THE SOUTHSIDE TAPES (RIVERDALE 2)

the locked room - 05

Bret scoffed, "What does it matter? Lodge's dad would have killed her regardless just because she was even at the party. Isn't that where those bruises came from?"
"What bruises..?"
"The one you failed to conceal on your neck."
"First of all, bitch, Jughead gave that hickey to me last night while I was moaning his name in ecstasy which is more than you or Bret could say for yourselves. And the bigger bruise is from your botched murder attempt." I snapped, "Second, thanks to a certain private eye who just so happens to be my sister, I have enough dirt to bury all of you guys all the way to the depths of hell."
"But we saw your bodies..." Bret pleaded. I smirked.
"That corpse wasn't mine, Bret."
"How-?"
"Have you ever heard of a little town across the river called Greendale? Well, let me enlighten you of the magic it holds."
Knock-knock...
"Come in." Ambrose Spellman slid the guest room door open and sat beside his sister in bed. She looked ill. The blonde man who brought her here last night seemed very protective. He told Ambrose to not let her leave the house. And he also claimed to be with the FBI. Ambrose cleared his throat, "Ahem, while I appreciate the visit, I have to ask again..."
"I don't know Ambrose." The girl said, "I don't remember a thing. I don't remember."
"Perhaps a memory jogging spell will do the trick..."
"Ambrose... I'm fine."
He laughed dryly, "Fine people don't just show up bloody without notice... Especially if they're alive. And that blonde girl is back. MacKayla, I believe..."
"Hey girl. Sorry I took so long. I had to convince Daniella to let me leave my house after your disappearance."
"It's okay."
Bzzz...
"Hiram" Ambrose read, "Should i..."
"Don't. He doesn't know he's calling my burner phone."
Bzzz...
"It's someone called Veronica..."
I grabbed the phone quickly, "Vee, what's up?"
"Thank god you picked up. Where the hell are you?"
"A moment, please..." I whispered to Ambrose who promptly exited, closing the door behind him. 
"Daddy's livid." Veronica said into the phone, "He wants an explanation."
"Tell him I ran, Vee."
"What?"
"It's the truth." MacKayla defended, "She just isn't running from him."
"You know what he's going to do to you when I tell him, right?"
"Like I care."
"Daddy will murder you, Nicolette. He'll make your life a living hell again."
"Vee, please. I have to go..."
"Daddy's going to have your head for this." My breath hitched. 
"Veronica. You need to understand that I can't be implicated for this crime that you and-"
"You and Betty did it." Veronica snapped, "We helped cover it up.... Ugh, whatever. MacKayla. Just get back in town ASAP."
-
"But how did you get past Lodge's father?"
"I knew for a fact that Daddy would drop by Betty and Archie's after Veronica went home with a less than stellar alibi so we took that time to perfect our stories about our missing friends..."
-
"Mr. Lodge." Betty answered her door warily, "What a surprise. I-"
"Where is she?"
"I have no idea what you're-"
"You and your cousin went to a party with Jughead."
"I haven't seen her, Mr. Lodge. We met up briefly and then she left on her motorcycle." Betty lied through her teeth. Hiram sighed, stepping up to her, biting his lip, "Miss Cooper. If I find out you lied about this..."
"You'll have me arrested, I know. I promise I'll give you a call if I hear from her."
His next stop was the Andrews residence. Mayor Lodge wasn't going to give up on this battle. His youngest was always rebelling against him.
-
"Archie Andrews."
"Mr. Lodge. What are you?"
"Your mother let me up. I just had the most interesting chat with Betty about my daughter."
"Mr. Lodge-"
"Archie, I'm trying. I really am. Have you seen her?"
"She..." The redhead trailed off staring at his window at Betty Cooper. She tapped on the window before opening it. "Archie Andrews!"
"Betty. I'll uh call you later okay?" She nodded slowly, "It'll be okay, Arch."
The redhead turned back to Hiram, "She told me she was meeting up with Jughead. That's all I know about it, Mr. Lodge."
"Okay," Hiram said, "Call me the second she makes contact with you."
-
"Sweetheart."
-
-
"Simple, before this happened, I had called my brother and informed Charles of my plan."... 
"My girlfriend's sister Veronica Lodge knew he'd flip out so in all her stress, Nicolette was able to keep up the act."
-
Who to call? Who could she call and swear to secrecy? She could call her father who certainly won't kill her for this little stunt, right? 
Coincidentally, her father called her.
"Daddy."
"Mija. Where the hell are you?"
Silence.
"Mija, don't try to lie to me."
"Daddy, please..."
"When you get home, mija, you and I are going to have a long talk about this..."
"Daddy, just listen to me. I don't have long. I'm hurt. I'm just saying goodbye."
"Mija..."
"That's what you wanted, right?" Nicolette sobbed into the phone, "You wanted me to suffer for betraying blood. You told me blood was worth everything..."
"Mija, don't make this worse for yourself. Come home and take responsibility."
"I can't..." She whispered, "I can barely walk, Daddy. Please don't punish me for this."
"Mija... What are you..?"
The line went dead as she blacked out yet again, beside Jughead Jones, the boy in the beanie who proposed to her two years before.
For a moment, it seemed realistic that they'd be married one day.
-
-
"Mom?"
"Baby..."
"Mama, please."
"It'll be okay, baby. Your father is going to make everything okay."
"Mama, no."
"Mija..."
"Daddy, please..."
-
Bzz...
"Oh, I have to go, Juggie! Hermosa's taking me out for a celebratory dinner!"
"Celebrating what?"
"You'll see when you get dragged to the sheriff's station, you psycho preppies. Can't wait to see your mugshots!" I smiled, "Keep the door locked as long as possible, guys."
"Will do, Beckett."
"Thanks, Castle."