Chapter Twenty

Cliff looked at his watch. He'd just arrived at the Neptune Sheriff's Department to meet with Veronica Mars...and hopefully his client. Ever since Logan Echolls had been charged and arrested for murder the first time, Cliff had been his lawyer. He still thought it was ridiculous that the son of a dead movie star who made $20 million a picture would bother with a lowly public defender like him. Then again, over the years, Cliff had come to recognize and respect that it meant more to Logan that someone be honest with him and at least consider believing him than it did to have the best representation in the world.

Moving up the steps and through the front door, Cliff knew without a doubt that Veronica Mars would already be there waiting for him. He was ten minutes late and she was always on time. Early even.

When he saw her standing at the desk, torturing Inga, he said in his best sleazy lawyer voice, "Whatever she's charged with, it was done under duress."

Immediately, the flow of words from the blonde at the desk ceased and she whirled around, a delighted grin on her face as she said, "Cliffy! One of the two men I most wanted to see. Now if Inga here would give me an ETA on seeing the other one, we'd be all set."

Giving Inga his best Fred Astaire look, Cliff sidled up to the desk and said, "You know, Inga, if Lamb goes down for breaking the law that he's sworn to uphold, you'll be going down with him. Think about it. Mr. Echolls is being denied his right to an attorney. Right here in front of you are two attorneys. Mr. Echolls has requested us both. What do you say you keep your job even if your boss gets fired and let us get on with our meeting."

Inga still hesitated but after looking over her shoulder to be sure that Sheriff Lamb truly was not around, she gave a quick nod.

"Thanks, Inga," Veronica said gratefully, stepping around the counter as Cliff flirted briefly, "If Lamb puts up a fuss, Dollface, you know I'll get you off." He gave her a look and a smarmy grin that said that he absolutely meant the double entendre that came with his words.

Moving past Veronica, Cliff became all business. As they walked swiftly down the hall toward the holding cells, he said smoothly, "Long time no see, V. You still up to no good?"

Grinning, Veronica replied, "Always, Cliffy. Now what can you tell me about this case?"

"Not much, unfortunately," he answered, slowing so he could catch her up to speed before they reached the cell where he knew he'd lose her completely. In some ways, he was sure her presence would help. In others, he was sure it wouldn't. "Two days ago, the paper ran an article in a gossip rag. Just my kind of thing, as you know," he looked at her to be sure she was following and continued when he saw that she was, "The headline read: 'Bonnie De Ville Shocker: UNFAITHFUL'. When she turned up dead the next morning, that was all Lamb needed to arrest Echolls."

Veronica cringed and they continued down the corridor. She stopped just before reaching the end and asked, "So how do you want to play this?"

Cliff shrugged but beneath his calm and typically blase demeanor, he was studying her. When he spoke, he said, "This is the first I'm seeing him. Lamb has been, shall we say, less than accommodating. He's claiming that Logan has no need for a lawyer since he hasn't yet been officially charged. So far that's been the angle used for not allowing anyone to see him. Lamb says that he has 72 hours to make his case and that he'll hold Logan without being charged, so with no bail, until every last second of that 72 hours is up."

"Bastard," Veronica muttered and Cliff nearly chuckled in response.

"Exactly," Cliff said instead. His next words were urgent and he looked down at her unwaveringly to get his point across, "We may not have much time. We both know Echolls can tell you more in two sentences than he could tell me in a lifetime. Let's make use of that. Get us information. Something we can use. I'll hang back taking notes and asking follow-ups."

"Sounds like a plan," Veronica nodded.

Cliff and Veronica started moving again. As soon as the holding cells came into view, Cliff watched the tiny blonde eyeing the inhabitants, looking for the one she wanted.

"Echolls," Cliff called in his deep and booming voice to help out, "Your defense team has arrived."

Logan immediately popped up from where he'd been laying on a bottom bunk. In three long strides, he reached the locked bars where Veronica now stood.

"Thanks for coming," Cliff heard Logan say softly. Then he watched as Veronica responded with an ironic smile, as if they were sharing some inside joke, "So does this make us even or do you owe me since I was on the other side of the country when you called and asked me to come running?"

Logan chuckled and Cliff was amazed. It seemed as if he were watching some of the stress and panic just slip away from Logan. Then he watched as an urgency and intensity filled the younger man's demeanor. He listened as Logan said, "The cheating thing. The picture, the story, it was from the night of the reunion."

A look of understanding seems to pass between them and Veronica nods, murmuring, "I wondered if it was something like that."

"We weren't even together anymore, Veronica," Logan says as if he's desperate for her to believe him. Then he adds with meaning, "I told her we were through before I went up to talk to you at the bar that night."

Nodding, she said, "Piz and I are over, too."

What that had to do with the case, Cliff had no idea but it seemed to mean something to the two at the bars. Continuing to listen, Cliff wondered if he'd hear anything else that was of benefit to the case or if they'd carry on along the personal channels.

They were silent for several moments, just staring at each other. Finally, Logan said, "She left with Casey but she said she was going to have him take her somewhere. I don't know where. She didn't want me to know."

Veronica nodded and said, "We'll start there. And Cliff will get you out as soon as he can. Hang in there, ok?"

Nodding in return, Logan responded quietly, "Be careful."

Cliff wished that he had a bucket of popcorn as he watched what happened next. Veronica stepped closer, her hands both grasping the bars. Logan, too, stepped closer, his hands both covering hers. They leaned their heads in until their foreheads touched through the bars. Something intimate passed between them as they stood there, completely still and quiet. It was as if they were silently instilling strength in each other. It was almost enough to make the cynical Cliff believe in 'true love.'

Veronica stepped back first, quirking a playful grin at Logan as she said, "You be careful, too. No letting the other prisoners molest you. I know it's tempting buuuut..."

Logan laughed and shook his head before nodding, "I'll keep that in mind. You'd better hurry, though. I can only fend them off for so long."

A chuckle came from Veronica and Cliff saw her roll her eyes as she turned back around toward him to say, "Come on, Cliff. We've got what we need for now."

Cliff gave her a puzzled look but nodded and stood, following her out. When they were in the hallway, he asked quizzically, "What was that all about?"

"You wouldn't want to know even if you would understand," Veronica replied hastily, "All you need to know is that we have several good leads and you're gonna need to work your magic to get him out as soon as you can."

Cliff gave her an admiring look, shaking his head slightly before nodding. "You kids these days. I'll never understand you. Thankfully, it's not often that I really have to try."