Veronica left the library after her shift, eager to get down to Mars Investigations to see what else she could find out about the Sorokin family. She exited Hearst at the main entrance and started walking down the sidewalk to where she had parked her car.

"Veronica!"

Veronica stopped and waited with a smile for the owner of the voice to catch up to her, "heya Wallace."

"Hey, what's up?" Wallace said with a smile.

Veronica looked at him and began walking again, "it's off to work I go."

"Yeah, Piz told me you were working a case with your dad tonight?"

Veronica waited for him to finish before realizing that was his version of a question, "uh yeah."

"It's just, he was looking forward to this concert tonight and wanted you to go with him. He's all mopey."

"Why? And why are you talking to me about it instead of him?"

Wallace shrugged, "he feels like you're not telling him the whole truth and he doesn't want to bother you. But you should go with him. Your dad would understand, Veronica. There has to be another reason."

Veronica didn't reply.

"So what's the reason, Veronica?"

She remained silent, not wanting to lie to her best friend. You can't lie to someone if you don't say a word, right?

"Veronica, if something is up-" he began in a warning tone.

"I have to go Wallace," she interrupted. "I'll talk to you later." She then got into her car, leaving a fuming friend alone.

Veronica hated when people would pry into her personal life. It was none of their business. She hated it more that she was worried about telling Wallace anything Piz-related. It was as if she couldn't trust him anymore and hated it. Again, she wasn't about the girl talk, especially with Wallace, but it would be nice to be able to say something.

Frustrated with the strain on her and Wallace's relationship, and the strain on her and Piz's relationship, Veronica weaved through rush hour traffic as well as she could. Stress was not a thing that Veronica enjoyed, nor was it something that she handled well.

Before going to the office, Veronica had a plan to stop at the Police Station and verbally abuse some of the deputies along with a certain Sheriff.

She parked and walked in. Veronica hadn't been there for almost a month, which seemed weird after she was there almost constantly when her dad was Sheriff again. She probably would have been around more if she had more cases. But that was something that could not be helped. Since Vinnie had taken over, Veronica didn't really want to spend much time at the station anyway.

The office still looked like it always had inside, which oddly surprised Veronica. Maybe she expected it to be a mess or surrounded by lakes of fire and creepy men with horns. Or maybe she expected Vinnie's mom to be at the front desk instead of one of the deputies.

"How can I help you?" asked the deputy at the desk – a new guy.

"Hi, I'm Veronica," she replied, smiling sweetly. "Is Deputy D'Amato in?"

"Uh yeah, but-"

"Veronica?"

Veronica whirled around to face Leo who was grinning his broad grin, "hey Deputy," she replied with a smile.

"What brings you to my side of town?"

"I need to talk to you. In private. If you're not busy."

Leo shrugged, "I'm a deputy. Of course I'm not busy."

Veronica wasn't sure if that was a sarcastic remark or not. He hid it well if it was sarcastic. She led him down the office hallway where few people ever went. She turned and faced his smiling face and began speaking abruptly, "I need to- Did-" she wasn't sure how to ask him if he had somehow let the video slip to fellow deputies or his Sheriff, without insulting him.

"What is it Veronica?"

She smiled, "uh, I am searching for a way to ask you if you... let someone other than yourself see the video?"

"Veronica," Leo began looking genuinely hurt and therefore causing Veronica an immense pang of guilt. "You know I could never do that. I would never-"

"I know. Leo. I know, it's just... my dad saw it."

"Oh," Leo said. "Right."

"Right? Do you know something about this?"

Leo shook his head, "I don't know how your dad saw it. But he was here earlier."

"He was here?" Veronica repeated, worried about what he might have done.

"Yeah, uh, he was angry and just walked into Sheriff Van Lowe's office. He started yelling at him and, uh, it was interesting."

"What-"

"The Sheriff closed the door and about, uh, fifteen minutes later, your dad left. Do you think it was about the video?"

Veronica nodded and whispered, "it was Vinnie who sent it to my dad. You don't know if any of the deputies showed him or-"

Leo shook his head, "I have no idea Veronica."

"Okay," Veronica replied, nodding. "I have to go. I need to find my dad. Before he finds out who planted the camera."

"You know who it is?"

"Yeah. And it is not any sort of person that he can mess with. Thank you Leo," Veronica said before walking for the door.

"I'll see you around."

Veronica drove to Mars Investigations as quickly as traffic would allow, hoping that Keith was there. Logan was Exhibit A of what the Sorokins could do when someone made them angry. She knew that her dad would not simply stop with the knowledge that Gorya placed the camera there. And there would be nasty consequences.

She parked in front of Mars Investigations and ran inside, "dad?" Veronica could hear the water running in the small kitchen where she then found her dad. "Dad."

"Hey sweetie."

She sat behind the reception desk, "so what did you do this afternoon?"

"Just went over some cases, bail jumpers-"

"I know you went to see Vinnie today." Keith began to speak, but Veronica wouldn't allow it, "I want you to leave this alone. I've already dealt with it, okay?"

"I can't do that Veronica. Do you know who is responsible?"

Veronica nodded, "I do."

He waited for her to tell him who, but spoke again when he realized that she wasn't going to. "Tell me who, Veronica."

"And I can't do that. I will tell you that the person who did do this is dangerous and will not stand by while you sniff around. I just want you to stay around until you're liver spotted and wrinkly, so please don't go trying to change that, okay?"

Keith looked into his daughter's pleading eyes in silence before giving a single nod. He then walked into his office and shut the door leaving Veronica to wonder if that meant he would stay out of it or if it was just his way of getting out of the conversation. Either way, she would just have to continue her own search on the Sorokin family. She knew that what she had told her dad about the Sorokin family idly standing by while one sniffed around was the complete truth, but she couldn't manage to be the one standing idly by either. That was probably a trait that she had inherited from her dear father.

Veronica opened up her laptop to continue her Sorokin family search. Why not start with a Google search? Lev Sorokin. He was found to be in many news articles. Most frequently, he was alleged to be behind a great number of robberies, but it could never be proven in any of the cases; many reporters had also assumed that Lev Sorokin was behind missing person cases, but none of the sources were what you could call reliable. Veronica knew, however, that Lev was probably behind a great deal of unsolved crimes, or the man behind the mask of the solved ones. But what role did Alek Sorokin play? Through every article that Veronica searched, there was never any mention of an Alek. The search on him turned up nothing. She tried Alek Sorokin, Aleksandr, and every variation, but there was nothing that pertained to the people she was investigating. Veronica would just have to continue to focus on Lev. She felt as though she was back to square one.

Even the following search on the PI Database of both Alek and Lev came up empty. There were absolutely no records on either. But according to Gorya's confession tape, they had both taken part in the murders of multiple men. They were really careful if they could get away with murder, and that was a scary thing. Veronica wondered if the Sorokin's cabin would give her anything more.

"Hey."

Veronica was startled out of her thoughts by her smiling boyfriend. "Uh, hey," she replied with a smile. "Wha-"

"Your dad in?" He asked, pointing to the office door and knocking once he reached it.

"Yeah, come in," Keith called from inside the room.

Piz listened and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

Veronica was confused to say the least and not only because Piz's radio show would be starting in a half hour, but because of his persona. He was smiling, but seemed to be focused on some sort of task and almost angry. Almost.

It was a very short meeting between Piz and her father. Piz came out moments later, closing the door again, stopped, looked at Veronica and said, "can I talk to you alone?"

Veronica looked around to point out that no one was around, "uh, sure."

Piz nodded and sat on the couch, waiting for Veronica to follow, which she did.

"So I talked to your dad-"

"As I witnessed."

"Yeah, well, I asked him to let you off tonight. So we could have a Monday date night, you know?"

Veronica looked away from Piz, ashamed, knowing that she was caught in her lie. "Piz-"

"Can you tell me the truth? Please."

Veronica nodded slowly, trying to figure out a way to tell him the truth without making him angry, or as angry as Piz could ever get. "I'm on a case for... a friend."

"A friend?" Piz questioned incredulously. Veronica nodded. "Why would you lie Veronica? What friend?"

Veronica sighed, "Logan."

Piz raised his eyebrows, "oh."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't want you to get angry or upset. I... would have put it off, but it's important and- I'm sorry," Veronica said in one breath.

Piz nodded, "my show's starting soon. I'll call you later." He didn't wait for a reply before leaving the office.

Veronica definitely did not feel proud of herself for obviously hurting Piz and felt like garbage to boot. But she couldn't fight her need to continue working on the case. She would talk to Piz later and beg for his forgiveness. Maybe if he didn't want to forgive her for lying to him, she wouldn't force it on him. Maybe he couldn't be with someone who would lie to him about something so tiny. Maybe. Veronica felt like a world class coward.

Later...

Piz finished his radio show segment at six on Monday evening and walked back to his dorm room. His encounter with his girlfriend earlier that afternoon had left him feeling angry, hurt, and wanting to hit something, but his time in the studio had cooled him down. He would call Veronica and they would talk. But he just didn't know what to say. Piz was never a fan of Logan and the regard he did have for Veronica's ex had really plummeted when Piz had come into contact with Logan's fists. He apologized, yes, but that was after he had beat up some guy on Veronica's behalf. Piz saw the smile that Veronica had given Logan. It was more than a smile. There was a connection at that moment in the food court. He knew they had history and history always had a way of repeating itself, right? That's what they say. Piz constantly worried that the richer and handsomely muscular guy would steal Veronica's heart away again. He worried more that if this happened, Logan would take her heart and break it again. Piz didn't want to let that happen; he wanted to keep Veronica as long as he could and in a place where she could keep her heart out of harm's way.

Piz decided then to take a detour.

Within twenty minutes, Piz had made his way down to Neptune Grand and in front of Logan's door. He knocked, apprehensive. The door was opened by Dick.

"Yeah?" Dick said.

"I-is Logan in?"

"Hey Logan!" Dick called behind him, "Veronica's man is here to settle the score."

"N-no," Piz stuttered, "I just-"

Logan then opened the door wider to reveal himself, "Piz."

"Hi, uh, hey Logan, um, I need to talk to you."

Logan, confused, moved out of the way to let Piz in.

Dick, Logan, and Piz sat on the couch and chair in the suite's living room in an awkward momentary silence that was soon relieved by Dick, "what are you doing here dude?" he asked in his ordinary rude tone.

"Actually... I want to talk to Logan alone," Piz replied.

"Ha, if shit's going down, I gotta be here. I got Logan's back!"

"You got my back?" Logan questioned, mocking his friend's fantastic grammar skills and receiving a nod from the blonde.

"Shit," Piz said, accompanied by air quotes, "is not going to go down," Piz said to Dick, then turned his attention to Logan. "I just want to talk." It wasn't a very private matter, and Piz would be willing to share with an entire room of college-goers... provided they were weak and didn't have alcohol in their system. He didn't know Dick very well, but he didn't seem like a very stable individual and that was just on the outside looking in.

"Dick," Logan said before his friend could say anything more. Dick grunted, "fine," before sauntering off into his room. When the two were alone Logan awkwardly tried to start the conversation, but was cut off by an anxious Piz.

"I-I know that you and Veronica are doing the friends thing, and that's fine. But you know that- I think that your friendship should remain inside Hearst's walls."

"Is that right?" Logan said with a smile.

"You and I both know that there's this... thing between you and Veronica, what with your history together, and I don't want you-"

Logan found this amusing, "are you threatened?"

Piz didn't reply.

"Look man, I'm not going to do anything. We barely even talk unless our paths cross or she's in a particularly pesty mood."

Piz nodded, "yeah okay. Um-"

"Something else?"

"Could you take her off your case?"

Logan looked at him, confused, "my case?"

"Yeah, the case she's working on for you. Can you tell her you don't need her on it anymore?"

Logan didn't know what to say. He did know that Veronica had a mind of her own and telling her not to do something was useless if her mind was already set on something, but a part of him had thought that she would listen. She had told him once that Gorya Sorokin was connected, so she had to know the danger of getting too close. Logan was beyond angry. He nodded, "yeah. I'll tell her," he managed to get out amongst his frustration with Veronica.

"Good," Piz said, and stood. "I-I guess I'll-" he pointed towards the door and left quickly.

Meanwhile...

Veronica had spent the time since her encounter with Piz trying to find something, anything, that would lead her to the Sorokin cabin. There were no properties under a Lev Sorokin or Alek Sorokin. There were a surprising number of people with the last name Sorokin who owned cabins in Northern mountains. She couldn't know for sure which cabin was the one she was looking for, and there was no way of knowing whether the cabin that Gorya had spoken about on the video was even under the Sorokin name. She had become very frustrated and needed a break.

There was an absurd lack of food in the Mars Investigations fridge and cupboards, and an intense supply of coffee. Veronica had to settle on some crackers with butter – very dainty – and a second cup of coffee. She was stirring sugar into her coffee when she heard the office door slam, causing her to jump. Her dad had left earlier on another case (which Veronica had snooped to make its legitimacy certain) and she was alone.

"Veronica!"

The anger-filled voice gave Veronica relief if only because she knew the owner of it would never physically hurt her. She peaked out of the tiny kitchen to see a red-faced Logan. "Logan?"

"Veronica," he repeated, exasperated, "what do you think you're doing?"

Veronica knew what he meant, but decided that 'stupid' was the best direction to go, "I'm on my coffee break," she said, holding up the plate of butter-covered crackers and her Superman coffee cup.

"I heard you were on a case for me. Funny thing is, I don't remember asking you to do anything for me. Care to explain?"

Veronica walked to her desk and placed her provisions down before turning around. "Logan, I-"

"Veronica, I told you not to get involved! Why can't you just listen once?"

"I... Logan, I'm sorry, but-"

"But nothing Veronica! I know you, and I know the kind of luck you have. If you continue with this, you're going to get hurt. I told you to keep away from this because I don't want that to happen, okay?"

"Well just tell me what happened then. Or go to the police and-"

"You're seriously telling me to go to the police? You of all people should know that turning these guys in is the worst thing I could do. I don't know their names anyway."

"So, what? You're just going to take a monthly beating and hope that they don't decide to kill you?"

"By my understanding, it's a weekly beating." Veronica rolled her eyes angrily. "Which is causing me to cut back a great deal on Mario Kart online. I tried to get them to make it Thursdays but that didn't work for them, so-"

"Logan, this is not a joke."

"Wow Veronica, thanks for clearing that up for me. I couldn't tell by the ego-bursting bruises on my face. I can see clearly now. Metaphorically. This eye," Logan said gesturing to his left eye, "is still a little swollen, so my vision is still blurred."

Veronica shook her head. She definitely did not want to be reminded that the man that she loved was in any sort of pain, although it could be clearly seen on his face and arms, as well as, probably, everywhere else on his person. But her worry for him was lost amidst her fury at his joking in the situation that they found themselves in, "Logan, you do realize that this show you're putting on is doing nothing to keep me from continuing the investigation. I'm not going to stop..."

"Veronica!" Logan exclaimed incredulously while Veronica continued to speak.

"...looking for who it was that did this to you. Weekly beatings? You really think that that would throw me off? If that's your idea of-"

"Veronica. Stop."

Veronica shook her head, too angry to speak any longer without resorting to childish accusations and name calling. She took the untouched crackers and coffee back to the kitchen and covered them before putting them in the fridge. It would save her time later when she needed a snack again.

"Veronica, listen," Logan said when she left the kitchen again. She stopped and faced him, waiting for him to continue. "I know that you understand the danger that you are in, especially if they catch on to whatever tricks you throw at them. Look what they did to me, if they get their hands on you – which they probably will – then that will be the last case that you ever get to the bottom of and-"

"I have to go. I need to study," Veronica said, not wanting to hear anymore and grabbed her bag and laptop.

"Is it in your day planner to be irritating? Do you get a kick out of torturing me?"

Veronica gave him a perplexed eyebrow raise, "torturing you?"

"Ronnie, you have to know what this- this 'detective' work does to me. The danger you're always in? And you never want anyone's help. You have no protection-"

"I have Backup and Tommy."

"But- who's Tommy?"

"Uh, Tommy Taser. You've met him before, remember? Ah," she sighed, "we've been through a lot, me and Tommy," Veronica answered in mock nostalgia.

Logan shook his head in annoyance, "a dog and a taser cannot overpower multiple muscular men, and neither can protect you from guns. If something were to happen to you- if you were to die, I don't think I could... survive. And neither could your dad. Or Wallace or Piz, Mac. We'd all be destroyed. But you don't seem to care about that. It's all about you, right Veronica? Screw the people who love you."

"Logan, that's not fair."

"Life's not fair. It is short though, and you should be looking for ways to make it last as long as possible, not sabotaging your chances to grow old."

"Says Logan Echolls, the man whose fists are constantly stuck on 'punch'."

"Veronica, you're really starting to piss me off. Just leave it alone!"

She suspired heavily, "I'm missing out on quality study time. I have to go," and she left, waiting for Logan to follow so that she could lock the office up.

When they were outside and Veronica was about to leave, Logan grabbed her arm. "Please Veronica," he pleaded when she faced him.

However she wasn't looking at Logan, but past him, brows furrowed and eyes squinted against the setting sun.

"What is it?" Logan asked, turning to look where Veronica was staring.

She shook her head, "nothing. Look, Logan. I'm not going to say that I promise to stop digging for information because I know me and you know me, and we both know that I would be lying. So can you just drop it? Please."

Logan clearly did not want to let Veronica find trouble, but knew that what she said was the whole truth, as he knew from personal experience. She would do it anyway. He sighed, "fine. But... if you get into trouble, or you're doing something dangerous, please call me and I will come help you, okay? Can you at least promise me that? Honestly?"

Veronica nodded, "I can do that. I think."

"Veronica," Logan replied, exasperated.

Veronica closed her eyes, "I promise. If I get into trouble or plan on doing something dangerous, I will call you."

Logan smiled kindly, relieved and hopeful that she would keep her promise. "Thank you."

Veronica nodded, "I really need to go, though," she said and left Logan standing alone.

She sat in her car feeling very uneasy. In some ways, she wished that the argument they had would have gone on forever, although the other part of her wanted to get away so that she could find this cabin and bring down the individuals behind Logan's beatings. His weekly beatings. If these guys went to Logan's weekly, Veronica could make this a lot easier come Friday. She then formulated a new plan. On Friday she would leave her last Criminology class early and go for an afternoon stake-out inside the Neptune Grand, and wait for shady characters to go to Logan's floor... Or she could leave a camera on his door. That would make things a lot easier. Veronica would find out who the people hurting Logan were, and she would stay out of danger so as to not have to call up Logan as she promised – which was a promise that she did intend to keep this time.

Back at home, Veronica began studying. It wasn't just an excuse. Finals were the following two weeks and Veronica was not going to get any mark lower than A on any of her exams. And that was a lot to focus on between five classes. Her new plan for study was to focus on one class every night for a few hours before sleep, and the plan would start at that moment.

Veronica woke up confused. Her room was not the same as it was when she went to sleep the previous night. Her bed was against the wall, but here, wherever 'here' was, the bed was centred against a broader wall, and it was bigger. She sat up, realizing then that she was naked. Looking around the room, she realized that it was a Neptune Grand room. Logan's room. Veronica wrapped the bed's sheet around her body and left the bed.

"Logan?" Veronica called, still very confused as to how she got there. She noticed that the bathroom door was closed. She crept to the bathroom slowly, "Logan," she knocked. "Are you in here?"

When there was no answer, she turned the doorknob. Opening the door, she saw a horror. The floor was red with what Veronica assumed was blood. The walls were splattered with blood droplets. But Logan wasn't in there. Close to tears, Veronica turned to leave the washroom, but halted when she saw a blood trail leading from the bathroom. She then saw a new drop of blood hit the floor and found that it had fallen from her hands, which were covered up to the elbow in blood. Suddenly there was a sad squawking from outside the bedroom. "Baby?" she questioned to herself, shaky and perplexed.

Veronica opened the double doors to the bedroom where the trail of blood stopped, and exited. Instantly, she was no longer in the suite of the Neptune Grand, but at the airport, still covered in blood and wrapped in the bed sheet. People passed by her without glancing a second time. Because a naked and bloodied girl was not out of the ordinary at all.

"Veronica!" shouted a very familiar and missed voice to which Veronica turned. She saw the source of the voice but was dumbfounded. The man who called her had shoulder-length blonde hair with a great amount of facial hair. This wasn't anyone she knew. "Veronica," he repeated, motioning for her to go closer. She shook her head, not wanting to go to him. But at the next moment, she was in front of him.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Veronica asked, worried.

The man laughed, "Veronica, it's me!"

Veronica looked into the man's blue eyes and then smiled, "Duncan!" she exclaimed in a whisper and hugged the man.

"It's Edward actually," Duncan said with a laugh and a wink. "Edward Wilkenson."

Veronica nodded, "where's Lilly? It is Lilly?"

"Lilly is still Lilly," he said with a smile that was immediately transformed into a look of horror. "Veronica, what did you do?" he accused.

"Nothing! What are you-"

"You're covered in his blood!"

Suddenly Veronica found herself back in Logan's Neptune Grand suite still facing the changed Duncan.

"It wasn't me! You have to know that."

"What are you going to do Veronica? This is your fault."

Veronica shook her head, "what? I didn't do anything."

"No?" Duncan walked to the bathroom door and opened it, revealing, once again, the bloody bathroom. "Look Veronica."

She walked slowly and peeked in, "oh my God!" Veronica exclaimed, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth.

The bathroom was the same as it had been when she had seen it earlier. The floors were covered in blood and the walls spattered. But this time the source of the blood could be seen. The bathtub was overflowing with a blood and water mixture due to the pale, lifeless body of Logan that was almost completely submerged in the liquid, his dead eyes seeming to stare straight into Veronica's.