Melissa Renée Martin

The gang plans a surprise party for David; Janet tells Steve a secret.

Veronica tries to help her new boyfriend, Troy (recurring guest star AARON ASHMORE), find his father's stolen car and turns to Weevil for assistance. But the situation becomes dangerous when she discovers that Logan and Troy's buddy might have left more than a piñata in the car after their night in Tijuana. While Keith has accepted that his wife is gone and begins dating school guidance counselor Rebecca James (recurring guest star PAULA MARSHALL), Veronica continues to secretly investigate her mother's whereabouts, leading her to stumble on a secret her mom was keeping.

After tragedy strikes the town of Neptune, and the local sheriff rushes to judgment, an emotional Veronica attempts to help a grieving family member rule out suicide as a contributing cause in the calamity. Meanwhile, Wallace offers to help new transfer student Jackie Cook, the fiery, flirty daughter of professional baseball player Terrance Cook (recurring guest star JEFFERY SAMS), track down the person who damaged her car in the school parking lot. Later, mayoral candidate Woody Goodman (recurring guest star STEVE GUTTENBERG) asks Keith to consider running for sheriff. Recurring guest star CHARISMA CARPENTER appears as frisky trophy wife Kendall Casablancas, and director/actor KEVIN SMITH ("Clerks") guest stars as convenience store clerk Duane Anders. The feisty U.K. all-girl band The Faders make their U.S. debut with the world premiere of their new video for "No Sleep Tonight."

After one of Neptune High's haughtier students brings a sexual harassment suit against a favorite teacher, Veronica is pitted against her father when the girl's parents hire Keith to help in their case. Meanwhile, with the tabloids claiming his mom is still alive, Logan turns to Veronica to help him track down the truth. Later, Veronica discovers more unsettling information about Duncan's hidden medical condition.

Veronica appears on a cable-access show hosted by a psychic as part of the investigation into who stole, used and returned Jackie's credit card. Meanwhile, Wallace confronts his mother about his father; Veronica places a surveillance device in the sheriff's office; and Veronica discovers a voice-mail message left by one of the bus passengers just as the crash was occurring.