'll see what I can find. Do you remember being in the hotel room with Logan Echolls? Do you remember much about the two of you together?" Like the fact that you were cheating on your husband with your step-sons best friend?
"I remember Logan Echolls." Kendall had a look on her face like it was her greatest accomplishment. "See to it that you find my body." And with that she disappeared.
Veronica called Keith and told him what happened with Kendall. He said he would try to get something of Kendall's and get a search dog. Then he would come pick her up.
As much as Veronica wanted to stay and talk to her mother, she needed to help Keith. With any luck, Veronica would be back in time for her mother to wake up and then they could have their long awaited talk.
XOXOXOXOXO
As promised, Keith showed up with a shirt that belonged to Kendall and a search dog. They drove to a section of Woods in Neptune. The dog sniffed the shirt and started smelling the ground. After a few minutes the dog took off into the woods. Veronica took this as a good sign. Hopefully this meant the dog had her scent.
After an hour of searching Veronica knew they must have been in the heart of the woods. She was praying they would get a lead somewhere. Otherwise this meant that Kendall wasn't here, the dog didn't have her scent, or he was leading them in circles.
Just as Veronica thought they had reached the end, the dog let out a quick bark and started digging. Veronica and Keith exchanged an excited look.
After a few minutes of digging, they noticed something peeking out of the dirt. Veronica and Keith got down on their knees and helped the dog dig. They finally found what looked like a sheet covering what was unmistakably a body. Wearing gloves, the two of them managed to pull the body out of the ground. Underneath the body they found another sheet. They uncovered the body and from what they could tell, knew they had found Kendall Casablancas body. They could see a bullet hole through her skull. Then they call the sheriff's department to come out and identify the body and see who the other sheet belonged to.
XOXOXOXOXO
(Author's note: No changes here besides grammar.)