Something hadn't felt right about the clerks excuse at the Neptune's Registry Office, it had sounded rehearsed and nothing she had found on the internet search during her computer class had validated the excuses but Veronica had no real proof, it didn't matter though.

Daisy was going to submit the information request today using Cliff McCormack, her father's former college roommate and all round affordably priced defender of the people Legal firm to get the files that she needed. She would be dropping them over after her shift in the Legal Aids office, it was Gumbo and Basketball night in the Mars household, and any excuse for free food usually got Daisy's vote of approval.

"I am bringing Rocky Road tonight, with those little sugar wafers?" Wallace told her as she grabbed her books from her locker.

"Sounds good" she smiled as she took the homework assignments and reading list from Natalie that she had collected for her from the classes she had missed that morning.

"I tried that snickerdoodle recipe you gave me… how do you stop them from over baking on the bottom? I had to use the burger flipper just to get them off the tray" Natalie asked.

"Oh… I usually butter up the bottom of the tray and put a layer of chocolate… makes it easier to get off" Veronica explained.

"Chocolate… I forgot, I knew you'd said something like that…" Natalie sighed. "Oh well… next time!" she smiled.

"Hey" Logan said as he leaned against the locker behind them, the sound of his voice sent her stomach into a little flutter.

"Hi" Veronica smiled as she turned around to gaze into his brown eyes.

Did someone say chocolate?

"How are you?" she asked as she slid her bag into her locker.

"I'm better now that you are here" he smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Awwww" May sighed dreamily and Natalie gave her an elbow nudge.

"We will see you guys later" Natalie said grabbing her by the elbow and turning them to walk away.

"Hey Man" Logan nodded at Wallace who gave him an eyebrow flash in greeting.

"See you later Mars… I gotta go see a certain cheerleader about a cartwheel" he winked before he went off to find Meg.

"Alone at last" Logan smiled before he pulled her closer for a quick kiss, being sure that Mr Clemmons and the hall monitor weren't paying attention. "How'd it go?"

"Good… I've got new tablets to take this time and I've got the all clear…" she told him as she wrapped her hands around his waist.

"All-clear?" Logan asked as he frowned slightly.

"I can have my way with you…" she smiled as she put her thumbs into the belt loop on the back of his jeans and tugged him closer to her.

"Is that all you think about?" he chuckled nervously, the memory of the previous evening made him have to swallow hard as he became transfixed looking at her tempting lips as the bell sounded above them.

"No… there's a lot of other serious thoughts in there too… pony's, unicorns… how to wear pink with various shades of pink" Veronica quipped a teasing twinkle in her blue eyes, it was all the proof he needed that although she could come across as cold as ice, in the right hands she would melt.

Usually she would throw around sass like confetti, but she would swoon for him now.

"Hey Veronica" Cassidy smiled shyly as he walked by with Mac.

It reminded her that she would have to review the iPod recordings that Daisy had given in her next period in study hall. She was still playing friendly with the 09ers, and so far none of the old resentments from them had started up again, with the exception of Caitlin and Pam, but now she knew who she was, and the game had changed.

She was hunting for leads.

"Hi Cass" she smiled back politely, she wasn't anti-social, she was just selectively social, and right now she had to do some research before that wall came back down and she lost her access.

"Ugh, control your whoremores, slut" Madison grumbled under her breath as she watched the couple in the corridor but Veronica did her best to control her tongue, her smart mouth would get her into trouble but it was impossible to control the venomous facial expression she hurled in her direction.

"I am beyond tardy for my French class" Logan sighed as he glanced at his watch.

"I'll see you before home" she promised as she kissed him.

"Laissez les bon temps rouler" Logan joked before he headed off in the opposite direction.

She didn't need google translator for that one, a former deputy of her father's Mitch Deveraux, a hearty Cajun fellow from Louisiana, who had been killed in the line of duty about four years ago, used to say it all the time.

'Let the good times roll' indeed she thought as she popped in her headphones and began to review the recordings, sparing a thought for the man who'd been the one to teach her father how to make real Gumbo like out in the bayou.

It was about 9.15pm and Daisy still hadn't shown, Wallace and Veronica settled onto the sofa with a large bowl of ice-cream in their laps while Keith Mars washed up the dishes and began putting the Gumbo into freezer friendly containers when there was a knock on the door.

"Cliff" Keith said a friendly surprised tone but his body language changed when he saw the man's expression. "What is it?" he asked as he guided him inside.

"I've just had a call from Cadence Argent…" he explained in a quiet hollow voice as he took a seat at the kitchenette in the Mars apartment.

Cadence… why did she know that name?

"A woman's body was found earlier this evening in the Alley outside the Neptune Galaxy Resort Hotel…" Cliff continued as emotion began to make his voice break slightly. Wallace hit the mute button on the television and they regarded the older man carefully as he took a deep quivering breath, his eyes welling with tears and Veronica felt her stomach knot painfully.

No... No… No…

"It's Daisy"