The Surf Leash Strangler

Chapter 8

Things for Keith Mars had changed in the nine years that Veronica had been gone. Business had been good, allowing Keith to buy a home and move out of the sunset apartment. It was a bungalow style home, with a nice backyard and a big front porch. The house consisted of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open living, dining and kitchen area, with a small home office. It had needed some work, but Keith seemed excited her the challenge. He had knocked down walls, put up new plaster and painted all of the walls. He hired a team to do the bathroom and kitchens but was very proud that he had done all the landscaping himself.

It was the first time that Veronica had ever since her father's house in person. When he had first moved in, he gave her a tour via his phone and sent plenty of photos when the upgrades were done. It was warm and comfortable, and very much her dad.

Veronica had been happy that her dad was so proud of his home, and he had extended the open invitation for her to visit whenever she wanted. It was an invitation she hadn't used until then. At first, she hadn't been ready to come home, and then she reached a point when she felt like she couldn't go back. But there she was, sitting in the driveway, looking up at her dad's home. She was already late, having meant to arrive at 6.30, but she found herself struggling to get out of the car.

Veronica had stayed at the field office working the case, trying to find a way to distract herself from her personal life – mainly Logan. She had told Pierce to take an early night since he had spent all of his time in the office, staring at endless documents, and she didn't need him crashing on her. Especially since she cut him off from caffeine after his fifth cup of the day. Veronica had spoken a lot with Jimmy throughout the afternoon; he had a few different searches going and had found a few Alice's relating to other cases, but nothing that fit what they were looking for.

It was frustrating to Veronica that they hadn't found anything really substantial. She felt good about what they had so far, but they were still at an awkward point. They knew that their unsub was fulfilling a fantasy, recreating a woman he couldn't actually have. He drove an old blue van, had access to a strange amount of surf leashes, and his name could possibly be Ryan. The victimology was abundantly clear, and Pierce had exhausted all avenues; he had found nothing else that would narrow down their search.

They had to wait, and Veronica hated waiting.

Her phone buzzed with a text message.

WF: What would it take to get you to come to the reunion?

Veronica sighed, slightly annoyed. The reunion was the last thing she wanted to think about.

VM: A body bag.

WF: I was thinking more of a bribe.

VM: Nothing will get me to willingly walk into that reunion.

WF: What did you want a body bag for then?

VM: It's for you to carry my dead body in.

The annoyed emoji that followed made Veronica laugh. The reunion wasn't for a few weeks, and she knew nothing would make her want to go. She would also, most likely, have left Neptune by then and would be back in Virginia.

Deciding that she couldn't stay in her car all night, Veronica climbed out and walked up to the front door. She grasped the handle and paused. Could she just walk in? She didn't live here; it wasn't her home. She released the handle and knocked. It was barely a second later that the door flew open, and her dad stood there smiling with his arms open wide.

"Who's your daddy?"

Veronica laughed, letting her tension fade away. "Hello to you too." She hugged him firmly, allowing herself to take in everything about her dad that she had missed.

"It's so good to see you, to hug you. You know, for a moment there, I was starting to think I had imagined the whole parenthood thing."

She smirked. "Careful, old man. Someone might think your slipping."

Keith scoffed. "Please, brain of steal!"

They moved into the house, and Keith gave her a proper tour; he pointed out the real changes he had made and pointed out the guest room was highly underused. Veronica felt a little guilty as he jokingly jabbed at her about her lack of visitation. Once she had seen everything, Keith led her into the kitchen, which was warm and smelled like Italian.

"I am making your favourite." Keith smiled.

Veronica grinned and clapped her hands. "Lasange!"

Keith chuckled. "That, and I have ice cream in the freezer."

"Excellent." She tapped her fingers together before moving to help with what he needed.

With the table set, the salad finished, Keith handed her a beer and told her to make herself comfortable. Veronica decided to have a look around, curious to see just what her dad had lying about. Not that she thought he was hiding anything from her, but a lot happened in nine years.

She moved about the living room, looking at all of the pictures from his childhood. There were photos of her at all stages, even one with Lilly from when she was ten. The photo next to it – surprised Veronica – was one of her with Logan; she was thirteen, and in her soccer uniform, dirt smeared on her face. Logan was next to her, his arm over her shoulder and a cheeky smile on his face. She remembered that day; her team had lost the match, and Logan had been determined to make sure she didn't feel too bad. There were also photos of her with Mac and Wallace. Her high school graduation, her college graduation. There was even a photo of her dad with Alisha.

It made Veronica smile when she thought about Wallace's mum. She had helped both of them through a time that had been more painful than either of them had been willing to talk about. Veronica had always hoped – like any child would – that her mother would come home, clean and sober, and things would get better. But reality set in with her mother taking off with fifty grand, leaving them both to accept that it would never be.

Turning to look at a bookshelf that stood beside the fireplace in the main living room, Veronica paused when she saw a picture of Logan. It was him, standing beside another man in Navy whites shaking hands. It was the type of picture you would expect a proud parent to display in their home, just like the one of her graduating from the FBI academy that sat beside it.

"I hope your hungry!" called Keith.

Veronica turned back to the kitchen, a million questions running through her head. They both carried the food to the dining table and served themselves before digging in. It didn't take long before her curiosity about Logan's photo got the better of her.

"Do you always keep photos of your daughter's ex-boyfriend's on your shelf? Because if it's like trophies, you are missing a few." She took a bite of her food, not looking up. It probably sounded a little bitter, but she kept finding out just how much she had missed, and it was getting to her.

Keith let out a sigh. He put down her fork and took a sip of his beer before rubbing his forehead. "There is a lot that you don't know."

She wanted to roll her eyes and say 'no shit,' but she contained herself. Veronica could sense the underlining comment of her father's words. Referring to her lack of appearance the last few years. She knew that she had been selfish, staying away and not coming back. And she knew that her father wanted nothing more than for her to stay away from Neptune. But there was the small thing where you still spent time with your family, returning for Christmas and birthdays. But Veronica hadn't done anything like that.

"That photo is the day he was assigned his wings. He invited me to go, and I went to support him. Along with Dick, Mac and Wallace," he explained.

Veronica nodded. She picked up her beer, drained what remained in the bottle and stood to get another.

"I would have told you if you had asked," said Keith.

"I know." She cracked open the beer and stood in the kitchen for a moment. "I was the one who cut myself off from everyone, including you. I left Neptune and never came back because I figured you'd all be better off. I don't know why I am so surprised that you all moved on with your lives without me." Veronica felt like such a bitch. She was making her own father feel guilty for supporting someone, someone she loved.

"Veronica, just because we have lived our lives didn't mean we have cut you out of them. And my life is not better off without you. I wanted you to get out of Neptune because I know how messed up this town is. Not because of anything you did." Keith stood from the table and walked over to her; he grasped her shoulder's and gave them a gentle squeeze. "If you told me you were moving back here, I would be thrilled because it meant I would get to see you. All I want is for you to be happy; we all do."

Veronica knew she had been self-absorbed for the last few years. And now that she had come back to Neptune and seen that everyone had moved on without her, they were happy whether she was there or not; it made her feel unnecessary. Veronica couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she did stay. Would have things turned out like they had? Would Wallace be a high school teacher? Would Mac be travelling all over the world for work? Would Logan have joined the Navy? And what about what happened to her? She has no idea where she would be or what kind of state her life would be in.

Keith looked at Veronica with concern. Every time they spoke, he had always asked her if she was happy. Veronica had never really given him a proper answer, and that was because Veronica didn't want to tell him that she was lonely. Veronica worked as long as she could to avoid going home to her lonely apartment; she didn't take too many days off because she didn't want to face how much she missed Neptune and the people she'd left behind.

She could accept that she had been wrong, that coming home to see her father and her friends would have been the right thing to do. But then she thinks about what happened when she was here, the dangers she not only put herself in but what she dragged those she loved into. They had all done so well for themselves without her, and she wanted it to stay that way.

"Veronica?"

Letting out a slow sigh, she grabbed her dad's hand and squeezed. "I love you, Dad."

Keith gave her a sad smile. "I love you too."

The rest of their meal was kept light. They avoided talking about the past and discussed what they both loved – their cases. Keith went over the details of his most recent insurance fraud case, describing how an owner of a failing business had dressed in his mother's clothes and burned the building down to try and claim the insurance. It felt good to laugh.

Once they finished their meal, they cleaned up and spooned out the ice cream before walking out into the backyard to sit around a fire pit. Keith spent a few minutes to get it going before joining Veronica on the small lounge he had. He turned the conversation to her more recent case.

"They were talking about your guy before you got here. He has been dubbed the West Coast Strangler," said Keith.

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Wow. Some imagination. I would have gone for the Surf Leash Strangler."

Keith nodded. "That just flows better."

"Exactly. I don't even know why they insist on naming them."

"Well, if everyone just called them the…."

"Unsub?"

"Yeah, that. No one would have any idea about anything."

"I suppose. Still, some of these sickos get a kick out of the media attention. It's disturbing." Veronica ate her last spoonful before placing the bowl down on the ground and sinking into the pillows.

"How is it proceeding? Any leads?" asked Keith.

Veronica nodded. "Slowly. I met with a woman today who is possible our unsubs first victim. Poor girl went through hell, but she managed to get away from him."

"Was she of any help?"

"Maybe. I have to wait to see if the lead she gave me helps. She was raped in November last year, so there isn't anything fresh – so to speak – to go off. A rape kit was done, though, and DNA was found, so I sent off a request to see if the samples match."

Keith nodded. "I hope you catch the bastard."

"Oh, I plan too."

"Shelly Pomroy, the latest girl they found. She went to school with you, didn't she?" he asked.

Veronica frowned. "Yeah. She was one of those people."

Keith made an 'oh' face, understanding her reference to the 09ers that had turned on her.

"I had the pleasure of catching up with some of her friends; that was fun. A real walk down memory lane." She sighed. "I even bumped into Logan."

Keith's brow shot up. "You did?"

"At Dick's. I didn't realise when I went to talk to Dick that Logan was living there."

"Yeah, while he's on leave. He hasn't had a chance to find a place of his own yet."

It was going to take some time for Veronica to accept that her father and Logan had a good relationship. She remembers being so desperate for them to get along but being so scared that it would never happen. Now it was like Keith had adopted Logan.

"Do you two have a weekly dinner date or something?" she asked sarcastically.

Keith shrugged like it was no big deal. "Not every week, but occasionally Wallace and Logan come over to watch the game. Or Dick sometimes invites me over for a poker night."

Veronica sat back up in her chair. "Dick? Your friend's with Dick?"

Keith chuckled. "I wouldn't say friends, but we're friendly. Do you have a problem with that?"

She shook her head. "No, no problem." At least, she didn't think she did. It was more shocking than anything she'd ever heard. Her father spent time with Dick Casablancas. What was the world coming to?

"How was seeing Logan?" Keith asked.

Veronica tapped her teeth together no exactly sure what to say. "Surprising?"

"Are you telling me or asking me?"

She threw her hands up. "I panicked. Froze like I turned to stone." She crossed her arms over her face. "And then I did what I do best and ran away."

Keith didn't say anything. He just looked at her.

Veronica sat up. "I didn't know how to react. It has been so long since I've seen him, and he was such a big part of my life…I suppose I convinced myself that I would never see him again, and when I did…."

Keith smiled. "You loved him, Veronica. Seeing him again was never going to be easy."

She nodded.

"I think it would be good for both of you if you talked. Sat down and properly discussed everything that had happened. Maybe then, you two could have some form of relationship." Keith stood, picked up their bowls and left Veronica out by the fire on her own.

Veronica had never considered trying to be Logan's friend. Probably because she didn't think she could. She still loved him, and she didn't think she would survive watching him one day fall in love with someone else.

Rubbing her face, Veronica frowned and stared at the fire. She needed to stop fantasising and considering what was to come; she already knew. Once she had caught this bastard, she was going back to Virginia. Logan wasn't a part of her life; Neptune wasn't her home. She needed to accept that for good and stop dwelling on her past.

Veronica stayed at her father's house for another hour. She intentionally kept the conversation focused on him and managed to pry out of him that he was seeing someone. No name was provided, mostly because Keith knew Veronica would look her up but did say that she ran a jewellery store. They had met when she had come in to hire him; one of her staff had been skipping off the top. Veronica had enjoyed teasing her father about his new lady friend, but as it grew later, Veronica knew she needed to head out.

Keith walked her to her car, hugged her, and agreed to have dinner again before she went home. He stood in the driveway as she pulled out and waved as she drove off. Veronica felt a small weight on her chest; it was regret for staying away from her father for so long. She missed him so much, and she knew she would make more of an effort.

But Veronica found herself torn. And she didn't know what to do.

Veronica's phone ringing pulled her out of her thoughts. She took a moment to wipe away the tears that tried to fall and answered the phone through the car.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Veronica."

It was Logan. She hadn't even bothered to check the caller ID.

She sniffed. "Hey, what's up?"

"Are you okay?" he asked.

What was she supposed to say to that? Yeah, I'm just crying about the fact that you all did better without me in your lives, and I hate that. She closed her eyes and said, "I'm fine, just tired."

"Too tired for a drink?" he asked.

She should have said, 'no'. Her brain had screamed at her to hang up and avoid Logan until she could leave. It would be less complicated that way. "I guess."

Logan sighed. "Only if you want to."

The hurt in his voice made Veronica want to bash her head against the steering wheel.

"No, I do. Where should I meet you?"

A Siren's Song was a few streets away from the 09er. It had a large neon mermaid lying across the roof, its tail flashing up and down. It looked like a good place to get herpes or maybe get murdered. The inside was better and, oddly, filled with a whole bunch of different people. There were a few large families, some couples, groups of friends. The jukebox played some Elvis song as two teens tasted one another's tonsils against one end of the bar.

Logan was sitting in a booth. He looked tired and was sliding a glass of water back and forth between each hand.

She made her way over, pausing beside the table. "You look how I feel."

He looked up, a small smile lighting his face. "Hot?"

She chuckled lightly. "I was thinking tired."

He nodded. "Yeah. I haven't had enough coffee breaks today."

Veronica sat down across from him in the booth and sighed.

"Long day?" he asked.

"The longest. I had to go speak to a rape victim today."

Logan frowned. "Part of Shelly's case?"

She nodded. "Yeah. One of the many glamourous parts of my job is having to ask victims to lay out exactly how they were tormented." She let out an unamused laugh. "It's a wonder I don't drink more."

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asked.

Veronica was tempted, but she'd had three beers at her dad's, and even though it had been some time since her last one, she still needed to drive back to her hotel. "Thank you, but I had a few beers with dinner."

"Go anywhere nice?"

"I went and saw my dad."

Logan nodded. "How is he?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Don't act like you don't know. I saw the picture on his bookcase, and he told me about your weekly dinners."

Logan's cheek turned pink. "Oh."

"Didn't want to mention how cosy you are with my dad?" She was half serious, half teasing.

"You're dad helped me out. Was a parent when I needed one."

"My dad? Really?"

He nodded.

"I guess he needed a second chance after the spectacular fuck up I was." Veronica regretted the words as she said them. She groaned and leaned her face against the palms of her hands.

"I wouldn't say you are a fuck up."

Veronica scoffed. "Really? I think the destruction I left behind was like having a meteor hit Neptune. Boom!" She stretched out her hands in an embellished gesture.

"Veronica, we all made mistakes." Logan reached across the table. "I made so many; some I wish I could take back. You were everything I wanted, everything I needed, and I pushed you away."

She shook her head, her hand gripping his. "No, I made problems and used them against you. I had no right to use Madison against you; we weren't even together – and that was my fault – and I made it out like you decided to fuck her to spite me. I was a self-centred control freak with trust issues." She dropped her head to the table. "And that still hasn't changed."

"You may be a self-centred control freak with trust issues, but you also had a big heart." Logan's other hand laid over the top of their joint ones.

Veronica lifted her head as tears filled her eyes.

"You helped me when I deserved nothing from you. You made me realise what life was worth when I felt so alone. And for the last nine years, I have never stopped thinking about you."

Veronica bit down on her lip. She had spent the last nine years comparing every single man, every single kiss and touch to him. No guy had ever matched up to the way he made her feel. The first guy she was ever with after Logan had flirted and tried to date her for weeks, she only ever gave in because she wanted to try and move on. But every time someone touched her, she had to think of Logan to get even close to enjoying it.

"I haven't dated anyone properly, not since Piz," she said.

Logan's eyes fixated on her. He said, "I didn't realise Piz did that much of a number on you."

Veronica shook her head. "It wasn't Piz."

"Then who?"

"You really have to ask?"

"Me?"

She nodded.

"Oh." Logan's hands released her hands and slid around the booth until he was sitting beside her. "You never found anyone else?"

Veronica frowned and considered the men she had known. There had been dates, but no one had ever earned the title of boyfriend. "No one ever really made me feel the way—" She cut herself off, realising she was about to say, 'the way you do'. Was she really going to open that can of worms? After all, it had been Veronica who had ended their relationship, telling him that he was out of her life for good. She had let Madison Sinclair finally tear them apart, just how she had always wanted to.

"Veronica?"

She looked up at Logan. He was leaning in, closer than she had expected. He was close enough that she could kiss him without really having to stretch. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she said, "Logan, please stop."

"Why?" He lifted the hand and drew his thumb across her cheek.

Panic seeped into her chest; was this seriously about to happen? Logan was so close that his cologne was filling her nose, the butterflies in her stomach were ramped, and her head was screaming at her.

"Logan—"

His thumb stopped her words; it ran along her lower lip. He lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut as he leaned his forehead against hers. "Veronica, I've missed you." His hand slid from her cheek to her neck, and he inhaled a shaky breath. "Tell me that you don't love me, and I won't kiss you. I'll stop."

The tears in her eyes fell. She didn't know what to do. Her heart was burning in her chest, desperate to kiss him, to feel his lips against hers. She wanted to rediscover every inch of him. But she couldn't. No, she couldn't do this to him.

"Veronica, please." His voice trembled.

She dropped her eyes and pulled herself back. The flash of hurt that appeared in Logan's face was like a shot to her chest. What was she supposed to say to him? How was she supposed to tell him that after all these years, she knew he would be better off without her?

"I need to go go," Veronica said. She slid out of the booth, his hands falling away.

Leaving the bar, Veronica realised that she was causing more pain by having come back to Neptune. Next time Hitch tried to send her somewhere she didn't want to go, she would make sure to tell him to go fuck himself because it was too painful, and it was just tearing down the resolve she thought she had built.

Veronica reached the SUV, Logan calling out her name after her, making her struggle to find the unlock button for the car. Her phone ringing made her jump; after almost dropping it, she took a shaky breath before she saw Jimmy's name.

"Hey Jimmy," she answered.

Jimmy said, "Alice Grace."

I would love to hear what you think. Even if it's as simple as a 'can't wait', all feedback is appreciated.

See you soon with the next chapter.