My heavy pack slides down my arm as I march down the street and away from Pop's. The air is getting colder as summer fades into fall and I'm going to need someplace to sleep that has a real roof over it, and I'm going to need it soon.

But that's not where my mind is focused. My own comfort isn't as important as the truth, and there are too many lies hanging over our quiet town of Riverdale. Thinking of creature comforts is a distraction I do not have time for. I've stumbled into open beds before, and I will again. Something will come along, and until it does, I'll make due with Pop's waning generosity.

I can't leave my stuff at Pop's while I'm not there. Too many sticky fingers. Like I said, Pop's generosity. Leads to less than stellar people finding employment there when no one else will have them. Normally my pack doesn't bother me. It's my lifeline, my whole world stuffed in one oversized bag. Now though, now it's a liability. Too recognizable, too heavy for where I'm going.

Whatever is happening in Riverdale is bigger than me. It's bigger than Jason Blossom getting shot in his pretty face. It's bigger than the mess my own father has gotten into. Keller's dad is useless, too busy chasing his own tail at the request of the town's rich and powerful to actually get to the bottom of some crime.

I'd been hoping to get a look at his files, whatever of them that Keller had managed to get put together, but Kevin had quashed that dream when he relayed that their home had been ransacked. Important information was stolen, things that prying eyes like my own would love to get ahold of. It leaves me wondering who might be the one, or ones, who were brazen enough to break into a police officer's home. My father's cronies, for one. That's the easy answer. With everything else going on though, well, the answer is a lot more murky.

The Keller residence isn't my destination, though. Not tonight, at least. Too many people with too many eyes watching it. With all eyes on the home of Riverdale's premier officer, there are none looking at other more... plum rewards.

Veronica is the one who tipped me off. She doesn't know my connection to the Southside Serpents, not to my knowledge at least. So when she pulled me aside in the halls of our shared high school to ask for my help, I'd like to believe that it was because of my investigative skills, not my familial connection to her little crisis.

We're set to meet in the park at exactly eleven o'five. The stars are out above me, but the moon is new and barely a thin slice carved out of the sky. Dressed all in black, I'm no more than a shadow as I march through the park, yet my pack leaves me feeling exposed. I need to hide it somewhere.

With little other choice, I hide it in the bushes that edge the park. With little light, it should stay relatively invisible. As long as we are no more than half an hour, I think I'll be okay with leaving it there.

In the one flickering light that hangs from the gazebo, I see my target and approach, but she's not alone as I'd expected. Beside Veronica was the recognizable blonde ponytail of Betty Cooper. In the past few days, or maybe it was weeks now, the two of them had become inseparable. One was rarely seen without the other, and I mentally chastise myself for forgetting that detail.

"Hey Jughead," Betty greets me. She's dressed in black, and her arms are folded over her chest. Nervously, she chews her lower lip while she watches me approach.

"You're late," Veronica chastises. Next to Betty, the ever innocent Betty, Veronica always appears to be so much more... experienced.

"You're early," I correct her. "And Betty, I hope you have a hat."

Betty's hand reflexively shoots to her ponytail. "No?" she questions. "Why?"

"Your hair stands out too much," I inform her. " And here I'd heard tales of a black wig in your possession."

Even in the low yellow flicker, I see Betty's cheeks flush pink. She has a hidden streak in her, but has spent so much time repressing it that she easily reverts to the innocent mask that the Cooper women are known for. I'd like to see more of Betty's devilish streak, and maybe tonight was the night I would.

"Here," Veronica says as she pulls out another hat from her impossibly small, obviously designer, handbag.

Betty obediently pulls on the hat and tucks her blonde hair up under it. Much better, much more hidden.

"Okay, so are you going to tell us why we snuck out in the middle of the night?" Betty asks Veronica. Betty still doesn't know I was couch surfing, it seems.

"I heard my mom on the phone this morning," Veronica informs us both. "I've seen her a few times with some biker and I've got a bad feeling about it. She agreed to meet someone in front of city hall tonight at midnight. Whoever it is, they've got something on her, I'm sure of it, and I think it's that's biker."

"Do you think it's -" Betty goes to ask, and I know what she's going to finish with. "Your dad?" is the obvious answer, but I don't want our relationship acknowledged. Not with whatever that man is up to.

"Wouldn't surprise me," I answer before she can finish. "And it wouldn't be the first time."

"So what do we do?" Betty asks. Her eyes flick between me and Veronica.

"We wait for Archie-kins," Veronica purrs.

Frustrations bubbles up inside of me. "You told Archie about this?" I ask. "Did you tell Keller and Reggie and Ethel for that matter?"

"Of course not," Veronica bites back. "But we need bodies to cover the door and I get the feeling that Archie feels a little low these days, with Grundy and all."

I want to argue with her some more. I want to tell her the more bodies running around, the more likely one of them will get seen. I don't get the chance. Archie is taking long strides across the park, headed right toward us. Letterman jacket on his back, faded blue jeans below. If the moon were out, he'd practically glow.

"Hey," Archie greets us. The awkwardness between us hasn't had time to mend, and Jason's death, Grundy's revelations, and everything else that's happened, haven't helped matters. The meeting of our eyes confirms this. Archie's hit mine and immediately, awkwardly dart away.

"Okay, gang's all here," Veronica commands. I get the distinct impression she's used to commanding an army, whether it be a group of snoops here, or a gaggle of Fifth Avenue socialites in Manhattan. "Archie-kins and I will take the front door to the left of city hall," she explains. "Jughead and Betty, you take the right." There would be no arguing.

Reluctantly, Betty slips away from her best friend, and possibly other former best friend, and comes with me as our little group splits apart. I'm not privy to the details of Archie's life like I once was, but I have the awareness to know that something is going on between Betty and he. What used to be a happy trio is now splintered and distance.

Better says nothing as I lead her toward where we are going to hide. A tall hedge, with a once modern architectural design piece jutting out enough to hide our location. The same is mirrored on the left side of the building, which is exactly where I expect Archie and Veronica to be hiding.

Being stuck with me has Betty moping, but she does has best to hide it. I know it's not because she want to spend time with me, something I'm happy we've been doing more since she rebranded the Blue and Gold. Really, we should be working together, get our stories right for the expose we will one day write.

No, it's because she pines for Andrews that she is pouting, ever so slightly, as we duck behind the perfectly trimmed hedge. As kids, we played around here and hid in these very hedges during hide and seek. Back when life was simple, when I'd run home to my mom, dad, and Jellybean after a long day of playing with my friends.

Those days are gone. I can only look forward.

"Betty, I..." I move to say, but before the words come out, the sound of rumbling engines fills the air. What I was going to say to her, well, not even I am sure of that. Something comforting? Something encouraging? Something... else? I don't know.

Instead of whatever it is I was going to say, we duck down deeper into the bushes and peer out at the bikes roaring up in front of town hall. From across the street, the striking figure of Hermione Lodge approaches, five in heels and all. Just like suspected, Mrs. Lodge and my father have further dealings together.

Great.

We're hiding barely fifteen feet away, but over the roar of the bikes, we hear nothing. We can only watch and wait as Hermione hands something to my father, and then together they enter the front doors of town hall together, leaving two leather clad sentries in their wake.

"What are they doing?" Betty hisses at me, but her guess is as good as mine. All I know is that it can't be good.

"Wait here," I whisper back at her. It's not the first time I've had to duck away from my father's cronies. As long as she stays hidden, she'll be safe.

Skirting the hedges, I weave my way along the building until I get to the back. Out of the street lights, out of view, I find what I'm looking for. In some of my more delinquent moments, I found my way back here when I needed a place to crash. Lucky for me then - and now - the janitor has a bit of pot habit and a forgetful brain. This leads to an unlocked window that's just large enough for me to slip through when the need arises.

Like I said, I always find a place.

Once inside, I slip the window closed and it muffles all outside sounds, even the low rumble of the bikes outside. The whole building is as quiet as a morgue at midnight, save for the clack clack clack of Hermione's heels on the tile floors.

"What are you up to?" I let myself whisper as I duck through the dark halls of the building.

"I could ask you the same thing?" a voice replies through the darkness.

My blood runs ice cold, but I don't let it freeze me. I'm not alone, Josie McCoy, whenever she was hiding, is right in front of me, but the building isn't empty.

Darting forward, I grab her and slap my hand over her mouth before she can say more and give us away. She fights against me and I whisper, "We aren't alone. The Snakes are here," into her ear.

That stills her. I loosen my grip and then let her go when she doesn't shout. With a flick of my hand, I gesture for her to follow me.

Josie, despite being the most take charge person I've ever met - even more than Veronica - follows me. Her eyes question me, but she keeps her mouth shut as we sneak around.

Finally, voices grow louder. My father, whatever he's up to, is barking at Hermione to hurry up from within Mayor McCoy's office. In exchange, Veronica's mother is hissing at him to keep his voice down. Josie and I stoop down by the door to listen for more, careful to keep very quiet.

"My guys will take care of any unwanted guests," my father tells her. "Just find it. Now."

"Stop yelling at me and this will go faster," she replies. Obviously a big mistake, but the wicked slap I expect to hear never happens. Not yet, at least.

Josie and I wait in tense silence, waiting for them to reveal just what 'It' is, but they never do. With a, "Finally," Hermione calls to my father. "Here, I've got it."

"Good," dear ol' dad says. "Put it somewhere safe until I need it, got that?"

"I'm not an idiot," Hermione hisses back at him.

"Are you sure about that?" he laughs at her. "Now let's get out of here. Being seen with you is bound to ruin my good name."

Josie and I scramble away from the door and around the corner just in time for it to open. The clacking of Hermione's heels fills my ears as they head for the front door of the building. I'm holding my breath, and from the silence beside me, I'm sure Josie is too.

It isn't until the motorcycles roar back to life that I finally let myself breathe again. My hands, clenched in tight fists, begin to relax and I look at Josie.

"What the hell was that about?" she nearly screams at me. "What was your dirtbag father doing in my mother's office?"

"I don't know!" I snap back at her. "I was trying to find out. I -"

Before I can yell again, the front door swings open with a bang. I freeze, but a different Lodge's voice calls out.

"Jughead?" Veronica calls.

Betty's voice joins her. "Are you okay?"

"We're fine," I assure them as Veronica and Betty march up to where I, and Josie, reveal ourselves from. Archie is pulling up the rear of their trio.

"What is this?" Josie growls at us all.

"Put the claws away, kitty cat," Veronica scolds her. I've never heard someone stand up to Josie like that. I can't deny I'm impressed. "We're trying to figure out just why my mother is dealing dirty with some biker."

"Some biker?" Josie mocks. "You mean Jughead's dad?"

This revelation catches Veronica off guard for a second, but with a blink of her large, determined eyes, she recovers.

"It doesn't matter who he's related to," Veronica pushes back. "He's up to something and has my mother involved. The fact that they were in your mother's office makes me think that the mayor is involved, too."

"Involved?" Josie sneers. "I think not. They were breaking and entering. I should call the cops on your mother's embezzling ass."

"Go for it," Veronica calls her bluff. "Call the cops. Let's see what Keller does when he undoubtedly finds dirt on your mom. Then you can enjoy the same whispers and gossip that I do."

Josie's eyes narrowed, but then she relaxed some. "Whatever. I'll catch your mom before Keller gets a chance."

"Good luck with that," Veronica purrs back at her new adversary. "I'm up for a challenge, no matter how small."

Josie's eyes narrow more, but she knows better than to continue. Not that she's in the wrong, she knows she's not and so does Veronica. But Veronica isn't wrong either. The mayor had something that Lodge wants, which can't be good for either of them.

With one final stare down, Josie marches her way out of the building. No one says a word, but we give her a minute head start before we make our own exit.

"What now?" Archie asks. He's concerned, but eager too.

"I say we go home," Veronica sighs. "What else can we do? Go march into some biker bar and demand that they tell us what's going on? As nice as that sounds, I don't feel like getting shot tonight."

Archie looks ready to argue, always a shining knight, but Betty stops him.

"Come on, Archie, let's just go home," she says as she pulls off her borrowed hat.

A protest is still burning on Archie's lips, but he lets Betty lead him away from where Veronica and I are standing. I need to get my bag, and without a word, I walk away from Veronica.

"Hey," she says as she follows me. "You never told me your dad was in that gang."

"It never came up," is all I offer as I find my stuff. Thankfully, it appears to be undisturbed.

"Now it has," she tells me. "Let's go back to your place and confront him."

"Yeah, that won't work," I say as I sling my bag over my shoulder. "Dad and I aren't exactly on speaking terms. Or living together terms."

Veronica stares at me, and then realizes what I'm saying. "Wait," she stops me before I can walk away again. "So where are you living right now?"

"Here and there," I say as I try to pull away from her.

"Are you telling me you're what, couchsurfing?" she asks. "The streets? What?"

"It doesn't matter," I snap at her. "Besides, whatever they were after, your mother took it and has plans to hide it."

"Well then," Veronica says as her perfect back straightens. "That means you need to help me find it."

"Sure, later," I dismiss her.

"No, now," she says. "I need your help. And if you're dad is involved, something tells me you need mine, too. You're going to help me figure out what they're doing, and where better to do that than at my place."

"Veronica?" I question her.

"We have more space than I know what to do with," she tells me. "And my mother is never home. Smithers isn't the greatest company, and I can't exactly ask him to help spy on my mother. Stay with me, and we can help each other out."

I'm not exactly sure what to say. Charity is something I've never wanted, but I'm not sure what this is. She does need my help. That's why she asked me to be here tonight. But staying at the Lodge penthouse? What would my father say?

He'd probably be furious.

"Deal," I tell her, and extend my hand to shake it. "But only until we get to the bottom of this."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Veronica says as she shakes my hand. "Now come on, I'm already going to be on a deficit on my beauty sleep."

In my wildest dreams, I would have never imagined I'd end up staying at Veronica Lodge's, but it was only the tip of the iceberg of what was to come.