Veronica charged back into the house, calling for Wallace. He came running out of his room. "What is it, V? You find something?"

"And how," Veronica told him as she led him into her room and closed the door. "Remember Troy Vandegraff?"

Wallace thought for a minute. "Yeah, didn't you date him for a while, back in high school? Wasn't he a dealer?"

"Yep, that's the one," Veronica answered. "Apparently he's Big T. That is, if what Weevil's boys heard is right."

"Wow, this is getting pretty heavy, Veronica. You think we should get some help?"

"From who, Lamb?" Veronica gave a snort of disgust. "No way is he helping us. Leo's listening for any information about my dad, but I think that's the best we're gonna get, police wise. I told you, were doing this old school, and that means we find my dad ourselves and then rub it in Lamb's face," she finished, trying to sound at least a little confident. If anyone but Wallace had been listening to her, she would have fooled them, but Wallace knew better. He knew her better. So instead on nodding in agreement like most people would have, he just wrapped his arms around her and they rocked back and forth as she allowed the tears to fall unchecked. This was where she was safe, here, in her father's house with her best friend and brother by her side. A soft knock sounded at the door a little while later, when Veronica had calmed herself enough to wipe her face and call for the person to come in.

Alicia walked into the room. "Veronica, there's someone hear to see you."

Curious, Veronica followed Alicia out into the living room. Cliff McCormack stood there, his back to her. When he heard her approach, he whirled around; his face twisting into a half smirk, half smile as he opened his arms. "I heard the rumors but I wasn't sure I could believe it. Veronica Mars back in Neptune."

"Hey, Cliff," Veronica greeted him, stepping into his arms for a hug. That seemed be all she did lately. She stepped back and studied him. "Spill it."

"I checked around. No one's heard from Troy Vandegraff since he was a junior. He got sent away to boarding school, but he got the cab driver to drop him somewhere else. That's the last anyone's seen of him. It's like he just vanished. Although, if you're asking about him, I'm guessing he didn't." Cliff gave her a shrewd look that Veronica knew was his way of saying it was her turn to spill.

For some reason, Veronica didn't want to tell him what she knew. She trusted him completely, that wasn't why. She supposed that if the more people who knew, the more likely it was that Troy would start targeting her friends. Plus, she admitted, it would make this whole thing seem more real if she had to tell Cliff, someone not in her immediate family. Ex-boyfriend/drug dealer disappears after using her to smuggle drugs and reappears years later as leader of a drug ring, father starts investigating, ex-boyfriend kidnaps father, daughter has to find father and destroy ex-boyfriend. Her life really was a soap opera. Yep, just an average day in the life of any soap opera character and Veronica Mars.

"Hey, kiddo, it can't be that bad," Cliff said softly. Veronica realized tears were starting to well up again, brushed them aside, and gave Cliff a look. "On second thought, maybe it can. I'll just be leaving now. Call me if you need anything else."

After Cliff left, Veronica took a minute to regain her composure before pulling her cell phone out. But before she could dial a number, it rang. She checked the caller ID, smiled, and answered. "Hey, Duncan."

"Hey. Listen, an invitation came in the mail. It's our five year high school reunion on Saturday. I figured that since you're already in Neptune, I could just fly out in a few days and we could go." Duncan's voice sounded hopeful and Veronica knew he was eager to remember the popularity he had held in high school as the son of a billionaire.

"I guess so," she agreed reluctantly. "Wait, this Saturday? Why did the invitation come so late?"

"They sent both our invitations to the office, for some reason. Guess they didn't know our new address. And my secretary lost them until yesterday when she found them under an old potted plant."

Veronica rolled her eyes. Duncan's secretaries usually sprang from the low end of the gene pool. Sounded like this one was no different. "All right, we'll go. But you owe me big time."

Duncan laughed and promised to repay her. As soon as they hung, Veronica hit a speed dial on her phone. "Hey, it's me."

"Hey, V, you okay?" Weevil asked, concern leaking into his voice.

"Yeah, fine. Listen, I need another favor."

"Why am I not surprised. What is it this time?"

"I need you to tell me about Big T's friend, the one your buddy heard. Name, haunts, whether he has a weakness for petite blondes?"

Weevil's voice was wary when he answered. "All right, I'll get working on it. And I'm not gonna ask why you wanna know about the petite blonde thing."

"Great, thanks, Weevil. And get back to me as soon as you can." Veronica snapped her phone shut and spun around to go back to her room, stopping when she saw Alicia staring at her with an unreadable look. "Hey, Alicia," she said slowly. "Bet you're wondering about that, huh?"

Alicia nodded. "Yes, an explanation would be nice."

"All right," Veronica said apprehensively. She wasn't sure Alicia would be able to handle everything that was going on, but Veronica had to fill her in sometime. She was her dad's wife, after all. "That was Weevil, a friend from high school and the leader of the local biker gang. He's the one who taped Wallace to the flagpole." Veronica winced at the look on Alicia's face. "Oops, forgot you didn't know about that. Anyway, I asked Weevil and his boys to find out what they can about my dad and one of them overheard and guy who said he was friend of a big-time drug dealer Dad was investigating. Turns out the drug dealer is my ex-boyfriend and drug dealer, Troy. So I need to talk to this friend of his and find out what the deal is...Do you need to sit down?" Alicia was suddenly looking rather pale. Veronica rushed over to her and helped ease her into a nearby chair. "Are you okay?"

Alicia nodded mutely.

"You need some time?"

Again, Alicia nodded and Veronica stepped away, leaving Alicia to mull over everything she had just heard, and walked off to find Wallace, who had disappeared during her conversation with Duncan.

"Wally," she sang out, peering into his room. There he was, lying flat on his bed, arm covering his eyes. "Wallace, what's wrong?"

Wallace lifted his arm and stared Veronica in the eyes. "It's not fair. You've been through enough. We all have. Why did this have to happen?"

Veronica sighed heavily. "I don't know, Wallace. I don't know why any of this happens, but I learned a long time ago that when it does happen, there's nothing I can do to change it. I just have to deal with it. And that's what I do. I deal, every day, with my past. It's something I can't escape, so I've learned to accept it. And you to have learn how to accept it, too. Now, you up for a trip to Sac N Pac?"

Wallace stared at her, wondering if she had finally lost her mind. "For what?"

"Oh, this and that. You know, whipped cream, cassettes for a tape recorder, anything that would entice a sleaze," Veronica told him with a smile.

"Right, silly me. Why didn't I think of that?" Wallace asked sarcastically.

-x-

The two friends walked through the scratched doors of the Sac N Pac. Veronica pointed to one of the employees, dressed in a red and white checkered shirt. "Don't you miss wearing that?"

Wallace eyes the guy. "Oh, yeah, all the time," she said sarcastically.

Veronica sighed lightly and looked off into the distance with smile that suggested she was recalling a fond memory. "You were just so cute. I always wanted to pinch your cheeks," she added, reaching over and pinching his cheek with her thumb and forefinger.

"What can I say, I know how to rock the checkered shirts," Wallace answered with a grin.

Veronica rolled her eyes with a grin of her own and led the way down the aisle, list in hand. "Whipped cream, whipped cream. Come out; come out, wherever you are."

"Hmm," a falsely thoughtful voice sounded from the other side of the aisle. "I would have thought you had a full collection of whipped cream by now."

Veronica's eyes widened in surprise as the familiarity of the voice registered in her head and quickly matched itself to a person. Logan. She whirled around and sure enough, there was Logan Echolls, in all his glory. Twelve pack of beer in either arm and a smirk on his face. Just as she remembered. What are you doing here?" she asked, in a steady voice. For some reason, the sight of him had rattled her. Maybe because she hadn't been expecting him. Or maybe because this visit had sent her down memory lane and everything she had been through in high school had been dragged back to the surface, fresh and painful. It was probably both.

"It's our five year reunion, Ronnie. How could you forget? I'm sure Duncan wants to go," he added, sounding oddly bitter.

"Yeah, he does. But I'm surprised you do," she said curiously.

"Whatever are you talking about?" Logan asked over-enthusiastically. "High school was the best time of my life. Especially with my super supportive family by my side. Why wouldn't I wanna remember that?"

Veronica shot him a look.

"Besides, I could say the same about you," Logan pointed out.

"Like you said, Duncan wants to go. Besides, I was already in town so I might as well."

Logan stared at her curiously. "Why are you back? Last I heard you hadn't been home in years."

"Oh, how sweet, you've been keeping tabs on me. Wish I could say the same. Oh wait, no I don't." Veronica made to walk away, but Logan grabbed her arm.

"I asked why you're back. Did something happen?" He stared into her eyes and she felt goose bumps travel up her arm. It was unsettling, the way he could read her.

"Well, since you asked so nicely…My dad's missing. I came home to find him. Would you mind letting go? I've grown rather fond of my arm." She raised her eyebrows at his hand, which was still clutching her arm and starting to cut off the circulation.

Logan stepped back and threw his hands in the air. "Fine. Just making sure you're okay. Wouldn't want you to miss the reunion. We have a bet on which girl will get wasted and slutty first and I drew you."

"Wow, you really do care," Veronica said sardonically before walking off to find Wallace.