The Surf Leash Strangler
Chapter 4
It was like her body stopped working because she felt numb. Her limbs felt heavy, her heartbeat felt unsteady, and she couldn't seem to find any words. Then again, what did you say to the person who, at one point, you thought would be with you for the rest of your life?
Veronica's relationship with Logan had always been complicated, even from the very start. Most couples developed problems as their relationship evolved, not them. They started with problems – a lot of problems – and threw in the romance to add to it. And as hard as it had been, Veronica wouldn't take back a single moment she had spent with Logan. Along with all the bad memories – the arguments, the lies and the pain – there were so many good ones.
Veronica blamed herself for destroying the future they could have had. She took her pain, her resentment, and pushed Logan away. She had hurt him more than he had ever hurt her.
She would never blame him for hating her; she expected it. But the brown eyes that had always shined at her with so much love and warmth didn't show anything she had expected when she looked into them. In fact, all she saw was surprise.
"Veronica?" Logan paused on the deck, a small smile filling his face.
Veronica swallowed, knowing this was the part of the conversation when she was supposed to respond, but nothing would come out.
Logan's smile left his face, and he clenched his brows together.
Dick, who had moved out to greet Logan, cleared his throat. "Well, this isn't awkward." He chuckled before going wide-eyed and grabbing Logan's shoulder. "Oh, hey. Dude! Did you know Ronnie is an FBI agent?"
Logan nodded. "I did."
"How cool is that?" Dick winked at her.
Veronica felt sick. She didn't know if she wanted to laugh, cry, or maybe pass out. She had spent so long avoiding Logan and everything to do with him. There were so many times when she had so desperately wanted to check up on him, see what he had done with his life and make sure she hadn't completely fucked him over. But she had stopped herself. She had no right to snoop about his life when she had been the one to leave. And now it seemed that Logan had checked up on her.
"It is very cool," said Logan.
"I had no idea until she showed up with Agent Walsh. They are working on Shelly's case," continued Dick.
Logan's surprise returned. "Really? I thought you were stationed in DC?"
And it seemed he knew exactly where she was. The twisting of Veronica's gut only seemed to turn faster. "My unit travels all over the country."
Walsh, who seemed to sense Veronica's stiffness, stepped forward. "I begged for some additional hands, and we were lucky enough to have Agent Mars sent over to us for this case."
Logan's eyes turned away from Veronica to look at Walsh, and she felt slightly relieved. Veronica took a deep breath as Walsh introduced herself to Logan and asked if he had been around the night of Shelly's disappearance.
Veronica tried to pull herself together; she had come back to California for this case; she was trying to find the man who raped and killed Shelly Pomroy, who had connections to her old life, including Logan. Veronica knew that she would run into Logan. It was a possibility all along, but she also knew that her avoidance issues had only worsened with age. Unlike most people who learned to deal with their issues, Veronica just kept shoving them into a cupboard and used avoidance as her solution.
"I was at the 09er for an hour, maybe two. I didn't speak to Shelly; I was with another friend who needed my help. I left around ten," said Logan.
Walsh nodded. "Alright, thank you."
Logan offered a polite smile. "Not a problem."
Walsh turned to look at Veronica, a question written on her face, giving Veronica the option to choose what to do next. Veronica felt ashamed that she dropped her eyes to avoid looking at Logan and said, "I think that's everything. Dick," she looked at him, "I will bring those photos to the 09er tonight."
Dick nodded.
"Thank you for your time." Veronica spun on her heel and had to keep herself from running to the door. She grabbed the handle and yanked it open before moving as quickly as she could to the car. Veronica jumped into the passenger seat and let her eyes close as she tried to calm her thumping heart.
Walsh climbed into the driver's seat and asked, "I take it that Logan is an ex?"
Veronica groaned. "That obvious?"
"Not at all; I mean, everyone avoids eye contact, forgets how to talk and function like a normal human when a good looking hot guy walks into the room." Walsh let out a small laugh.
Veronica couldn't argue with Walsh; Logan had always been the one to grab people's attention. If anything, he only looked better than he ever had. She turned to glance at Dick's house, regretting not only everything that she had ever done to Logan but also running away again – like a coward – and found Logan standing at the door. He watched her and raised his arm to wave as Walsh started the car and pulled away.
Sinking in her seat, Veronica wished she had never come back. She should have told Hitch to go fuck himself and stayed on the couch in her apartment. At least then, she could have gone on with her life pretending that she didn't constantly think about Logan and what she had lost. She also told herself that she didn't dream out the last time they had met, but that one was harder to believe.
Veronica had spent twelve months after transferring to Stanford trying to move on with her life. Going to Stanford had given her a chance to run away from everything she had done, and so she had taken it. And when the year came to an end, Veronica thought she would go back to Neptune and see her dad, see Mac and Wallace, but life had continued on for everyone. Keith was knee-deep in an insurance fraud case that kept him occupied. Mac had gone away with her boyfriend and friends to Spain, and Wallace had gone on holiday with his own family. Leaving Veronica with no reason to go back to Neptune. Instead, she stayed in Redwood City and tried to find ways to occupy her time.
Veronica had met a few people she called friends; they were her study buddies, coffee dates, and shopping pals. And when she found herself bored at home, they were the ones who convinced her to go clubbing with them.
Veronica found herself at a club with a group of eight people, dancing and drinking. She was on the receiving end of a few free drinks and was enjoying her buzz. Veronica spent a good portion of her life on the dance floor, laughing at the silly moves they were all doing when she noticed him.
Of all the people she could have seen, she ran into Logan. He was leaning on a partition wall that surrounded the dance floor, watching her. There was no shame in his eyes when she caught him looking; in fact, he seemed pleased. They had smiled at each other, and then she lifted her finger and called him over. Veronica blamed all the alcohol she had consumed, but she really knew that it was more. Logan made his way through the crowd of people and wrapped his arms around her, and they danced. Veronica had no idea how many songs passed; she lost track of all the people she had come with and became completely consumed with Logan.
Moments between them were a bit of a blur after that. Veronica remembers kissing, lots of kissing against a wall. She could remember the feel of his hands gripping her thighs and his fingers sliding inside of her. Veronica remembers him moaning her name in his ear and how it had sent her over the edge. At some point, they left the club and got in a cab, she wasn't sure how much the cab driver saw, but Logan seemed determined to give her little time to think about what they were doing. They ended up at a hotel and didn't make it past the front door the first time.
When Veronica woke up the next morning, she had cried. The tears were for her broken heart and his, for everything she had ever done, and how she wanted nothing more than to stay beside him. But Veronica knew then what she knew now, and it was that he deserved better than her. So she left.
Veronica didn't go out to another club again after that night. She spent weeks grieving, just like she had when her relationship with Logan had exploded the last time. And when she managed to pull herself up, she locked everything she felt about him away. Only letting herself the occasional thought about him and then tears that came with it.
Rubbing her palms across her face, Veronica tried to remember why she was there. Logan was her past, and she had a case to solve.
They arrived back at the San Diego field office around ten. Veronica walked with Walsh towards the building when her phone started ringing. Pulling it out, she saw her father's name flashing on the screen. She paused and looked at Walsh. "I'll meet you upstairs."
Walsh nodded and continued without her.
Looking back at her phone, Veronica had guessed that Wallace would say something to her father; after all, Wallace spoke to her father more often than she did. She just hoped it would be a few more days before she'd have to face the music.
"Hey, Dad," she answered.
Keith said, "Hey sweetheart, what's this I hear about you being close enough to visit your old man?"
"I'm in San Diego on a case."
"Yes, Wallace told me."
Veronica rolled her eyes. "Of course he did."
"Well, someone needs to tell me when my daughter is in town since she seems to think otherwise."
"I'm working." It was an excuse; they both knew it.
"I know that, but if you have time to have lunch with Wallace, you can have dinner with your old man. And don't think that I don't know that you have a lot of overtime that you could use. When was the last time we had a meal together?"
"I don't know."
"Too long. How about tonight? I can make lasagne?"
"I can't tonight."
"Veronica—" The disapproving tone made Veronica feel like a teenager. She hated it when her dad would give her that look that said he knew exactly what she was doing, and it seemed that was the only way he looked at her now.
"I really can't. I have to speak to a witness."
Keith sighed. "Fine. Tomorrow then, no exceptions."
"Yeah, okay."
"Great. Now, how are you?"
It still amused Veronica how quickly her father could change his tune. He was scolding her like a child and forcing her to come home for dinner one moment, and then was back to his normal cheery shelf the next.
For the next ten minutes, she allowed him to ask about what had been happening and what the case was. She shared as little as possible, skipping the details that connected the case to people like Shelly, Dick, and Logan and making it seem like nothing special.
When she did finally manage to hang up the phone, she headed up to check on Pierce's progress before she had to head back to Neptune to have lunch with Wallace. She walked inside and found Pierce sitting alone in the conference room with another large coffee in his hands as he worked on a laptop.
Veronica stepped into the room and said, "Tell me you've solved it, and we can go home."
Pierce smiled and said, "Solved it, no, but I do have some good news. I think we can safely confirm that our unsub doesn't just like brunettes. With every victim, his selection has become more obvious. As I mentioned, Rebecca Coleman was the first victim with a wrist tattoo, and Stephanie Porter – victim number 5 – had manicured nails."
Veronica frowned. "Really? Nails?"
Pierce nodded. "First victim had her nails painted, the next three were bare, but everyone after Stephanie has perfectly manicured nails."
"So, our unsub is looking for a young woman in her early twenties with long brown hair, blue eyes, around 5'7 to 5'9, with a flower tattooed on her writs and manicured nails," stated Veronica.
Pierce picked up his coffee and took a sip. "I think so. I couldn't find any other details that became a part of the pattern. That isn't to say more things won't pop up, but by this point, I think our guy knows what he is looking for."
"Did Jimmy find anything regarding lifestyle?"
"Not yet; he is still looking."
Veronica pulled out her phone and dialled Jimmy. She put the phone on speaker before placing it on the table.
Jimmy answered, "You know, out of all the planets, the red one is my favourite."
Veronica rolled her eyes. "Jimmy, tell me you have something."
Jimmy sighed. "Where is the trust, Mars? I am working as fast as I can. I have a program running through the victims lives but these people." He huffed. "One, where does all the money come from, and two, they need to not be so busy because wow."
Pierce chuckled.
"Makes me wonder what it would have been like to grow up in LA," Jimmy added.
"Ask Mars; she grew up in Neptune," said Pierce.
Veronica frowned at him.
"Yes, I know that little man," said Jimmy, "but she don't share any details, so I just have to use my imagination."
"Alright, you two," said Veronica, "enough. Jimmy, can you do a search for me so see how many women fit our unsubs type in the Neptune area?"
"Sure," he said, "but why only Neptune? I thought this guy was all along the coast."
"He was, but I think he is comfortable around Neptune; his last few kills have centralised here," explained Veronica.
"Alright, hit me with the details."
"Females between the ages of twenty to twenty-five, long brown hair, blue eyes, between the height of 5'7 to 5'9."
Jimmy was silent for a moment; only the sound of him typing on his keyboard could be heard. "Going to need more than that."
"Tattoos of flowers on their wrist?" said Veronica.
Jimmy sighed. "That will take more time unless they are criminal's tattoos aren't in any database."
"Can you write up a program to see what you can find?" asked Veronica.
"Anything for my favourite planet."
Veronica smiled and shook her head.
"Also, check to see if the women frequent nail salons," added Pierce.
"Has a thing for nails, interesting." Jimmy typed away on his computer. "Will do, anything else?"
"Make sure you include women who have recently died, I say in the last three or four years. I'll give you a call if we learn anything." Veronica reached for her phone.
"Alrighty, chat soon."
Hanging up, Veronica couldn't help but be a little frustrated. They had only been working on the case for a day, but from what she could see, the unsub was very good at leaving no trace. Victimology was going to be a big part of finding the guy if he didn't slip up. Veronica wanted to avoid another woman going through what eight others already had, but sometimes there wasn't anything they could do.
"You alright?" asked Pierce. He was looking at her over the top of the computer screen. Glancing back and forth between the screen and her.
Veronica ran her fingers through her hair and pulled a chair out at the table to sit down. She wasn't about to share that she had just run into her ex, the ex that she had never gotten over. Instead, she said, "I'm alright, just annoyed that we have nothing on this unsub."
The look Pierce gave her said that he didn't believe her but decided not to push it. "Surely we can narrow it done a little," said Pierce.
"I suppose." She tapped her finger on the table. "Well, he's male. Most likely in his twenties – given the age of his victim – but that could change if the reason he is picking them isn't what we think. His use of a surfboard leash indicates he is either a surfer himself or has access to surfing equipment. He will own a vehicle of some form, most likely an SUV or a van, but nothing flashy. He blends in, so he isn't overly eye-catching, but he has decent enough looks that he can lure in his victims. He is clever not to leave any trace, other than the semen and the surfboard leash."
Pierce added, "The fact that he leaves his DNA means he's never been arrested, so his DNA isn't in the system."
Veronica nodded. "And that also means that no one he is related to has ever been in the system either."
"So we can cross off a previous record, as well as police, army, etc." Pierce sits back in his chair. "Which means we have something. A young man in his twenties with no record that surfs and has a large vehicle. How many can there be?"
Veronica laughed. "You would be surprised. I think surfers outnumber palm trees around here."
Neptune High; the place where Veronica had too many memories. It was one of those places that she had always hoped she would never return to once she had graduated, wanting to forget all of the bad. So much had happened in the four years that she spent within the walls. The first two years hadn't been too bad; she had Lilly for most of it. But then she was killed, leaving Veronica to face those she once thought were her friends. Wallace was definitely one of the few people she was glad for; he had helped her out of the very dark and lonely place she found herself in. She had no idea what would have happened if she had never had met him.
Reaching the edge of the car park, Veronica noticed the flag pole. She couldn't help but chuckle as she thought about Wallace. It was a hell of a way to meet the guy who would become your best friend.
"Hey there, Superfly." Wallace walked towards her, dodging a few kids as he did.
"Hey." Veronica felt the stress and panic from her morning fade as she hugged Wallace. "I brought the good stuff." She held up the large bag of Chinese food.
Wallace smiled. "Nice." He rubbed his hands together. "Do you always bring your gun and badge to lunch?"
She shrugged and smiled. "Never know when it could be useful." Glancing over his shoulder back at the flag pole, Veronica smirked and asked, "Any of your kids know that you got taped to that pole on your first day?"
Wallace frowned. "No. And I'd like to keep it that way."
Veronica chuckled.
"I don't remember the last time I saw a kid up there, thankfully. It gives me all sorts of flashbacks that I can live without."
"Hey, if it hadn't been for that pole. I would have never met you."
Wallace sighed. "My life would have been a sure lot calmer without your trouble-making abilities."
Veronica gave him a pout. "Hey, your high school years would have been dull and boring."
Wallace nodded. "True that."
They sat down at a table with another few teachers and dug into their food. They went through the normal motions of catching up. Wallace told her about his mum and her newest boyfriend – one that he didn't like in the slightest. He talked about Darrel and how he was doing, and she wasn't surprised to find out he was on the basketball team just like Wallace. Veronica went over the last few months, talking about a few different cases – leaving out the really gross stuff and sticking to the parts that Wallace would consider exciting – and then he asked about the new case.
"Are you here because of Shelly Pomroy?" he asked.
Veronica nodded. "Yeah."
"Can't believe what happened to her. The guy has got to be seriously messed up."
"Some of them are."
"Do you have any leads?"
Veronica sighed. "Sorry, I'm not allowed to say anything."
Wallace looked surprised. "Who knew Veronica Mars would ever learn to play by the rules."
She smirked. "Trust me, I don't always. My boss kicks my butt when I step out of line, but I have my reasons."
Wallace picked up another egg roll and asked, "Since your working Shelly's case, does that mean you've bumped into any of your old chums?"
"Yep. I had a fantastic time interviewing Madison Sinclair yesterday."
Wallace chuckled.
"Some people don't change. I had some serious flashbacks to high school." Veronica opened her water and took a sip.
"Yeah, I'm glad I've never seen her again. That bitch was crazy." Wallace reached for another egg roll.
Veronica frowned. "Excuse me, you've had yours." She snatched away the last two egg rolls making Wallace pout.
"Rude."
"I need it. I spent the morning talking to Dick." She took a bite from the egg roll.
Wallace looked surprised but also worried. He looked down at his food and cleared his throat.
Veronica sighed. "I know Logan is there."
Wallace looked back up. "I didn't say nothing."
"Your face did it for you. He showed up as I was leaving." It wasn't the exact truth, but it was close enough.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Did you talk to him?"
"About what?"
"I don't know; he's your ex. What do you say to an ex after nine years?"
Veronica couldn't help but think exactly that. What do you say to someone you ran away from because you were too scared to face everything? She had no idea, and it still freaked her out how she had frozen when she'd seen Logan. She said, "How about nothing. I told him I was here for Shelly's case and left. There was no reason to say anything more."
"So you're saying that after nine years, there was nothing you wanted to say to the boy who made you run away."
Veronica wanted to frown. Sometimes having a best friend that knew her so well could be frustrating. "I didn't run away because of Logan."
Wallace sighed. "He was one of the reasons you left, and you can deny it all you want. But neither of you were the same after all that mess."
"It was for the best – for both of us."
"How do you know it was the best for him?" he asked.
Veronica stuffed an egg roll in her mouth.
"You looked him up."
Veronica shook her head. "I didn't, actually. I was tempted, but I didn't think I deserved to know what he was doing. That and I was worried that I destroyed him."
Wallace looked worried. He said, "You didn't check up on him once?"
She shook her head again.
"You know you could have asked. Logan always asks about you."
Veronica frowned. "Talk to Logan often, do you?"
Wallace shrugged. "We hang out."
Turning her head to the side, she asked, "You hang out with my ex? The one you never liked?"
He shrugged again. "After you left, he went through a lot. About a year and a half after you left, he suddenly got all serious. Went to class, got his degree. Then joined the Navy. I guess we got to know one another more, he invited me to a few parties, and I got to know the side you always used to talk about."
The Navy. It wasn't something she could ever imagine Logan doing, but she knew just from the look of him that he would look good in those white uniforms. Veronica felt relief that Logan had accomplished such a thing.
"You okay?" asked Wallace.
Veronica smiled. "Yeah. I'm glad he has you as a friend. I was starting to worry that Dick would be the only friend he ever had."
"Yeah, that guy is sure an interesting one."
Veronica laughed. "He joined the Navy?"
Wallace nodded. "Yeah, he's a pilot. He's even a Lieutenant."
"Wow, really?"
"The boy's done good. He's on leave at the moment; he has been staying with Dick while he looks for his own place," Wallace explained. "Now, onto more important details."
Veronica frowned, worried about what he was about to say next.
"It's our ten-year reunion."
She let out a groan. While she was glad for the change of subject, that wasn't something she wanted to hear. "No."
"V, come on," whined Wallace.
She snorted at his face and said, "I refuse to go to a gathering where there will be a large group of people who hate me, and that I also hate in return. I have better ways to waste my life than sit around, and here them claim how much better they are than me."
Wallace chuckled. "V, you are an agent in the FBI. Girl, you can intimidate the shit out of anyone there. Just wear that big ass gun."
Veronica rolled her eyes.
"But for real, it isn't about them. Think about all the people you did like. Like Corny, I can only imagine what that dude got up to."
It was a thought. There were a small group of people that she wouldn't mind saying hello to, but that didn't outweigh the number of people she'd rather avoid. Plus, Logan would most likely be going.
Thank you so much for reading.
I would love to hear what you think. Even if it's as simple as a 'can't wait' all feedback is appreciated.