Chapter Forty-Nine

The imposter vehicle was parked in the drive of one Lou Cobbler, otherwise known as Cobb. In his study, a very intense conversation was going on.

"Are you crazy?!" Cobb was demanding, "This was all supposed to be a publicity stunt with elements of revenge. Now it's murder and you want to make it more? What the hell, man?! I don't get it. What's even in it for you?"

"I told you," the other voice said coldly, "I have my reasons. Now, what have you decided, Lou? Are you going to be an asset or a liability?"

The words were calm but a chill ran up Cobb's spine as they were spoken. How had he gotten himself into this mess again? And more importantly, how was he going to get himself out?

"Listen, I have my doubts about this," Cobb confided, pacing between his desk and the window, "That blonde that Echolls called in is obnoxious. She's gonna figure things out."

"Then we take care of her," the voice replied simply, "She's exposed me in the past. She won't be permitted to do so again."

"Mars? You've got a connection to Veronica Mars?" Lou sounded surprised. That revelation was definitely not something he'd expected.

The other person did not respond. Instead, the voice said in way of warning, "You have 24 hours to decide, Cobbler. And don't think I won't know if you make the wrong choice between now and then. If you do, you won't see the light of day ever again."

"What does that even mean?" Lou asked, exasperated. He knew the person he was dealing with had a flare for the dramatic but Carrie's death had been an accident. Surely he wasn't being threatened with real intentional physical harm. Was he?

Unfortunately for Lou, one of the few people who actually could have answered his internal question had already been 'handled'. It was doubtful whether Luke Haldeman would be of the mindset to see his old friend Cobb again in the next lifetime and a half or so.

While Lou stood in his home office, Luke sat with carefully bandaged hands at the desk in his cubicle at Avi Kaufman's financial firm. If things didn't straighten out soon, he might have to go on the run. Straight to Mexico.

Sean, for his part, was doing his damndest to stay alive and stay out of trouble. Of course, considering the vast amount of danger he was already in, he was really just trying to keep ahead of the curve.

He'd known when that bitch, Mars, had shown back up things were gonna get sticky. If he played his cards right, though, and stuck to the plan, Mars and that biker bastard would go down with the ship. He had to hand it to his mentor. He was certainly the king of sleazy schemes.

Now, to put the next piece of their puzzle into motion…

Stepping into the Balboa County Sheriff's Department, Sean moved toward the desk. He stopped when he saw Inga on the phone answering a call and Deputy Sacks standing beside her with stapler and a closed file in hand.

"Can I help you?" Sacks asked, looking toward Sean with guarded gaze.

"I'd like to report my wallet missing," Sean stated easily. "I just noticed it was gone this morning but the last I recall seeing it was the Neptune High reunion."

Sacks looked skeptical, "You've been without your wallet for about a week and you're just now figuring it out?"

"What can I say?" Sean smirked, "A man like me has no need for cards or cash. My reputation precedes me."

Appearing for a moment as though he really wanted to make some sort of snarky remark, Sacks hurriedly schooled his features and grabbed a clipboard and lost items report form. When the document was completed, Sean turned and left again.

Now it was time to plant the evidence. If he'd known when he agreed to this shit how much work it would end up being, he would probably never have said he'd participate. But after Carrie had underestimated his ability to harm her, he no longer had a choice in the matter.

He'd done what he was asked and then some. Now he just needed to bide his time and avoid detection.