An alternative history following the events of "Ruskie Business".
Chapter One
"What? Are we best friends now? Or am I supposed to owe you something? Dream on, Ace Veronica, pest detective."
"Logan, it's a phone call. I'm not asking for your first born. Nor have I said a word about your ungrateful ass or your scrawny legs."
"Ooh Veronica, snappish much. Thinking about Duncan and Meg?"
Veronica glared at him for a moment before smiling sweetly and saying, "Why no, Logan, I was thinking about Caitlin and Chardo, actually."
Veronica could not quite hide her satisfaction as the famous Echolls' smirk faded although it wouldn't do to alienate him completely. That he hadn't already stomped off was promising. Logan looked like he was about to burst into a tirade but his sense of humour crept back and he grinned.
"Touche. All right. On one condition."
Veronica was wary. "What?"
"Tell me why."
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Nothing had surprised Veronica more than Logan Echolls turning up on her doorstep wanting her help. So when John Enbom sought her out at school, asking her to retrieve his coursework from the computer of his vindictive ex-girlfriend, Ashley, she felt an old hand in dealing with the crises of the 09ers. It wasn't so much that the 09ers forgave her or welcomed her back into the fold. It was more that they realised she could be useful. Like the pool man. But unlike the pool man, Veronica was going to be well paid for this one.
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"All right, man, I'll do it. But you owe me big time. This is gonna be painful for me."
Veronica winced a little at that. "For God's sake", she thought, "all he has to do is get me into a party."
Logan finished the call to John, but instead of handing the cell phone back to her, he raised his eyebrows as he pointed at it. She understood he was asking to use it and shrugged. He turned away from, far enough for her not to eavesdrop, and punched in a number. As Veronica watched, she pondered on the bizarre truce she and Logan seemed to have developed. Logan would never admit that openly, of course, and he was as rude and awkward as ever but something had changed.
Logan finally finished his call and walked back to Veronica.
"Did you get me an invite?"
"No. I got you a date. It's black tie. Pick me up at seven."
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Looking at his daughter now, Keith Mars realised that she would not be his little girl forever and that she would be snapped up sooner or later. Probably sooner unless the male population of Neptune was dead, deranged or disinclined by sexual preference. She was beautiful in that strapless red satin.
"I thought you said you had a job tonight."
"I do. This is the disguise, you know, for that snooping thing we do? I'm crashing Emily Banks' divorce party."
"Be careful Veronica. She's got all the Neptune elite there, from what I hear. Security will be tight."
"I'll be careful, promise. When will you be back?"
"In the morning, I think. I'll call if there's any problem."
Veronica kissed her father. "Love you."
"Ditto, kid." Keith watched her go and sighed.
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As Veronica pulled up at the gates to the Echolls mansion, Logan was waiting. He slid into the passenger's seat. Veronica gratefully observed that he didn't appear to be drunk. At least not yet.
"You're late. You are SUCH an ingrate," he drawled.
"Pot. Meet kettle," Veronica snapped back.
"You're going to be expecting payback forever, aren't you? Well this is it, lady in red light district. Account paid in full. Which is generous of me since I'm actually getting YOU a result."
It was bad enough that Veronica would be mixing with people who despised her father and who would sooner step in shit than speak to his trashy offspring. But to have to do it in the company of the one person in Neptune who had made it his business to make her life hell? It could be a long night. She was about to bark back when she thought that maybe he was entitled to feel disappointed that she hadn't found his mother. In a rare moment of pity, she held her tongue.
Logan was a little taken aback by Veronica's silence. He'd expected some vicious comeback and she rarely disappointed him. He suddenly felt deflated. He cast a sidelong glance, long enough to take in her shoulders, pearly white against the deep red of her dress and her curled hair. He had always liked Veronica's hair and her cutting it had somehow made it easier to separate the friend he knew from the enemy, the one he had so enjoyed torturing, she had become. Or that he had made her. Lilly's death and her father's pursuit of Jake Kane had given Logan an outlet for his desire to hurt Veronica, a desire born of her betrayal, of her telling tales to Lilly. And he was pretty damn good at the torture. That used to be a matter of some pride. Not so much, anymore.
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Emily Banks was a bitter woman. She didn't really like parties but tonight, she had a point to prove. She had stripped that unfaithful bastard of everything in the divorce and tonight was the celebration. Everyone who was anyone in Neptune was invited, along with their children. Her daughter Ashley and the twin boys, one year younger, were playing hosts for the youngsters.
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Pulling up at the Banks' mansion, Veronica turned off the engine and turned to Logan. "This is the drill. You'll-"
"Whoa! I'll nothing, Veronica Mars. I get you in, that's it. You go do your dirty little business on your own."
Logan didn't wait for her reaction. He leapt out.
"Five inch heels, not helpful," Veronica thought as she scrambled to get out of the car and follow. It looked like Logan was going to stride in without her but he paused at the steps and waited. His smirk returning, he took her arm.
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"Logan, I'm so glad you changed your mind. Your f-". Emily spotted Veronica and her smile dropped abruptly. "Veronica Mars."
Feeling the chill, Veronica smiled broadly and said "Good evening, Mrs Banks. Thank you SO much for allowing me to come."
Emily seemed on the brink of objecting as Veronica sought to pass her. Logan piped up quickly.
"Mrs Banks, I hope you don't mind my bringing Veronica. Girl doesn't get out much these days. And I promise, I'll keep her away from the silver. And the twins."
Logan laughed as Veronica silently fumed at the swipe at her honour. Emily was on the spot. Eventually, and without much effort to hide her disappointment in Logan, she managed to say, through a forced smile, "Of course. I didn't know you were friends. Come in."
Once they were past the door, Logan shook Veronica's arm off his and curtly told her that he would be at the bar. "Make it quick, I want to get out of this geriatric playpen."
"You and me both," Veronica said quietly as he wandered off.
She looked around and saw that he wasn't far wrong. The guests ranged from eight to 80. Some of the 09ers were there but none of them had noticed that Logan and Veronica had arrived together, which was probably a good thing.
"Right", she thought, "I need to get upstairs". Veronica took some time manoeuvring herself around the room, trying to be invisible. For the most part, those who recognised her either ignored her completely or simply raised an eyebrow of surprised disdain. Veronica reached the bottom of the stairs but before she could put one foot on the step, one of the many serving staff stopped her.
"Can I help you?"
"Hi. I was looking for the restroom." She whispered with friendly confidentiality, "I'm desperate!"
"This way please". The man led her away from the stairs, out of the main hall to a short corridor. He pointed to a door.
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Veronica
washed her hands and pondered her image in the mirror of the
bathroom. This was going to be harder than she thought. She was
banking on being able to slip upstairs easily. But with the staff
primed to direct strays away, Veronica was going to have her work cut
out for her.
She had an idea but it was… radical. And probably
impossible but she had nothing else so she took a deep breath and
headed back out to the main hall. By now, things had started to pick
up. Flowing drink had started to loosen inhibitions and everyone was
getting into the swing. Even the younger 09ers had started dancing as
the music was surprisingly tolerable. Veronica headed for the
bar.
There had been time for Logan to be on his fifth drink by now but Veronica was pleasantly surprised to see that he seemed sober. She slipped in beside him at the bar.
"Ah, my tiny driver has arrived."
"Not yet, party-pooper. I haven't managed to get up to Ashley's room. If we can both stomach it, and it will be difficult, maybe we could pretend to be l-"
"Logan!".
Veronica and Logan both turned from the bar at the sharp exclamation. It was Trina Echolls.
"Logan. What on earth are you doing here! You're supposed to be grounded. If Dad sees you, there will be hell to pay."
"And I suppose you're going to tell him, sis. Get that pretty, little nose just a little browner? I mean you've been sucking up all week just to try and increase the allowance. Hasn't he promised you a part in 'Hair Trigger 6' yet?"
"Funny. I won't have to tell him, brother dear. He's here."
The colour in Logan's face drained. Veronica's heart stopped for a moment as she realised that Logan hadn't meant her when he told John Enbom that it would be painful to do this for him. She hadn't thought much about what Trina had inferred at the Sunset Regent, but if confirmation were needed, she had it in his stricken face.
"Hi Trina. Logan," she said hurredly, "let's dance". Logan was unresponsive as Veronica tried to lead him gently away.
"Veronica! I knew there was something going on between you two. How sweet! Logan's had a crush on you since he was 12 and-"
That got Logan's attention. "Shut up, Trina, you never know what you're talking about if it doesn't involve Trina Echolls or Variety". He grabbed Veronica by the hand and practically dragged her into the dancing crowd. He was angry and pulled her to him with such force that she was made breathless.
