I was sick yesterday. Which meant no work for me and an update for this story. I've decided to start including dates and times so this stops being so confusing.

Chapter 3

Hit and Run

12:15 pm, Monday September 3

They finish the fitting. Although it does involves a lot of complimentary champagne. On their way back to Keith's Mac has to drop by her house to pick up some papers. The place she shares with Dick is right on the ocean and consists of mostly glass walls. It's gorgeous and modern and way oversized for a couple their age. But it is undeniably beautiful.

Veronica lets out a low whistle, "Nice job." And Mac laughs as she hops out of her eco friendly car and starts down the sandstone path.

Veronica takes another look around the pristine landscape and the whitecaps falling onto the sandy shore. California has a different smell, a different look, then any other place in the world.

She catches up with Mac at the front door as she slips her key in the lock, "Open," the girl muses in a whisper, "Dick must be home."

When the door slams shut there's a call from the kitchen, "Is that you MC?"

"MC?" Veronica questions as the two girls walk towards Dick's voice.

"It's nothing," Mac shushes over her shoulder, actually blushing as she enters the kitchen.

"Actually it stands for Master and Commander. She's just shy," Dick corrects with a cocky grin. The kitchen is immaculate with dark wood cabinetry and and granite countertops. Dick, whose sandy hair is still shaggy but now cut much closer to his head, is leaning against the kitchen island in a business suit eating yogurt. He nods at the tiny brunette intruder standing next to his soon to be wife, "Hey Veronica. Long time no insult."

"Missed you too, Dick," Veronica nods, watching as Mac crosses the floor and kisses her fiancee on the cheek.

"What are you doing home," Mac questions as she steals his spoon and takes a bite out of the container Dick's clutching.

Dick starts talking about presentation notes and a board meeting. Something along those lines. Veronica's attention is elsewhere. There is cluster of photos above the stainless steal stove. Mac and Dick at graduation. Mac and Dick posing with Mac's family at a NASCAR race. Mac and Dick sharing the same chaise on a beach. Mac and Dick waving at what most have been a work event. Mac sleeping on Dick's shoulder, hair falling in her face. A whole life. Mapped out in pretty snapshots and stolen moments.

Dick catches Veronica's attention once more when he leans into Mac and sniffs her breath. "Obviously the fitting was more fun then it sounded," Dick alleges, his face lighting up with an amused smile.

Mac takes a step back and covers her mouth, eyes wide, "You can tell? It was just two glasses. Shoot, I have to go brush my teeth."

"Day drinking," Dick concludes, shaking his head slightly with a laugh as he watches Mac retreat down the hall, "Reason number million and one we're getting married on Saturday."

And then his pretty blonde head swivels back to regard the pretty brunette, "So Ronnie, I'm assuming you're going to try to keep this trip business as usual."

Veronica crosses her arms over her chest, tilting her head curiously, "What exactly do you think my business is, Dick?"

"Murder, mayhem, and destruction. But you're also really good at mind fucking my best friend," Dick sums up with a shrug, throwing his yogurt into the garbage can.

Veronica rolls her eyes, "I got off a plane four hours ago. How could I possibly have upset Logan's delicate psyche already?"

Dick snorts and explains, "Mac's only told me a little about your new life plan, but I'm pretty sure Logan's gonna be pissed about ninety eight percent of it."

"Logan and I are broken up," Veronica exclaims heatedly, already getting tired of explaining this, "We've been broken up for nearly six years. I don't have to consult him with my life decisions because he's no longer apart of it."

"See you'd think that," Dick muses, regarding her with an unconvinced gaze, "But considering you and Logan alternate from clawing at each other like rabid dogs to crawling towards each other like junkies looking for a fix, I'm concerned. Not for myself, which is new. But for Mac Attack, whose been planning this wedding for months. She's made it perfect. Exactly how she wants it. And I want it to be perfect for her. She deserves it."

Veronica laughs, flashing Dick with a wry smile, "Dick, there is nothing I want more then to avoid my problems with Logan and to make Mac's wedding perfect." Veronica hesitates before adding, "You really love her." She's not sure if it's a question or a statement.

Dick's face is completely serious as he states, "She saved my life. Gave me a life. Love doesn't cover it Ronnie." And then he softens, dragging a hand over his face as he asks, "Promise me you'll do your best not to ruin this for her."

"I promise," Veronica answers, holding a sarcastic hand over her heart, "Anything else?"

"Yeah," Dick replies, cocky grin returning, "LM Duncan is a stupid name and you were hotter as a blonde."

And as Veronica blinks Mac appears in the doorway to her right. "I have a staff meeting in half an hour. Let's motor Mars.""Bye babe," Mac whispers as she leans across the island, latching onto Dick's tie to pull him in for a kiss, "Don't forget we have Wallace's thing tonight. And you promised to pick Piz and Parker up at the airport at six."

"They're still together?" Veronica balks, remembering vaguely that the twin blondes had both moved to Chicago and briefly had a fling. Also remembering with horror Wallace mentioning something about a dinner at his house. She'd only barely believed that he was in the wedding party himself. She'd nearly forgotten that when Dick began work at the sports agency he is still currently employed at, Wallace had been his first big client.

Parker is also in the wedding party. Along with two other pairs of Dick and Mac's obligatory work friends who will only be making appearances at Friday's rehearsal and Saturday's big event. The Thursday night bachelor and bachelorette party will be a joint operation, supposedly to be planned by both maid of honor and best man. However a short and vague phone message from Logan's assistant a month ago had made it clear that he would be handling it. Veronica had been too frazzled at the time to summon the energy to fight him on it. At this point she was just hoping for the best.

Dick answers Veronica's question with a solemn nod, "Going on a year now. He's her plus one," Then with a sly smile he adds, "This week is shaping up to go really well for you Ron."

Mac gives him a sharp look, "Be nice."

Dick holds up his hands, "Just saying what everyone's thinking."

"Always a pleasure Dick," Veronica replies as Mac grabs her hand and leads her out the front door.

2:00 pm Monday September 3

There are many place Logan Echolls' hates being. He has never been fond of the Nepturne Sheriff's department, the high school he graduated from , or any room that his now deceased father happened to be occupying. He'd currently rather be any of those places. Anything to get out of Navarro Investigations where he's currently going over a contract with a man who used to wear a lot of leather and go by the name of Weevil.

The city of Neptune had only been able to stomach Vinnie Van Lowe as their Sheriff for a year before Keith Mars had been reelected. In that time Keith had found it in his heart to give Eli another chance. It had been a rough training period, but Weevil had been looking for a fresh start. He had recently discovered he was going to be a father. And his job as a janitor was barely enough for him to survive on let alone his impending baby daughter and her mother, his now ex wife Evangeline.

By the time Keith had left to rejoin the right side of the law Weevil had known enough to hold down the fort. Occasionally it had been with Veronica's help, that is before she skipped town. He had the unique perspective of a reformed criminal and he worked hard to keep him temper in check. His specialty was bail jumpers, but he took on side jobs often.

Logan's was a side job.

"Standard confidentiality agreement. You give him the money, he agrees to keep everything he knows quiet," Weevil explains.

Logan smiles, "My lawyer explained all the fine print Weevs, But thanks for taking the time to sound out all those big words for me."

Weevil's nonplussed, leaning back in his chair he grins, "Feeling the strain of parting with all that change already Echolls? Ten million's a lot for information that barely even involves you."

Logan waves his hand, trying to imagine a world where he could wave away his problems just as easily, "I'll do a car commercial. Make this money up in about a day. Any movement on your other research project?"

Weevil rubs his forehead and answers, "Got a lead on her in New Mexico, but she's not making herself easy to find."

Logan sighs and his voice is agitated when he replies, "It looks like I'm handing out money to two imbeciles this week. It's been six months and all you have for me is New Mexico? I should have just fucking facebooked her."

Weevil shrugs, "She must have picked up some tricks."

"Or you're just not that hard to outsmart," Logan counters.

Weevil rolls his eyes and argues, "I'm not the one that came here six months ago needing a background check, a phone tap, and a missing person located. I'd say two out of three is a pretty good record at this point."

"Well you're oh for three on finding anything useful," Logan hisses.

"This isn't the movies Echolls," Weevil exclaims, "Not every guy's got a fucking skeleton. Some of them are just old fashioned assholes looking to make an easy buck."

"I might as well get a dollar sign tattooed on my goddamn forehead," Logan snaps as a reply.

"Like I said, this information has almost nothing to do with you," Weevil reiterates, adding, "You sure it's worth it?"

Logan sighs but doesn't hesitate, "Just get the asshole to sign the papers."

2:30 pm Monday September 3

Veronica arrives at Navarro Investigations just as Logan is leaving. And they cross paths in the hall, him caught in the doorway with her staring at him blankly at the foot of the stairs.

"What are you doing here?" she blurts out, on the defensive despite her best efforts to remain calm.

"I'm sorry," Logan begins, slamming the door as he exits the office, "Are you mistaking me with someone whose required to answer your personal questions? Because last time I checked my whereabouts and motives fall directly into the none of your business category."

She wants to snap back at him, throw out a barb to compete with his. But she remembers her promises to Mac, Dick, and herself. And so she sighs, "So we're not even going to try? Just skip right to the respective snarling?"

Logan crosses his arms, "What do you want to try Veronica? You seem to only have one life strategy, pulling people in and then running away as quickly as possible."

She closes the distance between them, until they are barely a foot apart, "I'm not going anywhere Logan. So you're gonna need to adopt a new self righteous mantra."

"No," he smiles, "I think I'll keep my piss poor attitude right where it is thanks."

He sidesteps past her and heads for the stairs, only pausing to add, "Can't wait to catch up at Wallace's dinner tonight."

She takes a deep breath before heading into the old office. It looks about the same. A new couch and front desk, but pretty much still the same old room she'd spent most of her high school career in.

"Hello Eli," Veronica exclaims, knocking softly on his office door, "How's it going filling those very big shoes?"

Weevil grins, "I'm no Keith Mars but," he sets his feet up on his desk and shrugs, "size sixteens, and they fit like a glove. Good to have you back Mars."

"Good to be back Weevil," Veronica sighs flopping into the chair across from his desk, "How's Mia?"

Weevil beams, the smile that belongs solely to a father talking about his daughter, "She's good. She's in second grade now. Reads like a frickin champ." He leans forward to pick up a picture of his smiling daughter and hand it to Veronica.

"Good looking kid Navarro," Veronica compliments, "must be her mother's genes."

"Must be," Weevil agrees with a solemn nod. Evangeline was the mother of his child. She had also been a recovering drug addict when the two of them had a baby and married. She had relapsed two years after Mia was born. Weevil had divorced her after she refused rehab and eventually gained sole custody. She had ODed three days after Mia's fourth birthday and to this day Weevil will only speak about four words on the subject.

"So," Veronica begins, her head tilting just so, smile placed perfectly on her lips, "What was Logan in here for?"

Weevil looks at her blankly for a minute before breaking out into laughter, "It's been too long Mars. I think you're charms wore off during our time apart. You know I can't talk to you about clients. Not even if you flip your hair."

"But you admit he's a client," Veronica infers slyly.

Weevil is saved by his cellphone, which rings just as he's about to respond. He mutters something that sounds like 'thank God' and waves her out of his office.

"We'll talk later," Veronica says in way of a goodbye as she exits the room.

As she leaves the building and heads to the car she commandeered from Alicia she hazards a glance at her cellphone. Five fresh missed calls from Jackson. Her ex boyfriend and ex partner. She's going to have to talk to her Dad about changing her phone number.

This was a long one. Review as a reward?