-

''HELLO?''

Elizabeth Cooper breathed out a forced tight lip smile at the sight of Serena Michael answering the door at eleven in the evening. She was still dressed in her dress for the formal, her blonde locks falling against her frame and her red lipstick still pure.

''Hi,'' She greets. ''I know it's entirely late for the whole get to know each other as neighbors stamina, but I was wondering if Hazel was awake? I could really need her at a time like this?''

Serena cocks a brow. ''At eleven ; oh seven?''

''I'm sorry about the timing, '' She cringed. ''But I can assure you that it's urgent.''

''Betty?''

Her green eyes flickered past Serena and towards Hazel Michael, who was also wearing her dress that she wore tonight's events, her curls still as prominent as her nude lipstick.

Hazel had her brows furrowed and her lips pursed as her foot was hesitant on reaching the landing of the staircase, a hand of hers holding on tight to the railing while Francis followed from behind her. He was still dressed in his attire as well.

Betty's jaw visibly clenched at the sight of Hazel's older brother and shifted her gaze back down to the brunette herself, ''I'm going to find Jughead.''

Hazel nods her head. ''I'll come with.''

Serena gapes. ''I'm sorry, can you even bother to ask?''

Hazel approached the two while Francis stood his place on the staircase. He knew the blonde was pist, but he had a motive he didn't regret. He just wish it didn't bring so much pain.

''Serena,'' Hazel eyes her with wide eyes. ''This is serious, you have to let me go. Please?''

She was silent for a brief moment. Her poker face was spot on as she eyed her intently, deep in thought. She felt distant from her niece and nephew, off and about with these group of friends they barely bought over to the house.

''Fine,'' She agrees. ''But, when you come back, we're gonna have a talk.''

''Whatever you want,'' She solemnly agrees.

Francis swallows deeply before speaking up. ''I'll go with.''

''That won't be necessary,'' Betty immediately shoots down.

''Betty,'' He lugs his head to the side, pleading. ''It's the least I can do. Let me help you, try to fix it.''

The blonde opens her lips, ready to spit harmful words until she was reminded on the presence of their aunt literally standing in the middle of them. She inhales deeply, her chest rising her before breathing out, ''Okay.'' She looks over at Hazel and cocks her head to the side. ''Let's go.''

-

Elizabeth Cooper, Hazel Michael and Francis Michael entered Pop's Diner later that night. It was the first stop they made on their search for Jughead Jones.

The blonde approached the reception where Pop stood, asking, ''Pop, Jughead hasn't been by, has he?''

''Nope,'' He shakes his head. Hazel folds her arms across her chest and breathes out through her nostrils. ''You're not the only one who's come looking for him.''

Hazel perked up and looks in the direction Pop pointed his pen towards to find Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge sitting across each other in the same booth, their formal dress wear remaining as they watched the trio walked through the door with an alarm gaze.

Once they were noticed, they jumped from their seats and rushed over.

''Betty,'' Veronica calls at ease. ''Thank goodness.''

''We were gonna call you,'' Archie mentions. ''All of you.''

Veronica furrowed her brows at the sight of Hazel rolling her eyes. What the hell was her problem?

Betty shakes her head vigorously. ''I'm not talking to you, either of you, ever again.''

Archie's eyebrows jumped on his forehead. ''It's about Jughead.''

Francis furrows his brows. ''What about him?''

''Kevin called me and he said his dad found a gun, the gun that killed Jason, in a lockbox in FP's closet,'' Veronica emphasized.

''But we didn't find that when we had looked,'' Francis pointed out.

''Exactly.''

''Someone put it there after we left,'' Archie assumes. ''He's being framed.''

Betty cocks a brow. ''Well, maybe you didn't see it.''

''We're not talking about the Vogue closet here, B,'' Veronica remarks.

''Well, maybe you looked in the wrong one,'' Betty continued to persist.

Francis features twisted. ''It's a trailer not a house. We didn't see a gun.''

''Whatever Sheriff Keller is saying he found, wasn't there,'' Veronica insisted.

Feeling as if they were going nowhere, Archie snaps, ''Look, we need to tell Jughead his dad's innocent. Where is Jughead?''

''That's what we're trying to find out,'' Hazel softly spoke, her focus on the floor before snapping up and locking with his honey brown eyes.

''I tried calling him, I left him messages,'' Betty lists before shaking her head. ''He's not answering his phone.''

''In the meantime..'' Veronica trails off suggestively.

Betty furrows her brows. ''Should we talk to Sheriff Keller?''

''No,'' Archie disagrees. ''Not until we tell our parents.''

Francis lips flapped against each other as he roughly blew out a puff of air while Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose. 

Archie furrows his brows. ''What is it?''

Francis wiped down his face before asking, ''Look, man, are you sure about doing that? What exactly would we tell them?''

''That we looked through FP's trailer?'' Veronica questions him incredulously. 

''My dad will know what to do,'' He assures.

-

''You did, what?''

Fred Andrews, Mary Andrews, Serena Michael, Hermione Lodge, and Alice Cooper stood in the Andrews living room with Elizabeth Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Hazel Michael, Francis Michael and Archie Andrews standing around.

Serena next to Alice on the couch while Hermione sat on the arm rest of her end and scoffs. ''Why didn't you tell me, Joseph showed up?''

Hazel rubs her arms that were folded against her chest. ''He looked like he didn't want to be found. What were we suppose to do?''

''I could have gotten the police to find him,'' She suggested but the siblings shook their heads.

''No,'' Francis gnawed on his bottom lip. ''There would have been no point. None of us have heard from him since that night at Pop's.''

''But I could have tried,'' She eggs on almost desperately. ''That's still my brother, guys. Maybe if I talked to him we could of figure out-'' Hazel turned to Francis with a frown dragging both corner of her lips down as Serena leans forward and props her elbows on her knees and buries her face in her hands.

She leans back into the couch with a sharp intake. ''Maybe your right.  It doesn't matter now.''

Hazel tilts her head to the side. ''I'm sorry, Renny.''

Archie watched as Betty rubbed Hazel's arm up and down. The blonde wanted her to know that she wasn't alone in the mass matter of dysfunctional family madness.

''Dad, I had to make sure FP wasn't involved in Jason's murder,'' Archie spoke softly, peering away from the girls to look at his father.

''And now we know the truth,'' Alice simply cooperated. ''He was.''

Betty jerks her head back, muddled. ''What? Mom, no. We just told you.''

''The gun was planted-''

''By whoever killed Jason,'' Veronica finished for him.

''Couldn't have you just missed it?'' Hermione questions as if it was a clearly obvious factor.

Francis' hands were stuffed in his pocket as he remarked, ''With all due respect, Mrs. Lodge, but if there's three people searching through a trailer, best believe there was nothing to miss.''

Alice Cooper scrunched her lips to the side. ''Well, excuse me if I trust the detection skills of an officer of the law over five amateur sleuths.''

Hazel cocks a brow. ''Excuse me?''

Betty cranes her neck furrowed, the lines creased on her forehead never wavering from her furrowed brows. ''Mom, you're the one who asked to break in!''

Hermione broke her neck just to turn to the blonde with wide eyes. ''Excuse me?'' All the while Serena questions ''What is wrong with you?'' Mary blurting out, ''What?'' And Fred exclaiming at the same time, ''Alice!''

''Actually,'' Veronica spoke up. ''I approached Mrs. Cooper. I had to know if FP was involved, and if he was connected to my dad.''

''A gun was found,'' Hermione sternly prompts. She gets up from her seat and walks up to Veronica. ''FP is the killer, case closed. We're leaving.''

''There was no gun!'' Archie repeated.

''Son,'' Fred calls after. ''This wasn't petty theft or a bar fight we're talking about, Archie. This is murder.''

''Okay, fine. then we'll go to the Sheriff without you,'' The red head declares.

''Archie,'' His mother snap. ''You entered FP's residence illegally. So whatever you did or did not find there would be inadmissible in the court of law.''

He shakes his head. ''I don't care what happens to me.''

''I do care,'' Fred Andrews counters. ''FP may have ruined Jughead's life, I'm not gonna let him ruin yours.''

Hazel narrows her eyes. ''You don't get it, do you? He's trying to help, Jughead. They all were. That was the whole point of this.''

''Hazel,'' Serena softly called. ''If you were to go to the police about this, the light wouldn't sine bright your behalf. All the reasoning's behind your actions, it could get you into trouble. None of us want that for you guys.''

-

''Hazel?''

The brunette swiftly turns with wide eyes, frantic as she looks around the dark neighborhood.

After dealing with their families in the Andrews household, everybody had returned home and eventually gone off to bed. At least that's what the families assumed for each other.

Archie had texted Francis after texting Betty to meet up with the two across the street. Francis had woke her up and notifies her about the plan that involved the search for Jughead. The siblings agreed to meet each other across the street, and not to bother waiting for one another.

''Hazel, is that you?'' Archie calls for again. He was in the middle of the street, creeping closer towards the Michael's residence, his eye's narrowed, trying to adjust to the dark.

Hazel stuffed one hand in her pocket while jogging up to him while the other hand was out, reaching to push his chest lightly. He got the messaged and moved fast as well to rid her paranoia.

''Where's Francis?'' He breathes out.

Her chest heaved lightly from her sprint as she pants softly. ''He should be coming out in a few.''

She swallows deeply deeply before going back to attempt her breathing level. She furrows her brows before turning to look at him. ''Where's Betty?''

He bops his head. ''She should also be coming out in a few.''

''Oh,'' She mumbles, nodding her head.

Archie pursed his lips as he scans her appearance. She wore a pair of black leggings and a worn out pair of black and white Converse all while wearing a burgundy pull over hoodie. There was a glint in his eye, admiring her bare face instead of the pounds of make up she normally wears.

It was nice and all, but he preferred her natural looks if anything.

''Are we going to talk?'' She inhales sharply and raises a brow from her furrowed ones. ''About the other night?''

''Hazel,-''

''Why'd you do it?''

Hazel's shoulders were flat, and the corner of her eyes seem to sunk. At this point, she wasn't angry at Archie Andrews. She was just disappointed.

And for whatever the case may be, she wasn't going to like what she was asking to hear.

He lets a sigh fall from his lips. He didn't think Francis would mention his misfits with Veronica Lodge with his little sister considering it had nothing to do with Hazel, from what he thought he knew.

''It's not that your a bad person,-''

''Cut to the chase, Andrews,'' She blinks rapidly.

''I just think,'' He shrugs his shoulders, thus creating the bubble of nerves in the pit of her stomach. ''Maybe we rushed it? I was a little tipsy and-''

She bops her head. ''Got it, you can stop talking now.''

''I'm sorry, Hazel.''

She bites down on her bottom lip. Did she come off easy because it was rush? Because if that was the case, that's most definitely not the image she wanted for herself.

''Were you going to tell me if I didn't ask?''

He looks down at her with despairing features. Somehow, the look on his face seemed to answer her question.

She nods her head again. ''Wow.''

If Archie Andrew were to be completely honest, he wasn't sure where he stood on his emotions for Hazel Michael and Veronica Lodge. On one hand, whenever he had clashed with Veronica Lodge, he felt the excitement, the rush of being with her. She was adventurous, ready for anything and anything.

But then again, so was Hazel. She didn't have to know what was wrong in order to help. To be willing to fall without looking was so foolish, but she was so understanding and had a different perspective that just made him more attracted to her.

Or maybe, he was simply attracted to damage, wanting to be someones Superman.

''You know,'' Hazel heaved a dry chuckle. ''I thought you were a real good guy, Archie. But I guess we all have some bad in us.''

Though, he remained silent. He didn't mean to hurt her. That's the last thing he would've wanted. He didn't realize his confusion would hurt those around him. Does that mean he's also toying around with Veronica's emotions?

-

After visiting the bus station, witnessing it had reached it's closing hours and receiving a suggestive phone call from Veronica, the group were back at Pop's Diner, finding Jughead leaned against the end of the booth were the window was over an almost cartoonist amount of steam flowing from his cup of coffee.

''Told you,'' Veronica gloats.

''Jug,'' Archie calls, causing the raven hair boy to turn his head to the side to face them. But he seemed to be so nonchalant to care for their presence that he turns back around.

Hazel was quick to slide into the seat across from him, allowing Archie to block the end of the booth while Betty block's Jughead's end. Veronica and Francis climbed into the booth behind his as the group towered over him.

Betty takes a seat but she sat close to the edge. She knew how dearly crushed he was at the moment. ''Jug, we're so sorry. About everything.''

He doesn't respond.

''Juggy, we really screwed up,'' Archie apologized. ''We all did.''

Hazel hums disapprovingly. ''Everyone except me.''

''Hazel,'' Francis scolds.

''Look,'' Archie takes control over the conversation again. ''Breaking into your dad's trailer was wrong, but at least some good came out of it.''

''Pretty sure my dad was arrested for murder,'' He deadpans.

''No,'' Hazel shakes her head. ''Archie's right.''

''That gun wasn't there when we searched his trailer,'' Veronica informs him. ''Someone put it there after we left.''

Any form of emotion trounced his features as he turns to her curiously with furrowed brows. A glint shimmered in his eye. It was hope. It was small but it was there. If what they were saying was true, he'd be able to have the one piece of family he had left back.

He looks at Betty who nods her head in approval.

''What are you talking about?''

It wasn't long before the group rushed into the Police Station later that night. Archie skipped the steps on his way up to the reception desk and requests, ''Excuse me, sir. We need to see Sheriff Keller.''

Betty rounds up from behind him and adds, ''There's been a huge mistake.''

''Sheriff,'' Veronica calls, alarming their attention towards Kevin's dad, who appeared from down the hall. ''We need to talk to you about FP Jones.''

''What about him?'' He asks.

''He's innocent,'' Francis insisted.

''He's being framed,'' Veronica joins in.

He furrows his brows. ''Then why did he just confess?''

-

After the long night they had at the winter formal, Elizabeth Cooper sat in the cafeteria reading a newspaper about FP's confession story with Hazel Michael sitting besides her. Meanwhile, Archie Andrews sat across from Betty with Veronica Lodge sitting next to him and Francis Michael next to her on that Monday afternoon.

''The police report said FP worked alone,'' Betty summarized for the group.

Hazel shakes her head vigorously. ''God, even his confession is full of shit.''

''As famous as that kid was,'' Francis munched a bite out of his apple. ''There's no way that was a one man job.''

Archie was picking at his fruit cup as he turns to Veronica. ''No mention of your dad, Ronnie. That's good news, right?''

''I can't stop thinking that,'' She sighs. ''Maybe my dad hired another Serpent to plant that gun.''

Hazel's lips were pursed as she kept digging her nails under her nails spite of boredom to even notice Archie's genuine gesture of holding Veronica's hand under the table.

But Francis noticed and his eyes were wide.

''Seriously?'' He exclaims.

Archie's eyes were wide, hinting that he would set his anger aside as Veronica turns with wide eyes. ''What?''

Hazel watched her brother curiously when he transfers his gaze back on Archie and shakes his head. ''I just realized that I should have gotten a fruit cup.''

She flares her nostrils and raised a corner of her upper lip as she reached over to his tray for a fish stick. ''Did you have to be so dramatic about it?''

''It's surreal, isn't it?'' Kevin questions as he takes a seat next to Hazel, evening up the odds at the table. ''How's Jughead doing?''

''Not good,'' Betty mumbles.

''He's not coming in today,'' Archie went into further details. ''He's at the station.''

Veronica pursed her lips. ''Being grilled by your dad.''

''Who's just doing his job,'' He argues almost defensively. ''I mean, of course he's gonna ask Jughead questions.''

''Hey,'' Hazel cooed with a small smile perking at her lips. ''Let's relax, nobody is putting you on trial. We're just all very upset that one of our friends is going through some tough-''

''Dog shit,'' Francis bops his head. ''He's going through tough dog shit.''

She flattens his lips into a straight line. ''Not the exact words that I would use, but if that helps get my point through.''

''Once again, I am learning to appreciate you more and more,'' Kevin valued, mirroring her small smile. There goes one of her best features prospering. Even through the darkest, she finds the little buoyancy to manage everyone through.

''But your dad is wasting time, Kev,'' Betty counters almost furiously. So much for justice. ''Because FP didn't kill Jason.''

''Betty,'' He points at the newspaper. ''He confessed.''

''Or, he was coerced. Or he's protecting someone, maybe a Serpent,'' She shrugs her shoulders suggestively. ''My mom saw him and Joaquin together,-''

''Don't!'' Kevin snaps. ''Do not drag my boyfriend into this.''

''Oh, no,'' Archie mumbles, wondering at what he was eyeing. The attention landed on him, conjecturing what the matter was now.

''What?'' Betty asks with wide eyes.

Kevin, Hazel and Betty turned in their seats to find Jughead strolling through the cafeteria. His direction wasn't darted towards the group, no. If Hazel could guess, it was towards the strawberry blonde who was getting exceptional attention today by the roaches of the school who wanted to give her their sympathy.

Veronica leaned into Archie's side and whispers, ''What happened to him not coming in today?''

Anyone and everyone that was in the cafeteria watched as Jughead approached Cheryl Blossom's table.

''I'm sorry, Cheryl.''

His voice was so low, you could barely hear. He never once made eye contact, it was like he didn't have the will power to look anybody, for that matter, in the eye.

Cheryl stands from her seat and did what you'd least expect. Her arm swung back as the palm of her hand came clashing against the side of his face.

Hazel jumped out of her seat as well as Archie as she continued to attack Jughead, who stood motionless, allowing the beating to happen.

Veronica, Kevin and Betty were hot on the trail as Archie roughly pulled Cheryl off of Jughead.

''Enough!'' Principal Weatherbee roared.

Kevin stood in between Hazel and Cheryl, noticing the brunette glaring at her with eyes narrowed to slits. There didn't need to be another fight.

The principal approached and states, ''Mr. Jones, you need to come with me. Right now.''

''What?'' Hazel exclaims incredulously.

''He was apologizing,'' Archie defends. ''He didn't do nothing wrong!''

Hazel charged attempted to charge after the principal, seeing as he ignored the group until Archie, himself, pulled her back by grabbing a hold of her wrist.

''Don't,'' He huffs.

She pulls her hair out of her face, her nimble fingers weaving through her roots. ''But, he-''

He nods his head, his voice horsed as he tried to speak quietly, ''I know.''

Hazel looks back at everyone who was studying the scene. She rips her arm away from his touch and mumbles, ''Fine. I'll go after the she-devil.''

''Actually,'' Betty quickly blurts out. ''I'll go for her.''

Betty turns at the heel of her foot and came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Sheriff Keller making, yet, another appearance.

''Michael's?'' He calls after, waving a finger between Francis and Hazel.

Francis nods his head, inspecting him up and down. ''Yeah, that's us.''

Hazel folds her arms across her chest. ''What is it?''

''I don't know how to tell you this,'' He fidgets with his belt, lifting hit back up on his hips. ''But we found your father in Eversgreen Forest. I'm sorry.''

Hazel furrows her brows and shakes her head. ''I'm confused.''

Archie tilts his head to the side and asks as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, ''Are you saying that-''

''He was announced dead around the start time of the winter formal,'' He elaborates. ''Stabbed in the back three times.''

Hazel's gaze lowered while hearing this newfound information.

''He's really dead this time,'' Francis breathes out.

''Do you mind if we take you two down to the station? Ask a few questions?''

Hazel looks up and swallows deeply. ''Do we really have a choice?''

-

Hazel looks up from her folded hands once she heard the door open and found Archie stepping into the interrogation room. He let's it fall shut from behind him on his way to the seat across from her.

''Why are you here?'' She raised a brow. ''And where's Francis? Is he okay?''

''He's fine,'' He nods his head, folding his arms on the table and leans into them. ''Veronica is in the other room, talking to him.''

She lags her head to the side, smirking slyly. ''That's two out of three, Andrews.''

''I wanted to make sure you were okay,'' He pursed his lips, feeling anxious at the sight of her lips faltering from her smirk.

''I'm fine,'' She whispers. ''It's not like he's actually dead.''

He leans back into the chair. ''Hazel,-''

She shakes her head vigorously. ''Archie, I know what I'm talking about. He's done this before.''

''Hazel, they're saying the knife punctured major arteries,'' His brows jump on his forehead. ''This time is real.''

She didn't want to go back and forth. It would've lead them nowhere. She knows that he's not dead.

''Anything else, Andrews?''

He rubs his eye before wiping down his face. ''I wanted to know what exactly did you say to the Sheriff?''

She shrugs her shoulders. ''Same story that I told you guys. That he started going downhill once my mom died and that he got into an accident where we all thought he was dead.''

He furrows his brows. ''That's it?''

She hums her answer.

''You didn't mention the part where he met with you at Pop's?''

Her voice dropped several octaves as she whispers harshly, ''No, Archie. I'm already hoping Francis was smart enough not to say so either.''

''Why not?''

''Because something went down between my dad and the Blossoms,'' She lean the side of her face in her hands. ''And I find it a little inconvenient how my dad is telling me to get out of town, to get as far away from the Blossoms as possible, or we'll end up like the dead kid. Now, boom. He's dead. If I tell Sheriff Keller everything that I know, what if who ever killed my dad goes after me? What if whoever killed my dad is-''

''Is Jason's killer,'' He finished for her.

''I think the Blossoms know more about Jason's death than what they're letting off.''

-

Serena Michael stormed off to the kitchen, an audible sigh of frustration being forced out of her nostrils once she's entered the home after picking up Hazel Michael and Francis Michael from the station.

She tossed her set of keys on the counter, the metal skidding across the granite as she charges for the fridge. Digging inside, she reaches for a bottle of beer and slams it shut after receiving it.

Hazel stood with Francis as he locked the front door shut. They were worried. She was so stressed, so scared, Serena always wore her emotions on her sleeve.

Something was bothering her and she was on the verge of sanity.

The siblings looked at one another before they slowly approached her in the kitchen. They found her back side leaned against the sink, taking a sip from her drink.

''Serena,'' Hazel calls, her voice weary. ''What's wrong?''

She pulls her lips away from the rim of the glass bottle and eyes it as if it was the most entertaining piece in the room. ''What did you guys tell the Sheriff?''

Francis and Hazel turned to each other again, but this time, with furrowed brows. Why did that matter so much to everyone?

''I told him that I thought that he was dead from the car accident,'' Hazel simply summarized with the shrug of her shoulders.

''I told him the same thing, I thought Hazel would have mentioned the night at Pop's.''

She clicks her teeth with her tongue. ''Your father paid me a visit that day of the formal, while you guys were at school.''

His eyes went wide. ''What? Here? He was here? In this house?''

She nods her head. ''Yup,'' She swings another sip. She smacks her lips apart and points the top of the bottle at Hazel. ''You were smart for that, because your father was in some dirty business with the Blossoms.''

''Wait,'' Hazel held her hands up. ''That night of the formal, we ended up telling you about dad. Why did you make us feel guilty?''

''Because I didn't want to repeat what I heard,'' She turns to set her drink down on the counter. ''Once he died, it was like we cut ties from him completely.''

''Serena,'' Francis fires. He was tired of the riddles. ''What the hell did dad say when he was here?''

''Your father became a drug dealer,'' She confessed. ''Was working with a mule from Riverdale. He was helping with deliveries. But he screwed up, like always. One time, he didn't deliver a stash and kept it for himself. And because this business was international, he knew he'd get caught. So he faked his death and he's been on the run since. He wanted us to leave because we were too close to home.''

''Who was the drug mule?''

Serena shrugs her shoulders. ''I don't know. He still didn't mention how the Blossoms are tied up to this.''

Francis looks down at Hazel. ''You think the Serpents were involved? FP?''

''Stop,'' Serena scolds. ''Do not over think this. It's over, it's down with. I just want to forget about it.''

''Serena, why did you keep quiet?'' Hazel asks.

She rubs her forehead. ''Because, Hazel, we were safe. Nobody knows who we are. And if people do, they know that we had no idea of your dad's business on the side.''

Francis cocks a brow. ''Do you know who killed him?''

She jerks her head back. ''No. I just know that Joseph was on his way to leave town. But he must've gotten caught in Eversgreen Forest.''

-

''Oh, god,'' Hazel cringed. ''What the hell is going on?''

Francis Michael and Hazel Michael entered Archie's garage after recieving a text from Kevin on Hazel's phone, telling them to meet up. Where there, in the garage that his father fixed up to be his own studio, they find Archie Andrews standing uncomfortably in a letter man jacket while Betty stood behind him, searching through the pockets. Kevin, Jughead and Veronica stood around as they watched.

Francis narrows his eyes and points at Archie, ''Is that-''

''Jason's jacket?'' Kevin pipes in. ''Oh, yeah.''

''Well,'' Hazel slaps a hand against her thigh. ''Why is Archie wearing the dead kid's jacket?''

''Joaquin told Kevin about a back up plan my dad had,'' Jughead informs her. ''We found this hidden under the sign of Riverdale.''

She cocks a brow. ''Wait, was your dad actually apart-''

''In some way,'' Betty cocks her head to the side. ''Yeah, think so.''

Veronica shakes her head vigorously, pursing her lips. ''How about you? Are you okay, with everything about your dad?''

She inhales sharply. ''My dad paid another visit.''

Betty paused her search as Archie's eyes grew wide while he exclaims, ''He's still alive?''

''No,'' Francis shakes his head. ''No, Serena told us that he came by the day of the formal.''

''There's a drug business going on in Riverdale,'' Hazel informs. ''And it must be really successful if my dad's working for whoever the boss is, all the way in California.''

''Did he explain why he wanted you guys out of town?'' Betty asks.

Francis shrugs his shoulders. ''Not exactly. Apparently, he stole a stash from a run which is why he faked his death. He wanted us out because we were too close to the problem.''

''But,'' Archie tilts his head to the side. ''What does the Blossoms have to do with any of this?''

''He never said,'' She breathes out. ''And whoever killed Jason, I think killed our dad. He was leaving that night through Eversgreen, where he got stabbed. Maybe, somebody who works for this dealer gave off a tip and the killer came after him?''

Veronica raised a brow. ''Do you think the Serpents were involved?''

''At this point,'' Hazel frowns. ''I don't know. I feel like I'm missing the most important piece of the puzzle.''

''There's a hole in the pocket,'' Betty blurts out from the blue.

''Okay,'' Kevin threw his head to the side. ''Now we're just grasping at straws.''

''Okay, no,'' Betty licks her bottom lip as she starts going through the lining. ''I don't know about you guys, but whenever I have a hole in my jacket pocket, I always lose my chapstick in the lining.''

''Or my Montblanc?'' Veronica suggests as a variation.

''Hold on,'' She eggs to Archie as she was so close to getting the hidden object within the jacket.

''What the hell?'' Veronica questions once the blonde pulls out a metal flash drive.

Kevin scoffs. ''Nancy Drew strikes again.''

The group adjusted themselves. Their coats were off and set aside, piling on a chair as they managed to fit on the couch or around the couch where they could still see the computer screen as Betty inserts the drive into Archie's laptop.

Hazel and Francis sat on the floor with Betty and Veronica sitting in between. Jughead sat on top of the couch while Archie and Kevin sat on the arm rests.

The blonde clicks on the file that appeared on the screen and a video began to play.

It was security footage of Jason Blossom, being tied up by a Serpent named Mustang. They were in the basement of the bar over on the south side of town called Whyte Wyrm.

The red head was tied up with bruises painting his pale complexion while Mustang taunted him. Then, Clifford Blossom appeared on the screen moments later.

He reached over and pulled out a ring from Jason's shirt pocket. Jason looked as if he was pleading, struggling against his restraints as his father turned away from him. The older man was stuffing the ring inside of his own pocket.

Hazel felt her heart sink once Jason's father turned to him with a gun in his hand.

''No,'' She whispers almost breathlessly. God, this couldn't be happening.

He lifts his arm up and with no hesitation, no doubt crossing his mind, he pulls the trigger. It was surreal as Jason's head hung low as the bullet entered the center of his forehead.

''Oh my god,'' Veronica whimpered before she cried out hysterically.

Hazel turned her head to the side when she felt a hand grip onto her shoulder. Her gaze trails up from the hand and finds Archie looking down at her with stern features, though it was easily mixed with sorrow.

The thought of someone you could love unconditionally that are of your parents, taking your life away and not even be remotely reluctant about it. The reasons that lead up to this wasn't as heartbreaking as to how the story ends.

And the ending was Jason Blossom being murdered by his own father, Clifford Blossom.