A/N: Ok, I promise no more scenes like Chapter 8 with Charlie. Though I have nothing against a gratuitous sex scene here or there-and I kind of expect them in the rated M fanfics-it was done to serve a purpose. Not one I'm hitting you over the head with but it should come clearer with time.

More reasons to add to our 101 Reasons We Love Logan list. Jenilyn, you nailed it. His vulnerability was one of the most appealing things about him. He always seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve. And SilverLining2k6, though I'm not sure if you meant this to be added to the list I'm doing it anyway. You are so right. He's Logan freaking Echolls – larger than life!

So…why do you love Logan? Maybe tell me in a review… I know, I know, I'm shameless. I can live with that.

I own nothing, nada, zip, zilch...

Chapter 10

Monday morning Veronica's phone was ringing just as she reached her desk. Quickly setting down her coffee and bag, she removed her coat while she answered the phone. "Mars."

"Echolls." Logan snapped in reply.

She smiled and switched the phone to her other ear while she threw the coat over the back of her chair and took a seat. "Hey. I was going to call you today. I wanted to tell you Charlie and I had a great time Friday. We're so glad you came."

The irritation was evident in his voice when he spoke. "I wish you had called me. It would have saved me from getting transferred no less than twelve times before I reached you. How does anybody get anything done there?"

"We don't usually. We just have good press. What's up?" Veronica inquired.

Logan hesitated a moment. "Actually, I need to talk to you. Do you have time to meet me for lunch today?"

"Just me?" It felt a little early in the renewal of their friendship to be meeting without Charlie. Her curiosity was piqued.

"Yeah. It's not personal or I would invite Charlie too. I want to run something by you, something FBI related." he answered.

Veronica's mind whirled with the possibilities, most of of them not good. "O-kay," she agreed, drawing out the two syllables. "There is a Thai place about three doors down from my office, called Thai Bistro. Does one o'clock work?"

"I'll be there. And don't go over thinking it, I'm not in trouble," he reassured her.

She couldn't help smiling at that. "How do you know that's what I'm thinking?"

"Because some things never do, and never will change Mars. You're kind of predictable. See you at one," he said before he hung up.

Veronica walked into the restaurant right on time and found him already waiting for her. After placing their orders she jumped right into it. "You said this was FBI related?"

Logan crossed his arms on the table and leaned toward her. "Yeah, do you remember Conner Larkin?"

She batted her eyes and pulled a dreamy look on her face. "Hmm, let me think…Conner Larkin…star of the highest grossing action movie series of all time, sucks at poker, and one of only five guys I can think for whom wearing a shirt should be illegal? The name is vaguely familiar."

Logan smirked; he knew she had been carrying the crush since high school. "Well, your ab-licious fantasy boyfriend and I have kept in light touch over the years. He still sucks at poker, by the way. Anyhow, he kept trying to get me to go to these parties in L.A.. Now that I'm here I got one for the New York location."

He slid the invitation across the table to her. He could tell that just reading the first line made all the synapses in her brain start rapid-firing. Veronica looked up at him, her eyes wide. "It's this Friday. Did you accept?"

"Sent in my RSVP last week. It's another Friday free of Neckbeard. He's gonna be stuck playing Halo with his mom. Again." Logan gave her a satisfied grin, he felt like a boy who knows he done good.

When she looked back at him, after studying the invitation again, her eyes sparked. "Logan, you gave us a huge break. Thank you so much, we'll get started on this right away. But please, take my advice and stay as far away from this party as you can."

"But then, how can I help?" Logan asked. He'd been intrigued by the little Marjorie had said about the case, and was excited to get involved. It was fate that threw the invitation on his desk, right?

Veronica put her hand on his arm and leaned toward him, her expression sincere. "You already have, more than you even know. Now it's on us." Their food arrived and, looking at her watch, she dug in with her usual gusto.

Logan pushed, convinced he could be a help. She'd always tried to keep him away from her work but, in this case, he was already involved. "I can do a lot more. You'll never get past the tight security. Guests go through a serious evaluation process. Conner couldn't tell me anything else because he signed a confidentiality agreement."

Veronica sat back, her expression turning hard. "When you say you can do more, just what are you suggesting?"

Eagerness overrode caution and he offered, "Give me a wire, a hidden camera. I can gather intel. Probably more intel in one night than you can get in a month."

She shook her head. "Logan, I appreciate your offer but we've already got someone who's been on the inside. We just needed to know when the next party was. Thank you, but we've got this. Also, I can't put you in any danger. The biggest help would be if you didn't even go to the party."

"Somehow I thought you'd say that. So I risked your stupid phone tree again to call in reinforcements. You should really work on that whole being predicable thing." Logan half rose from his seat and beckoned to someone by the door.

Adam waved back at him and worked his way toward their table. "Rover, hey. I didn't realize I was second shift. What's going on?" he questioned.

The waiter approached their table and took Adam's order, but the promise of pending food didn't stop him from picking up a fork and starting in on Veronica's plate. "So, is anybody going to tell me what this is about, or are we just here to prove Rover's jaw can unhinge like a snake's?"

Logan's fork froze halfway to his mouth at the question. It was comical to watch the byplay as Veronica fixed Adam with a hard glare. A solid thunk was followed by Adam's sharp intake of breath, then comprehension flooded the guy's face as he realized the double entenre of his own remark, and that he had said it in front of her ex.

Adam started coughing to cover up his laugh and attempted to salvage the moment. He turned to Logan and explained, "I mean you've seen her eat right? I bet she could put an entire burger in her mouth in one bite."

Veronica looked away until the awkward moment could pass. She forced herself to tune in as Logan quickly filled Adam in about the invitation and his bright idea to play sleuth at the party. But what Logan hadn't factored in was that Veronica and Adam had spent more time together in the last three years than they had with their respective boyfriends. They had whiled away countless boring hours in cars and on stakeouts, and endured endless weeks living in close quarters on assignments. He probably knew her as well as Keith, Charlie and Logan put together. Their eyes met for only a moment, but it was long enough for Adam to know to tell Logan, "Thanks, but I think the invitation alone is the break we needed. We can't thank you enough, but I think your involvement is best ended here."

Logan looked hard at both of them before piercing her with an angry look. He stood up and threw some bills on the table before curtly saying, "Fine. You always did like doing everything your way." He stormed toward the restaurant entrance like he couldn't reach it fast enough.

Unfazed, Adam shoved a forkful of her lunch in his mouth and said, "I think I just met the guy you told me about. I wondered where he was hiding on Friday night."

With a heavy sigh she ran out to catch up with Logan. She was surprised to find he was just in front of the restaurant, standing on the sidewalk. He was softly kicking the street light post and looking down at his feet. When he looked up at her approach, his expression was sheepish.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have stormed out like that. Believe it or not I am working on not being such an ass. But I don't see any reason not to go. I'm not an idiot; I know going in to be careful. And whatever you're looking for, I'll find it."

The look he wore reminded her of a puppy begging for scraps."Logan, I cannot risk your safety by sanctioning your involvement in this case. Can you understand?"

He looked amused. "I understand you learned to talk like a real fed. That was kind of eerie. Ok, I have to get back to the office. Tell Adam thanks for me, and maybe we can have a do-over lunch without all the drama. Soon?"

She nodded and said her goodbyes before going back in the restaurant to rescue the remains of her meal from Adam, after she killed him.