The Mars Investigations Office was a small repurposed studio of what used to be ministerial apartments that had been bought over by a development firm for commercial use when the residential area became less favourable after the wealth distribution of its congregation went from a healthy diverse populous to a town without the middle class. The have not's had slowly watched the 03 side of town slip from family neighbourhoods into a seedy strip mall. Or at least, that's how Keith Mars had explained it to Veronica.
The legacy from this ministerial background was the stained glass windows and impressive views, what had once been prime real estate was now under threat from demolition if it hadn't been for the several small businesses determined to scrap out a living for their families. Daisy Blossom, her father's intern, was in the small office kitchen when Veronica arrived and the radio was cranked up blaring out Eagle-eyed Cherry – Save Tonight.
"I got us some Lamb madras and Vegetarian Balti from Babylon Gardens" Daisy smiled as Veronica finally arrived at the office.
"Anyone ever tell you that you look like Tristin Mays?" Veronica smiled as she saw Daisy pull her long black hair into a messy bun.
"Only nearly every time a guy tries to hit on me" she laughed.
"I brought us some ice-cream and chocolate sauce" Veronica told her as she put the small bag into the fridge.
"I've been thinking about ice-cream all day… the air-conditioning unit in here broke this afternoon, of course now it's starting to get cold… so you can't really win" she smiled as she pulled out a few plates.
"How are you settling in?" Veronica asked quietly as she walked over to the small air-conditioning unit. Running her hands around the edges, flicked a switch and gave it a small tap on the right hand side, it jolted a little and a small hum of warm air began to flow out.
"Huh…" Daisy mused. "Guess there's a knack to that thing after all" handing Veronica a fork.
"I don't know how I knew that" she smiled back.
"Memory is a funny thing" Daisy told her as she returned to the other seat at the desk with some sodas. "I assume that's why you came down?" she asked softly.
"Yeah… I just wanted to be in familiar surroundings… without the pressure… try and see if it could trigger something" Veronica agreed.
…and get into the safe.
"Yeah I know what you mean… your dad is great… but he does seem a tad…" Daisy commented.
"Overprotective?" she suggested.
"Yeah" and the two exchanged a small smile. "Well, you picked a good night.. because I was for going down to the basement to drag that old radiator up if that heater hadn't been working" Daisy joked.
The two girls ate their food and exchanged stories of Keith Mars and Daisy showed her around the office a little more. Parts of it came to her instinctually and she even took over the phone for a little while, noting down the relevant systems and passwords for future sleuthing on her own at home.
"So you are studying criminology?" Veronica asked as she washed the small plates in the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm a forensics major" Daisy confirmed. "I know… I don't look like someone who would be spending their time in a lab coat" she joked.
"How did you get involved with Cliff?" Veronica asked.
"My roommate's Mom and Cliffy used to have a thing a few years ago" she explained as she dried the coffee cups and put them back in the cupboard. There wasn't a lot of space in the small kitchen, so it had to be kept clean. "He's cool… a bit… eccentric but I got into some trouble with campus police a few months back and he helped me out"
"He's good at that" Veronica smiled before she passed her the final plate. "Can I ask a random question?"
"Tattoos are a bad idea before College and I am not telling you where I got mine" Daisy joked.
"It's more a crime question" Veronica admitted.
"Okay… you thinking about breaking the law?" she asked.
"No… I was just wondering about Crimes of Passion" Veronica told her. "How you could tell from like evidence.."
"Like from a crime scene?" Daisy said raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah" Veronica prompted.
"I guess… it's because it feels more extreme? Like someone went beyond what was necessary… it feels personal?" Daisy explained uncomfortably.
"Like blunt force trauma to the head and smashing in someone's skull?" Veronica asked.
"Is this about your friend?" Daisy sighed and the radio switched to play What I Am by Edie Blackwell.
"I've just been thinking about it, my school has a memorial this Friday.. I'm just trying to understand why it happened" Veronica admitted.
"Maybe somethings are best forgotten" Daisy advised.
"Could you let it go?" Veronica asked simply.
"Probably not" Daisy smiled.
"There's a case file in my dad's safe.." Veronica said quietly, her blue eyes boring into Daisy's.
"And you want to have a look" Daisy sighed.
"I just… would feel better knowing all the facts" Veronica told her, her tone was pleading.
Daisy looked at the petite blond in front of her and hung her head in defeat. She knew what it was like to be unable to let a mystery go, her high school boyfriend Gustavio Toomes had gone missing after a rivalry with the Fitzpatrick's during their senior year and his body had never been found. It was part of what had drawn Daisy to the forensics field in the first place, trying to track down any possible trace… and if she couldn't trying to get the proof to help someone else get justice.
"You aren't going to let this go are you?" Daisy commented and she shook her head. "Okay… but I wasn't involved in this" she relented and the two girls went to office safe and Daisy left her alone to review the files.
She took photographs of the relevant documents and they put them back.
Daisy lingered over the last picture of Lilly Kane's body and Veronica regarded her carefully.
"Whoever did this… they were close like a lover…. but it was more than just personal… this was rage… desperate" she said before handing the photo back to Veronica and wrapping her arms around herself.
The words made Veronica shudder.
They were close like a lover… like say a boyfriend?