Keith Mars had always believed in the oath he took when he donned the badge, but Neptune was like a dirty kitchen ignored by the health department for too long. The rats had grown wild and bold. Rodents like the current acting Dean of Hearst, specifically speaking Carlton Ashwood, a man who had gone on the record hinting to the press that the serial rapes at were merely a rumor, the result of morning after regrets and students making poor life choices..
After his meeting with the man, Keith felt unclean. He'd worn that Armani suit like he was born in it. Ashwood had insisted that details of Weevil's murder be kept separate if possible and he had been attempting to control the narrative of what information was included in the official statements, eager to avoid lawsuits should Cindy MacKenzie and Dick Casablanca's decide to sue the university.
Guns on Campus were not to be mentioned in any document available for public recordand he proposed they draft an official announcement to assure people things at Hearst were golden.
Everything was a pissing contest…
The corruption at every level was enough to make a man drop his head to his knees. Speaking with the man provided a key piece of information that clicked things into place, the young woman Tim Foyle had tried to murder was pregnant. His keen senses had thought something had been more to the story when he'd arrived home to find his daughter and friends rallied around the petite brunette.
Having a daughter had sharpened his skills over the years but watching her shield her friends using her own dose of strength when they felt powerless filled him with so much pride.
His daughter had the monsters in this town running scared.
The last time he'd tried to talk to Veronica about her relationship with Logan, she assured him that her boyfriend enjoyed using an excessive amount of tongue.
There was so much of Veronica's life that remained quiet at their dinner table, and while professionally he trusted her judgement, the parent in him would always be fearful, would always hope she'd choose any other path than following in his footsteps.
He'd have to talk to her about keeping her distance with this case. San Quintin inmates were a different breed to the usual street thugs she was used to dealing with, it was a finishing school for career criminals.
Chardo Navarro was beyond redemption.
The thief has only come to steal and kill and destroy. –John 10:10
He looked so tired… Alicia thought looking at Keith Mars hunched over the desk when she arrived.
Her youngest son Darrell was now back at school after his dental appointment and she had a rare afternoon off, calling into the Sheriff's Department with lunch had been a spur of the moment decision.
"The case of the strawberry cream stabbing?" Alicia smiled watching him cleansing something from his tie.
"It made a pass at me." Keith replied dryly. "Heart-eyes emoji, am I right?"
Alicia raised an eyebrow running a hand affectionately over his cheek. "Veronica does have a point."
There were a lot of people who would pay good money to see Keith Mars out of that chair.
"She is my favorite daughter." He deadpanned.
"You're a lot alike." Alicia said quietly.
"We use the same blow dryer." Keith shrugged. She grinned, running her fingers affectionately over his scalp and sitting on the edge of his desk.
"Wearing a badge in this town is like chasing a tornado." Alicia sighed.
"Has anyone ever told you, you're really good at cheering people up?" Keith said eyeing his girlfriend up. Spending time with Alicia Fennell was like spending a rare day relaxing in the sunshine.
Especially when a long lunch was followed up by their favorite horizontal hobby…
It was a tacit agreement that no one mentioned murder cases or the fact that his job sent him head-on into collisions against people who made deals with the Devil for spare change during meal times.
"Glad to hear." Alicia smiled.
"Let's go to my place for some under-cover work." Keith said in a husky voice.
It wasn't the first time the older Mars had used that line on her and it was still just as charming. Everything about him was male, sharp and decent. Few guys she had met radiated that innate authority, it made him an automatic enemy to those on the wrong side of the law, but his strength glowed, a quality that made him insanely attractive.
"Uh Sheriff?" one of the temporary deputies from the Mayors office interrupted knocking on his office door.
"Yes?" Keith asked shooting Alicia an apologetic look. The heated look in her eyes was cooling.
"The roommates here, you asked us to come get you when she came in." Deputy Jones declared.
"Caitlin Ford's Roommate?" Keith queried.
"Uh yes… she's in interview two."
They had spent most of the last 24 hours guzzling coffee and reviewing reality TV footage. The abundance of suspects gleamed from interviewing the Beach Squad stars and crewmates was disheartening. He had spent an hour trying to get co-operation from SDPD to gather details about life for his aspiring Kardashian at San Diego State but eventually they had tracked down the girl who shared her dorm.
A local girl whose name he recognised from breaking up coked up 09er parties.
"I'm sorry." He sighed regretfully, his gaze flickering over the dress that his girlfriend was wearing like a sexy second skin. Keith would have to interview the girl soon before she got bored and lawyered up.
"It's not easy being a responsible adult." Alicia smiled in understanding, smoothing the cream from his tie with a wet-wipe from her bag. The maternal preparedness brought a sweet amusement to his lips.
"I'll see you tonight."
Keith watched as she left, gathering the files from his desk and headed to the interrogation room, as he slid into the seat opposite the girl who glared at him. He recognized her from the election posters Veronica had papered around Neptune during his race against Donald Lamb.
18 & Legal
The older Mars couldn't help but inwardly agree with Veronica's witty assessment that Madison Sinclair resembled a 'used skanky fairy princess.' Glancing at the Cocaine & Champagne slogan on her sparkly lime phone cover seemed to confirm his party girl suspicions about this girl.
She confirmed her roommates single status, mentioned there had been some minor events over the last few months. Caitlin had thought someone was following her, little things had gone missing from their dorm, there had been petty vandalism on her car, as if the PCHers were personally targeting her roommate.
An anonymous had sent floral arrangements a few weeks ago that made Caitlin quite upset but Madison either hadn't cared enough to remember details or her roommate had kept them private.
A potential stalker...
By the time Sheriff Mars concluded his interview there was no doubt in his mind his daughter was right.
Madison Sinclair was indeed 'an evil harpy who ate other peoples misery like it was her own personal chef.'
*If you are new please do feel welcome to join the VM fanfic Club on Discord.*
