Answer:
This is an example of pathos! Pathos is a rhetorical device which appeals to the emotions. By having the audience imagine a sad scenario such as this one, the author is employing pathos.
The character Veronica Mars is a student who progresses from high school to college while moonlighting as a private investigator under the tutelage of her detective father. In each episode, Veronica solves a different stand-alone case while working to solve a more complex mystery.