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LoVe Is Stronger Than Death

Veronica landed on the well-manicured lawn with less grace than she intended. "You alright there, superstar?" Wallace managed to ask around his laughter from the other side of the fence.

She was already in a foul mood, courtesy of Logan. And Wallace hadn't helped. On the way over, he'd taken the opportunity to grill her about Logan and their 'relationship'. Oh, yes, it had been fun. Then she'd caught her foot on the top of the fence and bounced on her sore hip when she hit the ground. Veronica wanted to flip-off her best friend, instead she game him two thumbs up and a tight smile. "Just peachy. I'll call you when I get inside." She muttered to herself as she made her way towards the house and the silent alarm, wondering again why she was even bothering.

It wasn't like Logan was grateful. He started bitching the moment they left the hospital. He kept grumbling about going back to the house. She reminded him, several times, that he wasn't the one going. Then he brought up the idea of shopping again. She told him if he was interested in keeping a low profile, the last thing they needed to do was spend time in a mall where they'd be exposed to not only the paparazzi, but the public at large. She didn't want a mob of crazed Aaron Echoll's fans chasing after her. Logan didn't have a comeback for that, so instead he'd decided to sulk. She was more than ready to leave when Wallace arrived.

They'd be in the house an hour, tops. Then she'd be back at the hotel, Logan would have clothes, and the entire incident would be over, with no one the wiser. He was worrying over nothing.

But as she rounded the front corner of the house, Veronica realized she might have been a tad too optimistic. Trina Echolls stood in the open doorway, a cocktail in her hand and a scowl on her face. I'm screwed, Veronica thought.

Trina's disapproving gaze slowly swept over Veronica, from the top of her head to the tip of her boots and back again. "I should have known," was all she said before walking back inside.

Veronica limped in after her and reset the alarm, waiting for the fast-blinking red lights to return to a steady green. She brushed the stray dirt and grass from her clothes and hair - she had to admit she was a mess - before following Trina deeper into the house. "I know this looks strange, but I trying to avoid -"

"Don't care," Trina said simply, her voice floating over her shoulder as she vaguely waved her hand, like she was shooing away a pest.

Oh, goody, Trina's in 'a mood'. Veronica took a deep breath, determined to be nice, and got a nose full of... "Is something burning?"

"Blow torch," Trina answered flatly. "The police used it to open dad's safe." She stirred the cocktail with her finger, then brought the finger to her mouth to taste the liquid. She frowned and headed towards the bar. "They were here when I arrived." She poured several more healthy shots of vodka into her glass as she pointed to a piece of paper laying on the counter. "They gave me that and made me wait outside until they were done. Ten hours on a plane, and then I can't even get inside my own house." She sipped the cocktail and smiled, the improved drink having also improved her disposition. "Do you want one? It's blueberry Stoli and sparkling lemonade. A friend introduced me to it. Fabulous!"

"No thanks. I'm good." Veronica read over the search warrant in her hands. It was fairly all encompassing. She was surprised a judge signed off on it, and on a Sunday to boot. Her dad was right; everyone was covering their ass. What didn't surprise her was the fact Aaron had a safe, probably one no one else knew about. She wondered how they found it and what was in it. She put the warrant back on the counter. "We weren't expecting you back until later today." At least, Veronica wasn't. But she never did ask Logan who phoned him at the hospital. If he knew Trina was home, knew Trina could open the gate for her, and never said a word, Veronica was going to strangle him.

"I caught an earlier flight," Trina explained. Then without warning, she poked the bruise over Veronica's eye.

"Ow!" Veronica flinched as her hand shot up to protect the black-and-blue mark. "Trina!"

Trina frowned, but not out of sympathy. "Logan told me you hit your head on the steering wheel. No airbags, huh?" She continued to study the nasty bruise. "If you insist on chasing criminals, Veronica, you really need to get a safer car." It wasn't that Trina was mean or oblivious to what happened, she just... wanted to distance herself from it. She liked to stay as uninvolved as possible. Everyone had their own way of coping, and that was hers.

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the tip." She liked Logan's sister, mostly, but she could never understand Trina's thought process. Aaron tried to kill her, but the reason she was banged up was because her car didn't have airbags? Trina was another incentive to getting out of the house as quickly as possible. "My friend Wallace is waiting for me to let him in. Is that okay?"

Trina sat down on the cream colored sofa, waving her empty hand in the air again. "Me casa es su casa."

Veronica called Wallace and told him it was safe to drive-up. Once she buzzed him in the gate, she walked back into the living area. Trina was still sitting on the sofa, drinking her cocktail, flipping through a magazine, acting like nothing out of the ordinary was going on. Coping mechanism or not, it was a bit unnerving. "Do you want to know why I'm here?"

"I assumed Logan sent you. He made such a big deal on the phone yesterday about not stepping foot in this house again." Trina took a sip of her cocktail. "I'm not sure how he thinks he's going to pull that off. When dad gets bail, he's going to want Logan home. And little brother isn't eighteen yet. He's not going to have a choice." Another sip. "Who does he think is paying for that lovely hotel suite at the Grand? Logan bitches about me spending daddy's money, but I don't remember him ever turning it down." And another. "Dad will cancel the credit card and then the hotel will kick Logan out. That is how it works, right?" She arched her eyebrow meaningfully at Veronica as she took another sip.

Wow! She was really going through that drink! Actually Veronica reported Lynne's credit card stolen, that's why Trina was kicked out of the Regent, but the same principle did apply. "He can stay with friends," Veronica said confidently. But what she thought was, He'll stay with me and dad. I'm not making him come back here.

Trina laughed, but there was no humor behind it. "Friends? You mean those losers who fawn over the movie star's son. No, I don't think their parents are going to throw the doors wide open for the son of the accused murderer." She eyed Veronica over the rim of her almost empty glass. "But I suppose you were referring to you. It's sweet and all, but really, Logan living in a dingy little apartment? I don't see it."

Veronica opened her mouth to defend her 'dingy little apartment' when she heard Wallace's voice behind her. "She's right here, man. Hold on a second." He held out his cell phone and smirked at her. "Your boyfriend's worried about you."

Veronica took the phone, and pushed her anger aside. Logan didn't need to know Trina was getting to her. "Hey, Logan," she said brightly.

"Don't 'hey' me!" Logan yelled, forcing Veronica to pull the phone away from her ear. "I've been trying to call you for fifteen minutes! Why weren't you answering?"

Veronica patted her left jean pocket; it was empty. "It must have slipped out when I fell," she said to herself. Her cell phone was on the lawn somewhere, which meant she needed to look for it before she left. Perfect.

"When you fell? Fell where? Are you alright?" Logan asked in rapid succession, getting more agitated with each question. "I knew this was a bad idea!"

Veronica winced at the verbal slip-up. Damn! She hadn't meant to say that out loud. This was the type of mistake she made when she was getting attacked from all sides. "I'm fine, Logan. I took a little tumble on the grass and I lost my phone, but it's nothing to worry about. Wallace and I are both inside now. The hard parts over."

Logan was silent for a moment and Veronica could picture him pacing the suite. Then in a slightly less angry tone he said, "I don't like you wandering around. There are too many reporters looking for you. Too many things could happen."

There was genuine concern in his voice, and it made Veronica smile. He was a psychotic jackass, but he was a caring psychotic jackass. "I'll be careful, I promise." Wallace subtlety pointed behind her. Veronica whipped around and saw Trina back at the bar. She almost forgot. "Trina's home. Do you want to talk to her?"

"Do I have a choice?" Logan snarked back. Veronica bit her lip to contain her laughter. "I'll call back on the house phone." And then all traces of anger left his voice. "Hurry up, Ronnie. I miss you."

Veronica's smile widened. She wouldn't say it back, not with Wallace standing in front of her, but even though Logan was being a pain, she missed him too. She was in soooo much trouble. "I'll be back soon. Bye." She pushed end, then gave Wallace his phone. "Thanks."

Wallace pocketed the cell. "Man, he was freaked! I think he was getting ready to call out the Marines." Earlier in the car, Veronica did the best she could to explain that the Logan Wallace knew, the one who smashed her headlights with a tire iron, wasn't the Logan she'd grown-up with. That just as Lilly's death had changed her, it had changed him too. She assured him there was more to Logan than the smart-ass remarks and the cocky attitude. That beneath it all was a good person and she trusted him. She used her dad to back-up her claim. Keith Mars wouldn't let his little girl stay with the boy if he thought there was a problem. Veronica didn't expect Wallace to take it all on faith, but she did ask him to give Logan a chance. Wallace trusted both her and her dad's opinion, so he agreed. Logan didn't know it, but the honest-to-god freak-out he had because he thought Veronica was in trouble, helped his case.

Veronica rocked back on her heels, her hands clasped behind her back, still smiling. "See? I told you he wasn't all bad," she teased, reading Wallace's mind. He shrugged, but didn't comment. The phone rang and she called out, "Trina! That's probably Logan." Then she grabbed her best friend and drug him towards the stairs. "Let's make this quick."

Veronica put Wallace to work disconnecting the PlayStation and gathering all the video games. Logan hadn't asked for it, but Veronica thought he'd appreciate having it. She riffled through the bathroom and closet, getting everything else. She found Logan's luggage and over-packed each piece. She also snatched his schoolbooks, his laptop and a few other personal items. They were done in under half an hour. Wallace helped her drag the suitcases downstairs, complaining the entire time. "No one needs this many clothes, especially not a guy. He didn't even ask for most of this stuff."

"I don't want to come back," Veronica said honestly. One trip to the Echoll's homestead was enough for her. And if Aaron was released on bail, there was no way she was stepping foot back in the house. Not the Logan would let her. Or her dad. Or Wallace. Or anyone else with an active brain. If Logan was missing anything after this, he would have to go buy it.

Trina was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs, her glass full once again. She, of course, didn't offer to help them with the luggage. Instead she stood there smirking. "He'll be bringing it all back by the end of the week," she taunted. "I told you; he won't have a choice."

That was it. Veronica had had enough. She released the large suitcase, letting it tumble down the stairs. Trina jumped out of the way to avoid being hit, splashing liquid all over herself and the floor. She shot Veronica a dirty look, which Veronica ignored. She didn't care if Trina was pissed. She was done being nice. "If Logan doesn't want to come back, he doesn't have to. In fact, we're going to do everything we can to make sure of it. So you keep drinking and don't worry about him. Not that I think you actually worry about him."

"Logan doesn't want me worrying about him," Trina snapped, as she examined the spots on her silk blouse. "He doesn't want anybody worrying about him. He despises anyone who offers him pity. Haven't you learned that yet?"

"There's a difference between pity and basic human compassion." Veronica stalked down the stairs, fire in her eyes. "He just found out your father killed his girlfriend. Maybe you could show a little concern. You haven't even asked me how he's doing!"

"Oh, Logan's fine," Trina scoffed, then downed the rest of her drink in one gulp. "I just talked to him. Besides, he got over Lilly's death a long time ago. It's not like it happened yesterday," she finished flippantly.

This is what he grew-up around, Veronica thought in shock. This is his family. No wonder he acts like he does. I'm surprised he doesn't act worse!

Veronica continued to stare silently. Trina matched her gaze for several minutes, and then she swung her arms out in a dramatic gesture. "I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry about what happened to you. And to your dad. I am. And if Logan really needs me, I'll be there for him. He knows that. But don't expect me to get worked up about Lilly Kane's death. I didn't do that a year ago." Trina absently ran one hand through her hair and twirled her empty glass by the stem with the other, her cavalier actions mirroring her words. "I'm not saying I wanted the girl dead, but I can't say that I care that she is. Logan's better off without her. Lilly was a bitch. She was always cheating on him. And she thought she could get away with anything. All she had to do was shake her ass, or flash her tits, or spread her legs."

Veronica heard Wallace let out a low whistle. Yes, they had just crossed into dangerous territory. Nobody talked about Lilly like that. "And she was different than you, how exactly?" Veronica asked smartly.

Trina's eyes widened in surprise, then she tipped her glass in mock-salute. "Nicely done, Veronica. You have changed. I wondered what my little brother sees in you. He does like 'em... feisty." She casually crossed her arms in front of her, but her eyes flickered to the audience of one watching them, and her next words held veiled meaning. "If what Logan's says is true, Lilly must have known. He could only hide so much. So she knew what she was getting into when she started sleeping with dad. And she knew what could happen when she took those tapes."

Trina was talking about the abuse, of course. One of many things in all of this Veronica had a hard time wrapping her mind around. Yes, Lilly must have known. The bruises currently on Logan's body came from Weevil, but the scars on his back weren't new. There was no way Lilly slept with him for over a year without seeing them. And she had to have known Aaron put them there. But then Veronica was sure Trina knew too, no matter how much she tried to deny it. And Lynne, Logan's own mother, how could she not have known? But no one stopped it. No one stepped in and protected Logan. It made Veronica nauseous. And it was another reason Aaron was never getting close to Logan again.

But she wasn't going to discuss all that with Trina, not with Wallace standing three feet away. Instead she considered the rest of what Trina said, the PI in her connecting the clues. "Did you know they were sleeping together?" Trina's face remained impassive and Veronica took her silence as confirmation. "You knew! You knew and you never said anything! You never told Logan?"

"Logan wouldn't have listened to me, not about his precious Lilly." Trina was officially bored with the entire conversation. "Face it, Veronica. Lilly liked to live dangerously, and it finally caught up with her. End of story."

For Lilly, the affair was probably nothing more than another thing to upset Celeste. Another rule she felt compelled to break. Having sex with her boyfriend's father - how taboo. She might have lived dangerously, or on the edge of dangerous, but she didn't deserve to die for it. "No matter what you think about Lilly, Logan loved her. Shouldn't that matter?" Trina didn't answer. She walked away, probably to get another drink.

---TBC

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