Title: Be My Escape
Rating: PG-ish
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Rob Thomas, CW, and whoever else are in full rights of this amazing show. I do not own the quotes or songs. I do however own a few characters and a very large supply of cookies.
Summary: The story is in the future-almost 20 years-and takes place after the events of S2. The rest, well read and find out. Reviews are necessary since this is my first attempt at VM fanfic.
A/N: Sorry this is short. I wanted to get this out while I still had a life. I plan on losing it between work and work in a week. I will do my best to update as much as I can. I am glad you guys liked the Manning connection and I have a few other tricks up my sleeve. Oh, and thanks for the reviews- they keep pushing me to write. LASTLY and quite important-the italic speak is being spoken in French. I do not speak French, thought I wish I could.
Veronica Mars felt a nauseating rush of nostalgia as she sat at the front desk in her father's office. Weevil…Eli was in T.J. tracing a lead on a dead-beat dad who owed a mint in child support. Dad was returning from San Diego and their forensic lab with the latest information concerning the Cheerleading Kidnappings.
She flinched. It was her fault her Dad had been pulled from the case. Her fault that he wouldn't be able to do the job he did so well, again. She flipped through the files her Dad and Weevil had built on the missing girls. There was nothing unusual about this case which for Neptune was unusual. She flipped through the notes and realized that several were signed January Grant.
January Grant was her dad's elusive "groupie" and free labor. Her father was just as thrilled with the young girl's progress on the case. She was dogged and had contacts most P.I.s only dream of having. Wallace had described the girl as one full of "spunk." He'd said she was a strange kid, having grown-up in the lap of luxury but without the attitude that came with wealth and privilege. She, herself, seemed impressed that the girl could spot her own work.
The door chimed. Veronica shut the files and placed them in the drawer. She was nervous on a level-because no one but her Dad, Wallace and Weevil knew she was in town. She'd preferred it would stay that way, too. The door opened and a young girl walked-in.
She was medium height, cropped multi-layered and colored hair, several piercings in her ear, and was sporting jeans and a Yankees t-shirt. This was January Grant.
"Hello."
"Uh…hello. Is Keith Mars here?"
"No. He will be here shortly. Are you January?"
"Depends... are you at all associated with the school system?"
"No."
"Police department?"
"No."
"Amway?"
"No, but may I ask you about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ?"
January laughed. "I'm Catholic, we got a Pope- does that count?" She paused and laughed. "Then, yes, I'm January Grant. And you might be…"
"I'd thought you know. You have the talent for spotting me."
January let her bag fall to the ground, her laptop making a loud thud. "You're Veronica Mars?!?"
"Veronica…snoop…bitch…devil…yeah, that would be me."
"I'm going to prepare you now but I am going to like totally gush over your work. I am a huge fan. You are an incredible photographer. I mean like America's foremost talented photographer and I'd think you deserve the Nobel Peace Prize."
Veronica was amused by the girl. She was, as Wallace said, "spunky." She offered the girl a seat, as she took hers again behind the desk. "I don't think they give Nobel Peace Prizes for photographers."
"But they should…don't you think? I went to your show in New York and it was amazing! My friend's mom had to drag me out."
Veronica blushed. "Well, thanks. It's a living."
"What was it like working for the F.B.I?"
"It was good. It was a different pace. I prefer the art to the demands. But enough about me, I hear you're quite the reporter…"
It was January's turn to blush. "Not yet, but I will be. I just can't believe I am working with Keith Mars. I mean he's not a journalist but he's worked these cases that are sooo big and I am babbling. I'm serious about the work. That's actually why I am here…"
"What class are you skipping?"
"Coach Dick Casablancas. We have a mutual hate relationship. He hates me and I loathe him. I honestly think it's just because I pissed off his friends and wife."
Veronica's ears perked with curiosity. "How did you manage that?"
January shrugged, "Oh you know… I discovered that the people in the picture- Shot of Three- were Cindy "Mac" Casablancas, Logan Echolls, and Duncan Kane and I called them on it. Duncan chased his wife, Cindy just left and Logan ripped me."
"Logan Echolls…he was there?"
"Yeah, kind of a psychotic jackass. Well, not kind of, pretty much is a jackass."
Veronica choked everything back- Logan was back in Neptune. This could not be good. It wasn't looking any better that January had placed the people in her picture. "Yeah… he can be just that."
"Actually I'm not too fond of any of them. That's what I came to see Keith about. I think he probably already knows but Hannah Kane, Duncan Kane's precious daughter, is a cousin to two of the missing girls. She's a Manning. Kami and Kara Peterson are the daughters of Grace Manning-Peterson- Hannah's real mother's youngest sister."
"I remember Grace."
"I know about her parents and what they did to her. Your dad touched on it briefly in his book Not Pictured. Kinda makes me wonder why Duncan wouldn't let Hannah have anything to do with her cousins and aunts, and all of the sudden he's posting a reward for their return? I'm not a psychologist but I'd say repressed guilt about something."
Veronica sighed. Repressed guilt would be an understatement. Duncan and Veronica were responsible for a good part of the destruction of Meg Manning; at least it's what Veronica believed. The only redemption she found in the whole fiasco was rescuing Meg's baby from Mommy and Daddy Dearest. She doubted Lizzie and Grace saw it that way. She didn't agree either with Duncan cutting Hannah off from the Mannings completely- that was wrong, too. Lizzie and Grace had been victims as much as Meg when it came to their family. "I'm sure Dad knows about the Manning connection but I'll write it down in the file, too- just in case."
January gave Veronica a bright smile; a rare bright smile. The smile tugged at Veronica in a curious way. "Thanks Veronica. I better get going though- Dick I can miss, French class with my friend Isa I can't." She stood and grabbed her bag and began to head out the door before pausing. "It was an honor to meet you. I would really like to ask you a few questions; maybe for an article for the paper. You know- local famous alumni and her words on life… Not exactly what I write but I need a good excuse to question you incessantly."
Veronica smiled back. "That would be fine. Just give me a call- I'll be in town for the next few days and I'm staying with Dad. Oh and January, could you keep my visit here between us. Not everyone, as I'm sure you know, is a fan."
January placed her finger to her lips and moved it across- giving the motion of sealing her mouth. She smiled again and walked out the door.
Veronica leaned back in the chair. Life was supposed to get easier but why did she have the sneaking suspicion that was the last thing about to happen?
6th Period French 2
It's a pity I have to take this class. Along with Isa, whose parents are both French, I speak the language fluently. Two summers in Paris with my Aunt Deena, my Mom's sister, and I am pretty sure this class is a complete waste of my time. In fact, besides Vice Principal Fennel, Madame Pourseau' is the only teacher/ faculty member that actually enjoys having me in her class. This is good because as long as Isa and I speak French she ignores our conversations
"Where did you go fifth period?" Isa asked, inquisitively.
"Mars Investigations. I had information for Keith and since I am being forcibly detained it was now or never."
"How goes the grounding?"
"Still grounded. I believe my Mom is coming around but Dad is a stone wall. He thinks I need an attitude adjustment."
"You don't need an attitude adjustment; you just need to know when to keep your mouth shut and how not piss off very important people." Isa replied in her vast knowledge of 09er protocol.
I had yet to grasp it. Maybe there was a book- 09er Life for Dummies. I smiled still, "But if I did that- I wouldn't be me."
"Quite true. Any leads on the case?"
"Well, sort of…but I'd rather not say anything till I'm sure this will pan out." I couldn't tell Isa I had snooped into hers and Alex's files. Even I wasn't that stupid.
"Your call."
"Haven't you given up yet?" Scott Kane had turned around and was facing me. I hadn't talked to him since the dinner and basically avoided him and his entourage as much as I could.
"I'm sorry Mr. Kane, but I don't believe this conversation involved you at all."
"In fact Duncan Jr. this is an A and B conversation so C your way out of it." Isa said, full of that pose that made her my hero.
"Really clever Isabella." Scott retorted, emphasizing her full name. This was a guaranteed way to piss her off.
"What I don't understand Scott, is why you are bothered by me investigating the disappearances of three of your fellow classmates?"
"It's not your job."
"Actually it is. I have a job working for Keith Mars."
"Good luck with that." He said indignantly.
"Scott, you need to stop fighting your daddy's battles and move on."
"January, you need to stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong."
"I think her nose is exactly where it needs to be. Get over your 09er control-freak-daddy's-boy-issues and let it go and oh yeah, get. A. Life. Turn around and be a good little boy and leave us alone."
I need to write this down- she's good. Scott Kane turned back in his seat. His face tinted red with perturbance.
"He's a moron. He has no clue what's really going on."
"Like father, like son." I countered, thinking that was the truest fact in the whole case.