The Other Detective - Book 3 (Riverdale Season 3)

Jawbreaker - Part 1

"Poor Baby Teeth," Jughead let out as they stood at the crime scene where Baby Teeth's body lay the same way Dilton's had.

"Brandon Morris was his real name," their father told them. "We ID'd him from his prints. First glance, very similar to how you found Ben and Dilton, but I don't know. I need your help, kids. Please." They nodded.

"Yeah, of course."

"Whatever you need, Dad," she told him and he motioned for them to get closer.

"These blue lips are the same. Markings on his back are the same too," Jughead said as he took a picture.

"Same ritualistic setup, chalices, most likely cyanide in one of them."

"But his missing teeth, that's the twist." Jughead stood and sighed. "This might be a copycat killer. I mean, it could be the same guy that went after Ben and Dilton, but they were willing participants."

"Whoever did this to Baby Teeth took him and most likely forced him into this, either taking his teeth before or after killing him. It's obvious with his body that he went through a struggle."

"Maybe the brutality of his death was the message," Jughead continued after his sister. "Like a warning that he's back and he's angry."

"The Gargoyle King?" FP asked.

Jughead nodded. "The real one."

***

"How's your boxing career these days, Archie?" Veronica asked as they sat in the lounge.

"Your pal Elio is organizing a boxing event called the Gilded Gloves."

"Brawny young men, shirtless and in shorts, go on." Betty and Aminity let out quiet laughs as they looked at her.

"I was thinking maybe you could help get the El Royale crew a spot in the tournament. The guys could use a win, or at least a boost, after what happened to Baby Teeth."

Veronica nodded. "Let me see what I can do."

"Good morning, my dear Riverdale High constituents and comrades," Cheryl's voice came over the PA. "A lot of you have been asking about the Farm's Student Advocacy group. Well, here's the skinny. Sign up sheets are posted throughout the school. The club is open to all students. Where the one become many and the many become one. So, uncap those pens, sharpen those pencils, and sign up. A little birdie told me it's what all the cool kids are doing."

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers continues," Jughead said as they watched the group dressed in white walk down the halls.

"And we're Miles, Becky, and Jack," Aminity sighed.

"So, let me get this straight," Veronica sat up straighter. "The reason Cheryl is all in on the Farm is that she gets to see and talk to Jason?'

"Yeah. My mom's entirely convinced that she's seeing and talking to Charles, her long lost son."

"What if you proved Charles was dead?" Jughead asked. "I mean, your mom's lost touch with reality, so maybe the best way to snap her out of her delusions is with a harsh dose of truth. Like proof that Charles is dead. Or basically anything that will refute these fantasies that Edgar Evernever is spinning."

***

"I don't know what's gotten into him," Sweet Pea let out as they watched Fangs and the other members of the Farm later that afternoon.

Aminity only sighed, leaning back against the lockers and watching with him. "I don't know. Betty says the Farm's getting into people's heads. Making them see and hear things that aren't possible."

"Like what?"

"Like Cheryl talking to Jason or her mom talking to her dead son."

"So, yeah. Things that aren't possible."

"But what do they have over Fangs then?" Aminity asked herself quietly.

"Maybe something that has to do with Midge. Evelyn seemed pretty happy that he and Kevin both talked about Midge during the musical."

"Maybe." She sighed again. "Oh, Riverdale, you never lose your touch."

***

"He suffered a myriad of traumas," Curdle told them as they stood in the coroner's office, Baby Teeth's body on the table in front of them, "but our good friend here died from loss of blood. From the pulling of his teeth which occurred premortem. There's one more ghoulish detail I discovered during the autopsy. There was something lodged in his throat." He held out the forceps.

"What the hell is that?" FP asked as he took them.

"A matchbook. From the Maple Club."

"What does the Maple Club have to do with G&G?" Aminity asked.

"I'd thought I'd seen the true face of evil," Curdle spoke back up. "But this, whoever did this isn't even human."

***

"Any idea how one of your matchbooks ended up in Baby Teeth's throat?" FP asked Penelope as they stood in her office.

"Well, they are complimentary to all of our guests," she held one up. "We don't recommend they ingest them." Jughead took it and put it in his pocket. "I do recall this young man being here a few nights ago," she looked at his photo. "He was here with some friends. Ex cons, but charming. Anyway, this Baby Teeth left the Maple Club with a grin on his face. And alive. My girl," she checked her list, "Rosemary fulfilled his fantasy." There were suddenly crashes and screams from the other room. "What on Eve's Earth?" They rushed into the other room to find the girls backed against the walls with a broken flower vase and mirror on the ground. A man holding a sliver of the glass from the mirror was crouched on the ground, growling. He turned towards them, his mouth foaming. He suddenly lunged forwards, swiping the shard at FP. He got closer and closer before glancing back at the girls.

"Hey!" FP yelled and the man looked back over at him before FP punched him in the face. The man seemed to laugh before growling again, snarling and getting closer before Aminity kicked him in his nose as he swiped at her, sending him to the ground with blood running down his face and his eyes closed.

"Nice kick," he looked at his sister who shrugged, her chest heaving.

***

"I got him cuffed in the back of my cruiser," FP said as he came back inside. "He's not going anywhere."

"Is there anything else you guys can tell us about him?" Jughead asked as he stood with Laura and Penelope. "Like his name or where he's from."

"Martian," Penelope said after a moment, "but they all use an alias."

"Did something seem different about him?" he asked Laura.

"Yes," she nodded. "Martin likes to take Fizzle Rocks to... enhance the experience, but this was different. I mean, the high hit him like a truck. He started foaming at the mouth, freaking out."

"This was helpful," FP told her. "If anything else comes up, please give me a call, he held out his card and she took it.

***

"When he finally comes down, we'll ask him where he got the Fizzle Rocks," FP told them as he walked back into his office.

"My bet is still Kurtz."

"Who's bet isn't?" Aminity asked her brother.

"Wouldn't mind asking him if he knows anything about Baby Teeth either."

"I'll have Forensics run a test on the Fizzle Rocks he had on him," he walked back out.