Yellow Tape And Tears

Chapter Four

 Cheryl's POV

"Why is someone calling you Cheryl it's one in the morning!" Toni said annoyed as it had woken us up.

"I don't know TT give me a moment so I can answer." I replied just as annoyed, "It's Betty, oh god something bad probably happened." I looked at Toni with worry in my eyes as I answered the phone. 

"Cheryl, are you in your house with Toni?" Betty asked rushed and with fear.

"Yes, we are here. Why what's happened, Betty?" I replied stuttering slightly with the anticipation.

"It's your mom Cheryl," Betty spoke pausing momentarily before speaking again, "Whoever killed my Mother just called me and they said that they also killed your mom. I'm so sorry Cheryl. I know exactly what you are going through and I'm here for you if you need me. Jughead is calling Sheriff Keller right now, do you know where she is?" 

I was stunned, my mother, the one I've been hoping would die for years is finally dead. But I don't feel relieved or that it's good she is finally gone, all of my family is dead. Jason, my father,  my uncle Claudius, Nana Rose, and now to add to the list; my mother. I started to cry, tears of sadness not at her death itself but the fate of all Blossoms, death, and loneliness. We have almost reached the end of the Blossom bloodline, all that is left is me and the babies. We are the last of the Blossoms. I started to cry harder and Toni took the phone from my hand. She was talking to Betty on the phone but I wasn't listening to the words they were saying. 

Toni is all I have left, my girlfriend is the only family I have. What senior in high school lives such a horrible life that their only family is their girlfriend. I am so lucky to have her, I couldn't do this alone. Toni hung up the phone and just held me. She didn't ask questions or ask why I was crying when I hated my mother, she just held me.

"How did they do it, Toni? How did they finally kill my mother?" I asked after crying for what seemed like hours. 

"Jughead and Betty don't know the details yet. They called Sheriff Keller and he should call us in the morning but right now we need to just get some rest and prepare for the hell that is about to take over Riverdale all over again." Toni responded trying to be strong but I could tell she was only holding it together for me.

"Thank you, Toni. For everything you do for me and being the only person I have left in this world. You are my only family TT and I love you so much for being here." I cried nuzzling into her even more.

"I love you too Cheryl, now get some sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up I promise." 

Veronica's POV

Archie and I had been trying to get ahold of Sheriff Keller for what felt like forever. Betty and Jug were counting on us and we couldn't even catch him at Pops off the clock. We came up with a plan to hang out with Kevin and also try to talk to Sheriff Keller while we were there. Archie had distracted Kevin talking about this year's musical so I snuck out to investigate. I started by looking around the main house normal areas that could just have hidden clues in plain sight but I didn't notice anything. I went to try Sheriff Keller's office but it was locked. Lucky for me I took a page out of Betty's book and had a bobby pin. It took a while but eventually, the door popped open.

I entered Sheriff Keller's office to find it looked completely normal, there was nothing. That was until Sheriff Keller walked in. He was holding a bag labeled evidence and he looked extremely worn out. My first thought was to run but I couldn't do that to Betty she needed answers. This was the one thing she asked me to do for her after her mother died and if I can't do this one thing what kind of best friend am I?

"Hi  Sheriff Keller, I was hoping I could talk to you about the-" I started but was cut off by a very annoyed and tired Sheriff Keller.

"Veronica as you can imagine I am exhausted and don't feel like answering your questions about these two murders."  He replied 

"Two? Who else was killed?" I said surprised that no one had told me this yet.

"Penelope Blossom was killed by cyanide ingestion last night. Look this is everything I know so get ready. Alice Cooper was stabbed in the stomach with a kitchen butcher knife and bled to death in her kitchen. There was no forced entry to her house and the killer left right after stabbing her. Alice fought back against her attacker and that is why she enviably died because she lost to much blood. There was no DNA in the house and we don't have any real suspects. Penelope had many enemies and could honestly have been killed by just about anyone. There was no forced entry to the Maple Club and it didn't look like Penelope fought back at all. She was given a lethal dose of cyanide and died within minutes. We don't have much Veronica so go tell Betty we are trying our best but there isn't a lot of evidence to look through. I'm sorry Veronica now please leave I need sleep after all this."  Sheriff Keller said it so quick it was almost to hard to take in. 

"Thank you, Sheriff Keller, I'll leave you now." I thanked and retreated back to Kevin's room. 

When I opened the door back to Kevin's room he looked suspicious but didn't ask anything. I gave Archie a look and we thanked Kevin for hanging out with us but we had to go home as it was late. As soon as we were in the car Archie started asking questions but I was in no mood to retell all of this more than once. 

"I will tell you when we get to Betty's just drive Archie."

Betty's POV

"I'm sorry Betty that's all he or we know. Whoever this new mystery killer is doesn't want to be caught." Veronica said after telling us everything Sheriff Keller had said to her. 

It was all such a tidy mess. The mother killer wasn't going to be easy to catch I'm sure. But they are obviously threatened by us investigating and that might be our biggest clue yet. This is someone who knows our investigative skills, they know that we are the ones who always find out the truth.

"They know that we are gonna catch them eventually, that's why they are being so careful and threatening us. We need to be careful so that they don't know about our investigation but we aren't going to stop. At least I'm not are you guys in?" I asked making sure my best friends are ok with putting their lives on the line to find a killer with me.

They looked at each other asking with only their eyes. Then all at once they looked at me and nodded in agreement. Yes! I thought we can cover a lot more ground with four people investigating than two. 

"Thank you guys it means a lot. Just seriously remember to be extremely careful." I said slightly worried about them.

"We will Betty, we promise." Archie said standing up to leave with Veronica.

After they left I laid down with Jug on the bed, it was late but I wasn't tired. "What are we gonna do Jug I won't stop investigating but I'm worried for them, and you. I couldn't live with myself if I let something happen to you guys. Juggie I've been putting on this brave face but really I'm terrified." I spoke starting to cry 

"It'll be ok baby, just breathe and go day by day. There's not much we can do right now other than work on suspects and we can do that at the Blue and Gold where we can't be watched, ok?" Jug replied being supportive and protective like always.

"Thank you Jug, for being you, constantly taking care of me and protecting me. If it wasn't for you I don't know what I'd do. I love you so much." I spoke turning towards him and cuddling closer

"Just doing my job baby, but I love you too more than you know. Now get some sleep ok?" He whispered in my ear and then kissed me softly.

"Goodnight Juggie," 

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