apologies everyone. exams. done now! i've also started writing another story. :)

14.

Walking into the hotel lobby of the Sunrise, Veronica blanked Logan when he noticed her, and she walked straight up to the reception.

'How can I help you?' The receptionist asked.

'Hi there, I'm looking to book a honeymoon suite.'

The receptionist eyed her warily, and picked up a leaflet from his desk, passing it over. 'These are our more affordable options.'

'No.' Veronica cut him off. 'I don't think you understand. I'm here trying to find some in the twelve hundred range? My fiancé and me got in a little fight because I told him you had perfectly good rooms here but he would much rather stay at the other five star across the road. I'm trying to convince him we can get something just as good over here.'

The receptionist looked confused and shocked. 'Well here are our deluxe packages. The Princess Suite starts at twelve hundred a night.'

Veronica nodded enthusiastically. 'I need to see it.'

'Oh, I'm sorry Madam our Princess Suite is currently occupied. But I can tell you you would have private elevator access, a hot tub, balcony overlooking sea views, and an extensive room service menu.'

Veronica sighed, pretending to be disappointed. 'Can I not just peek my head in? Like literally five seconds, in and out.' She pleaded.

'I'm sorry Madam but our guests specifically requested her privacy. And I can assure you the same measures will be taken if you choose to stay with us.'

Veronica sighed, moving away. She walked towards Logan who looked at her confusingly.

'I didn't know Duncan and you were so close.' He indicated to her ring finger, which was bearing a large diamond ring.

'I knew what room your mum would have chosen, it's part of the job I need to play the part.' She explained blankly. 'That's the private elevator, I'm going to call maintenance and I can get them to open the staff elevator for us and we can head up there-'

'No.' Logan replied simply, sitting down on a couch in the lobby. 'I'm just going to wait here until my mother walks out of that elevator.'

Veronica looked around, Logan seemed serious, but that didn't mean she agreed. However she had things to do. Amelia DeLongpre was arriving later on tonight, and she hadn't left things well with Duncan, ad she couldn't help but feel bad.

She sighed, Logan hadn't taken his eyes off of the elevator. Without saying a word she walked out of the hotel.

'I don't really understand why you guys need me here.' Amelia said warily as she sat on the couch with Keith and Veronica.

'There's been some new evidence that suggests your father's innocence in the Lily Echolls murder trial.' Keith explained calmly. 'It is essential that we found you so that you can give the Sheriff information about your pay off.'

'What pay off?' Amelia looked confused.

'You just said five minutes ago that you were receiving millions from some company.' Veronica told the young woman.

'My mom told me that was just an out of course settlement.'

'It's not a course settlement.' Veronica explained. 'It's a pay off for pleading guilty to the murder of Lily Echolls. Your father is innocent.'

'But I've not seen my father in years.'

Keith Mars sighed. 'We know, but right now we need you to call your mother and get her to send an overnight copy of the Settlement papers. Tell her to pay in cash and use a fake name.'

'But what will these prove?' Amelia asked.

'It will prove that your father is being paid to take the fall.' Keith said softly.

Amelia nodded understandingly. 'I understand.'

'We know this a lot to ask, and we don't want to put you under pressure in any way. But you have to understand that justice needs to be served.'

'So wait, do you know who did it?'

'No, we don't. But once we find out what company is paying you then we can link it to the real murderer.' Keith explained.

'So you don't really know where you're going with this.'

Veronica looked at Amelia sheepishly. 'No, but there's no point in your Dad being sentenced if he is innocent.'

'Of course.' Amelia agreed. 'I'll call my mum.'

Veronica sat with Duncan on the couch in his living room. She couldn't help but feel strange, they always spent time together at her house, and being in his just reminded her of Lily and then made her feel guilty about being with Duncan. She knew she shouldn't feel guilty, she just couldn't help it.

'I don't want you to be so jealous.' Veronica sighed, bored of sitting in the silence.

Duncan said nothing, just looked at Veronica.

'There's nothing between me and Logan, we're aren't even friends!' Veronica said. 'He made sure of that.'

'Logan doesn't hate you.' Duncan said.

'He has a good way of showing it.' Veronica scoffed.

Duncan wrapped his arm around Veronica and pulled her towards him. 'Don't worry about Logan. You helped him with his mom, he probably won't be around much now.'

Veronica nodded silently as Duncan planted a kiss on her forehead.

Jake Kane then walked into the living room. 'Duncan, you wouldn't happen to know where Logan is? Hey Veronica.' He added.

'Hi Mr Kane.' She replied.

Duncan looked at his father. 'No I haven't seen him, why?'

'I just got off the phone with Aaron, he said he got a text from Logan saying he might not be home for a few days, no information or anything. So I think Aaron is quite worried about him. I know I would be worried if that were you.'

Duncan shook his head. 'I've not heard from him for a while.' He said, not wanting to let his dad in on their fight.

'I do.' Veronica said quietly. 'I'll take care of it.' She stood up and started gathering her things.

'Veronica?' Duncan said warily. 'I don't want you going.'

'Duncan please, just let me handle this.'

'No.'

'Give me my independence. I can walk on my own two feet.' She spat. Duncan looked taken aback. She sighed. 'Sorry, I'll call you later. I promise.' She said giving him a quick peck before rushing out the house.

Logan sat in a daze, staring at the elevator. He was now slumped over the couch, his upright position falling over time. For 9 hours he had sat, and there was no movement at all.

But he wasn't giving up. No, Logan Echolls did not give up.

'Excuse me sir, but as I've told you before, the lobby is reserved for hotel guests only, I have to ask you to leave.'

'Fine.' Logan sighed, he had waved each guy away, who approached him roughly an hour after they started their shift. But now he had to do something. He whipped out his credit card and waved it in front of the receptionist. 'Book me a room Jeeves.' He mocked. The man took the card from Logan's hand and walked away.

Veronica entered the hotel lobby and almost didn't see Logan. Then she saw the top of his head above the back of the couch. It looked as if he hadn't moved for hours. She walked over to him quietly, sitting down on the table opposite him.

His eyes didn't even move to her. He sat in a dream, mouth slightly open, bags forming under his eyes.

'You know you can't sit here forever.' She said softly. 'What do you say we smoke her out?'

Logan didn't move. Veronica pulled out her phone and dialed a number quickly.

'I'd like to report my card lost? My name is Lynn Lester.' At the mention of his mother's name Logan's eyes finally moved to Veronica. She smiled weakly at him.

Moving to sit on the space next to him, Veronica made herself comfortable.

'Now we wait.'

Just over two hours had past when Veronica noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Logan sat with his head in his hands next to her, he had stopped watching an hour earlier.

She sat up quickly and tapped Logan, pointing in the direction of the elevator. A woman emerged, dressed in black. She was walking towards the reception, Veronica couldn't see her face but she recognized the black hat instantly.

'That's her.' Logan confirmed, standing up and walking towards her. Veronica stayed back.

'Mom?' He said cautiously as he approached the woman. The woman turned round and took of her dark sunglasses.

'Oh hey Logan.'

His face fell. Standing before him was not his mother, but his someone else. Veronica's mouth fell open.

'Did you just call me mom? You okay brother, you know mom's gone right?'

'Wow…' Logan whispered. 'You're supposed to be out in Australia.'

'Yeah well, that didn't work out.' The woman noticed Veronica in the background. 'Hey Veronica!'

'Hey Trina.' Veronica replied, still shocked to see Logan's sister before her.

'Oh my, is the whole brat pack here?' Trina faked excitement. 'What is this, like prom night? You guys get a room here for some after party?' Logan looked to the ground. Trina turned false excitement to false seriousness. 'Oh hey, I've been kinda out of the loop lately, are you two back toge-'

'Stop! Just shut up.' Logan shouted suddenly. 'You're wearing Mom's clothes, you're wearing Mom's hat?'

'She was your Mom, my stepmom.' Trina replied.

'Dad could have used you there!' Logan said quickly.

Trina laughed. 'So now you're worried about Dad's welfare? Isn't he the big bad wolf?' Logan shook his head at Trina.

'No.' He whispered, not wanting Veronica to hear, but Trina ignored him.

'Cigarette burns, and broken noses?' Veronica's head shot up. 'Blood on the sheets, oh, those stories you used to tell.'

'You know we should do this more often.' Logan said, stepping forwards.

'You know what?' Veronica stepped in. 'We should get going, Logan?' She tried to move him to the side.

'I best get going,' Trina said. 'Someone finally cancelled Mom's credit card. So I'm outta here.'

Logan let Veronica lead him away. He looked back once more before leaning forwards, his face suddenly crumpling before Veronica as tears started falling from his eyes.

Veronica was taken aback, in all of the years she'd known him, she had never seen him like this. She raised a hand and rubbed his back gently. He leaned right over and Veronica caught his head in her hands. He clung onto her arm as he sobbed deeply.

'She gone.' He choked into her shoulder. Veronica rubbed his back soothingly.