sorry for the long delay. exam time!

13.

Veronica sat at her desk at her Dad's office looking through some case files she had to fill out. The door opened and Veronica didn't lift her head.

'Sorry we're closed.' She said, still reading.

'Hey.' Logan's voice spoke.

'I can't say I was expecting you.' Veronica said.

'I just came by to see how the case was going.' Logan explained. 'It's been a few days, surely my mom's used her cards by now.'

Veronica bit her lip to stop from telling Logan about the video footage. She knew now that it was unlikely Lynn was alive.

'I just don't want you to get your hopes up.'

'I am not paying you to worry about my hopes, I am paying you to follow leads.' Logan pointed out.

'I wasn't aware you were paying me.' Veronica looked down at her files.

'This isn't a favour, this is a job. You know, we're not exchanging friendship bracelets.' Logan's harsh self came through, something Veronica hadn't seen in a while.

'I'll stop braiding.' She looked him in the eye, challenging him.

Not bothered about a fight, Logan sighed, and left the building.

Logan stood leaning against his father's study wall. The pain was numb now, and the only way he could tell it was still happening was the cracks of the belt as it smacked against his back. He tried to grab hold of the flat surface as he boiled for hatred for his father.

Since Lynn's supposed death, Aaron had taken to giving Logan nightly beatings, instead of just whenever Logan was bad.

In a twisted way Logan understood. He was sure his father blamed him for his mother's death. Logan was hardly the best-behaved person. Aaron was stressed by his wife's death; maybe he just needed something to focus his anger on.

Realising that the noise had stopped, Logan knew he was finished for the night. He turned around, not looking Aaron in the eye as he left the room. Logan put his hand on his back lightly. Bringing it back round, he saw it was drenched in blood.

When he got to his room he grabbed a towel and wrapped it tightly round him so to stop the bleeding. He never looked at his back, and to be honest he was scared at the idea. He would much rather just get on with it and pretend nothing had happened.

'Is that my dad?' Veronica joked as she walked into the house. She gave him a quick hug before sitting down and helping herself to the dinner he had made.

'How are you?' Keith asked her. Veronica told him about how she was helping Logan with Lynn, and about Duncan's illness.

'So what was your case?' She asked him, changing the subject.

'Amelia DeLongpre.' Keith replied. Veronica raised her eyebrows. 'She is Abel Koontz daughter.'

'What?' Veronica's eyes widened in shock.

Keith nodded. 'It took me a while and a lot of digging, but I found her. She's flying over in two days. We can explain to her the situation, and if she's receiving money from Abel, we can convince her to show us the papers, then we can take them to the Sheriffs department.'

Veronica was beaming from ear to ear. 'That's so amazing dad!' She squealed.

'I know.' He smiled back at her. 'Finally we can take our evidence to the Sheriff and hope Koontz can be cleared.'

Veronica nodded smiling and sighing at the same time. 'This is so amazing Dad, I can't believe we're finally getting somewhere.'

Suddenly realization dawned on Veronica. 'But we're still not closer to who actually killed Lily.' She said quietly.

'I know, but with this evidence the Sheriff with have to look deeper into everyone's alibis, and then maybe something will come out.' Keith reassured her.

Veronica nodded. 'Maybe.'

'Veronica sat in the journalism room waiting for Weevil. He soon entered bringing with him a small freshman boy carrying a white disc.

'So what you got?' Veronica asked him.

'My friends and me were filming this war video down by the river. It's really cool with lots of explosions and it's all about these two brothers-'

'Don't care.' Veronica cut in. 'Point?'

'Well.' The boy gulped. 'We were editing it together, and we noticed something.' He played the clip.

Veronica watched as three boys shot at each other with guns, and then one pretended to die.

'Did you see it?' The boy asked.

'Your bad editing, yes.' Weevil smirked.

'Roll it back, play it frame by frame.' Veronica order and the boy complied.

'There it is.' The boy pointed at the screen and Veronica gasped in horror as she saw a black dot fall from the bridge and splash into the water.

'Holy smokes.' Weevil said slowly.

'The video is time stamped 8.47pm, the time when,' He paused for a second, looking behind him. 'She supposedly jumped.' He finished.

Veronica turned round to follow his gaze, and saw Logan standing behind her. She knew from his expression that he had seen the clip.

'You better make sure this doesn't get out into public consumption.' Veronica warned as she looked at Logan.

'Don't worry, I'll make sure of that.' Weevil assured her as he left her and Logan alone.

'I'm sorry.' Veronica said softly.

Logan sighed. 'I know, me too.' His voice was barely audioable.

Before Veronica could turn round he was gone. Veronica sighed, knowing Logan would finally have to face reality. Her phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. She gasped as she read it.

'Logan?' She called out, getting quickly off her chair and out into the corridor. She couldn't see him at first, but her eyes caught him in the distance.

'Logan!' She called again, he didn't hear her, to she said it once more as she approached him, phone in hand.

'Logan, one of your mom's missing credit cards was just used.' She told him.

He looked straight at her, confusion and hope glimmering in his eyes.

Logan sat with Veronica at her table as Veronica went over what she had found out about his mother.

'Your mom had 14 credit cards in use at the time of her disappearance. There is only one that has been active. The no limit platinum card.'

'My mom's weapon of choice.' Logan smiled to himself.

'This is also the only one that's registered under her maiden name Lester.' Veronica continued. 'Maybe it's just a coincidence.'

'Or she's trying to hide.' Logan looked up at Veronica, who nodded silently.

'It's hard to know for sure. There's only been one purchase so far, a rental car. Exactly the same model as her old car.'

Logan sighed. 'It's quite obvious isn't it.'

'It just don't want you-'

'Getting my hopes up. I know.' Logan finished for her as they stood up to walk to class.

Stopping outside Logan's English class, he turned to face her.

'Thanks, you know. For helping with my mom.' He smiled softly at her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Veronica smiled back, enjoying his touch but not wanting to show it too much.

'You've certainly softened up.' She commented, but instantly regretted it when his hand flew off her shoulder.

'I can be harsh if you want me to be.' He glared at her. He noticed Duncan approaching them.

'Logan…' Veronica sighed.

'Stop it, you can't honestly think that like 4 days has changed the way we are.' He said darkly.

'Is there a problem here?' Duncan asked Veronica as he approached and took her hand.

Veronica didn't look at him, just kept her eyes locked with Logan's. Trying to avoid the hurt flooding through her, she finally spoke.

'No problem, just trying to get rid of the rat.' She glared at Logan as her phone buzzed. She read over it quickly, before looking up at Logan again.

'What?' He asked her. 'Is it my mom?'

'I think you should leave.' Duncan stood in between Veronica and Logan to stop Logan moving forwards.

'Let me past Duncan.' Logan warned, but Duncan stood his ground. Veronica looked at the anger in Logan's eyes as he threatened Duncan. Before she knew what she was doing she was walking away from both the boys.

She could not be bothered with the two fighting. Since Logan had found out about her and Duncan, the two were always fighting and getting at each other. Duncan was never rude, but Veronica knew he thought he had to compete with Logan, and so recently he had begun throwing insults at Logan whenever the opportunity arose.

Veronica knew she had strong feelings for Duncan, but she had to be honest, she was getting sick of Duncan being defensive and protective over her. She could look after, and think for herself, and sometimes she couldn't help but think that he didn't understand this.

Her thoughts were knocked out of her as someone began pushing her into the toilets. The ones that only she went to to talk to people privately. She tried to fight back but whoever it was was far too strong for her. She finally tore away, gasping for air, and turned angrily at her attacker.

'What the fuck are you doing?' She yelled, seeing that it was Logan.

'Tell me what she bought.' He spat.

'What?' Veronica asked him.

Logan walked right up to her, his anger almost pushing her backwards.

'Tell me what she did. I can see it in your eyes, she did something and now for some twisted female reason you think you can get back at me by not telling you.'

Veronica said nothing, and someone started to enter the toilet. Logan walked towards the door and slammed it shut, using a nearby trashcan to hold it shut. The person banged on the door again. 'Veronica?'

She recognized Duncan's voice, and so did Logan, but he ignored it.

'He didn't see you, don't answer him.' He warned. Veronica nodded, not wanting to fight. 'Now tell me what she did.'

'You know treating me like this isn't going to get you anywhere.' Veronica said, not moving.

'I am paying you to find my mother!' Logan suddenly screamed at her. 'I do not expect some petty problem you have with me to get in the way of you providing me with answers!'

'Logan…'

'You are doing a job Veronica! You shouldn't let your personal life get involved with work!'

'I do not need a lecture from you!' She shouted back. Logan shut his mouth.

'Your mother has booked a room at the Sunrise Hotel in L.A.' Veronica sighed as Logan nodded and went to leave.

'I was going to tell you later so we could go after school!' She followed him out. 'I know how to find her!' She tried to explain.

Logan glared at her. 'I'm going now, you have no business in this case anymore.' He spat.

Veronica looked at him in horror as he moved the trashcan away from the door and walked out, barging past Duncan and out of the school.

Duncan moved to Veronica's side quickly. 'What was that all about?' He asked her.

Veronica looked at him, unsure what to say.

'Let me guess, loose ends?' He asked, clearly annoyed.

Veronica smiled apologetically. She didn't know what to say, but she knew she needed to go after Logan.

'Duncan, I have to go.' She said quietly. 'It's work.' She reassured him.