Chapter Two

"Logan did you use my credit card?" Lynn asked him annoyed.

"No." She looked at me.

"No." I said honestly.

"Damn it. I don't want to find another maid." Lynn and my dad went to the sheriff's station to file a report.

"I told you to stay away from Weevil. Now he stole mom's credit card."

"How could he have?"

"You really think the loyal maid that's been here since before we were born stole it?"

"No, but why Weevil?"

"Dad told me you were 'studying' by the pool." Logan air quoted the word studying.

"And he was in my sight the whole time!" I yelled.

"Why can't you listen Em? Just stay away from him he's not a good guy!" Logan yelled at me.

"Who would you rather me hang out with, Dick?" I yelled back.

"You wouldn't. You prefer substance." The mention of me and his sleaziest friend hit a nerve.

"Why can't you stay out of my business Logan?"

"Because I can't protect you from him Em."

"Him or your friends once I slum it with a poor kid?" I spat the words at him and stormed out of the room.

I pulled up in front of my house and there was a sheriff's car parked out front. My grandma was being led away in handcuffs. "What's going on?" I demanded.

"Like you don't know Weevil." Lamb said to me. "You know I always thought you were an honorable guy, but letting your grandma rot for you in jail. That's pathetic." I did a lot of things, but lately I couldn't think of anything that would land my grandmother in jail. It hardly seemed that the negro would blame her for taping him naked to a flagpole.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the one number I could think of to help me. "V, I need a favor."

Her car pulled up a few minutes later. "What's up Weevil?"

"My grandma just got arrested. Sheriff Lamb seems to think I had something to do with it."

"With what? What was she arrested for?"

"That's the thing V. I don't know."

"Hold on let me make a call." She dialed a number, "Hey Cliff it's Veronica. I was wondering if you could let me know what Mrs. Navarro was charged with…Yea I know about confidentiality, I'm with her grandson and I want to help her out…credit card theft? Who's card?...Ok thanks Cliff." She hung up. "Your grandmother was charged with stealing Lynn Echolls's credit card."

"She wouldn't."

"Which is why Lamb suspects you."

"I didn't."

"Did you have an opportunity? Were you there for some reason?"

"Yeah. I dropped off something for my grandma, and Emily invited me to chill for a little bit. I was only there for 30 minutes or so, and she was there the whole time."

"You chilled with Emily Echolls?" She lifted her eyebrows at me.

"Yeah we ate little finger sandwiches and talked."

"Please tell me you aren't having sex with her Weevil."

"I swear I haven't…yet."

"Gross."

"V do you know anything about her?"

"Why?"

"She seems cool."

"You like her!"

"This isn't girl talk V. Do you know anything about her?"

"I've hung out with her a couple times. She's cool, or she was."

"Was?"

"I haven't talked to her in a long time. She's different than she was when I was in that crowd." Veronica turned to go to her car. "I'll talk to her Weevil. Should I tell her you want her number too?"

"Shut up V."

The doorbell rang. I went to answer it. "Veronica? What are you doing here?"

"Hey Emily. I need to ask you a few questions if that's ok."

"Sure come in. What's this about?"

"Weevil's grandma was arrested. The sheriff thinks Weevil did it, but can't prove it."

"Lynn's credit cards? I don't know why he would steal them."

"Was he here?"

"Yeah we hung out for a little while."

"Can I ask what you did?"

"We sat by the pool. Mrs. Navarro made sandwiches and we talked."

"Did he ever leave your sight?"

"No, I walked him to the door. Do you think he did this?"

"No I just wanted to confirm his alibi." She looked up at the camera facing our front door, "do you have cameras out back?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I'd just really love to see Weevil sitting on the patio of a mansion eating finger sandwiches." She laughed.

"Believe it or not he might make a good 09er." I smiled and laughed. "But seriously I can burn you a copy if you think it would help."

"It would help Weevil, but not his grandmother. Can you give me a copy at school tomorrow? I need to figure out who did this."

"Sure Veronica."

"Hey Weevs." Veronica said as she walked up behind me.

"What's up Veronica?"

"Well good news is your alibi checks out, better news is I got it on video. Bad news I'm still trying to figure out who stole it."

"Video? V you can't show it to anyone."

"Relax, it's for my personal collection."

"Personal collection?"

"It's a joke."

"I don't know if I believe that V. I look pretty good on screen."

"Gross." She turned around and walked away. I grabbed my biology book and headed to class.

"Hey cupcake." I knew she hated the nickname, but it really did fit. She always looked good enough to eat.

"Hey Eli."

"Thanks for helping Veronica."

"No problem. She just asked me for the truth. I have no problem telling her." I really wanted to ask her out, but she's an 09er, and they never date publicly below their social class.

"So, I was wondering if you would be able to tutor me in this shit." I dropped my textbook on the table.

"Sure meet me at the library after school."

"Thanks I promised my grandma I'd graduate, and without this class my GPA will not be high enough."

"I promise you'll pass." She smiled at me. I could tell it was coming. I was going to fall for this girl, hard, and I couldn't have her.

The rest of the day went by slowly. I don't know why I was so excited to study for biology. I mean the subject is murder; I don't know why I agreed to help Eli with it. I walked into the library and sat at a table. I waited for 20 minutes or so before I was going to give up. I was convinced I had been stood up. Anger boiled up. That should teach me to help out some guy I barely know.

"Oh thank god you're still here I was afraid you had already left."

"Veronica, what are you doing here?" I asked confused.

"Weevil asked me to come tell you he wouldn't be able to make it, but he hopes you aren't mad."

"Why can't he make it? What's he got to do that's more important than study?" I knew how ridiculous that sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth.

"He confessed to stealing the credit cards."

"He said he didn't though. He promised. That son of a bitch lied to me." I was even angrier than when I thought I had been stood up.

"Here's the thing. I don't think he did. He's never asked for my help and not been honest about his involvement in the crime."

"Who did then?"

"I have to figure that out. Look at these charges. It's obviously someone in the PCH. Who else needs a new paint job for their bike?"

"So we just have to figure out who has the new paint job?"

"We? Don't you know I'm bad news Emily? Being seen with me is social suicide."

"Eh. Sitting with the 09ers at lunch isn't really that awesome, you know except the food is better." We both laughed.

"They usually hang out at rest stop 15. Someone there should be able to tell us something." Veronica drove to the outlook over the ocean. Veronica threatened a few of the bikers; I just stood there with a recorder in my pocket to get the evidence we needed. Eli's cousin admitted to a new paint job, but no one else did. We went to the sheriff's station with Cliff, Eli's lawyer, and presented the evidence. Upon review of security footage Eli's cousin was found to be guilty.

"Rise and shine Weevil. You're free to go." Deputy Sax said in a bored tone.

"Why?"

"You're innocent. Veronica Mars and some cute blonde brought the Sheriff the evidence they needed to show who did it." Emily? She helped Veronica prove I was innocent. The deputy gave kindly gave me a ride home.

"Mijo, welcome home." My grandma said while giving me a very tight hug.

"I hear I have you to thank for this Mars." I said moving to hug her.

"I had help."

"I heard. Where is she?"

"Convincing her parents to hire your grandma back."

"Tell her thanks."

"Tell her yourself. I charge a delivery fee." Veronica handed me a post-it note with Emily's cell number written on it.

"Where did you get this?"

"I could have looked it up online, or since that's not my handwriting passed it along."

"Thanks V." I walked inside and flung myself on my bed. I stared at my cell phone trying to decide whether or not to call her. I decided to be a man and do it. The phone rang and rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey cupcake."

"Eli? I'm glad you called."

"Listen I just wanted to say thank you for helping Veronica."

"No problem. Just don't admit to any more crimes you didn't commit."

"Deal." I said with a smile on my face.

"Oh and can you tell your grandma that my parents want her to start on Monday?"

"How did you get them to hire her back?"

"Easy. Logan and I chased off everyone they hired."

"Logan helped?"

"Logan loves your grandma. Just don't tell him I told you. He prefers to keep his true niceness hidden deep inside."

"Emily?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you wanna do something some time?" I don't know what came over me. I just had to ask her. I wanted to see her, outside of school.

"Yeah sure." I couldn't believe my ears, she said yes!