Safety Net- SP 2 ✔️

Chapter 35- Brave New World Pt1

The next couple days were literally torture. After the fight a lot of Serpents either swapped sides or left town. The Serpents also lost the trailer park so Pea and Toni have been living at the Whyte Wyrm, I offered them my home but they declined wanting to look after the other Serpents. Luckily Fangs is actually alive, but Jughead still hasn't woken up yet. Apparently it was Betty's dad who was the Black Hood, but someone else was working with him, we just don't know who. I walk out of the kitchen bringing my jacket closer to my body
"You don't have to be here" Toni says walking over to me
"Hell yeah I do. I'm a Serpent, but I do actually have to go home. I'll see you guys tomorrow" I hug Toni and give Pea a kiss on the cheek
"Bye babe" Pea kisses my forehead and I go home where I see Veronica, Archie and dad around a table
"Here's your schedule for the next 3 days Mr Andrews" V hands dad some papers
"What's going on?" I ask with a frown
"I'm helping your dad. My moms doing some Eva Perone like rainbow tour" dad nervously scratches his neck as I walk over to the table "shaking the trees one last time before election night. I took the liberty of booking you right behind her, so people know they have a choice"
"Why the change of heart?" I ask
"Just... found somethings out that I didn't agree with so here I am" V smiles at me
"Well, I appreciate that Veronica, for watch it's worth, but.." dad leans back and shakes his head "everybody's saying your parents saved Riverdale after the riot. That it was their guy Minetta who put out the fires and rounded up the guilty parties" I scoff at that
"If it weren't for her parents and Minetta, Fangs wouldn't have got shot and there wouldn't have been a fucking riot. He rounded up Serpents but left the Ghoulies untouched now the Serpents are living at the Wyrm because their home have been destroyed" I fold my arms as dad scolds me for swearing
"Rory, dad, we know the truth. Mr Lodge doesn't wanna save the town he wants to take it over"
"Luckily I won't rest until your elected mayor Mr Andrews. Even if that means I have to put my own political ambitions aside"
"In what respect?" dad asks
"I'm no longer running for students council with Archie" Veronica explains
"What why?" I ask
"Conspiring against my parents is proving to be a full time job. And for what it's worth Rory, I'm sorry, for everything"
"Thanks" Archie's phone rings pulling us from the conversation
"Hey, Betty. Any news?"

"I'll be out first thing tomorrow" Jughead puts his signature beanie on
"That's good Jug, because we still need your brain. There's another mystery to solve. Mr Cooper was at the town hall when some other Black Hood too shots at the candidates and he was at home with Betty and Mrs Cooper when another Black Hood probably the same as the one at the town hall, came to our house"
"Oh and riot night, a Black Hood went to Cheryl's" I finish off what Archie was saying
"Well the second Black Hoods attacks at the town hall and on your dad seem to indicate political motive. Which to me suggests..." Jug looks up at Veronica with a sad look
"That my fathers behind them? I don't disagree. With Fred out of the way my mothers path to victory is that much more assured"
"Serpents have never voted, Hiram knew that with the Southside vote dad would win for sure. So all of this, he orchestrated just for your mom to win?" I frown finally feeling like I understand what's been happening "your dad helped the Ghoulies out and basically got Jug out of the way because he knew Serpents wouldn't stand a chance at the fight. We lost men and woman that day, fuck we even lost some kids and Hiram only cares about this fucking electoral debate?" I practically yell
"Ok so if we want to stop Hiram we've got to do it now. Once the Lodges control the mayors office, they'll be untouchable"
"Yeah but do you think Hiram would really put on a hood and start shooting people for mayorship?"
"No, but he would hire someone to do it" Veronica says exactly what I was thinking
"We we're thinking it could be a Serpent, Jug or a Ghoulie"
"We? I wasn't thinking anything like that. Ghoulies are to proud they wouldn't work for Hiram and Serpents definitely wouldn't work do him. I was thinking of someone else" I scrunch my face at my brother
"Or even more insidiously, the man the Hiram put in charge of restoring peace and harmony"
"Sheriff Minetta"
"Ding ding ding we have a winner. He is the reason Fangs was shot, he nearly died"
"Also he was supposedly guarding the town hall, but no one saw him" Veronica says
"And was MIA for most of riot night" Archie now points out which thinking about it he's right. After the business with us getting Fangs out we never saw Minetta again
"I'd start there" Jug looks at Archie
"Will do. I have to go down to the sheriffs station tomorrow anyway"
"What why Arch?" Betty asks
"I have to identify your dad, Betty" I give Betty a sorry look
"I would go, but I didn't see his eyes when the attack at Pops happened"

I run downstairs the next morning, archie has already left for the station. I walk into the dining room
"Betty?" I frown
"Hey Rory"
"What's up?" I sit down next to her
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry Mr Andrews"
"Betty" I place my hand on hers
"You have nothing to apologise for. You didn't do anything wrong"
"I'm supposed to be this... great detective" Betty starts crying "but I didn't see what was right in front of me"
"Betty were only 17. There's a lot we still have to learn and I know one day you will be the best detective there is"
"But people paid for my mistake with their lives. And Rory, I'm sorry Fangs was framed for all of this"
"Betty Fangs is Alive thank goodness, Jughead is alive, dad is alive we are alive"
"But Midge isn't"
"Midge wouldn't want you crying in my dining room apologising for your fathers doing. Now I'm about to go to school would you like to come with?"
"No, sorry I just need time"
"Ok" I give Betty a hug and kiss dad on the cheek before giving Vegas a kiss on the nose.