A/N: Veronica and I had a bet on whether she could pull off a certain scene in this chapter, and she won. Thanks to lex, my muse. As always italics are VMVO and feedback is muchly appreciated.
Veronica bit her lip as Leo stared at her.
Come on, Leo.
"Veronica...I don't know..." Leo finally said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's a small favor." She pleaded.
Don't make me do the hair twirl...
"It's a favor that could get me fired." Leo protested. Veronica nonchalantly slid a couple of her fingers in the ends of her hair and twirled, her other arm wrapped across her waist. She aimed her eyes at the floor and wore a downcast expression.
"All right, all right." Leo finally gave in.
...Cause then I'd own you.
"Why can't I say no to you?" He asked her as she grabbed her purse and slipped it on her shoulder.
"It's part of my charm." Veronica replied, as they headed for his car.
They pulled up a few minutes later outside the impound lot, and Veronica looked around anxiously for Logan's yellow X-terra.
"Just...let me do the talking, ok?" Leo said, glancing at her.
"Whatever you say." She agreed, as they got out of his car.
They approached the guard gate, and the guard greeted Leo right away.
"Hey, Leo." The guard said, eying Veronica suspiciously.
"Hey, man. Listen, I need a favor." Leo started. Veronica made her move then, startling both men.
"Actually it's a favor for both of us." She said her perky, dumb-blond voice. "Leo promised me a tour of the impound lot...you know, cause I'm into cars." The guard in the booth seemed entranced, so she kept going. "You know...into CARS." Veronica emphasized the remark by running her hand appreciatively over Leo's bicep. Now both of them were staring at her.
Gotcha.
"Would it be too much trouble just to let us in for a few minutes?" She asked, allowing her voice to take on a throaty quality. "We'll make it quick." She stage whispered to the guard, who didn't seem to know what to make of her. The guard glanced at Leo, who gave him a sheepish smile and a shrug.
Wow. I didn't know I had it in me.
"I can give you fifteen minutes." The guard said. "But there's a shift change coming up, so you have to be gone by then."
"That's perfect." Veronica said, her tone breathy as the guard buzzed the gate open. "Come on, baby. Let's go." She said, taking Leo's hand and nearly dragging him inside the gate. They kept up the pretense until they were out of sight of the guard's booth. "Sorry about that." She apologized, searching for Logan's suv.
"I'll just bet you are." Leo replied dryly. "Anything for a case, right?" She looked at him, guilt on her face. "Let's just find the car and go." He said, ending the discussion.
"What all did they find in his car?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Uh, a coat, an empty flask, a lighter, registration and your usual automobile equipment...jumper cables, antifreeze..that kinda stuff." Leo answered, spotting Logan's suv and pointing. "There." Veronica ran for the behicle.
Now. To get some answers.
She opened the door and climbed inside the passenger seat. She opened the glove box. Empty. Veronica glanced around, looking underneath the seats and in the back seat cushion.
"Did you say they found a lighter?" She asked, disgruntled that she didn't find anything.
"Yeah. Why?" Leo replied.
"That's weird. Logan doesn't smoke." She answered, climbing out.
"Find anything?" He wanted to know.
"No, but there's one more place I want to look before you take me home."
"Veronica, don't you think you should get some sleep?" He said, concerned.
I'll sleep when I'm dead.
"I'm fine, Leo, stop worrying." Veronica reassured him. "There's just one more place I want to go." She said. He held his hands up in mock surrender.
"Thanks." She said, smiling at him. The sound of footsteps neared them, and they shared a look. "Sorry." She whispered, before launching herself at him and kissing him soundly.
A throat cleared behind them. They broke apart, both of them doing their best to look embarrassed. Veronica turned to see the guard standing there.
"Sorry, guys." He said. "Time's up."
They headed out to Leo's car, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
"Hey, can I borrow your cell phone?" She asked suddenly. "I wish they'd give mine back."
"I'm sure the Sheriff will have it back to you soon." He said, handing her his phone. She dialed a number she hadn't dialed in a long time. One she thought she'd never dial again.
"Duncan? It's Veronica." She said, into the phone.
"Hey, Veronica. Make it home ok?" He asked.
"I'm working on it." She replied. "Listen, do you know why Logan would have been carrying a lighter?"
"Yeah, his mother left him one. It's gold, says Free At Last on the front." Duncan answered.
"Thanks." She told him.
"Go home and get some rest." He scolded.
"I'll see what I can do." She promised and then hung up.
Not likely.
"Where to, Madam?" Leo wanted to know, starting up the squad car.
"Where else?" Veronica replied. "The Coronado Bridge."