The Other Queen - Book 5 (Riverdale Season 5)

Fire in the Sky - Part 1

"Jeez," Sweet Pea let out as they surveyed the burn damage around the doors.

"Yeah. Thank God Mr. Andrews had an extra fire extinguisher in the hall closet and the kitchen sink."

"He always was prepared," Jughead sighed, walking outside with two cups of coffee, handing one to each of them. "Thanks for coming with another."

"Of course. This house just seems to have bad luck," he said as he took a sip.

"Where's Archie?" she asked and Jughead sighed. The three walked back inside to see Archie on the couch, looking at some old things they had found next to the fire extinguisher.

"Archie?" Jughead asked.

"You see this guy in the front?" he asked, showing them one of the pictures. "That is my Grandpa Artie. He was a fireman back in the day."

"Oh, jeez, I think I know where this is going."

"The best counterattack is not to fight fire with fire, but to fight fire with a fire department."

"That would be the best way to not have us die in a fire," Aminity let out, taking another sip of coffee.

"What, no mano-a-mano with Hiram Lodge?"

"I called Ronnie. She's gonna talk to him," Archie assured him.

"Oh, Ronnie is? That's interesting."

"And now nicknames and arch nemesis from high school are back. I'm too tired to deal with this right now. I will see you guys later."
"Aminity, wait. See this rookie?" he handed her the picture. "He ended up becoming Riverdale's fire chief for twenty years. He's retired now, but he still lives in Riverdale."

"Well, go get him, soldier," Jughead patted him on the shoulder. "I'm going to bed."

"All you, Archie. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Aminity," he chuckled, taking the picture back. "Thanks again, Sweet Pea."

"Anytime, Andrews." They shook hands before Sweet Pea went out to his truck, chuckling as he saw Aminity already asleep in the passenger seat.

***

"Guys, this is Eric Jackson," Archie introduced them as the two men joined them at their table in the Whyte Wyrm. "We served together. I trust him with my life. Eric, these are the guys."

"Nice to meet you, fellas."

"Jackson, thank you for your service," Kevin shook his hand. "My dad served as well."

"No greater honor. You must be Aminity," he looked at her. She glanced at Archie. "Sarge told us lots about you and we definitely appreciated your care packages."

"Glad you liked them. I hope he shared," she teased Archie, making them all chuckle.

"So," Archie got them on track, "I'm looking for a few good men."

"Story of my life," Kevin joked.

"I'm hoping to assemble a volunteer fire department to replace the one Hiram Lodge disbanded. Guys who aren't afraid to run into a burning building and save lives. So... figured I'd start with you guys."

Kevin glanced at Fangs and Sweet Pea as he chuckled. "We don't know the first thing about firefighting. Except for what I learned watching Backdraft over and over in junior high."

"Speak for yourself. I helped fight a fire at Archie's a couple days ago."

"I love you, but the fire was mostly out by the time you got there," Aminity patted his shoulder.

"Veronica is getting an expert from New York. Aminity offered to connect us to the 911 system at the police station. It's gonna be fine. Trust me. So, who's with me?" They all glanced at each other, unsure.

"Civilians," Eric breathed out, taking a drink.

***

"Hey," Sweet Pea knocked on the door to Aminity's office with a smile.

"Hi. Oh, I love you so much," her smile grew as she noticed the milkshakes and bag from Pop's in his hands.

"I figured you could use a treat." He sat down, passing out the food as she cleared the files off of the desk. She hummed as she took a sip of her peach milkshake. "And I figured it would maybe make you less mad at me when I told you that I joined Archie's fire department."

"I figured you would," she said, taking a bite of her burger.

"So you're not mad?"

She shook her head. "As long as you promise to be as careful as possible, I think it's a good idea. This town needs it. Besides, it'd be pretty hypocritical of me considering I'm a police officer."

"I love you."

"I love you too," she said before kissing him. "Besides firefighters are sexy."

"Really?" he said teasingly, leaning closer. "Well I think police officers are sexy."

"Do you, now?"

"And you're the only one I can see here..." He started kissing her, cupping her cheeks with his large palms before the phone started to ring and he groaned.

"Duty calls," she teased and he pouted, leaning back in his seat. "Betty, what's up?"

***

The Serpents walked through Swedlow Swamp, calling for Polly and looking for any clues about her disappearance.

"So your mom just found Polly's phone?" Aminity asked Betty as they walked.

"We found the body that we reported to you and Sheriff Keller, but nothing on Polly, so she kept looking."

"Don't worry. We'll find something," she gave Betty a reassuring smile as she put a hand on her shoulder and Betty smiled gratefully. They looked up as they saw a car speeding around the circle and pulling to a stop in front of them. Alice, Keller, Kevin, and Sweet Pea joined Betty and Aminity as Hiram and Reggie got out of the jeep.

"That's far enough," Hiram stopped them. "Every one of you is trespassing on private property."

"Retreat immediately or face the consequences," Reggie ordered, a shotgun over his shoulder.

"Hiram, my daughter's missing," Alice stepped forwards. "She might be somewhere in your swamp."

"Alice, as a father, I feel your pain, but I can't have people wandering through here. All of this is going to be my new turnpike."

"Well it's also a crime scene," Keller spoke up.

"Well if it is, then it's not your jurisdiction, Sheriff.

"Well, um, I'm with the FBI," Betty pulled out her badge. "So the FBI is declaring this a crime scene."

"Oh, I think you're gonna need better than that badge you got out of a Jacker Crack box, Betty. In the meantime," he addressed the growing crowd, "off my property." Reggie cocked his gun. "Now."