Exit Wounds

Chapter 14/19

Logan watched Veronica's body shift and he perked up. Even though he hadn't watched her facial expressions in five years, he remembered her face when she saw someone she didn't like. He saw that face for a year. "Who is that?"

Claudia turned and looked. After a second, she shrugged. "I don't know."

Logan watched Veronica's face go white. Alarm flashed on her delicate features. "Something is wrong." He set his glass on the bar and started to make his way towards the dancers. Security stopped him and redirected him. A look to his date, and he watched Veronica's body stiffen as the stranger talked with her and Ethan. He didn't appear to be armed, but something was obviously scaring Veronica. Logan knew that Veronica didn't get scared easily. He felt his own palms perspire and worked his way around the barrier.

Veronica didn't give him long before she said something to Ethan and turned away. She ran up the stairs and out the door.

By the time Logan got to the door, she was gone. He sighed in frustration and looked around, hoping to catch some glimpse of her. He felt a sense of deja vu and signaled a cab. He quickly got to her apartment and waited for someone to leave before he rushed up to her door. He banged his fist on it as he felt his heart pounding in his ears and his stomach falling. He wasn't going to let her escape again. After a couple minutes, Eli walked down the hall.

"Lover's spat already?" Eli smirked to Logan, but his face fell when he saw Logan's panicked expression. Logan saw Eli's body tense up. "Where is she?"

"I don't know." Logan panted out.

"What happened?" Eli walked closer. He sounded as worried as Logan felt.

Logan turned and looked at Eli while leaning against Veronica's door. "We were at the dance competition and she was standing with Ethan and this guy walked over to them and she went pale." He ran his hand through his hair, feeling the sweat moisten his fingers.

"What did he look like?" Eli asked while pulling his keys out.

Logan moved away from the door and thought. "I don't know. White guy, probably in his thirties or maybe forties, black hair. He was shorter than Ethan by a couple inches. You know how tall Ethan is?"

Eli nodded. "Yea, we've met." He used his own key to open Veronica's door and held a hand back to keep Logan from rushing in. "Wait a second." He pushed the door open and looked around. "V? It's me. You here?" He took a slow step in. He walked down the hall and checked the bathroom.

Logan walked inside carefully. He wasn't sure what to expect. All of the apartment looked the same as it was when they left it earlier. It didn't looked ransacked or packed. It didn't look like she had returned. "Roni?"

Eli opened the bedroom door slowly and looked at the messy bed and Logan's open suitcase. He walked to the closet and checked the top shelf. He pulled out her gun and sighed. "She hasn't been here."

Logan blinked at the gun. "Where would she go?"

Eli put the gun back and smirked. He walked past Logan and walked across the hall. He opened his own apartment door.

Logan followed closely behind and closed the door to Veronica's apartment.

Eli walked in slowly. "V?"

"Eli?" Veronica's voice wobbled through the room. She sounded so broken.

Eli walked further inside. "Yea, it's me. I've got Echolls with me." He stopped suddenly. "Don't shoot us." His voice hitched up in fear a bit.

Logan stepped up behind Eli and blinked at what he saw. Veronica was curled up in the center of the couch holding a gun aimed at them. The apartment was cast in sharp shadows and edges of light as it was only lit by the outdoor streetlights. Her face was half in the yellow glow and Logan saw her makeup was running down her face. Her hair was messy and Logan suspected she ran hard to get here.