13 days after Lilly's murder, Duncan returned to school looking like a ghost, avoiding both Logan and Veronica.

2 days after that was Lilly's funeral. Hundreds of Neptune citizens stood in the back to pay their respects. Jake, Celeste, Duncan, Veronica and Logan sat in the front row, watching Lilly descend into the ground. Jake tried not to cry but failed miserably; Celeste sat tight-lipped, prim and proper; Duncan just stared at the ground and his shoes; Logan let the tears silently fall. Veronica sat quietly, her face red from crying over the last 5 days. She grasped tightly to Duncan and Logan's hands as Lilly descended into the ground. As the grave diggers buried it, Veronica cut off their circulation and made their knuckles white. They didn't say anything, as they did the same, as if this was their final way to grieve before finally saying good-bye to Lilly.

When the service was finished, Veronica, Duncan, and Logan headed to a limo that would take them to the Kane estate for the after-funeral brunch. The ride was quiet, Duncan sat withdrawn from Logan and Veronica, yet grasping onto Veronica's hand for dear life as she had done earlier. They clung together the entire day like velcro. The kicker to Lilly's death was that there were no suspects or evidence except for the glass ashtray found at the bottom of the pool. The chlorine had erased all fingerprints but blood that had the same DNA as Lilly was found in the corner of it. No one knew who had killed Lilly or had any leads.

1 week month later, the Crime Stoppers Hotline had an anonymous tip. It said someone was seen near the Kane estate at Lilly's time of death: Logan's father and movie-star Aaron Echolls.


Okay, R&R. I'm sorry to speed it along but w/o the Kanes thinking Duncan killed Lilly, there was no need for Abel Koontz. But trust me. This is definitely not the end. Far from it. I promise LoVe in the next 6 chapters or so.