Chapter Twenty-Two

Keith nodded when Cliff entered the apartment. Then he went back to the discussion he was having with Mac and Wallace while Cliff grabbed himself a beer and joined them.

"Any ideas what Casey Gant is up to these days?" Keith asked.

"He didn't exactly run in our circles, Mr. Mars," Wallace stated doubtfully with a shake of his head.

Mac shook her head as well and said, "He's not in IT. That much is for sure. I've made it my business to know my competition, at least along this coast, and that's definitely not him."

Keith looked to Cliff expectantly, watching over his shoulder as Logan and Veronica came in to join them. Apparently Cliff had skirted around the pair to get in the door before them. The thought made him shake his head silently. His daughter had never been able to show any sound judgment or restraint when Logan Echolls was near.

"Don't look at me," Cliff said smoothly, "I've done my part. It's up to all of you to find the proof to clear his name."

"What are we talking about?" Veronica asked, her hand still in Logan's as they approached, both still standing since there were no more chairs available.

"Casey Gant," Wallace answered.

"Do either of you know where to find Casey Gant now?" Keith asked, looking at the pair expectantly.

Veronica looked up at Logan, who said, "I can ask Dick. He may know. And if not," he glanced apologetically at Veronica but said, "Madison Sinclair would know. She sent out all the invitations for the reunion."

Grimacing and wrinkling her nose, Veronica volunteered, "Logan and I can go talk to Dick." She turned to Wallace and Mac and suggested, "Why don't you two go talk to Madison. Maybe she'll be more willing to speak with you than I'm sure she would be if she saw me."

Quirking a brow at his daughter questioningly, Keith asked lightly but with a slight warning to his words, "Honey. Have you changed your mind about who would be taking the lead here?"

She visibly hesitated but then said, "No, dad, of course not. It's just that..." she looked at Mac and Wallace and then up at Logan before finishing with a bit of embarrassment and a bit of pride, "I kinda punched Madison at the reunion. Pretty sure that didn't do anything to help endear me to her."

Mac was the only one in the room that had known what had happened and even she hadn't seen all that had gone down. The others alternately snickered, murmured comments of approval or disapproval depending on who it was, and simply shook their heads. "And old rivalry, I take it?" Keith asked, certain there was more to the situation with Madison than he was aware.

"Something like that," Veronica responded cryptically. Her gaze rose to Logan's while Wallace gave her a knowing look. Keith caught both and made a mental note to ask Wallace for more details later. And if Wallace wouldn't spill, he knew that Logan would if it was a matter of keeping Veronica safe. Granted, if he couldn't convince Logan that him not knowing could leave Veronica vulnerable to danger, Keith may never know what was between his daughter and Madison Sinclair.

"Alright," Keith agreed reluctantly, "but you kids be safe. Keep me informed."

"What are you and Cliff gonna be working on?" Veronica asked curiously.

"We're gonna work on tracking down the source of that article."