Chapter 15: Tiffany:
Nancy's POV:
I had a conspiracy board based on Dead Lucy. What is the deal? Why does she keep helping me out? This is gonna drive me crazy. I then realized I was supposed to be meeting with my friends.
"Shaun, we gotta get going," I said.
"I've been trying to remind you the whole time," says Shaun, "it was like you didn't hear me."
. . .
We were at Pop's. I saw Laura with her mom. Laura then enters.
"Oh, hey Nancy," says Laura.
"Hey," I said, "is that your mom?"
"Yeah, she's... been a little paranoid lately," says Laura.
"In her defense, all the stuff that's been happening," says Ned.
"Fair point," says Laura, "but there's more... I think she might know something about Lucy Sables!"
This could be the chance I need. "Why don't you sit with us," I offered.
. . .
Laura told us how strange her mom has been acting, so I decided to check it out. I secretly followed Laura's Mom. She gets around. I know what you're thinking, is it a good idea to follow a paranoid woman? Most likely not.
. . .
I then lost her. I then talked to Clifford Blossom.
"First: I'm sorry about your son," I said.
"Well, at least someone took care of that..."
"Second: do you know anything about Ryan Hudson's wife," I asked.
"Tiffany Hudson," says Mr. Blossom, "she's a strange one. I'd stay away from her if I were you."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said.
. . .
The next day, Shaun and I were heading to Pop's, but it looked like there was a crime scene and there was... Tiffany Hudson was found dead!
. . .
The police were talking to the Hudsons.
"So, you gonna figure this one out," asks Ned.
"You know I am," I said.
"Why did she do it," I heard Laura shout.
I then walked over to them. "Laura, are you okay," I asked.
"No," says Laura, "Dead Lucy killed my Mom! I know she did!"
"Young Lady," says Karen, "I'm sure that's not it..."
"Who else could've done it," asks Laura, "it's not like she killed herself!"
"We will get to the bottom of this," says Karen.
"You're probably gonna have Nancy do all the work," says Laura, "you guys haven't done your job one bit!" Laura then walks away.
"It's really hard for her," says Mr. Hudson.
I then walked over to the diner, and I found something odd... a four-leaf clover?
. . .
We couldn't go to Pop's until the crime scene was cleaned up.
"Maybe this town wasn't our parents' best idea," says Ned.
"I just realized," I said, "it's too coincidental that we all moved here."
"Maybe Dead Lucy called us," says George.
"Maybe we should stop calling her Dead Lucy," says Bess.
"Did you find a clue," asks Shaun.
"A four-leaf clover," I said.
"How is that a clue," asks Ned.
"It wasn't planted," I said, "maybe it was somebody with a luck obsession."
"Or it was a leprechaun," says George, "just kidding."
"Even I don't believe in that," says Bess.
I then looked at the clover.
. . .
Later that night, I was at Pop's. I decided to take a look. I watched the security cam. I'm uncomfortable with how easy it was. I looked at the screen and it was a short guy in green... no... it couldn't be... could it?
. . .
The next morning, I was still thinking about what I saw. I then looked and it was a rainbow. This may sound silly, but I decided to follow it.
. . .
I did meet at least two witches, so, this might be possible... or it might be a waste of time. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a pot of gold.
"I guess dat's me own faoehlt fahr 'idin it in plain sight. I was so sure no one wooehld take de rainbow din seriooehsly. I guess I was wrahng." I looked and I couldn't believe my eyes. He was the size of a baby. He wore all green and had a green hat. He also had a red beard and pointy ears. The ears were the biggest shock. "Let me 'andle dis fahr you. ahh me gahsh, a real leprechaoehn! No one is goin to believe dis! Dat's what you earthlengs always dink, right?"
"Wait, you're an alien," I asked.
"No one ever dinks o' where leprechaoehns came frahm. Well, 'ere's de din, we actually came frahm Maltoehs, boeht den we came to yooehr planet and de legend o' de leprechaoehn was bahrn! Me name's red."
"And you killed Tiffany Hudson," I said.
He then looks down. "Yes, I ded."
"Why did you do it," I asked, "did she take your gold or something?"
"It's naht what she ded, it's what 'e ded!" I was more confused. "I may be an alien, boeht dat doesn't mean I'm naht magical and dat devil captured me and when I get captured, I 'ave to do as I'm tahld!"
"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard," I said, "who came up with that rule?"
"Me people were coehrsed by a powerfoehl evil dat de 'oehdsahns, irahnically, 'elped take down many years ago, boeht dat's naht de point. de ahnly way fahr me to be free is if me master wooehld allow it."
"Well, can you tell me who did it," I asked.
"Ahh, like 'e wooehldn't allow me to tell people who is fahrcin me to kell people! Are you daft?" He then started acting funny.
"Are you okay," I asked.
"Roehn... 'e wants me to kell again and guess who 'is next target is!"
I then ran.
. . .
It's like I'm in a horror movie. Okay, how was the leprechaun beaten in the movies... I only saw the trailers!
"Messy, you better fend a place to 'ide, I dahn't really like kellin people, so you better make sure I cannaht fend you!"
I then found an old cabin.
. . .
I hid in the cabin and baracaded the door. I then stopped and realized... a cabin that just happens to be near Red's pot of gold... maybe the guy who's enslaved him owns this cabin. I could look around for clues. I then heard a knocking on the door. I looked out the window and it was Red. He seemed like a nice guy... but I had no choice. He can't tell me who's forcing him to do these things, so there's nothing I can do... or is there?
. . .
As soon as Red came in, my trap was set, and he ended up netted. "You... captured me!"
"And you have to do what I say, right," I asked.
"Dat is de rule."
"Tell me who is making you do these things," I said.
"I'm sahrry, boeht I can't get an ahrder dat cahntradects de ahther master's ahrder."
"Then tell me how you did it," I said, "maybe that will help."
"I used poisahn, de pahlice might be investigatin dat."
"Now to make sure no one forces you to do anything like this again, can you return to your planet?"
"I was abooeht to oehntil dat demahn caoehght me!"
"Then go home," I said.
"You're a good lass. Maltoehs, 'ere I comb!"
. . .
If I could find out who ordered Red to do it, I can bust them. I probably should've asked him to be more specific on the poison. I then saw Betty.
"Is everything alright," I asked.
"Archie's... missing," says Betty.
Leprechauns are from the Planet Maltus which the planet came from DC Comics. Maltoehs is basically the Irish accent word for Maltus. In the next chapter, Nancy runs into an old friend.