Hi everyone thanks for reading. This is my longest chapter yet. There is a lot going on here. Some humor, some drama, some suspense, some LoVe!!!
Please let me know what you think.
Does anyone know if Rob Thomas is married, cuz if not I think I will propose, California is a community property state and that way I would own half of Veronica Mars. Hmmm let me know… I promise you are all invited to the wedding. (if he is married then I am sorry, I am not a home wrecker, besides then I would only get a quarter and that is not enough)
Chapter 11
Veronica stands just inside one of the small shops near the many car rental kiosks. She had stood in this same spot for ten minutes watching Piz. He was sitting at a table, drinking a cup of coffee; an identical cup was on the table across from him. Veronica had no doubts that it was her usual drink. Or at least her usual drink when Piz did the ordering. She wasn't quite sure how he got it in his head that she only drank an 'extra hot, double shot, whole milk, latte with cinnamon'. She had ordered it once, the first time they went for coffee, before they even dated. Since then he had brought her one almost every day. Veronica groaned, wondering what he would have ordered had there not been an actual Starbucks in the building.
Mac was in the shop behind her, after a little convincing she was going to stay there. Paige was in the Enterprise Rent-a-car line. Veronica glanced quickly at her, but she was looking over the information packet she had picked up when they first got there. Yet somehow without looking up she tapped her watch.
I am going, I am going. How did she know? This shouldn't be so difficult. This is just Piz, he is a friend, maybe something more, but it's not like he is my great love or anything. I can do this.
Finally placing one foot in front of the other Veronica approaches the table. Seeing her, Piz jumps up to pull out her chair. They have an awkward moment, should they hug, kiss, shake hands. Neither seems to know the right thing to do, both stumped they come to a silent agreement and both just sit down.
"I didn't know if you would be thirsty or hungry. I got you your usual, but I can get you something to eat too if you want." Piz pushes the drink toward Veronica and she takes a sip.
"MMMmmm extra hot, double shot, whole milk, latte with cinnamon." This isn't right if he knew me, even just a little he would know that I am always hungry, that the best part of coffee is the cake that you eat with it. "Piz I want to say I am sorry-"
"Veronica, you didn't do anything, it was me. I was an ass, it's just you make me so crazy. You are this fabulous, bad ass, who I always knew was totally out of my league but I couldn't help myself. I knew you were still in love with Logan when I pushed you in to dating me. I did everything I could think of just to spend time with you even when you and he were still together. Then when you broke up I took advantage of you when you were vulnerable. I knew we wouldn't last, I thought that I could never be good enough for you. But I was wrong Veronica. Maybe you aren't good enough for me. You know, on the phone when you said that about trying to work it out, about how you were going to go away for a while, I thought it was all a ploy to get me to break up with you, it isn't going to work Veronica. If you want to dump me fine, it's your call, but I won't do it."
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Paige is standing in the Hertz line now, she moved because this line offered a better view of Veronica and Piz' table. Paige was running out of things to look at, the conversation between Veronica and her (Paige was pretty sure) soon to be ex-boyfriend was a little too close to the one Paige would be having herself very soon, somehow it felt to intrusive to watch it even from across the room. She had read and memorized all the signs in the large open space. She could tell you there were exactly 118 people in the room, this didn't include the ones in the more enclosed store areas just the ones in the open, but it did include both employees and customers. Of these 118 people 57 of them were adult Males, 42 of them adult females. Of the 19 children 11 were boys and 7 were girls. Also in the count were 2 babies, one of which Paige was positive was a girl, the other she wasn't so sure about. There were 22 tables in the middle of the room, all had 4 chairs around them except for the 2 that had 5 chairs squeezed in, and 3 tables that only had 2 chairs each. 12 of the tables were empty. She could tell you how many of the men wore jeans, how many wore suits, how many had hats, etc. Ask her to describe the ties around the necks of all 8 men wearing them and she could. Ask her and she would describe in great detail the shoes of all 47 females in the room, with the exception of the lone woman at the Dollar Car Rental Kiosk, she was only in socks, white socks with a hole in the big toe of the right foot.
Places like this drove Paige crazy, it was total sensory overload. The information flew around her brain and she couldn't make it stop. As people came and went the numbers instantly changed in her head. Taking a deep breath she tried to find something to focus on, any one thing she could wrap her mind around to slow it down. The family in front of her in line had 3 loud obnoxious children, all under the age of six, deciding that it was best not to start a conversation with them she turns to face the man in the baseball cap behind her.
"Oh my you are Logan Echolls."
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"Piz, I wanted us to work. I never meant to put you in the middle. But I really don't think that I am who you think I am. I am just a regular girl who lives in a really crazy world. My plan today was to see if you were still even interested in me, if you wanted to still try and make it work. I thought maybe the long distance thing would be a good thing for us for a while. But I don't think that is such a good idea anymore. I can't be who you think I am, who you want me to be."
"So to be clear you are breaking up with me."
"I think its best."
"How stupid do you think I am? I knew the second I walked out of the food court that day you would go running back to Logan. How long did it take, you didn't run after me, so did you run after him?" Veronica is shocked, she had never seen Piz this angry, this hostile. "Did you really think you could go gallivanting around the world with him and I wouldn't know?"
"Piz I don't know what you are talking about. I have seen Logan once since that day, when he came and told me he was leaving the country for a while."
"You almost sound convincing. But I don't buy it, during school you were always complaining how you didn't have money, yet Wallace told me you went on a cruise, now here you are at the airport coming from who knows where about to jet off to somewhere else with Logan. All that travel costs money, lots of money. Something that Logan has plenty of."
"I went on a cruise with Mac, she got a really great deal. I am going away—forget it there is no point in trying to explain anything to you, you don't seem to want to believe anything I say."
"Why should I believe you, I don't see Mac, I see you and I see Logan, you tell me what am I supposed to believe?"
"What, you see Logan, then you must have really great eyesight, because he is out of the country, in Europe last I heard."
"Well maybe he heard you snap your fingers because he is right over there."
Veronica turns to where Piz is pointing and standing in line taking something from Paige is Logan Echolls.
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"Oohhh, I am sorry, you probably don't like your name advertised in a large room of people like that. You were just the last person in the world I expected to be standing behind me in this line."
Logan is astonished. It wasn't that someone recognized him, people recognized him all the time, he was after all Logan Echolls. No, it was the way she addressed him, not in an excited 'I am your biggest fan' kind of way, rather it was in a familiar like 'I know you' kind of way. Logan racked his brain, he was pretty good with faces, especially pretty faces, and this one was very pretty. But Logan was excellent with bodies, especially with nice bodies, and this one went way beyond nice. Not coming up with anything Logan finally replied.
"I'm sorry have we met?"
"No, I am the one who should be sorry. I did the whole I have heard so much about you I feel like I already know you thing. We haven't met. I am a friend of Veronica's."
"No you're not." Logan stated simply.
"Okay, now I'm confused, no I am not sorry?"
"No, you are not a friend of Veronica's, Veronica doesn't have many friends and I know all the ones she does have. You are not one of them."
"Okay fair enough, I am a friend of Mac's. I met Veronica a couple days ago, and we are working on becoming friends." Logan raises his eyebrows at this. "Okay how about I am an acquaintance of Veronica's and I am helping her with a case?"
"I would buy that except Veronica is on a cruise with Mac so you will have to keep trying."
"Damn you're tough, but that is actually the truth, there were some complications on the cruise and we had to cut it short. Before I ask what you are doing back in LA, I want to say thanks for the whole upgrade thing, it was nice. The credit really came in handy to pay for the medivac copter decoy."
"Crap, does Veronica know?"
"I mention spending your $5000 dollars on a helicopter decoy and all you ask is if Veronica knows you paid for it? She hasn't mentioned to me that she figured it out but she is pretty smart so probably."
"Are you going to tell me what is going on, where is Veronica?"
"With Piz, don't turn around, behind you."
Logan starts to fidget, finally not being able to take it he turns around. "I don't see her."
"That's because I needed to know if you would follow directions before I told you. Logan she needs a little space okay, just let her have this talk with him and then you can see her."
"How much do you know?"
Paige had been waiting for this question from the moment she saw Logan, so fortunately she had prepared her answer.
"Quite a bit actually. Veronica told me bits and pieces the first day. Mac told me a little more when we stayed out one night a little later than Veronica. I got a lot more yesterday when some guy named Weevil called. He told Veronica that Nish had been killed and that Gory had guys waiting in Mazatlan to pick her up. We put a plan together to get off the ship without being seen, hence the decoy, and here we are."
"She shouldn't be here, she needs to get out of town, is she headed somewhere?"
"She and her dad are working on that. Right now she wanted to talk to this Piz guy, we were going to rent a car, in my name so it couldn't be traced to her or Mac, and drive back to Neptune. But since you are here, and I assume you are headed back too maybe we could all share."
"Sounds good, you get the car, I will go talk to V and Mac." Paige grabs his arm to keep him from leaving.
"No, I will get the car and I will talk to Veronica and Mac. You hold my place in line."
"A couple days with Ronnie and you sound just like her, so bossy."
"I am only bossy when I have to override boneheaded ideas. I will rent the car because any moron who has ever seen an episode of Without a Trace would know you and Veronica should have nothing with your name on it. I will go talk to Veronica because who knows what will happen if you approach while she is talking to Piz."
"As you wish." Logan bows slightly and sweeps his hand out, indicating she should go.
Paige started to walk away but stopped and looked Logan in the eye. Seeing the twinkle and the challenge she pulls out her wallet and hands him her Drivers license and her credit card. "Farm boy, rent me a nice comfortable car please."
"Princess Bride you got it, I am impressed."
"I'll be back to sign the papers."
"Hey wait, I have to make a quick stop here in the city, it should only take about thirty minutes, is that okay?"
"Yes actually that is perfect."
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Veronica glares at Paige as she walks over. "What are you two doing here?"
Paige looks from Veronica to Piz and back again. "What are Logan and I doing here? I was just going to ask you the same question. Who is your friend?"
"Arrrrggghhhh" Veronica practically growls. "Paige this is Piz, a friend from school. Piz this is Paige, Logan's new girlfriend."
If Paige was shocked at this, she didn't let on. "Oh Piz, it is so nice to meet you, Logan and I haven't seen much of Ronnie these days, well we really have only been back together for a little while so you know most of our time has been spent together, alone, getting reacquainted. But seeing Ronnie here just brought up so many memories, I miss the old days when we were all friends, back before I left for Princeton. Ronnie dear, we are only in town for a few hours, I would love for us to have lunch if you didn't already eat." Paige glances over to Logan seeing him scowl she continues. "Logan isn't nearly as excited at the idea as I am, but don't let him get to you. He was just hoping to get a hotel room for the afternoon, he is so insatiable. Please tell me you will come Ronnie, please, please please." Paige grabs Veronica's hand and does her best to imitate her head tilt and pouting lip.
Veronica is trying her best not to crack up, between Paige's Oscar worthy performance and Logan's death glare, both of them are playingit perfectly.
"Well Paigie poo, when you put it like that how can I resist. Let me just say good bye to Piz and then we can go."
"Okay, I will go tell Logan the good news!" Paige turns and heads back to Logan. They watch as she excitedly gives him a big hug, and loudly exclaims, "She's coming Muffin, she's coming."
"Piz, I'm sorry, she is an old friend, I-"
"Don't Veronica, it doesn't matter, I am sorry I didn't believe you earlier, but what was I supposed to think, you tell me he's out of the country but I see him right there. Have a nice life Veronica." Piz gives a small salute, first to Veronica and then seeing that Paige and Logan are both watching he gives them one too, and walks out.
As soon as Paige sees him leave she rushes back to Veronica.
"Smooth, what were you thinking." Paige asks.
"I don't know, it just popped out, he was accusing me of being back with Logan and trying to hide it."
"Well I hoped it worked, are you guys still together?"
"No we broke up before he even pointed Logan out to me, which is why me saying you guys were a couple was so weird, I didn't have anything to prove, it was just instinct."
"No harm I don't think, Logan did an awesome job playing along considering he had no idea."
"You were great too, sickeningly sweet, so what is he doing here, he is supposed to be far, far away?"
"I haven't had time to figure that out yet, but he is going back to Neptune, so I figured it would be safest if we kept him with us. I just wanted to fill you in on what I told him, he can't know who I am or where you're going. We can get the low down on his plans in the car." Paige quickly filled Veronica in on her conversation with Logan, making sure that Veronica was clear on what parts that she told Logan she knew in their messy situation. And making sure to leave out the part about Logan fronting the cash for their little adventure. "Can you find Mac, and get her up to speed, I will get the car and then we can go. We can talk about what will happen when we get back to Neptune while Logan has his meeting."
Veronica agrees and they both depart in opposite directions.
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"So you want to tell me what the hell that was about?" Logan demands.
"Not really, I will just say you played your part perfectly dear." Paige pats Logan's cheek. "Now if you will give me my stuff back I can take care of the car, Veronica is getting Mac, is there anything you need before we leave?"
"I am going to grab something at Starbucks, do you want anything?"
"Sure that would be great, a mint chocolate frapaccino, could you make sure they don't put coffee in it? Thanks"
Paige watches Logan walk off, she notices Mac and Veronica talking near the store where Mac had done all her hiding, she could see Mac laughing so she figured Veronica was filling her in on Veronica's little stunt she had pulled. Paige rents a white Ford Explorer, roomy but totally nondescript, and somehow they all meet at the door.
Logan hands Mac a coffee which she smells and then tentatively sips. Sighing appreciatively she takes a big drink and climbs in the car. "Thanks Logan, it's perfect."
He hands Paige her drink and then turns to Veronica and holds out a drink and a bag.
"Thanks anyway Logan but I already had one." Veronica says tersely.
"First of all, you didn't drink that one, because Piz ordered you something you tried once and didn't like, not wanting to hurt his feelings you never told him. Secondly, when did the fact that you just had one ever stop you? And finally, I got you cake to go with it?"
"Damn you Logan, can't you ever play fair." Veronica takes the drink and bag and climbs into the front seat. "This doesn't mean we're friends, it doesn't mean I like you. It means I like cake."
Paige turns around and glowers at Logan, "How come she gets cake?"
Without a word Logan hands Paige a bag.
"Thanks darling."
"You are welcome pumpkin."
Veronica glares at Paige who glares back. "Hey, you started it," she whispers.
Logan looks to Mac but she shakes her head, "No thanks, I don't have V's metabolism and I am in no way willing to put time in on the treadmill like Paige, I will stick to my skinny latte with a shot of sugar free vanilla. Thanks though.
They rode in silence while Paige navigated her way out of the web of roads that made up the Los Angeles Airport.
"Okay I have two questions, one, Logan where is your appointment?" Logan gives her an address that she plugs into the cars navigation system. "And two, Do we get to hear Logan's version of when he walked in and caught Mac and Dick doing the nasty?"
Mac gasps and chokes on her coffee, Veronica laughs so hard her drink shoots out of her nose and she sprays cake bits all over the passenger side window. Paige keeps her eyes firmly on the road in front of her and Logan deadpans. "I don't know why they call it the nasty. It is really quite wonderful! Well it is if the guy knows what he is doing."
There is complete silence in the car while everyone waits for Mac to decide how she is going to handle this. At last she speaks.
"Tension adequately broken. Now can we please discuss something else, how about your latest boyfriend Paige, or your new girlfriend Logan, oh wait that's the same conversation." Mac regaining her composure utters.
"Hmmm about that Logan, I should probably tell you officially I am still seeing someone, it's over I just haven't broken it to him yet. But besides that, I can't date you, I make it a point to not go out with my friends' exes and you know I told you Veronica is my friend so…"
"Paige I understand, it's not you it's me."
"But Logan we can still be friends, right?"
"I love you Paige, I am just not IN love with you"
"I am just not ready to be in a relationship right now Logan."
"Paige, it is just that you want more than I have to give."
"How could you do this to me Logan? I thought for sure you were the one."
"Of course we can be friends, friends with benefits even!"
This banter continued for the next fifteen minutes until they reached the office building where Logan had an appointment with his lawyer.
Logan was barely out of the car when Paige turns to face Mac and Veronica.
"He said this would take about thirty minutes so that is all the time we have to discuss the plan, are you guys ready?"
"Please tell me the plan includes sleep." Mac asks.
"Right now it doesn't but if you really need it we will work it in. We have an 8 hour drive ahead of us, we can't do it if you are going to fall asleep at the wheel. Can you sleep in the car?"
"Not if I am driving."
"Smart ass. How much would you guys hate me if we asked Logan to drive with us to San Fran?"
"Are you crazy, why would you want to do that?"
"Because that way we can keep an eye on him. He is a target too. He probably thinks he is invincible because you are supposed to go first, but who knows what Gory will do if he can't find you. This way Logan can help drive too, we are going to have to take two cars, with the four of us none of us will ever have to be alone, we can make sure nobody does something stupid like fall asleep."
"Fine, whatever, but he isn't riding with me." Mac grumbles.
"I'm with Mac, both figuratively and literally." Veronica adds.
"No promises, we have a lot to go over and we can't do it in front of Logan. This is serious, he can't know I'm FBI or that you guys will be. If that is what you decide." Paige adds when she sees the look on Mac's face. "Mac we will drop you off at home, you need to pack as quickly as possible. You can bring your car, so just fill it up. You'll be staying with my parents so you just need clothes and stuff. Veronica I will drop you off at the station and your dad can take you home, you need to call and ask him. We need to leave your car at Mac's for a while. I will make sure it get's moved later. We will move it around a bit, it might not convince anyone but it should at least plant the idea that you are still around town at least part of the time.
"Your dad will take you home and you can pack. Miles already told him that you lost the FBI internship, or maybe he found the letter, I don't know, but he asked Miles if he could maybe get you reinstated. Miles said he would check into it, but you know that it is impossible. We don't want your name anywhere near the FBI database. I talked to my dad and you can have the job that I have been doing for him the last few summers. It is at his precinct, you will be totally involved in law enforcement, even though it is mostly office work, I still think it will be exciting enough for you. You will also be surrounded by cops, heavily armed cops, so you should be completely safe. When you are not working you will be getting your butt kicked by our training program. I may be up for some of your training but mostly I won't be involved. I will be in Neptune figuring out a way to not just get Gory off your back but hopefully take the Sorokin's and now the Fitzpatrick's down." And figuring out what the hell is wrong with my brother.
"What about Logan?"
"That is kind of up to him. If he is willing to go, he might need to pack. He shouldn't need much we will just be gone one night, two tops. Maybe he can help me take this rental to the San Diego airport. I will drive Don's car, that way my car won't be associated in any way with you, with your history it isn't like anyone would think to look for you in Don's. His car is also bigger and I should be able to bring more stuff back with me."
"Paige you realize that you are going to have to at least tell Logan that Don is your brother right?"
"Yeah, I handed him my license earlier, I was hoping he would figure it out on his own. If he did he didn't say anything. Any helpful hints here? Don has mentioned him, arresting him a few times for stupid stuff. And of course I remember the murder of the biker that never went to trial. I probably shouldn't assume, but if you all are still friends then he didn't do it?"
"No he didn't do it. Logan and Lamb have quite a history. Lamb keeps arresting him and somehow Logan always gets off on a technicality, or sometimes because he is innocent. Lamb seems to have had a soft spot for most '09ers just not Logan."
"Veronica the way I see it, Logan is going to follow your lead on this one, if you are able to separate you're feelings for Don and you're opinion of me, even for just a while I am pretty sure that Logan will at the very least tolerate me. So will I have your back on this one?"
"Yes but if I have to stay at your parents, can you at least agree not to bring him home for any barbecues while I am there?"
"Deal."
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It took Clarence Weidman several tries to get through to someone who could help him. He explained the situation, his background, and how he was now involved. He was careful not to share the extent of his past crimes, he didn't bother forwarding the email, it was too vague anyway.
"Mr. Weidman, I understand what you are telling me, I am just not sure what you wish to accomplish by sharing it with me. Someone, you won't say who, is offering you money to kill a college student. A college student who, granted, has ties to organized crime, and who has made some pretty serious threats to other students. Who exactly is it you think we should be after here?"
"To be honest sir, I am not completely sure. The person who sent me the email is virtually untouchable. There is absolutely nothing linking him to anything, he is already out of the country, with no plans to come home anytime soon. If I were somehow able to get him on the phone there is no way he would ever admit to anything. Believe it or not he is really pretty harmless; he is just very protective of Veronica Mars. It is this Sorokin kid who troubles me. I have only been looking into this situation for a day and already, I have lost my job because of it. He seems to have some serious pull. I am very worried for the safety of Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls. I realize sir there is protocol, but if there is anything I can do to help in this matter, I would like to offer my services. When I spoke to my old Superior in Langley he told me he would forward my file to you. I have been in the private sector for quite a while now, I know anything I was able to help with would be as a consultant, I am not looking to get paid, I also have had dealings with both Miss Mars, and Mr. Echolls. I would not like to see either of them harmed."
"Your file hasn't come across my desk yet, I promise I will track it down and take a look. I have to ask you Mr. Weidman to do no further investigation into this matter. I know as a private citizen you are free to do as you wish, however, I do have agents working diligently on this matter, you could put them in jeopardy if you were to get in the way. Let me look over your file and I will call you back, please don't hesitate to call if you remember anything else that might be helpful. I think it goes without saying that if you pursue this matter on your own you will have no further chance to be a legitimate part of this operation. Do I have your word that you will leave this alone until you hear from me?"
"Yes sir, you have my word. You have my number, please don't sit on this sir, I believe strongly these kids are in imminent danger."
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The ride the rest of the way to Neptune was mostly uneventful. The first fifteen minutes or so was spent in silence, Mac too worried to say anything that would compromise the secrets she was supposed to be keeping not to mention that she was in the back seat of a car sitting next to the guy who was the interruptus to her and Dick's coitus. Paige was focused on driving and thinking about all she had to accomplish in the next few hours. Veronica was torn, she was excited about getting to San Francisco and starting her FBI training, but it meant leaving, she wasn't even sure for how long. FBI training at Quantico lasted 16 weeks, and Paige said that this one was more intense. She wasn't sure if that meant they crammed more in to less time, or if it was longer. She also started to see some problems with leaving. Mars Investigations for one, she had promised her dad's clients that she would complete their cases but she couldn't do that from 400 miles away. She made some notes to talk to her dad about it. Logan was quiet because everyone else was. He was content just to be sitting in a car with Veronica. He could feel the tension but he didn't know from what exactly it stemmed. Finally not being able to take it anymore he turned around and handed the file he had brought back from his appointment to Veronica.
She looked back at him and raising her eyebrows silently asking what it was. When he didn't say anything she turned back and opened it. She scanned the documents quickly and then turned back around.
"Your will? You changed your will? You made me your beneficiary? Logan we are going to get through this, we are not going to die okay, you didn't have to do this. I never wanted your money." Veronica chokes out the last part, her eyes watering, a knot forming in her throat.
"I didn't change that part, you have been my beneficiary since the day I was granted my emancipation. I changed what happens if…" Logan chokes up too.
Veronica twirls back around to the file folder and finds the part that Logan is referring to. "My dad? You are giving everything to my dad. Logan I don't know what to say. We are not going to die, Logan we can't. I know I told you I was done with you but that isn't true."
Veronica feels the car slow down and she looks out to see Paige has pulled into a gas station. "Come on Mac let's go, come to the bathroom with me, we can get some snacks too."
"Are you serious, we have been on the road for like 20 minutes, you just ate cake?" Mac keeps on protesting as Paige opens her door and pulls her out of the car.
"This Paige person isn't always so subtle but I think I kind of like her?" Logan mumbles his head down.
"Yes she seems to have lots of great qualities but subtlety is definitely not one of them. Logan look at me, please." Logan lifts his head and looks Veronica in the eye. She can see his are glassy and starting to redden. "Logan I talked to my dad, I know everything. He knows everything. I am going to go up north with Mac, she has her Google internship and I took a job with Paige's dad. He is a cop. I will be safe there. Dad and his friend at the FBI are working to fix this. We are going to be okay."
"I want to go too."
"Okay, we were going to ask you anyway, we discussed it while you met with your lawyer. You can't stay, but we want you to drive up with us. Logan you realize that changing your will is one more reason for my dad to kill you?"
"Veronica, don't joke, I know that I am not your dad's favorite person but other than you he is the person I respect most in this world. The only reason he would ever kill me is to protect you. I'd be glad he did it. You and your dad are the only family I have." Logan couldn't take looking at Veronica anymore and turns to face out the window. "What are we going to do Veronica, I know you don't want to be with me right now, but I love you, it is so hard to sit back here and not be able to touch you."
"I know Logan, I feel it too. I can't just jump back into a relationship with you right now, we've tried that and it didn't work. Maybe being away from each other for a while will be a good thing. We can talk on the phone, you could come up for a weekend or we could go away for a couple days or something. I am not making any promises Logan. I don't want to give you false hope. But I hate it when we are not friends, when I feel like we can't talk."
"I know that in the past I have always pushed for our relationship to be more, but I am willing to take whatever you will give me. I just want us to be okay, Ronnie. When something happens good or bad, I want to be able to pick up the phone and tell you about it. I need to know that if you ever need anything that you won't be afraid to ask."
"Okay I think that is a good place to start. We talk. No games, you call me, I call you. Logan when you get back to Neptune, when I am in the bay area, you need to be careful. I know they said they wouldn't touch you until they hurt me, but Logan if Gory gets frustrated because he can't find me there is no telling what he will do."
"I promise. I will be here when you come back. If it means leaving the country again I will, but I am hoping to avoid that. Ronnie, would it be too much to ask to have you sit back here with me, I just want to be able to see you without you having to break your neck. I promise to keep my hands to myself."
"Sure, actually Mac will probably appreciate that too, the thing with Dick is really freaking her out. And this way I can see your face when Paige tells you her big secret."
Logan flutters his eyebrows at Veronica but she just shakes her head. "Nope this one is completely on her." Veronica gets out and climbs in the back seat. Seeing Paige and Mac standing patiently by the store she waves them over.
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Miles Taylor reads the very thick FBI file on one Clarence Weidman Jr. The file is immaculate, Miles thought for sure it would be full of maverick behavior and instances of insubordination. Instead all he sees are glowing reports of successful missions and investigations that Clarence not only assisted in but many he led. Both in the FBI and in the Army Rangers. Skipping to the end he reads the letter of resignation dated eight years ago, stating simply that for family reasons Clarence was resigning. The last page of the file was a personal handwritten note from his superior explaining that Clarence and his wife were having some difficulties and that he was taking a high level security job that offered more money and would be much less dangerous than his current position.
A quick internet search shows that things didn't work out with his wife anyway, they had now been divorced for over six years. He owns a heavily mortgaged house in Neptune, has a few credit card bills but nothing too unusual. There isn't much in his bank account, His credit report shows he is still currently employed by Kane Software, but according to their conversation that had been terminated in the last twenty four hours.
An idea forming in his head, Miles jots some notes down and decided to run it by Paige, if she agrees he can talk to Keith and see what he thinks.
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"Don Lambs sister!!?" Logan yells, he wasn't taking this as well as anyone of them had hoped. Turning to Veronica he asks, "And you are okay with this, you hate Don Lamb. You are going to go and work with his Dad, do you really think that is the safest place you could be."
Paige answers before Veronica can respond.
"Logan, I know it's a shock, and yes I know the history they have, Veronica and I have spent a good portion of the last couple days hashing it out. I am not my brother. I do not have any fantasies about him being an angel or about this all being a misunderstanding. Veronica has shared plenty of specific incidents that show he has been a real ass. Don himself has mentioned a few. I am not asking any of you to forgive him, or to have any relationship with him at all. All I am asking is that you don't hold me personally responsible for his sins, until you give me a chance to prove myself."
"You realize that he isn't going to be too pleased with your new friends?"
"He already knows that Veronica and I have been spending time together. But yes when he finds out that you are coming with us, he will not be happy. But it doesn't matter, he has a lot to answer for. I won't let him dictate who I can and can't spend time with. I know you have no reason to trust me, I spent the last 48 hours trying to convince Veronica to give me a chance. I don't have that luxury with you, you are just going to have to trust Veronica on this one. All I can say, is I really can help. If there is anything I can say, anything you want to know, just ask, I never meant to deceive you. I never tried to hide it from you, I handed you my drivers' license and my credit card within two minutes of our meeting. Both of which had my name clearly written on them."
"Veronica?"
"It's true Logan, Mac and I couldn't have gotten off the ship without her, she has proven herself over and over. I didn't like it in the beginning either, but Logan we don't have a lot of friends right now, especially ones that are willing to put themselves in harms way. I have met her Dad, he came to visit before Lilly died. He came to dinner one night with Don, he was really nice, totally normal. Paige is right, Don changed after he got here, something happened to him. I am not saying that that makes his behavior okay, I just think that it means it's not Paige's fault. I don't think we have a choice here Logan. I think this isn't just our best option, it's really our only option."
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Keith hangs up the phone again, lately it seems that he spends all his time with one attached to his ear. He misses the old days when the town was small, and peaceful. When his job as Sheriff mostly involved him being out on the street, getting to know the residents. When the worst thing they had to deal with was the occasional drunk driver who crashed his car into a light pole on one of their deserted streets late at night. Now he is mostly holed up in his office, trying to smooth things over with the local politicians or placating the rich and famous who want to make sure they are safe from Neptune's latest wave of crime.
At least this time it was Veronica, and now I know she is okay. Glancing at the clock he sees he has only forty-five minutes or so until she will be there.
"Sheriff Mars, Weevil Navarro is here to see you." Keith jumps slightly at the voice of the new receptionist coming out of the speaker on his phone. Pressing the button , he tells her to send him in.
Keith gets up and opens the door. "Eli."
"Sheriff." Keith indicates that Weevil should sit in one of the chairs facing his desk and he goes around and sits in his.
"Eli, Veronica said you saw the crime scene before we closed it off, I want you to tell me exactly what you saw."
"Keith I am really worried about Veronica, you know how she has a way of pissing people off, well this time she pissed of the wrong people. She told me to tell you everything you want to know, but can you tell me if she is okay?"
"Eli, she is fine, I just talked to her about five minutes before you got here, now please tell me what you saw."
"It wasn't much, I was upstairs in the journalism building getting some paint off some of the windows. I happened to glance out when I saw the flashing lights to one of your cars. Then I saw the body. There were a couple people near her, nobody closer than fifteen feet or so. I wasn't real close but I could tell who it was, and that she had her head shaved. That is really it. But Sheriff did Veronica tell you about the computer shi… stuff her and her friend Mac got off that hard drive she sto… borrowed from Jake Kane?"
"Yes, Eli she did, but I would like to hear what you know about it."
"Sheriff, I will tell you everything because V asked me to, but I could get in trouble if the school found out that I helped, hel… heck I could probably get arrested."
"I can't make any guarantees Eli, but I can tell you that I am not interested in pursuing you for any minor offences you may have participated in while helping my daughter."
"You know about the video?" Weevil waits for Keith to nod and then proceeds. "So Veronica found out about the video and she traced it to this Gory Sorokin guy. There were a couple of middle men that she had to go through, but evidently it originated with Sorokin. I am not sure how but then Veronica dug deeper and came up with the hard drive she got at the Kane's. V asked me to get her and Mac into the Physics Lab with the big computer. I did. They were in there for a while, I didn't stay the whole time, I was in and out doing my job. When they were done Mac gave some papers to V and V took off like a bat out of hel… heck. Mac was there a few more minutes she printed some more stuff and did something with a CD, then she left and I locked up. The next day I was fixing some shelves in the Library when I saw V talking real quiet like to the girl who was killed, she gave her some papers. I assumed they were what she got off the computer. Later that day, Logan kicked the shi… beat up the Sorokin kid pretty good, I didn't actually see that, but one of the other maintenance guys told me."
"Okay, Eli, Veronica mentioned you called her to tell her about Nish, is there anything else I am missing?"
"Did she tell you that I talked to some of the PCHers? That Sorokin had offered them some cash to go to Mexico to get her?"
"No but that would explain why she left early and is almost here. Eli, I want you to stay away from this, I know you have been a big help to Veronica, and you were a huge help filling in some of the pieces here. But this is way too big for you guys to deal with. Veronica agrees. She is going away for a while. If you happen to hear anything I want you to call me immediately but don't go looking for information okay?"
"Okay, sheriff."
"Eli, one more thing, a neighbor of ours said a PCHer stopped by yesterday afternoon. Do you know who it might have been? Are any of the PCHers helping Gory?"
"It wasn't a PCHer, it was me. Veronica wasn't answering her phone, neither were you. I couldn't get a hold of Logan, so I went over to see if she was home. I can't be sure of everyone but the bikers I talked to said they told Gory to go to hel… They said they couldn't help him."
They both look up when there is a soft knock on the door. Veronica pops her head in and they both jump up to greet her.
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Paige and Logan dropped Mac off at her house. Before pulling away Logan climbs into the front seat and Paige turns to face him.
"Logan, I am not asking you to be my friend, I am asking that you put aside your feelings for Veronica's sake. For the sake of her safety. This isn't just some hair brained idea that I have come up with. This plan was decided on by Sheriff Mars and the FBI agent he is working with. My parents happen to be neighbors with the Taylors. When Veronica needed a safe place to go Agent Taylor, Miles asked my dad. She will be safe there, you can check it out when you get there. If you have qualms about anything talk to him about it. Veronica will be safest if she is comfortable in her surroundings, if she is freaked out about you, about what you think of everything it might cause her to make a mistake."
"I admit Paige, I don't like it. Veronica has had a lot of people burn her, it is really hard for her to trust people she has known for years. I think you may be asking for more than she is able to give."
"The reason she has trust issues is because the people she has trusted have turned on her. You are guilty of that yourself Logan. I haven't done that to her, and I don't plan to. She needs you to support her on this Logan. She lost the FBI internship, she just broke up with her boyfriend, there is some crazy maniac trying to kill her and the love of her life is questioning every decision she has made in the last two days."
"You don't pull any punches do you? Why do you even care so much?"
"I don't know, it's like she gets under your skin. You can't help but want to try to help her, to right the many wrongs that have been done to her. And I suppose I hate that someone I am close to, that someone I love is responsible for a good portion of that. I know I can't fix everything, but I can try to prevent it from continuing."
"Paige don't screw this up, because if you do, Gory's threats will be nothing compared to what you will face."
Paige pulls away from the curb and flips a u-turn in front of Mac's house.
"Okay now that we have that out of the way, do you need to get anything? We should leave in a couple of hours. I would like to go home and take a shower and put on some decent clothes, and eat a decent meal, but if you need to get stuff I can drop you off or wait while you run in."
"No I have my suit case, I packed to be gone for quite a while but I came back early so I have plenty of clothes, I don't want to have to face Dick. Can I just come with you?"
"Sure, Don will be there, but he will be in bed you don't even have to see him if you don't want. Kate is there so there should be some awesome food to eat.
They continue to talk for the short drive to the house, things are going well and Logan is shocked when Paige suddenly slams on the breaks in the middle of the street. He looks up but all he sees is a quiet street, the only activity is the man getting out of a taxi parked in front of a small house with a green Mini Cooper in the driveway.
Logan looks at Paige she is white as a sheet. "Are you okay, what is it?"
Paige puts her foot back on the gas and drives past the house. "That guy, the one getting out of the cab, that's my ex-boyfriend, the one I haven't quite gotten around to breaking up with yet."
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Thanks for reading, please review!!!!!!!!!!!!
FYI: I am going on Vacation, i will be writing furiosly every chance i get i just don't know if i will have internet. I am not planning on updating until i get back, so hopefully Monday!!!