Summary: Yet another finale aftermath fic.
A/N: Ok, so wow! You guys really dug the twist in the last chapter. This chapter is mostly dialogue, though, just to warn you. As always, thanks to my loverly muses, lex83 and forcedmovement, who are just awesome. As always, italicas are VMVO and feedback is mucly appreciated. :)
"Since last week." Logan answered after a moment of silence. He met her gaze, and she flinched at the anger she found there. "You'll forgive me if I couldn't find the right moment to tell you." His voice was hard, as rigid as his current stance.
"Logan..." Veronica began.
"I really don't want to hear it, Mars." He told her. "We tried, you know?" Now he sounded defeated. Veronica sighed. "There's just too much in the way."
"About Duncan..." She started again. Logan held up a hand to silence her.
"This is about so much more than Duncan, Veronica." He said.
"I know." She stared at her hands.
"You don't trust me...and maybe you shouldn't, given the gene pool." Logan replied. "Without that, all we have is lies."
"You don't trust me either, now." Veronica pointed out. "With good reason." She ran a shaky hand through her hair. "Several, actually."
"I'd appreciate it if you could keep this thing about my mom under wraps." Logan said, crossing his arms over his chest. She nodded. "and just...go."
"Logan, please, let me explain." Veronica pleaded. She'd already lost too much.
"It's better if you go, Veronica." Logan's voice resumed it's hard edge. "Now." He pointed to the door. She sighed, and turned to go. She stopped abruptly, though, as the doorway was filled with a suit clad man she didn't recognize. It was Logan's turn to sigh.
"Barry, my man. Tell me you've got good news." Logan addressed his lawyer. Veronica paused, hoping against hope that Logan would let her stay long enough to hear what she thought was his lawyer had to say.
No such luck.
"Veronica." Logan turned to her with fake cheer in his voice. "I believe you were just leaving." He said, his tone pointed.
"Fine." She snapped. "Oh, here's your phone. Next time try not to leave it in the middle of a crime scene, would you?" Veronica handed him the phone, trying not to react as their fingers brushed in the exchange. She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room.
Once she was out of the door way, Veronica broke into a sprint, headed to a deserted corner of the hospital. Sitting on a near by bench, she slipped her laptop out of her bag, plugged in her headphones, and loaded up the bug signal, from the one she'd planted in Logan's phone. She squelched the guilt done, trying to justify her actions.
"Logan, I'm afraid I have bad news." Barry began, and Veronica raised her eyebrows.
This should be interesting.
"Let me guess." Logan replied. "Dad made bail?"
"No." Barry cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Well, what is it then?" Logan demanded.
"Logan..." Barry trailed off.
"Spit it out, Barry. That's what we pay you for." Logan snarked.
"Your father passed away a few minutes ago." Bary finally said.
What?
"What?" Logan asked, sounding shell shocked. Her heart ached to be in there, holding his hand.
"It was very sudden...I was assured he wasn't in any pain." Barry comforted. Veronica snorted.
If anyone deserved pain, it was Aaron Echolls.
"Do you think I care if he was in pain?" Logan shouted, causing her to jump at the increased volume coming through her headphones. "He slept with my girlfriend and then he killed her." His voice was laced with anger and pain, a volatile combination.
"Logan..."Barry began.
"Spare me, Barry." Logan interrupted. "We all know he did it...and then he moved on to Veronica." He paused. "It's good that he's dead, because I would've killed him given the chance." That last part was spoken so softly, Veronica had to strain to hear it.
"That's what I'm trying to tell you, Logan." Barry continued. "There's more."
"My father is dead." Logan spat. "What more does there need to be?" Barry sighed, pulling a sheaf of papers out of his leather suitcase.
"Just that he confessed this morning, shortly before he passed on." Veronica jumped, nearly knocking her laptop to the floor. Relief flooded through her, tears formed behind her eyes.
It's over. It's really over, Lilly. I had no idea I would end up here when I started this investigation, but it was worth it all, now that you're killer has been brought to justice.
Veronica quickly shut off her laptop, and shoved it back into her bag. Quickly she headed for her father's room, pausing in the doorway.
"Dad?" she asked, getting his attention from the news paper he was reading. He met her gaze, holding up the newspaper beside his head so she could easily see the front page.
"When were you going to tell me about this?" Keith asked. Veronica stared at the headline dumbly.
Veronica Mars Gives Press Conference alongside Kane family.