"Lillian Mars Case, where were you last night! If I am not mistaken you did not visit your mother last night. I am very disappointed in you girl." I look up to see a very disapproving looking Wallace.
"Sorry Wallace."
"You working your mom's case? Don't lie to me girl." He then surprises me by hugging me right there in the hall of Neptune High. "We are all worried about your mom. I wish I could do something to help too but honey the best way to help your mom is to be there for her." I cannot speak. I just nod against his chest. Wallace must have been taking notes the last time my grandpa laid a guilt trip on my mom because damn he is getting good at this.
"Ms Case. Mr. Fennell." Wallace immediately takes a step back and squeezed my arm gently upon hearing Principle Clemmons voice. "Ms. Case, I believe you and Mr. Durgan have an appointment with me." I follow Mr. Clemmons tohis office. My mom has said that he has mellowed with age. I really hope she is right. Bennett is already sitting in the office when I arrive. "I normally do not meet with students so you both have about 15 seconds to convince me you are not wasting my time."
"Miss Castle is embezzling money from the Cheerleading budget." I blurt out.
"I assume you have proof." Bennett pulls out the reports and outlines what Tom had told us. "I see, and how exactly did you get a hold of this information."
"Public record?" Mr. Clemmons just glared at me. Then he hits his intercom and ordered Miss Castle to be brought to his office.
"You two may leave now. I look forward to the story you will write for the Navigator."
"Mr. Clemmons, I …I have to know…Miss Castle…" Mr. Clemmons cuts me off.
"Ms. Case, Miss Castle was here at school, when your mother was attacked. She was covering study hall. Now back to class you two." We leave the office. I feel completely depressed. I just collapse on the bench outside the office.
"Well, now what? I mean other than 5th period." I say as Bennett sits next to me on the bench.
"Be my date for Betsy's birthday party Friday night?"
"Sure, but what will I do until then? I have no leads and Mr. and Mrs. Rimes never stop by the Campaign Office when I am there."
"Well, this may seem like a radical idea, but you could just do your homework, visit your mom, or do what ever you did before all this happened."
"Right."
"Hey, look!" Bennett grabs my arm and points to none other than Mrs. Rimes walking into the foyer of Neptune High. "She must be here to pick up Betsy. You go talk to her and I'll delay Betsy." With that he gets up and runs down the hall. So, how do I start this uncomfortable conversation?
"Mrs. Rimes? Hi, I am Ani Case, a friend of your daughter."
"I don't believe I remember Betsy mentioning you." I am pretty sure that is a blatant lie. Her general distain for me actually makes this easier.
"Oh, well, I meant your other daughter, Angelica." Mrs. Rimes goes pale and I guide her to the bench I had just vacated. "Um. Mrs. Rimes, are you okay?"
"Yes. Fine. How do you know about Angelica? Who else knows?"
"My mother Veronica Mars for one." I am pretty sure she must have anyway.
"Well, she is not exactly talking right now is she?" Mrs. Rimes says venomously. I cannot help but tense up. "Sorry. I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I do hope your mom gets better. Please just don't tell anyone or publish anything in your school paper about Angelica until Monday. We haven't told Betsy. I want her to have a Sweet 16 birthday without all of this distracting from it. We are planning on announcing the story on Monday. Veronica was going to have an exclusive."
"Okay." I find Bennett who has very effectively detained Betsy by scattering the entire contents of her book bag across the hallway. I help Betsy pick up her things.
"Well?" I explain to Bennett my current dead end. I don't think the Rimes had anything to do with my mom. "Do you think it could just be senseless violence they are always talking about on the News?"
"I don't know. I'm going to have Wallace sign me out. I cannot be here anymore and I want to see my mom." Bennett kissed my forehead.
"Okay. Call me later."
St Vincent's HospitalI get to my mom's hospital room and discover my grandfather and Alicia playing cards. Logan is still holding my mom's hand and reading Anna Karenina.
"Hey everyone?"
"Ani, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?" My grandfather gives me a very disapproving look.
"Wallace signed me out. I have my assignments. I just wanted to be here." Grandpa just nods and goes back to his game. Logan keeps reading. I sit on the end of my mom's bed and take out my schoolwork. Logan's voice is the only thing we hear for the next few hours.
"I'm hungry. Anyone else hungry?" Grandpa looks up from his marathon card game and says.
"Ani honey, What would you like to eat?" I drop my book on the floor and crawl up the bed to my mom.
"I didn't say anything! Mommy!" Mom's eyes are open and she is attempting to get up.
"Hey baby. What's going on?"
"Veronica, lay back down. Logan, get Dr. Smith." Grandpa is barking orders. Logan and Mom both obey.
"Logan? What is Logan doing here?"
"I think I'll let your daughter explain that later. You are in the hospital sweetheart. Someone beat you up pretty bad. You have been in a coma for 6 days." Grandpa was holding Mom's hand and brushing the hair from her eyes. "You gave us quite a scare."
"Sorry."
Logan and the doctor come back in the room. Dr. Smith informs us that Mom is doing well and should be released in a few days. I lay on Mom's bed while she strokes my hair. "So honey, do I even want to know what you have been up to?"
"Probably not." I make a mental not to see if Bennett can remove all traces of my use of Mom's laptop. "Mom, who did this to you?"
"A gang of kids stealing bicycles. Don't worry, I'll talk to the Sheriff tomorrow. He will take care of them."
"Alright, everyone out! Veronica needs her rest." Grandpa says as he makes shooing motions with his arms. I pack my book bag and notice Logan in the corner. He is leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets.
"Logan, you can keep Anna Karenina a while longer if you want to finish it. I don't need to return it right away." He nods. "Bye Mom!" Logan collects the book and starts for the door as well.
"Logan, wait." Gramps pulls Logan aside. "I think we would all sleep a little better tonight if you stayed here with Veronica just one more night." He says this in a way that does not allow for any discussion. Maybe mom won't be so mad when we have that long discussion about the past few days.
I wave to Mom and leave the room. Before the door closes I hear Logan say, "So Veronica Mars, what exactly do you dream about me?" in a very knowing tone. Okay, maybe she will be a tiny bit mad.