Fic: Full Circle, part 16/? - gertinator
Title: Full Circle, part 16/?
Author: gertinator
Pairing/Character: Logan/Veronica
Word Count: 6447
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Epic. V and Logan find their way back to each other and solve a mystery, too.
Spoilers/Warnings: a little AU but mostly intact including 2.22. The mystery is about a serial killer and some parts may be graphic.
A/N: This was written for the loveathons Epic Challenge. Friendship bracelet prompt.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13 | part 14 | part 15
Part 16
The FBI issue sedan pulled into the Glassboro police station parking lot, just as it had every morning for the last week. But this time, Veronica noticed a disturbing new development. She leaned forward and touched Anderson's shoulder.
"Reporters." She pointed. Anderson's eyes followed her hand and he swore under his breath.
Tilden looked, too. "What? The people on the sidewalk? How can you tell?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Veronica turned to look at him. "You have met my boyfriend, right?" She shrugged. "You date an Echolls, you get very adept at dodging the 'razzi."
"Yeah? He didn't seem that special." Tilden was confused and a little snotty.
"He is special," Veronica said fondly, with a bit of a smirk. "But that's not why he was hounded by reporters. His parents were famous..." Veronica didn't really feel like updating Tilden on Logan's history. "They didn't exactly keep a low profile," she added succinctly.
Veronica was peering out the side window and she pointed again. "Over there, parked at the deli. It's a news van. They've got a camera with them."
"Do they still follow him around?" asked Tilden, in a surprisingly normal and interested manner. Veronica was somewhat taken aback that he wasn't sneering or taunting her for once, and she answered honestly.
"No, he hasn't done anything news worthy in years." At least not that they know about, she thought silently. And I'm not telling on Larry. "But back in the day - "
Anderson cut her off. "While this trip down memory lane has been fascinating, we have something a little more pressing to deal with..."
"I thought you liked the little rodents," teased Veronica. Anderson had a reputation as a press hog, always kissing ass so he could get face time.
"Only when I'm playing Pied Piper," growled Anderson, not the least amused. "And right now, we don't know our tune. I was planning on wrapping this up anyway. We've gotten all we can get from this town and the crime scene. Our guy is not a local. This decides it. We are out of here today."
"Okay," Veronica said slowly, not at all disappointed to be going home. "But how do we get inside to finish packing up? Our look screams 'FBI' just as loud as theirs screams 'reporter'."
"Well, first of all, neither one of you speaks. Keep walking and don't let them stop you. I'll take it and it will basically be a no comment, but said in a way that implies that is because there is no story, rather than that we have a story to hide." Anderson sighed. "Okay, gang. Let's hit it."
For once, Veronica was much better at following orders than Tilden. He seemed fascinated by the siren call of the camera. Veronica could tell by the hesitation in his step and the turn of his head that he was almost caught in their thrall. She put a hand on his arm and steered him in the door as Anderson's well rehearsed and meaningless chatter rose behind them.
"Would it have really hurt anything for us to stop and talk?" asked Tilden after they were safely inside. He was glancing at the door, and Veronica could tell he desperately wished for his fifteen minutes of fame.
"Yes," she answered firmly. "It's best to leave it to a pro like Anderson. No matter what you say, they find a way to fuck you with it."
"Well put, Mars." Anderson had caught the end of her comment as he slipped in the door. "Now, let's get packed and out of here. We'll let a courier take the boxes back to DC. We don't want to be seen with that much evidence and the vultures are going to be circling. I'd like to be back in DC for dinner, so plan to be done here by noon. We'll run by the hotel and check out and then get on the road."
*********
Logan fitted his key to the lock, pondering exactly what it meant to be home. Was DC his home? This apartment, with it's reek of high class politics was clearly not where he belonged. And neither was New York anymore. He felt more at home sharing a cheap hotel room with Veronica. The one piece of home he had missed with Veronica was his other woman, the little piece of pink fluff that, according to Shannon, might not be too happy to see him.
"Couldn't resist the cable TV, eh?" asked Logan. Shannon was stretched out on the couch, Felicia sprawled across her chest.
"Shh. It's the season finale of Entourage. V won't let us get the full cable package because she say it will turn us into mindless robots." Shannon waved for him to sit down and be quiet for just five more minutes.
Logan took a seat on the now battle scarred recliner and tried to get Felicia's attention. "Felicia. Daddy's home."
Felicia looked at him blankly, as if she had no idea who he was, then nuzzled against Shannon, purring loudly. Shannon held her with one arm, intent on the TV show. "Aw, E don't let Vince - No! Turtle? Drama? How can you boys?! Argh!" She shook her head in frustration. "And now I have to wait another damn year to find out - " Shannon shook her head and clicked the TV off. She slid her feet to the floor and angled herself into a sitting position, trying not to disturb Felicia. Felicia didn't seem to care about the small earthquakes as she furiously rubbed against Shannon and purred, completely ignoring Logan.
"She's really pissed at me, isn't she?" observed Logan wryly.
"Oh, yeah. Did V tell you about the picture?" Shannon smirked. "And she's definitely punished the couch and the recliner. Shannon's arm swept out to indicate the damage. "I tried to vacuum up the evidence, but gave up after a while." Little tufts of stuffing rolled across the floor like mini tumbleweed.
"She's a smart little she-devil, isn't she? They told me she had attitude when I adopted her, but this is the first I've really seen of her temper." Logan moved next to Shannon on the couch. "Come on, baby. I know you missed me," he coaxed, holding out a hand. Felicia stopped to give him a short stare, then renewed her frenzied love for Shannon.
Shannon glanced down at the ecstatic cat in her lap with amusement. "It's like I'm human cat nip. Now if only I could find a guy that felt this way..." She chuckled. "I don't think I want to be involved in this tempestuous love triangle." She picked up Felicia and set her in Logan's lap, then stood and brushed off the thick patch of white hair as best she could.
"Is Veronica home yet?" she asked.
"I don't know. Maybe sometime tonight. She's riding back with Anderson and she wasn't sure if they were going by the office." Felicia had already jumped down off of Logan's lap and was following Shannon like a devoted lover.
"All right, I'm headed home. 'Night, Logan. 'Night, Felicia." She scratched Felicia's back one last time and headed for the door.
"Thanks for taking on Taz again, Shannon." He glanced ruefully at Felicia as she earnestly threaded her way through Shannon's legs.
"You know I'd do anything for free cable." Shannon gave him a quick hug. "At least it was better circumstances this time. Although it seems you can't help but have one of your women mad at you." She quirked an eyebrow at him and glanced at the cat who was pretending Logan did not exist. He chuckled.
"I must be losing my touch..." he joked as he let her out. "Are you really going to punish me like this, baby?" he asked Felicia, closing the door behind Shannon. Felicia walked out of the room without a backward glance. "And that would be a yes." Logan sighed and shook his head. Love triangles were a hell of a lot of work.
*********
"I was so excited that my room mate was coming home that I brought you a present." Shannon's eyes twinkled as she waved a case file in the familiar pale green in front of Veronica's face. "I am declaring the Fearsome Twosome officially back in action."
"Is that an FBI file?" asked Veronica, getting excited and reaching for it. Shannon nodded. "Smuggled out of headquarters without permission?" Shannon nodded again, trying to hold back a giggle. "Oooh, you know just what to get a girl. Other people might try to get me perfume or a candle, but my Shannon knows what I really like. It's almost as good as a pony." Veronica grabbed the file and gave her room mate a hug.
"So give me the skinny - what caught your attention?" Veronica opened the file, staring at the photo clipped on top. Jill Vanderbeek. A pretty blonde with a classic Dutch face. The candid shots always got to Veronica much more than the morgue photos. Seeing the life that was taken away... it always brought back Lilly. Her laugh, the wicked gleam in her eyes. Extinguished forever.
"Her hair was shaved in the crime scene photos. But every single candid of her has long hair, going like, years back. Long hair and Laura Ashley dresses - our girl was not a P-rocker. I checked old yearbooks and made a few calls when I got suspicious. She was never the short hair type, much less a shaved head." Shannon was proud that her monotonous job at the FBI had actually paid off. There was a real reason to have closed files reviewed before they were archived. And damn, she was finally working a case. "The boyfriend supposedly did it because she dumped him but he was killed before he could confess... or come up with a defense. And here's the real kicker... guess who was working the case in his first FBI training capacity?"
Veronica looked up from the photo. Shannon's question seemed to be out of left field. "Who?"
"Tilden. The bastard. He's not listed in the file because he was just a newbie, but I got his name from Lawson when I called to ask for more details." Shannon's face was smug. Tilden had ranked only slightly above Slotsky and Jones in her book, and apparently he had just fallen a notch. To the equivalent of something a stable boy might scrape off his shoe.
"He had to have known it would be of interest, even if it was officially solved." Veronica whistled and shook her head, stunned. "He wants to keep me down badly enough to - that's just. Shit. Asshole." Yeah, playing nice had really not worked, but this was the last straw. And just when it seemed like he was becoming civil.
********
Logan was trying to write, but Felicia had other ideas. She had ignored him all last night, even slept in the living room. But she woke up determined to give him a piece of her mind. She had followed him around all morning, even sitting outside the shower, keeping up a constant stream of complaint.
"Meeeuw. Meeeooowyyyyuw." She said from the floor. And when that didn't get his attention, she jumped up on the desk and planted her butt on top of his notebook. "Mrrrrrreeeeeeuw." She said to his face, looking him in the eye. She was one big fluffy bundle of irritation and she wanted him to acknowledge it.
Logan rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. "I get it, Felicia. Really, I do. I have been called an insensitive cad by many women, in many languages, and I totally hear what you are trying to say." He tried to pull his notebook from under her ass as she continued to vent. "I've said I'm sorry a million times. Now, please, baby, could you let me finish this chapter?"
He went into the bedroom and closed the door on her, but she continued to berate him from the other side Logan sighed and ran his hand through his hair again. It was clear he was not going to get anything done until he made peace with the screeching harpy. The fact that she actually made him feel a little guilty, like he was a philandering husband, was only more proof of her manipulative powers. He sighed and opened the door.
Felicia sat at his feet, letting out a few fresh volleys at the sight of him. "Meeereeeuw," she bitched. "Meeeyeeeyeeuw?"
Logan shook his head, bemused at the circumstances. A jealous cat in need of assurance. Geez. He bent down to pick her up, cuddling her close despite her protests, and headed for the couch. He put her on his chest and stroked her gently, looking into her eyes as he tried to explain his situation. "Listen, baby. I think you're beautiful. I've always had a thing for red heads. And if you were human maybe we'd have a real chance at something." He chuckled, digging his fingers into her fur and tickling, trying to get a purr out of her.
"But Veronica, well, I was in love with her long before I met you. I can't help it, I can't make it go away. So I'm asking you, could you please try to get along? For my sake?" Felicia seemed to finally accept the apology, and she nuzzled into his palm as he rubbed her face. "We can have this afternoon for just the two of us, just like the old days." Logan settled in on the couch, mentally sketching out the arc for the next several chapters with Rita. He could daydream it out and make a few notes to capture it while it was fresh. It wasn't ideal, but it would work.
Felicia closed her eyes and let out a little rumbling sigh as Logan continued to pet her absently. "I love you, baby. Please don't make me choose. It'd be like Sophie's Choice and it'd kill me, but I'd have to go with the blonde." Felicia quirked an eye open at him in disbelief. "Yeah, you heard me right. So don't push me." Logan's voice took on a pleading note, laced with humor.
"I need you to be the bigger person, Felicia. The blonde's stubborn. I need you to reach out to her, try to be her friend... " He tickled Felicia under her chin. "I know I'm asking a lot, but it would mean so much to me, baby. I'll even sweeten the deal with some fresh halibut..." Felicia began to purr. Finally. Logan sighed with relief. "So we have an agreement, then?" Felicia snuggled close and Logan felt warm contentment. Maybe they could all get along after all. Of course, he hadn't mention to Felicia that he planned to have Veronica co-habitating by the new year, but it was best to work up to these things slowly. He had a feeling he'd be buying a lot of fresh fish.
********
Veronica stomped down the hall towards Tilden's cubicle. She threw a case file on his desk. "It's one thing to play stupid power games around the office, Tilden," she hissed. "But to withhold information on a case? That's completely irresponsible, not to mention asinine."
Tilden didn't even look at the file. "What case?" he asked insolently.
"Come on, as if you've worked that many," Veronica ground out, trying to keep her voice low. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"What do you want from me, Mars? I'm not here to make your life easier." The venom in his voice was all out of proportion to a stupid workplace competition and Veronica realized suddenly that this had gotten personal for both of them. Damn Anderson and his games. "I'm not some dumb ass who thinks with his dick. You can't wrap me around your finger like you did with the hick cops, or like you do with Anderson and your rich boyfriend."
"I expect you to do your job."
"And I have," Tilden sneered.
Veronica tapped her fingers against the file she had thrown on his desk. She tried to get control of her anger and be reasonable, but Tilden was just so infuriating. Like banging her head against a brick wall. "This case could be related. And you didn't bother to tell me."
Tilden casually glanced through the file. "It says here it was solved," he smirked.
"Your team decided it was the boyfriend and then shot him before he could deny it. I'd hardly call that solved." Veronica could tell he was being deliberately obtuse.
"Lawson was the one who shot him, not me. Anyway, innocent men don't pull guns on FBI agents," Tilden stated matter-of-factly.
"I don't know, I haven't committed any crimes. And I'd really like to hold a gun to your head right now." Veronica glared at him. "What about the haircut?" Her fists were clenched tight at the effort of being civil to such a smug bastard.
"She was a lezzy, Mars. She dumped her boyfriend to get a little girl on girl action. Those types of chicks like to get butchy haircuts." Tilden smiled condescendingly.
"Did your psychic friend tell you that, or did you actually find evidence? 'Cause if you did, you forgot to put it in the file." Veronica tapped the file again, bitter smile on her face.
Tilden did not respond. After a moment of silence, Veronica picked up the file. "I thought so, " she said angrily. "So much for doing your job." Veronica turned away, muttering. "Incompetent ass."
"Know it all bitch," she heard Tilden say under his breath. Yeah. If Anderson was hoping to make them rivals, he had sure succeeded with flying colors. No more playing nice.
**********
"It's been way to long since we've done this," said Veronica, handing Shannon a hot dog.
"Boy, I'm sure going to hate it when you stop owing me favors," joked Shannon. "I like having you wait on me hand and foot."
"Yeah, well, SF. The way things are running, seems like I'm gonna owe you my firstborn." Veronica laughed. "I need to figure out a way to make you indebted to me and then all will be well."
"You know I'm really glad to help," Shannon said seriously. "I was going crazy on the paperwork. I thought I needed to punch the clock a certain amount before I would get anywhere... but now I am starting to realize it takes more than that to get their attention. You have been balls out crazy, but people know who you are...and when promotions get handed out, you'll be moving up fast."
Veronica was a little stunned at the observation. She and Shannon had so many similar surface characteristics, that she often forgot the deeper differences. Veronica followed a cause, Shannon followed the rules. And Shannon kept a much closer eye on what their peers were doing. Veronica almost never felt envy because she almost never noticed what others were doing. Shannon did not have the same attitude, and sometimes she was envious, of Veronica, and of others in higher positions. She always knew the score, and could diligently recite the hierarchy. Her goal was to someday place highly in it.
Veronica made a serious dent in Dog #1, then asked,"So any news?" She didn't want to discuss office politics with Shannon. It just made her sad.
"Yep." Shannon said gleefully. "Bad news. That guy Dick clearly had something sneaky going on. He had hotel reservations, checked in but never used the room. It seems like he was using it as a decoy, like he wanted to get caught. Except he wasn't there. He used Dan White as his alias. Not the brightest... or maybe really sneaky."
"Wow," said Veronica, impressed. "I never would have thought Dick had that kind of planning in him." Then she realized what that meant. "Shit," she sighed. "He wanted an alibi showing him to be somewhere that he really wasn't. But he didn't want to be too obvious about it."
"He's Logan's friend, right?" Veronica wasn't sure of Dick's status these days, but she nodded. "Can you get Logan to call him and ask? Maybe there is an explanation..."
"They aren't really getting along right now. That's why I had you looking into it..." Veronica couldn't think of any way to explain things to Shannon, without actually explaining things. And though she loved Shannon, there was no way she was revealing that much.
"Well, just because he's sneaking around doesn't mean he's the killer. We don't have any other evidence. He could just be cheating on his wife." Shannon sounded matter of fact as she popped her last bite of hot dog in her mouth, then patted her lips with her napkin. "Boy toys married to rich old ladies do that."
Veronica spit her mouthful of S'Kist out, choking. "Dick is a boy toy?" Logan's amusement at his marriage suddenly made sense.
"You didn't know? Rich widow of an airline owner..." Shannon chuckled. "She is one scary bitch, too."
"Not Enbom? Please tell me he didn't marry Enbom's mom?" Veronica was halfway between disgusted and amused. She remembered John's mom, with her heavy pancake make-up and facelift-made stretched eyebrows. Was Dick that desperate?
"No, the name's not Enbom. Mimi Von Straten." Shannon seemed to process Veronica's comment. "You knew a guy who's dad owned an airline?"
Veronica shrugged. "Someday, you'll have to visit Neptune. It's a... weird place..." She laughed. "I just can't believe Dick is a boy toy. That's such karmic justice. He must have burned through his trust fund and then realized he had no actual marketable skills." Veronica mused, "I wonder if Kendell knows?" She shook her head. "So you think he's doing the old bump and grind and doesn't want sugar mama to know?"
"Could be. In fact, I'd say it's quite likely. She could have a PI tracking him, thus the decoy hotel room." Shannon dug in her purse for the remaining half of the candy bar she had purchased at break. She pulled it out triumphantly, and offered a piece to Veronica. Veronica refused, considering she was now working her way through her second dog. Besides, there was a piece of cake in teh office fridge from one of the secretary's birthdays.
"Well, cheating does seem to run in his family..." observed Veronica. "Of course, so does murder." She took a bite of her hot dog and chewed thoughtfully. "What about Troy?"
"Troy is a mule, probably more than a mule, but not a mover and shaker. He's too busy running opium to come stateside and stalk college girls. If it makes you feel better, he was already on the DEA observation list." Shannon slowly savored the Carmello bites. "We didn't get him in any more trouble than he already made for himself."
"Oh, Troy. So much for being a changed man." Veronica sighed. "I should know by now that no one ever changes." Except for Logan. Then again, Logan was the exception to many rules. Veronica smiled at the thought of him. Things weren't running perfectly smoothly, but she was very hopeful that the third time was proving to be the charm for their relationship. "Hey, are you coming to the good-bye dinner for Tish and Roberts?"
"When is it?" Shannon had stretched out along the bench, eyes closed, to absorb some of the late summer sunshine.
"Tomorrow night. I hear Tilden's bringing his... fiance! Can you imagine? I can't wait to meet her. What kind of woman would want to be linked to that for life?" Veronica chuckled.
"Sounds like fun." Shannon shaded her eyes to look up at Veronica. "Logan coming?" Veronica knew what she was really asking, and quickly reassured her.
"Yeah. But don't worry, not everybody is bringing a date. You can play Lone Wolf if you want to."
*********
"Logan, Logan - Guess what?" Logan had barely gotten a "Hello" out when Trina's excited voice bubbled all over him. He also didn't get a chance to make a guess, because she was gushing and talking so fast he couldn't get a word in. He held the phone a few inches from his ear to protect his eardrums.
"I got a part in a pilot. A pilot. A reoccurring character!! I have a chance of being a regular... of being in my own TV show. It films in New York, so I'll be able to see you all the time. We can have dinner! I can live in the penthouse and we can hang out and you can even come visit me on the set!!" Trina finally had to stop to take a breath, and Logan was given a chance to speak.
"That's great, Treeney," he said, with true warmth in his voice. "I'm so happy for you. All of your hard work is really paying off." Logan honestly didn't believe Trina was a very good actor, but maybe he had been mistaken. Maybe she would make it in the business after all. Aaron hadn't had much talent, and he made it pretty far. Anyway, she was his sister and she had supported him in his worst times, so he decided to be 100% behind her now. He tried to infuse his tone with interest, "What's the show about?"
Trina paused for a moment and her enthusiasm went down a notch. "It's a kid's show... but it is really well done. It's the people who made Blue's Clues and it's almost guaranteed to be a hit. You have to come back to New York. Maybe you could even have a small part!" The enthusiasm was back, and Logan groaned. For some reason, Trina was determined to make an actor out of him. He'd rather be tortured by the Spanish Inquisition.
"I think I'd scare the little kiddies," smirked Logan. "But it sound good for you. Nice for you to be doing something wholesome for a change. The kids aren't going to recognize you on Law & Order and be traumatized, are they?"
"No, I'm just a voice... It's mostly animated with only one human host. But you know, animation is very big these days." Trina sounded a little insecure, and Logan was sorry he had made the joke. He really was proud of her, the changes she had made in her life, and not everyone could be a phenomenally lucky as he had been. Bit parts on kids shows were a big deal to actors like Trina.
"It sounds fabulous, Treens. I'm not sure I'm ever moving back, but I can always fly up and visit my favorite sis. And animation is totally where it's at. They say an actor really hasn't made it until they've done a Disney character." Logan grinned, thinking that could be taken more than one way. But Trina was too fragile in her happiness for him to ruin it with innuendo and snarking. "So who's your character?"
There was a pause, and Logan suddenly knew there would be much fodder for jokes in the answer. Hold it until later, he coached himself. You can make jokes with Veronica about this later, but not Trina, not now. This clearly means too much to her, having a real speaking part and a chance to be in a regular series. Finally, Trina's voice came over the line, a little hesitant and resigned to being made fun of.
"Sophie Sofa." She paused and when Logan didn't say anything, she continued. "I'm Emily's best friend and we go on adventures together after her mom shuts off the TV."
There were all sorts of things wrong with that summary, but Logan was not going to touch it. No mentions of couch potatoes or anything. He actually mimed zipping his lips, then smirked into the phone. Finally, he got himself under control and said, "Tell me all about it." He settled back into his now somewhat battered recliner, and Felicia immediately jumped onto his lap. "Felicia wants to hear, too."
Felicia let out a loud, "Mroar," of agreement as she settled in. Trina laughed and then began giving Logan all the details.
**********
The department shelled out for a fairly decent restaurant to wish Judy Tish and Matt Roberts on their way - Veronica's favorite, Luigi's. The smells wafting out from the kitchen made her stomach growl. Logan patted her tummy, mumbling, "Easy, Beast. We'll feed you soon." He chuckled as she punched his shoulder.
"It's torture to stand here and wait for everyone when the food is all in there." Veronica waved towards the dining room. They had been the first to arrive, driven by Veronica's prodigious appetite. Logan gave it another five minutes, before Veronica would decide they could go ahead and be seated.
"What?" Logan teased. "Does your tapeworm have another name? 'Cause I know all that food can't be just to feed a tiny blonde like you."
Shannon smirked. "A tapeworm, eh? Is that how you do it? I always wondered." Suddenly she giggled and nodded her head towards the door. "Look who's here..."
"Wow," said Veronica in a low voice. "I didn't know they made dresses with Peter Pan collars in women's sizes."
Shannon giggled again. "Tell me she's not wearing patent leather MaryJanes." Veronica rolled her eyes. "She really is, isn't she?" Shannon and Veronica took a minute to examine Tilden's fiance. Her hair was a slightly mousy brown, but bouncy and shiny and held back by a satin ribbon head band. It matched the ribbon belt of her navy blue dress. She was plain, but immaculate...and she looked about twelve.
"Gives new meaning to the expression, 'Perfect Doll.' And now we have our answer to how she could marry Tilden... She's clearly an alien impersonating a human being...and apparently the space ship caught a lot of Shirley Temple movies as research. On the Good Ship Lollipop..." Veronica did a quick little dance step, then dissolved into giggles with Shannon.
Logan smirked. He was amused by Veronica's rivalry with Tilden, though he also worried about her. She was a girl who held a grudge and sometimes went to great lengths for revenge. And it sounded like Tilden was the same way, even going so far as it mess with the investigation. It was a recipe for diaster. Maybe that was why they hated each other - maybe they were too much alike.
The Fearsome Twosome had pulled themselves together by the time Tilden was close enough to make introductions. Still, Logan was the one who stepped forward and actually greeted them. Shannon and Veronica had agreed not to punish Tilden's fiance for his transgressions, but it was hard to look at her as an equal. Especially when she was dressed like a refuge from a children's movie.
Tilden's living doll was named Marianne and she did seem genuinely nice. There was no hint of recognition in her china doll eyes at the sound of Logan's name, and he breathed a sigh of relief. They chatted briefly, mostly about inane subjects like the weather, while Tilden stayed quiet and Shannon and Veronica whispered amongst themselves. Logan gave them a look of disapproval, but Veronica shrugged it off.
Judy Tish was the next to arrive, dragging a somewhat reluctant Matt Roberts by the hand. Veronica suddenly wondered if they had bonded over more than being interns. She raised and eyebrow to Shannon who seemed to be having the same thought. She shrugged. It was an odd couple, but she had seen stranger things.
Veronica hugged the pair, even though she had just seen them hours before at the office. "I'm really going to miss you two. You have to promise to stay in touch!"
Several of the secretaries showed up, along with the office manager, and Veronica decided it was time to be seated, with or without Anderson. Logan smirked at her as she bullied the maitre'd into leading them to the table. It was dangerous to get between a Mars and a fresh plate of pasta.
Anderson and his wife showed up about five minutes later. Mrs. Anderson clearly recognized Logan immediately, and took the empty seat to his right. Veronica moved to the other side of the table, next to Shannon, so Anderson could squeeze in.
"Looks like I get to be your date after all," she whispered to Shannon with a smirk, nodding across the table to where Mrs. Anderson was draped on Logan. "Mine has been appropriated by the Wicked Witch of the West."
Logan caught Veronica's eye and mouthed, "Help me." Mrs. Anderson was not as old as the New York society matrons that had left him shaking in his boots, but she had the same hungry look.
Veronica laughed and mouthed back, "No way, Big Boy. Save yourself." That was what he got for trying to treat her like a naughty schoolgirl over Tilden. She chuckled. Besides, maybe the bitch would ease off Veronica a little after this.
The meal went well. Tish and Roberts had been popular around the department, and they would be greatly missed by all. Mrs. Anderson eventually tired of Logan and he mimed wiping his forehead in relief when she turned away. Tilden seemed to be a completely different person around his fiance, socializing in a bland and good natured way with people he normally ignored. Even Shannon noticed the difference.
"Tilden seems to be acting like a decent human being this evening," she whispered to Veronica as she grabbed a second slice of garlic bread.
"Trust me, whenever he seems human, it's just an act." Veronica moaned in pleasure as she took another bite of lasagna. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she said to Logan with a wink. "But I may just have to find out if Luigi has any sons he wants to marry off."
"Just remember those other appetites I do satisfy," he warned, rubbing his leg against hers under the table suggestively. "Give me a recipe, and I'll make you some lasagna." Veronica blushed, wondering how Logan could make even the word "lasagna" sound dirty. True, it was already tied into her pleasure centers, much like chocolate... but Logan's voice gave vision to many erotic possibilities she would have never previously imagined.
Shannon rolled her eyes. "Oh, geez, you two. If you excuse yourselves to 'walk off the pasta' I'm gonna heave." Logan smirked, and Veronica blushed a deeper shade of red.
"It's almost time for dessert, isn't it?" she coughed. Logan's heated look told her what he wanted for dessert, and she kicked him under the table. She was sweating a little now, and kept getting mental flashes of bare skin and hot tongues. She shook her head and squirmed in her seat. Oh, God, she thought. This was the downside to dating Logan, it was hard to turn off the desire and be polite amongst the public. She desperately thought of something to distract herself, and him. To get him to stop looking at her that way at least until it was safe to rip his clothes off without causing a scene.
Then she remembered. "I have presents!" she cheerfully announced. It should have come after dessert, but she was sure she would soak the upholstery long before then if she didn't distract Logan somehow. She pulled out two boxes and passed them to the guests of honor.
"These are from the whole department," she grinned. "So you won't forget about us." Tish and Roberts both exclaimed over the FBI t-shirts and hats. "And..." She pulled out two smaller boxes, exquisitely wrapped little jewelry boxes. "You may not have been around long enough to rate gold watches, but...these are from me. I made 'em myself."
Tish had hers open first and she laughed and then held it up for everyone to see. It was a black friendship bracelet, with the words "FBI" in the center in white. Roberts seemed a little confused, and Tish explained to him what it was. He blushed and turned to Logan.
"Do you think the 'FBI' part makes it a manly accessory?" He asked anxiously. Logan laughed.
"It worries me that you even have to ask, man," Logan teased.
"I try to go for the metro sexual thing," joked Roberts, puffing out his chest and sliding a hand along his gelled hair.
"Yeah, um." Logan eyed him. "Hang it from your rearview. That's the only manly response." He could tell that Roberts totally wanted to wear it, and he laughed again. "Do you want me to help you tie it on?"
Roberts blushed again. "Would you?"
Tish and Veronica were giggling as Veronica helped her tie hers on.
"Watch out, Judy," warned Logan. "There is probably a tracking device woven in."
A/N: I have figured out how to use every prompt except the rainstick in upcoming chapters. I am just not inspired by it. So I am offering a mini contest: If some one gives me an idea I use, I will make them a character in an excerpt from a Rita Ares novel appearing in the last chapter. The contest runs until I pick an idea, or finish the story, whichever comes first.
Author: gertinator
Pairing/Character: Logan/Veronica
Word Count: 6447
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Epic. V and Logan find their way back to each other and solve a mystery, too.
Spoilers/Warnings: a little AU but mostly intact including 2.22. The mystery is about a serial killer and some parts may be graphic.
A/N: This was written for the loveathons Epic Challenge. Friendship bracelet prompt.
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13 | part 14 | part 15
Part 16
The FBI issue sedan pulled into the Glassboro police station parking lot, just as it had every morning for the last week. But this time, Veronica noticed a disturbing new development. She leaned forward and touched Anderson's shoulder.
"Reporters." She pointed. Anderson's eyes followed her hand and he swore under his breath.
Tilden looked, too. "What? The people on the sidewalk? How can you tell?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Veronica turned to look at him. "You have met my boyfriend, right?" She shrugged. "You date an Echolls, you get very adept at dodging the 'razzi."
"Yeah? He didn't seem that special." Tilden was confused and a little snotty.
"He is special," Veronica said fondly, with a bit of a smirk. "But that's not why he was hounded by reporters. His parents were famous..." Veronica didn't really feel like updating Tilden on Logan's history. "They didn't exactly keep a low profile," she added succinctly.
Veronica was peering out the side window and she pointed again. "Over there, parked at the deli. It's a news van. They've got a camera with them."
"Do they still follow him around?" asked Tilden, in a surprisingly normal and interested manner. Veronica was somewhat taken aback that he wasn't sneering or taunting her for once, and she answered honestly.
"No, he hasn't done anything news worthy in years." At least not that they know about, she thought silently. And I'm not telling on Larry. "But back in the day - "
Anderson cut her off. "While this trip down memory lane has been fascinating, we have something a little more pressing to deal with..."
"I thought you liked the little rodents," teased Veronica. Anderson had a reputation as a press hog, always kissing ass so he could get face time.
"Only when I'm playing Pied Piper," growled Anderson, not the least amused. "And right now, we don't know our tune. I was planning on wrapping this up anyway. We've gotten all we can get from this town and the crime scene. Our guy is not a local. This decides it. We are out of here today."
"Okay," Veronica said slowly, not at all disappointed to be going home. "But how do we get inside to finish packing up? Our look screams 'FBI' just as loud as theirs screams 'reporter'."
"Well, first of all, neither one of you speaks. Keep walking and don't let them stop you. I'll take it and it will basically be a no comment, but said in a way that implies that is because there is no story, rather than that we have a story to hide." Anderson sighed. "Okay, gang. Let's hit it."
For once, Veronica was much better at following orders than Tilden. He seemed fascinated by the siren call of the camera. Veronica could tell by the hesitation in his step and the turn of his head that he was almost caught in their thrall. She put a hand on his arm and steered him in the door as Anderson's well rehearsed and meaningless chatter rose behind them.
"Would it have really hurt anything for us to stop and talk?" asked Tilden after they were safely inside. He was glancing at the door, and Veronica could tell he desperately wished for his fifteen minutes of fame.
"Yes," she answered firmly. "It's best to leave it to a pro like Anderson. No matter what you say, they find a way to fuck you with it."
"Well put, Mars." Anderson had caught the end of her comment as he slipped in the door. "Now, let's get packed and out of here. We'll let a courier take the boxes back to DC. We don't want to be seen with that much evidence and the vultures are going to be circling. I'd like to be back in DC for dinner, so plan to be done here by noon. We'll run by the hotel and check out and then get on the road."
*********
Logan fitted his key to the lock, pondering exactly what it meant to be home. Was DC his home? This apartment, with it's reek of high class politics was clearly not where he belonged. And neither was New York anymore. He felt more at home sharing a cheap hotel room with Veronica. The one piece of home he had missed with Veronica was his other woman, the little piece of pink fluff that, according to Shannon, might not be too happy to see him.
"Couldn't resist the cable TV, eh?" asked Logan. Shannon was stretched out on the couch, Felicia sprawled across her chest.
"Shh. It's the season finale of Entourage. V won't let us get the full cable package because she say it will turn us into mindless robots." Shannon waved for him to sit down and be quiet for just five more minutes.
Logan took a seat on the now battle scarred recliner and tried to get Felicia's attention. "Felicia. Daddy's home."
Felicia looked at him blankly, as if she had no idea who he was, then nuzzled against Shannon, purring loudly. Shannon held her with one arm, intent on the TV show. "Aw, E don't let Vince - No! Turtle? Drama? How can you boys?! Argh!" She shook her head in frustration. "And now I have to wait another damn year to find out - " Shannon shook her head and clicked the TV off. She slid her feet to the floor and angled herself into a sitting position, trying not to disturb Felicia. Felicia didn't seem to care about the small earthquakes as she furiously rubbed against Shannon and purred, completely ignoring Logan.
"She's really pissed at me, isn't she?" observed Logan wryly.
"Oh, yeah. Did V tell you about the picture?" Shannon smirked. "And she's definitely punished the couch and the recliner. Shannon's arm swept out to indicate the damage. "I tried to vacuum up the evidence, but gave up after a while." Little tufts of stuffing rolled across the floor like mini tumbleweed.
"She's a smart little she-devil, isn't she? They told me she had attitude when I adopted her, but this is the first I've really seen of her temper." Logan moved next to Shannon on the couch. "Come on, baby. I know you missed me," he coaxed, holding out a hand. Felicia stopped to give him a short stare, then renewed her frenzied love for Shannon.
Shannon glanced down at the ecstatic cat in her lap with amusement. "It's like I'm human cat nip. Now if only I could find a guy that felt this way..." She chuckled. "I don't think I want to be involved in this tempestuous love triangle." She picked up Felicia and set her in Logan's lap, then stood and brushed off the thick patch of white hair as best she could.
"Is Veronica home yet?" she asked.
"I don't know. Maybe sometime tonight. She's riding back with Anderson and she wasn't sure if they were going by the office." Felicia had already jumped down off of Logan's lap and was following Shannon like a devoted lover.
"All right, I'm headed home. 'Night, Logan. 'Night, Felicia." She scratched Felicia's back one last time and headed for the door.
"Thanks for taking on Taz again, Shannon." He glanced ruefully at Felicia as she earnestly threaded her way through Shannon's legs.
"You know I'd do anything for free cable." Shannon gave him a quick hug. "At least it was better circumstances this time. Although it seems you can't help but have one of your women mad at you." She quirked an eyebrow at him and glanced at the cat who was pretending Logan did not exist. He chuckled.
"I must be losing my touch..." he joked as he let her out. "Are you really going to punish me like this, baby?" he asked Felicia, closing the door behind Shannon. Felicia walked out of the room without a backward glance. "And that would be a yes." Logan sighed and shook his head. Love triangles were a hell of a lot of work.
*********
"I was so excited that my room mate was coming home that I brought you a present." Shannon's eyes twinkled as she waved a case file in the familiar pale green in front of Veronica's face. "I am declaring the Fearsome Twosome officially back in action."
"Is that an FBI file?" asked Veronica, getting excited and reaching for it. Shannon nodded. "Smuggled out of headquarters without permission?" Shannon nodded again, trying to hold back a giggle. "Oooh, you know just what to get a girl. Other people might try to get me perfume or a candle, but my Shannon knows what I really like. It's almost as good as a pony." Veronica grabbed the file and gave her room mate a hug.
"So give me the skinny - what caught your attention?" Veronica opened the file, staring at the photo clipped on top. Jill Vanderbeek. A pretty blonde with a classic Dutch face. The candid shots always got to Veronica much more than the morgue photos. Seeing the life that was taken away... it always brought back Lilly. Her laugh, the wicked gleam in her eyes. Extinguished forever.
"Her hair was shaved in the crime scene photos. But every single candid of her has long hair, going like, years back. Long hair and Laura Ashley dresses - our girl was not a P-rocker. I checked old yearbooks and made a few calls when I got suspicious. She was never the short hair type, much less a shaved head." Shannon was proud that her monotonous job at the FBI had actually paid off. There was a real reason to have closed files reviewed before they were archived. And damn, she was finally working a case. "The boyfriend supposedly did it because she dumped him but he was killed before he could confess... or come up with a defense. And here's the real kicker... guess who was working the case in his first FBI training capacity?"
Veronica looked up from the photo. Shannon's question seemed to be out of left field. "Who?"
"Tilden. The bastard. He's not listed in the file because he was just a newbie, but I got his name from Lawson when I called to ask for more details." Shannon's face was smug. Tilden had ranked only slightly above Slotsky and Jones in her book, and apparently he had just fallen a notch. To the equivalent of something a stable boy might scrape off his shoe.
"He had to have known it would be of interest, even if it was officially solved." Veronica whistled and shook her head, stunned. "He wants to keep me down badly enough to - that's just. Shit. Asshole." Yeah, playing nice had really not worked, but this was the last straw. And just when it seemed like he was becoming civil.
********
Logan was trying to write, but Felicia had other ideas. She had ignored him all last night, even slept in the living room. But she woke up determined to give him a piece of her mind. She had followed him around all morning, even sitting outside the shower, keeping up a constant stream of complaint.
"Meeeuw. Meeeooowyyyyuw." She said from the floor. And when that didn't get his attention, she jumped up on the desk and planted her butt on top of his notebook. "Mrrrrrreeeeeeuw." She said to his face, looking him in the eye. She was one big fluffy bundle of irritation and she wanted him to acknowledge it.
Logan rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. "I get it, Felicia. Really, I do. I have been called an insensitive cad by many women, in many languages, and I totally hear what you are trying to say." He tried to pull his notebook from under her ass as she continued to vent. "I've said I'm sorry a million times. Now, please, baby, could you let me finish this chapter?"
He went into the bedroom and closed the door on her, but she continued to berate him from the other side Logan sighed and ran his hand through his hair again. It was clear he was not going to get anything done until he made peace with the screeching harpy. The fact that she actually made him feel a little guilty, like he was a philandering husband, was only more proof of her manipulative powers. He sighed and opened the door.
Felicia sat at his feet, letting out a few fresh volleys at the sight of him. "Meeereeeuw," she bitched. "Meeeyeeeyeeuw?"
Logan shook his head, bemused at the circumstances. A jealous cat in need of assurance. Geez. He bent down to pick her up, cuddling her close despite her protests, and headed for the couch. He put her on his chest and stroked her gently, looking into her eyes as he tried to explain his situation. "Listen, baby. I think you're beautiful. I've always had a thing for red heads. And if you were human maybe we'd have a real chance at something." He chuckled, digging his fingers into her fur and tickling, trying to get a purr out of her.
"But Veronica, well, I was in love with her long before I met you. I can't help it, I can't make it go away. So I'm asking you, could you please try to get along? For my sake?" Felicia seemed to finally accept the apology, and she nuzzled into his palm as he rubbed her face. "We can have this afternoon for just the two of us, just like the old days." Logan settled in on the couch, mentally sketching out the arc for the next several chapters with Rita. He could daydream it out and make a few notes to capture it while it was fresh. It wasn't ideal, but it would work.
Felicia closed her eyes and let out a little rumbling sigh as Logan continued to pet her absently. "I love you, baby. Please don't make me choose. It'd be like Sophie's Choice and it'd kill me, but I'd have to go with the blonde." Felicia quirked an eye open at him in disbelief. "Yeah, you heard me right. So don't push me." Logan's voice took on a pleading note, laced with humor.
"I need you to be the bigger person, Felicia. The blonde's stubborn. I need you to reach out to her, try to be her friend... " He tickled Felicia under her chin. "I know I'm asking a lot, but it would mean so much to me, baby. I'll even sweeten the deal with some fresh halibut..." Felicia began to purr. Finally. Logan sighed with relief. "So we have an agreement, then?" Felicia snuggled close and Logan felt warm contentment. Maybe they could all get along after all. Of course, he hadn't mention to Felicia that he planned to have Veronica co-habitating by the new year, but it was best to work up to these things slowly. He had a feeling he'd be buying a lot of fresh fish.
********
Veronica stomped down the hall towards Tilden's cubicle. She threw a case file on his desk. "It's one thing to play stupid power games around the office, Tilden," she hissed. "But to withhold information on a case? That's completely irresponsible, not to mention asinine."
Tilden didn't even look at the file. "What case?" he asked insolently.
"Come on, as if you've worked that many," Veronica ground out, trying to keep her voice low. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"What do you want from me, Mars? I'm not here to make your life easier." The venom in his voice was all out of proportion to a stupid workplace competition and Veronica realized suddenly that this had gotten personal for both of them. Damn Anderson and his games. "I'm not some dumb ass who thinks with his dick. You can't wrap me around your finger like you did with the hick cops, or like you do with Anderson and your rich boyfriend."
"I expect you to do your job."
"And I have," Tilden sneered.
Veronica tapped her fingers against the file she had thrown on his desk. She tried to get control of her anger and be reasonable, but Tilden was just so infuriating. Like banging her head against a brick wall. "This case could be related. And you didn't bother to tell me."
Tilden casually glanced through the file. "It says here it was solved," he smirked.
"Your team decided it was the boyfriend and then shot him before he could deny it. I'd hardly call that solved." Veronica could tell he was being deliberately obtuse.
"Lawson was the one who shot him, not me. Anyway, innocent men don't pull guns on FBI agents," Tilden stated matter-of-factly.
"I don't know, I haven't committed any crimes. And I'd really like to hold a gun to your head right now." Veronica glared at him. "What about the haircut?" Her fists were clenched tight at the effort of being civil to such a smug bastard.
"She was a lezzy, Mars. She dumped her boyfriend to get a little girl on girl action. Those types of chicks like to get butchy haircuts." Tilden smiled condescendingly.
"Did your psychic friend tell you that, or did you actually find evidence? 'Cause if you did, you forgot to put it in the file." Veronica tapped the file again, bitter smile on her face.
Tilden did not respond. After a moment of silence, Veronica picked up the file. "I thought so, " she said angrily. "So much for doing your job." Veronica turned away, muttering. "Incompetent ass."
"Know it all bitch," she heard Tilden say under his breath. Yeah. If Anderson was hoping to make them rivals, he had sure succeeded with flying colors. No more playing nice.
**********
"It's been way to long since we've done this," said Veronica, handing Shannon a hot dog.
"Boy, I'm sure going to hate it when you stop owing me favors," joked Shannon. "I like having you wait on me hand and foot."
"Yeah, well, SF. The way things are running, seems like I'm gonna owe you my firstborn." Veronica laughed. "I need to figure out a way to make you indebted to me and then all will be well."
"You know I'm really glad to help," Shannon said seriously. "I was going crazy on the paperwork. I thought I needed to punch the clock a certain amount before I would get anywhere... but now I am starting to realize it takes more than that to get their attention. You have been balls out crazy, but people know who you are...and when promotions get handed out, you'll be moving up fast."
Veronica was a little stunned at the observation. She and Shannon had so many similar surface characteristics, that she often forgot the deeper differences. Veronica followed a cause, Shannon followed the rules. And Shannon kept a much closer eye on what their peers were doing. Veronica almost never felt envy because she almost never noticed what others were doing. Shannon did not have the same attitude, and sometimes she was envious, of Veronica, and of others in higher positions. She always knew the score, and could diligently recite the hierarchy. Her goal was to someday place highly in it.
Veronica made a serious dent in Dog #1, then asked,"So any news?" She didn't want to discuss office politics with Shannon. It just made her sad.
"Yep." Shannon said gleefully. "Bad news. That guy Dick clearly had something sneaky going on. He had hotel reservations, checked in but never used the room. It seems like he was using it as a decoy, like he wanted to get caught. Except he wasn't there. He used Dan White as his alias. Not the brightest... or maybe really sneaky."
"Wow," said Veronica, impressed. "I never would have thought Dick had that kind of planning in him." Then she realized what that meant. "Shit," she sighed. "He wanted an alibi showing him to be somewhere that he really wasn't. But he didn't want to be too obvious about it."
"He's Logan's friend, right?" Veronica wasn't sure of Dick's status these days, but she nodded. "Can you get Logan to call him and ask? Maybe there is an explanation..."
"They aren't really getting along right now. That's why I had you looking into it..." Veronica couldn't think of any way to explain things to Shannon, without actually explaining things. And though she loved Shannon, there was no way she was revealing that much.
"Well, just because he's sneaking around doesn't mean he's the killer. We don't have any other evidence. He could just be cheating on his wife." Shannon sounded matter of fact as she popped her last bite of hot dog in her mouth, then patted her lips with her napkin. "Boy toys married to rich old ladies do that."
Veronica spit her mouthful of S'Kist out, choking. "Dick is a boy toy?" Logan's amusement at his marriage suddenly made sense.
"You didn't know? Rich widow of an airline owner..." Shannon chuckled. "She is one scary bitch, too."
"Not Enbom? Please tell me he didn't marry Enbom's mom?" Veronica was halfway between disgusted and amused. She remembered John's mom, with her heavy pancake make-up and facelift-made stretched eyebrows. Was Dick that desperate?
"No, the name's not Enbom. Mimi Von Straten." Shannon seemed to process Veronica's comment. "You knew a guy who's dad owned an airline?"
Veronica shrugged. "Someday, you'll have to visit Neptune. It's a... weird place..." She laughed. "I just can't believe Dick is a boy toy. That's such karmic justice. He must have burned through his trust fund and then realized he had no actual marketable skills." Veronica mused, "I wonder if Kendell knows?" She shook her head. "So you think he's doing the old bump and grind and doesn't want sugar mama to know?"
"Could be. In fact, I'd say it's quite likely. She could have a PI tracking him, thus the decoy hotel room." Shannon dug in her purse for the remaining half of the candy bar she had purchased at break. She pulled it out triumphantly, and offered a piece to Veronica. Veronica refused, considering she was now working her way through her second dog. Besides, there was a piece of cake in teh office fridge from one of the secretary's birthdays.
"Well, cheating does seem to run in his family..." observed Veronica. "Of course, so does murder." She took a bite of her hot dog and chewed thoughtfully. "What about Troy?"
"Troy is a mule, probably more than a mule, but not a mover and shaker. He's too busy running opium to come stateside and stalk college girls. If it makes you feel better, he was already on the DEA observation list." Shannon slowly savored the Carmello bites. "We didn't get him in any more trouble than he already made for himself."
"Oh, Troy. So much for being a changed man." Veronica sighed. "I should know by now that no one ever changes." Except for Logan. Then again, Logan was the exception to many rules. Veronica smiled at the thought of him. Things weren't running perfectly smoothly, but she was very hopeful that the third time was proving to be the charm for their relationship. "Hey, are you coming to the good-bye dinner for Tish and Roberts?"
"When is it?" Shannon had stretched out along the bench, eyes closed, to absorb some of the late summer sunshine.
"Tomorrow night. I hear Tilden's bringing his... fiance! Can you imagine? I can't wait to meet her. What kind of woman would want to be linked to that for life?" Veronica chuckled.
"Sounds like fun." Shannon shaded her eyes to look up at Veronica. "Logan coming?" Veronica knew what she was really asking, and quickly reassured her.
"Yeah. But don't worry, not everybody is bringing a date. You can play Lone Wolf if you want to."
*********
"Logan, Logan - Guess what?" Logan had barely gotten a "Hello" out when Trina's excited voice bubbled all over him. He also didn't get a chance to make a guess, because she was gushing and talking so fast he couldn't get a word in. He held the phone a few inches from his ear to protect his eardrums.
"I got a part in a pilot. A pilot. A reoccurring character!! I have a chance of being a regular... of being in my own TV show. It films in New York, so I'll be able to see you all the time. We can have dinner! I can live in the penthouse and we can hang out and you can even come visit me on the set!!" Trina finally had to stop to take a breath, and Logan was given a chance to speak.
"That's great, Treeney," he said, with true warmth in his voice. "I'm so happy for you. All of your hard work is really paying off." Logan honestly didn't believe Trina was a very good actor, but maybe he had been mistaken. Maybe she would make it in the business after all. Aaron hadn't had much talent, and he made it pretty far. Anyway, she was his sister and she had supported him in his worst times, so he decided to be 100% behind her now. He tried to infuse his tone with interest, "What's the show about?"
Trina paused for a moment and her enthusiasm went down a notch. "It's a kid's show... but it is really well done. It's the people who made Blue's Clues and it's almost guaranteed to be a hit. You have to come back to New York. Maybe you could even have a small part!" The enthusiasm was back, and Logan groaned. For some reason, Trina was determined to make an actor out of him. He'd rather be tortured by the Spanish Inquisition.
"I think I'd scare the little kiddies," smirked Logan. "But it sound good for you. Nice for you to be doing something wholesome for a change. The kids aren't going to recognize you on Law & Order and be traumatized, are they?"
"No, I'm just a voice... It's mostly animated with only one human host. But you know, animation is very big these days." Trina sounded a little insecure, and Logan was sorry he had made the joke. He really was proud of her, the changes she had made in her life, and not everyone could be a phenomenally lucky as he had been. Bit parts on kids shows were a big deal to actors like Trina.
"It sounds fabulous, Treens. I'm not sure I'm ever moving back, but I can always fly up and visit my favorite sis. And animation is totally where it's at. They say an actor really hasn't made it until they've done a Disney character." Logan grinned, thinking that could be taken more than one way. But Trina was too fragile in her happiness for him to ruin it with innuendo and snarking. "So who's your character?"
There was a pause, and Logan suddenly knew there would be much fodder for jokes in the answer. Hold it until later, he coached himself. You can make jokes with Veronica about this later, but not Trina, not now. This clearly means too much to her, having a real speaking part and a chance to be in a regular series. Finally, Trina's voice came over the line, a little hesitant and resigned to being made fun of.
"Sophie Sofa." She paused and when Logan didn't say anything, she continued. "I'm Emily's best friend and we go on adventures together after her mom shuts off the TV."
There were all sorts of things wrong with that summary, but Logan was not going to touch it. No mentions of couch potatoes or anything. He actually mimed zipping his lips, then smirked into the phone. Finally, he got himself under control and said, "Tell me all about it." He settled back into his now somewhat battered recliner, and Felicia immediately jumped onto his lap. "Felicia wants to hear, too."
Felicia let out a loud, "Mroar," of agreement as she settled in. Trina laughed and then began giving Logan all the details.
**********
The department shelled out for a fairly decent restaurant to wish Judy Tish and Matt Roberts on their way - Veronica's favorite, Luigi's. The smells wafting out from the kitchen made her stomach growl. Logan patted her tummy, mumbling, "Easy, Beast. We'll feed you soon." He chuckled as she punched his shoulder.
"It's torture to stand here and wait for everyone when the food is all in there." Veronica waved towards the dining room. They had been the first to arrive, driven by Veronica's prodigious appetite. Logan gave it another five minutes, before Veronica would decide they could go ahead and be seated.
"What?" Logan teased. "Does your tapeworm have another name? 'Cause I know all that food can't be just to feed a tiny blonde like you."
Shannon smirked. "A tapeworm, eh? Is that how you do it? I always wondered." Suddenly she giggled and nodded her head towards the door. "Look who's here..."
"Wow," said Veronica in a low voice. "I didn't know they made dresses with Peter Pan collars in women's sizes."
Shannon giggled again. "Tell me she's not wearing patent leather MaryJanes." Veronica rolled her eyes. "She really is, isn't she?" Shannon and Veronica took a minute to examine Tilden's fiance. Her hair was a slightly mousy brown, but bouncy and shiny and held back by a satin ribbon head band. It matched the ribbon belt of her navy blue dress. She was plain, but immaculate...and she looked about twelve.
"Gives new meaning to the expression, 'Perfect Doll.' And now we have our answer to how she could marry Tilden... She's clearly an alien impersonating a human being...and apparently the space ship caught a lot of Shirley Temple movies as research. On the Good Ship Lollipop..." Veronica did a quick little dance step, then dissolved into giggles with Shannon.
Logan smirked. He was amused by Veronica's rivalry with Tilden, though he also worried about her. She was a girl who held a grudge and sometimes went to great lengths for revenge. And it sounded like Tilden was the same way, even going so far as it mess with the investigation. It was a recipe for diaster. Maybe that was why they hated each other - maybe they were too much alike.
The Fearsome Twosome had pulled themselves together by the time Tilden was close enough to make introductions. Still, Logan was the one who stepped forward and actually greeted them. Shannon and Veronica had agreed not to punish Tilden's fiance for his transgressions, but it was hard to look at her as an equal. Especially when she was dressed like a refuge from a children's movie.
Tilden's living doll was named Marianne and she did seem genuinely nice. There was no hint of recognition in her china doll eyes at the sound of Logan's name, and he breathed a sigh of relief. They chatted briefly, mostly about inane subjects like the weather, while Tilden stayed quiet and Shannon and Veronica whispered amongst themselves. Logan gave them a look of disapproval, but Veronica shrugged it off.
Judy Tish was the next to arrive, dragging a somewhat reluctant Matt Roberts by the hand. Veronica suddenly wondered if they had bonded over more than being interns. She raised and eyebrow to Shannon who seemed to be having the same thought. She shrugged. It was an odd couple, but she had seen stranger things.
Veronica hugged the pair, even though she had just seen them hours before at the office. "I'm really going to miss you two. You have to promise to stay in touch!"
Several of the secretaries showed up, along with the office manager, and Veronica decided it was time to be seated, with or without Anderson. Logan smirked at her as she bullied the maitre'd into leading them to the table. It was dangerous to get between a Mars and a fresh plate of pasta.
Anderson and his wife showed up about five minutes later. Mrs. Anderson clearly recognized Logan immediately, and took the empty seat to his right. Veronica moved to the other side of the table, next to Shannon, so Anderson could squeeze in.
"Looks like I get to be your date after all," she whispered to Shannon with a smirk, nodding across the table to where Mrs. Anderson was draped on Logan. "Mine has been appropriated by the Wicked Witch of the West."
Logan caught Veronica's eye and mouthed, "Help me." Mrs. Anderson was not as old as the New York society matrons that had left him shaking in his boots, but she had the same hungry look.
Veronica laughed and mouthed back, "No way, Big Boy. Save yourself." That was what he got for trying to treat her like a naughty schoolgirl over Tilden. She chuckled. Besides, maybe the bitch would ease off Veronica a little after this.
The meal went well. Tish and Roberts had been popular around the department, and they would be greatly missed by all. Mrs. Anderson eventually tired of Logan and he mimed wiping his forehead in relief when she turned away. Tilden seemed to be a completely different person around his fiance, socializing in a bland and good natured way with people he normally ignored. Even Shannon noticed the difference.
"Tilden seems to be acting like a decent human being this evening," she whispered to Veronica as she grabbed a second slice of garlic bread.
"Trust me, whenever he seems human, it's just an act." Veronica moaned in pleasure as she took another bite of lasagna. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she said to Logan with a wink. "But I may just have to find out if Luigi has any sons he wants to marry off."
"Just remember those other appetites I do satisfy," he warned, rubbing his leg against hers under the table suggestively. "Give me a recipe, and I'll make you some lasagna." Veronica blushed, wondering how Logan could make even the word "lasagna" sound dirty. True, it was already tied into her pleasure centers, much like chocolate... but Logan's voice gave vision to many erotic possibilities she would have never previously imagined.
Shannon rolled her eyes. "Oh, geez, you two. If you excuse yourselves to 'walk off the pasta' I'm gonna heave." Logan smirked, and Veronica blushed a deeper shade of red.
"It's almost time for dessert, isn't it?" she coughed. Logan's heated look told her what he wanted for dessert, and she kicked him under the table. She was sweating a little now, and kept getting mental flashes of bare skin and hot tongues. She shook her head and squirmed in her seat. Oh, God, she thought. This was the downside to dating Logan, it was hard to turn off the desire and be polite amongst the public. She desperately thought of something to distract herself, and him. To get him to stop looking at her that way at least until it was safe to rip his clothes off without causing a scene.
Then she remembered. "I have presents!" she cheerfully announced. It should have come after dessert, but she was sure she would soak the upholstery long before then if she didn't distract Logan somehow. She pulled out two boxes and passed them to the guests of honor.
"These are from the whole department," she grinned. "So you won't forget about us." Tish and Roberts both exclaimed over the FBI t-shirts and hats. "And..." She pulled out two smaller boxes, exquisitely wrapped little jewelry boxes. "You may not have been around long enough to rate gold watches, but...these are from me. I made 'em myself."
Tish had hers open first and she laughed and then held it up for everyone to see. It was a black friendship bracelet, with the words "FBI" in the center in white. Roberts seemed a little confused, and Tish explained to him what it was. He blushed and turned to Logan.
"Do you think the 'FBI' part makes it a manly accessory?" He asked anxiously. Logan laughed.
"It worries me that you even have to ask, man," Logan teased.
"I try to go for the metro sexual thing," joked Roberts, puffing out his chest and sliding a hand along his gelled hair.
"Yeah, um." Logan eyed him. "Hang it from your rearview. That's the only manly response." He could tell that Roberts totally wanted to wear it, and he laughed again. "Do you want me to help you tie it on?"
Roberts blushed again. "Would you?"
Tish and Veronica were giggling as Veronica helped her tie hers on.
"Watch out, Judy," warned Logan. "There is probably a tracking device woven in."
A/N: I have figured out how to use every prompt except the rainstick in upcoming chapters. I am just not inspired by it. So I am offering a mini contest: If some one gives me an idea I use, I will make them a character in an excerpt from a Rita Ares novel appearing in the last chapter. The contest runs until I pick an idea, or finish the story, whichever comes first.