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jesterladyficTitle: Tyranny of the Urgent
Pairing: LoVe, Duncan/Meg, Mac/Cassidy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Veronica Mars and the mystery of the bus crash
A/N: This is my version of VM S2 without Jackie, Terrence, Hannah, Dr. Griffith, the Fitzpatricks or DuVe having occurred. Veronica's thoughts are italicized.
Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars. The title comes from Jay McAlister and this chapter's title comes from a play.
Ah, the first day of senior year. I’ve a lot to be happy about, I suppose. Lilly’s killer is behind bars, I have a normal job and a best friend. I suppose the one flaw of no boyfriend just makes everything have that little bit of imperfection so that it’s not annoyingly perfect. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
Veronica walked across the lunch tables looking for Wallace. She spotted him sitting with his jock friends and none of them looked happy. Deciding that this small use of her detective powers was all right, Veronica headed over to figure out why.
“What’s up?” she asked, sliding into a seat. “Don’t tell me y’all got the school blues already?”
“I’ve been kicked off athletics for my entire senior year,” said Wallace in a seriously unhappy, non-Veronica approved, Wallace tone of voice.
“What? Why?”
“Failed the drug test.”
“See, I told you those mushrooms would catch up to you.”
“This isn’t a joke, girl. My mom is going to kill me.”
Veronica slung her arm around Wallace’s shoulder.
“Well, it just so happens that your best friend is a mighty fine detective. We’ll get this sorted out, Fennel.”
***
Logan and Dick jumped as Cassidy splashed them with water.
“Don’t make me go in there and get all Ordinary People on you, Beav.”
”The older brother drowns, dumbass,” Cassidy retorted as he got out of the pool.
“Dude, Duncan’s been asking about you all week,” Dick complained to Logan, ignoring his little brother. “I’m not your guys’ messenger boy. Just make up already.”
“He hasn’t exactly been leaving flowers and candy. I've told him a million times that I only relent for sweeties.”
“Whatever, man. Just talk to him so he’ll get off my back.”
Logan pulled out his sunglasses and slipped them on, effectively ending the conversation, but not before Cassidy noticed Logan’s expression of thoughtfulness. Dick obviously saw nothing and closed his eyes, going back to sunbathing.
“Welcome home, children. How was school? Who wants a Rice Krispie treat?”
Cassidy resisted the urge to vomit as Dick and Logan both sat up when his step mom walked out to the pool in her bikini.
Logan raised his hand impishly.
“Uh, I want a Rice Krispie treat.”
”Go make it yourself then, kid. Do I look like a cook?”
Kendall set her margarita down and sauntered toward the poolside.
***
“So…why wasn’t I invited to the exposure of 09er parents ’05?”
Mac slugged Veronica lightly as she came up to Veronica's locker.
“You know, I just can’t keep track of all the people who are nice to me now.”
“Well, simply take a look at the poor people and you won’t be running out of fingers anymore. You’re an 09er girl now.”
“Don’t remind me. And I’m not. I just don’t believe Logan killed Felix. It’s not like I’m with him anymore.”
“No, but the 09ers love you for not believing it, plus the whole Lilly thing. The PCHers, on the other hand, want your hands chopped off and hung on the flagpole.”
“Now I’ll sleep better at night. Thanks, Mac.”
“I’m here for you, friend.” The two continued towards the parking lot where they would part ways when Veronica went on the bus to Shark stadium and Mac headed home. “I see your other galpal is waiting, so I’ll say adieu.”
Mac walked away, her red highlights glinting in the sun.
“Hello, other galpal,” Veronica greeted Meg.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” was the other girl’s response. “Dick is driving me crazy.”
“Dick would drive Ghandi crazy,”
“Just promise to sit with me.”
“I promise.” Veronica grasped Meg’s hand tightly. “I’ll even have girl talk with you in the backseat!”
“Lead the way.”
“Ah, young love.”
Veronica turned to see Logan leaning against the side of the bus.
“Lesbian jokes? You must be running out of ways to insult me, Logan.”
“Cool it, Action.” He pushed himself away from the bus and walked toward the two girls. “Since I won’t be going, call me when you get home and tell me all about it. I do so miss our little chats.”
“Goodbye, Logan.”
Veronica turned to get on the bus. Logan watched her go for one brief moment and then headed off. He turned slightly as he walked, as if somehow knowing she was watching, and gave a little wave. Veronica paused for a moment and then continued on to sit beside Meg.
They’d been riding for about ten minutes before Veronica remembered someone who was absent.
“Meg, where’s Duncan?”
“He decided he didn’t want to come. He figured Logan would skip and he’d have an opportunity to talk to him.”
“It’s almost sweet the way they can’t make up,” Veronica commented lightly.
Both girls jumped slightly as Dick leaned over their seat and pointed to a new girl sitting on the other side of the bus.
“Hey, who's the lovely young flower blossoming into womanhood?
“Let me guess: you want to pluck her.”
Dick grinned at Veronica’s sagacity. Meg simply rolled her eyes.
***
“Hey, DK. It’s me. So, Dick told me you were using him shamelessly. I figured I’d cut him some slack and talk to you. Call me.”
Logan grabbed his keys and headed to his car only to find Duncan leaning against it, listening to the message he’d just left.
“So, talk to me then, Logan.”
“You’re the one stalking me. You talk.”
“What’s up? I haven’t seen you.”
“Hmm, I wonder why that could be? Oh yeah. Where were you this summer, man?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, remember, there was this little situation? I was accused of murder? Still might be convicted, by the way. I am the eye of a storm and I never heard from you. It is a war out there and you're on the sidelines? Do you remember when you used to have my back?”
Duncan sighed and replied sarcastically.
“Yeah, wait, I do remember this summer.”
”Yeah.”
”I was dealing with this thing, what was it? Oh, yeah, I remember now. Your dad murdered my sister.”
Duncan turned to go. He’d wanted to make peace with Logan, but apparently that wasn’t going to work. There was too much between them now.
“I hate him too, you know.”
Duncan barely heard the words, tightly controlled and completely vulnerable, that passed from Logan’s lips.
“I know you do.” Duncan turned around again. “I’m sorry, I should’ve been there.”
“I shouldn’t have been a jerk.”
There was a slight silence, then, without really knowing who made the first move, they awkwardly hugged.
“So, I don’t know if you want to, but Meg and I were going to hang out with some people tonight.”
“The old gang, is it?”
“Well, yeah, Dick and them and…I invited Veronica.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
“You two aren’t talking?”
“Well, the talk is usually charged with verbal jabs of some kind. But there is talk.”
Duncan leaned against the car.
“Why does it have to be that way between you two?”
“Hey, I get why you left, dude. But Veronica dumped me when she was all I had. Now she thinks I’m the guy who smashed in her headlights instead of the guy who went against all his friends for her. I might as well drop the façade because obviously my Veronica mandated mission in life is to be a jackass.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m still friends with her.”
“I would have thought you two would be making googly eyes at each other by now.”
Duncan shook his head.
“No way. I’ll always love Veronica, but I’m with Meg now. It just doesn’t work between Veronica and me. We might as well be brother and sister.”
“See that,” Logan lifted his hand to his cheek and pretended to wipe away a tear, “that is just tragic. Anyway, thanks for the offer, but you and I will have to figure out how to be BFF without her. Besides, I got other lady plans.”
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow then. We’re cool?”
“Frigid as an ice princess named Veronica.”
***
Logan waved goodbye to Duncan and drove over to the Casablancas’ estate.
He tossed his keys from hand to hand until Kendall answered the door.
“Hey, uh, can Dick and Beaver come out and play?”
”Let's see if we can find them.”
Kendall walked down the hall, her robe falling dramatically to the floor just before the bedroom.
Logan’s eyes followed her appreciatively before he turned to close the door.
“We've got to stop meeting like this.”
***
Is there anything as boring as listening to some middle aged man talking about baseball? I don’t think so. I could get Mac to google it, but I’m pretty sure she’d end up with zero. Mr. Goodman: the slightly creepy cheerful man. I don’t know much about him. Even when I ran with the 09er crowd, our contact was limited. Oh, but he’s talking again.
“Now, I know some of you. I even coached a few of you back in Little League. I wanted to host this little afternoon outing for one specific reason. As many of you know, I'm running for Mayor of Neptune. And I thought it was important as a mayoral candidate, my daughter, Gia, attend the public high school in Neptune.”
Veronica saw the girl Dick had been leering at give a little wave.
Way to go, Dick. Hitting on the newest Mayoral candidate’s daughter.
“Her favorite class at Country Day was newspaper. So, I thought I'd invite the journalism classes out and give Gia a chance to make some new friends.”
“Hello, friend,” Dick said and leaned in way too close.
Gia seemed to lap up the attention.
“Hello.” She got up to stand beside her father. “Okay, so far, working.”
“Yes,” her father agreed.
“Okay, just so everyone knows, I don't always dress like this. I didn't know if you guys were doing like relaxed beachy, or the West Coast wannabe East Coast urban; so, FYI, it’s not a statement. I'm just doing the new-school blend-in thing.”
Gia gave a little laugh and sat back down.
”My daughter, she's a cool kid. Play nice.”
Veronica would have been only too happy to play nice so long as she got to get out of there. She was looking forward to a long talk with Meg on the bus ride home. But then Dick approached them.
“Hey, we're not taking that stank-ass bus back to Neptune. My dad's sending a limo. Would you two lovely ladies like to take the trip back in style? Miss Dumbass said it was cool.”
“Thanks, Dick, but I have to talk to Miss Dumas about something,” Meg begged off. “But, Veronica, you go ahead.”
Veronica inwardly flinched at the thought of riding back to Neptune with Dick beside her making crude jokes.
“Hey, we started this thing together and we’ll finish it together. Solidarity.”
“Your loss.”
Dick shrugged and went off to ask Gia if she wanted to come.
Apparently, she did.
Veronica sighed. The bus did smell totally disgusting and it wasn’t as much fun since Meg was deeply engrossed in conversation with Miss Dumas. She was glad when they stopped at a gas station. She got out and went in to buy some water.
It was eerie the way she seemed to hear Lilly’s voice everywhere or actually see her. Veronica rounded the corner, but stopped short when the only thing she saw was Weevil. They weren’t exactly friends anymore. He hadn’t taken her support of Logan well at all. It was slightly understandable considering his best friend had been killed. But, then again, Weevil had tried to kill her boyfriend. She figured they were even. Though it was slightly ridiculous since none of it meant anything anyway.
“What are you doing here, huh? Shouldn't you be running for Homecoming Queen or something?”
Weevil stood up and brandished his rag at her.
“I'm safe standing here, right? I mean, you're not gonna shoot me, are you?” she asked sarcastically.
Veronica wasn’t about to show how uncomfortable she felt around him now. She was so focused on him that she didn’t even notice the bus about to leave. She had figured Meg would make sure she got back on. Unfortunately, she didn’t remember that Meg was still heavily involved in conversation with Miss Dumas.
“So, did you like your taste? Your little year of living dangerously? Did you get your fill? As soon as they'll have you back, you go running to the 09ers. And, as a little bonus, you give it up to one of the richest boys in school. Wow. Well, I'm sure his sheets are clean.”
“You don't know anything about me. And you don't know anything about him.”
Weevil shook his head and raised his voice in reaction.
“Yeah, I do. I know that Logan killed Felix. And, so far, he’s getting away with it because he's rich and he's white.”
“Six guys jumped Logan. They broke his ribs. They gave him a concussion. Yet somehow he managed to wrestle away one of their knives and stab Felix?” Veronica asked incredulously. “You didn't see it. You were out cold.”
“So I guess Felix stabbed himself.”
“Well, somebody stabbed him.”
“My boys?” Weevil pointed at his chest in pride. “Nothing goes down in the club without my say-so.”
“So I guess you know about the shotgun blast that almost killed Logan and me? Bikers ride up; blow a hole through Logan's car?” Veronica stared at him, wanting to know if he actually had known. She was relieved to see he didn’t because he had no answer for her. “You sure you're still in charge?”
“At least I don’t miss my rides,” Weevil pointed out as he gestured to the retreating bus.
Then he got on his bike and rode off. Veronica stared after him in disbelief before reaching into her bag to call Wallace. But before he answered she heard the sound of a bike returning. It was Weevil and he tossed his helmet to her.
Veronica smiled slightly. It was nice to know some things hadn’t changed. Even if everything else had.
Veronica liked the feeling of roaring down the PCH on a bike. It was infinitely superior to the bus that smelled like the dead.
At first she thought there was something wrong with her ears, but then she saw it. The limo was pulled over to the side of the road and all the kids were running out of it toward the cliff. The driver had his cell phone out and was yelling into it. Smoke was rising above the whole scene.
Weevil pulled to a stop and Veronica ran towards the cliff.
“It just went over! They’re dead! They’re all dead!” Gia screamed hysterically to anyone who would listen.
Dick and Cassidy stared down at the water. Dick looked just like Dick, only quieter, but Cassidy seemed to understand the true horror of the tableau. Veronica fell on her knees and thought about Meg. Her stomach overturned as she realized she should have been on the bus and her thoughts started to race.
This is Neptune. Nothing happens accidentally.
Pairing: LoVe, Duncan/Meg, Mac/Cassidy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Veronica Mars and the mystery of the bus crash
A/N: This is my version of VM S2 without Jackie, Terrence, Hannah, Dr. Griffith, the Fitzpatricks or DuVe having occurred. Veronica's thoughts are italicized.
Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars. The title comes from Jay McAlister and this chapter's title comes from a play.
Ah, the first day of senior year. I’ve a lot to be happy about, I suppose. Lilly’s killer is behind bars, I have a normal job and a best friend. I suppose the one flaw of no boyfriend just makes everything have that little bit of imperfection so that it’s not annoyingly perfect. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
Veronica walked across the lunch tables looking for Wallace. She spotted him sitting with his jock friends and none of them looked happy. Deciding that this small use of her detective powers was all right, Veronica headed over to figure out why.
“What’s up?” she asked, sliding into a seat. “Don’t tell me y’all got the school blues already?”
“I’ve been kicked off athletics for my entire senior year,” said Wallace in a seriously unhappy, non-Veronica approved, Wallace tone of voice.
“What? Why?”
“Failed the drug test.”
“See, I told you those mushrooms would catch up to you.”
“This isn’t a joke, girl. My mom is going to kill me.”
Veronica slung her arm around Wallace’s shoulder.
“Well, it just so happens that your best friend is a mighty fine detective. We’ll get this sorted out, Fennel.”
***
Logan and Dick jumped as Cassidy splashed them with water.
“Don’t make me go in there and get all Ordinary People on you, Beav.”
”The older brother drowns, dumbass,” Cassidy retorted as he got out of the pool.
“Dude, Duncan’s been asking about you all week,” Dick complained to Logan, ignoring his little brother. “I’m not your guys’ messenger boy. Just make up already.”
“He hasn’t exactly been leaving flowers and candy. I've told him a million times that I only relent for sweeties.”
“Whatever, man. Just talk to him so he’ll get off my back.”
Logan pulled out his sunglasses and slipped them on, effectively ending the conversation, but not before Cassidy noticed Logan’s expression of thoughtfulness. Dick obviously saw nothing and closed his eyes, going back to sunbathing.
“Welcome home, children. How was school? Who wants a Rice Krispie treat?”
Cassidy resisted the urge to vomit as Dick and Logan both sat up when his step mom walked out to the pool in her bikini.
Logan raised his hand impishly.
“Uh, I want a Rice Krispie treat.”
”Go make it yourself then, kid. Do I look like a cook?”
Kendall set her margarita down and sauntered toward the poolside.
***
“So…why wasn’t I invited to the exposure of 09er parents ’05?”
Mac slugged Veronica lightly as she came up to Veronica's locker.
“You know, I just can’t keep track of all the people who are nice to me now.”
“Well, simply take a look at the poor people and you won’t be running out of fingers anymore. You’re an 09er girl now.”
“Don’t remind me. And I’m not. I just don’t believe Logan killed Felix. It’s not like I’m with him anymore.”
“No, but the 09ers love you for not believing it, plus the whole Lilly thing. The PCHers, on the other hand, want your hands chopped off and hung on the flagpole.”
“Now I’ll sleep better at night. Thanks, Mac.”
“I’m here for you, friend.” The two continued towards the parking lot where they would part ways when Veronica went on the bus to Shark stadium and Mac headed home. “I see your other galpal is waiting, so I’ll say adieu.”
Mac walked away, her red highlights glinting in the sun.
“Hello, other galpal,” Veronica greeted Meg.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” was the other girl’s response. “Dick is driving me crazy.”
“Dick would drive Ghandi crazy,”
“Just promise to sit with me.”
“I promise.” Veronica grasped Meg’s hand tightly. “I’ll even have girl talk with you in the backseat!”
“Lead the way.”
“Ah, young love.”
Veronica turned to see Logan leaning against the side of the bus.
“Lesbian jokes? You must be running out of ways to insult me, Logan.”
“Cool it, Action.” He pushed himself away from the bus and walked toward the two girls. “Since I won’t be going, call me when you get home and tell me all about it. I do so miss our little chats.”
“Goodbye, Logan.”
Veronica turned to get on the bus. Logan watched her go for one brief moment and then headed off. He turned slightly as he walked, as if somehow knowing she was watching, and gave a little wave. Veronica paused for a moment and then continued on to sit beside Meg.
They’d been riding for about ten minutes before Veronica remembered someone who was absent.
“Meg, where’s Duncan?”
“He decided he didn’t want to come. He figured Logan would skip and he’d have an opportunity to talk to him.”
“It’s almost sweet the way they can’t make up,” Veronica commented lightly.
Both girls jumped slightly as Dick leaned over their seat and pointed to a new girl sitting on the other side of the bus.
“Hey, who's the lovely young flower blossoming into womanhood?
“Let me guess: you want to pluck her.”
Dick grinned at Veronica’s sagacity. Meg simply rolled her eyes.
***
“Hey, DK. It’s me. So, Dick told me you were using him shamelessly. I figured I’d cut him some slack and talk to you. Call me.”
Logan grabbed his keys and headed to his car only to find Duncan leaning against it, listening to the message he’d just left.
“So, talk to me then, Logan.”
“You’re the one stalking me. You talk.”
“What’s up? I haven’t seen you.”
“Hmm, I wonder why that could be? Oh yeah. Where were you this summer, man?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, remember, there was this little situation? I was accused of murder? Still might be convicted, by the way. I am the eye of a storm and I never heard from you. It is a war out there and you're on the sidelines? Do you remember when you used to have my back?”
Duncan sighed and replied sarcastically.
“Yeah, wait, I do remember this summer.”
”Yeah.”
”I was dealing with this thing, what was it? Oh, yeah, I remember now. Your dad murdered my sister.”
Duncan turned to go. He’d wanted to make peace with Logan, but apparently that wasn’t going to work. There was too much between them now.
“I hate him too, you know.”
Duncan barely heard the words, tightly controlled and completely vulnerable, that passed from Logan’s lips.
“I know you do.” Duncan turned around again. “I’m sorry, I should’ve been there.”
“I shouldn’t have been a jerk.”
There was a slight silence, then, without really knowing who made the first move, they awkwardly hugged.
“So, I don’t know if you want to, but Meg and I were going to hang out with some people tonight.”
“The old gang, is it?”
“Well, yeah, Dick and them and…I invited Veronica.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
“You two aren’t talking?”
“Well, the talk is usually charged with verbal jabs of some kind. But there is talk.”
Duncan leaned against the car.
“Why does it have to be that way between you two?”
“Hey, I get why you left, dude. But Veronica dumped me when she was all I had. Now she thinks I’m the guy who smashed in her headlights instead of the guy who went against all his friends for her. I might as well drop the façade because obviously my Veronica mandated mission in life is to be a jackass.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m still friends with her.”
“I would have thought you two would be making googly eyes at each other by now.”
Duncan shook his head.
“No way. I’ll always love Veronica, but I’m with Meg now. It just doesn’t work between Veronica and me. We might as well be brother and sister.”
“See that,” Logan lifted his hand to his cheek and pretended to wipe away a tear, “that is just tragic. Anyway, thanks for the offer, but you and I will have to figure out how to be BFF without her. Besides, I got other lady plans.”
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow then. We’re cool?”
“Frigid as an ice princess named Veronica.”
***
Logan waved goodbye to Duncan and drove over to the Casablancas’ estate.
He tossed his keys from hand to hand until Kendall answered the door.
“Hey, uh, can Dick and Beaver come out and play?”
”Let's see if we can find them.”
Kendall walked down the hall, her robe falling dramatically to the floor just before the bedroom.
Logan’s eyes followed her appreciatively before he turned to close the door.
“We've got to stop meeting like this.”
***
Is there anything as boring as listening to some middle aged man talking about baseball? I don’t think so. I could get Mac to google it, but I’m pretty sure she’d end up with zero. Mr. Goodman: the slightly creepy cheerful man. I don’t know much about him. Even when I ran with the 09er crowd, our contact was limited. Oh, but he’s talking again.
“Now, I know some of you. I even coached a few of you back in Little League. I wanted to host this little afternoon outing for one specific reason. As many of you know, I'm running for Mayor of Neptune. And I thought it was important as a mayoral candidate, my daughter, Gia, attend the public high school in Neptune.”
Veronica saw the girl Dick had been leering at give a little wave.
Way to go, Dick. Hitting on the newest Mayoral candidate’s daughter.
“Her favorite class at Country Day was newspaper. So, I thought I'd invite the journalism classes out and give Gia a chance to make some new friends.”
“Hello, friend,” Dick said and leaned in way too close.
Gia seemed to lap up the attention.
“Hello.” She got up to stand beside her father. “Okay, so far, working.”
“Yes,” her father agreed.
“Okay, just so everyone knows, I don't always dress like this. I didn't know if you guys were doing like relaxed beachy, or the West Coast wannabe East Coast urban; so, FYI, it’s not a statement. I'm just doing the new-school blend-in thing.”
Gia gave a little laugh and sat back down.
”My daughter, she's a cool kid. Play nice.”
Veronica would have been only too happy to play nice so long as she got to get out of there. She was looking forward to a long talk with Meg on the bus ride home. But then Dick approached them.
“Hey, we're not taking that stank-ass bus back to Neptune. My dad's sending a limo. Would you two lovely ladies like to take the trip back in style? Miss Dumbass said it was cool.”
“Thanks, Dick, but I have to talk to Miss Dumas about something,” Meg begged off. “But, Veronica, you go ahead.”
Veronica inwardly flinched at the thought of riding back to Neptune with Dick beside her making crude jokes.
“Hey, we started this thing together and we’ll finish it together. Solidarity.”
“Your loss.”
Dick shrugged and went off to ask Gia if she wanted to come.
Apparently, she did.
Veronica sighed. The bus did smell totally disgusting and it wasn’t as much fun since Meg was deeply engrossed in conversation with Miss Dumas. She was glad when they stopped at a gas station. She got out and went in to buy some water.
It was eerie the way she seemed to hear Lilly’s voice everywhere or actually see her. Veronica rounded the corner, but stopped short when the only thing she saw was Weevil. They weren’t exactly friends anymore. He hadn’t taken her support of Logan well at all. It was slightly understandable considering his best friend had been killed. But, then again, Weevil had tried to kill her boyfriend. She figured they were even. Though it was slightly ridiculous since none of it meant anything anyway.
“What are you doing here, huh? Shouldn't you be running for Homecoming Queen or something?”
Weevil stood up and brandished his rag at her.
“I'm safe standing here, right? I mean, you're not gonna shoot me, are you?” she asked sarcastically.
Veronica wasn’t about to show how uncomfortable she felt around him now. She was so focused on him that she didn’t even notice the bus about to leave. She had figured Meg would make sure she got back on. Unfortunately, she didn’t remember that Meg was still heavily involved in conversation with Miss Dumas.
“So, did you like your taste? Your little year of living dangerously? Did you get your fill? As soon as they'll have you back, you go running to the 09ers. And, as a little bonus, you give it up to one of the richest boys in school. Wow. Well, I'm sure his sheets are clean.”
“You don't know anything about me. And you don't know anything about him.”
Weevil shook his head and raised his voice in reaction.
“Yeah, I do. I know that Logan killed Felix. And, so far, he’s getting away with it because he's rich and he's white.”
“Six guys jumped Logan. They broke his ribs. They gave him a concussion. Yet somehow he managed to wrestle away one of their knives and stab Felix?” Veronica asked incredulously. “You didn't see it. You were out cold.”
“So I guess Felix stabbed himself.”
“Well, somebody stabbed him.”
“My boys?” Weevil pointed at his chest in pride. “Nothing goes down in the club without my say-so.”
“So I guess you know about the shotgun blast that almost killed Logan and me? Bikers ride up; blow a hole through Logan's car?” Veronica stared at him, wanting to know if he actually had known. She was relieved to see he didn’t because he had no answer for her. “You sure you're still in charge?”
“At least I don’t miss my rides,” Weevil pointed out as he gestured to the retreating bus.
Then he got on his bike and rode off. Veronica stared after him in disbelief before reaching into her bag to call Wallace. But before he answered she heard the sound of a bike returning. It was Weevil and he tossed his helmet to her.
Veronica smiled slightly. It was nice to know some things hadn’t changed. Even if everything else had.
Veronica liked the feeling of roaring down the PCH on a bike. It was infinitely superior to the bus that smelled like the dead.
At first she thought there was something wrong with her ears, but then she saw it. The limo was pulled over to the side of the road and all the kids were running out of it toward the cliff. The driver had his cell phone out and was yelling into it. Smoke was rising above the whole scene.
Weevil pulled to a stop and Veronica ran towards the cliff.
“It just went over! They’re dead! They’re all dead!” Gia screamed hysterically to anyone who would listen.
Dick and Cassidy stared down at the water. Dick looked just like Dick, only quieter, but Cassidy seemed to understand the true horror of the tableau. Veronica fell on her knees and thought about Meg. Her stomach overturned as she realized she should have been on the bus and her thoughts started to race.
This is Neptune. Nothing happens accidentally.
