Always and Forever

Chapter 46: The Red Dahlia

The next day Fangs, Jughead, Sweet Pea, and I were trying to explain to Dad that we let Tall Boy go. I sat on the table, Fangs stood to the left of the tunnel hole, Jughead and Sweet Pea both sat at the table, and Dad sat on the bed. 

"Explain it to me one more time," Dad requested. 

"We drove him to the bus station at gunpoint and got him on a bus out of town," Jughead explained. 

"He murdered Joaquin," Dad reminded us. "And you thought putting him on a bus was enough punishment? I don't buy it." 

"Look, I made the decision," Jughead informed. "I'm sorry that you don't agree with that, but he's gone." Dad looked at all of us then focused on me. 

"Yeah Jug, you did make that decision," Dad began. "But you are not the only one in charge. Dani, look at me and tell me the truth is that what happened. Don't lie to me, sweetheart." I looked at him. 

"Unfortunately, it is the truth and I'm not lying to you," I said. He looked at me carefully. 

"Fine, Fine. I'm gonna pretend like I believe you, idiots, for now," Dad said as he grabbed his hat. "I've got my hands full finding Hiram's would-be assassin. Next time you see, have a better story." He then walked past Fangs and out of the bunker, everyone looked below the bed and saw the dead body of Tall Boy

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One late night I was in the Blue and Gold Room with Jughead, I was reading through the newspaper on Claudius Blossom's 'suicide' and as he wrote. The door opened, we looked over to see Veronica coming in, she was wearing a 40's kind of outfit.

"Nice hat, Bacall," Jughead commented. 

"I've got a job for you two, Jones," Veronica proposed. "I want you two to find out who shot my father." She slammed two wads of cash in front of us. "You'll get the other half when you give me their name." 

"That is a big job," Jughead noted as he flipped through the money.

"I think half the people in this town wanna see your old man kick the maple, no offense," I confessed. This was a lot of money, I'm sure that Fangs could use it for his mom. 

"None taken," Veronica dismissed. "I'll give you your first suspect." Jughead grabbed a pen and paper. "My mother. A few weeks ago, I overheard my parents arguing. It was right before the quarantine after I had my seizure. My mother was berating my father. Something about breaking a promise." 

"What if you don't like what we find?" Jughead asked. 

"I'm a big girl, I can take it," Veronica confirmed. 

"Well, then, consider us your Philip Marlowe," I stated. Jughead stood up and shook hands with Veronica. 

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By the next day, Jughead and I were in the mayor's office. 

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Mayor Lodge asked. 

"We'll get to it, Madam Mayor," I said as Jughead flipped his notepad to a blank page. 

"Did you shoot your husband?" Jughead asked as he clicked his pen. 

"Excuse me?" Mayor Lodge demanded. "I love my husband." 

"Uh-huh, but you did shoot him?" Jughead asked. 

"From what we hear, not all is well over at the Pembrooke," I mentioned. 

"As record and witnesses will attest, I was on the phone with Hiram when he was shot, picking up lunch at Pops," Mayor Lodge explained.