Previously… Veronica and Logan finally talked (a little) about future plans. Veronica isn't ruling anything out but timing is and was never their thing. On Monday, she headed to Connor's apartment in Los Angeles with Marcie Jacobs, who in returned aided Veronica into acquiring a security video of the culprit. Unfortunately, no amount of Photoshop or computer software could fix the pixilated picture taken from the footage. Veronica could tell at the very least the figure was a woman. Veronica also noticed two glasses in the sink making her believe Connor had company the night he died. Katelyn Renner, who had an affair with him, became Veronica's prime suspect. After meeting with Connor's friends, Alex and Greg, she and Marcie were able to discover that the dealer was Sean Friedrich, an old classmate of Veronica's. Realizing the connection, she made a plan with Greg to get Sean to hand over information. It involved Vintage, an upscale private night club on the Sunset Strip. She arrived at the club on Friday with Logan as her backup. Only minutes inside, Logan spotted someone else he recognized...

Chapter 11

The woman's silver sequin dress, which left little to be desired, appeared more like pieces of aluminum foil from where Veronica stood a few feet away. Pretty in a dolled up sort of way, Veronica surmised, the woman had a marketable face perfect for selling creams and beauty supplies for name brands. She was not a Neptune High alum, but Veronica couldn't help but feel as though she had seen the person before. Veronica chalked it up to the possibility that she was simply another D-list actress/model Veronica saw in some commercial. She could tell Logan recognized the man. Jittery to the point where the guy couldn't stand still, the only times the man regained balance and composure was when he inched closer toward the woman as if he was about to kiss her.

A remixed house version of Sweet Child of Mine played. The music blared making anything else impossible to hear. "So Ned, friend of yours?" Veronica asked, loudly and distinctly in a sarcastic tone.

"On the contrary Nancy," Logan replied similarly making sure Veronica heard him, "he's the only member of Trina's fan club..." Logan witnessed Rob and the unnamed woman now making out as he added, "...or was."

"I'm not following."

"You haven't suffered the misfortune of meeting him, yet. That's Rob, who made an average Rocky impression during our introduction."

"Oh..." Veronica gave the tinniest nod and groaned, "are you saying Trina's also here tonight?"

"By the way he's been all over that tramp, not likely." The two had taken a step back and began talking again. Logan turned away from them to face Veronica. "Though, I'm shocked Mars, don't you see the coincidence?"

Trina's actor boyfriend, Rob, just happened to be at Vintage out of the other dozen of clubs in West Hollywood. It was more than a random occurrence. Trina confirmed he dabbled in the likes of MDMA and acid. Veronica thought for a moment. A drug addict and now cheater to add to the list of repugnant men; Trina's love-life was dismal at best. "Rob got the drugs from Sean."

"My guess." Logan sighed. "Trina always knew how to pick 'em."

Freud would have a field day. Of course, these were the men Trina chose to date. Aaron royally fucked up his kids' lives. The one main difference was Logan became strong enough to overcome it. Their past baggage they carried alone could fill an entire plane's cargo. It's gotten must lighter since.

Veronica shook her head. "This is what we should do, especially since I can't put my finger on where I've see that girl he's with. You think you two could play nice? Although, this scumbag doesn't deserve it. Find out what you can while I deal with Sean?"

"If he's anything like he was at the 09er with Trin, I'd have better luck talking to a wall." His hands balled up into fists at his sides. "There's no way I'm leaving you with Sean." He wanted nothing more than to have front row seats to Sean receiving his comeuppance while being assured of Veronica's safety.

"Thanks to you, I can't ignore the fact Robbie happens to be here now either." Veronica batted her eyelashes and hoped to persuade him. "Please? I promise to repay you in some form or another."

Logan acquiesced. "If I get one complete coherent phrase out of him, I'll be impressed."

Before Veronica could say 'thank you,' suddenly her phone vibrated in her wristlet. She quickly opened the new text from Greg Bua. *Back rear corner by the DJ booth.* "Now why couldn't he have just mentioned that in the first place." Veronica showed the screen to Logan. "Meet me in ten minutes."

"More like ten seconds."

Veronica gave Logan a goodbye kiss and turned in the other direction. "Bye." She glanced back once to see Logan slowly moving over to the lounge area where Rob stood.

The lightning was dim except for the few flashing colors circulating around the place casting faint glows on random dancers. Veronica could barely see where she was going as she made her way across the dance floor. Ambling through the sea of bodies, Veronica knocked into a stranger while almost tripping over her own foot.

Tailored pants and a button down striped shirt, Giorgio Armani leather shoes without even a scuff, and a Rolex watch on his left wrist, he definitely rolled in the dough. He held a mix drink in his hand. The man smiled wide at Veronica. His teeth glowed under the florescent flashing bulbs. "Whoa, where are you off in such a hurry?"

"I don't have time for you." Veronica kept walking forward, but the man caught up.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm James." His eyes flitted up and down at her appraisingly. "Let me buy you a drink. You look like you need a shot to loosen up," he said slurring.

"I'll pass." Veronica gritted her teeth and sarcastically added, "My tolerance is through the roof."

"So is my persistence. How about, I get us a couple of rounds." James crookedly smiled.

"No thanks." She answered with an exasperated expression.

"One little drink? Come on, I'll make it worth your time, sweetheart."

She scoffed. "Excuse me." Veronica shoved him out of the way with her elbow.

"Bitch!" He yelled out after her. "Do you even know who I am? No one turns me down."

Veronica twisted back around, unable to resist the opportunity. She grabbed the bottom of the glass in his hand up and flicked it up before he had a chance to react. The contents splashed all over his shirt. A few other people shifted away from the scene. She heard a couple more expletives out of the guy's mouth. Veronica shrugged her shoulders and continued toward the DJ disappearing within the crowd and away from the smug jerk.

No one else stopped Veronica and she finally made it to the rear adjacent to the DJ booth. Her ears ringed and the floor vibrated due to the heavy bass. A short woman in her late-twenties with luscious, long dark brown hair and hazel eyes greeted her at the opening of the VIP section. Veronica agreed with Greg, the bouncer did look like Channing Tatum's ugly twin brother.

"Hi I'm Andrea, Greg's friend." Andrea took out her hand. "Veronica Mars, right?"

Veronica politely shook it. "That's me."

"You have your phone out? Greg trusts you won't implicate him."

Veronica lifted it up. "That was our deal."

"Good. You'll have like two seconds before Sean realizes he got played." Andrea mentioned to the bouncer that Veronica was with her.

Veronica first observed the round table in the middle of the sectioned off area. Bottles of Grey Goose were placed inside an ice bucket with tall vases filled different liquids like orange juice next to a stack of glasses. A rolled up dollar bill and a credit card were also on the table nearest to Sean. Sean sat closest to Greg on the booth attached to the wall. Another man rested in cushioned chair on the side. Andrea took a seat across from Greg. Sean looked just as he did during the reunion, long hair, thin and pale wearing a charcoal colored t-shirt and gray slacks. He held a tiny bag of cocaine in his hand while Greg got out the cash. Dumb-ass, Veronica thought. There wasn't anything sneaky about it, but the club evidently had lax rules and a blind eye.

Right as they made the exchange, Veronica announced, "This will make a lovely cover photo for my scrapbook." Veronica captured Sean holding out the illegal substance in one hand and the money within the frame. This was far worse than his viral video of smoking weed at Carrie's place. All she had to do was show Langdon the picture and then one of the deputies could search his house in Neptune and his little side business and reputation would be kaput.

Sean glared up at the new person who entered his room. He furrowed his brow, "You."

Veronica smiled slightly at Andrea before glancing back at Sean. "If you want me to make this picture go away, I need you to answer one question."

"Like I'd tell you anything." Sean turned to the man seated in the chair. "Get her out of here."

Veronica held up her hands while one still gripped her iPhone. "Well, I have your golden ticket to jail so you may want to cooperate."

"Just listen to what she has to say." Greg added nonchalantly.

Sean shot a look of contempt in Veronica's direction. "Screw you."

"That's not very nice way to talk to someone who could actually screw you over." Veronica swiped her phone a few more times. "Would you look at that? I've already sent it to five people. I guess the Balboa Sheriff Department is next!" She then sat down next to Sean.

He contemplated his next move. Sean had already gotten busted for narcotics once. He didn't need another offense. "What do you want?"

"The list of everyone you've been corresponding with who live in these surrounding areas."

As Veronica and Sean were going off on each other, Greg left the room while Andrea stayed back to grab a free drink from the table and watch.

"Yeah, that's not happening."

Veronica raised up her phone displaying the picture for Sean to see more visibly. "How do you think you'd look in a jumpsuit? I'm not exactly sure orange goes with your coloring."

"Fuck you and the horse you rode on," he muttered reproachfully.

"Ooh, someone's angry. Look, I have reason to believe you are the one responsible for selling to an emotionally unhinged woman who then in turn murdered Connor Larkin, so you will tell me what I want to know."

"Murdered?" Sean winced and looked genuinely perplexed. "Right and I also illegally smuggle Mexican children in as well to work as slaves."

Veronica frowned. She crossed her arms, dismayed. "I'd be serious if I were you."

"Why? A ridiculous accusation deserves an even more ridiculous response."

"Connor hated you. He would have never associated with you and there's no one else he could've gotten drugs from since he wasn't a habitual user. I not here to bust your supplier. I'm just asking for a list of female clients who currently buy prescription drugs from you like Diazepam. Was Leah Vance one of them?"

"Who?"

"Katelyn Renner?"

Sean nodded which made Veronica realize she had held her breath. "Sure, sounds familiar. Reddish blonde hair?"

Veronica exhaled, "What did you give her?"

"I don't know, Zannies."

Xanax was found in Sean's toxicology results. "Anything else?"

"No."

"I still want that complete list."

"We can't always get want we want."

"Okay, I'm gonna go now and find some place quiet to call the Sheriff. Toodles!" Veronica rose up, grimaced, and left VIP.

Sean went after her. "Go on ahead. Call the bitch," he shouted. "If you think she'll do anything besides handing out a fine and some community service work, you're more deluded than I remember."

Veronica pursed her lips. Sean, like most cocky bastards, brought out her ornery side. "Oh, and you're more of a jackass than I remember."

Logan found the two bickering at that moment. Even with the deafening music, he stood close enough to catch the rest of the conversation.

"Nice to see you grew up with no discernible qualities," Veronica continued.

Sean almost opened his mouth to answer when he noticed Logan. "Ah, I heard you two were back together after what happened. You know, Carrie resented you. Basically came crawling to me... for months."

Logan had remained calm and collected the last time he saw Sean. However, he wanted to wipe the smirk off the bozo's face. He just needed one last push.

"What no snappy comeback? You already made one threat before why don't you actually do something this time." Sean egged Logan on. Logan's knuckles turned white as his fists tightened. He endured far worse verbal abuse by his sergeant and didn't crack. Sean tilted his head in Veronica's direction. "And now you're back with this gold digging whore? History does repeat itself."

That's rich coming from Sean, Veronica thought, miffed. In what alternate universe was I a gold digger? She'd seen Logan's bank account, the amount of zeros seemed endless to her, but he rarely spent any of it. It came to a shock to her when they first began dating again, but Logan was perfectly content on mostly using his military salary. The house, his boat, the BMW and some other things were from his trust fund. He was still accustomed to a few luxuries from growing up. Dates with Veronica were usually at expensive places. He would give anything to Veronica if she asked, but Veronica was too stubborn. 'My loans, my problem' she would state during each argument. Lost in her thoughts, what happened next strangely felt played out in slow motion in front of her eyes.

Before Logan realized he'd actually done it, Sean was on the floor rubbing his lower jaw. "Call Veronica that again, I'll send you to the hospital."

"Logan..." Veronica warned Logan. "Stop it."

The Channing Tatum-look-a-like pointed to Logan. "You. Out."

Logan went rigid. "We're all good here, sir. Friendly dispute."

Sean growled, still massaging his chin as he stood up. "Hardly."

Veronica knew it was time to go as the bouncer was just about ready to grab Logan. Instead, he began walking toward the exit sign on his own accord allowing Veronica the last word.

Veronica stared up at Sean with much chagrin. "I tried to be reasonable." Then, as she was about to leave, Veronica realized her wristlet must have fallen off back inside VIP. She turned back around to find Andrea holding out her bag.

"Here, don't want to forget about this. I hope you find who did this to Greg's friend."

Veronica raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Uh-thanks."

She met Logan outside leaning against the wall. Truthfully, Veronica couldn't be mad at Logan. Had she been allowed to bring in a taser and it wasn't such a public place, Sean would have been on the receiving end. "Ready to go back?" Veronica was definitely somewhat annoyed, but far from wanting to pick a fight.

Logan appeared stunned. He glanced down at his reddened knuckles. "You're not angry I interfered?"

Veronica thought back to Logan's reaction. Though years later, maybe a residual part of him just wanted to get back at Sean because of Carrie. Veronica felt a pang of jealousy. She might have even looked crestfallen. "Did you hit him because of Carrie?"

Logan fell silent for a moment. Carrie, in a couple of ways, had reminded him so much of Lilly. He was defensive only because he cared too deeply.

"So...?"

"Not really." If he were to be completely honest with himself, Carrie wasn't the reason. "Not until he called you...that's when I just snapped."

Veronica knew she had a way of bringing out the best and worst sides of Logan. He had the same ability with her. She sighed. "Then there's nothing to argue about. I wouldn't have gotten anything else out of Sean."

"That's not like you."

Veronica wasn't at all fully convinced he hit Sean just for her sake, but she wouldn't let it bother her tonight. Ancient history as it was. "Let's just talk about it tomorrow if we must." Veronica redirected the discussion. "What happened with your possible future brother-in-law?"

"Absolutely nothing. Supposedly, he broke it off with Trina two days ago, so she dodged a bullet there. He gave me some half-ass apology for the other night." Logan paused remembering one other important detail. "You have seen that woman, too. She's a cast member on that film with Trina."

"Explains how Rob met her." Veronica would have to mull that over.

Once inside his car, Logan relaxed. "Did you find out anything else that would help the investigation?"

"I'm almost positive it's Katelyn. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." But without proof, Katelyn walked freely.

Veronica opened up her wristlet. As she looked at the contents, her eyes squinted in confusion. "What the hell..." She pulled out a napkin with six names scribbled on with a marker while making sure nothing was taken. "Sean didn't do this." She then thought of Andrea. She hadn't even considered asking what she did assuming she was just one of Greg's acquaintances. Veronica began reading off the names, "Jessica Beckerman. Neptune. Rachel Zellers. Beverly Hills. This is what I tried to get from Sean, but Andrea must have known his client list all along?"

"Lost over here."

Veronica filled Logan in on everything that happened in VIP. Veronica sent a text to Greg asking him about Andrea. There was something more to her. "In any case, Sean at least confirmed he'd dealt to Katelyn."

Logan gripped the wheel tighter. "He should be relieved I only punched him once."

Veronica's expression shifted, making Logan slightly ill at ease. "As much as I loved you standing up for me back there—"

Logan injected, "I know, you can handle yourself just fine."

They didn't speak for the rest of the ride back to the hotel. Once they reached their suite a quarter past one, they sluggishly switched out of their clothes and collapsed on top of the bed within minutes of each other.

*x**x**x**x*

Veronica woke up to find herself alone in the hotel suite. Logan's phone still plugged in charging on the nightstand, but he was nowhere to be found. She entered into the bathroom and checked herself in the mirror. Moments of last night crossed her mind. She tried to look on the bright side. The picture could now be used as blackmail if she needed Sean again. Not to mention, if she was wrong about her hunch, Veronica now had the possible list of women who paid Sean for addictive prescription drugs. Greg hadn't responded but at seven thirty am, it was still quite early.

Veronica hopped in the shower, washing away the drama and anguish from the night before. Feeling refreshed, she put on a change of clothes, placed her damp hair in a bun, and plopped down on the couch putting on the TV to some silly cartoon movie about dragons.

When Logan finally arrived back twenty minutes later, he was dripping in sweat and holding a white paper bag. He always went running when he had the chance. He found years ago during training that he enjoyed it as much as surfing. The distance cleared his mind and the endorphins were always a bonus.

"Good morning."

"Hi." Veronica simply said acknowledging his sweaty presence. Outside must have already reached the eighties. "Hot?"

"So are you." He bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Ah, you're dripping on me. Yuck."

Logan chuckled, "As a consolation, I got you a present." He dropped the bag on her lap. He took a few steps toward the bathroom while kicking off his sneakers and ripping off his drenched shirt. He then grabbed a towel from the shelf.

Veronica opened the bag and breathed in the chocolate aroma. "Ooh, yum."

"There was a little muffin place a couple of blocks north." Logan announced from within the bathroom as he got undressed. He left the door ajar so they could still continue their conversation. "Figured, you might like some breakfast."

"Look at you being all thoughtful." Veronica took a bite out of her chocolate chip muffin.

"I aim to please."

"How'd you do?" Veronica wondered out of curiosity.

"Seven miles."

Veronica shook her head side to side. Running on only five hours of sleep was crazy in her mind. "Next time, wake me. I'll try to keep up with you." Though, she already knew she would bow out after three miles from past experience.

"I thought six thirty am is too early for you?"

"It's too early for any normal human being, but I can swing it once or twice a week." If I don't stay out all night for cases, she concluded.

"Does that mean we're okay with everything that happened last night?"

Veronica kept her true feelings close to the vest so she made a joke instead. "It's kinda hard to be mad when the face Sean made after you punched him was the highlight of my night." After her response, the shower head turned on and Veronica went back to watching the mindless movie for a little while longer.