Group Effort

Chapter 16

Once the game plan had been made for the following day, Veronica led Mac up to the second floor and showed her around while the men stayed downstairs. She led her friend to the guest room, flipped on the lights and waited for Mac to pass through the door before shutting it firmly behind them.

"Welcome to my home away from home." Veronica gestured around the room. "Bathroom is that way, there are towels and pretty much anything you'd ever need—lotions, shampoo—you name it, Carrie seemed to have it."

"Carrie had it all, huh?" Mac said, crossing the carpet to set her bag down on the foot of the bed. "Nice place she had here."

"Mm..hm," Veronica answered noncommittally. "I found some extra blankets in the closet and a pillow, the bed is plenty big, so we can share—"

"Veronica."

"But it's up to you; we can make a makeshift bed on the ground instead."

"Veronica."

"Towels are under the sink…I made sure there would be enough for you, and-"

"Veronica," Mac interrupted again, more insistently. "I can find what I need. Don't worry about it. Are you doing okay? You seem, I don't know, off somehow. Is it your dad?"

They'd all decided to go see Keith in the hospital first thing in the morning, and though Veronica was anxious to see him, her nerves had nothing to do with Keith. She shrugged. "No, I mean," she smiled softly, "He's part of it. Everything about this he's a part of. But, no, I'm not worried worried about him. He's in great hands."

"Well, that's a plus."

"For sure," Veronica laughed cynically. "Is it wrong that I take comfort in the fact that Dad has a twenty-four hour, burly guard-nurse at his side? I think that I'd be much more worried if Trevor wasn't there watching over him."

"Okay."

"I'm fine," Veronica continued, "It's just been such a long time since I've done this kind of thing; I've got to get back into the thinking process. I'm rusty, is all. It's like being at the top of a ski slope on the first day of the season. Just need to get my sea legs."

"You sound like you're talking yourself into believing that."

"You and Dick seemed…cozy."

"Well, come on, Veronica. I've spent the past two days in his presence. The guy has a certain charm."

"Charm?" Veronica scoffed cynically. "We're talking about the guy who used to belch the entire alphabet in one breath."

Mac laughed. "I guess. I doubt he's done that in years. And you're stalling. You and Logan…are you cozy?"

Veronica grimaced and turned away from Mac's scrutinizing stare. "Oh," she said awkwardly and cleared her throat. "I don't know. Not…cozy necessarily. That's probably not the right word for it. But…not awful, either. Maybe…somewhere in between?"

"In between?"

Veronica heard the curiosity in Mac's voice and she threw her friend glance. "Yeah. I guess. In between." She twirled around on her heel. "We've been…arguing. A lot. Or…" she paused, thinking ,and then she sighed. "Or I've been in his face about everything."

Mac snickered. "Well, doesn't that tell you anything?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Mmm, nothing."

"No, seriously, what do you mean?"

"Just…sometimes the meaner you get, the more you're trying to shield yourself…from the truth of what you want."

"Mac! That's so not…"Veronica rubbed her forehead roughly. "Shit."

"I'm sorry to have to tell ya, V, but I think that perhaps there's a reason you've been arguing with him."

"It's stress, Mac. That, and worry for Dad."

"Okay. You keep on telling yourself that. I'm taking a shower."

Mac gathered up her overnight bag and disappeared into the bathroom leaving Veronica was alone with her thoughts.

What would happen once all of this was resolved? Once Logan could go back to his normal life and not hide away, and Veronica could return to whatever 'normal' was going to become?

She thought of his words from earlier. About normal deployment being six months. Six months was a long time. Six months could go fast. Six months could be a lifetime. Six months could be a blink of an eye.

Six months.

Nine years. For nine years she hadn't let herself even think about spending a day with Logan, and now she was musing about not being able to see him for six months.

Veronica shook herself out of her thoughts. She and Logan were nothing to each other. They were practically strangers.

She'd felt powerless earlier, but at that moment, all Veronica felt was terror.

What was she going to do?

***Break***

"Dude, why haven't I ever been here before now?"

Logan looked up from where he was arranging blankets on the pullout couch. "Is this really somewhere you'd choose to spend time?"

"Well, maybe not all of the time, but it could be a nice change of scenery." Dick flopped down on a recliner and popped the footrest up. "A little place to wine and dine and forget my cares. What's not to like?"

Logan threw a pillow square at the blonde's face. "Make your own damn bed."

"Hey!" Dick objected, pushing the footrest back down and throwing the pillow to the floor. "What crawled up your ass?" He popped to his feet. "Wait, is it because someone hasn't scored yet?"

"Dude, shut the hell up."

"No, now, seriously. You and Ronnie," Dick bobbed his eyebrows up and down suggestively, "up here all alone and you know I can always tell when you aren't getting any."

Logan rolled his eyes. "And are you? You and Mac, you've been more alone than Veronica and I. Bunk's been here."

"Eh, that threesome's not a turn on." Dick fake gagged. "That must've been a bit of a downer, having him here. No lovin' for Logan."

"Bunk's kept us from ripping each other's heads off."

"You know, black widows eat their mates after sex. And you know Veronica's always been a mate-muncher. You might enjoy it, Logan. You always used to."

"What about you and Mac?" Logan prodded again, desperate to change the subject. "Have you told her yet that you've been in love with her years yet?"

Dick put his hands on his hips. "Dude, what are you yapping on about?"

Logan was pleased to see a red flush creeping up Dick's neck, making the blonde hue of his friend's hair stand out even more. He grinned. "How was your date at the tracks? Did you show her a good time?"

"That was work and you know it."

"Right. And tomorrow's 'assignment' is work as well."

"Right."

"Right."

***Break***

The next morning, Mac and Veronica drove the Le Sabre to the hospital while Logan, Dick, and Bunk followed in the rental car. Veronica pulled into a parking spot and then they stepped out of the Buick to wait for the men to join them.

"What's up with you Mars people and your Le Cars?" Dick snarked and motioned to the Le Sabre when the three men approached, "Le Sabre, Le Baron—why don't you get yourself a Le improvement?"

"Because the L and the E make the engine run ever so smoothly," Veronica retorted. "And the seats are oh so comfortable." Her curt smile turned into a flat line before she started walking to the hospital's front doors without waiting for anyone else to follow her.

Veronica had not allowed herself to hope that her dad might be finally awake. It panged her to think that she hadn't been there with him while he was coming out of his drug-induced coma but she knew there had been no other choice. If she had chosen to stay at his bedside the investigation would have stalled. More people would get hurt.

That much she knew and believed fervently.

**Break**

Trevor, the nurse and bodyguard whom had Bunk hired, was standing guard at Keith's door just as he should be. He smiled warmly when he met Veronica's eye and motioned her closer.

"He's awake."

Veronica's heart jumped to her throat. It took every ounce of will she had to nod back at him. She felt a hand at her back and realized hollowly that Logan stood next to her, practically holding her up.

"Is he talking?" Bunk's low tone was low and Veronica's ears were ringing so loudly that she almost missed his words.

Trevor shook his head. "His responses are minimal; blinking for yes and no, plus we have a white board in case he has strength to use it. I'm afraid that I have to restrict his visitors to no more than two of you at a time."

Veronica leaned into Logan. "Will you come in with me?" He didn't answer and she looked up at him. "Logan?"

"Me?" He looked genuinely surprised. "Sorry, I thought you were talking to Mac."

She glanced at Mac, whom she had almost forgotten was there. Veronica shook her head. "No, I would like it if you would. Please."

They held eyes for a moment before he said, "Of course."

**Break***

This time when she walked into her dad's room, Logan was holding her hand.

It felt weird and right at the same time. But instead of fighting it, Veronica let his fingers thread smoothly through hers and she held on tight.

Today, Keith's eyes were open. When the door clicked quietly shut and silenced the noise from the hallway, Keith's head turned marginally and his eyes locked onto Veronica. Willing herself to be strong, Veronica squeezed Logan's hand and was reassured by the light pumping of his fingers. "Hi, Daddy."

The recognition in her dad's eyes encouraged her and she stepped closer. "The nurse said you're still pretty weak. Please don't try to talk yet, but I can hand you the white board if you think you're strong enough to write. But I don't want you to do too much. Trevor said one blink for yes and two blinks for no."

Keith blinked.

Veronica took a deep breath. "Are you feeling all right?"

One blink.

Heartened, she edged closer to Keith's bed, still holding tightly to Logan's hand. "I'm sure you don't feel that great yet," she quipped. "No marathons for you for a while."

His eyes looked amused, but he blinked heavily as if he was exhausted. She lightly touched the arm nearest her. "We've been so worried about you."

***break***

Thirty minutes later, Logan stepped out of the room, leaving Veronica alone with her dad. He'd waited until he was sure that she would be all right before stepping away from her to take his leave. When he'd opened the door, he'd looked back and found Veronica staring after him, silently mouthing the words 'thank you' to him. He'd given a brief nod and a last encouraging smile in response before he'd exited.

The hall was empty except for Trevor the nurse, who motioned that the others were in the waiting room. Logan slowly made his way in their direction, his thoughts revolving around Veronica and her dad.

Logan had never had a father that he cared about. Not like Veronica cared for Keith. It had occurred to him, sitting there with her just now, just how strong of a person Veronica actually was. How determination was superseding the natural instinct in her to just curl up into a ball and cry. How, because she loved her dad, Veronica was doing everything in her power to rectify the situation and make the guilty parties pay.

What Mac had said to Logan the previous night flashed through his mind. She'd told him that Veronica was actually more scared for Logan than for Keith. That Veronica was worried about his safety. But why?

The slow dawning of understanding made his heart skip a few beats. Logan stopped just short of the entrance to the waiting room, where Dick's boisterous laughter and Mac's annoyed, clipped response bit through the air.

Could it be true? Could what Mac have said last night, which Logan had taken as a lot of supposition, actually be fact? Veronica wasn't only worried about Keith. Bunk had said the same thing, and though Logan had taken it seriously, he hadn't let himself hope. The truth was that Veronica didn't have to help Logan at all, and yet here she was, still helping. Coming up with plans and crazy ideas that he was pretty sure would work.

And he knew, knew, why she'd been so difficult lately. He even understood why she'd been fighting him so much, on so many things. Veronica was someone that had always been in charge; always been in control. To not have that control was alien to her. Since she'd returned to Neptune, no, actually, since she'd been summoned to Neptune, Veronica had barely been in control of anything.

Logan could identify with that. In fact, he was the king of lashing out because of lack of control. At least he used to be. When he was younger, dumber, more naïve, Logan had once thought that the world revolved around him and no one else. It had been a hard drop to the bottom for him when he'd realized that life would go on with or without him. Before that moment in time, Logan had fought the knowledge that he wasn't the center of the universe tooth and nail. Although, on top of being difficult and unreasonable, Logan had to admit he'd been drunk most of the time back then. But the truth was that he'd acted much the same way Veronica had been acting the past few days.

But underneath it all, Logan could still see the Veronica he'd always known. Yesterday, there had been a marked improvement in her attitude toward him. It was as if she'd finally realized how she was behaving and had taken a step back. And after seeing Keith, she'd softened even more; enough so to even let Logan hold her. But would this change last? Would her anger and her distrust return?

He crossed through the entryway of the waiting room to where Dick and Mac sat across from each other at the little table. Bunk was pacing beside it. They all glanced over at Logan when he entered.

Bunk slapped his hands together. "We ready to get this show on the road?"

**Break**

When Veronica left her dad's room, she first spoke quietly with Trevor for a moment and then made her way down the hall to find the others. When she entered the waiting room, she was surprised to find only Logan there, looking out of a window that overlooked the city. He didn't hear her at first and Veronica found herself admiring his lean form for a moment before she finally cleared her throat.

He dropped his arm that was propped against the pane and swung around to face her.

"Where is everyone else?" she asked, sweeping her hand around the empty room.

"They had to leave to make their appointment."

"Hmm." She took a deep, tired breath. "Are you ready for your appointment?"

Logan tugged at the sleeve of his shirt, a nervous habit he'd had since she'd known him. "Not really." His tone was light. "But if you're there, it'll be fun. You against a Lamb is entertaining any day, regardless the circumstances."

"Well, that's good. I do love to entertain."

***BREAK***

Vinnie Van Lowe's office was located in a swanky, newish office complex near the boardwalk. The foot traffic in this part of Neptune was mostly made up of tourists. The people on the sidewalk wore things like swimsuits under cover-ups with big beach bags slung over their shoulders or high-end athletic gear to show off their extremely fit bodies. Mac watched the self-absorbed air of those obviously on vacation through the window while Bunk parked and cut the engine.

The older man glanced at her and grinned. "You ready for this?"

From the back seat, Dick chortled, "Hell, yeah we are!"

"I still can't believe you all talked me into this," Mac muttered under her breath, her eyes still focused on the activity on the sidewalk.

"You said yourself you were all in," Dick reminded her, pushing his knees into the back of her seat. When she pushed back, he sniggered. "And now you need to hire Van Lowe to look into my sordid past and make sure Daddy Dearest isn't coming back to haunt us before you say 'I do'."

"I know what I agreed to do." Mac opened the door. "But that doesn't make it any easier for me to pretend."

"Now, Schnookems," Dick cajoled, hopping out to join her and slamming the door hard behind him. "You don't ever have to pretend with me. What we have is real."

He reached out for her hand just as Bunk rounded the back of the car to join them. Together, the three of them approached the double glass doors of Vinnie's building, and Bunk moved ahead to open them. Mac made no comment when she walked past and looked around the lobby, purposely not pulling her hand from out of Dick's grasp. Instead, she tightened her hold and led him over to a plaque on the wall to read which floor Vinnie's office was located.

It only took a moment to find his name. "Second floor."

They strode to the elevator and Dick punched the 'Up' button. When it pinged open, the three of them piled in and then Dick punched the 'Two'. The door slid shut and the elevator started its ascent.

"You two need to be the picture of love," Bunk reminded them. "Just keep up that act you had on yesterday; it looked mighty fine. You could have fooled me, and I knew it was a ruse. This Mr. Van Lowe is an experienced private investigator; he probably can sniff a lie a mile away."

"I wouldn't be too sure," Mac replied when the door slid open to reveal Vinnie's office directly across the hall, next to a huge green plant in an expensive looking planter. "Rumor has it you pay him to tell you what you want to hear. Easy money is his game."

"Well, don't let on you already know his secrets."

**Break**

Without the buffer of Bunk in the car with them today, the air between them felt strained to Veronica. She did her best to keep her eyes on the road and not on the passenger beside her, who spent the majority of the ride checking his phone every few minutes, changing the radio station, or staring out of his window. The two of them weren't talking much, which suited her just fine.

Yup. It suited her just fine to not talk to him. What did she need talk to him about, anyway? There wasn't much to say that hadn't been dissected already, and they knew what they were headed into. They were as prepared as they could be. Yup. She was just fine putting all of her concentration into her very fine driving skills. Nice and straight, Veronica. Stay in your lane, keep your eyes on the road, and don't talk.

"So," she heard herself ask, "How's your arm today?"

So much for not talking.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched Logan rotate his arm experimentally. "Much better, thanks."

"Hmm," she answered noncommittally, determinedly keeping her head straight. "I'm glad."

"Yeah, the doc said I would be back to normal activity relatively quickly with a little therapy. Seeing as I haven't got any therapy yet, I'm not sure 'normal' will be as soon as he suggested." Logan paused. "Do you think that what we're doing really is the safest thing?"

She tightened her grip on the wheel and glanced at him. "Going to Lamb?"

"Well, yeah, going to Lamb. You say it like we're going to Slaters for burgers and shakes. Yesterday, you wouldn't even let me leave the house without a disguise, and today we're traipsing straight into the lion's den without so much as Groucho Marx glasses on my face. What makes you think that they won't just book me and to hell with whether or not I'm guilty or that they haven't got enough evidence? Who's to say they won't send an underling to follow us when we leave again?"

"Oh, he probably will. Have us followed, I mean. But we're ready for it. I'm not worried."

She said the last a little too confidently, and he picked up on it. "That sounds just like you. When have you ever worried that a plan of yours might not go as expected?"

"Would you relax? Cliff is meeting us there; between the two of us, you have more legal counsel than Lamb has in his little finger. Between ol' Cliffie and me, Lamb will be backpedaling so fast he won't even remember why you're there."

"Your confidence is inspiring."

"To some people, confidence is cockiness."

"Nothing wrong with a little swagger. I find it rather hot."

Her chuckle came out strangled. "You're impossible."

"Probably. But it's always benefitted me." She didn't respond.

They rode in silence for five or more minutes before Logan prompted, "So…are we gonna talk about it?"

"About what?" Veronica asked, refusing to admit she knew full well what.

He huffed, and Veronica's heart swelled a little. She smiled to herself when he grumbled, "And you say I'm the impossible one?"

She looked over at him and then back at the road. After a beat, she yielded a little by saying, "We don't need to talk about it. It will just make things awkward."

"Hmm," he responded in the same tone as when she'd said it earlier. "Only because you're making it awkward."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The smirk he gave her showed his amusement. "Nothing." She was relieved when he seemed to let it drop. "So…were you successful with the whiteboard?"

Veronica shot him a fleeting look. "A little. He was really exhausted. I asked him if he knew who hurt him. He couldn't write the name, and he didn't respond with blinking to any of the names I prompted. But, I asked him if he knew the combination to his safe and he wrote the word 'bar' as an answer. I think. It was kind of hard to read it."

"'Bar'?" Logan repeated. "Any idea?"

"Not really," Veronica sighed in disappointment. "It could be an address to his favorite bar…or….hell, I don't know."

"Bar…bar…" Logan said slowly, "like the Bar? Like the Bar exam you're supposed to take in New York? Could the combo be a date?"

"Oh my God. Of course." She felt stupid that she hadn't pieced it together right away. Even as excitement coursed through her, Veronica had the momentary qualm of where her quick wit and ability to think on her feet had gone. Years ago, it would have taken less than three minutes to figure out what her dad had meant. "You're completely right. I was so worried that I wasn't going to understand him that I didn't even consider that he meant the Bar. Of course it's the Bar. He's known that date for months. I'll try it as soon as I get to the office, while you're being interrogated by Lamb."

"That's a cheerful thought."

"Hey." She glanced at him. "It'll be fine. We went over everything with Cliff. It's going to take all afternoon; we already know that. But then it will be over."

"Or maybe then I'll be in custody."

"Stop it."

"What? You can't convince me otherwise."

"I thought you said my cockiness was inspiring."

"I'm pretty sure I said your cockiness was sexy, but regardless, my penchant for reality is clouding my confidence of the situation."

She laughed.

They rode in companionable silence for a bit longer until Logan leaned his seat back. She made no comment when he propped his arm against the door and shut his eyes. Within three minutes, Logan's heavy breathing indicated his slumber. Exhausted herself, Veronica tightened her hands on the wheel and tried to focus on the drive, all the while her mind turning traitorously.

She'd lain awake a long time the night before, thinking hard about her life and what she wanted out of it. All of the things she'd been working toward over the past decade seemed so trivial and small…so worthless compared to the things that mattered most to her. The last few days had put things in perspective. Coming home made her life in New York seem small and unimportant. None of her friends back East even knew she'd left town, Veronica had realized with a heavy heart. There was no boyfriend to go home to, not even a roommate. The truth was that not one person from New York had called her to see how she was or even to find out about how last week's job interviews had gone.

How completely pathetic.

What she'd come to grasp, laying there for hours on end was that the people that mattered most to her and the ones that had made those phone calls to her, were in California. Specifically, Neptune, California.

What did New York hold for her? The promise of an amazing career, sure.

But, was it what she wanted?

She pulled into a parking space front and center of the sheriff's department and turned the ignition off. She leaned over the steering wheel and stared up at the grand-looking building. "What are you hiding, Lamb?"

**Break**

Mac had seen Vinnie Van Lowe on television many times over the years, but never in person. In the flesh, Mac could tell that the man had aged since he'd left office. He had even developed a beer belly that hung grossly over his belt. The beige colored jacket he wore was dotted with grease stains, and she felt that the too small polo shirt beneath it did nothing to build confidence with potential clientele. His once jet-black hair was now speckled salt and pepper, and the lines about his face made him look haggard and worn.

When he extended his hand for her to shake, Mac found it to be clammy and weak and she quickly withdrew, resisting the urge to wipe it clean. When he shook the men's hands, Mac noticed that Mr. Van Lowe's grip seemed surer and less restrained.

Odd.

She'd grown quiet then, realizing right away what the difference was. Mac had been around many men like Van Lowe before…men who were clearly uncomfortable around women, and in particular women who were smarter and more successful than they were. The way he barely looked at Mac made her feel as if Vinnie classified her as the 'little lady' and had already written her off as unimportant.

Which was just as well. She had a job to do, and the less attention Vinnie Van Lowe paid her the better off she'd be.

They were ushered past the reception area and into Vinnie's back office. Once there, Vinnie bellowed for his secretary to bring in drinks. While Vinnie took his seat, the three of them settled down into the chairs across from his large mahogany desk as the young secretary rushed in with a tray filled with bottled water and soda.

"Now, tell me what brought you all in today," Vinnie prompted when the secretary bustled out of the door and closed it behind her. He steepled his fingers together and leaned back in his stuffed chair. "My website's questionnaire only gave me the basic facts."

"Well," Dick began, settling his hand over Mac's knee, "my lady-love here has agreed to be my bride."

Vinnie gave a slow, uninterested blink. "Fascinating."

Dick's fingers squeezed her leg through the fabric of her jeans. Wanting to stall the progression those fingers were making up her thigh, Mac slid her hand over his and threaded their digits together. She wet her lips. "The thing is…" Vinnie glanced over to her. "My dad here has heard a slew of bad things about Dick's dad and well…"

Bunk exhaled dramatically. "This boy's daddy ain't nobody's friend. I want to know where he is and what that man's been up to these past six years since he got out of the slammer." He leaned forward and pressed a finger firmly onto the top of the desk to emphasize his point. "My little princess here ain't marrying no one whose papa is gonna come run back in and ruin her life."

"Daddy!" Mac objected loudly, hoping she sounded embarrassed. "Dick is sitting right here!"

"Well, he needs to hear this!" Bunk said firmly. "That no good Daddy—"

"Now, hold on," Vinnie interrupted with the air of someone who has diffused many such situations. "Let's start at the beginning and work our way to where you are right now." He gave Dick and appraising look. "You're Richard Casablancas the Junior, correct?"

"Well, I'm definitely not the senior!" Dick chortled conspiratorially.

"Plastic surgery has come a long way, but not that far," Vinnie chuckled, and they all laughed along with him. Then he sobered, and said, "So…what you're wanting me to do is find your father?"

"We just want to…" Bunk trailed off, as if thinking, "make sure he's settled in Timbukto or whereever the hell he is, and that he's not gonna come sniff around here ever again. Our good name doesn't need to be dragged through the mud with his. If his life is quiet, then we want to keep it that way. No need to drag police or anything into it, for all of our sake's."

"So, if you hate the Casablancas name so much, why are you allowing this wedding to go through?" Vinnie asked, and then raised his hands in apology with a smarmy grimace. "Excuse me, that's really none of my business. What I should have said is that to be able to dig in further to where Mr. Casablancas Senior is, I'll need to ask a few questions to get a feel for what kind of investigation I'll need to do for you."

While Vinnie yammered on, Mac silently observed the setup of his office. His laptop was closed and sat atop the large desk. A penholder sat on one corner beside a nameplate that had his name "VINCENT VANLOWE P.I." proudly displayed in bold, black letters. A few thinly-filled files were neatly stacked on the other corner, but that was all that sat on his desk. A short but wide file cabinet was behind where Vinnie sat, but it was obviously also used as a table. A printer, various cameras, and file organizers filled with an assortment of paperwork were strewn across the cabinet. Mac assumed that he probably put what he was most currently working on onto that cabinet. A quick look around confirmed that there was no safe in this room, unless it was hidden inside a wall.

Mac reached into her purse and pulled out a tube of lip balm. She uncapped it and generously applied it to her lips while nodding along with whatever Vinnie had just told them. She tried to look as interested as possible while she noted where she could plant the little bug that she held.

She just needed the opportunity, and Dick should be supplying that in four…three…two…one…

"So, Lowe. I see these pictures up of you with Magic Johnson, wow, that's old school!" Dick stood up and made his way over to the row of pictures that lined a wall. "Wow, quite a few celebrities. You are quite the canoodler!"

Vinnie came around his desk and joined Dick. "Yeah, those were the days." Vinnie visibly puffed up, patting his stomach as if it were not dribbling over his belt disgustingly. "Back before I was a P.I., I was a bit of a baller."

"Really?" Bunk replied, sounding interested. He stood up as well and strolled over to take closer look at the pictures. "You must have been fast, your height doesn't measure up to these guys. Wow, Dominic Wilkins?"

"Oh, yeah, me and the Dom go way back!"

Mac used the twenty seconds she knew she had to quickly attach the tiny, state-of-the-art bug underneath the ink blotter on Vinnie's desk. She kept her eye fastened on the men the entire time. Her heart was racing with the fear that she wouldn't be fast enough, but somehow she managed it.

Bunk turned first, catching her eye. With her nod, he cleared his throat and said, "Enough of this B.S., I think we need to get down to the numbers, and I want to know how long this 'research' is going to take you."

Before Vinnie turned back, Mac had pulled out her phone and was scrolling through her Instagram account. "Ooh, honey, Ryan finally posted that video!"

"Aw, dude, that's gonna go viral!" Dick sat beside her and took the phone from her hand, playing along. "That shit's unreal, man."

"Put the phone down. Let's get down to business," Bunk ordered gruffly.

Thoroughly exasperated, Mac huffed as Dick handed the phone to her and she stuffed it back into her purse.

Vinnie opened his laptop and click-clacked through his screens. "I think, with all the information that you've given me, this should be a fairly simple process. Richard Casablancas Senior shouldn't be too hard to find."

"Well, the Sheriff's Office never found him," Dick said. Vinnie shot him an annoyed glare. Dick Senior had been on the lamb for many years, which, if Mac was counting back correctly, would have been when Vinnie had been sheriff. "I mean, I actually don't think they even looked for him," Dick amended quickly when Mac dug her heel into the top of his foot, "The FBI couldn't even find him, I don't think."

"Well, Mr. Casablancas could have employed someone to make sure he stayed lost."

"Right you are, Mr. Van Lowe. Right you are."

***Break**

The new Sheriff's Office was set on a wide corner with large trees and a perfectly cut lawn. The building was tall and grand now, with large windows that let in the light, as if to exude that the people within it would listen with an open mind. Logan had always steered as far away from this place as he could. The old building itself held few good memories for him and all that had not changed with the move to the new building. The Sheriff's Office had always been the place where nightmares began for him. Rarely did anything good come from the Balboa County Sherriff's Office.

Without preamble, he and Veronica walked up the steps to the front door. It felt wrong to be coming here, but Logan trusted Veronica. If she felt confident that this was the right move, he had to believe that it was. But that didn't calm his nerves any.

"There's Cliff," Veronica noted when they reached the top step.

Logan looked up and sure enough, Cliff McCormack stood waiting for them at the double doors. Dressed in a cheap looking suit and carrying a flimsy looking briefcase, Cliff smiled warmly at both of them. "Kiddos! It's great to finally see the two of you!"

"Hey, Cliffie." Veronica shook the lawyer's hand. "Is this gonna go all right?"

Suddenly serious, Cliff turned to walk alongside of them as they entered the building. "Lamb won't want to talk with me until he realizes I represent Mr. Echolls here, and even then, he won't like it. I've been spending too much time down here as it is and Lamb already is giving me death glares. I swear, if I had a bottle of scotch right now to play the drinking game, I'd be wheeling into Neptune General on a gurney as many times as he's shot me daggers. The guy's patience for ambulance chasers is waning. My feelings have been wounded."

"Good thing you don't bruise easily," Logan quipped. "I'm like a peach, and I'd be black and blue. It'd mess up my good looks and I couldn't have that. But you, nah, you're good. You're like a cue ball. You can just get hit over and over."

"And I sink them every time," Cliff agreed with a chuckle. "Plus I always come back for more."

The vestibule led straight into the Sheriff's Office and before Logan felt ready they were strolling up to the counter where a pretty brunette was standing, phone in hand. She briefly looked at them and held a finger up, indicating she'd be with them shortly.

"The good news is no one here seems to know who you are," Veronica muttered to Logan under her breath. "You/re obviously not on an America's Most Wanted Poster just yet."

"I'll save the victory lap for later." Logan rapped his knuckles on the counter anxiously. "Do you think we might—" he stopped midsentence, his eyes suddenly fixed on a man in uniform in the very back. Something about him felt familiar.

The officer was tall and stocky, which in itself was nothing special. But the way the man carried himself made Logan give him a second look. A moment later , he stuttered with realization. "That officer," he said to Veronica, gesturing with his chin and purposely not pointing, "That man was at your dad's office the first night I met with him."

Veronica's eyes zeroed in on the man. "I think I know him."

"Really? How could you know someone in this town when I don't? You've been gone ten years!"

"Because." Veronica smiled. "Unlike you, I solved a lot of cases for a lot of people during my life in Neptune. Mr. Clayton over there was an 02er whom I am sure was too insignificant for you, as an 09er, to remember. He became a kind of client by default, if you will."

A/N: Thanks for reading. I'm working on getting this story complete, so I appreciate your interest. If you have a moment, please Review! I love reading your thoughts. Thank you to Bond, who has the patience like no one else I know. ;)