It turns out that Piz isn’t so oblivious after all and admits that he knows the Veronica thought their encounter at the party was a mistake. Despite this crushing blow to his ego, Piz calls in Veronica to find Fellows’ tapes before the concert date. Fellows has figured out as much that the woman from his bedroom stole the tapes, but he doesn’t know who “BlackCat70″ was, he only has a picture of “BlackCat80.” While Veronica gets to work on a Chinese symbol she saw in a chat transcript with the woman, Piz desperately attempts to manage Fellows without him disillusioning any more people about their idol.

Meanwhile, at the sheriff’s department, former deputy Leo D’Amato returns to inform Keith that one of the stock guys at the warehouse he works security at seems to be casing the place. He also recalls seeing Danny Boyd, a known Fitzpatrick flunky, is new on the cleaning staff and once he voiced his concern he was fired. Keith takes the tip to heart and promises to get a tap on Boyd’s phone. Back at Hearst, Veronica and Piz meet with two Chinese students before their class to discern that the Chinese character means “Grace.” This also happens to be the name of the woman from before and the teacher of their Chinese class (who is in the room when they crack the meaning). Veronica tries to guilt her into telling her where the drugs and tapes are, but she’s convincingly innocent enough that Veronica and Piz move on to the “Semites for the Savior” religious group who is in opposition to Fellows’ performance.

During the lull in the investigation, Piz tries to steer his idol back towards writing songs instead of playing the same decade old songs over and over again, but a commercial which showed part of a music video with his late partner sends him off to the lame party someone called in about on the radio. Piz arrives at the party just in time to find an incredibly drunk Fellows skinny dipping in the ocean, which quickly gets broken up by Sachs. Fellows is arrested, where he winds up getting into an argument with Keith over the validity of The Beatles as a rock band until Piz and Veronica show up.

The two follow up on the “Semites for the Savior” lead, which leads them to notorious Neptune Grand bellboy Jeff Ratner. Ratner denies having anything to do with the theft because the hotel’s robes are white, not blue. Veronica apologizes (he doesn’t accept, as usual) and the two run back to see Desmond and his robe. Of course, the most crucial clue was right under their noses the entire time: No one stole the tapes, Desmond just grabbed the wrong bag. The tapes should be in the hands of Danny Cleaver in Los Angeles. Veronica and Piz drive down to Danny’s house, pick up the tapes and wind up listening to the CD of new demos while flipping through a book of new lyrics on their way back.

During their borderline uncomfortable drive back to down, Keith and Leo are staked out at Leo’s place of business where they spot Vinnie Van Lowe aiding a robbery. Or so it seems, until he locks the real culprits inside the warehouse. He infiltrated the gang after getting word from the boss that something shady was going down and called the sheriff’s department right after Keith did.

Veronica and Piz wind up getting to the venue on time, but they tell Desmond over the phone that they’re hopelessly stuck in traffic and that he should go on with some new songs. Despite being a spineless, washed-up has-been rock star, Desmond actually goes on stage with the new songs and doesn’t do a single old song.

Meanwhile, Logan employs Mac to start a website for his business proposal, which leads Mac to call in Max and realize that she’s probably better suited with the nerd than Bronson. She breaks up with him in the end and gets with Max. Despite all the hard work they put in, the professor for the course shuts Logan down during his presentation.

Watch Veronica Mars

• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 17: Kanes and Abels

Meanwhile, an unsavory, rival private investigator makes Keith a business offer. Later, Veronica pursues a risky lead that could discredit Abel Koontz’s confession, as Logan stumbles onto her detailed files on everyone connected to Lilly’s murder.

Watch Veronica Mars

• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 17: Debasement Tapes