Author's note: this is not a happy chapter. you are going to see a range of emotions here. shock, anger, sadness. Meg's lie will be revealed, but a few more questions will stem from this chapter. enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, alerted and/or favorited this fic!

I don't own Veronica Mars.

Logan

When they pulled up Logan didn't even wait for the vehicle to stop, he just jumped out and Dick followed him as soon as he put the truck in park. The only thing going through Logan's mind was 'please god let her be ok.' Over and over and over, just that one phrase.

But when they reached the front door they both knew that wouldn't be the case...it was wide open.

They walked further inside and heard water running and when they got to Veronica's room, Logan lost it.

There were clothes strewn everywhere, the shower was still running and the curtain had been ripped off the rings. He didn't see it anywhere and he didn't see her anywhere either.

Logan dropped to the ground, he couldn't hold it in, he couldn't be strong.

He had saved her so many times.

He had made it just in time to see Beaver pull the gun.

To see Liam move the needle to her face.

But this time, this time he really was to late.

This time he hadn't been there to save her.

This time she was gone…

Dick

I didn't know what to do.

Ronnie was gone, that was obvious and definitely not by her choice, that was obvious too. And I was just standing there watching my bad ass best friend just rock back and forth on the floor of her room. I wanted to cry or scream or do something, anything, to fix it, but I couldn't.

My heart actually hurt for him, hurt for Ronnie. We had spent so long at each others throats and we had finally gotten on a path towards friendship again and now she was gone.

It didn't know what to do, so I just stood there watching my best friend shake over the loss of his other half.

Without even thinking I pulled out my phone and dialed the only number I could think of and as it rang, I hoped to god the pain in my voice wasn't too obvious.

They picked up. "Dick? What's up?"

And that was it, when I heard that voice I lost my composure too and I couldn't hide the pain or worry in my voice

"Mac."

Mac

I knew it. The minute I heard his voice on the other end, I just knew. He didn't even have to say anything.

My heart just stopped and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

I didn't know how bad it was, exactly what it was or even who. But I knew something was horribly wrong.

There I was standing in my parents driveway unable to move forward or even go back to the car, so I asked the only question I could.

"Dick, where are you?"

"Ronnie's."

It was like every bad dream I'd ever had was coming true. I needed to get there, I needed to get to them. "I'm on my way."

I just turned, got into my car and drove, before I knew it I was at Wallace's. I didn't even remember driving there and for a few minutes, that seemed like hours, I just sat there.

I didn't know what I would say to him, but I couldn't sit there anymore so I got out of the car.

I didn't have to go far, he saw me through the window and just like I had known, so did he. One look at my face and he was out the door.

He was yelling and I couldn't even make out what he was saying at first. "What happened? God damn it Mac what happened?"

I couldn't answer him, because I didn't know.

Wallace

I was standing in my living room when I saw Mac outside and for a split second I wondered why she was there.

That didn't last long.

I saw her face and I saw the terror and the fear and the sadness and I knew. I didn't know what or who, but I just knew that something was horribly wrong.

I flew out the door, I'm not even sure I closed it and when I got to her I just started yelling. Not even at her and not even on purpose, it was just the only thing I seemed to be able to do.

I just kept asking her. "What happened? God damn it Mac what happened?"

It took her forever to answer and even then I didn't get the answer I needed, or wanted.

"I don't know Wallace."

And then she started to cry, so I grabbed her keys, put her in the car and started to drive.

Its funny, but when I look back on it, she'd never even told me where to go, I just knew

The only thing in my mind was, 'please god, let it all be ok.'

But I knew it wasn't, because deep down inside I knew it was Veronica and I knew she wasn't ok.

And when we got to Veronica's I was proven correct.

Sometimes it really sucks to be right.

Dick

When Mac and Wallace got to Veronica's, Logan was still a mess.

He hadn't moved at all, it was like he was in a coma or something, he just couldn't face the truth.

They walked right in, Mac was crying, Wallace looked like he had been punched in the stomach and I knew exactly how they felt, I was feeling the same way.

They saw Logan crumpled on the floor and just stared.

I was the first to move, I just pulled Mac to me and she sunk in to my embrace. I thanked god she was ok, so I held her to me as we watched Wallace kneel next to Logan and try to bring him back to us.

"Logan?" He didn't answer. "Logan, we need you. We need to know what to do. We need you to help us find her."

With that Logan turned to look at him, but his expression was blank, that was when Wallace started to cry.

I think that was the moment Wallace realized what Veronica actually was to Logan, she was as important to Logan as she was to Wallace, if not more so. So for the first time ever, Wallace felt almost equal to Logan. He need to get through to him, for Logan's sake and Veronica's, so Wallace tried one more time through the tears.

"Logan, Veronica needs you."

And that was what brought him back.

Logan

"Veronica needs you."

I didn't know why I was on the ground, I looked around, then I stood up slowly, and that's when I remembered what had happened. Why she needed me, why my friends were standing there with tears in their eyes and why she wasn't there.

We'd been to late.

I had to fight to stay coherent, to not slip back into my catatonic state, I had to do it for her.

When I looked around the room the anger set in.

I grabbed Mac's phone from her hand, I don't know why I didn't use my own, I just needed a phone and her's was right there. So I dialed the number and he answered on the first ring.

"Miss Mackenzie I believe we agreed that you would never contact me directly."

I didn't care, fuck his rules. One simple phrase shut him up. "He took her."

He answered me almost immediately.

"Don't touch anything. Just go back to your hotel Mr. Echolls, I am on my way." And then he hung up.

I turned to the others and told them to go to the car, I followed them, took Dick keys and got behind the wheel. When we pulled in to The Grand I turned around and said the only thing that had been on my mind since CW had hung up.

"I'm going to get her back, I'm going to find her and then… I'm going to make sure that he can never touch her again."

And for the first time since it all began, they looked relieved.

Clarence Weidman

I had hoped this day would never come.

I had truly believed at one time that I would be able to keep these kids safe, but I, unfortunately, had been incorrect.

I pitied them, but I pitied that young man the most. Even as children their connection had been apparent to everyone, everyone except them that is. So I could honestly say that I hoped I would never get this call.

I had known about Duncan's failing health, I had known that he was unstable, I had even warned Mr. Kane, but he had not listened. His son was alive and safe in Australia, hidden away from the law and his health apparently hadn't mattered.

But soon after I had alerted him to the issue I was no longer asked to keep taps on Duncan. I knew he had been involved in many more altercations, however I was unable to find anymore information, Mr. Kane had found someone else for the job apparently. Who? I did not know.

When I reached Mr. Echolls suite I walked in, there was no need to knock, I was expected after all. I wasn't greeted by the teenagers in the room, they just stared at me, waiting for guidance, for a plan, for anything I could give them.

Its strange, I thought, I had spent the majority of my adult life digging up dirt, for the Kane's, solving problems before they started, even causing them when the situation called for it, on a few occasions I had needed to make problems simply go away. But I had never been faced with a situation like this before.

Because this time, I had nothing. No insight into where he would have taken her, no insight into what he would do to her, I was, for lack of a better analogy, 'out of the loop' where Duncan was concerned.

So I started simple, I turned to the one person in the room that wasn't crying or angry, the only one that seemed to be approaching the situation with a worried, but level head.

"Mr. Casablancas, I need you to tell me everything."

Meg

Meg had been sitting with CW when he had gotten the call.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but she had and she'd heard Logan's angry voice and she'd heard those three words. Those three words that nearly killed her.

He had taken her, he had really done it, he really wasn't the Duncan she'd fallen in love with.

CW just left without a word and she sat there hating herself because she probably could have stopped this. If she hadn't lied she probably could have prevented all of this.

So Meg went to the guest bedroom, pulled a large manila envelope out of her suitcase, picked up the phone and called a cab. She put on a baseball cap and sunglasses and then she sat there and waited for 15 minutes for it to arrive. When it pulled up in front of the house she walked outside and got in the backseat.

"The Neptune Grand please."

The entire way there she prayed to god that they would forgive her.

Dick

So I understand that I'm not the smartest guy in the world.

I'm not the most caring, or generous, or even compassionate one either. Most of the time I use humor in uncomfortable situations hoping I won't be expected to help out in any way. But I do know when its time to act like a human being, so I am fully aware that this was no time for humor.

That being said, I almost shit my pants when CW said my name.

I knew why he had of course, it was because for the first time in my life, I was the only one thinking clearly and believe me, I understand how unbelievably ironic that is.

But Ronnie needed my help, everyone needed my help, so I sucked it up and I told him everything.

He didn't talk the entire time he just listened and when I was done he actually thanked me, which surprised me. And just to be clear he still scares me, but that doesn't matter right now.

So there we were, just sitting there, Mac was still crying, Wallace looked like he might kill someone and Logan, well he looked like he actually was going to kill someone and I wouldn't blame him if he took it that far either.

So it was just me and CW, the two most unlikely people you would have ever considered to band together to save Veronica Mars of all people.

"Do any of you have any idea where he could have taken her?"

He was looking at me but he had directed it at everyone. Everyone else shook their head and I answered no. "Well, on my way over I took it upon my self to notify a few members of the security team at Kane Software. They are currently searching every property owned by the Kane's and if they find anything we will be notified immediately. However…"

That however didn't sound good and apparently I wasn't the only one who thought so because Logan snapped out of his anger induced daze and yelled at him.

"However what CW? However fucking what?" He was more than mad, he was on the war path.

He'd yelled so loud that Mac jumped almost a foot off the couch, so CW tried to calm him down. "However, you need to be prepared Mr. Echolls, all of you need to be prepared. I know that is not what you want to hear right now, but sadly it is the truth. I will do everything in my power to return her to you safely but you must calm down, anger will do you no good right now."

"I know." Logan responded, it wasn't an angry response it was more of an 'I already knew that' but at least it was a response. "What do we do now?"

"Well, we wait to see if my team turns anything up and I know you will be against it but I am going to notify the Kane's of the situation. They may be able to shed some light on their son's whereabouts."

Logan went to speak but CW stopped him. "I will be notifying them Mr. Echolls, you will have to except that. Miss Mackenzie, I would like you to use your computer skills to trace Duncan's credit card activity." He handed her a piece of paper with account numbers and passwords on it. "He has been using the name James Castle."

He went to say something to Wallace but he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

I got up to answer it, saw Meg standing there and I stepped to the side so she could enter, she stood right in the middle of the room, in front of everyone.

"You were not to leave the house Meg. You could have endangered yourself, you could have been seen." CW was not happy.

"I know, but I needed to show you this. I'm so sorry, I never should have lied, maybe if you had known what he was capable of you could have stopped this. Its just that I still love him qnd I was afraid of what you would do to him and I know that isn't an excuse but its all I have. This is why I went to Australia, I had to make sure Lilly was safe." When she was done she handed the envelope to Logan.

He opened it and spread everything out on the coffee table. There were surveillance photos, news articles, police reports, and medical documents. Logan took one look at them and then glared at Meg. "Where did these come from?"

"I don't know, they were on my door step one morning as I was leaving, no postage, nothing, someone had just left them. There was a note on top, it just said that it was time people stopped covering for Duncan Kane and that I should be concerned about my child. It wasn't signed so I went to Australia to see for myself. When I saw him with her he looked so normal that I thought these were fake. But now, I don't think they are. "

While she spoke I had started organizing papers.

19 reports of assault and another 5 assaults with a deadly weapon, numerous news article that had never been printed, medical records that showed high levels of brain deterioration. The parts of his brain that controlled reasoning and temper had been affected the worst. Someone had worked very hard to cover up Duncan's actions.

Logan looked up at CW. "Did you know?"

"No, I did not, someone else has been helping him and they have been doing a superb job. I was not aware of any of this."

As we sat there looking at the numerous reports and documents Meg spoke again.

"Um, that isn't it." She pulled three more reports out of her purse and handed them to Logan. "You're not gonna like this."

He laid them on the table. These were different from the rest, they were still assaults but of a different nature.

3 assaults and attempted rapes.

And as disturbing as that was on its own, the descriptions of the victims and their pictures, made me sick to my stomach.

3 different girls.

All 5'1" in height, under or around 100 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

All generic versions of Veronica.

Logan, Wallace, and I all jumped to our feet in anger. How could she not have told us about this. If we had known we might have been able to stop all of this before it had happened. If we had known we never would have let Veronica go talk to him, let alone stay in the same hotel or town for that matter.

But Mac beat us all to it.

Before we had a chance to say a single word, she stood up, walked straight up to Meg and punched her square in the nose.

Clarence Weidman

I was acutely aware that I would be taking a chance by calling in the Kane software team. Notifying Jake Kane was an even riskier move, but I had a plan, one I would not be sharing with these kids.

After seeing the documents that Meg had presented I knew I had been correct, I knew that someone at Kane Software was involved and I was also aware of who it was.

All that was left to do was wait. A mistake was inevitable, and it would steer me towards Duncan.

Neptune Grand parking lot

This wasn't the way I'd pictured it.

I hadn't thought it would get this far. I'd had faith that Meg would be a noble person and tell them the truth before anything bad could actually happen.

I hadn't known Meg was alive, I had only met her twice, but the fact that I didn't know her well wasn't important.

You see I had been in Miami about six months earlier and I had seen her on the beach.

I'd recognized her from somewhere but I just couldn't place it, so I just shrugged it off. It wasn't until later that night that I realized who she was, she had been a friend of Veronica's and she had dated Duncan Kane for awhile.

I'd been confused, wasn't she supposed to be dead? So I went back to the beach the next day hoping to see her again.

And there she was, in the exact same spot. I wasn't sure what I was going to say to her so I hung back trying to gain some courage and knowing it would probably be awkward.

When I was ready I started to walk in her direction, but I stopped when someone walked up to her and started talking to her. They hadn't called her Meg, they'd called her Lianne, which was and interesting turn of events.

I knew I hadn't been mistaken, this was Meg, I'd known it when I'd heard her voice.

But now I knew that not only was she alive, but that she was going by an assumed name.

I decided not to approach her and instead I went back to my hotel, got on the internet and Googled her name along with Neptune California.

I found all the articles about the bus crash as well as the ones about her dying after giving birth to a little girl, the little girl that Duncan Kane had fled the country with. I'd been aware of this, but my information was some what limited before.

So she had faked her death, that was obvious, but why and who had helped?

Still confused and slightly intrigued, I went back again the next day and this time I saw someone I knew very well.

Clarence Weidman was with her, which just confused me even more. But I turned around and left, immediately heading back to my hotel, if he was involved, than I definitely didn't want to be and I left Miami the next day.

But then about 2 and a half months later I came across the files on Duncan Kane. Ok, so I stole them, but that isn't important.

I was bothered by what I read, somebody had been covering up his indiscretions and that wasn't ok. Besides, he had a small daughter and that worried me.

So I went back to Miami, found her at the beach and followed her home, the next morning I left the envelope on the doorstep. I watched her pick it up and read my note, it was simple and sweet.

"It's time that people stopped covering for Duncan Kane. You should be concerned for you child's well being."

I didn't sign it, it would have just caused more problems and I just figured she would go to Australia and retrieve her daughter.

I was in Miami when she returned….without her daughter, I didn't understand. Hadn't she seen him?

But then I realized that maybe she hadn't seen anything to prove the files correct. So I left a little disappointed, but I had tried and I'd thought that counted for something.

I didn't know the trouble I had caused until I saw Duncan in the airport.

Talk about a coincidence, I wasn't even supposed to be there. I'd flown in from New York and my connecting flight to San Francisco had been delayed, but when I saw him I stayed in town.

I knew I'd screwed up, it had to have been my fault. I should have just left it alone, so in my guilt I decided to follow him and I'd stuck close the last few days.

I didn't understand why Meg hadn't told them about the files. It was obvious she hadn't, if they had known they wouldn't have let him anywhere near Veronica. I'd put to much trust in the belief that Meg would do the right thing.

When I saw Duncan throw Veronica in the car I felt guilt like I never had before and I looked over in time to see one of those PCHers take a picture and make a frantic phone call.

This time I didn't meddle, I didn't intervene, I just drove back to the Neptune Grand and sat there in my car, unable to rid myself of the feeling that it was all my fault.

I'd never meant for it to happen, I'd just thought I was helping a young mother keep her daughter safe and I swear, if I had known who had been involved, I never would have done anything.

Because the last thing I would ever do is hurt one of those kids intentionally.

So what did you think? Review please!

So who do you think was helping Duncan?

Who gave Meg the files?

And in case you have forgotten… Who has Lilly?

Got any ideas? I won't tell you if you are right but I'd love to hear what you think.

chapter 16 is will be a continuation of this chapter, but the group starts working towards finding Veronica. There is still a wide range of emotions being displayed from everyone involved. especially Logan.