Chapter Ten

As her and Keith sat down on the couch, Veronica took a deep breath and blew it back out slowly. She knew it was past time to tell her dad what she really did for a living. As she thought about what she was going to say, she thought back to the day she graduated from the academy. She hadn't told him about being in the academy because it had happened so fast and then she wasn't allowed to tell anyone she was even in.

"Oh my goodness, I can't wait to call my dad and tell him! He'll be so happy." Veronica and Jason were out celebrating with dinner and drinks.

"Oh man, V. Didn't they tell you that you can't tell anyone? Since you'll be going undercover more often than not, no one can know you're in the Bureau. Say you're out on a case and someone recognizes you and they ask how your work with the FBI is going. What would you do then? Your cover would be blown, just like that." Jason snapped his fingers to make his point.

"But, my dad…what am I supposed to tell him?" Veronica couldn't imagine not telling her dad about being in the FBI. He would be so proud of her.

"I've heard through the grapevine that they're going to give us cover stories to tell everyone."

"Oh, well I guess that will work. I still hate the thought of lying to my dad, though." Veronica shook her head. They said the lying got easier the more you did it. She really hoped she never got used to it.

"Okay Dad, I have something I need to tell you. But I need you to not be upset with me." Veronica looked at Keith for confirmation. He nodded his head.

"Well, I did go to Virginia to finish school. I needed to get out of here, you know that. While I was in school, someone said they were going to go into the FBI once they graduated. It made me think. Why not? Why not do more than be a reporter? Why not get into something more, something that would help catch the bad guys, instead of just telling about it once it was too late? So, I got accepted into the academy and went in once I finished college. But once I was out, they told me because I had chosen to do undercover work; I couldn't tell anyone what I really did for a living. It might jeopardize a case I was working on or worse yet, get someone I loved killed. So, to make a long story short, Dad, I'm in the FBI and I'm the one they've sent to help the local police…you…with these murders. I had to fight pretty hard to be the one that they sent out here. They didn't want me to since I knew Lily and was so close to the investigation, but I managed to convince them that it was for the best because I had been so close. In the end, as you can tell, they let me come. And they gave me permission to tell the local Sheriff who I was and what I was here for." Veronica finally breathed and waited for Keith to respond.

"Well Veronica, I don't know what to say. I'm glad you finally told me. I was wondering when you would tell me." Keith gave Veronica a wry smile that she knew so well.

"You knew? How could you know? How long have you known? Why didn't you say anything?" Veronica shouldn't have been so shocked, but she had done everything she knew how to keep this secret, and for what? Her dad already knew.

"Yes, I knew. Let's just say that I know people that know how to get information. I've known since the day you graduated the academy. I even have pictures from that day. They're definitely not as clear as I would like, but they're pictures just the same. And I didn't say anything for the same reason that you didn't. I didn't want you to have to lie about what you really did. Well, anymore than you already had anyway." Keith smiled as he explained. Yes, he had known about Veronica for years now, but he would never have thought in a million years that she would be the on that they would send to work on the Lily Kane copycat case.

"Well, then. I'm glad we finally have that out in the open. I have to admit, I'm very happy that you already knew. You know have to know that I hated lying to you about being a reporter, Dad. I really did write the stories I told you about, but they were stories of cases I had solved or help solved."

"Oh V, honey, I know you wrote them. I have copies of every story you've written since you moved to Virginia, even the ones from college. I might not have been able to see you in six years, but I have kept track of you. I love you, V. You're my girl." Keith could feel the sting in his eyes as he looked at his beautiful, grown-up daughter. Veronica might not have had the good fortune of being raised by two parents the way a lot of people her age were, but he had always done everything he could for her, and done his best to provide for her. And now, if the information he had gotten from his contact was any indication, she was a very good agent, with a lot of promise.

"Thank you, Dad. I love you, too." Veronica didn't usually cry easily, but she could feel tears in her eyes as well. She should not have stayed gone so long. She could have at least tried to get home before now. But now, she needed to know one thing.

"Alright Dad, I need to know what's going on with the second murder. My boss wants an update. He'll be calling in the morning to find out what I got from the sheriff." Veronica looked at her dad, waited on his answer. Keith took a deep breath and started in.

"Lydia Jones was the same age as Lindsay Stone. They were blonde, green-eyed, and popular girls. And get this; the rumor is they were both having affairs with some older guy." Keith looked at Veronica, watching her reaction. He had just found out the latter about the older guy on his way home. Sacks had called him with the information, so he knew there was no way Veronica knew yet. He was right, judging by the surprised look on her face.

"Oh my goodness, Dad, whoever this is, they're crazy. Using Aaron Echolls as a role model? Alright, tell me what else you've got." Veronica smiled at her dad, loving this. Here they were, actually discussing an ongoing investigation together, as adults. For once, it wasn't a conversation where he was telling her to stay out of trouble. She was his equal. As he told her more about the investigations, she dug her notebook and pen out of her bag, got comfortable, and settled in for a good long conversation.

*I really hope you enjoy this chapter! My favorite part is the fact that Keith and Veronica are now equals. Not that he ever treated her like a child really, but now he knows that she can take care of herself. And that helps him feel better about telling her about the case.