Betty sat on the couch in the Andrews' garage with a box at her side and one in front of her. She smiled, "Hey, Jug, I think I've got a picture of your grandparents when they were our age. It looks like it was taken at the Sweetwater."
"Burn it," Jughead replied, "That was probably the only good picture of the two of them smiling."
"I am not burning it," Betty frowned, "Your dad might want it one day or Jelly."
"Fine," Jughead rolled his eyes.
Betty flipped through some pictures and stopped at one where the guy was flashing a peace sign at the camera. He looked familiar and as she looked up she caught sight of Jughead's now framed article on the wall and realized why. He looked like the sketch Veronica's description had produced. The clothing said 1960's to her. She was about to say something to Jug when Archie caught her attention and pointed silently at the object he held. It was a letterman jacket. He showed her the name on it and her eyes widened.
Jason
Betty looked at Jughead who was searching through a box of his own and then back to Archie. She shook her head slightly and Archie nodded, putting the jacket back.
He looked at her again and she mouthed, 'Tonight' to him. He nodded and discreetly pushed the box under the table while Betty went back to the photo she'd found.
She turned it over and found some faded writing on the back. The date wasn't legible, but the name was.
Collum Lewis
"Hey, Jug?"
"Yeah," he looked up, "More family photos?"
"Yeah," Betty nodded, "Your grandpa, did he have a brother?"
"They both did. Why?"
"Doesn't this guy look familiar?" Betty motioned towards the photo. "I know you're not all that close to Gladys's family, but could that guy that tried to rob Veronica be a cousin or something?"
Jughead took the photo and nodded, "Yeah, he does look like that sketch Veronica had done. I can't place him though."
"Do you know Gladys's maiden name? Maybe I can look him up?"
"Nightingale," Jughead said.
"You're kidding. Just please tell me your grandma's name wasn't Florence."
"Haha," Jughead frowned.
"I'll do a search on Monday at school," Betty stated, "Maybe something will pop."
Jughead bobbed his head, "We're not chummy, and quite frankly it wouldn't surprise me. Mom's family were early adopters of Jingle Jangle. It wouldn't surprise me if they're all mixed up with the Ghoulies."
"I thought your grandparents were like founding members of the Serpents," Archie frowned.
"They were," Jughead bobbed his head, "Doesn't mean we all fall in line. Gladys's side of the family especially."
"If I find anything, I'll let you know first," Betty promised.
"Thanks," Jughead bobbed his head.
"There's a lot of stuff in here," Betty looked at all the boxes, "Your dad wanted you to go through all of it?"
"It's been sitting in the basement of the Wyrm for I don't know how long. Some of it's my dad's, and some of it belonged to the original Forsythe."
Betty nodded, "And FP hasn't seen his dad in a long time, right?"
"Years," Jughead nodded, "We don't even know if he's still alive."
"That's really sad," Betty replied.
"Probably for the best," Jughead shrugged, "FP wasn't much of a fan of his father."
"Tell him we're going to form a club," Betty smirked, "Though he probably has better reason than V or me to dislike his old man."
"Yeah about forty years of them," Jughead quipped.
Archie remembered stories from his dad about FP's father and nodded in agreement. He then decided to change the subject, "Dinner anyone? I'm starving."
"Oh, pizza?" Betty nodded.
"Yeah, I'm game," Jughead bobbed his head.
"Let's head in," Archie closed up a box he'd been looking through as his friends did the same. He let Jughead go ahead of them and whispered to Betty, "After lights out?"
"Yeah. Treehouse," Betty nodded.
Jughead was quiet as they ate.
"Everything alright, Jug?" Betty asked.
"Just thinking about FP," Jughead admitted, "When I think I have it rough, I remember that he had it ten times worse. His father was a mean drunk. Beat the crap out of my dad. My dad's not winning any awards for parenting, but he's never laid a hand on me."
"Has he come by again?" Betty asked.
"Yeah, after I left a copy of the story you ran in the Blue & Gold," Jughead nodded, "He was really proud of me. He said he was glad I'd inherited something good from his old man. Apparently he wrote a little too."
"Is your dad still sober?" Betty asked.
"Yeah, it's a record for him," Jughead replied, "I don't want to get my hopes up, but he's really trying."
"Have you thought about when you might consider moving back home?" Betty asked.
"Looking to get rid of me so you can have more private time with your boyfriend, Cooper?" Jughead teased.
"No," Betty said, "I just want to make sure you're not rushing things, I guess."
"FP and I talked about it," Jughead admitted, "He said it's probably better for me to stay where I am for now. He was a bit cagey about it, but I get the feeling there is something going on he's not telling me."
Jughead went back to the pizza box for seconds and Betty looked at Archie, biting her lip.
This was not good.
-d-d-d-d-
Betty climbed into the treehouse and sighed. No Archie yet. She settled back against the wall to wait and was tapping her foot nervously when Archie finally climbed into the treehouse, dragging the box along with him.
"Are you trying to kill yourself," Betty snatched up the box quickly.
"I didn't think it was a good idea to leave it in the garage," Archie said, "And I really didn't want to wear it."
"Point taken," Betty nodded, "God, what is FP doing with Jason's jacket?"
"And I didn't want to point it out, but it's covered in blood," Archie lifted it out and shined a light on a few of the more prominent spots.
"This is a nightmare," Betty slumped against the wall again, "What do we do? Do we tell Jug? Your dad?"
"Maybe we give FP a chance to explain himself?" Archie asked more as a question than anything else.
"Sure, we'll go over to the Southside, find FP, and calmly ask if he murdered the heir apparent to the Blossom fortune," Betty shook her head, "I wonder who he'll get to help him hide our bodies."
"You know he'd never hurt us," Archie countered, "Maybe there is an explanation beyond the horrible thoughts we're thinking."
"I'd really like it if there were," Betty said, "He's not just Jug's dad or your dad's best friend. Arch, he was there when my mom and Mike found my grandma dead on the floor of an OD. He kept Mike from going off the rails when his first love was killed."
"That's why I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's not out of the realm of possibilities that someone is trying to frame FP," Archie replied, "I've heard Jug say something about a power play trying to take his dad down as leader of the serpents. Best way to do that is to get him arrested."
"Or worse," Betty said, "If they can't get him arrested, they do something to Jug. If Jug had found that jacket, we both know where he'd have gone with it."
"You think he would've turned him in?"
"God, no," Betty shook her head, "But follow me on this: Jug finds the jacket and confronts FP. FP might not be drinking right now, but the Serpents still operate out of the Whyte Wyrm. It gets loud and someone who isn't loyal drops a dime to Tom Keller because now it's public knowledge."
"What's your solution?" Archie asked.
"I'll take the jacket and hide it," Betty said, "It won't be in my house, don't worry. We never tell Jug about this. I doubt he counted the boxes, so if one's missing, he's none the wiser."
"And we just forget it exists?" Archie asked.
"Yes," Betty said, "Can you do that?"
"If I have to," Archie replied, "But I don't like thinking that FP's potentially a murderer."
"I don't think he is," Betty shook her head, "Think about it. His old man used to smack him around for fun, and he's never laid a hand on Jug. In fact, I've never seen him get violent with anyone unless it was coming to the defense of someone else."
"Unless you count the time he picked a fight with Reggie's dad," Archie said.
"I think he was defending Reggie then," Betty said quietly, "You've seen Reggie in the locker room. Ever seen a bruise that didn't fit?"
"You think Mr. Mantle smacks Reggie around," Archie replied.
"Yeah, I do," Betty nodded, "As for shooting another person? FP was in the army. He saw men die, and I'm guessing a few of them weren't that much older than Jason. I can't see him shooting someone and just walking away from it."
"Unless he's forced into it to protect his family," Archie thought out loud.
"Jason wasn't a threat to his family," Betty shook her head, "If anything, he was a threat to mine. Mom and Dad were losing control of Polly more and more."
"Maybe he'd do it if someone threatened his family though," Archie replied, "Maybe someone held a grudge against the Blossoms and forced FP to do their bidding."
"You've been watching too much Law and Order," Betty told him.
"Funny," Archie told her.
Betty shifted until she was next to Archie, her head on his shoulder, "From my gut, Arch, I don't believe the man who used to throw us into Sweetwater during the summer and freak your mom out while your dad laughed his head off, would murder a teenage boy in cold blood."
"I don't either," Archie kissed her temple.
Betty held her hand out, "So, we're agreed? We say nothing?"
Archie took her hand in his, "We say nothing."
"And if we need to talk, we talk only to each other," Betty added.
"Deal," he nodded, "I know it's cold, but can we just stay here for a while? I don't want to go back in yet."
"I don't mind a bit of a chill," she smiled up at him, "As long as your arm is around me."
"Good," Archie smiled back, "Betts? Do me a favor?"
"Sure," she nodded.
"Don't tell me where you hide it, okay?"
"I'll take it to the grave," Betty stated.
"Thanks," Archie nodded.
d-d-d-
Betty looked around the empty café near the train station she'd asked Cheryl to meet her at on Sunday. She hadn't wanted to do it in the cave because she never knew when Nana would be lurking, and she didn't want to upset her.
"Here's your coffee, Hon," the waitress said, "You want anything else?"
"I'm waiting for someone," Betty explained.
"Call me over if you need anything," the waitress replied.
"Absolutely," Betty nodded as the bell jingled and Cheryl walked in.
"Hey, Betty," Cheryl plopped down across from Betty, "I'm not going to lie. I'm dragging a bit from last night's patrol. Is this clandestine meeting something that really needed to happen this early in the morning?"
The waitress came over to serve up some coffee before Betty could respond.
"Thanks," Cheryl said, "Do you have anything with cherries?"
"We have a great cherry Danish," the waitress nodded.
"I'll take one."
"What about you?"
"You have peach muffins, right? I'll take one of those."
"Coming up," the waitress gave Cheryl a wink.
After she'd left Betty looked at Cheryl, "I think she likes you."
Cheryl rolled her eyes, "Talk now, find me a date later."
"Right," Betty said, "Yesterday, Arch and I were helping Jug go through some boxes that were his dad's and grandpa's. He found them in the basement of the Wyrm."
"The Serpent hangout," Cheryl clarified.
"Right," Betty nodded, "Cher, Jason's letterman jacket was in one of the boxes."
"Jason?" Cheryl frowned, "My brother Jason?"
"Yes," Betty bobbed her head, "Do you not have it?"
"No," Cheryl shook her head as tears welled in her eyes, "I always assumed it washed away in the river."
"Cher, I don't know how it got into the basement of the Wyrm," Betty shook her head, "But I have it."
"With you?"
Betty held up the shopping bag she'd stowed under the table, "Yeah."
"Oh my god," Cheryl went to pull it from the bag before Betty reached out to stop her.
"Cher, it's covered in blood," Betty warned her.
"Right, he was shot," Cheryl nodded, "I still want it."
Betty nodded and gave it to her, "I wouldn't take it out right now."
"Why was this at the Whyte Wyrm?" Cheryl asked.
"We don't really know," Betty stated.
"Do you think Jones's dad…" Cheryl couldn't finish.
"No, I don't," Betty shook her head, "I think this is a way of setting FP up to fall."
"But it would likely be a Serpent," Cheryl replied, "That narrows down the suspects."
"We'll find out who it was, Cher," Betty nodded, "Look, I asked to meet here because I didn't want Nana overhearing us before you thought of a gentle way to tell her about it."
"I appreciate that," Cheryl looked towards the bag, the coat peeking out from the top.
"If you want help," Betty said.
"Thanks, but I think it'd be better coming from just me," Cheryl nodded, "Thank you for bringing this to me. Does anyone else know?"
"Archie found it. We managed not to alert Jughead."
"And the boy scout has agreed to keep quiet?" Cheryl asked.
"Yes," Betty replied.
"Work that mojo, Cooper," Cheryl looked impressed.
"He doesn't think FP did it either," Betty said, "And he doesn't want to hurt Jug. No mojo required."
"We know that Tall Boy has been trying to align himself with the Ghoulies," Cheryl stated, "We should put him high on the suspect list."
"Absolutely," Betty nodded before she smiled at their waitress, "That is one big Danish."
The waitress responded with a slight blush before darting away. Cheryl's eyes followed her.
"Hey, Cheryl, have you heard from Toni lately?" Betty asked.
"Yeah, she emailed me the other day," Cheryl nodded, "Why?"
"I haven't heard from Polly in a week. I was hoping Toni said something."
"No, but I'm sure it's nothing," Cheryl replied, "Toni promised she'd contact us if there was any change."
"Any word about her coming to live with her aunt and uncle?"
"Oh, yeah, that's a done deal," Cheryl stated, "She said she was coming right after Christmas so she's settled when the term starts after the first of the year."
"That's great," Betty smiled, "Speaking of Christmas, any ideas on what I should get Nana?"
"A new shawl," Cheryl replied.
"I can do that," Betty nodded, "Should I stick with black or try another color?"
"Mix it up," Cheryl replied, "Add some color into her wardrobe."
Betty smiled, "Deal. What about you?"
"Don't waste money on me," Cheryl stated, "You just gave me everything I could have asked for."
"I'll still get you something small and red, naturally," Betty teased.
"Thank you for bringing me this," Cheryl stated.
"Do me a favor and never tell me where you keep it," Betty stated, "Ignorance is bliss...and Archie can never know I gave it to you."
"Deal," Cheryl nodded, "Did you find anything else of interest in the Jones's collection?"
"Yeah," Betty took the picture she'd found and slid it across the table, "Look familiar?"
"He looks like that sketch Veronica came up with after her mugging."
"We thought so too," Betty agreed, "We think it might be one of Jug's cousins. I was going to run a search on them at the cave tomorrow, see if I can find the one that matches."
"Look at the background," Cheryl pointed, "That's the football field. You might have better luck with the yearbooks in the library."
"I'll add that to the list," Betty replied, "But we're looking for the assailant now, not their ancestors."
"Getting the ancestor might lead you to the assailant," Cheryl pointed out, taking another look, "You think he's a cousin of Jug's?"
"On his mom's side," Betty nodded, "Gladys had a couple of brothers."
"If you need any help with your search, I'm available," Cheryl offered, "It's the least I can do for you returning this."
"No thanks necessary," Betty shook her head, "It's yours, no matter what it looks like."
"Are we still on for training today?" Cheryl asked as she ate her danish.
"If you're up to it," Betty said, "I thought maybe you'd want to talk to Nana first."
"Yeah, I probably should," Cheryl frowned, "But I'm betting I'll have some rage to work out after we talk."
"In that case, call me when you're on your way. I'll meet you there."
"Thanks," Cheryl replied.