Chapter 6:

The return of the prodigal son

When Daniella came back from her photo shoot to Logan's apartment, she was surprisingly welcomed by an overjoyed Logan. She wasn't used to see him that demonstrative, and by the empty bottles on the table, she suspected that it wasn't out of joy of seeing her back home. She had learned a long time ago not to ask too many questions, his mood swings being legendary.

Going to the bathroom to clean her face from all the products that she had to wear all day, she felt his arms wrapping around her, his lips gently and softly touching the crease of her neck, his nose caressing her neck in a slow and languorous movement. She could smell the alcohol from his breath; she could already distinguish his slow drunk movements, a little bit clumsy, from his usual skillful mastery.

-"Let's go out babe…"

-"Go out? You seem to already have had plenty of fun over here today, Logan…"

-"Common, music, dance floor, drinks… let's just go change our minds, like before… I miss our night adventures…"

Biting her lips, Daniella look up in the mirror, trying to read his eyes. They were like a closed book, as usual, but she could see something that she wasn't use to... pain? Sadness? She knew she wouldn't refuse anything to him, but she also knew that going out and drinking even more wasn't at all a good idea.

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-"We know who you are, we know where you're from, we know all people that you care about. Stop your investigations. It's our last advice. If not, you'll see what little snarky girls get when they put their pretty little nose in somebody else business."

That's was it. She didn't have time to say anything. She couldn't say anything anyways. It was short and direct. She remembered Gory. Gory and his menaces. Gory and his killer looks. Gory and his revelations about his family. She knew that the person who was speaking to her, whoever it was, was serious.

Why in hell Jake Kane did get involve with the Sorokin? Couldn't he just run away with a mistress, or because of a financial crime? Why did he have to be involved in one of the most dangerous family in the US? I know the Castle is an important network, but they are supposed to be protected by a pledge, no?

She looked at the picture of Jake Kane, smiling with his wife and children. Happy times were really far far away. Softly caressing the picture an the smile of Lily, she then looked at the surveillance pictures from the bank and Grand Central Station, scrutinizing the face of Jake Kane, with his alarmed eyes, anxiety and tiredness engraving his expression. Duncan would look like him one day. She just hoped he wouldn't have so much to carry on his shoulders.

Jumping on her feet, she went to the bathroom, taking a long and warm shower.

You don't have to do this. Just call Clarence Weidman and tell him what you know, that Jake Kane got into some trouble with the Sorokin, and leave him take care of this. He is way much more in position to negotiate than you, especially that he has access to the Castle information and contacts, while you don't and never will after what I did back in college….

But, in another way, how can I be sure Clarence can find him? I mean, they would not have contacted me if they wouldn't have tried every single avenue.

Getting out of the shower, she wiped the steam from the mirror, starring at her own reflection.

Comon' Veronica, you are not a college student anymore. You are a FBI agent from the Los Angeles area, specialized in behavioral science, you investigated for years without backup from your dad, you unveiled Aaron Echolls and Beaver as murderers, Mercer as the rapist… You can deal with finding Jake Kane, aren't you?

She was maybe sounding convincing, but her eyes were betraying her. She was afraid. Deeply afraid.

What did they mean by they know all the people I care about? Who did they plan to hurt? Her father, her friends… Logan?

Throwing herself in her bed, Veronica cried. Cried of indecision on what to do. Cried of not being strong enough to protect the ones she loved.

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The phone rang. Picking up, with surprise, the receptor didn't even reach his ear when he heard the man.

-"You know that in the absence of M. Kane you must protect the secrets of the Castle. Don't forget about it."

The line cut. Rarely expressing any feelings, Clarence Weidman couldn't hide his concern. How did they know that M. Kane was absent? And why would they give him such a call? Did Veronica Mars find something linking the disappearance of Jake Kane to the Castle?

Not being a man of ideas but a man of action, Clarence Weidman picked up the phone.

-"Veronica, this is Clarence Weidman."

Trying to contain her sobbing, Veronica cooled down quickly to return to a business mode attitude.

-"Yes, Clarence? Are you already missing me?"

-'You know I wouldn't call unless there would be a reason. What have you found out about the Castle?"

She felt her heart stopping.

-"How do you know I found something about the Castle?"

-"You better don't ask. What have you found?"

-"Not much. I know M. Kane went to a restaurant owned by Nikolai Sorokin, named "Uncle Vanya". He had the address scribbled on his hand. But when I went there, the owner acted strangely but didn't confirm if M. Kane came to the restaurant."

She wasn't sure she should tell him about the exact family links of the owner to the Russian mob, neither if she should tell him about the call she received a few hours before.

-"Is there anything else?" She was maybe going totally nuts, but she heard some… concern in his voice?

-"Nn..no. Everything is under control. I'll keep investigating. I have a few calls to make and then I'll inform you."

Clarence Weidman looked at his computer screen, his fingers running on the keyboard.

-"Well, your call Ms. Mars. But inform me quickly please. And try to be careful. Catching you in Neptune before you go too far was a specialty of mine, but now that you are in New York, it is a little bit more difficult."

-"Sure Clary. I'll call you as soon as I have new gossips to share with you!"

She hangs up, trying to use her careless voice, but she knew that something was wrong, and that if she was going to dig more, it would only get worst.

Picking up her cell, she dialed quickly, even though it was already late at night.

-"Hey, it's me. I need a big to ask you for a big favor…"

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Logan was not drunk anymore. He was wasted. Daniella was sincerely annoyed by his behavior. What could have made him go crazy like that? I mean, she hasn't been able to count all the drinks he took in the club, without even mentioning the one she had home all day. He was in a gloomy mood, and the "going out" evening, with music, dance and alcohol quickly became an alcohol only night. He was so plastered that he couldn't even walked straight, but he was refusing her help.

-"Ok, that's it Logan, I am going home. And you are coming with me…"

-"Hum, missy is bossy tonight. Maybe you should keep this inspirational saying in mind "Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment. Horace""

-"well, this is definitely not the right moment. Logan, please, let's go home."

-"You are definitely no fun tonight, my dearly beloved doll. I thought you would appreciate something crazier, more… unpredictable!"

And by saying that, a bottle of vodka still in his hand, he jumped on one of the pouch, and started dancing, screaming at Daniella over the loud music: "Comon, the night is only going to be over when I won't stand anymore…" And while saying that, his feet slipped on the pouch, and he fell heavily on the couch behind him, his bottle of vodka falling on the carpet and spilling its contents on the floor and on the proximal patrons.

Getting back on his feet precociously, Logan, brushed his suit, turning around to apologize to the other clients, but his mouth could only remain open, no sound being able to get out because of surprise.

-"Well isn't it my least favorite human being from Hearst. As I can see, you are even more of human rubbish than what I previously thought. I could practically pity you, but I think we still have some… business to take care of, and only after that, if something remains of you after that, I could pity you…"

Gory Sorokin, with an evil grin, was there as another reminder of its past and of Veronica.