Leather Jackets and Brooches

Chapter 14

"Thank you Cheryl and Mrs Blossom for coming back in. I would like to go back through some of the questions that asked you a few weeks ago" Sheriff Keller began writing notes on his notepad.

"No problem Sheriff, I want to help find out what happened" Cheryl replied.

"Me too. So Cheryl, please tell me again why Miss Topaz was round your house" 

"So I wasn't ask school for 3 days therefore Toni came round to see me as I hadn't replied to her messages or calls because I didn't have my phone" 

"I took it from her after she got in trouble at school with that girl" Penelope interrupted.

"Please Mrs Blossom let Cheryl explain. So you had your phone  taken off you, can you elaborate please?" 

"Me and Toni got in to an argument with another student and he called Toni names and I was angry so I punched him in front of the Principle. I was expelled for a day because of it" Cheryl explained.

"You said that you had been off for 3 days, yet your exclusion was 1 day. Why was that?"

"Cheryl wasn't well poor lamb" Penelope answered.

"Cheryl is this true?" Sheriff questioned.

"Actually no sir. Mother kept me at home to teach me a lesson" Cheryl confessed.

"Mrs Blossom?" Sheriff Keller and Cheryl turned to look at her. 

"Cheryl has been very deviant and disrespectful recently, she needed to be taught a lesson" Penelope tried justified her actions.

"Did you tell this to Miss Topaz when she visited you Cheryl?" 

"Yes, Toni had also brought me work from school that the teachers had sent" Cheryl explained

"When we fully searched Miss Topaz's bag we found that work in the bag so she had told the truth, but what I'm still trying understand how the drugs in your fathers study ended up in her bag" 

"Honestly sir, Toni was with me the whole time, so I don't know how they ended up in there" Cheryl pleaded.

"I believe you Cheryl. Mrs Blossom was you aware that Mr Blossom had stashes of the drug in his study desk?"

"No Sheriff"

"Really? Because when we tested the drugs for finger prints we found yours were present  on the ones in Toni's bag and the envelope that was in his desk"

"Yes of course my fingerprints would be on them when I found them in her bag" Penelope slipped up.

"Wait. You was the one that called Sheriff Keller?" Cheryl said in shock

"But that doesn't explain why your fingerprints were found on the envelope?" Sheriff Keller added.

"Mother why did you call Sheriff Keller? And how would you know she had drugs in there?" Cheryl bombarded Penelope with questions

"Wait! Did you put the drugs in her bag?" Cheryl demanded.

Penelope remained silent.

"Oh my god you did didn't you" Cheryl sat back in the chair, she was disgusted with her mother.

"Why do you have to ruin everything that makes me happy. Toni has been nothing but a good person to me, and you made me believe she was guilty. I can't believe you, well actually I can. If Toni doesn't forgive me then I will make you pay for what you done to her" Cheryl made it clear that she was furious with her and would make suffer more than Toni did the past few weeks. 

"Ok Cheryl I think I have what I need, you are free to leave. Mrs Blossom I need you to stay behind for more questioning" Sheriff Keller opened the door to let Cheryl out

"My deputy will give you a lift home if you would like" Sheriff Keller offered 

"Thank you Sheriff" Cheryl smiled at him

Cheryl left the Police station with the Deputy in his car. The whole journey she thought how she had thought Toni was guilty even when Toni pleaded for her help. She thought Toni would never speak to her again for it and because her own mother had her arrested for something she didn't do. 

Meanwhile back at the station, Toni had been taken in to another interview room where her grandfather and Sheriff Keller was. She went straight over to Thomas and hugged him tightly, he kissed the top of her head. 

"I've missed you kid" Thomas confessed

"Same grandpa" Toni was crying slightly.

"Please sit down Miss Topaz, I have news" Sheriff Keller smiled at her

"So we found out how those drugs ended up in you bag. Someone had set you up to try and get you in trouble" Sheriff Keller explained

"Was it that Cheryl?" Thomas questioned

"No grandpa she was with my the whole time, plus she would never have done it. Who was it Sheriff?" Toni begged.

"It was Mrs Blossom" 

Toni stood up and put her hands on her head, she couldn't believe that Penelope was so against Cheryl and her being friends that he would purposely have her arrested.

"Wait, so this means Toni's free right?" Thomas questioned

"Yes you are free to go" Sheriff Keller smiled at them both

"I'm free" Toni broke down crying and Thomas pulled her in for a hug. He began crying because of the overwhelming emotions.

"I'm so proud of you. I knew you were innocent" Thomas stroked the back of Toni's head then kissed the top of it.

"Penelope is being detained for more questioning but you are free to leave, I'm sorry for what happened"

"It isn't your fault. Thank you Sheriff for solving the case. We are very grateful" Thomas shook his hand.

"Yes thank you Mr Keller" Toni smiled at him

"Come on kid, Jughead and FP were waiting outside for me but I guess they can be the first ones to share our good news" Thomas took Toni's hands in his and shook them as a sign of celebrating. 

Toni and Thomas walked out of the station to see Jughead and FP waiting by their bikes. Jughead had a big smile on his face and high fived his dad as soon as he saw his fellow serpent.

"I'm free!" Toni shouted then hugged Jughead

"We are all proud of you" FP hugged Toni

"What happened then?" Jughead asked.

"Penelope put the drugs in my bag, she wanted me to stay away from Cheryl" Toni explained.

"She's gonna pay for what she's done" Jughead clenched his fists.

"In time boy, for now I need to let Hog Eye know were are having an impromptu party at the Whyte Wyrm tonight to  celebrate your release" FP suggested

"Mr Jones thank you but that's not necessary" Toni kindly declined.

"Yes Toni it is, us serpents knew you were innocent and you deserve it. We are all proud of you" he patted her on the back to show he cared as if he was her own father.

"Thank you FP I really look forward to it" Toni hugged him in appreciation.

"Now how about burgers and shakes to celebrate. I know the food in there was not all that" FP joked about the time he was arrested.

"Yes, I'm starving" Jughead agreed.

"I have been craving a burger since I was arrested" Toni joked.

The four of them left the station and headed to the diner to celebrate, Toni was so content that she was finally free, but the thought of Penelope deliberately putting the drugs in her bag was playing on her mind. She also wondered if Cheryl knew about it. But for now Toni tried to think about it as she just wanted to be with her grandfather and the Jones enjoying freedom and some real food.