Forever And Always

Chapter 46

After Agent Adams left Callie and her dad went up to Archie's room. He was fidgeting and playing with a mini blue football.

" That agent left," Callie announced as they walked in.

" What did he want?" Archie asked.

" Apparently, the FBI is assisting in a crackdown on undocumented labor from Canada," their dad explained. " They think that maybe over the years I've hired some of these guys, paid them cash under the table. Yeah, a couple of times, I looked the other way."

"But they can't take you down for that can they?" Archie asked.

" Oh, sure they can. son, it's the FBI," their dad answered.

" They're requesting his files for the last seven years," Callie added. Their dad sighed and turned away. When their dad left Archie left his room and came back minutes later.

"Archie, this agent was talking to you and now he's talking to dad," Callie stated. " Is there something you are not telling me?"

" No," Archie answered.

"He's not even a real agent," Callie said as she stood up.

"What makes you think that?" Archie asked.

"His badge is fake," Callie answered. " It may look real, but it is not. I don't know what game the Lodges are having you play. But you need to get out of it before it hurts all of us."

" And suddenly when do you know all about if a badge is real or not?" Archie asked. " Just stay out of my business."

" Archie, please let me help," Callie pleaded.

" I am trying to protect you," Archie argued.

" So is the serpents," Callie reminded him. " I have enough protection, please tell me what is going on."

" No," Archie answered. " And that's final."

****

The next day morning, Callie sat on the couch with her family as they watched the live coverage in the Mayor's office. Josie stood by her mom's chair as her mom started to make her speech.

" As mayor, I have seen us through a triumphant jubilee, and the terrors of the Black Hood killer. But my friends, it has taken a personal toll. I have decided to step down as Mayor, to spend more time with my family and to return to my own legal career right here in Riverdale," Mayor McCoy announced. " I am very proud...It has always been my intention to do what is best for the people of Riverdale."

" This is breaking news," their dad commented.

******

When Callie got to school, she was immediately approached by Jughead.

" So Mayor McCoy is stepping down," Jughead stated. " Are you shocked."

" A little," Callie asked. " But suspicious."

" About what? " Jughead asked.

" Well she stepping down and returning to her legal career," Callie answered. " Was she doing something that wasn't legal as Mayor?"

" Possibly," Jughead agreed. " Ever since that Shark Tank monster showed up to town, Mayor McCoy has suddenly become concerned about the Southside."

"Exactly," Callie breathed. " If she really did care about the Southside, she would have checked on the Southside a long time ago, not suddenly out of the blue."

" I'm guessing you are going to look more into," Jughead suggested in hope.

" After some coffee," Callie confirmed. At that moment a small cup of coffee was placed in her hands, they looked over to see Sweet Pea.

" It's half full," Sweet Pea mentioned. " I needed a little bit of a wake up this morning."

" It's fine," Callie assured him. " Coffee is coffee." He then walked away.

"Sharing coffee now are we?" Jughead asked.

" Is that going to bother you?" Callie asked as she looked at him.

"Months ago you and Sweet Pea were basically punching each in the throat with words, but now you punch each other in the throat with words and share coffee," Jughead explained. 

" Whatever you are getting at it is being denied," Callie said.

" Callie, we are practically siblings," Jughead reminded her. " You've done my laundry."

"What's that supposed to mean? I do everyone's laundry," Callie pointed out.

" It means I know when you like someone," Jughead teased. " And you like Sweet Pea."

" No," Callie denied.

" Well, that's what Betty told me," Jughead admitted. " You told Veronica, who told Betty, who told me."

" That traitor," Callie hissed.

" So you do like him," Jughead continued to tease. " The vixen has seemed to fallen for pea of the serpents."

" Shut up," Callie groaned as she rolled her eyes.

*******

Later that day, Archie and Callie came home to their dad sitting at the table looking through papers over the past seven years. Archie walked while Callie went and helped her dad.

" How did you get so good at this?" her dad asked.

" I learned from you and mom," Callie answered. 

" Thank God," her dad commented. " Now with Sierra McCoy going to being an attorney, maybe she can get you an internship."

"Her or mom," Callie stated. " Both really good lawyers."

" And on the side, you could work with criminal investigations," her dad added.

" What will Archie do? " Callie asked.

" At this point, I honestly do not know," her dad answered.

" I don't even think he knows," Callie started, the two both laughed.