Chapter 12: Return of Betty

Sitting in yet another high school office, Veronica's thoughts ran through her head as she waited for her appointment. Memories had plagued her once again, keeping her from getting any good sleep the night before. After having left Mac's hotel, she returned to her own room with hope of taking a nap. But all she could do was toss and turn, then gave up and got to work on her story. Scheduling a meeting with the principal had proved to be quite easy, and she had smiled at the fact that most high schools didn't deal with what hers had. The next morning she was sitting in the offices of Pacific Coast Academy, conciously putting herself back into professional mode.

"Ms. Mars?" the secretary asked, before repeating her name louder. "Ms. Mars, the principal is ready for you now."

Smiling as she gathered her things, Veronica stood and nodded thanks to the woman before entering the room. Upon seeing the man behind the desk, she stopped in her tracks when she saw who was behind the desk.

"Richie?"

The man's face shone with an amused smile. "Veronica Mars. Or are you still going by Betty?"

With a grin that matched his, she sat down in a chair. "You remember me."

"Telling the entire basketball team that you were horny makes you memorable. No one could really forget that you crashed Pan High, and then returned Billy. Especially once your face hit the papers during the summer. It wasn't until then that we got the name reference."

"Ah, yes." The blonde replied. "The power of free press kicks my ass once again."

"But you're on the other end of it now. I think that means you're supposed to recite the first amendment upon command."

"Except for the fact that my name incites enough fear into the people that I cross. You're the principal here?"

"Have been for almost 2 years."

Raising an eyebrow, the blonde crossed her legs. "We're not even thirty."

With a grin, Richie leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "I know. Isn't it great?"

"How the hell did you become principal of a high school at 25?"

"There's that inquisitive nature that made you a legend." he laughed, before answering. "The old principal had a heart attack in his office while I was with him and some other administrators. When he left because of his health, he nominated me for my cool mind in a crisis and ability to connect with the students."

"I see. So you got a job most educators dream of for sitting on your ass while your boss couldn't breathe."

Shaking a finger at her, Richie countered good-naturdedly. "No, I got the job because half the school board saw me not sit on my ass when my boss couldn't breathe. I worked as an EMT during college, and was able to help. They backed the nomination and gave it to me."

"How nice for you. I worked as a barista during college, that rarely comes in handy."

"No- but the competitiveness, tenacity, rapier wit and natural good looks sure as hell work for you."

Smiling, the blonde shook her head in amusement. "I wouldn't be too sure. My current boss only hired me when I tripped the guy who stole his wife's purse."

"But he kept you on staff for my reasons." The principal said with a wink.

The banter continued back and forth for a little while, before Veronica came to her point. "I'm here about a former student of yours."

"I can't give you any information about PCA students, Veronica." Richie said with a much more guarded tone. "We have a responsibility to protect the rights of our attendees."

Sighing, she shook her head. "I know we didn't spend that much time together at Pan, but I would have thought that you learned from the papers- I stop at nothing to get my story. Besides, it's really more of a favor for an old classmate."

"You were never an actual classmate of mine."

"No, but didn't I fit right in?" she asked jovially. "He's a former student of yours. I know that permanent files are supposed to be destroyed after someone leaves the district, but those things tend to get 'lost' somewhere along the way."

At his silence, the woman continued. "Look, I'm from Chicago and here for this story. That means reporters are going to be coming from all over the country, and pestering you even more. If you let out Mark Ciotta's disciplinary history, the number of phone calls would be cut down."

"Ciotta?" the principal asked with a start. "That kid from the papers?"

"Yes, Mark Ciotta. His family is old money- the Colton & Newberry Publishing empire."

"I don't remember him having attended PCA, but I'll check."

With a genuine smile, Veronica sat back. "Thank you Richie. I can promise that your name will be kept out this. We're actually obtaining information from some of his other schools, so I might be able to keep out which actions were committed at which school."

"I'd appreciate that." While typing on the computer, he looked sideways at the reporter. "So do you remember when you told us that kid was going to play in the game?"

"You mean Wallace Fennel?"

"Yeah." The man replied. "I actually met him once or twice. He mentioned you."

"I should hope so. He's my best friend."

Eyebrows raised, Richie turned to face her again. "You guys stayed friends after dating?"

"We never dated." Veronica sighed at the familiar topic. "Everyone assumes that, but my relationship with him is purely platonic. It always was."

Embarrassed, his cheeks turned red. "Sorry, I just assumed when you said that his 'sweetness' was what made him a good ballplayer."

With a wave of her hand, she waved it off. "It's cool. Why do you ask?"

"Well, now I'm wondering why you even got involved in the whole mascot-kidnapping thing."

Eyes twinkling, the woman reveled in the memory. "Clemmons- the vice principal- offered to write me a letter of recommendation if I got the parrot back. I pushed for a parking space, but he wouldn't give it to me."

"I don't know whether I'm happy or sad that I don't have a student like you."

"I'd be glad." She answered with mirth. "I don't remember how many times he had to change the locks on his office door. That mascot thing was cake compared to some of the other things I did during high school."

Laughing, Richie switched topics. "So I heard. PCA and Neptune High share some substitues and students. We had the sheriff's department over here a while ago- we had to borrow their drug dog- and Don looked highly uncomfortable when one of the deputies brought you up."

"Wait- Lamb is still in charge?" she asked, baffled. "How have you people not found a competent law man?"

Holding his hands in front of him, the young principal smiled. "Hey, that's Neptune. I don't reside there, don't vote in the elections."

"I can't believe you call him Don." She grumbled. "Why hasn't 'asshat' caught on? That's what I always referred to him as."

Getting out of his chair, Richie walked over to the wall of file cabinets. Leafing through the large drawers, he looked over his shoulder at the blonde woman.

"I can't let you walk out with this, if I find it. But if I left it on my desk, and it fell off, perhaps that photographic memory of yours would take some notes."

"I never reveal my sources by name." Veronica said as she shook her head. "But if it makes you feel better, I might feel faint and need a drink from a far away water fountain."

Raising an eyebrow, he turned and responded with a smirk. "I don't think you're not the kind of woman that feels faint, ever."

"I don't think you know me well enough to know what kind of woman I am."

Handing her a folder, he sat back in his chair. "Would it be too forward if I asked to know you better?"

Veronica swallowed and lowered her eyes before replying. "Richie... I'm not dating right now. I live in Chicago, my career is my life, and my dating history alone is something to be scared of."

"Okay." The principal replied with a reassuring smile. "No pressure, just trying to grab a date with the girl I liked for a few days in high school."

Relieved that he didn't take it badly, she opened the folder. "That girl you started to like in high school wasn't really me. Maybe earlier, but not then."

"But will you at least ask for my email this time? It burned that the hottie visitor didn't even want to come to a party or two."

Smilining, she acquiesed. "That I can do."

The two continued in their conversation, asking the other about college and how they liked their job. After exchanging email addresses, Veronica left Pacific Coast Academy with another list of friends, but no real leads.

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That evening in a pub, the three reporters were sharing a pitcher of beer while going over each others notes.

"All we have are some old friends that may be dealing under him." Alexis said dejectedly.

Nodding, Veronica was equally disappointed. "I had hoped that he might have connections to some mob kids, but none of his friends are that hardcore."

"You know the local mob families?" Pete asked with a raised eyebrow.

Waving a hand, she brushed it off. "I tangled with a few. Only one of them was serious, and my dad and I kept them incarcerated.

"We had more luck with Mikey." she continued, "Maybe we should go to a few more clubs."

"But while we're able to ask the bouncers whether or not Ciotta was actually at the clubs, we have no way of knowing if he supplied drugs to the visitors." Pete said, pouring another glass of beer. "They're paid to watch the door and the thugs, not the VIP visitors. In fact, they're supposed to turn a blind eye."

"What if we could talk to the owners, lean on them a little? Promise to keep the club's name out of the paper in exchange for some information?" Alexis suggested.

Nodding, the blonde smiled at her. "Good idea. We know which clubs he frequents, go ahead and schedule meetings with the owners."

With a matching smile, the other woman tilted her head. "I was hoping you could arrange the meetings. Go dig into that long list of useful contacts you seem to have."

Closing her eyes, Veronica clenched her teeth. Stomach dropping, she replied. "I may know... someone."