Short Synopsis: Fame isn't all it's cracked up to be might as well be one of the most cliche sayings in show-business. Although, time and time again, it rings true. Veronica must solve another puzzling mystery involving has-beens and wannabe actresses that is plaguing Neptune. What Veronica uncovers might put in danger someone close to her.

Stay tuned.

Veronica Mars

The High Price of Celebrity Status

Prologue

In the Warehouse District, an office in a modified brick building housed Neptune's infamous private detective agency. Ran by a father-daughter team, cars continuously came and went and the cases were always handled efficiently.

A humid day in May, the sky held an array of clouds but the brightness of the sun still peeked through. The light emanating from the two large, half-opened, windows illuminated the entire room. Manila folders laid stacked on top of an unoccupied wooden mahogany desk. A second desk, placed to the left side, was less organized. Two frames positioned on top showcased one picture of a blond, petite, teenage girl with a pitbull and her father and another of a young boy no older than eight crookedly smiling while holding a guitar. The laptop screen saver was reserved for a humorous shot of a man being almost tackled by seventy pound black mutt. A lamp, a cup of pens, and some file folders were scattered off to the sides. Front and center displayed a desk plate engraved with the words, Veronica Mars, P.I.

The clock on the wall read 12:49 pm. It was finally Friday and Veronica Mars, seated in a jet black leather chair, felt like she had been stuck in the office forever. Her stomach growled with anger. She, however, remained totally poised and focused at the task at hand.

A woman sat in a cushioned chair across from Veronica. This client, Sabrina McAfee, dressed in a red sheath dress from the discount racks, was tall, black and in her late-thirties. A small business owner, she had been divorced once and re-married to a truck driver she met online. The truck driver, Winston McSleazy, worked the night shifts. Sabrina had many doubts her new husband was faithful after too many late nights home even on his days off. So much so she felt the need to hire a private investigator. Veronica usually wouldn't waste her time with something so trivial, but she needed the cash to continue to pay her technical-analyst who doubled as Mars Investigations' reluctant secretary. Her student loans were still another beast to contend with as well. Although she had someone that was willing to help where money was concerned, Veronica was too stubborn to accept.

For the past month, there had been a lull in the casework department. Any calls Mac received this past week, Veronica would automatically take while her father, on another assignment, searched for a fugitive who fled to TJ. Catching marital infidelity was child's play to Veronica. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Unfortunately, you were correct, Mrs. McAfee. Your husband has been cheating on you. After his shifts were over, Winston continued to make frequent trips to the Seventh Veil. These occurred within the past two weeks if you note the time and date stamp." Veronica opened up a file and placed a picture in front of the client. "The woman in the photograph with your husband is Loretta Cancun. Loretta has worked there for the past 12 years entertaining the guests among other things. In the next photo, you see him in the compromising position..."

Veronica wasn't finished, but it was all Sabrina needed to hear. "That fucking disgusting pig! I knew it." The woman pulled off a chintzy wedding ring and threw it in her cheap, over-sized knock-off Prada bag. She then stormed out of the door, incriminating photos in hand.

In Neptune, where men had hookers on speed dial, the divorce rate exceeded fifty percent. No one stayed together for long.

Veronica stood up and glanced outside the door. She grinned at Mac. "I think that went well." Cindy Mackenzie sat at large desk which fit three computer screens. Mac had began typing up an invoice after overhearing the entire exchange.

It had been a little over two years since Veronica Mars moved back to her hometown of Neptune. In those two years, she lessened the amount of corruption in the seedy town, but it still ran rampant. Shady deals were served with the morning coffee. Not to mention, Veronica had this strange gut feeling, that ever since Sack's murder, there were still people keeping tabs on her father. Evil has many heads and when you chop off two, three more grow back.

Dan Lamb was run out of office a couple months back. After the evidence piled up against him, thanks to Keith Mars, Marcia Langdon won the recent election in a real nail-biter. Veronica knew change would happen slowly. However much to her dissatisfaction, Langdon only made one major improvement in office so far. Two deputies, the ones caught with planting stolen evidence on Eli Navarro and other less fortunate folks, were publicly fired during a press conference. I'd have rather seen a televised burning at the stake. Veronica drifted in thought. While Cliff and Keith had a celebratory dance in the deputies' dishonor, there were a few of Lamb's cronies left over. Class wars carried on. The practices at the Sheriff's were divided.

Though it was a new era, long were the days that the Balboa County sheriff's department protected and served all of its citizens not just residing in the prestigious 90909 zip code. Marcia Langdon was fighting against a current. A valiant try, but it was Neptune and everything in the profligated town rested in the hands of the highest bidder. Some things never changed.

Mac pressed a few keys and swiveled her chair toward her boss. "I'm starving. Doriola's?"

Veronica's smile widened as her stomach growled again. "You read my mind!"

*x**x**x**x*

A few hours later, Veronica locked up the office and drove home. After some reluctance, Veronica had gone house hunting following the return of her boyfriend. It took a few months, but Veronica finally conceded on a two-story brick house with black shutters. While the third-floor apartment she had been renting a quarter mile away from the shoreline was quaint, it was getting a little cramped with Pony growing to the size of a linebacker on all fours.

She moved in with Logan near the more expensive yet safer side of Neptune, much to Veronica's chagrin. The two-bedroom residence, an absolutely beautiful architectural structure, also had a patio in the back with a swimming pool. What made the decision tough for Veronica, the location was as close a person could get to being in the 90909 zip code without actually being associated with it. It didn't help matters that Logan had bought it completely with his own money. Ultimately, a compromise had been made. Their place was situated ten minutes away from Dick's Cape Cod-styled beach house in one direction heading south and fifteen away from her father's rancher heading north.

Veronica had been there for about a month. Cardboard boxes still lined the living room. It took getting accustomed to this type of luxury. She shared an L shape walk-in closet with Logan and had a office room specifically designed for all her P.I. business. I've sold my soul to the devil, Veronica had thought when she unpacked the first box into the house. Logan, on the other hand, believed this was modest in comparison to some of the houses the real estate agent referred to them in the beginning.

A huge cork-board hung on the office wall with photographs. After taking off her shoes at the front door, she brought her bag and entered the particular room. Veronica slipped two files inside the filing cabinets next to her desk.

Logan was back from his second tour since he reunited with Veronica. This time, he promised his shore rotation in San Diego would not get cut short. From that moment on, he would usually greet Veronica when she arrived home. However, he was nowhere to be seen. After checking the bedroom, Veronica walked back into the kitchen foyer. There was no note, no voice-mail. Veronica figured he was out with Dick having remembered a conversation earlier but texted Logan to be sure.

*When will you be home?*

She put her iPhone on top of the granite counter top and checked the refrigerator. The stainless steel fridge was filled with mostly beer, a half empty bottle of wine from Saturday's date night, and some eggs. Veronica pulled out a Styrofoam container with leftover Thai food from the night before and placed the contents in the microwave.

Her phone then beeped. It was from her dad.

*How was today's case?*

She gave a quick synopsis. Her father had some down time while on the pursuit. Now that they were partners, the duo made sure to check in with each other every day especially if one was out of town. Keith had finally accepted he raised a damn impressive private investigator even if this was never the life he intended her to have.

Veronica walked Pony and then inside, the dog settled into her little cushioned bed near the couch. Once the leftovers were reheated, Veronica moved towards the living room placing the lukewarm food on the coffee table. Veronica picked up the TV remote and turned to channel 4 News. As she went back to grab a fork from a drawer in the kitchen, her phone beeped again.

*Out with Dick. Be home late. Wish you were here.*

Veronica loosened up and replied, *That's what they all say.*

*I'm the only one that meant it.*

Veronica put her phone down. She tried to act nonchalant but deep inside she still had the nagging urge to track his phone. Logan was not the same boy she dated in high school. She had to rub her eyes clear time to time to make sure she was staring at the same man. It took getting used to but Veronica was handling it. Although, after she endured months of pinning during his second six-month deployment never knowing if he'd come back to her, Veronica just wanted him here. He was the person she looked forward to seeing most during her day. While they would never live a domestic fantasy, it didn't matter. Veronica and Logan knew they would have never made it work with anyone else.

There is always a calm before the storm, Veronica thought.

With Wallace hanging out with his little brother and Mac on a date, all Veronica wanted to do was just snuggled up with a blanket and watch TV tonight with Logan. The week had been long while gathering surveillance for clients at odd hours of the night.

For once, there was nothing interesting on the news. Sprawled out on top of a large leather couch, Veronica dosed off.

A light shimmered past the blinds brightening the room for a short moment. Veronica awoke to the sounds of a car pulling into the driveway.

Still wearing her outfit from that day, Veronica tore off the blanket, grabbed the remote to switch off the TV, and sluggishly moved over to the last place she dropped her iPhone. Checking the screen, there were no new messages but discovered the time was 2:34 am. She then sauntered over to the back door. Logan had some explaining to do and Veronica was too head-strung to let it wait until the morning.

Her arms crossed, she tapped her foot incessantly. Her mouth formed a hard line. The first thing Veronica saw was Logan helping up a semi-unconscious woman. Veronica's eye brows furrowed in consternation. The woman's head was face down, her long auburn locks covering most of her features. Veronica couldn't get a good look at identifying the person. "What did I say about bringing strippers home past midnight?" Veronica quipped with mild annoyance. Logan didn't respond and instead walked straight into the empty guest bedroom on the first floor. Veronica quickly followed behind. Logan took a deep breath. He placed the woman on top of the comforter. He turned toward Veronica and it was in that moment she noticed the corner above his left eye near the brow was bleeding.

Veronica's mouth dropped open and she stepped closer to Logan. His face was inscrutable. "What happened? Who is that?" She glanced swiftly back at the woman and now recognized the familiar face.

Logan's adoptive half-sister. "Trina."

Veronica, without a moment of hesitation, quickly ambled into the kitchen to get a dampened washcloth. She met Logan as he shut the guest room door behind him. Veronica took a few steps forward and helped wiped the blood away from Logan's eye. He flinched as the wet cloth met his skin. "What the hell happened?"

"You should see the other guy," Logan retorted slightly grinning.

Veronica rolled her eyes. She found none of this amusing, not at this hour. Logan hadn't been in a bar fight in years not counting defending her honor at the high school reunion.

Logan sighed, "Trina walked into the '09er club with some dickhead attached to her arm already shit-faced and on something. One thing led to another and we got thrown out."

"Why was Trina even in Neptune? It's not like there's anything here for her. Why did it resort to a scene in Road House?"

"Veronica, can this please wait till tomorrow?" Logan yawned.

Veronica wasn't going to let him off that easy. She was becoming increasingly exasperated.

He could tell by the look in her eyes. "Fine." Logan retold the cliff-notes version. It all began with Dick forcing Logan to come to the '09ner club for a Bro's Night Out.

"Dude, can you at least pretend to have a little bit of fun?" Dick remarked as he handed Logan an overpriced draft beer. "I see no ball and chain unless one of these ladies decides later on." Dick playfully elbowed Logan in the rib. "Amirite?"

Logan checked his watch a moment later. "As much as I've enjoyed being your wing-man tonight, I need to get home."

"Your loss, bro."

"How?" Logan responded but Dick ignored him having found a woman with cat-eye makeup by the bar donning a skin tight leopard print dress with a plunging neckline and four inch heels.

"Me-ow. I'd like to go into the wild." Logan overheard Dick say which he knew was his cue to leave. There was nowhere else Logan wanted to be except home even if that meant watching 60 Minutes with Veronica.

However just as he was exiting, a ghost from his past rolled up. Dressed in a strapless black top and way too tight pants, Trina walked in high as a kite.

"Logan? Well, this is a surprise!" Trina exclaimed exuberantly. "It's been too-o-o long, brother."

"I didn't know they were allowing circus freaks into the club." Logan turned to the man holding Trina's hand. He looked completely stoned. Eyes were blood shot and his mouth hung slightly open. "Who's this clown?"

"My boyfriend, Rob!" Trina pulled the man closer to her. He continued to stare off into space.

Logan inevitably exchanged forced pleasantries with his sister. Trina begged Logan to stay and chat batting her fake eyelashes at him, which he complied only to find out more information on why she returned to Neptune. Staying at the Neptune Grand, Trina was back for so-called business.

"I'm here about a part in a movie. Some unknown up-in-comer is directing the feature; it's gonna be big."

Logan leaned up against the bar. "Still chasing after that pipe dream, I see."

"You hush. I've been making a name for myself." Sitting at a bar stool, Trina held a vodka tonic in her hand. She sloshed it around a few times before she spilled a few drops on her pants. "Whoops."

"Right, the Dancing with the Stars stint last year. Weren't you kicked off after the first round?" Logan asked as he handed Trina a napkin.

"Please." Trina scoffed. "I hurt my ankle and thought it best to leave the competition."

"Of course." Logan rolled his eyes. In truth, Trina still lived off the some royalties to a direct to TV film which focused on the Aaron Echolls' story. Her acting career hadn't ever taken off. Her last IMDB credit had her listed as a waitress that got murdered in a lowly rated CSI episode three months ago. Trina's hands were fidgety. Her pupils dilated. Logan's best guess was that Trina was on speed. He grew tiresome. "Well, this has been enlightening, but it's late. Have fun, Trin, I'm sure this guy, Rob, is another winner."

"You got a problem, man?" Trina's boyfriend muffled staring straight at Logan. "Imma wipe that smirk off your face."

Before Logan even had a chance to register the remark, Trina's boyfriend threw the first punch.

Things got more out of control when Trina tried to stop. Rob then pushed her out of the way and she fell to the ground. Logan having deja vu slammed him against the bar. Dick had come to Logan's aid; however, it was too late. They were all kicked out of the club.

"So you see I didn't go all grade school." Logan replied to Veronica. "Her stellar boyfriend stooped to that level all on his own accord, out of no where I might add. I was just trying to mediate the situation afterwards. The guy ran off once outside. I think he was hallucinating or something. Trina was out of it as you heard firsthand. It would have looked too conspicuous if I just dropped her in the lobby of the hotel, so I took her home."

After all that has happened with Trina finding out who her real parents were, seeing newspapers and on live TV the death of Aaron Echolls, and her failed attempts at fame, at 35, she had been on a steady downward spiral. Whatever money she had, Trina squandered on drugs and alcohol. Veronica wondered if Logan had never joined the navy that this would have similarly become his life.

Veronica softened. It was extremely late and she could see Logan hadn't asked for this to happen. "I would've just left her inside a taxi. Trina's a big girl." She smiled trying to get Logan to relax. He simply shrugged. "Oh, come on. I'm tired and you look like hell." She leaned in slowly and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Veronica then took Logan's hand and he followed her upstairs to the master bedroom. Neither one spoke for the rest of the night.

Authors Note: ***UPDATE MAY 2015. *** EACH CHAPTER HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ALTERED TO FIT IN WITH NEW CANON FROM MR. KISS AND TELL. Which means, Dan Lamb is out, Marica Langdon is in. New chapters will be up in June/July to complete this "book."

This is set about eight or nine months after the events of the second book. But hell, I can't even keep track of the timeline so its just gonna be about two years since Veronica's returned. So she's thirty here.

It's the continuation of the two books and written in the same format. Please respond with comments. It's extremely helpful in keeping me motivated and a great tool in perfecting each chapter. I'm going to try to keep this VERY canonical following the progression of the whole series. Every important character will be making appearances. Chapter 1 will introduce the long mystery arc which will have many twists and turns, though the corruption in Neptune will be just as important to the story. :)