Sorry for the delay!

☼☼☼

She leaned against the island and stared at the phone, willing it to ring. They had to call her and/or Mac back... they just had to.

Logan watched her from the couch. "They're not going to call you the next day, Veronica. That would look desperate... don't you know about the three day rule?" he teased gently. Inside, his stomach churned. He half wished that they wouldn't call back.

She turned to give him a half-hearted glare. "What if they don't call? This whole case is totally screwed."

"Hey, come here." He shifted on the couch to allow her to lie down next to him. "Relax. They're going to love you, of course. You're amazing and beautiful and sexy... They'd be idiots not to hire you and Mac." He brushed hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. He couldn't believe he was giving his girlfriend advice on how to get hired as a call girl. "And if it doesn't work then we'll find another way. In the mean time..." He pulled her down to him for a kiss. "You can practice your moves for me. I'm a very good critic."

She hovered above him. "You would like that, wouldn't you?"

☼☼☼

Two days later, Veronica's phone rang. This had to be it. This had to be her call back. "Hello?"

"Veronica? It's Mac. I got a call back. Did you? This is so exciting!"

Veronica stared at the phone. "What?"

"I got a call today. Didn't you get a call?"

"Uhhh, no. But at least one of us did." She tried to sound cheerful. Even though she knew she was acting shallow and stupidly upset because she wanted to be the one picked. But after a few moments, the jealousy faded. At least one of them had gotten in. So, she'd have to run the show from outside. It made her uneasy that Mac would be the point, would be the one putting herself in danger. "Mac, I-" Her phone chirped. "Sorry, can I call you back?" She clicked onto the other line. "Hello?"

"Miz Candy Cane?"

"Yes?" she said hesitantly, drawing out the word.

"Hank Franks here. Didn't recognize my voice, sweetheart? I'm disappointed."

"Oh, hi. Not as disappointed as I was to hear that I didn't get a job." She put a little pout in her voice, hoping he'd hear. "And I thought you enjoyed my company..."

He chuckled. "I find you a little valuable to be waiting tables at an event such as that. That's why I'm calling. I want you to come to the soiree as my date, Miss Cane."

She smiled. "Really? Well, I will have to run it by my manager but I'm sure he'll be willing to let me go... for a price, of course."

"Of course. Just have him call me. I'll take care of all the arrangements such as your dress and transportation of course as well."

"Well, I can't wait..." She hung up and immediately called Logan. "We've got our in," she jumped right in when he said hello. "Franks wants me to be his guest. It's the perfect opportunity to get to places where I normally wouldn't be."

His sharp voice cut in, "No way Veronica. I mean, what would you have to do to get this info? No, no way. You're not doing it."

"Logan, we've been through this before and we both already know how this is going to end up."

"What? You bullying and threatening me until I agree to let you do whatever you want and then I follow you anyway and screw things up…"

She sighed. "Exactly. So why are we arguing again?"

"Because I love you so much that I would rather not find you at the bottom of the river with cement shoes…"

☼☼☼

Veronica watched Mac sashay from table to table. She was giggling at the men and getting really good at keeping out of the way of their grubby hands. She cringed every time a hand did meet its mark. She wished it were her as point but there was nothing she could do.

A hand landed lightly on her arm and she turned to look up at Franks.

"Where were you sweetheart? I was talking but you weren't listening. Something else caught your eye?"

She plastered a fake smile on her face. "My sister, Cindy." She pointed to Mac. "Isn't she gorgeous?"

He gave Mac an admiring look. "Of course. I remember her. She was one of the first we chose."

Veronica smiled mischievously. "And why wasn't I chosen?" She gave him a mock pout.

His hand slid up her arm to cup her face. "Because I wanted you all for myself." He leaned in and kissed her exposed neck.

She giggled and pretended to squirm. "Oh, not fair. I'm ticklish." She thanked God that the surveillance was only sound. Logan, safely sitting out in the parking, would have been in here an hour ago to kill Franks for the personal boundaries he was ignoring.

"What d'you say we take a little trip and I show you how this business runs?"

Bingo. This was it. What she'd been waiting for. What they'd been waiting for. Now she could get the info and get away from this sleazebag. "Oh my." She fanned herself and allowed him to lead her out of the room. She caught Mac's eye and gave her a flirty wave, their signal. Mac blew her an air kiss back. She understood. She turned back to Franks. "So, where does my tour begin?"

"My office..." He grinned and led her along.

"Oh goodie." She followed along down the hallway. It happened so fast she didn't even have time to react. She didn't even see the second person or the object that hit her in the back of the head. Everything just went black.

☼☼☼

She woke to find herself tied to a chair in a dimly lit room she assumed was Franks' office. He was sitting on the other side of the desk, waiting patiently for her to wake up.

"Well, well, Miz Candy Cane... or should I say Veronica Mars?" He stood up and walked around the desk to lean against it facing her. "How could you think that I wouldn't check up on a pretty girl like you to find out more? You're a celebrity, darling."

She glared at him but didn't answer.

"What? No quip? No quick retort, Jane Bond?"

"People know I'm here. They're going to come looking for me." She knew it was a long shot to try and scare him like that but she had to take it. And it was the truth. She wondered what Logan was doing at that exact moment. Freaking out? Beating up the bouncer and running down the hallways looking for her?

He laughed. "Yes, I'm sure." He pressed a button on the phone and a few moments later, the door opened and Mac was pushed in and forcefully seated next to her, her hands tied in a similar fashion. "Nice backup, Miss Mars."

☼☼☼

Logan checked the transmitters. Veronica's was down. He frowned. Something was wrong. But at least Mac's was still up. Then the screen went fuzzy. "Dammit."

Dick leaned in the window. "What's the matter, dude?"

"Both transmitters are down. We have to go in after them." He got out but Dick stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"The only things going through that door are tits and power. I hate to be the voice of reason but we have neither…" He leaned back against the side of the x-terra and stared across the street at the club.

Logan looked too for awhile but turned back to Dick with a smirk on his face. "No, but we have the next best thing…"

☼☼☼

"Logan, this is a very bad idea." Dick muttered to his friend. He was almost jogging to keep up with Logan and he strode over to the entrance. There was no way they were getting into that club and there was even less of a chance of walking away from this without a scratch.

"Hi, Logan Echolls. This is Dick Casablancas." Logan handed the bouncer his ID. "I know this is a private party but I have some business I'd like to conduct with Mr. Franks. He knows I'm coming and won't be very happy that I'm being kept outside waiting."

The man turned to look at Dick who nervously handed over his own ID. He checked both and handed them back then checked his clipboard. "You're not on the list," he replied in a deep growl.

Logan pulled down the clipboard with one finger and placed a wad of cash on it. "I think we are."

☼☼☼

"How much do you know, Mars?"

Veronica just stared. He'd been asking her the same question over and over for the past ten minutes and she hadn't said anything. How come he wasn't getting the hint? She tilted her head at him with a little smirk. "Like I told you before, Franks. I don't give in to brute force. And I have people watching me. They've probably already gotten to my dad who's going to bring the FBI down on your ass."

He raised his hand to hit her again but the phone beeped, interrupting. He turned and picked it up, listening. "Okay, sure. Bring them." He turned back to Veronica, a smirk of his own. "Now we'll see." He leaned back against the desk and folded his arms across his chest.

The door opened and Logan and Dick were tossed, unceremoniously, down at Veronica's feet.

She looked down at him in despair.

"Hey Ronnie. We're here to rescue you," he quipped.

She closed her eyes as Franks bent his face down near her ear.

"Now what, Ace?"

☼☼☼

What d'you think?