Queen of Snakes

Chapter Eighteen; Betty and Veronica

What you are about to read are four twisted tales connected to the tragic and macabre events the befell the town of Riverdale.

Known as the "Black Hood murders," they were all the more tragic because those who bore witness to these terrible things were so young.

A seemingly random shooting quickly revealed itself to be the first in a series of gruesome attacks perpetrated by a hooded assailant.

These latest chapters began with the discovery of a letter from the Black Hood affixed to the door of Pop Tate's Chock'lit Shoppe.

"People of Riverdale, I have rid this town of the drug-dealing child-killer and others like him. Now, you must choose your fate. The next 48 hours will be a test. and I will be watching you very closely. Show me you are pure of heart, and my work ends. Continue to sin, And I will take up the sword again."

//Betty POV//

I'm laying in bed with Jughead my mind running a million miles an hour. I wanted nothing more than to enjoy the morning in my boyfriends arms yet I couldn't seem to bring myself out of my head.
"Well, what is it, Poirot?" Jughead pulls me closer.
"Nothing. No. It's too crazy." and it was and is, why am I feeling bad. A person who causes the deaths of hundreds was dead. Yet the concern on how the Black Hood was able to get into the office to get to the Sugar man. Jughead's phone started ringing and he got up to answer it. I stared out the window figuring it was Kat or Archie pulling him away from me for our next break. I sit up continuing to think about how the Black Hood got into the Sheriff's station.
"There's no way..." I mumble to myself.

I'm walking through the hallways of Riverdale High with Kevin and Veronica, I hadn't seen or heard from Kat in days. "Guys I'm worried about my dad. The town is turning on him. Kevin is holding the strap of his bag as he walks in between Veronica and I. "He's trying his best under these crazy circumstances, but this Black Hood stuff is really getting to him." Kevin shakes his head. Ronnie walks over to stand beside me.
"How is he dealing with it?" She asks
"Yeah, what's he been doing?" I continue.
"He's not sleeping. He's not eating. I hear him rummaging around the house at odd hours, talking to himself, just heading out in the middle of the night." Kevin was whispering everything he was saying. Which was making my feeling from this morning with Jughead even more worrisome.
"Where do you think he's going?"
"Where is he going?" Ronnie and I spoke in unison.
"I don't know but whatever it is, it's...It's like he's a different person."
Shit...no no no, come on not Sheriff Keller...That would kill Kevin. I thought to myself.

A few minutes later I'm with Veronica alone in the Blue and Gold office. She's talking about Kevin, but I can't let the thought that Sheriff Keller is the Black Hood out of my head.
"Poor Kevin. He's like a character in a lost Tennessee Williams play."
"Veronica, I have a theory about Sheriff Keller." I sigh finally admitting it.
"Oh, me, too. It's obvious." She starts nodding.
"He's the Black Hood." My eyes go wide as I say it.
"He's having an affair." Veronica and I speak at the same time again.  I wanted to kick myself for even slightly admitting the thought I just had.
"What?" Veronica leans forward. "Is that a joke?"
"I wish it were." I look at her still confused.
"Whatever crazy web that you're spinning, Bee, let me break it down for you." I sigh looking up at the ceiling. "Sheriff Keller's wife's away, he's failing at his job, he's looking of comfort, sneaking around...all signs point to cheating."
"Well, I don;t know, maybe he's having an affair, and he's the Black Hood." I look at Veronica with even more conviction. 

"Wait, who are we saying is the Black Hood?" A new voice enters the picture. I look up to see Kat standing in the doorway wearing her Serpent Jacket with her boyfriend behind her. She looks over at him and he pushes the door shut behind him and stands right outside the door.
"Betty here thinks that Sheriff Keller is the Black Hood, I believe he is having an affair." Veronica looks up at Kat who is walking over to one of the desks.
"I could see the affair piece, he's been MIA really since the race and even that he was there for because of a tip from Archie." Kat didn't stop looking for whatever it was while she spoke. "But, I wouldn't mind hearing why Betty believes he's the Black Hood..." She finally grabs a box containing a bunch of SD cards and leans against the desk her arms crossed in front of her.
"Yeah, you've known Kevin's dad how many years?" Veronica starts again as if Kat never walked in the room.
"Okay, think about it, The Black Hood killed Mr. Phillips in a cell at the Sheriff's Station. How do you explain that?"
"Easy..." Kat Pipes up again. I look at her annoyed. "There are hundreds of ways to get into a holding cell. Say you are a lawyer, have a press pass, be friends with the people at the station, watch the station long enough to know their patterns. We just discussed that Keller hasn't been on his best when it comes to his job, we live in Riverdale where everyone knows everyone. So lets just say that the Black Hood came in without the mask, started some small talk with whatever deputy was on duty. Took that chance to go to the holding cell, put the hood on, shoot, Philips and be gone before the deputies were able to get to that side of the station." She shrugs before walking towards the door, she pauses before opening it. "Betty, Veronica, I know we don't always get along but...I love you guys and just know I care."
"Are you okay Kat?" Veronica asks.
"Hmm, I will be." She says before leaving.