A/N: Italics represent Duncan's internal monologue. This story is fictional, and any resemblances etc...So this story has not been generating nearly as much feedback as some of my earlier works, and while the feedback I have gotten has been quite positive, I get the impression that if people don't like a story, they just say nothing rather than give it a negative review. Since I prefer even very negative feedback to no feedback, I hope you will say so if you don't like this story. If you do like this story, I really hope you'll tell me that too. Thanks very much.
December 20, 2005
3:36pm
Duncan tossed Veronica's luggage into the back of his Mercedes. "All set?"
"Just a second." Veronica walked off a few paces with Logan. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly, resting her hand on his elbow.
"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because your girlfriend is going away for several days with her ex who still has feelings for her and whom you worry she still has feelings for too?"
"Okay, so I'm a little jealous. But I trust you. Both of you."
"You know you can, right? Trust us."
"I know. You should get going."
Veronica stood on her toes to kiss him before backing away toward Duncan. As she got into the SUV, Duncan walked over to his best friend.
"Hey, man. You sure this is cool?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"You could come with us, you know?"
"Hmm, let me see. Spend the break in the rain and fog of the Bay, or enjoy the sun and surf of Baja. Hard choice. Go, already. You're running late." With a final wave, Logan turned to go. Duncan rejoined Veronica.
4:06pm
As they cruised up the Pacific Coast Highway in the late afternoon sun, Duncan finally broke the silence that had prevailed since they had left school. "So, are you going to tell me how you 'took care' of Kelly Montclair?"
"There's not much to tell, Duncan," Veronica answered without turning toward him.
"It shouldn't take you long then," he answered, trying to keep the conversation light.
"Look, she was poking around, asking questions about a lot of things, asking questions about us, about why we broke up."
"I know. And?"
"Well, I was concerned she might find out about, well, you know. Your mom was worried too."
"So what did you do?"
"I sent her a fan letter."
"A fan letter? What was in this fan letter?"
"Oh, you know, some clippings from the columns she had written about us and about the whole case, plus a letter telling her how much I loved her work, and how I wanted to be a gossip reporter too someday, and asking if she thought I had any future in the biz; I had also sent some pictures I had taken."
"What sort of pictures?"
"The sort she wouldn't want her husband to see."
"Ah. Doesn't the legislature of this great state consider that, you know, blackmail?"
"That's why I didn't sign the letter Duncan."
"What did you put as the return address?"
"'Phil D. Wrigley, 1060 W. Addison, Chicago, IL 60613.'"
"'Phil D. Wrigley?'" At this, they both burst out laughing. "So which am I, Jake or Elwood?"
"Well I don't know," answered Veronica, struggling to stop laughing long enough to speak. "Can you put away four fried chickens?"
"Not without causing a heart attack. Not to me, mind you, to my mother."
"And her personal trainer."
"Wouldn't want that, now would we?"
The two of them shared another laugh.
"So, if I may turn the conversation to a more serious matter for a moment…."
"Why would you want to do that Donut?"
"Please don't call me that. You know I hate that stupid nickname."
"That's why Lilly always loved to call you that."
"Yeah, I know." They both smiled at that.
"Alright, what serious matter did you want to talk about?"
"I was just curious if you had given any thought to what you wanted to major in at Stanford."
"Are you kidding?"
"See, that's what I'm saying. We're still in high school and my parents are trying to pick out majors for me."
"Ah, I see. Let me guess: economics."
"'After all, sweetie,'" began Duncan, his voice inflected to indicate that he was doing an impression of his parents, "'with a degree in economics, you could go on to law school or business school.'"
"Which your parents see as possible next steps on your road to the White House."
"Exactly. I suppose I should just be grateful that they're willing to consider business school as an option now."
"Well maybe you should study drama."
"Now that would give my mother a heart attack."
"No, I'm serious," rejoined Veronica, whose giggling belied that claim. "Two actors have gone on to become governor of California, and one of them became President."
"That's a good point. Drama it is then." The two of them shared another laugh.
"And I'll be able to tell people I knew you when."
You'll be there with me, Veronica.
7:16pm
"I'll have four fried chickens and a coke, and he'll have two pieces of dry white toast."
"Huh?"
"What she means is that she'll have the cheeseburger deluxe, and I'll have the turkey club."
"Okay. Anything to drink with that?"
"Coffee, one cream, two sugars."
"Coffee, black."
"I'll be right back with your coffee."
"Taking it straight, at your tender age? You've turned into quite the caffeine addict, I see."
"Well, you know. A girl has to have something to keep her awake on all those late-night stakeouts."
Right. I should have realized.
After the waitress brought their coffee, they sat in silence, albeit a far more companionable silence than that with which they had begun their trip, as they waited for their food. The two of them had stopped for dinner at a roadside diner off the I-5 just to the southeast of Coalinga. It was only once they had both made a good start at their dinners, that Duncan spoke again. "We seem to be making good time. We should probably be in San Francisco no later than ten-thirty."
"Sounds about right," answered Veronica, taking another bite of her burger.
"What's our game plan once we get there?"
Veronica reflexively gave a surreptitious look around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "Well, our boy Selkirk works in Palo Alto but lives in San Francisco. I figure I'll drop by his apartment—" Duncan gave her a sharp look. "We, we'll drop by his apartment and have a look around. If we're lucky, Selkirk likes to work at home and keeps a copy of the file on his computer. Otherwise, we'll have to go VenTech's offices."
"Which will probably have more security."
"Probably, but most of these Silicon Valley office parks are all prefab, so it shouldn't be too hard to get a copy of the complete blueprints. That should make things a bit easier, if it comes to that."
When the check came, they both reached for their wallets.
"Veronica, let me take care of this."
"Don't be silly. Your dad gave me an expense account."
Why do you have to keep sticking me with that knife?
"It's all coming from the same place then."
"Ah, but if I expense this, it's a tax write-off for Kane Software."
Duncan glanced again at the check. "I don't think that's really going to make a difference."
"I am nothing if not a conscientious employee." She said it so lightheartedly that Duncan managed to keep a smile on his face.
And why do you have to keep twisting it too?
"Veronica, what will people think of me if they see you paying for our meal?"
"The people in here? I don't think it matters much."
"Have it your way."
"I usually do."
7:41pm
They set out again, this time with Veronica driving. They tried the radio, but, not finding anything worth listening to, Veronica asked Duncan what CDs he had brought.
"A bunch of different stuff. Oh, I have a mix that Lilly burned for me for our thirteenth birthday party."
"Well fire that sucker up. That was the most awesome birthday party ever."
"Oh, we're not gonna take it, no we ain't gonna take it," at which point Veronica and Duncan began singing along: "We're not gonna take it anymore!"
10:41pm
The two of them had just picked up the keys for their two adjoining rooms at a hotel called the Mosser in the financial district. As they got into the elevator, Duncan asked, "so why'd you pick this place?"
"The only other place I could find that you could get a room for under $80 a night that wasn't a complete fleabag was out near the airport. This place is right in the middle of town, and it has wireless DSL access throughout the hotel."
Always business with you. At least I'll know better than to fight with you over the bill this time. Well, if we're on an expense account, we might as well enjoy it.
"So, their selection of movies leaves something, by which I mean great deal, to be desired," said Duncan, leafing through the hotel brochure, "but we could watch The Lost Commandos."
"Aaron Echolls' last picture?" Veronica answered with mock excitement. "Also starring Conner Larkin?"
"Well, I know what an Echolls fan you are."
"Maybe some other time. We've got to get an early start tomorrow. Get some sleep."
"Course. You're right. See you in the morning."
I keep trying to forget that this is a business trip for you.
To be continued….