Previously... Veronica was still figuring out a way to meet one on one with Katelyn Renner believing her to be the woman in the surveillance video footage. However to gather more evidence to prove there was foul play, she spoke with Sean Friedrich at Vintage Nightclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, to see if he had dealt to Katelyn or any other female in the area. He had. The idea was to figure out who had the drugs that would have matched the ones found in Connor Larkin's toxicology results. Logan and Veronica stayed at the Sunset Regent. At the club, Sean was being difficult and rude to the point Logan retaliated. Unfortunately, Veronica wasn't able to ask Sean everything she wanted. After Logan and Veronica left, she noticed a napkin listing six names in marker inside her wristlet. Veronica assumed Andrea, Greg Bua's acquaintance, had been the one to supply it. She waited for Greg to explain who Andrea was in all of this...
Chapter 12
Logan wearing a green t-shirt and black shorts relaxed comfortably on the couch. He flipped through channels unsatisfied with the choices. "You know we never got to dance last night?" He mentioned as a commercial for the trite reality show, Dancing with the Stars, appeared on the TV screen.
"Whose fault is that?" Veronica quipped with an eye roll as she placed her suitcase by the door. She finished packing and was itching to get back to figuring out how the list of women factored into the convoluted mess. Her mind was too preoccupied to think of anything but the napkin. It was now placed unfolded inside a manila folder with other papers detailing the case. Secrets were bound to be revealed.
"Tonight, if you're not busy digging up other people's dirt, let's go someplace a little more fun."
She took a seat next to Logan and stole the remote. She switched off the television and gave her full attention to him. "I actually have plans with Wallace. He's been feeling neglected. I think he hangs out more with my dad watching sports games on the weekends than me so I need to rectify that." After all, even though Mac agreed to come, Wallace hadn't fully decided if he was going to go to Dick's on Sunday. Lunch dates weren't cutting it. "However beforehand, wanna help me with the case at home?"
That was one of the last things Logan wanted to do on a day off. Not that he minded sleuthing for Veronica, but there were so many other better things that started with S to do with his time. Sleeping. Surfing. Sailing. Sex. He acquiesced, but not without trying to get something in return. "Hmm, if I'm paid my hourly rate."
"What's that?" Veronica questioned apprehensively as she squinted her eyes.
Logan leaned in, placing a hand on Veronica's cheek, and brushed his lips against hers. "One of these."
"That's it?" Veronica smirked, pulling away. "You undershot there, buddy."
"I'll make sure next time to ask for a raise." Logan waggled his eyebrows. "We're still on for Sunday? Although, Dick has made my presence mandatory at his party."
"Yes." She sighed taking a deep breath of air. "I heard; it's fine, but I'm not following the ludicrous dress requirements."
"No? I'll be able to tell you apart from the mob, then."
"You really think they will be a mob?" Veronica had the pleasure of attending Dick's Saint Patrick's Day party and it was just fifty or so wasted 09ers drinking on the beach dancing and hooking up. His New Year's Eve soiree was more wild but she had a hard time remembering much of that night thanks to Mac's brilliant idea of taking celebratory shots.
"He sent out three hundred Facebook invites and is co-hosting with his neighbor next door."
Veronica double blinked. "Does Dick expect his house to still stand afterwards?"
"I assume he's taking some precautions."
Veronica could see it now. Dick might receive a noise violation or the equivalent of a small smack on the wrist. While if someone in the lower income neighborhoods threw a large, out of control party, a deputy on duty would write up a fine for disturbing the peace and the owner would get a brief stint in jail. The justice in the town was still lopsided. Veronica hadn't forgotten what Weevil asked. The disparagement between the classes became an even wider gap in recent years. The war brewed just below the surface. "Dick won't have too much to worry about, I guess." Yet.
*x**x**x**x*
After checking out of the Sunset Regent early, grabbing lunch, and running some quick errands like picking up Pony at Keith's Rancer, Logan and Veronica finally arrived back at their house by two pm.
Greg Bua never responded so she sent him the same text twice. Veronica had nothing to go on except her name so she asked Mac on the phone to hack into Greg's private Facebook account and locate any of his friends named Andrea. All Veronica needed was a the surname or an address. She waited patiently for either to answer.
In the meantime, Veronica and Logan got settled in her office. The bulletin board had the evidence complied and simplified. The in depth research was all located on Veronica's laptop. Logan sat down in a cushioned chair that leaned up against the wall opposite of her desk and filing cabinets. He had his iPad in his hand at first just checking his military email. He then opened up IMDB as Veronica took out the napkin from the folder at her desk.
Scribbled hastily the names were listed as followed:
Rachel Zellers. Beverly Hills.
Jessica Beckerman. Neptune.
Amy Hart. Neptune.
Michaela Falcone. West Hollywood.
Bella Ricard. Neptune.
Candice Lowenfield. Hollywood.
"Let's start with Rachel Zellers from Beverly Hills," Veronica suggested while she booted up her computer. Logged into the P.I database, she uncovered bits of unsavory details about Rachel. "Our birthdays are only days apart." Veronica read further. "Ru'oh, she got a DUI before she graduated high school. Her license once revoked three years ago. Most recently fined for public intoxication."
"She's some D-list actress." Logan scrolled through her appearances and rattled off a few titles. "Direct-to-TV films." Logan paused. "She starred in the Husband's Revenge with Connor."
"Damn." As much as Veronica wanted to believe Katelyn was the culprit, Rachel Zellers could be involved. Veronica put a star next to Rachel's name. "We'll come back to her. Next up to bat is Jessica Beckerman from Neptune."
Logan came up with zero results.
"Graduated Neptune High in twenty-ten. No college. Move around quite of a bit. Two counts of shoplifting." Veronica trailed off. Thanks to Google, she discovered Jessica was an escort and had her own page. Jessica wore tight, body-con dresses in each image. "For four hundred dollars you could have the night of your life... supposedly."
Logan walked behind the desk out of curiosity. He glanced over Veronica's shoulders at the pictures. "Fake."
Veronica cocked head to the side. "The website?"
"Her boobs."
"Did it take practice or are you just naturally gifted at telling the difference?"
Logan dodged the question, hearing the annoyance apparent in her voice, and mentioned, "Connor could have hired her."
"Questionable."
Amy Hart, the third name on the list, seemed even more unlikely to be involved. Young, fresh face, she couldn't hide the naivety in her eyes. At 22, Amy had a clean record with the exception of one speeding ticket. She had a job as a talent scout for musicians and promoted events around the area.
Veronica massaged her temples as she read the information displayed on the screen for the next girl. "Michaela Falcone lived in West Hollywood. She starred in a trashy TV show on MTV when she was younger." Veronica sifting through article after article. Michaela tried to cash in on the fifteen minutes of fame and appeared on a few other TV shows as an extra. Then she found a song called Luxe on SoundCloud by the same person. She pressed play and clasped her hands together in anticipation. She turned up speakers for Logan to hear. However, the sugary pop song sans auto-tune enhancement was too much to listen to all the way through. The whole thing was off key. "That's a minute of my life I can't get back."
"I'm sure it will be a YouTube sensation."
Veronica chuckled. "All things that are wrong with this world... No wonder these girls are turning to drugs." The real question is why get them through illegal means? Why not go through the proper channels? Unless, their doctors stopped prescribing them. Maybe, they aren't personally using...
His iPad dead and too lazy to go in the other room to grab the power cord, Logan placed the device on the chair and reread the list of drugs found in Connor and Leah's results attached to the bulletin board. "You're sure Sean deals all these?"
"I checked Katelyn's medical record. She's not on anything and from what Marcie and Alexander Webster have told me about her that fact is surprising."
"Doxylamine, though? I know you're not the one to overlook this."
"No," Veronica shook her head. "You're right. Leah's records only listed contraceptives. It's interesting that Leah concoction was slightly different with the addition of Oxycontin. Vicodin, Oxy, and Xanax were the only three drugs in her cocktail. We're talking five different types of prescription drugs between them. I can check out Rachel and Michaela and pay Sean a visit this week." Not to mention, fitting in all the other simpler cases that pays the Mars Investigation's rent. "I'll get to the bottom of this."
"As I take it, you prefer the top," he added nonchalant.
Veronica tried to ignore his comments but a hint of a smile flashed across her face for a split second. She pushed the chair away from the desk and stood up. "I'll be right back. Look up Bella Ricard."
Logan went on her computer and after a few seconds found out Bella was only a high school student living on the same street as Dick's old residence. Sixteen and attending Neptune High. Her father was a CFO of a major company. She was undoubtedly getting more from Sean than just prescription drugs. Kids were rolling their faces off as soon as they entered high school.
Saving the tabs, Logan then clicked on Veronica's bookmarks. A site at the bottom of the list caught his eye. He pulled up the page displaying the dates and information for the California bar exam. "So you are considering it?" He asked once Veronica came back into the room, holding a water bottle in hand.
Veronica sat back down in her seat and stared at the webpage. She exited it out. "Stop being nosy."
"You must be rubbing off on me." Logan wolfishly grinned.
Veronica looked up at Logan, expressionless. "Ha-ha. The only thing I'm considering at the moment is kicking you out of this room." She couldn't fully concentrate a hundred percent with him there, anyhow.
"Bella Ricard is a high school junior."
Veronica had a look of disbelief plastered on her face. "Jeez. How would she have even met Sean? I mean, okay, fake ID and all but I think I would have noticed a sixteen year old at the bars in Neptune."
"We did the same thing and were freshman at the time." Logan made a point.
Veronica took another deep breath and exhaled. "Anyways, Candice Lowenfield is the last on the list."
After another ten minutes, they discovered the twenty one year old was a past contestant on The Voice and had a few songs posted online with an album coming out soon. One of her music videos was produced by Sean Friedrich.
Logan's pocket buzzed. He got out his phone and noticed a new text from Blaze, his closest friend in his squadron. "He needs my help," Logan began to explain, "you mind?"
Veronica looked at the document she created with information on all six women. She had also collected pictures of each. "Not at all. Go, I can handle the fort." She stood up to stretch. "Wait-with what?"
Logan put his phone back inside his pant pocket. "It's top secret."
"Ritual sacrifice?" Veronica bit her lip. She would find out one way or another.
"He did say something about a goat." Logan pulled her closer and gave her a quick peck on lips. "I'll call you later." He let go of her hand, but Veronica quickly snatched it back.
On her tippy toes, Veronica kissed him. This time with more passion behind it. "I think you earned a little extra."
*x**x**x**x*
Veronica figured it was only a ten minute drive and if he wasn't home, she could just try again sometime that week. She parked her car on the side of the street and walked up the pathway to Sean Friedrich's house. This time being his actual home and not the mansion where his father worked as a butler. The facade shattered, Veronica found Sean had grown up in a modest home not too far away from the apartment complex she and Keith stayed in during her formidable years. Sean definitely came a long way since. Veronica stared at the three-story brick house with freshly cut grass and brushes. The pathway was made of cobblestone.
The lights from within were on. She pressed the doorbell once. Sean opened the door, realized it was Veronica, and muttered something indecipherable. In that very split second, he slammed the door in her face. For the next five minutes, Veronica rang the bell incessantly.
Sean finally came out of the house, fed up with the noise. He shut the front door behind him. "Oh, look its one of Jehovah's Witnesses," he sarcastically jabbed. "I'm not interested in purchasing a bible today. Please leave."
Veronica tilted her head to the side. "Can the damned be saved? I'm pretty sure hell already has a parking space for you."
"Do I need to call the police?"
There was a reason Sean didn't press charges on Logan. The very same reason why he was going to throw Veronica a bone. "Well, then we can ride together in the cop car!" Veronica's voice rose an octave. "Make a date out of it."
"What the hell do you want?" Sean grunted, agitated. He shot off a look of contempt. "If last night was any indication, I have nothing else to say."
"Cut the bullshit, Sean. I can easily make your life a living hell. I'll leave you alone once you answer my questions." Veronica waited until Sean complied.
"I'm not welcoming you inside."
Veronica crossed her arms. "Here's fine. Do you deal oxycontin?"
Sean furrowed his brow. "You want some?"
"No."
"Then are we done here?"
"Do you sell sleeping pills?"
"Why?" Veronica stood impatiently. "No. I don't," he finished. "Happy?"
Veronica grimaced at his remark. "I'm dancing on the the inside. How do you know Andrea?"
"We trade. How do you think I get Zannies?"
"She gives you hers for what blow?"
"Along those lines." Sean snickered.
Veronica asked him a few more questions which he begrudgingly answered. "See now, had you been cooperative at the club, this little get-together could have been avoided. Thanks so much for your time," Veronica said in a very flat tone.
"Fuck you. What about the picture?"
"Oh that? That'll be sent to Langdon or Deputy Clayton should something happen to me." Veronica paused. She's been called it many times in her life to the point she could brush it off. However, she was tired of it. "And, if I ever hear you call me a whore again, you will feel the end of my taser." Veronica turned around and left.
*x**x**x**x*
After sunset, Veronica headed to Wallace's house. He watched as Veronica placed a box of pizza on the table and took out her laptop and printed pictures. Wallace noticed all six women were pretty, Caucasian, and within the ages of 16 and 30.
"If this is how you want to spend your Saturday night, I think you need a new definition for fun."
Veronica held up a head shot of Rachel in front of her face. "What this? This is fun!" Veronica saw nothing wrong with multitasking.
"Ya should really consider reevaluating your priorities."
"Says the guy who agreed to help."
Wallace's stomach growled. "I can't say no to free pizza." Wallace reached over to grab the box sitting on top of the coffee table. "And since it's my house, I'm choosing the movie."
"There's only so many times I can watch Coach Carter, Fennel."
"Comedy it is."
"Works for me. I'll just be cross-referencing the women's files and see what they may have in common, too."
At that moment, Greg finally sent a message back. *Andrea comes to Vintage a lot. We became friends...*
He also didn't know her last name or how she made her living during the week. It all seemed incredulous. Mac couldn't find one Andrea among the 632 friends Greg had on Facebook.
As the movie played, Veronica focused on Rachel Zellers as she worked with Connor for a little over two months. During that time, he was on a break with Marcie and apparently hooking up with Katelyn Renner.
Rachel Zellers. Z. Veronica had a flashback to the day Marcie came into the office for the first time. "Woah, I just remembered something." Veronica grabbed Connor's phone, which had been in her bag all this time. She went into contacts and scrolled down until she landed on Rachel Z. "Interesting. Would Connor have had another affair without anyone knowing? I find that hard to believe. Why would she do it?"
Wallace paused the movie seeing as Veronica kept interrupting. "Since when do crazy chicks on drugs need to have a sensible reason for their actions?" He then took another slice of pizza and devoured it.
"I'll repeat myself; it was premeditated. There was clear attention to detail which is why Connor's death appears as an accident and not homicide."
"Well," Wallace picked up the picture of the youngest girl, "what I do know is Bella Ricard is not a student of mine though I have seen her in the hallways."
Veronica felt like she was playing a game of Six Degrees to Kevin Bacon only Bacon in this case was Larkin. There was already a sharp pain on the left side of her head. After taking Tylenol, Veronica decided to put everything away and enjoy Wallace's company for the time being.
*x**x**x**x*
The next day saw Veronica taking a needed break from the Connor Larkin 1000-piece puzzle to pay respects to all the men and women who died serving the country. Early afternoon, Logan pulled into an almost empty parking lot. In front of their view was a field of headstones.
Veronica, wearing a summer knit black dress, held two colorful bouquets of chrysanthemums and carnations in her hands as the two walked down the paved path. Some graves had flowers or wreaths. A good amount were marked with tiny American flags sticking up from the ground. Military.
Eventually, Logan found the spot. He stood a few steps away from the stone carved with the name Samuel Lester. "My only decent relative." Logan muttered, deep in thought. He hadn't been there since he was five. The visit was long over due.
He slipped his hand inside his right pocket, grabbing the lighter. His thumb rubbed over the engraving a few times.
Veronica bent down and placed flowers at the bottom next to the flag. She cleared her throat, struggling to find the right words. "I'm sorry you lost him at such a young age." Leaving you with a horrible, abusive father as the only real parent figure growing up.
Later on, they found the other marker for the buddy he knew in OCS, Bilbo, as he was called. Veronica gently laid down the bouquet. She hated even for a millisecond entertaining the idea of something happening to Logan. It was one of the reasons for her obsession with Connor's case; a way to keep her distracted from the scenarios that played in her head. For years, Veronica had been consumed by her anger. Now she was finally at peace, something that was so clearly absent before she moved back to Neptune. The peace that only came with finally accepting who she was, what she wanted, and the things she could not change. The latter being the hardest part to overcome. Veronica couldn't bear to lose that after working so hard for it. The next naval tour was still months away. Veronica secretly hoped it would be his last and he would return to her safely for good.
*x**x**x**x*
They were running late. Dick had called Logan twice expecting something crazy happened. However, it was Veronica, forgetting to load the washing machine with her clothes, who held them up. She ended up wearing a bathing suit under a purple racer-back high/low dress and white sandals. She had her hair in a loose curled ponytail. The extra time Veronica took made them arrive after Wallace and Mac.
A large American flag had been used as a banner connecting both houses. Every light was on. The music could be easily heard a mile away. A group of four in Americana attire were a few steps ahead of them. Unlocked and no one watching the front door, Logan and Veronica simply entered into the house. Dick's place was packed with even more people on the beach. The stereo system blared. A DJ was set up on the patio deck outside.
The kitchen had two kegs and bottles upon bottles of every type of alcohol one would want to get their hands on. 750ml Patron bottles and limes next to a bunch of red, white and blue shooters lined the kitchen counter. Veronica didn't even want to know what were in those. There were over a dozen cups and plastic shot glasses stacked. Bowls of pretzels nearly empty sat on top of the dinning table next to a plate of a few cold hotdogs and buns left over from before. Logan had cooked steaks for dinner which also accounted for them arriving later and skipping the "barbeque" aspect.
"There you are!" Mac shouted from across the kitchen. "Wallace ditched me for some girl ten minutes ago. I've been talking to this guy from Kane's software. He bored me to tears."
"Hi, Mac." They both said in unison while Veronica hugged her. "I'm sorry to hear that," Veronica added, "did you need a tissue?"
"Yeah, well, nice of you two to finally show up."
"And if I'm going to stay, this girl is gonna need a beer."
Logan could see Veronica was overwhelmed, but did a great job of hiding it. "Come on, I'll show you where Dick puts the good stuff."
For an hour, Veronica, Logan and Mac had fun together. The music wasn't terrible and as long as no one tried to cut in between them, Veronica enjoyed herself.
Even more people seemed to be trickling in by eleven. It wasn't some Memorial Day Drink Fest. This was a massive blowout. The fact it seemed contained and cops hadn't stopped by became a mystery to Veronica.
At some point, after waiting in the line at the bathroom, Veronica located Wallace conversing with a tall, gorgeous African American in a white see-through beach cover up. Her hair and makeup was sleek and sophisticated. Veronica could tell Wallace was definitely interested. Veronica felt bad interrupting, but she lost sight of where Logan went.
She tapped Wallace's shoulder to get his attention. "Am I back in high school? I'm having a major deju-vu of sophomore year." Veronica smiled at the woman. "Hi, I'm Veronica, Wallace's friend."
"Maya." She stared down at her empty glass before looking back at Wallace. "I'm going to get myself a drink. I'll see you around." As Maya left, Wallace made a face at Veronica.
"Cock-blocker."
Veronica chuckled. "Hey, if she's worth it, you'll find her again. Did you get her number?"
"I was working on it."
"She'll be in the kitchen, go after her."
Wallace rubbed his hands together. "Don't mind if I do." Before he left, he stopped to add, "You alright?"
"I'll make do." Veronica gestured her hand toward the other room. "Go."
Veronica found herself alone unable to find a familiar face once Wallace left. There were a few 09ers she recognized from high school but she would rather drink Drano that talk with any of them in particular.
She called Logan but only got his voice mail: "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." –Lao Tzu. Leave a Message. He was on some ancient philosopher kick of late, a change from the quotes he would normally use by British authors, poets, or famous American politicians. Years ago, the daily message had changed to weekly due to the busy happenings of life. Veronica still rolled her eyes every time she got stuck listening to one.
Veronica reached the glass doors to the outside when she heard a recognizable voice. "Having fun, Ronnie?" Dick asked as he stood next to Veronica, double-fisting two cans of beer. He only wore shorts with one side of stars and the other red and white vertical stripes.
"Not from where I'm standing." Veronica watched as a bunch of sloppy drunks roamed around Dick's house. Nothing of what she saw made her happy to share the same room let alone air with these people. She felt too old for this and yet most people here definitely graduated from college.
"Then move."
Veronica faced Dick, irked. "Do you know where Logan went?"
"Yeah, but if I'm suppose to fetch him like a dog, I'd like a treat in return."
Veronica sighed audibly. "Point me in the right direction, Cujo."
The reference went right over Dick's head. "He's outside with Mac last time I saw."
At that moment, a loud crash came from the kitchen. "Thanks and you might want to go check on that."
"It's all good; I hired a cleaning service to come in tomorrow and then Fatima comes Tuesday. My bedroom is locked. Got my bases covered."
"I hope you give them a bonus for showing up on a Holiday."
"Yeah, yeah," he replied as his eyes darted around the house. Dick's jaw dropped as he took in the tall, thin blonde with the resting bitch face standing in his kitchen pouring herself a drink. He parted ways with Veronica and wandered over to his ex-girlfriend. Someone, he explicitly didn't invite this time.
Veronica hadn't noticed where Dick went off to and instead ambled down the steps toward the beach. She felt the sand beneath her sandals as she trudged through the mass of people. The ocean breeze gave her goose bumps while she stood in an uncrowded area scanning the area from left to right.
She found Logan by himself, his feet up to his ankles in the ocean. He had his phone out when Veronica snuck up and kissed him.
"Hey! I was just about to call you."
"No need. Wanna get out of here?"
"I had a similar idea in mind. Up for some intrigue?" He grabbed her hand once Veronica nodded her head. Her sandals getting soaked, she picked them up and kept them in her other free hand. After a few minutes, they were far enough away from the party that faces became indistinguishable, but Veronica trusted Logan where ever he was taking her.
...