Chapter Seven
We walk into the Neptune grande and my dad is already in fake pissed father mode.
" Excuse me. " He said rudely before we even got to the desk. " We need to talk to somebody in security right now. " He asks impatiently. " Right now! "
The receptionist cringes.
" Dad! Will you just back off and let me handle it? " Veronica whispers loudly.
Dad paces a little. " You handle it or I handle it but we're gonna get to the bottom of this, right now. "
" No! Would you just stand over there? You're scaring people. " Veronica says turning to the quivering receptionist, adopting a friendly tone.
" Hi. I'm really hoping you can help me with this. " She says sweetly.
" What seems to be the problem? " The receptionist asks.
Veronica puts on a fake embarrassed face. " I came in here about a month ago with a guy...long story short, I'm pregnant. "
" Gee. " Dad says pretending to be mad as hell.
The receptionist looks confused. " O-kay? "
" Um, here's the thing. The next part's a little embarrassing. I don't remember the guy's name. " Dad growled. " Or what he looks like. Tequila? Never again. " Veronica points back at herself with two thumbs and chuckles.
" My dad's wondering if there's any sort of surveillance video we could take a look at or...? Here's the credit card bill. He had me pay for the room. "
" Let me go talk to a manager. " The receptionist leaves with the credit card bill.
Dad and Veronica pass a congratulatory look. I roll my eyes and pretend to blend in with the scenery.
" That was good. " Dad says as they step away from the desk.
Veronica gives him a look.
" What? " He asks.
" You were a... Little bit over the top. " She says.
" You think it worked? A little bit. " He says holding up two fingers in a pinching motion.
I tune their banter out. If this can help Eli I'm all for it. The receptionist returns with a bill. She lays it on the counter.
" I'm sorry but we only keep video surveillance for two weeks... " She says hesitantly as if dad would go off.
Veronica brings her hands to her face and sighs while dad drops his head.
The receptionist looks apologetic. " But I did get your detailed bill summary. "
Veronica perks up. " Oh, thanks. "
She takes it and we go to leave. Veronica examines the bill summary as we walk.
" Guess who signed for room service in a room charged to the Echoll's family credit card? " She asks.
I look at the paper upside down. " Who? "
Veronica hands it to me. " Logan's girlfriend, Caitlin Ford. "
Veronica is hot on Logan's heels the next day. Not that I blame her. If he's the reason that Eli is locked up I'll bring popcorn to his day of reckoning. According to her, he didn't smell of fear like most perps so she's going to do a little more digging.
We're eating lunch when Troy, the new 09er, sits with us. " Who's that spare tire holding up? " He asks making me cock my head to the side and give her a look.
" Ahh, there it is, the quid pro quo. " She says in a flirtatious manner.
Troy smiles. " Hey, this great nation of our was built on the quid pro quo. " He said quickly. " I'm having a party on Saturday and you should come. " He says before looking at me and Wallace. " You two should come too, but especially you. " He says laying it on thick.
Veronica smiles. " Haven't you heard? We're not allowed in the first-class cabin. " She says gesturing to me and her.
Troy is a persistent one I'll give him that. " Look um I don't believe in much, but I do believe in this... When sexy sassy girls can't come to a shindig of mine it's time for all parties involved to stand up and admit maybe I was a little bit wrong or sorry. I mean let bygones be bygones. Screw pride, let's dance! Baby let's dance! "
I laugh at his antics.
" That was beautiful, man. " Wallace says making me laugh again.
Veronica shakes her head. " We'll see. "
" An open mind is all I ask. " He promises.
Veronica looks as if her head is in the clouds for a second before she sees Logan walking by. Picking her bag up she stands with her game face on.
" Where are you going superfly? " Wallace asks.
She grabs her water before saying, " I'm gonna nail that sucker. "
I'm sitting in my last class listening to Mr. Daniel's go on about Shakespeare's Hamlet when I feel my thigh vibrate. Discreetly pulling it out I look at the text.
' It was Chardo, not Logan I can prove it. Meet me at their house after school. '
The bell rings and I quickly gather my things. Making a quick trip to my locker I put the books I need for my homework in my backpack and head out to my car so I can meet Ronnie.
We pull up at the Navarro house at the same time.
Abuela lets us in and offers us some tea. We all sit at the kitchen table as Veronica explains that we know it's Chardo who stole the credit cards. She isn't trying to have any of it and it's really pissing me off.
" I don't understand why you're doing this. You know Chardo gave you that pendant but you're letting Weevil do the time for him? " Veronica asks.
Abuela looks from Veronica to me. " Eli is still seventeen. Chardo is eighteen and he's got a record. They'd send him to prison. Weevil can do four months in juvi. "
I'm fuming. I love Mrs. Navarro I do, but this isn't right. " Yeah except Eli thinks he's taking the fall for you. " I say and she won't even look me in the eyes.
" I have dinner to fix okay? " She says getting up.
I give Veronica the look. " Do you know what he was doing with those credit cards? " She asks making Abuela stop.
Veronica pulls out the papers with a list of all of the purchases. " He spent all of that money, thousands of dollars, taking out a spoiled, rich white girl. Logan Echoll's girlfriend, you must have met her. Caitlin Ford? "
" Oh no not her. " Abuela sighs out before sitting down again. " She doesn't like her ice cubes made with tap water. "
I grab her hand. " You lost your job and now Weevil's doing time so that Chardo can take this girl out in style? "
She shakes her head but knows we're right. " Let me see those receipts. "
After it's all said and done Abuela called the sheriff's office and told them everything. Eli was processed out of juvi and is on his way home. Me and Veronica wait for him for over an hour to show.
A cop car pulls up outside of the house slowly. Abuela walks down the steps and throws her arms around Eli the second he's out. " Oh, mi'jo it's so good to have you home! "
I have to admit, for someone who just got out of juvi he's really looking good in that white beater and open blue button-up shirt. When she lets him go he looks up on the porch and sees us both.
" Veronica Mars, I hear you're to thank for this Kodak moment? Didn't you get the memo? That bad guy was already in jail. " He says laughing while walking up. " Give me some love. " He says pulling her in for a hug.
Abuela heads into the house. " Mi'jo I'm gonna make you something to eat. "
" Okay. " He says watching her.
" You should know the judge issued a warrant for Chardo's arrest after authorizing your release. They're out looking for him. " I tell him knowing he's going to be off doing bad things tonight.
He goes from happy to be home, to pissed off in five seconds. " Yeah well, they won't be the only ones. "
" Logan and the 09ers are also looking for him too. You should find him before they do. " Veronica chimes in.
" We'll find him. " He promises.
Veronica nods. " I'm gonna go tell dad the news. " She says before looking at me. " I'll see you at home? "
" Yeah, I won't be too long. " I promise. She nods before leaving.
Once she's gone I looked at him and smile. " I never had a doubt. "
He laughs. " Not even one? "
I shake my head and wrap my arms around his neck. " I know you. " I say before kissing him passionately.
A/N Awe don't you just love the mushiness?
