An hour later, back inside Thistle house, the rag tag group of misfits, more chaotic and less good as a team than even the avengers, sat around discussing how to save Archie.
"There are a multitude of possibilities. Almost everyone in Riverdale is a suspect." Toni said.
"That's true. I think we should think logically about this." Charles says. "Of course, this could be something that would turn out to be impossibly random for us to solve, something like Archie running away, or a random kidnapping. In that case, we don't stand a chance of finding him."
"Oh wow, Charles, that's so helpful." Cheryl muttered snarkily.
"But given who we are and the town we live in, my suggestion would be that it is most likely someone we already know. If we work on those assumptions, it should not be too hard. I suggest we make a list of suspects, work through them, and then find the most likely suggestion." Charles continues, ignoring his sisters boyfriends sister.
"Betty seems innocent. But I strongly suggest that my fath- that FP Jones could well have something to do with Archie's disappearance." Jughead suggests. Though Charles noticed Jughead's refusal to call FP father, he does not comment on it. Something inside him feels warm at Jughead's disowning of those he previously cared about. His brother chose him.
"I think it would be right to include my ex husband in the suspects. Hiram Lodge practically runs this town. Any illegal activity will surely involve him. He has a particular proclivity for avoiding prosecution." Hermione states clearly.
"My Mother may have something to do with it. Archie has red hair, and she is desperate for a replacement Jason. Chic is in jail and Dagwood is here, it wouldn't surprise me if she got out of the brothel I locked her in and went searching for a Jason Junior." Cheryl says.
"You locked your mother in a brothel?" Sweet pea asks, unable to hold back a smirk.
"Alice Smith must be considered a suspect." Veronica says quietly.
"I think whomever is behind the video tapes is a suspect. Perhaps if Archie found something about their identity out..." Fangs suggested.
"No!" Jellybean says loudly, loud enough for them all to jump. "The people behind the tapes didn't take Archie." She stammers.
"What do you mean JB?" Jughead asks, suspicion and dread in his voice.
"The people making the tapes- it was Ricky and I. I'm so sorry. I just wanted you to notice me. Mum had left, and you spent all your time with Betty and Dad spent all his time with Alice. I'm so sorry. I wanted to feel important." Jellybean says, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Its okay." Charles says. "I understand how you felt completely. Next time, maybe try talking to Jug and me though."
"Yeah. I really am sorry. I know I caused you all so much stress, and you spent so long trying to figure out who it was."
"It doesn't matter, your tapes were insignificant to other tapes I found anyway. And compared to Brett threatening Jughead, honestly, those tapes caused me few issues." Charles says.
"What other tapes?" Jellybean asked curiously.
"Absolutely non of your business." Jughead cut into the conversation. "Charles did you have to bring that tape up?"
"The tape of you and Betty at stonewall prep? don't worry Jug, I already knew about that one. The place were I got inspiration for making the videotapes played videos like that and I accidentally walked in on the room with that one playing. I walked out really quickly though." Jellybean says
Jughead was bright red in the face.
"So- Uh- who is the most likely suspect in the Andrews kidnapping case?" Hermione said, changing the direction of this rather awkward conversation, much to infinite relief of all three Jones children.
"I honestly suspect that even if it were actually someone else who chose to kidnap Archie, Hiram Lodge would have some idea. His fingers are in every pot. He knows everything that goes on in Riverdale. He has eyes in the police, eyes in the school, eyes in the serpents and the ghoulies. Every mayor we've ever had has been under his control, and now he himself is mayor. Every crime committed in Riverdale, he is aware of. I would be strongly surprised if he did not know about Archie." Charles says.
"Also he has a multitude of reasons to want Archie. He may be planning on using him s bate to bring Veronica back, it may be punishment for Archie double crossing him, it may be he wants Archie to help him, it may be Archie has proof against him, it may even be jealousy of the Andrews men for sleeping with the Lodge women, a sort of stain on his honour." Cheryl says, summing up the Lodge family just as well as Veronica could have.
"I am impressed by how accurately your idea of who my father is was." Veronica comments.
"It is not surprising. The Blossoms are very similar to the Lodges in many respects." Cheryl responds.
"I suggest we go after Hiram Lodge. If he is holding Archie, does anyone know where would be ideal?" Charles asks.
"The Lodge cabin the woods. Its on the Greendale side of Sweetwater river. Its very secluded and secret. Its were I was meeting Sheriff Minetta- and where I shot him."
"Isn't that where the video tapes that JB was making were filmed? wouldn't that be too obvious a crime scene now." Joaquin raises.
"Actually, quite the opposite. That case is officially closed- they all think it was me who did it and FP has officially closed the case- there will be no one there for a while. And any evidence later found would be blamed on missed evidence. In that I am now both the key suspect and the main investigator, any one investigating would really not stand a chance." Charles says, shrugging.
"All this is of course assuming Archie is still alive." Joaquin voices what no one else was able to say.