A/N: Personally, I enjoy Veronica/Logan angst, but I know not everyone does. It's how they operate, but there will be resolution...eventually. I thought posting the last 2 chapters alone would be a downer, so I waited to post all of them until I had this-much lighter-chapter ready. Thanks for sticking with it!
"Now are you going to tell me why we're dressed like this?"
"'Cause it's Girls Night?" replied Veronica, irking Mac further.
"Since when are we girly? And these heels are the epitome of girly," Mac said as they waited outside the front door of Mac's dorm at Hearst on Friday night.
"Mac, you're rockin' those heels! And that dress—who knew you had such stylish taste?"
"Veronica, you brought me these clothes."
"Damn, apparently I have stylish taste then." The girls did look great. Veronica was wearing a short blue dress with one angular strap and Mac had on a sleek shimmery silver and black dress.
"People are looking at us." Mac said eyeing the slouchy pajama wearing college students going in and out of her dorm.
"Let the slobs look on. They're jealous."
"And the reason we're outside waiting for a cab instead of driving to dinner?"
"You're awful grumpy for Girls Night, Mac. I haven't seen you all summer and you're going to mope all night?"
"Oh, I'm so stupid! I just got it, V. You've been gone to long, I'm getting rusty. We're on a case, right? You told me we're going out to catch up, but really we're just doing some sleuthing?"
"You are getting rusty. Seriously—you just now caught on?" she said with a smile. "But no. First, we are going to do some sleuthing, then we're going to catch up properly."
"Can't believe you got me into this dress without figuring out we're on a case! Again, why no car? Would our cars identify us easily? Would our college tags keep us out?"
"Easy with the questions there, Mac. I opted for a cab because we are going somewhere familiar where there's a slight chance our cars could be recognized and because after we solve this case I plan on us getting completely sloshed."
"I'm sorry, sloshed? As in too drunk to drive ourselves home? Hi, I'm Cindy MacKenzie, I don't think we've met," Mac said with extending her hand for a handshake while rolling her eyes.
Veronica slapped five with Mac's outstretched hand instead. "Twenty bucks says you're too drunk to get behind the wheel by the end of the night."
"You're on!" Mac said. "Uh, wait, what exactly does sleuthing for your case involve?"
"Well, I didn't get you all dolled up for nothin.'"
After the cab pulled up, the driver asked for a destination.
"The Neptune Grand," Veronica said.
Mac raises an eyebrow in suspicion.
"A lady came by the office. She thinks her middle-aged husband is having affairs with younger women. He and his co-workers always go to the bar at the Grand after work on Fridays for a few drinks. She's had two friends on separate occasions having dinner there tell her they saw the husband meeting up with a well-dressed woman in her twenties for drinks. And then he and the girl leave his group of friends and go up to a hotel room."
"So, we're just going to take pictures of them, right?"
"Yes, if he meets up with someone, absolutely. The thing is, the description of the two women he has met don't match up. The wife thinks he's meeting the girls at the bar."
"So, we're bait?"
"Yes," Veronica confesses holding her hands up as though Mac might hit her.
Mac laughed, then asked, "Well, what are you going to do if he hits on you?"
"I guess I'd flirt a little to find out the story and give you time to take some pictures."
"But you wouldn't give it time to go any further?"
"No way, Mac! And I wouldn't ask that of you either. Don't let him touch you or anything. The wife is already suspicious. She wants to make sure these stories from friends are legit before she files for divorce. She just needs confirmation, not damning evidence."
"I don't think it's likely even some creepy old dude is going to flirt with me over you."
Veronica couldn't believe Mac thought this. "Girl, I don't know how to break this to you, but you're hot. And did you just say 'dude'?"
Mac laughed which made Veronica laugh. The taxi pulled up to the Grand and the girls got out and headed toward the bar.
"I wonder where Logan and Dick are tonight," Mac said as they settled on barstools with a clear view of the restaurant. "Think they're upstairs?"
"Nope," Veronica said matter of fact. "The Pi Sigs have some back to school party tonight and I know they are both going to be there until dawn."
"Not that we could have invited them down here. I'm sure your cheater would overlook us if we were with guys. But I know Logan hates you doing any espionage without being within shouting distance."
Ah, Logan. Thankfully, the bartender made his way over to them as Mac was saying this. Yes, a drink is in order.
Mac tells him, "I'll have a mojito, and she'll have—"
"Whatever she wants," says the bartender, nametag Dave, recognition in his eyes.
"Well, aren't we attentive," says Veronica looking crossways at Mac.
"Damn good service here at the Grand," Mac says with a sarcastic smile to Veronica.
"No, I mean yes, but" the cute bartender looks embarrassed as he rifles through papers behind the bar and produces a flyer as he says, "I'm sorry, I wasn't being a jerk when I said that. It's just these were up everywhere today."
Both girls become wide-eyed and then laugh out-loud . The poster is a picture of Veronica with the words: "GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE WANTS TODAY."
"Where did you get this?" Mac asked Dave, still laughing.
"Seriously, they were everywhere—by the time clock, in every employee restroom stall, and at all the staff desks."
Veronica wrings her hands Mr. Burns style, "Oh, the power!"
"Calm down, She-ra. No, but where did they come from?" Mac asked him, clarifying.
"I guess from our new owner. He puts up hand-written Xeroxed memos like this sometimes. They're all about as weird as this one. I don't think he knows we all have email."
"From Dick?" they both ask. Mac more surprised than Veronica. It really worked to her advantage that she was working two cases at the Grand tonight.
"Yeah, Dick Casablancas. You guys friends or something?"
"Or something," they both answer, then smile at each other.
"Okay, then. So what'll it be?" he asks her. "Apparently, the sky's the limit."
"I'll take an amaretto sour, put her mojito on this tab, and how about some hummus and pita chips?" she said looking at Mac, who nodded in agreement.
"And a dinner menu," said Mac. The girls smiled mischievously at one another then the bartender.
"What in the world would possess him to do that?" Mac asked her.
"I told him I was going to work a case here tonight, but, wow," Veronica said, hoping her forced enthusiasm was believable to Mac.
"Hey, what's your guy look like anyway?" Mac said, nodding toward a group of 6 forty and fifty year olds who sat down at a large table.
That was all the distraction Veronica needed. She whipped out her phone and found a picture to show Mac. "Bruce Yates. Dark hair, white at the temples, moustache, balding on top, expensive watch and suits."
"Target acquired," said Mac recognizing one of the men as one of the ones from the photograph. "Now what?"
"Now we drink and catch up," Veronica smiled clinking the glass from Dave to Mac's.
"And that's how it ended? You cried, he held you, then he just drove you home? Major letdown, Mars."
"You're telling me," she admitted, "But I get it. Honestly, I was more surprised he didn't lose it right away. That's what my dad did."
"Yeah, well you'd still better check in with him tonight. I think he's made some good changes, but an alcohol fueled party meltdown is still on the list of possible outcomes."
"You're right, I'll call him later."
"How are we doing here, ladies," Dave was back checking in on them. They had both only had two drinks and were thinking heavily about ordering dinner.
"We're good Dave," Veronica said, "be sure you're drinking something on Dick too."
"Hey, thanks," he said appreciatively. "So I know this will sound like a weird question," he said turning to Mac, "but are you candy?"
"I'm sorry. What?"
"Candy? Like, is your name Candy?"
Mac starts to tell him no, but Veronica quickly chimes in, "Who wants to know?"
"Well, this guy in the gray suit over there," he points discretely, "gave me a good tip and asked me to ask if you were Candy?"
Both girls turn towards where Dave is pointing. It's definitely the geezer table, and Bruce Yates is one of two men in a gray suit.
Mac quickly rolls her eyes at Veronica, but tells Dave, "If it's the guy with the moustache, then yes, I'm Candy."
"Alright then," said Dave. "This is for you," he places a drink in front of her.
Veronica quickly whispers to Dave, "You made this yourself?"
"Yeah." You can never be too careful.
"Okay, Mac," Veronica whispers, "thank him for the drink."
Mac exhaled dramatically, but raised her glass and smiles over at the table and gives a small wave. Bruce waves back and beckons for her to join him.
"Looks like he prefers brunettes," said Veronica smiling.
Mac is not amused. "Make quick work of these pictures, V. I'm giving this five minutes tops."
As Mac made her way over to Bruce's table, a young attractive guy steals her barstool and begins chatting with Veronica.
"Hi, I'm Rob,"
"Hi, I'm taken."
He laughs. "Okay, Taken, I can still buy you a drink, right?" He motions for Dave.
Veronica, seeing her friend now sitting at a table of strange men, desperately wants to be able to focus all her attention, not to mention the camera, on Mac.
He tells the bartender, "I'll take a Guinness and the lady would like-?"
"The lady would like you to leave me the hell alone."
Dave is a little surprised. The blond has seemed pretty friendly all night. When Rob doesn't leave Veronica prompts, "Dave, what does your flyer say?"
"I'm sorry sir, I'm going to have to ask you to sit somewhere else, or I will have you escorted out." Rob takes the bartender seriously and moves along.
"Thanks," she says as she takes out her camera and starts taking pictures of Mac and an overly friendly Mr. Yates. "Have you seen this guy before?" Veronica asks Dave, not bothering to hide what she is doing. Bruce Yates is preoccupied.
"Yeah, he's in here all the time. He always starts out with his friends and leaves with a pretty girl with a strange name."
"Would you mind telling that to his wife, if necessary?" Veronica asks putting the camera down and motioning for Mac to come back to the bar.
"Hey, for you, anything," he says with a smile.
Veronica's phone chirps; she's got a text message.
Dick: The asshole has landed. Headed for the bar.
Veronica doesn't wait for Mac to make it back to the bar. She rushes over to Mac, who abruptly stood up and is trying to excuse herself from the group. Veronica ushers her into the hallway by the kitchen.
"Hey, I got your signal. I was getting out of there as quick as I could," Mac said.
"Well, it wasn't quick enough," Veronica said, slightly out of breath.
"Bruce Yates thinks I'm a hooker," Mac said annoyed at her friend.
"Yeah, Dave kind of confirmed that at the bar while you were gone," Veronica said apologetically. "I'm sorry you had to go sit with them. But you look great in the pictures that will make his wife a rich woman."
"It's fine, he didn't touch me. That doesn't explain why we're hiding in a hallway."
"It doesn't?" she said, ushering her through the kitchen. Veronica saw one of the 'GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE WANTS TODAY' posters taped up in the kitchen. She snatched it. It would either be helpful or fodder for future jokes.
"No, Veronica. It doesn't. Now why are we in the hotel offices?"
"We're not in the offices; we're in the security department." Veronica said leading her to a bank of video feeds.
"Okay, why are we in the security department? I thought this case was sown up."
"That case is sown up. I'm actually working two cases tonight," she admitted.
"I don't understand," Mac said. "What's your second case?"
"Mac," she said as she sat down, "Where's Max tonight?"
"He told me he was going out with friends. Why?"
"Well, he's only out with one friend, Wendy. And last week he made a reservation for them here."
"Veronica, I know Max is friends with Wendy, and it's okay that they are eating here. I'm not the crazy jealous type."
"No, not a reservation at the restaurant, Mac, a reservation at the Grand. A room."
"Oh," Mac said as she sat down too.
"I kept thinking he reserved the room to surprise you. I kept thinking he'd ask you and then I'd drop you off here later tonight. You've got to believe I wouldn't have let it go this far, if I had really thought he was sneaking around on you."
"What made you even suspect?" Mac started.
"Well, Logan called me the night that you two argued at his party. He said Dick saw him flirting with Wendy and you were obviously upset. Then I got my Dad to check her out while I was gone—"
"Your dad? Logan, Dick, and Sherriff Mars all know my boyfriend has been cheating on me?" she sounded close to tears.
"Mac, no one knew anything for sure until tonight."
"Why? What happened tonight?"
Veronica hung her head and said, "They just checked in the hotel and headed toward the bar."
Mac was furious and embarrassed. "Where?" she asked, maybe just to herself, as she scanned all the video cameras in front of her.
Sure enough, she saw Max and Wendy snuggled up in the corner spot at the bar. Mac didn't like the camera angle, so she sat down at the desk to adjust the settings.
In the same moment, an irate security guard walked into the office. "What do you two think you're doing in here?"
Mac panicked, and stood up, but Veronica put a hand on her shoulder and eased her back into the seat. "We're commandeering your security equipment for a little while, is that okay?" Veronica flipped over the flyer she had in hand and held it up for the guard.
"Fine," he said tersely after reading the familiar sign. "But I'm staying right here."
"We wouldn't have it any other way," Veronica said sweetly. "Mac? What's the plan dear? Are we leaving?"
Mac was mesmerized by the video feed. She knew Max was a friendly, touchy-feely guy, but she was staring at evidence that he was also a cheater. Long gone were the platonic glances and touches; they were kissing. He had kissed Mac just yesterday.
"Not a chance," Mac said menacingly.
"Divide and conquer then?" Veronica asked.
"Yep. You know which one I want."
"On it," Veronica said. She turned to the security guard, "What's the phone extension for the bartender?"
He sighed, hating to be dictated to by two young girls, but he thought the brunette really did look troubled. And unfaithfulness hits a nerve with everyone. "4236," he says.
"Dave," Mac hears Veronica say as she exits the security office.
Mac walks back towards the bar, seething with anger. She's not even upset about losing Max. She already knew they were finished. She's upset that he lied to her, upset that she was fooled by yet another man she cared about.
Mac watched Wendy head toward the front desk, wondering what Veronica told the bartender. She walked right up to Max, tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Hello, Max. Fancy meeting you here."
"Mac!" Max gasped as he saw her. "Wow, you look great, Sweetie. What are you doing here?" He looked around nervously, anxious Wendy would return.
"Oh, you know, just grabbing a drink with a friend. How about you?"
"The same actually," Mac noticed he relaxed a little. He thought he was getting away with it.
"Actually, your friend is meeting with my friend right now. You know Veronica, right?" His mouth dropped open. He knew he'd been caught. And he knew all too well what Veronica was capable of. Mac continued, "Let me be clear, we're finished. Don't call me ever again."
"Mac! It's not like that! Wendy and I are just friends!"
Mac exhaled and looked him straight in the eye. "See, I was going to be mature about all of this, until you lied to me just then. I know you rented a room here. I just saw you with your tongue down her throat. You are going to regret telling me lies."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Max, you'd better get back in school. I've been frustrated for a while that you changed from an entrepreneur to a completely aimless slacker, but I tried to stick it out and encourage you. It looks like I'm going to have to be a little more persuasive."
"What does any of that have to do with Wendy?"
"Wendy is used to a certain lifestyle. Prostitutes like her, even former ones, are used to a disposable income. You're not going to be able to support her in the way she is accustomed as an unemployed college dropout."
"You wouldn't—"
"I will. You're entire business is illegal and I'm one of the few people that know all the key players. All the shady TAs on your payroll, all the athletes and other students who use your services each semester. I won't go to the police, but Nish over at the school paper is going to have a damn fine front page story come Monday morning."
"Mac, I'm sorry—"
"Yes, you are," she said curtly and rose to leave, "and I'm sorry it took so long for me to see that."
Meanwhile, at the front desk, Veronica stopped Wendy as she was making her way to the phone.
"Hey, there's no emergency. Sorry to scare you, but no one is on the phone."
"Veronica?" she says surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Actually, I'm working a case. I just caught a whore making out with my best friend's boyfriend," she said pointedly.
"You're wrong," she said, obviously stung, "Max broke up with Mac; they broke up at a party here a few weeks ago."
"Actually, you're wrong. They didn't break up at the party. In fact, Mac and Max went out just last night. Though, I'm pretty sure she's at the bar dumping him right now."
"I had no idea," she said sincerely.
"No," Veronica said, with more compassion, "it appears that you didn't."
"I've gotta' go talk to Max," Wendy said, dazed, walking back towards the bar.
She ran into Mac, as she stormed out of the bar.
"Mac! I had no idea! He told me you broke up!"
"We just did, so he's all yours!" Then Mac looked at her, and saw she looked truly shocked and upset, "But Wendy," she continued, "you deserve better than someone who is going to lie to you. Don't settle for someone who's going to treat you like that."
Mac walked away from her, not wanting to continue the conversation. She spotted Veronica at the front desk and stood beside her.
"You're asking me to evict a hotel guest?" the front desk clerk asked Veronica. Unfortunately, this unfamiliar stodgy lady was not impressed with Veronica's flyer. "I'm going to have to call the manager on duty."
"Call the owner! He's the one who's giving me free reign here!" said a frustrated Veronica as the clerk went behind a door. She saw Mac standing beside her and put her arm lightly across her shoulder. To her surprise, Mac laid her head down on Veronica's shoulder.
"I'm all for getting sloshed now, please," Mac said quietly.
"I would have gladly given you the twenty bucks. This is not the way I wanted to win that bet."
The door opened and the frumpy lady did not reappear.
"Jeff Ratner," Veronica said acidly as he took her place behind the computer.
"I should have known," he mumbled, "What can I do for you tonight, Miss Mars?"
"I want the occupants of room 408 evicted."
"No problem," Jeff said.
"I'm sorry. Come again?" said a disbelieving Veronica.
"It will be taken care of. The staff of the Grand is under strict orders to help you in any way possible tonight. And actually, Helga had a note not to let them check in at all unless…let me find my note.…'that four eyed loser was with a smoking hot girl with purple streaks in her hair.' The gentleman checked in alone; he said his date was in the car."
Mac and Veronica looked at each other and stifled a laugh.
"Well…thank you, Jeff," she said. And then she got greedy, "And I'd like a few room service menus and a copy of a key to the Presidential Suite."
He rolled his eyes at her, but made the key and handed it over with some menus, "As you wish."