Desperado

Chapter Eighteen

To Riverdale and Back Again

"That's incredible, Paul. You will keep us posted, won't you? Okay, thanks... thank you." I look to my mom as I eat.

"Some good news for a change?" Roni asks.

"That was your dad's attorney. Turns out, our statements did make a difference and the judge seems inclined to give your father a break."

"How much of a break?" I ask concerned.

"Time served. A few more months, if that."

"Are you serious? What happens when he gets out? What are we suppose to do move back to New York or stay here?"

"You father can move here."

"What about the crimes he's committed?"

"Roni our statement made that impossible to put back in court," I tell her.

"Not for Jason Blossom."

"Stop it, Veronica! There's no proof that your father had anything to do with that."

"He's in jail because of the Blossoms, mom, that gives him a motive."

"And? Dad wouldn't kill someone for something like that."

"How would you even know since you think daddy's so monstrous."

"I do find him monstrous. But he's not that kind of person. Let it go, damn."

+++++

I stop by the door frowning when I hear Betty voice with Roni and her mothers. What the hell? "You really believe that?"

"My dad paid Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in. Maybe he paid him to-"

"Commit murder. And, for all we know, that gay Greaser Serpent is an accomplice."

"And what are you basing that off of? That you saw FP, Katie, and Joaquin talking?"

"Wait, Katie?"

"Well yeah. I didn't tell you because... well, she's your sister. She wouldn't do something like that."

"You don't know her, Betty. It looked like they were all conspiring together. Maybe your sister works for your dad."

"I don't think so mom."

"It's possible," Roni speaks up and I want to smash my head into the wall. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit!

"What?"

"Well, she always says these things about our dad like how he's a monster. What if she meant the fact that he killed Jason. Or hired FP to do it."

"Why don't we just ask her."

"Come on Betty. No one would say anything about that. You always deny it."

"No! No! No one we know killed Jason okay. God sake, Katie your sister. She wouldn't hurt anyone. And I already asked Jughead if he thought his father had anything to do with Jason's death, and he said no. And I believed him, and I still believe him."

"Betty, you're too close to this."

"I'm not going to insult Jughead or betray him by entertaining this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Homecoming Dance to plan."

I stand quickly and run down the hall before calling FP. I lean against the wall hearing the door open.

"Hello."

"FP... We have a problem. My sister and Alice are suspecting us together with Joaquin on Jason murder. They are starting to piece together that I work for my father. I can't kill any of them."