Chapter 9: The Black Hood:
Brenda Carlton's POV:
Remember me? I'm the one who killed Jason Blossom. Now I'm in jail. I know I deserve it because I killed a guy, but I still want revenge on that Drew girl. She put me in here. I then looked around and I had the strangest feeling I wasn't alone.
"Hello," I asked.
Maybe it was my imagination. I then looked at the newspaper. It was worst, my biggest rival, Mike McKeever. Can this get any worse? Then I heard a strange whistle. I looked and there was a shadowy figure. Maybe I imagined it. He was then coming closer. I called for the guards, but...
Nancy's POV:
Brenda Carlton was reported dead in her cell.
"Maybe it was Jason's ghost," says Jughead.
"How'bout something that doesn't sound stupid," says Reggie.
"Maybe she just faked her death for a good story," says Shaun, "wait, that doesn't make sense, does it?"
"I think I know who did it," says Archie, "it was the Black Hood!"
"Oh no," says Betty.
"Don't any of you see," asks Archie, "he's back!"
"Who's the Black Hood," I asked, "besides the Red Hood's possible brother?"
"The Black Hood sees himself as an avenger," says Jughead, "and I don't mean the team. He finds those who he sees as committers of injustice and strikes them down!"
"And he killed Brenda," I said.
"The Black Hood is a dangerous menace," says reporter Mike McKeever, "but the police never seem to do anything about him!"
"That could be because he doesn't exist," says Karen.
"He shot my Dad," says Archie, "I saw it with my own eyes!"
"It could've been a regular criminal," says Karen.
"I'd expect as much," says McKeever.
"All of you need to leave now," says Karen.
We then all walked away. Looks like it's time for another mystery.
. . .
I was with my friends at Pop Tate's.
"So, any of you ever hear of this Black Hood guy," I asked.
"I've heard of him," says Ned, "but I've never seen him."
"I think he's mad," says Bess.
"On the other hand, he does take care of the creeps," says George.
"And what about Mr. Andrews," asks Bess.
"What did he do to get shot," I asked.
"No one knows," says Ned.
"Well, I can think of one person who might have an idea," I said.
. . .
I knocked on Archie's door and he answers. "Remember how I cleared your name," I said, "I don't suppose you'd wanna help me catch the Black Hood?"
. . .
"So, why was your dad shot," I asked.
"How will this catch the Black Hood," asks Archie.
"I think this might get me a good idea of what I'm dealing with," I said.
Archie then sighs. "My Dad had a gambling problem," says Archie, "and when he finally decided to quit... the Black Hood struck!"
"Wow," I said.
"I know my Dad had a problem," says Archie, "but that didn't give that psycho a right!"
"Wait, how did the Black Hood know about your dad's problem," I asked.
"I... I never thought of that," says Archie.
"Who else knows about your dad's problem," I asked.
"Me, my Mom..." Archie stopped.
"Who else," I asked.
"UUUUUUUUUhhhhhhhhh... I can't think of anyone," says Archie.
"Who are you trying to protect," I asked.
"I think you should go now," says Archie.
. . .
He pushed me out the house.
"I heard everything," says Betty, "and... I might have an idea."
. . .
We talked to Betty's Father, Hal Cooper.
"Yes, I knew about Fred's gambling problem," says Mr. Cooper, "and I understand why my daughter would think it's me, you see, my Father was a serial killer, the Riverdale Reaper."
"Grandpa's done things he's not proud of these days," says Betty, "he regrets all of his past actions."
"And you're not the Black Hood," I asked.
"There was a time where my Father's ways would influence me," says Mr. Cooper.
"So, what stopped you," I asked.
"The day I became a father," says Mr. Cooper.
That would do it.
"Thank you for your time," I said.
. . .
I was walking when I saw a familiar car. It belonged to that girl who was obsessed with Betty, Ginger Snapp. I ran to it and saw she was dead. I then looked and saw a man wearing a black hood. There aren't a lot of options of who he is.
"The Black Hood," I said.
"I am the Angel of Death," says Black Hood, "I punish those who deserve it!"
"You're taking lives," I said.
"But not innocent ones," says Black Hood, "Brenda Carlton's a murderer and Ginger Snapp's a stalker! They must face justice!"
A car drives between us and the Black Hood disappears.
. . .
I then talked to Mike McKeever.
"So, what do you know about the Black Hood," I asked.
"That he's a menace," says McKeever, "and if the police actually do their job, we wouldn't have psychos like him running around!"
"You really don't like him," I said.
"Considering he's a killer, no," says McKeever.
"Do you have any suspects," I asked.
"Are you investigating this case," asks McKeever, "just because you solved eight cases doesn't mean you're a professional!"
"I'll have you know; I've solved many cases before I got here," I said, "just ask my good friends, the Hardy Boys."
"Well, stay away from this madman," says McKeever, "but if you want to know, I've never trusted Joseph Svenson."
. . .
I decided to secretly follow Joseph Svenson. He eventually made it to his house.
"Can I help you," asks Svenson. Yeah, he knew.
. . .
We were in his house.
"So, I have a question..."
"You think I'm the Black Hood," says Svenson.
"Are you," I asked.
"I've lived next door to the Blossoms for years," says Svenson, "if I was, don't you think they'd be dead by now?"
Then the news was on. "The former Serpent known as Slash was reported dead!"
"If I'm here, then maybe it wasn't the Black Hood," Says Svenson.
"Sorry about this," I said.
. . .
I was then walking. I wish I knew why the Black Hood... wait... why would you want to dish out your own brand of justice? Many reasons, a tragic past... or... you think the police are... OMG!
. . .
I was then running, and I found another dead guy. Chic. I've heard of this con artist.
"He used a fake identity," says the Black Hood.
"Hello Mike McKeever," I said. He then removes his hood. I was right... this time! It was Mike McKeever. "I don't understand, you kept badmouthing the Black Hood."
"A good way to keep my identity a secret, isn't it," says McKeever, "I'm guessing my distrust of the police is what gave me away."
"Pretty much," I said, "why are you doing this?"
"I was a family man," says McKeever, "but then the Riverdale Reaper came and killed them and what did the police do? Nothing! All because my wife and kids were all black!" He then tried to attack me, but I dodged. "The world is full of killers, gamblers, stalkers, and other sinners, but the police and their incompetence do nothing!"
"What about jail," I asked.
"Jail? That does nothing! They still get out to commit their heinous acts again! The police are useless! Ever wonder what happened to Dead Lucy?"
"Wait, what?"
"You know nothing, don't you? Lucy was pushed off a cliff after being stabbed and her good friend, Karen Hart never caught the one who did it!"
"Wait, Det. Hart was friends with Lucy," I asked.
"You really don't know," says McKeever.
He kept trying to stab me. Eventually, I fell to the ground. "Great," I said.
"I know you're not a sinner, but you know too much!" Just as he was about to strike me, Karen shoots him, and he falls.
I check on him. "He's still alive," I said.
"I know, he just gets jail," says Karen.
. . .
McKeever was then taken in.
"You fools," says McKeever, "this only proves I'm right about the Justice System! You should just execute me! Because I'll be back out to clean this town of the disease it's stuck with!"
"How did you know it was him," I asked.
"I didn't," says Karen, "I just heard everything he told you."
"So, were you really friends with Dead Lucy," I asked.
"I have to go," says Karen.
Something tells me there's more to this.
In the next chapter, Nancy looks for the Gargoyle King.