I suck at summaries; I really do. But if you like crime stories, love stories, and Veronica Mars, I think this is for you.

Veronica had seen countless victims; men, women, children. Some of them had been found in the most horrific states imaginable; some of them still haunted her dreams. But they were strangers, people she had never known – or in this case hated. But no one deserved to suffer like this. Not even Shelly Pomroy.

Eight women had been raped and strangled, their bodies dumped on beaches along the California coast. Veronica is sent back to her home town of Neptune to find the person responsible. It has been nine years since she left Neptune, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. With her return, Veronica has every intention of avoiding anyone that is connected to her old life - even her own father. But when her investigation leads her straight back to Logan Echolls she knows it won't be as easy as pretending they don't exist.

As the summary states, my story follows Veronica as an agent in the FBI. Now I know there is a lot of argument about Veronica's character and how she would never really work at the FBI because she doesn't follow the rules, but in my mind, a lot can happen in nine years and for my story, she has learned some hard lessons.

This is a 'LoVe' story because there is no other option for these two but each other.

I will put a warning here that this story will contain graphic depictions of rape. I will leave a note at the top of chapters that contain those parts so that you do have a warning, but this is just an overall warning in case you are uncomfortable with that. There will also be graphic sexual scenes, again, notes will be left on those particular chapters.

But enough about that, enjoy the ride.

The Surf Leash Strangler

Chapter 1

The text came in at 5am. Veronica was standing at the base of Lincoln's Memorial, her hands on her hips as she took deep breaths to calm her heart. She was 3 miles into her 6-mile run. Her phone vibrated against her arm making her pause to check it. She knew the only messages she normally got so early were from her work.

Meet at 0700 hours. Pack for sunshine.

That was all she was going to get until she sat down across from her supervisor.

It had been less than twenty-four hours since Veronica had arrived back at her apartment with the belief that she would spend the next three days catching up on a lack of sleep. She had returned to Washington DC with three murders solved and a culprit behind bars. Her team had suggested a round of drinks to celebrate the arrest, but Veronica heard her bed calling her. The ten hours she had managed to get before her body clock woke her at 4:30 were a blessing, even though at the time she craved more.

Slipping her phone back into its strap on her arm, she turned back towards her apartment. She needed to shower before making her way into the office.

Veronica found herself pondering what was so urgent that they were calling them back in so soon. There were set rules to keep Agents from overdoing it and mandatory days of rest that Supervisor Agents enforced. Veronica knew that she was well overdue at least a fortnight worth of time off, but she found if she spent too long with nothing to do, she went a little stir crazy.

Washington streets were just starting to wake up as Veronica reached her building. She smiled at the Doorman, who gave her a warm smile before pulling open the door for her. It was still strange that she lived in a building with such things, even after four years in the same place.

The apartment that Veronica found herself in had been an accidental find. She had been rooming with another Agent for almost ten months. Veronica reached a point where the Agent in question was becoming increasingly frustrating. It seemed fated when Veronica found her way to the apartment building to arrest a suspect and found there were great apartments that were bigger and for the same price as where she was already living. By the end of the week, she had signed new papers and had moved in.

The main apartment was all open, except for the entry hall when you first stepped inside. Veronica's bedroom was on one side of the short hall, and on the other was the guest bedroom and the main bathroom. At the end of the hall, it opened out into the living and dining space, with the kitchen on one side. It was the perfect size for Veronica to live comfortably. There were moments when she considered getting a dog; Backup had been the best companion for years, and he had always been happy to snuggle up with her on those gloomy days. But her life didn't suit a pet; she wasn't home enough to get it the life it deserved.

Veronica locked her door behind her before going into the kitchen. She set the coffee to brew before rushing into her bedroom and jumping into her shower. By 6, Veronica was dressed in what she liked to refer to as her 'Agent' attire. Black slacks, a comfortable long-sleeved blouse, and comfortable boots that had a small heel. She had her holster on and reached for her blazer as she poured her coffee in a to-go cup. Coffee in one hand, her go-bag in the other, and the desire for a bagel grumbling in her stomach.

There were days when Veronica wondered what her life would have been like if she hadn't joined the FBI. For a time, she didn't want to do it. The events that had led to her final decision had been very up and down, and there had been many arguments between not only her father but also her friends. It was her current boss and friend, Benjamin Hitch, who had encouraged her – maybe pushed – to apply to the academy. She had just completed a three-month internship where Veronica realised that there was a lot of red tape involved when it came to working with the Government. She found herself believing that she worked best when there wasn't someone hovering over her, shouting about the rules.

Veronica decided to put the FBI aside for the moment and went through with her plan to escape Neptune. She transferred from Stanford to Hearts and spent the next three years completing a degree in Criminology while also choosing to get a bachelor's in psychology. And when every summer came, Veronica found herself being invited to intern at the FBI by Hitch and with bills to pay for; how was she supposed to say no. Hitch was determined to see her join and had been at the Academy on her first day; Veronica remembered – somewhat fondly – the stupid 'I told you so grin' the man had on his face.

The red tape had been up a struggle. Veronica spent twelve months in the academy learning each and every rule, having them basically shoved down her throat and forced to swallow. When she graduated and found herself assigned to Hitch's unit, she offered him a smirk of her own and told him that 'she had warned him'. Working under Hitch meant working in the Criminal Investigative Division; Veronica was dealing with narcotics trafficking and violent crimes – according to the job description – but found her talent was tracking down serial killers. In the four years that followed, Veronica made sure to remind Hitch that he had wanted her on his team when she broke the rules. But that didn't stop her from producing results and becoming a Senior Special Agent, only one level below Hitch. She was proud to have achieved it, but there were still moments when she considered what a quiet life would have been like, where she wasn't chasing down criminals and being shot at.

Veronica arrived at the FBI Headquarters in Washington with time to spare. She had finished her coffee in the taxi and was enjoying her last mouthful of the cream cheese bagel she had stopped to get. Veronica greeted the familiar security guards as she scanned her pass and made her way into an elevator. When she reached her floor, she frowned as she approached the area where she sat with her team and found them all missing. A few other agents were about, a few at their desks, some over in the kitchen, but not one of the four other agents on her team was on the floor. Veronica placed her bag on her desk and walked over to Hitch's office that sat on the far wall in the corner. The blinds were shut, but she could see the light peeking through the gaps. She knocked on the door twice and waited for Hitch to invite her in.

"Come in," he said.

Veronica opened the door and promptly closed it behind her before giving Hitch a firm look, crossing her arms over her chest. Supervisory Special Agent Benjamin Hitch was a middle-aged man with short black hair with thin grey framed glasses. He had been working within the FBI for seventeen years, and like Veronica, had a knack for getting into trouble. He had the scars to prove it, including a chunk or missing earlobe that a particular unsub had bit off in an attempt to escape.

Hitch sat back in his chair and smiled. "Thanks for coming in."

Veronica sighed. "Of course; I was looking forward to spending the day eating my weight in ice cream."

Hitch smirked. "I'll make sure you have a full week to do that once you wrap this up." He tapped his fingers on the file sitting in front of him.

"Just me? Not the rest of the team?" she asked.

Hitch shook his head. "The LA headquarters are understaffed and don't have enough agents for the workload. I got a call last night from the Special Agent-in-Charge, George Whitaker, and he needs some help."

Veronica nodded her head. "So you're loaning me out to them?"

"Just for one case." He picked up the file and held it out to her. "There have been a string of murders along the California coast in the last few months. All victims are young female brunettes, and their bodies were found dumped along the coast. All of them were strangled."

Veronica opened the file to look through the report. The eight women all looked very similar. Not only did they have the same hair colour, but they were similar in height and age range. They had been strangled with a surfboard leash and dumped on the beach, starting in LA and moving down through Neptune to San Diego and back. The most recent victim made Veronica pause and look up at Hitch.

"I am sending you and Pierce to assist on the case," said Hitch.

"Any particular reason you want me?" she asked.

Hitch sighed. "I'm not trying to pull any wool over your eyes, Mars. Your background in Neptune could be useful."

"And the fact that I went to school with victim number eight has no factor?" she pushed.

Hitch's face turned neutral, but he nodded. "Your connection with those who live there will be of use. You know these people, understand them."

"I hate these people." Veronica snapped the file shut and glared at her boss.

"Well, I hate having to wake up early, but I do. We all have to do things we hate." Hitch sent her a patronising smile before standing up and walking around the desk. "Besides, with you on the case, you'll be back in Virginia before the end of the week."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "You owe me."

Hitch nodded. "I'll take it off your tab."

"I thought we were even?" she asked.

Shaking his head, he said, "Nope. I still had one up on you from New Orleans."

Veronica sighed. "So now we are even?"

He nodded. "Sure, unless you find another way to get into trouble."

She scoffed at him as he laughed.

A knock on Hitch's door broke their laughter, and they both turned as Hitch summoned them in. Agent Dylan Pierce stepped into the office, his go-bag in one hand and a large coffee in the other. "I'm here and ready to go." He grinned widely.

Pierce was the newest and youngest member of their team. He had been a Special Agent for just under six months and still had a very big pep in his step. He always came up with small bits and pieces that helped in cases and sometimes would say something that would make everyone stop and look at him. Veronica liked the kid, even enjoyed working with him. The mop of blonde hair on his head remaindered her of a shorter Casablancas that she wished she could forget about.

"Good to hear," said Hitch. "You and Mars are off to California. Special Agent Walsh will meet you in San Diego; you will work from the office there."

Veronica and Pierce nodded.

"The jet should be ready by the time you get there."

Veronica tucked the file under her arm and turned to Pierce. "I hope you packed your holy water; where we are going, you will need it." She patted him on the arm as she walked out of Hitch's office and back to her desk.

It had been nine years since she had been back in Neptune. Sure, she had been to LA for a few cases, but that was the closest she had been. The idea of going back and having to deal with those people that she had hurt the most made it easier for Veronica to stay away. She knew that since she would most definitely have to go to Neptune for the case that she should call her dad and let him know, but she found herself wanting to avoid any sort of personal time. If she could focus on the case and get it wrapped up quickly, she would be back before anyone ever knew she was there.

It wasn't that Veronica didn't want to see anyone. It had been thirteen months since she had seen her dad; the same went for Wallace and Mac. There had been no opportunity for her to see them for any holidays or their birthdays; work kept her busy. She made sure to call and send presents, but she knew it wasn't the same.

Stopping at her desk, Veronica placed the file down and flipped it open to look at the most recent victim. In the last four years, Veronica had seen countless victims; men, women, children. Some of them had been found in the most horrific states imaginable; some of them still haunted her dreams. But they were strangers, people she had never known – or in this case hated. But no one deserved to suffer like this. Not even Shelly Pomroy.

There we go. Chapter 1.

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

I should have the next chapter up by next week.