Veronica Mars

Broken Lives

Chapter 10

Veronica

If Logan thought that I would just sit back and let him tell me what to do he was very mistaken. I would go along with his plan only if it helped me to do what I needed to do. First thing was I needed to get all of the old case files of mine from my dad's house, when I moved back I had left several boxes of things of mine at his place I didn't think I would need right away. Yet, with all this crazy crap going on I needed to get those files to see if there are any similarities with things going on now. I knew there was something about a partial, but unsure if it would match the one from the newspaper.

Logan had loaded all of us up into his Land Rover, not knowing where we were even going. He drove past the beach heading toward the one place I haven't been to since I walked out on him. I had broken up with him because of him sleeping with Madison Sinclair over Christmas even though we were broken up at that time. I had barged in on him because of how he beat Piz up thinking he would actually release a sex tape of us. Those were the good times.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Logan asks as he pulls into the parking lot of The Grand.

"Whatever do you mean?" I ask giving him the head tilt and fluttering of my eyelashes.

"Yes, right there. You are up to something. Whenever you think you are being sneaky you do the head tilt and eyelash thing," he says as he hands his keys to the valet. He opens Lilly's door as I open Lynn's.

"Seriously, Logan don't over think things," I smirk as I throw my hair over my shoulder which was an old Lilly Kane move.

"Girls, promise me that you will watch your mom," Logan says as he bends down to their level. They both look from him to me.

"Why?" Lilly asks innocently.

"She is up to something, and sometimes she does things that put her in danger. She has no concept of taking things slow or letting the police do their job," he says as we walk into the lobby area.

"Grandpa is police," Lynn says laughing. I just don't understand what the big deal was.

"Yes, he is Lynn. Yet, that has never stopped Veronica Mars from doing her own thing," say the voice of someone who has been giving me the cold shoulder since I got back.

"Weevil, think of the devil and they shall appear," I say as I yet again flip my hair over my shoulder.

"Are you sure I need to watch them and not this blonde one?" he smirks back.

"Eli, I want all three of them watched. You of all people know I can't trust that one," Logan says as he points to me.

"That's not fair," I snap not in the mood for joking around any longer. "Just get the room of whatever so you can go to work," I snap a little mad at them. Logan goes up to the counter and gets all of the paperwork signed handing Weevil a keycard to the room while going up to the Presidential Suite.

"Okay, so you guys can relax here, enjoy your day," Logan says softly to the girls as he opens the door allowing them to go in. "Veronica," he says stopping me in the hallway.

"What?" I say without even looking at him.

"I want you to know that all kidding aside I worry about you. My concern isn't whether you can handle yourself or not, but this man was able to get so close to us. If anything happens to you or Lilly now that I have you back, it would destroy me," he whispers as he lifts my head to look at him.

"I don't like you doing this. For your information I have taken care of myself for 6 years. I have kept my daughter safe as well," I snap jerking away from him.

"Right, I forgot our daughter is now your daughter," he says looking really hurt. He walks past me into the suite. Great that didn't come out like it should have, but he needs to understand I'm not the same person I was all those years ago.

"Mom, look at the view," Lilly says as she grabs my hand pulling me toward the balcony doors. I already see Lynn out there.

"I can't thank you enough for this Eli. I know you have work to do, but you were the only one I knew would stand up to Ronnie," I hear him say as he hands Eli something.

"I brought a few things to work on. Plus you know I like to hang with Lynn," he says smiling as she gives him a high five.

"Yeah, I think though with her it's the bike she likes not the person," he says laughing as she nods her head.

"Awe, man here I thought it was all me," he says tickling her. I was surprised just how at easy they all were with one another. God, things have sure changed.

"Veronica, please just stay here. Let Eli do his job," Logan says as he moves toward me. I don't move away from him, but he wasn't coming for me. I realize shortly after that Lilly had come back from the balcony.

"Lilly will you listen to my friend Eli. He'll make sure that you guys have fun," Logan says as he gives her a kiss on the forehead.

"Okay," she says as Lynn grabs her hand leading her back to the balcony. He stands back up, and pulls me into a hug.

"Please just stay here. I meant it when I said I wouldn't survive you getting yourself hurt," he says kissing my forehead as well before walking out the door.

"Ugh!" I yell as I stomp into the room that was once his. I pull out my cell phone knowing that trying to get away probably wouldn't end well with Eli watching us.

"Veronica," Mac says as she answers the phone.

"Hey, Logan has kidnapped me and holding me hostage," I say as I hear laughing on her end.

"Really, I don't think putting you in a hotel and hanging Eli watch you is kidnapping," Dick says.

"Seriously, am I on speaker," I ask a little angry.

"Sorry, we are driving to the beach," Mac says as I hear he little boy laughing.

"Logan called you," I say watching as Lilly opens the door to the room.

"Yeah, just got off right before you called, he made me promise not to go get you if you called," she says.

"Oh," I say trying to think. "No, I wasn't planning on escaping, but I could use a favor," I say.

"Mac, isn't suppose to help you at all Ronnie," Dick says.

"Ugh!" I yell again.

"Ronnie, don't yell. I said Mac wasn't to help you. I don't want her to do anything that might put her in danger," Dick replies.

"It wasn't anything dangerous. I just need a box from my dad's garage. There are some things I need to go over in it," I say hoping he would help me.

"No problem," Dick says as I explain to him where the box should be and what it was labeled. He says he'll bring it over after they get down at the beach. Lilly lies down on the bed beside me looking at the door that she left open, I can see Eli and Lynn sitting on the couch.

"Mom, is the man outside nice," she questions fluttering her eyelashes at me.

"Eli, yeah he was a friend once upon a time. He is friends with your dad now," I say pulling her to me. I close my eyes as I try to figure out who might be after me.

*****XOXOXOXOXO******

Kidnapper

I followed them closely over the last several months, but even right now as I watched the Mayor and Veronica get into his vehicle with those two brats that they have I felt the anger of him taking her away from me once again burn my lungs. I tried to calm myself down focusing on her hair and how shiny it was or even the simple dress she wore that that showed off how amazing her legs looked. Oh, my I wish I could get her. I bet she was great in bed.

I continued to follow them even as they pulled into the parking lot of the Grand. I had actually stayed her for a little while back when I first became obsessed with her. My first victim was actually a stunning replica of Veronica. She was amazing in bed, but she was a screamer for sure. I even killed her here in this hotel and moved her body to where she was found. She was only 17 at the time. I later found out after her death that she went to PAN High not Neptune. It didn't matter to me.

I saw that bald PI that took over for Sheriff Mars came in shortly after. He was good at getting information out of people that was for sure. He put a few of my companions away, but my bone wasn't with him right now. I still had to give him some payback for hurting my business several years ago. I parked my car and walked into the lobby of the Grand. I pulled my baseball cap down tighter around my head and kept my dark shades over my eyes.

I caught a glimpse of Veronica and could tell she wasn't happy about something. I remember that look on her face when she walked into the room where I had left her present. She had a puzzled look come over her so fast it was hard to decipher it, but then she quickly looked away. They all went to get in an elevator. I followed behind them, but stopped at the elevator area to see what floor they got off on. It went all the way to the top. Shit, they would be in the Presidential Suite. I would have a hard time getting to her there.

I decided to go back to work knowing there would be no way of getting to her at the moment. I would have to wait until she was alone, or there were less people around. As I was walking back to my car someone bumped into me.

"Dude, I didn't see you there," the young man says as he walks by me.

"Whatever," I snap as I continue walking away. I get into my car and head out.

*****XOXOXOXXOXO******

Logan

I felt like crap walking away from Veronica the way I did, but I knew in all honesty that she would go off the handle if I left her alone. She needed someone to look after her like she did everyone else. I made sure to call Mac and discuss with her not enabling Veronica. She was pregnant and really didn't need to be put in a compromising situation. Dick of course agreed with me, but I think it was more because Mac was carrying his spawn than anything else.

Dick called me right as I was getting into the office. He told me about the call from Veronica, but how he was adamant about Mac not helping her. He did though agree to get her a box from her dad's place. I called Eli to let him know Dick would be over there later. I looked through my e-mail sorting them into items needed to be answered and those to erase.

"How are you doing?" I ask after she picks up the phone.

"Lilly asked me if Eli was my friend," she says softly.

"Why?" I asked not sure if it really mattered either way.

"I guess because he was with us. Logan I don't like being babysat by someone. I want to say I have been able to take care of myself before now," she says a little angry.

"Veronica, I know you have. This is all new to me, like I told you before if anything happened to you or Lilly it would destroy me. I have spent 6 years trying to grow up, but the moment you come waltzing back into my life all bets are off," I say as honestly as I could.

"Oh Logan, we are such a fine pair," she says quietly.

"I have some things to take care of, but we will be staying at the Grand for a little while longer. We'll talk when I get back. I love you V," I say softly as I hang up not wanting to hear her reply because if it wasn't the same thing it wouldn't really matter to me. I know she still cares, but love was something she always ran from.

I spent the next several hours going over different plans for new businesses or solutions to problems in the city. Yet, with all the different meetings and people talking to me I couldn't shake a feeling that the person doing this to Veronica was someone from her past, but who it was really was the mystery. I mean during high school she had a lot of enemies. In college she made a few, but the first victim from the case files was a girl our senor year. She was from PAN High.

"Where are the girls?" I asked Eli when I entered the suite at 8:30.

"V, is in that room. The girls are both in bed in that room," he says pointed to the two different rooms as he makes his comment.

"I have a room for you if you don't mind staying here for the night," I say as he exits the room.

"I'll run home and come back," he calls out as he closes the door. I laugh as I walk into the girls room. They were both snuggled up together. Lynn had no clue that I wasn't her dad. I made sure Catilyn didn't tell her anything else. Everyone who wasn't close to me knew the fake story, but those who were my family knew the truth. I would tell her it when she was ready, but for now she didn't need to be stressed with that fate.

Lilly on the other hand was my daughter in every way. I loved her more than anything else, but knew in an instant she could be gone. Veronica could destroy me if she ran. I knew this whole thing was stressing both of us, but more likely Veronica. She was a person who needed to be in control. I kissed both girls on the forehead and went in the direction of the other room.

"I brought you some clothes," I say as I open the door to the room. My eyes take a moment to adjust to the scene in front of me.

"Logan," she says as she pulls on the robe she had hanging halfway open.

"What the hell are you doing?" I snap angrily taking in the sight before me.

"I can explain," she says softly. I hope she didn't think things would go her way any time soon because she was very mistaken.