The Other Detective - Book 3 (Riverdale Season 3)

Labor Day - Part 1

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," the DA said as they all sat in the hot, stuffy courtroom, "the evidence and testimony that was presented in the court tell a dark story. That Mr. Andrews has a history of violent behavior. That he started not one, but two masked vigilante groups. That he assaulted an innocent boy who was helpless with two broken legs. That he went wilding in the Southside of town and threatened to shoot a young man in the face." Aminity glanced behind her at where Sweet Pea sat. He rested his face on his fist after giving her a sad look. "That while partying with his friends in the town of Shadow Lake, Mr. Andrews ran into the woods and shot the victim, Cassidy Bullock, point blank in the head. Now, Mr. Andrews claims that it was his girlfriend's father's doorman who shot Mr. Bullock. A shot Mr. Andrews claimed to have heard, but not seen. Who knows the truth of what happened that terrible night in the woods near Shadow Lake? I'll tell you who. That man," she pointed at Archie. "Archie Andrews may be a varsity athlete and he may be a sensitive musician, but he is also a cold blooded killer," she sat back down as Mary stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we know for a fact that Archie Andrews constantly puts the needs of others ahead of his own. We know he helped to solve the murder of Jason Blossom. We know that he offered both friends and enemies shelter when they had nowhere else to stay. We know he punched through a river of ice to save the life of his classmate, Cheryl Blossom. Well let me remind you that there were no witnesses to the actual killing. There was no murder weapon. There was no motive. At the end of the day, all the prosecution has is cloudy testimony from unreliable people. Now it is my solemn duty as a mother to protect my son, but as an attorney, it's my duty to adhere to the facts. To the evidence. There is nothing here that proves that Archie Andrews is anything less than an innocent boy. Thank you." She sat back down.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," the judge turned to them, "the charge is first degree murder. You may retire to begin your deliberations."

"All rise." The jury left along with the judge and they all filtered out of the courtroom and into groups.

"You were great in there, Mary."

"Thank you, Fred. It's only the most important case of our lives."

"You were amazing, Mrs. Andrews. Really."

"Exactly. There's no way the jury can't reevaluate now," Aminity said after Betty.

"Well, girls, your help over the summer was a godsend." They both smiled.

"Have you guys seen Archie?" Veronica asked as she walked up. They shook their heads before finding him sitting on the stairs. "Archie?" she asked as they walked up. "There you are."

"How are you holding up, bud?" Jughead asked as Veronica sat beside him, the other three standing on the stairs.

"Yeah, good, Jug."

"What were you thinking about just now? How you're gonna walk out of this courthouse a free man?"

"No. I... There was this place," he explained. "We've never been before, Ronnie, but Betty, Jug, Aminity, do you guys remember Sweetwater Swimming Hole? How we went there every summer?"

"I was just thinking about that place earlier," Jughead smiled.

"Yeah, me too."

"Same here."

"What made us stop going?" Betty continued.

"Uh, probably when we got covered in leeches."

"Was that us or was that a movie?" she asked Jughead.

"That was definitely us."

"That was us."

"Totally us," Aminity said the same time as the boys.