Work Text:
# **After Midnight**
## Chapter One
### The Last Place She Should Be
At twenty-one, Veronica Mars had already learned three important truths.
People lied.
Money made those lies easier to believe.
And Eli Navarro was always nearby when she was about to make a terrible decision.
Tonight, he was sitting at the end of the bar inside the Neptune Grand Hotel, wearing a black shirt and an expression that suggested he had already identified the decision in question.
Veronica ignored him.
She adjusted the microphone hidden beneath the strap of her dress and smiled at the man sitting across from her.
Graham Vale was twenty-six, wealthy and currently under investigation for blackmailing several daughters of Neptune’s most influential families.
His victims received photographs taken inside hotel rooms, followed by demands for money. None had reported him to the police.
Scandal frightened rich families more than criminals did.
“You’re quieter than I expected,” Graham said.
“I’m mysterious.”
“I heard you were difficult.”
“That too.”
He poured more champagne into her glass.
Veronica had no intention of drinking it.
Her assignment was simple. Get Graham to admit that he possessed the photographs, identify where he kept them and leave before he realised she was recording him.
Simple assignments were rarely simple in Neptune.
Graham leaned closer.
“You look familiar.”
“I have one of those faces.”
“No. I’ve seen you somewhere.”
Across the room, Eli lifted his glass towards her.
He was supposed to be waiting outside.
Instead, he had apparently decided that silently judging her from twenty feet away counted as backup.
Veronica smiled tightly at Graham.
“Excuse me.”
She crossed the lounge and stopped in front of Eli.
“What are you doing here?”
“Having a drink.”
“You followed me.”
“You called me and said you were meeting Vale.”
“I called to ask whether you knew him.”
“I do.”
“Then you told me he was dangerous.”
“He is.”
“And I told you I could handle it.”
“You did.”
“Yet here you are.”
Eli looked her over slowly.
The dress was red, fitted and deliberately unlike anything Veronica usually wore.
His gaze lingered longer than necessary.
“You don’t look like you’re handling anything,” he said.
Veronica folded her arms.
“My eyes are up here.”
“I know where your eyes are.”
“And yet you seem confused.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“Nice dress.”
“It’s a disguise.”
“It’s not a very convincing one.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You still look like trouble.”
Before Veronica could respond, Graham appeared beside them.
“Problem?”
Eli stood.
He was only slightly taller than Graham, but somehow occupied twice as much space.
“No problem,” Veronica said quickly. “Eli was leaving.”
Graham looked at him.
“You’re Navarro.”
“And you’re slower than people say.”
Graham’s smile disappeared.
Veronica stepped between them.
“Eli.”
His eyes remained fixed on Graham.
“I’ll be outside,” he said.
“That was always the plan.”
Eli leaned close enough that only she could hear him.
“If he touches you, I’m coming back in.”
“You realise threats are less effective when whispered romantically.”
His mouth curved near her ear.
“Wasn’t trying to be romantic.”
The warmth of his breath sent an irritating shiver down her neck.
Eli noticed.
Of course he did.
Then he walked away.
## Chapter Two
### Room 713
Graham took Veronica upstairs twenty minutes later.
Not because she had agreed to anything.
Because he had finally mentioned the photographs.
“They’re not blackmail,” he said as the lift climbed. “They’re insurance.”
“Against what?”
“People forgetting who has the power.”
“Charming.”
Room 713 was a luxury suite overlooking the ocean.
Veronica entered first, counting exits and cameras.
The suite had two doors, a balcony and a locked leather case on the desk.
Graham poured another drink.
“The girls knew the risks.”
“Did they know they were being photographed?”
“They knew they were with me.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
His expression changed.
“You’re not here because of me.”
“Now I’m offended.”
“You’ve been watching the case since we walked in.”
He moved towards her.
Veronica reached for the taser strapped beneath her dress.
Graham caught her wrist.
“Who sent you?”
“No one.”
He twisted her arm behind her back.
The hidden microphone tore loose and fell onto the carpet.
Graham stared at it.
“You’re a private investigator.”
“Part-time socialite.”
He shoved her towards the desk.
Veronica struck the edge hard.
The breath left her lungs.
Graham grabbed the microphone and crushed it beneath his shoe.
“You picked the wrong man to investigate.”
The hotel-room door opened.
Eli entered.
Graham released Veronica and reached inside his jacket.
Eli crossed the room before he could draw the weapon.
His fist connected with Graham’s jaw.
Graham fell against the drinks trolley.
Glass shattered.
He tried to rise.
Eli grabbed him by the collar.
“I told you,” he said quietly, “not to touch her.”
Veronica retrieved Graham’s gun from beneath the trolley.
“While I appreciate the dramatic timing, could we postpone the murder?”
Eli released him.
Graham collapsed onto the carpet.
Veronica checked the leather case.
Inside were several hard drives, hotel key cards and photographs.
“That was disappointingly easy,” she said.
Eli looked at her bruised wrist.
“He hurt you.”
“I noticed.”
“You okay?”
“I had it handled.”
“You always say that after I handle it.”
Veronica closed the case.
“How did you get in?”
“Front desk.”
“They gave you a key?”
“No.”
“That leaves several crimes.”
“You going to arrest me?”
“Later.”
Hotel security would arrive soon.
Veronica took the hard drives and headed towards the balcony.
Eli stared at her.
“No.”
“The staircase camera will catch us leaving.”
“We’re seven floors up.”
“The balcony connects to the next suite.”
“You know that how?”
“I study building plans.”
“That is not normal.”
“Neither is breaking into hotel rooms to rescue women who specifically told you to stay outside.”
She climbed over the balcony divider.
Eli followed, muttering in Spanish.
“What was that?” she asked.
“Nothing polite.”
“Then I probably deserved it.”
They entered the empty adjoining suite through an unlocked balcony door.
Veronica closed it behind them.
The room was dark.
Eli stood directly in front of her, breathing hard.
Adrenaline still radiated from him.
“You could’ve been killed,” he said.
“So could you.”
“I wasn’t the one alone with an armed psycho.”
“I didn’t know he was armed.”
“That’s supposed to help?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You knew he was dangerous.”
“I know everyone is dangerous.”
“That doesn’t mean you walk into a hotel room with them.”
“It was the job.”
“There’s always a job.”
Veronica stared at him.
His anger was not really anger.
It was fear wearing a more familiar face.
“You were worried,” she said.
“Obviously.”
“About the evidence?”
Eli gave her a disbelieving look.
“Sure, Mars. I broke into a hotel room because I was worried about the hard drives.”
The air changed.
Veronica became aware of how close they stood.
Of the cut across Eli’s knuckles.
Of the way his shirt clung to his shoulders.
She reached for his hand.
“You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine.”
“Everyone says that when they’re not.”
She inspected his knuckles beneath the light from the window.
Eli watched her instead.
“You going to thank me?” he asked.
“Unlikely.”
“Thought so.”
“I did tell you to stay outside.”
“And I told you I was coming in if he touched you.”
“So this is my fault?”
“Most things are.”
Veronica looked up.
His mouth was only inches away.
She should have stepped back.
Instead, her fingers remained wrapped around his hand.
“You enjoy rescuing me,” she said.
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I hate it.”
“Why?”
“Because one day I’m going to be too late.”
The honesty struck harder than Graham’s shove.
Veronica’s grip softened.
“You weren’t.”
“Not tonight.”
“Eli.”
He shook his head and began to move away.
Veronica caught his shirt.
Then she kissed him.
## Chapter Three
### Unfinished Business
Eli froze.
Veronica had expected that.
She had not expected the restraint that followed.
His hands settled carefully at her waist, as though he was waiting for her to change her mind.
She kissed him again.
Harder.
That ended the restraint.
Eli pulled her against him, his mouth moving over hers with years of frustration behind it.
Veronica’s back met the balcony door.
The stolen hard drives slipped from her hand and landed on the carpet.
For once, she did not care.
Her fingers moved into his hair. Eli’s hand slid along her back, holding her closer.
Every argument they had ever had seemed to exist inside the kiss.
Every accusation.
Every rescue.
Every time they had looked at each other and chosen sarcasm because the alternative was too dangerous.
Eli’s mouth moved to her neck.
Veronica inhaled sharply.
He paused.
“Tell me to stop.”
She felt the words against her skin.
“I’m considering it.”
His hand tightened slightly at her waist.
“Consider faster.”
Veronica pulled him back to her mouth.
Eli laughed softly into the kiss.
His hands moved over the fabric of her dress, slow enough to give her time to object and certain enough to make it clear he knew she would not.
Veronica pushed his jacket from his shoulders.
“This is a bad idea,” she whispered.
“One of your worst.”
“There may be security officers outside.”
“Then be quiet.”
She stared at him.
“That sounded like a challenge.”
“It was.”
Veronica kissed him again before he could see the effect those words had on her.
Eli lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her towards the bed.
For a moment, Veronica allowed herself to stop thinking.
No suspects.
No cameras.
No next move.
Only Eli’s hands, his mouth and the heat spreading through her whenever he said her name.
The danger was not that she wanted him.
She had known that for years.
The danger was how safe she felt when he held her.
Clothing landed in a trail across the expensive hotel carpet.
The rest of the night unfolded behind locked doors, whispered challenges and several attempts by Veronica to prove that she still had control of the situation.
She did not.
Not entirely.
Neither did he.
That was what made it work.
---
Veronica woke before dawn.
Eli was asleep beside her, one arm across her waist.
His shirt lay near the balcony. Her dress was hanging from a lamp.
A room-service menu had somehow ended up beneath the bed.
She did not remember how.
Veronica stared at the ceiling.
This was the point where she usually left.
Leaving first preserved the illusion that she had never needed to stay.
She carefully moved Eli’s arm.
His eyes opened.
“Going somewhere?”
“Bathroom.”
“Your shoes are by the door.”
“Observant.”
“You’re running.”
“I don’t run.”
“You disappear strategically?”
“Exactly.”
Eli sat up.
The sheet fell to his waist.
Veronica firmly kept her eyes on his face.
Mostly.
“You regret it?” he asked.
The question was casual.
His expression was not.
“No.”
He waited.
Veronica sighed.
“I don’t regret it.”
“But?”
“There’s always a but.”
“That’s what worries me.”
“This complicates things.”
“We’ve been complicated since high school.”
“We were barely friends in high school.”
Eli smiled.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
Veronica picked up his shirt and pulled it on.
It fell halfway down her thighs.
His gaze moved over her.
She folded her arms.
“Say nothing.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Your face was.”
“Nice shirt.”
“You’ve used that line before.”
“Looks better on you.”
Heat rose into Veronica’s cheeks.
She hated that he could still do that.
“We have to get the evidence to my dad.”
“It’s five in the morning.”
“Crime doesn’t observe business hours.”
“Neither do you.”
She began gathering the hard drives.
Eli caught her wrist—not forcefully, just enough to stop her.
“Veronica.”
“What?”
“This doesn’t have to mean nothing just because it can’t mean everything.”
She stared at him.
He released her.
“I’m not asking for a promise,” he said. “Just don’t lie about what happened.”
“I’m not lying.”
“You’re preparing to.”
Veronica looked away.
It was easier to investigate someone else’s secrets than acknowledge her own.
She sat on the edge of the bed.
“I wanted this,” she admitted.
Eli was quiet.
“For how long?” he asked.
“That question is outside the scope of the investigation.”
“Years, then.”
“Don’t become unbearable.”
“Too late.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t know what happens next.”
“Breakfast.”
“That’s your plan?”
“Then we expose Vale.”
“And after that?”
Eli reached out, drawing her gently back towards him.
“Ask me after breakfast.”
Veronica let him kiss her.
It was softer this time.
Somehow, that felt more intimate than everything that had happened during the night.
## Chapter Four
### The Second Set of Photographs
The hard drives contained images of fourteen women.
They also contained something Veronica had not expected.
Several photographs showed Graham meeting with a woman named Evelyn Shaw, the campaign manager for Neptune’s district attorney.
Graham was not choosing victims randomly.
Evelyn was selecting them.
Each woman was connected to someone opposing the district attorney’s re-election campaign: judges, donors, journalists and police officers.
The photographs were political leverage.
“This is bigger than blackmail,” Keith said.
Veronica stood inside Mars Investigations wearing yesterday’s dress beneath Eli’s jacket.
Keith looked at the jacket.
Then at Eli.
Then at Veronica.
His expression became painfully neutral.
“We were undercover,” Veronica said.
Eli coughed to hide a laugh.
Keith turned towards the computer.
“I’m not asking.”
“Excellent parenting.”
“I’m preserving my remaining lifespan.”
They arranged for the photographs to be delivered to every victim and sent copies of the evidence to the state attorney general.
Evelyn Shaw was arrested before noon.
Graham Vale attempted to leave the country and was detained at the airport.
By three, Neptune’s district attorney claimed to have never met either of them.
By four, photographs proved he had attended Evelyn’s birthday party.
By five, he announced his resignation to spend more time with his family.
The Neptune news cycle called it shocking.
Veronica called it Thursday.
## Chapter Five
### Daylight
Eli was waiting beside her car when she left the office.
“Following me again?” she asked.
“Thought we established that.”
“You could develop hobbies.”
“I have hobbies.”
“Threatening suspects isn’t a hobby.”
“Depends how often you do it.”
Veronica unlocked the LeBaron.
Eli did not move.
“What?” she asked.
“Breakfast.”
“That was ten hours ago.”
“You ran off.”
“I solved the case.”
“And now?”
She looked at him over the roof of the car.
In daylight, everything from the hotel seemed both more real and less possible.
The feeling of his hands.
His mouth against hers.
The way he had looked at her when she admitted she wanted him.
She could dismiss it as adrenaline.
A dangerous night.
One reckless mistake.
Eli was clearly waiting to see whether she would.
Veronica closed the car door without getting inside.
“I’m hungry,” she said.
His expression softened.
“Dinner?”
“This is not a date.”
“Sure.”
“And you’re paying.”
“I saved your life.”
“You interrupted my investigation.”
“He had a gun.”
“I would’ve noticed eventually.”
Eli stepped closer.
“You still wearing my jacket?”
Veronica looked down.
“So?”
“So nothing.”
“Stop smiling.”
“Not smiling.”
“You’re terrible at lying.”
“You taught me.”
He leaned in.
Veronica glanced around the parking lot.
“Someone could see.”
“You care?”
“No.”
“Then why’d you look?”
“Professional awareness.”
“Right.”
Eli touched her cheek.
The kiss was brief but deliberate.
Not hidden inside a hotel room.
Not caused by danger.
A choice made in daylight.
When he stepped back, Veronica caught his jacket and kissed him again.
Longer this time.
A car horn sounded from the street.
Veronica raised one hand without looking and extended a single finger towards the driver.
Eli laughed against her mouth.
When they separated, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Dinner,” he said.
“Dinner.”
“My place after?”
Veronica lifted an eyebrow.
“Confident.”
“Am I wrong?”
She opened the passenger door of his car.
“That remains under investigation.”
Eli smiled.
For once, Veronica did not pretend she had no idea where the night was heading.