The Only Beanie - Book 4 (Riverdale Season 4/5)

Witness for the Prosecution - Part 1

"Hey, Dad, have you seen my Baxter Brother books? I swear I took them out of the trailer before it burned," Jughead asked as he combed through the shelves in the living room.

"I don't know," FP muttered as he went over the file in his hand on the couch. "Might have thrown them away."

"You threw away my books?" Aminity looked up from her book, seeing FP doing the same.

"Alright, calm down, boy. Before you accuse me of book burning, why don't you check the storage room in the basement?" He nodded, walking away as the other Jones' went back to their reading.

"Hey, where's Jughead?"

"Basement," they both let out and she almost ran into Jughead as he came back up.

"Found them."

"See, I'm not Beatty," FP said as he stood and walked out into the hall.

"I used to worship these guys," Jughead explained excitedly and Aminity sat up, Hot Dog jumping off the couch and going to his bed.

"I loved these books," Aminity smiled as she looked at the box.

"When other kids wanted to be superheroes, I wanted to be a Baxter brother."

"Oh my God," Betty let out as she picked one up. "They used to do crossovers with Tracey True. Those were my favorites. Do you remember?"

"Yeah. My dad used to get me one of these each year for my birthday. Hey, Dad, why'd you stop?" Jughead called into the hall as FP put on his hat.

"You outgrew them, boy. I gotta run."

"I'll never outgrow these books," Jughead smiled as the three teens continued to go through the box.

"Why were you looking for them anyway?" Aminity asked.

"Mr. Chipping's bringing in the original writer to talk to us."

"Really?" He nodded with a giddy smile. "Lucky! Oh, I wish I could go. You have to tell me all about it." FP looked at the giddy teens, shaking his head with a frown as he walked outside.

***

"Hey," Jughead said as he walked into Pop's and sat in the booth across from her. "Did you know grandpa was a writer?"

"Really?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "And he was friends with Francis DuPont, the first ghostwriter for the Baxter brother series. Thanks, Pop," he said, grabbing his burger and taking a big bite before he continued. "And they're looking for the next ghost writer for the series and are gonna offer it to one of us."

"They're looking at Stonewall Prep high schoolers for their next writer?"

"Every ghost writer for the Baxter Brothers has gone to Stonewall."

"That's incredible, Jug!" she said excitedly as she ate her own fries.

"And they're having a day for families to come. Dad said he doesn't want to, but-"

"Count me in."

***

Mr. DuPont clinked his glass as he stood at the front of the room with Mr. Chipping by his side. "May I have your attention? In literary society tradition, it wouldn't be a proper reunion without a little game of murder."

"For neophytes, the rules are as follows," Mr. Chipping began. "Everyone draws a card." They all took a card from his stack as he walked around. "Whoever picks 'Murderer' must walk amongst us, winking at their prey. If you are winked at, you die five seconds later."

"The object of the game of course is to identify the murderer before being killed," Mr. DuPont told them. "Happy hunting, everybody." People went back to mingling, Jughead introducing Aminity to his classmates before she got pulled into a conversation with Mr. Chipping. She turned as they heard Donna let out a cry as she fell to the ground and everyone clapped as she stood and made her way to the side of the room. A few more died before Jughead came over to Aminity.

"Who do you think it is?" he asked her.

"You're really asking me that?" Aminity let out. "Go ahead and wink. I won't ruin your fun."

"Has anyone told you you're the best little sister?"

"No, but I think I should hear it more," she told him before he winked at her, making her roll her eyes as he walked away. She waited five seconds before grabbing her throat and coughing before falling to the ground and then joining everyone else who had been killed. Eventually, it was down to Jughead, Bret, and Jonathan.

"Down to the wire, boys," Mr. Chipping told them. Jonathan suddenly started coughing before he fell to the ground. Jughead winked at Bret next.

"It's Jughead!" Bret pointed. "He's the murderer."

"Yeah, because I just killed you."

"No, I knew it was him beforehand. I win."

"I'm sorry, Bret, I can't hear you because you're dead." Aminity shook her head with a small smile.

"No, I'm not. I saw-"

"Boys, boys," Mr. DuPont interrupted them. "Let's be men about this. It's clear that Jughead Jones won the game fair and square. And what a formidable murderer he was." The room applauded and Jughead gave a small bow.

"You really liked that look on Bret's face when he lost, didn't you."

"Better than the feeling of winning." She rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Mr. Jones, good job," Mr. DuPont said as he walked over. "I don't believe we've met. Francis DuPont," he shook Aminity's hand.

"Aminity Jones," she smiled. "I've heard a lot about you. It's an honor to meet you."

"Oh, the honor's all mine." He looked back at Jughead. "I am disappointed I didn't get to meet your father."

"Oh, yeah. He's been busy with work."

"Oh, I understand. Well, I hope you'll enter the contest to be our new ghost writer. I mean, the grandson of Forsythe Jones would be a worthy inheritor of the mantle." Aminity's eyes widened as she looked at her brother.

"Thank you, sir. I definitely will," Jughead smiled and Mr. DuPont nodded before walking away to speak to some other guests.

"How am I freaking out more than you?" Aminity almost squealed.

"I'm just better at hiding it, but I am definitely freaking out," he practically bounced on the balls of his feet.