Chapter Thirty-Six
Back at the Mars residence, Mac had just finished her search into Avi Kaufman and the celebrities' finances. From what she'd found, it looked to be a fairly solid lead. Shepherd and Bell's previous accountant's firm had been bought out by Avi Kaufman's group several years before. Justin Long had engaged a financial advisor full time early on in his career. It was that trusted confidante who had hired Avi Kaufman to be the star's accountant with the understanding that nothing was to be done without the express written consent of both the advisor and Justin Long himself.
Helen Slayton-Hughes had been a little harder to figure out. She had long since put her fortune into several trusts, bonds, and IRAs. Any and all information about the beneficiaries was cryptic. Mac was having a lot of trouble making sense of it. There also appeared to be several firms handling the various transactions with no one accountant having knowledge of all the ways in which Ms. Slayton-Hughes preferred to manage her money. The only remote connection that Mac could find was the fact that several of her manager's other clients used Kaufman as an accountant.
She was getting frustrated with her endeavor when the door opened and she watched a very weary and emotionally drained looking Logan and Veronica enter the home.
"Hey, Guys," Mac said, pushing herself back from the computer for a much needed break as she said, "Vee, your dad just left a little bit ago. We couldn't connect Slayton-Hughes with Avi Kaufman really but he decided to go check it out anyway."
Veronica nodded as she took a seat across from Mac at the table and planted her head face down into her palms. Mac looked at Logan questioningly as he moved to the fridge to grab and crack a beer. Sitting where Keith had sat that morning, he said blandly, "It was a rough morning."
"I see that," Mac observed dryly, watching Veronica as she hoped for more of an explanation than that.
Lifting her head, Veronica asked tiredly, "You at a point where you could work a little computer magic for us?"
"Sure," Mac agreed, readying herself at her keyboard again, "What do you need me to look up?"
"We need to know names, numbers, and addresses for everyone who had access to Carrie's apartment whether she was there or not," Veronica replied.
Glancing over at Veronica with concern for a moment, Logan then looked back at Mac and added, "Her maid, the maintenance guy, the property manager. Not sure who else."
"Also need to know if there's a record of when each of them last entered her place," Veronica continued, then looked toward Logan and said, "We forgot to ask if the corridors have video surveillance. Maybe Cliff will know..."
Logan nodded and reached a hand to squeeze Veronica's shoulder. She gave him a small and reassuring smile before covering his hand with hers.
"This is gonna take me awhile," Mac stated before suggesting, "I'm sure you two could take some time to get some sleep while I'm working on it if you want."
As tempting as it sounded, Veronica shook her head and explained, "We still haven't managed to see Carrie's manager. I think we'll see if we can get a word in with him while we're waiting for your miraculous fingers to do their work."
"Ok," Mac said doubtfully before quipping ruefully, "Just remember, man cannot live on sex alone. That goes for women, too."
Logan chuckled while Veronica glared at her friend and said dryly, "We'll try to remember that."
Forty-five minutes later, the couple were waiting in the sparse but richly furnished reception area of Cobbler & Son Management Agency. The small room was comfortable and welcoming with refreshments and reading material available for those who were easily impatient and displeased at any delays.
They were still sitting there twenty minutes later when the receptionist came to apologize to them. "I'm so sorry," said the mousy-looking middle-aged woman whose metal name display stated that her name was Janet Hoover. "Both Mr. Cobblers are occupied. They have full schedules for the whole day. I thought when you arrived that one of them may be able to fit you in. It's not looking like that will be possible. If you return around 4pm, you should be able to catch Mr. Cobbler Sr. between his last appointment of the day and his first dinner conference."
"Thanks," Veronica said with a polite smile, "We'll be sure to do that."
Back outside just a few minutes later, Veronica put a hand on Logan's arm just as he was about to pull out of the parking space. "Wait," she said quietly, her eyes glued to something in the mirror behind them.
"What is it?" Logan asked, trying to see what she was seeing without turning around.
"I think I saw that guy at the reunion," Veronica replied. She adjusted the mirror a bit, hoping he'd be able to see better before asking, "Is that Carrie's manager?"
"Yeah," Logan confirmed, "That's Lou."
"How would you feel about following him for awhile?" Veronica asked with a wicked grin.
"I could be up for that," Logan replied gamely, continuing to watch the other man in his rearview mirror.
"Think you can be subtle enough to not get us caught?" Veronica questioned with quirked eyebrow. Her expression told him loud and clear that she wasn't sure he'd changed enough to understand subtle.
"If you can give directions, I can follow them," Logan smirked as he replied smartly.
Rolling her eyes, Veronica said, "Fine," then directed, "When he backs out, wait till he leaves the parking lot. Once he's on the main drag, you can head in the same direction. Just make sure you stay three to four cars behind or at least two cars back from him in the other lane."
"Got it," Logan replied. He intently watched the man he'd only met on a few occasions as he got into his late model jackass yellow mustang convertible. Feeling Veronica's eyes on him when she saw the color of the vehicle, the corners of Logan's lips twitched and he commanded dryly, "Don't even say it."
Grinning, Veronica watched as the man pulled out and headed east on the Santa Monica Highway. "Alright, now," she directed.
They pulled out onto the highway and Logan followed Cobbler exactly how Veronica had described. Unfortunately, after spending the afternoon watching him enter a recording studio, visit two film sets, have drinks and coffee with another client or two, and then head back to the office, Logan and Veronica were convinced the man was on the up and up.
Waiting ten minutes after he went upstairs to go back up themselves, Veronica remarked in the elevator, "Maybe we can make up for the wasted afternoon with some useful facts now."
"I guess we'll find out soon," Logan returned as the elevator stopped on the eighth floor and they once again exited into the reception area.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've returned!" Ms. Hoover exclaimed eagerly upon seeing the blonde and her companion again. "Mr. Cobbler Jr. just returned and has said he is able to make time to see you now."
Sharing a questioning look at their unusual streak of 'luck', Veronica smiled gratefully at the woman and played up her response with bubbly excitement, "That's so wonderful! How did he manage to find time for us?"
Pleased that the young woman seemed as happy as she was, Ms. Hoover gushed enthusiastically, "When he saw your signatures on the visitor log, he recognized Mr. Echolls' name as well as yours. He immediately cleared some time for you. Are you here about Ms. De Ville?"
Veronica pursed her lips but kept her mouth shut as Logan turned on the Echolls charm and stepped forward to take the receptionist's hand. He held it in both of his and said earnestly, "Yes. It's such a shame what happened. Have you heard how her family and friends are taking the loss?"
Fairly swooning at the attention she was receiving, Janet Hoover lifted her free hand to her heart. Trying not to giggle like a schoolgirl with how flattered she was, she said, "Oh, of course. She and her family were on the outs. Mr. Cobbler has had to speak with them extensively regarding her contract and career. It's such a pity her life was cut so short!"
"It is a pity," Logan agreed with a concerned nod. He released her hand and stepped closer to gently place his hands at her shoulders. "Do you know, Ms. Hoover, if they blame me? Do they believe the lie that I murdered their daughter?"
Ms. Hoover had obviously forgotten the headlines somehow. Veronica chuckled under her breath with amusement when she saw the startled look of realization on the other woman's face. She paled a bit and hesitated. Veronica could practically narrate the other woman's thoughts as she visibly debated whether she believed the allegations or not.
Finally, Ms. Hoover gave a less certain and more subdued smile and answered, "I...don't know what they believe, Mr. Echolls. That's something you would have to ask them yourself."
The door leading to the main offices opened and the interaction with the secretary abruptly ended. Both Cobbler men stood there and welcomed them, ushering them into a waiting conference room before speaking.
With the door closed for privacy, the two men motioned their guests to have a seat. The elder of the two gentlemen took a seat as well while the younger went to a small refrigerator in the corner and asked, "Beverage anyone?"
"I'll have a S'kist if you have it," Veronica responded as she took the seat beside Logan, giving a small smile and nod to the father of the pair as he took his place at the head of the table.
"Just a water for me, thanks," Logan answered easily, first looking over his shoulder to the man who had spoken to them and then back at the man who had taken his seat.
Once the drinks were provided, the younger Mr. Cobbler took the seat across from Logan and diagonal to his father. Setting a bubbling cola in front of himself, the younger Cobbler said with feigned sincerity, "It's good to see you, Logan. How are you holding up?"
"As well as could be expected, Lou," Logan replied, the strain of the day difficult to mask although he tried.
"Good, good," the other man said with a nod, "We were concerned when you were arrested. Does your presence here mean that nasty business of murder has been taken care of?"
"Working on it," Logan answered, assurance in his tone. "Actually, Lou," he turned to the senior to include him as well, "That's why we're here. Before the fight broke out, I noticed you at the Neptune High reunion. Did you see Carrie there? Did you happen to notice who she took off with?"
Veronica thought she caught...something...in Lou's eyes before he answered but she wasn't quite sure what it was. She paid attention carefully as she listened to him answer.
"Yes, of course I saw Carrie at the reunion," Lou scoffed condescendingly, "But no, I didn't see who she left with. I assumed it was you."
His words explained the look Veronica had seen. Interjecting, she asked, "Lou, is it? Did you have a bit of a torch burning for Ms. De Ville? Or Ms. Bishop, rather?"
Lou glared at her coldly and replied with disdain, "I'm a professional. And who are you? Oh wait, you were at Neptune High as well, weren't you? Nefarious reputation at best."
Explaining his son's words to the father, the blonde introduced herself, "Veronica Mars." Holding her hand out in her most 'professional' manner, she suggested with a slight smile, "Perhaps you've heard of Mars Investigations? I'm assisting Mr. Echolls with his case."
The elder Cobbler inspected Veronica closely, then spoke for the first time. "Your father was sheriff in Neptune awhile back. You helped him solve the Lilly Kane murder."
Veronica's eyes shifted immediately and caught Logan's for a split second before she nodded and confirmed, "Yes. That would be me."
Curiously, the older man asked her inscrutably while his son sat there fuming, "Are we to assume, then, that you believe Mr. Echolls to be innocent?"
"Were you to make that assumption," Veronica said confidently, "You would assume correctly." She studied the older gentleman carefully before adding fervently, "Mr. Cobbler, I've known Logan Echolls since I was 12-years-old. He has done a lot of stupid things in his life but a murderer he is not. He's been cleared several times in the past and I assure you, he WILL be cleared this time as well."
Mr. Cobbler nodded slowly, catching both the fiery determination in the blonde's blue eyes and the brief instant of vulnerability mixed with something more in the eyes of the man sitting next to her. "Well then," he said, "What can we do to help you out?"