Event Year: 2004

Veronica uncovers information that her fellow outcast Mac was switched at birth with a more affluent student, causing Veronica to examine her own questions about whom her real father may be. Meanwhile, a serial killer has resurfaced in Neptune forcing Sheriff Lamb to forge a reluctant, tense partnership with Keith. Later, Veronica flirts with a handsome young rookie at the sheriff's department to obtain more information on Lilly's murder.

When Weevil's poker winnings go missing after a game at Logan's place, Veronica questions each player to piece together the evening's events and catch the thief. Meanwhile, on the eve of the Echolls' annual Christmas party extravaganza, Keith is hired by Lynn Echolls to track down one of her husband Aaron's potential stalkers.

The wealthy parents of a Neptune High senior hire Keith and Veronica to investigate a cult-like group and its charismatic leader after their son Casey moves out to live on the collective farm. Meanwhile, Veronica attempts to get to the bottom of Abel Koontz' claim that her real father is Jake Kane.

To help restore a cheerleader's ruined reputation, Veronica turns to funky computer geek Mac to find the hacker responsible for leaking the embarrassing, private results of a popular online "purity test" to all of Neptune High. Meanwhile, Keith helps Wallace and his mom with an unruly tenant in their building. Later, to get answers about Lilly's murder, Veronica attempts to visit Lilly's confessed, condemned killer Abel Koontz in prison.