Chapter 15:
Waiting excitedly, the fax machine beeped signalling it's received the image and is printing... Duncan Kane?
That had not been what Veronica was expecting, but it makes sense, Duncan and Meg would be the schools IT couple if they gave it a try. in all honesty their perfect for each other. "Meg?" Veronica called out to the girl getting dressed in the bathroom "I know who it is" she teased and Meg ran out of the bedroom quickly.
"You know?" she beamed excitedly "Who?" she asked but before Veronica could get in a word she started rambling "Wait!.. do i want to know?... is it bad? will i hate it?... should i keep it as a surprise?" she asked talking a mile a minute causing Veronica to chuckle
"Keep it a surprise" Veronica agreed "He isn't bad, i think you'll be happy" she added when Meg looked unsure about the decision. "You look good" Veronica complimented Meg causing the easily embarrassed girl to her blush
"Thanks Veronica" Meg pulled her into a hug "Are you coming with me?" she asked hopefully "Nah" Veronica shook her head "Don't worry you'll be fine... especially with him" she grinned at Meg who nodded nervously before collecting her clutch and heading for the Valentines dance.
Half way into Veronica's movie night she got another one of those hang up calls "Hello?" she asked before the phone cut out and she huffed pulling out her laptop and tracing the number back to a bar in Barstow, but not before she realised she could have 69* it a week ago and gotten that information. Calling the number back Veronica quickly spoke into the phone when it was picked up "Hello? who is this?" she asked immediately "I just got a call from this number, do you know who it was?"
In that moment Veronica almost dropped the phone, when she found the words they came out in a whisper "A blonde woman? a regular at the bar?" Veronica hung up after the bar tender told her the woman was still there drinking and usually stays until closing time which was in four hours. Veronica rushed to her room to get dressed before speeding down to Barstow.
Veronica scanned the bar from the door until her eyes fell on the very drunk, blonde woman. Her mom.
"Mom?" Veronica whispered slipping into the chair next to her "Ron" the Lianne slurred before her surprise turned quickly to panic "You can't be here" she yelled "Your ruining everything!" Veronica pushed down the hurt her mothers words caused, remembering she was the adult in this situation and ordered two coffees to help her mom sober up.
When the waiter moved out of the way Veronica's eyes landed on a familiar face leaving the bar. Clarence Wiedman. Turning and focusing on her mother Veronica kept all her thoughts on getting answers "Mom, i know who's been blackmailing you"
Lianne stared at Veronica in shock before answering her questions and confirming Veronica's suspicions about her biological father - Jake Kane. What Veronica was surprised to learn was that Jake Kane was sleeping with her mother in the hotel, not long before Lily was killed. Celeste had turned up at the hotel to confront the two without Duncan. Lianne had agreed to keep quiet because she could ruin their alibis.
"Lets go mom" Veronica ushered Lianne out of the bar and into her car, driving to a small hotel she passed on her way into town. Veronica booked them a room and after putting her mother to bed, Veronica sat up researching rehabs she could afford with the money she has, convincing herself the reason her mom never got clean was because she couldn't handle the blackmail or secrets and that now those are out she can get her life back on track.
Veronica had used all her collage fund to pay for her mom's rehab and now she was needing to start the fund she had been adding her savings too for 2 years now, all over again. When her father asked her to look into a seemingly simple case she jumped at the opportunity to get some cash.
However everything went to shit for Veronica!
Weevil walked into his house hearing the sound of laughter from the kitchen. Curiously he followed the sound and found Veronica and his Abuela fiddling with the radio and baking cookies together, giggling like little girls. Weevil stood in the doorway smiling at how lively his Abuela looked dancing around with Veronica.
Abuela shoved the spoon with icing on it, into Veronica's mouth laughing and Weevil couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him, drawing both the girls attentions to him "Hey" he greeted. "Eli" his Abuela smiled brightly at him "Your home" she pulled him into a hug before shooing him out of the kitchen muttering something about them needing girl time - without him.
Even if Veronica didn't know it, she was a huge part of Abuela's life. Veronica had come around a few times with Felix when she was getting help on cases and would always talk to Letty. Letty didn't have many people in her life and there was just something about Veronica's personality that lit up a room and when she was with Letty - letty was young again. There were few occasions Weevil had ever seen his Abuela dance and yet twice this month alone, she had been dancing and singing with Veronica having 'girl time', whatever that means.
Weevil had been confined to his room by his Abuela but he sat smiling to himself as he heard his Abuela and Veronica joking around while cleaning the kitchen. He was just happy his Abuela was happy and if that meant he had to stay in his room while they had 'girl time' he would. But then he smelt it.
Polvorones...
With the smell Weevil was up and following his nose leading him straight into the kitchen "You made Polvorones?" he questioned happily, the girls turned to each other smiling then back to him rolling their eyes. Weevil noticed that the eye roll from his Abuela was in his opinion stolen right off the face of Veronica Mars.
Veronica pulled the four trays out of the oven and set them aside to cool, when Weevil made a move to get one his Abuela hit him with the kitchen towel "No Eli, no Polvorones para ti ...verónica se va a comer sus emociones (No Eli, no Polvorones for you... Veronica's going to eat her emotions) Veronica chuckled and nodded her agreement while Weevil huffed and left the kitchen to call Felix.
At the mention of Polvorones Felix had hung up, telling Weevil that he was on his way over. So when Weevil heard the front door open and the two women yelling... he knew Felix was here. "Their having girl time" Weevil sarcastically informed Felix from his spot leaning on the door frame and the girls nodded eagerly in agreement, thinking he was helping them.
Felix sighed loudly "I got that" Felix tried his best smile "But can I have one? since i'm obviously your favourite" he pleaded and Weevil hit him on the chest "Heyyy" Felix pointed his thumb behind him at Weevil turning back to the girls "Did you see that?" he asked acting offended
Letty and Veronica burst out into laughter handing him a cookie and Weevil's mouth hit the floor "What about me?" He winged and Abuela gave him a pointed look "There is no violence in this house" Felix burst into laughter at that and stuffing the cookie into his mouth.
"So why did you guys make the cookies anyway? I thought you only made them on special occasions?" Felix asked Abuela, who looked back at Veronica before answering "Veronica had a bad day and it's her recipe so she wanted to make them to feel better" both boys raised a questioning eyebrow at that
"You wanna talk?" Weevil asked Veronica "I'm helping Letty right now but in a little bit?" she asked and both Weevil and Felix nodded grabbing a beer and heading out to sit on the porch
Not long after Veronica came outside and sat down in between Weevils legs leaning back against his chest and taking his beer from him, drinking it herself "I almost handed a guy under witness protection over to the mob to be killed" she admitted after finishing the last of Weevil's beer and twirling the bottle around in her hands
"You what?" Felix gaped at her no longer focused on the way she sat down practically in Weevil's lap. Veronica explained the new information her mom had told her then how she was now officially broke and how that made her focus on the money instead of investigating properly. She told them how it took her dad an hour to figure out who the woman was while the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. "I was 2 seconds away from telling them his address when dad stopped me" she admitted sadly
"Damn chica" Felix breathed leaning back against the wall mulling over everything she told them
"On top of that i let Logan live out his dream of his mom still being alive for way too long" Veronica sighed leaning further back into Weevils body and he tightened his arms that were wrapped around her stomach in support
"Anything good happen this week?" Weevil asked pulling Veronica closer to him as he leaned further against the rail behind him secretly loving the fact that she was now sat flush up against him and practically in his lap letting him hold her.
"I found Meg's secret admirer" Veronica smiled "It was Duncan"
"You mean Duncan Kane?" Weevil asked curiously and Veronica nodded "What do you think about that?" he asked and was kicking himself as soon as the question left his mouth
"Well I think it was obvious" she shrugged "Duncan is dependable Mr. Perfect, life planned out in detail - whoever he loses his virginity to is who he'll marry- with his money, status and nice guy rep" she explained "Meg is that but Female, It's kind of perfect" Veronica said uncaring and for some reason Weevil had thought she would have a stronger reaction to this weather that be jealousy, regret, happiness or anger... he just hadn't expected indifference.
"I remember that Virginal V rep you had" Felix teased "You think you'll wait?" he asked curiously and Veronica gave him a weird look they couldn't decipher and Weevil felt her stiffened in his arms. H ewasn't sure what Felix was playing at.. or if his question was a pointed one. However, her reaction made him think back to the day he met her outside the sheriff's station not too long ago.
Weevil continued holding Veronica as a frown spread on her face "If that ship hadn't already sailed a long time ago" she shrugged trying for casual and pulling it off but Weevil felt how stiff she had gone at the question and didn't buy her answer for a second.
Something about that question bothered her and he wanted to know what?
The three of them sat drinking and talking until the sun started to go down "I better get home" Felix said standing up and even thought Veronica didn't want to leave Weevils tight hold she got up and hugged Felix before he left
Veronica didn't get a chance to wonder if now was the time She should be leaving when Letty called her form inside the house "Veronica?" Letty opened the front door and smiled when she saw the girl hadn't left "Are you coming to help make dinner?"
"I guess" Veronica shrugged looking to Weevil for approval but he just smiled walking past his Abuela into the house and Veronica followed "What are we making?" She wondered as soon as she smelt the food from the kitchen
After dinner the three made their way over to the lounge room watching movies. Letty had encouraged Veronica to stay until her favourite movie was finished and Veronica easily agreed. Except Letty kept dozing off "come on Abuela, your tiered" Weevil muttered guiding a half sleeping Letty to her bedroom.
Weevil walked back into the lounge room "She really likes you, ya know?" he said sitting down beside Veronica "I like her. She's great" Veronica smiled back at him and he could tell she was being genuine.
Not many people would take the time to get to know his abuela even if he introduced them, especially not people their age. But Veronica had. And she had done it without an introduction or a reason too - none of the PCHers girlfriends or friends had ever done that before.
But then again, Veronica Mars was unlike any other girl! that he knew for sure.
"Ah, i guess i should go then" Veronica muttered standing and going to grab her stuff from on the dinning room table. Weevil wasn't too eager about her leaving either "you think you should be driving after drinking?" He asked but he knew she had a high tolerance and she had only drank two beers
"I'm fine to drive" she shrugged giving him a look he couldn't decipher and he just followed her out to her car, trying not to look at her ass as she walked.
"Hey V?" Weevil said stopping her from leaving the porch which was what they both wanted but neither could figure out how to say it "you'd keep coming around to see her if we weren't friends right?" He had to be sure that if he tried something and it didn't work out she wouldn't disappear from his abuelas life.
he just couldn't risk that.
"I'm not like that" Veronica defended and Weevil nodded in agreement knowing it was true "is that all you wanted to say?" She prompted hoping he would give her a reason to stay or for her to think he was actually interested in something more than friendship. They had been touchy and feely more than she had ever seen him with anyone else and Veronica was starting to get the idea that he might like her too.
"Yeah" he sighed lamely "night" Veronica hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning and leaving. The kiss was new. He knew it was nothing big and he'd seen her kiss the cheeks of the girls but never any of the guys. Weevil let himself fantasies about it meaning more even though he doubted it did.
After leaving Weevil's Veronica headed to the 09ers doctor office, she booked her appointment and made her way into the office at closing but she didn't leave. Instead she hid in the bathroom and waited for the receptionist to leave before searching through their files. While looking for Duncan's Veronica happened to find Abel Koontz's file too. She took both and headed home.
Turns out Duncan has epilepsy that is prone to violent outbursts and
Abel Koontz is dying ?
That information wasn't what Veronica had been expecting to find but it did make more sense as to why Abel didn't care about the life in prison sentence. The only thing was.. why would he confess? surely there are better ways to spend you last year alive.
.
.