Chapter 42: It has to End

*****The Next Day******

Veronica was on campus walking with Weevil. They spent every spare moment sharing theories. Veronica had the inkling suspicion that she might be what's motivating the killer, but she was afraid to voice her concern to Logan, knowing it would freak him out.

"Weevil, I think we have to consider the possibility that this killer has a vendetta against me. He shot up my house. He's attacked my friends and killed my nemesis," Veronica said.

Weevil was silent a moment. Then he nodded. "Yeah, your dad has already come to that conclusion except he's focusing more on Mac since her ex-boyfriend was framed and Parker was her roommate," Weevil said.

Veronica gave him a disgruntled look. "Why didn't he say anything to me?" she asked.

"Why do you think? He's not going to give this kind of news to his pregnant daughter," Weevil said sourly. "He doesn't want you to worry more than you already do."

"I'm not going to stop worrying until this guy is caught! I let Logan hire a bodyguard," Veronica said, glancing back at the man who trailed dutifully behind her.

Weevil looked smug. "What a sacrifice," he said dryly.

"I think I'll start compiling a list of the people I pissed off over the years," she said. "But the thing is Jake Kane, Madison, Dick Sr. and Cassidy were the ones who had the most reason to hate me. Two of them are dead and Jake and Dick Sr. have resigned themselves to me in their sons' lives."

"Don't forget Woody Goodman. You sent him to jail," Weevil said.

"He's still there. I checked. I can't picture Gia or her mom doing any of these things," Veronica said.

Logan came running up to them, looking upset. "We have to go. Trina was in a car wreck. She's in the ER!" he told her, a note of panic in his voice.

"Oh, God! Was Richie with her?" Veronica asked.

Logan nodded. "Yes. We have to go," he said.

"How about I drive you guys, so we don't have another accident on our hands?" Weevil suggested.

"If it was one," Veronica said bitterly.

Logan gave her a sharp look but said nothing. He told the bodyguard where they'd be going. The guard was going to follow directly behind them. They called Dick and her parents from the car.

When they made it to the ER, Keith was already there.

"Dad, where is she? Are she and Richie okay?" Veronica said, near hysteria at the thought of Richie being hurt.

"They're fine. Richie is fine," Keith assured her. "Trina's brakes went out, and she hit the guardrail going around a curve. The airbag deployed and busted her nose. But no vehicle hit her."

Veronica sagged in relief against Logan, who held her.

Dick came into the ER. "Is he okay? Is little dude okay? I couldn't find Mac, but I came here right away," he said, in obvious panic.

"Dad says he's fine," Veronica said. "Where are they?"

Keith took them through the ER doors to a cubicle. The doctor was examining Richie, who was smiling and kicking his little legs. "Is he okay?" Logan asked. "Are you?"

Trina's nose was swollen and taped. She nodded. "We're okay. Richie didn't get a scratch," she said.

"He's fine. The car seat did its job," the doctor agreed. He picked Richie up and handed him to Veronica who had her hands out.

"Oh, you poor baby!" she said, smothering him with kisses.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked his sister.

"Broke my nose!" she complained. "I look hideous!"

"It'll heal," Logan assured her.

Dick pulled out his phone and sent Mac a text message. There had been enough trips to the ER lately, so he didn't want her coming here since they were okay.

"So what happened?" Veronica asked Trina.

"I don't know. My brakes went out. It was the scariest moment of my life. I'm just glad I had already slowed down before the curve—something I wouldn't have done before having Richie," she said. "Luckily, I didn't go over the guardrail. Things might be different if I had."

Logan took his turn hugging Richie, grateful they were okay.

Veronica pulled her dad outside the cubicle. "You need to check that car over. Make sure the brake line wasn't cut," she said.

"You don't think it was an accident?" Keith asked.

"After everything that's happened, we have to assume it's suspicious," Veronica said grimly.

Keith thought the same thing. "I'll have my guys take a look at it," he said. They had to find a way to end this before something worse happened.

*****Five Days Later*****

When they'd gotten a confirmation that Trina's brakes had been cut, Logan knew it was time to say goodbye to his sister and nephew. They helped Mary pack up her house. Logan told her to not move to their new place until the killer was caught. They were going to stay at a hotel under an assumed name. He hired them bodyguards, determined to do everything he could to keep them safe. Veronica had been crying herself to sleep every night. He felt so impotent. They knew Trina was moving, but it wasn't supposed to be this soon.

They had a final dinner at Alicia's Friday night. Wallace was with the twins and Weevil in Chicago. Joseph's funeral had been today. They wouldn't be back in time to say goodbye. Veronica told Wallace they'd make a trip to New York as soon as classes were done.

Trina was more than a bit freaked about the brakes. She wanted Logan and Veronica in New York with her but knew that they wouldn't leave. Although she was scared for them, she had to believe they'd keep each other safe. Veronica was the strongest person she'd ever met.

The next morning, Trina was up early.

"I can't believe this is happening," Veronica murmured to Logan, who was holding Richie while Trina watched the cab driver load her luggage. Several boxes would be shipped later that day. She was trying really hard not to cry.

"I know this is difficult for you guys. I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. I was such a mess, and you made a grown up out of me," Trina said, giving them a wide smile. "Little brother, marrying her was the best thing you've done. I always wanted a sister. Now I have one."

"We love you," Veronica told her.

"We're very proud of you," Logan said. Trina's arms went around them both. They hugged with Richie smiling between them.

"We'll come see you next month. Hopefully, this mess will be over with," Veronica said. She gave Richie one last kiss and kept a smile on her face until the cab pulled away with a waving Trina.

They went inside. Logan was so angry. His family was in danger, and he could do nothing about it. He knocked over an end table, needing to destroy something.

Veronica didn't rebuke him. She just sat on the couch and waited for him. Eventually, he calmed down enough to sit beside her. His arm went around her shoulder, and he pulled her close. The silence of the house was deafening.

"He's gone," Veronica finally said.

"I know," Logan replied, wanting to be strong for her.

Together they mourned the new tear in their family.

*****Sinclairs'*****

Saturday night, Brad found himself driving to Lauren's after he left a party that held no appeal. Ryan was too bummed to go, and he hadn't been surprised when Lauren never made an appearance. According to his phone app, she was home right now. When he drove up, he saw a car parked in front of the house. Instead of pulling in, he paused. It was Scott. Brad cursed, annoyed that he hadn't considered that Lauren would be on a date with the guy. He was walking her to the door. Brad was unable to look away. Seeing the two of them move closer made his hands tighten on his steering wheel.

Scott was kissing her. The kiss wasn't lengthy, but it didn't matter. He was doing what Brad wanted to do. But what did Lauren need? Did she need Scott, or did she need Brad?

Brad waited a few minutes, and then he sent her a text. How's things? A minute later, she replied. Good. Just got home. You still at the party?

No. Feeling restless. Want some company? It was only ten o'clock, and he knew that her parents wouldn't object to his presence on a Saturday. The question was did she want his company?

The Shining is on FX. Wanna watch it with me?

Brad grinned. I will bring Ryan and be there soon. He pulled out into the road, heading to Ryan's. If he wasn't ready to date her, he probably should have a buffer. It was for the best. She needed Brad, her friend, not anything more. Besides, he wasn't sure he had more to give her anyway.

******Monday******

The twins arrived back in Neptune with their friends and their father. Jason was a bit horrified to discover that his dear father had no intention of leaving Neptune until the killer was caught. No amount of promises from Jason that he'd let him know every detail of the unfolding case was enough to deter him from his quest.

"I promised my dearest friend that I would see justice for his son. I will not dishonor my name by going back on my word," his father had said, ending the discussion.

The twins resigned themselves to the plan. He also grudgingly approved the moving into their apartment while the twins moved into Daisy's house. Weevil would stay until the killer was caught, but he thought four people living together in one house was too much. He grew up in such a house, and he had grown used to the peace found in living alone. One day he'd live with Jazmin, but he didn't want to share her with her brother when that time came.

Duncan hired movers to relocate all of Parker's things to his place while she as in the rehab center. It'd be a few weeks before she'd be ready to come home. Jazmin was moving into Mac's room. Dick was overjoyed that Mac had agreed to move into his house even though she insisted on her own room. He knew she did that mainly to have a place to study; he didn't mind.

Tension was rising as a full week passed without another body.

"Is something different?" Veronica wondered. Jason and Weevil were having dinner at her house. Sebastian and Nick were going over the case. Veronica had given them her list of possible enemies that could have a vendetta against her. The list had been impressive. Sebastian had laughed and told her to move to Chicago, a place that knew how to keep enemies humble.

"Maybe the killer caught the bug that's been going around," Weevil speculated.

"Maybe he's done," Jason suggested. "That happens with killers. They go on sprees and stop for years. They are caught years later when they go on another spree."

"Maybe," Veronica said, frowning.

"No way," Logan said. "It's a game to this sick bastard. He's been playing with us from the beginning. If Veronica or Mac are the target, then all the other victims were just a distraction. The various means of killing just another red herring."

"That's not the way a serial killer operates," Jason said.

"If this is about revenge, then a serial killer profile is meaningless," Logan replied. "This guy isn't killing because he gets off on it. He's killing to throw confusion, to muddy the waters. If Mac or Veronica is his goal, then he'll come after them."

"He's already tried to get to Mac," Veronica reminded him.

"Do you really think so? Would you attack in the day time in a hospital parking lot if you really wanted to kill someone? He had to know the place had cameras. The odds of success weren't very high," Logan pointed out.

"If that's true, then we can't assume that Mac was a real target," Veronica said. "If he wanted her dead, then she would be. The same with Trina. Both those events were about chance. Sure, it could've worked. Either way, it caused us upset. It rattled us—me specifically."

"So maybe it's about you after all," Jason said, thoughtful.

"Maybe it is," Veronica said grimly. She didn't know what she'd done to warrant such a horrific retaliation. However, she was determined to figure out who was trying to punish her.

One way or another, this had to end soon.

*****Chapter End*****