A couple of nights later Callie was getting ready for a dinner. She was in her room putting on make-up as Jughead sat on her bed.

"I really don't want to go to this," Callie said.

"Well, we need you to attend this," Jughead said. " Well, I need you too. "

" What do you need me to do again?" Callie asked.

"Remember that mic you put on Betty's phone?" Jughead asked. " Well, I need you to put one like under the table or something. Let it record to your phone once more and take notes. And then report back to me".

" You want me to put a bug in the Lodge's home?" Callie asked.

"Yes," Jughead answered. " I would prefer it in his office, but the dinner table will work just as fine." Later Callie was having dinner at the Lodges. She managed to stick a bug under the table without anyone noticing. Their parents were in the middle of reminiscing in the past.

" If you remember correctly, the only house in Riverdale with a pool was Thornhill," Mr. Lodge recalled.

" There we were, two drunk, dumb teenagers looking to cool off," Mr. Andrews recalled.

" Why didn't you just go the quarry?" Archie asked.

" Or Sweetwater River?" Callie asked. They all started laughing.

" Oh, what I remember is someone borrowing the school van for a joy ride, you and Mary," Mr. Andrews brought up.

" No, that was Alice, not us," Mrs. Lodge corrected.

" Oh, my God, this sounds like an episode of Saved by the Bell," Veronica laughed. Everone else laughed before it got quiet.

" Hey, Fred, before you head off, why don't you join Hermione and me in the study?" Mr. Lodge suggested. " I have this 30-year-old rum. I think you'll love it."

" Well, I can't say no to that," Mr. Andrews agreed. The adults began to get up.

" Veronica, stay with Archie and Callie?" Mrs. Lodge suggested.

" Actually, I was about to head out," Callie said as she stood up. " I got lots of homework to get complete, thank you for having us. Dinner was splendid." 

" It won't take too long Callie," Mrs. Lodge assured her. " Just stay back and relax, that homework isn't going anywhere." The parents left, and Veronica led the two to their room.

" What are they talking about in there, do you reckon? "Archie asked.

" So, between us, three, the deputy mayor who took over for Josie's mom is on the verge of stepping down," Veronica explained. " There's gonna be a special election and my parents think your dad would make an ideal candidate."

"They want our dad to run for mayor? " Callie asked.

"It's business and politics," Veronica answered. " They go hand in hand." On the ride home the Andrews talked about the offer.

" Dad, is this something you're seriously considering?" Callie asked. He looked at his children and sighed.

"Being mayor is something I dreamed about ever since I was a little kid, kids, in the back of my mind," their dad admitted. " And I know Riverdale's had a lot of downs lately but maybe, I can help it back up on an upswing."

"And you don't think it's weird that Mr. Lodge is asking you to run?" Callie asked.

" He's not dumb, sweetheart. He spends a lot of money in Riverdale," their dad answered. " It makes sense he wants a friend in the mayor's office."

" Will he pay for your campaign? " Archie asked.

" He offered to make a donation to help me get going, but," their dad explained. " But to be clear, kids, if I decide to run, it won't be for him, it'll be for Riverdale. For me. For you two."

*****

The next morning Callie was in her room getting ready for school. She had her earbuds in as she listened to the Lodge's talk at breakfast in the Pembrook.

" I put the odds of Fed saying yes at 50-50," Hiram admitted.

" As always, mija, anything you can whisper in Archie's ear?" Hermione asked.

" Mom, he's my boyfriend, not a constituent," Veronica argued. 

" Ah, You influence Archie and Archie influences Fred, and we need Fred right now," Hiram explained.

" When we announce our bigger plans--" Hermione began.

" It'd sound better coming out of his well-respected, well-like mouth," Hiram advised.

" Fine," Veronica gave in. " I'll do my best with Callie."

" Careful Mija," Hiram advised. " I have a feeling that Archie's sister is not exactly on our side, I don't want her whispering our plans to Jughead. Who tells his dad, and who will tell the Serpents, it could start a riot."

***** 

When they got to school, Callie stopped at her locker before going to the Swords and Serpents club. When she got there she saw that Archie was there.

" What's going on?" Callie asked. Jughead waved her over.

" Remember when Hiram Lodge gave Pop Tate that charitable donation to keep the diner open?" Archie asked the two.

" He bought the diner instead didn't he?" Callie asked.

"Yes," Archie confirmed.

"What?" Jughead demanded.

" And for some reason, he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Can you do something with that fact?" Archie asked as Jughead out his hands over his mouth. " At least enough to make my dad think twice about this stupid mayor idea."

" He bought the diner?" Jughead asked.

" Yes!" Archie repeated himself. Jughead then stood up and unfolded his map of Riverdale.

" God! Hiram is like Dracula," Jughead stated as the Andrews looked at the map as well. " Snapping up properties from all over Riverdale to expand his empire and feed. If what you're telling me is true, everyone is in danger." Archie then left to go to class. " Did you find out anything?"

" I know why the Lodges wants my dad to run," Callie stated. 

" Why? " Jughead asked.

" What's a similarity between me and my dad?" Callie asked.

" You are both well liked, and well respected," Jughead answered.

" So, if you were going to hear any news, would you rather hear it come out of my mouth or Veronica's mouth?" Callie asked.

" Wait, they want your dad to run. Because they think the plans they have Riverdale will sound better coming out his mouth?" Jughead questioned.

" Bingo," Callie confirmed.

" Everyone is in danger," Jughead repeated himself.

******

Later that day Callie went to the Cooper's house with Jughead. They had the map and a couple articles laid out on the table.

" I figured out Hiram's methodology," Jughead announced. " He requires devalued land at a deep, some might say criminal discount."

"Twilight Drive-In, Sunnyside Trailer Park, Southside High, and now Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe," Callie listed.

" Wait, Pop's ?" Mrs. Cooper asked.

"Hiram bought Pop's?" Betty asked. 

" Yeah. And while most people didn't care about Hirams other acquisitions," Jughead began.

" Probably because they were on the Southside," Callie added.

" Pop's is the heart of Riverdale," Betty stated.

" Right," Jughead agreed. " People will care about this one."

" So, when are you talking to Pop?" Mrs. Cooper asked. Callie left the house and walked into Arche coming down the steps.

"Dad needs about 1,200 signatures before he can even run for mayor, Veronica wants us to collect them together," Archie stated.

" What did you say?" Callie asked.

 " That I have homework to catch up on," Archie answered. " I don't want dad running for mayor until I know what dad is going up against." Then their dad walked in with a box.

" Hey kids, check this out," their dad announced as he put the box on the table. " When I applied to college to be an urban planner...This is before Grandpa already got sick, this was a presentation that I made for some program I never got into." It was a presentation for Riverdale. " Riverdale 2020. Small town with a big future. Sounds corny, huh?"

" No, Dad, this is awesome," Callie complimented.  There was then a knock at the door.

" Hello?" Veronica asked as she walked in. " Archie! Callie! Mr. Andrews!" She walked into the kitchen. " Oh, goody! You three are all here." She put her stuff on a chair along with a binder. " So I fully realize I'm putting the cart before the horse, but I was spitballing some design ideas, and I think I may have come up with a few potential campaign logos." She flipped through the binder showing off logos for the campaign. " Veronica, those are terrific, I gotta say, but--Oh! Now, that one, that's my favorite. Hmm." He pointed to a log.

" Mine too," Veronica agreed. " Great. So I'll have some buttons and T-shirts printed ASAP." Archie then brought Veronica up to his room with Callie following behind.

" Why are you pushing this on him?" Callie demanded.

" I'm not, I just think your dad would make a great mayor," Veronica defended herself. " Why are you two resisting this so much?"

" Because, Ronnie, our dad is not cut out for what your parents want," Archie explained.

" Which is what, in your mind?" Veronica asked.

" A dog on a leash who does what it's told," Archie answered. " And if not, they'll push him out like they did Mayor McCoy."

" Mayor McCoy had an affair with Sheriff Keller," Veronica informed. " That's why she stepped down. My parents had nothing to do with it, which I would swear to you two on the Bible."

" I feel like you're steering us Ronnie, and it's not cool," Archie argued.

" So ease off him," Callie advised.

" Okay," Veronica breathed.

*******

The next morning Callie was down at the kitchen table putting her school stuff together. She was listening to music at the same time through her headphones when her song got interrupted by a Lodge discussion.

" Mom, I decided something," Veronica announced. " I'm happy to do the family's bidding at school, but Archie is off the table."

" You're losing your nerve?" Hermione asked.

"No!" Veronica denied. " Not even close, but I am afraid of losing Archie. He's become a pawn on our chessboard and it's hurting our relationship."

" Veronica, in this business of ours, the women always walk the razor's edge," Hermione explained. " The men are gangsters, but us, the molls, we use our wiles, our cunning, a hand on an elbow, a whisper in an ear, to manage things from behind the scenes."

" Maybe, but not with me," Veronica argued. " Not with Archie."

" You're right," Hermione agreed. " You're right to protect your relationship with Archie."  

*******

Callie now sat with her family and the McCoys. Mrs. McCoy was trying to tell their dad, that being a mayor is not all that glamour.

" It's not all ribbon ceremonies and catered affairs, Fred," Mrs. McCoy informed. " It's filling potholes, collecting trash, and if you think you can run this town plus Andrews Construction at the same time, forget it."

" I've got a pretty good team working for me," Mr. Andrews admitted.

" And then there are the uglier aspects of the job," Mrs. McCoy announced. " Crime, poverty, threats..."

"Like the Black Hood?" their dad asked.

" Right now, you might be the people's shining hope of Riverdale," Mrs. McCoy said. " But say you do win, Fred. They'll turn their back on you, and all your friends will be standing in the line to stab you in the back."

" I appreciate the real talk, Sierra," Mr. Andrews said.

" I haven't even gotten to the real talk yet, Fred," Mrs. McCoy chuckled. " Let's talk about the pittance that is the mayor's salary." The kids all glanced at each before the talk continued.