Resilience | Sweet Pea.

3 - Insignia

"He was maybe 5 foot 10?" Archie says, as Sheriff Keller writes on his notepad. Jughead's standing up from the vending machine, handing me a water bottle before going back to pull himself some peanuts. "Maybe 160 pounds or so?"

"He was wearing dark pants and a dark jacket?" Sheriff Keller asks as Jughead joins us at the table, Archie nods. "Anything on that jacket? Like a symbol or an insignia?"

"Like a snake?" Jughead scoffs.

"No, it was just a jacket. No snake." Archie declares.

"What's an insignia?" I whisper to Jughead.

"Like an emblem, or a logo." He whispers back, I nod.

"And the ski mask he had on-"

"No, it wasn't a ski mask." Archie corrects him aggravatedly. "It was a hood, a black hood! Homemade, like he'd cut out the eyes himself. The guys eyes were green."

I touch his arm, and he breathes out like he'd been holding his breath.

"Pop had a fairly good idea of what happened up until your dad was shot. Then there's some gaps and I need you to help me fill them." Sheriff Keller says. "So, what did he do? Our masked man?"

"After he shot my dad?" Archie asks, I notice him tense and shake a little, he looks traumatized.

"He..." Archie pauses, "Nothing, he shot my dad and ran out of the diner."

Jughead and I look at each other, then at Archie. Both of us are aware there's a part of the truth he's missing out, but why?

"Who did this, Sheriff?" Archie asks.

"Archie, it's just too early to speculate." He says, "But this guy was probably out of his head on meth or the jingle-jangle, some southside lowlife looking for a cash grab."

It irks me that even Sheriff Keller assumes it's someone from the southside. But I bite my tongue.

"Since this is Riverdale, I have to ask." Jughead says, popping another peanut in his mouth. "What if robbery wasn't the motive?"

What the hell does he mean? Does he think someone outright shot Fred in particular, on purpose?

"Well... I suppose it could be someone who has a grudge against your dad, wanted to make it look like a robbery?" I catch Jughead and Archie look at each other, which concerns me

"But Fred doesn't have any enemies? Does he?" I ask.

"I don't know, Nova. I mean it's just too early to tell."

After the chat with Sheriff Keller, Jughead, Archie and I head back to the waiting area.

"Archie, hey." Jug says.

Jughead and I pull him back before we greet Betty and Veronica.

"Arch... Were you not telling Sheriff Keller something?" I ask.

"My dad told me that he and Mrs. Lodge fired the serpents on their crew," Archie begins. "Jug I know your dad vouches for them but what if one of them was pissed off enough to do something?"

Jughead puts his hand on Archie's shoulder "Let me see what I can find out." He says,

"Thanks bro." Archie says as they hug and Jughead before he walks away. Is Jughead going to see the serpents?

"Arch, whoever did this, we won't let them get away with it, okay?" I ask, he nods.

"Do you think he'll be out of surgery soon?" He asks.

"I hope so." I sigh.

"Archie Andrews? I'm Steven Masters, your father's doctor." A large, bald man approaches us.