Thank you for my fabulous reviews and the constructive criticism. Never be afraid to tell me if I can fix or adjust something. My readers help me become a better writer.
Chapter Twelve
"This is what I got for being a good person." Wallace slammed some papers onto the lunch table in front of Veronica and Logan.
"That fucking bastard!" Veronica cursed, reading about Rashard and the other two boys in the car blaming Wallace, who had supposedly been the one driving.
"Watch your mouth, sugarlips." Logan said with an amused smile.
Veronica only cursed when she was really angry.
"Sorry. I just can't believe that guy would send you to prison over something he did. Meanwhile, he's worried about pursuing a career and making millions not the life of the man he ran over."
"It wasn't Rashard, V. He was my closest friend. It had to have been his uncle pressuring him into everything. His uncle is a ruthless business tycoon and murder or covering murder wouldn't faze him. He's Rashard's manager and he controls every aspect of his life. Rashard would not do that to me." Wallace defended his old friend and Veronica sighed.
"He isn't a defenseless child, Wallace. If he wanted to do the right thing, no one could stop him."
"Rashard is worried about his career and going to prison. You can't blame him for hesitation. Look, he's flying into California today because UCLA is trying to recruit him. If I can talk to him for a few minutes, I can convince him to turn himself in. He's not a bad person."
"Wallace-
"You're skeptical and I get it. But, I need this chance with him. Please."
She groaned.
"Fine, what we're going to do is-
"Wallace! I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you." Jackie had appeared at the table, staring at Wallace and pouting her full-figured lips.
Wallace remained silent.
"I think we should go out. Maybe attend a party or movie just the two of us." She gave Veronica a look that meant she wasn't invited into the conversation.
Selfish and rude as ever I see… Veronica thought, eating a potato chip to stop her from saying something insulting to the taller girl.
"Thanks but no thanks. I didn't run back to Neptune for you, Jackie." He turned to Veronica, making it clear he wanted to continue their discussion.
Jackie's smile fell and she gave a glare towards Veronica before stomping off with angry tears in her eyes.
"Can I say how much I love you for doing that?" Veronica said in the silence of Jackie's dismissal.
"Let's forget about Jackie. I can't say I lost all my feelings for her, but I don't think I can deal with someone like her at this point in my life."
"I know what you mean. Hot, but high maintenance to a want-to-kill-yourself-degree" Logan commented, gulping his iced tea.
Veronica slowly turned to face him and Wallace shook his head.
"Not a smart move."
"Hot? You think Jackie's hot?"
Logan realized what he'd said and internally cursed.
"Honestly? Yeah, she is. I won't lie about seeing other girls, Veronica. You know I only want you."
"Oh by all means, want me but look at every piece of ass that walks your way." Veronica said sarcastically.
"Not what I meant. Come on, you never look at another guy and think he's attractive?"
"As a matter of fact… yep. The other day I ran into Connor Larkin at the supermarket. Remember him? Perfect abs, perfect teeth, the most charming man alive?" she chirped as Logan's eyes narrowed. "I thought it was so weird he was back in town and at a supermarket, not less. He recognized me though. I was the girl who took all his money in one poker game. He started flirting and I did a little here and there. Who wouldn't when presented with a movie star, right?" she said to Wallace conspiratorially and continued. "He gave me his cell number and said he had to go to some event but I should call whenever I needed a shoulder to cry on or a real man. That was after I told him we were dating."
Logan bit his tongue in anger and jealousy. He hated Connor and even envied him; picturing the vapid actor schmoozing with Veronica was infuriating.
"I still have the number. I was so overwhelmed that I put it into my pocket and I've carried it around since." She dug into her pockets and pulled out a torn piece of paper with some numbers on it.
She handed it to Wallace who burst into laughter. Veronica joined in and Logan glared at the two.
"Something funny about this? You're almost sleeping with Connor Larkin and you yell at me for saying someone's hot?" Logan snapped.
"Honey, look at the paper." She held out the paper and Logan shook his head.
"I know his number already, Veronica. You should definitely hold onto it though, for the nights when you're lonely and single."
"You really hurt his ego there, V." Wallace commented.
"My man is the jealous type." She grinned. "Logan, it's the number to the Chinese place near my house. I wrote it because I was too lazy to pick up the food and wanted them to deliver it."
Logan, still fuming, took the paper and saw at the top, scrawled in Veronica's quick handwriting. Chang's Bamboo Express.
"It's Chinese food…"
"Yep. I didn't see Connor at the supermarket. I doubt he knows where to locate one. He's not the sharpest crayon in the box."
Logan cracked a smile.
"And they draw his abs on."
"Right." She smiled and kissed him to apologize for her teasing.
"Now that you lovebirds are back to kissing and witty banter, can we deal with my being accused of a hit-and-run?"
"I'm on it Wallace." She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Cliff.
"Is that a good lawyer?" he asked.
"It's a lawyer." Logan smirked.
"Cliffy! No this isn't for Logan. Or for me. It's for a friend." Veronica was saying. "There is one other option. Yeah, I'll handle it… Well, I called to get a second opinion. There is no need to get snippy, Clifford. Thanks. Bye." She hung up and turned to Wallace.
"Cliff arranged for self-surrender. That means you turn yourself in to the Sheriff's Department in five days, where you will be transferred to Chicago. If you don't you'll be arrested and most likely convicted."
Wallace had put his face in his hands. His life was over and he was barely legal.
"I'm sure Veronica has another option, don't you sugarpuss?" Logan was quick to ask.
He had developed a soft spot for both Wallace and Mac, and considered them his friends.
"You know it. We're going to prove your innocence, Wallace. Give me ten minutes." Veronica pulled her laptop from her bag and ran to Mac's table across the quad.
Mac had told her she was sitting there because the Computer Club was having a meeting and almost all the members were the friendly geeks at her table.
"Q! I need your amazing and speedy expertise with computer-related problems."
"I'm in the middle of a meeting, Bond. Is it life or death?"
"It's prison or not prison."
Mac knew she was talking about Wallace so she moved over to let Veronica squeeze into the space beside her.
"What do you need?"
Veronica explained that she needed the UCLA meeting schedule. At one of those times Rashard Rucker would be there.
"Rashard is the one implicating Wallace?"
"Yes, but Wallace says it's his uncle forcing him to do it. Wallace wants to talk to Rashard one-on-one to convince him to confess the truth."
Mac nodded and seven minutes later Veronica had the schedule.
"You're the best."
"And don't forget it." Mac winked and turned back to her Computer Club meeting.
"I'm back! And with results." Veronica plopped into the seat between the two boys.
Logan checked his watch.
"9 minutes 33 seconds. I thought you'd miss it."
"I always keep my promises." She grinned and showed Wallace the schedule "I have a plan. I'll call you after Rashard leaves UCLA at around 6:30 and you'll follow in your car. Then, we'll arrange a private chat with Rashard."
"Follow? Are you going to trail his limo in your car?"
"Not exactly." She smiled at the prospect of being in a limo.
"I don't like that look. What are you going to do?" Logan asked firmly, knowing her penchant for getting into trouble and danger.
"Tell the limo driver I'm a student from UCLA that the dean ordered to stay with Rashard as a prospective student into the campus. I'll sit in the front and make sure Rashard is in the back so that Wallace will meet us at the most private location and talk to Rashard."
Logan couldn't formulate a response.
"I know you're flabbergasted at my genius. It's okay to admit it, Logan. Step 1 is acceptance." She said solemnly and Wallace laughed.
==========================================================================================================
"I'm sorry, Wallace I tried to call you and you didn't answer."
"It's not your fault, Veronica. I had no chance getting through to him with Monte there." Wallace glared at the distance where the limo had left.
Veronica's plan had been exceptional until Monte, Rashard's uncle, made a surprise appearance into the limo and Veronica couldn't warn Wallace in time. Monte threatened Wallace and even Veronica before driving away, yelling at Rashard for something.
"Can I do anything?"
"You did all you could, V. We tried." He said in defeat.
"I know what will cheer us both up. A juice cheeseburger from the fast food drive-thru on the way to Java the Hut. I'm late for my shift and Logan said he needed to meet me there."
"Aw man the drive-thru!"
Veronica shot him a puzzled look.
"Yeah, it's that thing they have where we don't even have to leave the soothing comfort of our cars."
"The night of the accident, like five minutes before, we hit White Castle. The drive-thru! There's witness! The guy who took our order and gave us the food. The guy asked Rashard for an autograph. He had to have seen him at the wheel."
Veronica was getting more excited.
"And in this day and age drive-thrus have security cameras. There might be footage of Rashard driving."
"I'm gonna find that drive-thru guy" Wallace grinned, enthusiasm and life in his voice again.
"Hey! What about my cheeseburger?"Veronica threw her arms outward.
"Rain check, V! I'm clearing my name." Wallace got into his car and drove away.
"You're lucky Java the Hut is only a few blocks from here because stranding me in an underground parking lot at 8 PM is so not cool." She muttered but she didn't take the smile off her face because Wallace could be free from the whole problem soon.
==========================================================================================================
"I'm all out of love, what am I without you?
I can't be too late to say that I was so wroooong!" one of the customers, Lars, was singing high enough to make the karaoke machine want to kill itself as Veronica ran through the doors.
Great. I'm late, the tone deaf guy is back to murder an Air Supply ballad, and there's my boyfriend, with two cups of Joe in front of him, waving me over frantically. He's hyper without caffeine, with it he's a scream. Veronica pulled her hair into a messy ponytail and took off her jacket, placing it behind the counter.
"Excuse me can I get some he-" a blonde man had approached a server behind the counter with his empty coffee cup and the man walked away, completely ignoring him.
Why was that guy hired? Veronica wondered.
"Wow. So who do you gotta know to get some help around here?" the man asked.
"Veronica Mars, apparently." She quickly served him the coffee with the widest smile she could manage.
"Hey. Thanks, Veronica." The man smiled and walked away with his coffee to a table near the stage.
She noticed him take a sip and then climb the stage. He was the next contestant on Neptune Idol.
Veronica took a notepad to Logan's table so her manager wouldn't glare at her for flirting on the job.
"Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
What goes on in that place in the dark?
Well I used to know a girl and I could have sworn
that her name was Veronica" the man, Britt began to sing,
"And how can I help you, sir?" she walked up to Logan and gave him a deep kiss.
"It's not just for him so I'd appreciate none of that while I'm here." Weevil said from a table near Logan's, bathed in darkness.
"Hmm. Isn't this an odd coincidence?" Veronica tapped a finger to her chin.
"I need a favor, V." Weevil said, looking around to make sure no one was watching them.
"A favor? One of our specialties." She pretended to write his order on her notepad.
"Yeah, a favor and it's important. So can we keep on track? If anyone saw us here, together, that would be bad." Weevil sipped his coffee and looked away.
"So… this is sneaking?" she began. "I've got a pantomime horse disguise; do either of you have any experience being a horse's ass?"
Logan snorted in amusement.
"I'm glad my misfortunes delight you. Weevil and I have been working together to find out who killed Felix. Before you hit me for not including you in a murder investigation, I thought we could handle it without you. I don't like involving you in dangerous situations if I can help it."
"Yes, honey, but when have you ever handled something without me? It's impossible." She patted his head.
"We need you to bug the confessional at St Mary's Church."
"Come again?"
"It's the only place the Fitzpatricks and PCH'ers can coexist. And the priest is a Fitzpatrick; he has to be the one running the drug trade." Weevil explained.
"Look, Veronica, can you for once save my ass without comment?" Logan asked.
"Veronica, ooh Veronica" Britt was singing and Veronica could hide her grin.
"No, because saving your ass with comment, it just-it works better for me."
"So you'll help?" Weevil asked.
"I will not bug a confessional. Video? Yes. But, no sound."
Logan gave her another kiss and Weevil groaned.
"I'm out of here. Call me if you know anything, V. Now that you're in the mix I don't have to deal with Whipped Boy here."
"I started off as Surfer Boy, then Rich Boy, now Whipped Boy. Veronica you're ruining my rep." Logan whined and she laughed.
"Is it worth it?" She sneaked another kiss that left them both breathless.
"Hell yeah."
Weevil rolled his eyes and left the café.
"My manager went out for a smoke so I can hang around a little longer before I actually work. Why didn't you tell me about working with Weevil earlier? I could have helped sooner."
"I know. You always help and use all that you can, but I can't run to you for my every problem. Sometimes we have to depend on ourselves. You can do it, so I need to learn how. I'm too weak for my own good." His eyes filled with tears of frustration and Veronica knew the extent of Aaron's abuse caused this.
Logan hadn't just been physically abused; he'd been emotionally and mentally hurt too. If Veronica wasn't a level-headed detective with morals and a semi-respect for the law she'd shoot Aaron Echolls for daring to harm the man she loved.
"You aren't weak, Logan. You're one of the strongest people I know."
He scoffed in disbelief and didn't meet her gaze.
"The way you're feeling is normal. Aaron treated you like you were worthless, like you were a waste of air and space on this planet. He told you no one could never care or love you and that your mother left to escape you."
Logan let small tears escape his eyes as her words brought back Aaron's verbal attacks.
"He told you Lilly never wanted you or loved you. He told you, you were alone and that's the way you'd die. Well, he was wrong. He was the fucking waste of air and space. He's the one dying alone as he rots in a jail cell. You are not alone, Logan. You have close friends and a support system. And you have me. I love you so much that sometimes I don't know how I do it. Mostly I wonder how you got me to love you this much. I wasn't an open, sweet person anymore, but you burst through my walls and made me trust again. You taught me to love again, Logan. Because you did it first. You told me you loved me last summer when we were both grieving Lilly and the discovery of her murderer. I was the weak one who left you and closed myself off from you again. You're braver than you think. You have this passionate way of living and acting. You don't do anything halfway, be it love, hate, lust, or anger. Your emotions spark mine and that's why we are so great together. If I'm too apathetic or closed off your vivid temperament sets me off. We balance each other out, believe it or not. I need you, Logan the same way you need me. I depend on you like you depend on me. It isn't just you. Sometimes I get this feeling that I have to be near you or that I have to tell you something. When I laugh or cry I think of you first. What would you say or what would you do if you were with me. You're always in my thoughts, Logan. Never forget that. Never forget how much you're worth to me, okay?"
Logan had lifted his head and he stared in astonishment at the little blonde tornado in front of him.
"I love you, Veronica Mars." He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck.
"And I love you, Logan Echolls." She whispered, feeling his tears of happiness and relief fall onto her shirt.
==========================================================================================================
"Are you ready for this, Supafly?" Wallace asked as he and Veronica stood outside a fraternity party that Rashard was expected to attend.
It was their last chance to speak to Rashard before he flew back to Chicago. Wallace had tried to track down the witness, but Monte had bought him off and hidden him somewhere. Nathan Woods, Wallace's father, said he'd gone to his apartment and spoken to neighbors and they said a black limo had taken him away weeks before and he hadn't returned.
"Of course I'm ready. Earlier I planted a camera in a confessional. After than sin I'm already on my way to hell, what's next?" she shrugged and Wallace's eyebrows raised at what she'd done.
"I won't even ask." He knocked on the front door and when it was opened Veronica saw she wouldn't be able to go inside.
"I won't blend in."
Wallace agreed. It was a black fraternity and Veronica being the only white girl there would tip Rashard off to their presence.
"I won't take long, wait in the car." He said and Veronica stepped back to the sidewalk, feeling annoyed that she couldn't help with anything.
An hour later Veronica was smiling because she had done something quite useful. Apparently, Jackie had been inside the party as Rashard's latest love interest and she'd convinced him to follow her to Club Thin, a club where one of the deputies Veronica had connections with worked as a bouncer. When Rashard's uncle stormed in, ready to sue Jackie, Wallace, and Rashard himself Veronica got his cell phone from the Deputy Bouncer. All guests were required to put metal objects through a machine and when Monte put his cell phone in the small tray the bouncer switched it with another cell phone and gave Veronica the real one.
"We can send the record of all the recent calls and the contents of his phone book to your dad in Chicago. He can find the witness after tracing the numbers." Veronica said, putting her hand up to high five Wallace.
"Thanks, Supafly." He high fives her and Jackie, who had just left the club stops beside them.
"Do I get one?" she asked tentatively and Veronica held up her hand.
"Peace offering?"
Jackie nodded and smiled giving Veronica a high five and then giving Wallace one. Veronica noticed that their hands lingered at the contact. She had to hand it to Jackie for moving Rashard to the club. If she hadn't, Veronica would never have gotten the phone. Maybe Jackie didn't have to be punched for approaching Wallace. Wallace was a big boy and he could handle his love life by himself.
The next day at lunch Veronica, Wallace, Logan, and Mac sat at the table that was officially reserved for them, laughing at stupid jokes and Wallace's good news about his father finding the witness.
"All it took was one look from my dad and the guy said he would testify."
"That is one scary dude." Veronica remarked and Wallace smiled.
"Thank you for helping me, V. You always come through."
"Best Friends Forever?" she tilted her head.
"Best Friend Forever." He nodded and hugged her.
"Did Weevil see the video of the confessional?" Logan asked Veronica.
"Yeah, I showed him this morning. We both got to school earlier than usual. He said he had to take care of Thumper. Last I heard, he arranged a meeting with all the PCH'ers right after school."
"You hear about gang meetings?" Mac's lips quirked into a smile.
"What can I say? I keep up my cred with the urban level demo."
Wallace laughed, remembering that he'd taught her the phrase.
"Hey, Wallace." Jackie had approached their table, her face soft and timid for the first time since Veronica had met her.
"Jackie, I want to thank you again for helping us get Monte's cell phone. You were good, Rashard never stood a chance."
She smiled at his praise and was about to ask him if he was busy for dinner later when Jane, a bubbly girl from Veronica's Health class called Wallace to her table.
"Excuse me." He stood and Jackie watched as he sat next to Jane, kissed her on the cheek and they laughed over something she said.
"Jane and Wallace are… going on a date tonight." Veronica said, noticing Jackie's attention on her best friend.
"Oh. That's… good. She's a nice person. And he needs nice" she said and when she turned she said quieter "Not someone like me."
Veronica heard the words and stared after the disheartened girl.
"She isn't who I thought she was." Veronica admitted.
"Jackie? Wasn't she the spawn of the devil?" Mac said, repeating what Veronica had said weeks earlier.
"Those words don't count. I said them while she was making moves on Logan. Now that the incident is in the past I can see she isn't truly related to Satan. That's still Madison."
"You hate people for making moves on me? How cute." Logan touched her nose. "I gotta tell you, you're going to hate most of the school then."
"Seriously, you and your ego have to attend therapy together. It's not a healthy relationship."
"You and your jealousy can come with us."
"No continent is big enough to fit all four of you at once." Mac quipped and the couple glared at her.
=========================================================================================================
Weevil rubbed the sore flesh at the base of his skull. Thumper had landed a violent kick there. The little bastard had turned the gang against Weevil and taken control after blackmailing Weevil with a video of him beating up Curly Moran before his mysterious murder. Thumper had murdered Felix, framed Logan, taking control of the gang, and ran the drug trade for the Fitzpatricks. On top of all that, he'd thrown Weevil's bike over the bridge.
Weevil Navarro was going to have to ride the bus.
I'll get you for this Thumper. You just wait.He vowed.
=======================================================================================================
"Dad! I feel like I haven't seen you in years. You've certainly aged a bit." Veronica joked as she walked through the door of her apartment.
"And I've missed you too, daughter of mine."
"You've been working on the bus crash, haven't you?"
"I can't keep anything from you, can I?"
"Others have tried and always fail." She thought of Logan and Weevil's secret truce.
"I took some of the tapes of Lamb's investigation. He questioned people on the bus a day after it happened. I think the rat was placed on the bus to get people off it with the awful smell, not because it was meant for you."
"That's a relief. One less death threat."
"And I found something else." He showed her a picture.
"That's Terrence Cook and Ms. Dumass, the journalism teacher who died on the bus."
"They were having an affair. This picture was in the old files of infidelity cases that were canceled before further investigation."
They were prevented from further discussion when the news said there was a breakthrough in the bus crash tragedy.
"Sheriff Lamb had brought Terrence Cook, baseball legend, in for questioning. Was the true monster behind this tragedy hiding behind an image of a famous baseball star?" the reporter asked.
Veronica thought of Jackie. She knew the cruelty Neptune High could exhibit. The next day was the Winter Carnival and Veronica had a feeling Jackie would get no chance to enjoy the carnival festivities.
