Chapter 7: Stalker:
Nancy's POV:
I was talking with my Dad's girlfriend, Det. Karen Hart.
"What I'm saying, Nancy, is that maybe you should stop interfering with police investigations."
"Hey, if it weren't for me, Archie Andrews would've been in jail, Zhilan would've gotten away, an innocent clown would've gotten the blame for Kroon's crime, Green Arrow's reputation would've been ruined, and let's not forget about Katy Keene's problem."
"Nancy, did you know vigilantism is a crime," asks Karen.
"Maybe, but you have to admit, I am doing a better job then you guys." I then realized that was the wrong thing to say. "Oops."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," says Betty Cooper, "but I need help."
. . .
"I think somebody's been stalking me," says Betty, "every day, when I'm out with Archie, I get the feeling we're not alone. And my friend, Kevin Keller once discovered that somebody's been watching me through my window."
"Sounds like a movie plot if you ask me," I said, "but I can't be involved."
"Can you tell us anything else," asks Karen.
"Well, my friend Ginger Snapp says she once saw someone follow me home," says Betty.
"We'll do our best," says Karen.
By we, she means without me.
. . .
My friends and I were at Pop Tate's.
"So, you're gonna get involved then," says Bess.
"First, I want to see how the police do," I said, "I do want to help Betty, but you know how Karen can be."
"She's just doing her job," says Ned, "you do kind of get nosy sometimes."
"Hey, is that that Ginger girl," asks Shaun.
Ginger Snapp walks over to us. "Hi, I think I might have some information you might like."
"Sorry, but I'm on my night off," I said.
"This should be good," says George.
"But I figured out who followed Betty," says Ginger.
I couldn't resist. "Okay, shoot."
"It was Felix Raybolt," says Ginger.
. . .
I then secretly followed Mr. Raybolt. He lives on the same block as Betty. He also has a telescope in his window. He also always winks at Betty anytime she goes out.
. . .
"I know who the stalker is," I said.
"So, you thought no means yes," says Karen.
"I know, but hear me out, it's Felix Raybolt!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"Trust me."
"Why don't you go over to his house," suggests Karen.
Weird, but alright.
. . .
I then knocked on Raybolt's house and he answers. "I know you've been stalking Betty Cooper, you creep!"
Then another man came. "You sure about that?"
"Umm... who is this," I asked.
"This is my husband, Joe," says Felix.
"You're... wait, are you bi?"
"This guy," asks Joe, "the only woman he's ever loved was his mother. My sister once thought he had a thing for her, boy was she embarrassed when she caught us making out."
"But you have a telescope in your window," I said.
"I'm an astronomer," says Felix. He then winks.
"Are you, by any chance, winking at me," I asked.
"No and I'm sensitive about my facial tick," says Felix.
A facial tick, I should've known.
"Okay, but do you realize your telescope looks like it's pointing at the house across the street," I asked.
They look. "Look at that," says Felix.
"I can see why you'd make that mistake," says Joe.
"I'm so sorry for bothering you," I said, "I'll be going."
"Tell you what," says Felix, "we'll let you know if we do commit any crimes."
"Yeah, you seem like a girl I'd trust to arrest me," says Joe.
We then said our goodbyes and I walked across the street.
"Nancy, why were at the Raybolts' house," asks Betty.
"Did you know Felix Raybolt was gay," I asked.
"Yeah, why," asks Betty.
"Bad information," I said.
. . .
I was at Pop Tate's with my friends.
"I have never felt so embarrassed," I said.
"If you brought me, I probably could have told you," says Bess.
"What do you mean," I asked.
"Nancy, I can tell," says Bess, "I'm like you when it comes to this sort of thing. For example, the moment I met Ned, I could tell he was bisexual."
"Woah, I didn't even realize at the time," says Ned.
"Another example," says Bess, "Ginger Snapp."
"What about her," I asked.
"She's a lesbian," says Bess, "like me."
"What," I asked.
"It's not that big of a deal," says Bess, "but she is. When she came to us, she ignored Ned, a good-looking guy. I'm gay, not blind. Anyway, she payed more attention to you, me, and George."
"I knew she was giving us the look," says George.
"Okay, so she likes girls," says Shaun, "who really cares?"
I then had a thought. What if Ginger wasn't mistaken? What if she was just using a random guy as a fall guy? "Where is she now," I asked.
"I think she's comforting Betty," says Ned.
Oh no!
Betty's POV:
I was with Ginger in my room. "I can't believe Nancy thought Mr. Raybolt was the one stalking me," I said, "but then again, he really should move that telescope and should really do something about that facial tick as well, so I can't really blame her for that. Thanks for being here, Ginger."
"Of course," says Ginger, "I will always be here for you."
"I should probably call Archie," I said.
"I'm sure he's fine," says Ginger, "he doesn't need to know all the time."
"He could worry," I said.
"Betty, you don't need him," says Ginger.
"What," I asked.
"Betty, I love you," says Ginger.
"UUUUUUUUUhhhhhhhhh... can you please be specific," I asked, "do you mean like how I love Veronica or how I love Archie?"
"Betty, I'm not sure if you could like girls, but we could find out. It took Archie years to choose you. Do you really want someone who dated two girls for a while? I'm someone that can commit!"
She was starting to scare me, but then I realized. "It was you! You're the stalker!"
"I've always been watching you, waiting for the chance for us to be together!"
"You better get out!"
"I'm not letting you go!"
Then the Police came. Det. Hart kicked the door down. "Good thing Nancy called us," says Det. Hart, "hello, Miss Snapp."
Nancy's POV:
My friends and I saw the police take Ginger in. Bess then walks towards her and slaps her. "People like you give us a bad name," says Bess. Ginger is then taken away.
"Good job, Nancy," says Karen, "maybe you should let us handle it more often."
"I was the one who figured it out," I said. Karen then walks away. "Sometimes, I wonder if she likes me."
"She better, since she's dating your dad," says Ned.
Betty then hugs me. "Thanks," she says.
"No problem," I said. I know I shouldn't, but let's face it. If there's a mystery, I will not ignore it. I can't resist it. If that's a crime, then oh well.
In the next chapter, Nancy meets the Hudsons.