The Other Queen - Book 5 (Riverdale Season 5)

Strange Bedfellows - Part 2

 Archie kicked open the door to the warehouse, the men sitting at the table inside standing up quickly.

"There are warrants out for your arrest. We're taking you in," Archie announced.

"You don't have guns," one of the men said, pulling a gun out of his jacket. "That was a bad idea."

"Drop it, before I drop you," Reggie said from behind him, his own gun raised. The man put it down on the table and they all fanned out, putting the men in cuffs and confiscating their weapons.

"Nice work," Veronica said as she walked in.

"What are you doing here, Ronnie?" Archie asked, gently grabbing her arm and leading her over to a corner.

"Our old nemeses, Dodger and Darla Dickenson, stole my blue opal."

"I just got one of the cons to spill," Reggie walked over. "Dodger was here talking up some fancy rock, but slipped out before you clowns stormed in."

"That's my buyer," Veronica said as she looked at a message. "He's getting restless. Okay. I have to deal with him, but Archie, please, I need you to find Dodger and Darla and get my opal back."

"Alright, let me just get this straight. You went off to New York, which I didn't want you to do, you may or may not have spent the night with your husband who definitely didn't sign any divorce papers, and now you want me to go find some rock for you?"

"Guys, now really isn't the ti-" Aminity tried.

"I'm sorry about what happened with me and Chad. But you're going after the Dickenson's no matter what, right? Then you can get me my opal."

"Fine," Archie said before walking off.

"We'll look," Aminity told her. "Try to worry too much."

"Thanks, A."

***

"Okay, now I'm officially worried," Kevin sighed as they sat in Archie's dining room. "My dad has never been out of touch this long."

"Your dad's been in tough spots before, Kev. He'll be okay," Fangs tried to reassure him. "We're gonna find him." Archie's phone rang and he stepped out of the room.

"Fangs is right. He's tough and we won't stop looking for him."

"We got a problem," Archie said as he walked back in, putting Veronica on speaker. "Ronnie, start over."

"I know where the Dickensons are. They're with some other guy named Ted."

"Ted?" Aminity asked. "Is that the guy who used to serve in the army with you?" she looked at Fred. "The one who tried to kill us my junior year?"

"Yeah," Archie nodded. "He's a beast."

"They're holed up at the El Royale," Veronica continued, "and they're keeping my father, Governor Dooley, and Sheriff Keller hostage." Kevin straightened. "They're looking for a stash of palladium, but Reggie thinks he knows where it is. Can you meet us at Daddy's SoDale office?"

"Yeah, we're on our way."

***

"Confirmed, my father is literally Lex Luther," Veronica said as Reggie took down Hiram's portrait to reveal a safe.

"If he's hiding any palladium, it's in there."

"Sweet Pea, you still have those tools in the back of your truck?" Fangs asked and he smirked.

"Yes, I do."

"Want a hand?" Archie asked before the three walked outside.

"And I will track down a dolly," Veronica jogged out of the room. By the time she got back, the boys had gotten the safe out of the wall. "Nicely done, boys." She picked up her phone and called Ted.

"Did you get the palladium?"

"Yes, but there's a catch. It's locked in a safe. We have it, but not the combination. Luckily-"

"I have the man who does. Alright. But I want you to make the delivery. Not your boyfriend. Just you." Veronica looked at Archie who was shaking his head.

"Deal. I'll be there in half an hour. I give you the safe, you give me my opal and free the hostages. And Archie tells me you're a military man, so I know you'll honor your word." Ted hung up. "Okay, what's the plan? Once I'm inside, I can buy us, say, thirty seconds."

"Ted knows the El Royale," Frank said. "That's why he chose it. He'll have eyes on all the entrances."

"No, not all. When I took over the gym, I put in a new roof. There's an old skylight covered with tarp paper. We tear it off and drop in like Batman with the element of surprise. And he doesn't know you're working with us, Uncle Frank, which gives us a small advantage."

"They've got my dad. I'm going in too."

"Me too," Aminity said.

"Count me in as well."

"Same," Reggie said after Fangs.

"I'm always ready to knock some heads," Sweet Pea cracked his knuckles.

"Good," Frank nodded. "We'll need the manpower against Ted.

***

They all got ready on the roof while Veronica walked inside the El Royale with the safe. As soon as she walked inside, they started counting.

"Now!" Archie ordered as soon as it had been thirty seconds and they crashed through the skylight, repelling down. They quickly detached from the ropes and split up, taking out Ted, Dodger, and his men. Kevin and Fangs handled Darla while Archie, Reggie, and Frank handled Ted. Sweet Pea and Aminity handled Dodger and his couple other men. It only took a couple minutes until everyone was knocked out and the hostages were free.

***

Aminity rolled over and bed and picked up her phone, sitting up immediately when she saw a voicemail from her brother.

"What is it?" Sweet Pea asked groggily as he rubbed his eyes. She didn't answer as she hit play, quickly bringing the phone to her ear.

"Hey, Aminity. I'm sorry if I worried you which I know I probably have. After a, uh, night spent high... Which you probably already knew knowing Tabitha- Um, I'm headed back to New York. There's some things that I need to confront and deal with, but I'll try to keep in touch. Love you."