Part 14
It had been a few days since they were at the casino and they had gotten nowhere with their new found evidence. All they had were theories and speculation, nothing substantial.
They had no idea when the next event would occur but with each passing day Olivia’s unease grew. Her fear was beginning to physicalize once again in the form of poor sleep and nausea. She felt bad keeping it from her moms but whenever she tried to bring it up they were very dismissive.
When Friday came again it was arranged that the girls would have their usual sleepover at Archie and Veronica’s. This, although not an uncommon occurrence, was quite strange considering it was formally arranged by the parents as opposed to their usual playing it by ear.
The three couples, however, would be out most of the night for a group date. So it seemed that’s why they arranged this weekends hang out location.
-
“Liv! You okay in there?”
“Yeah! You didn’t fall in did you?!”
Chloe and Annie called out while laughing from their spots on the bed. It was just after 7pm and the girls had been holed up in Annie’s room for their sleepover since they returned home from school this afternoon.
Moments later Olivia returned with a look of worry.
“I have a bad feeling about tonight,”
“What? Why?” The two girls sat up addressing her.
“I’ve just kind of feeling on edge about the fact that it’s been over a week since my dream about the barn and it still hasn’t happened. What it’s tonight, I’m worried, no one will be home.”
“Okay Liv, well why don’t we go over and check it out,” Annie assured.
“Yeah,” Chloe chimed in, “let’s go down there and check in. And if nothings there we can just stay at yours,”
-
So they did just that. They got into their sleuthing clothes and made their way over to Thornhill. When they arrived it was dark and quiet. The sun had just fully set and there were no lights on in the house or any other of the properties buildings. It was the perfect target.
Olivia didn’t know if she should try and recreate the circumstances of her dream, this time being fully aware of the chain of events, or if they should stay undercover to try and keep the upper hand.
They ultimately decided on the latter, roaming through the woods surrounding the barn and trying to snuff out evidence of an intruder.
They’d circled the area a few times and found nothing out of the ordinary.
“Doesn’t seem like it’s tonight. The place would reek of gas at the least,”
“You’re right, there’s-
“Shh,” Annie cut in.
The girls dropped their voices low.
“Did you hear that?” Olivia asked,
The rustling continues
“Someone else is here,”
“What do we do? We really didn’t think this through-“
Just then a figure ran out from behind some trees making a break for the barn.
And just as quickly, Olivia followed.
“Liv, no!” Chloe called out. They were not equipped for this.
But Olivia kept going. Once she caught up to the figure she dove tackling them to the ground. They rolled and wrestled but the figure was stronger. They were on top of her holding her shoulders down to the ground. Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for whatever might happen next.
“Damnit Liv!”
She finally peeked one open only to see her Mama, dressed in black with a black beanie, sitting on top of her.
“Stand down!” She yelled out while standing up. Cheryl and Jughead come out from their hiding places while lowering their individual weapons.
-
“Are you guys crazy?! You could have gotten yourselves killed!”
“Oh my god, I’m having déjà vu,” Cheryl leaning over to Betty.
All 6 adults were present in the living room of Thornhill. The three girls were seated on the sofa, all eyes on them.
“I told you to leave this alone, Olivia,” Toni continued. She knew her daughter was the one to initiate all of this.
“But you weren’t doing anything about it-“
“We were! All of us were! You think we were having a couples date out in the woods?”
Jughead put his hand up signaling Toni to calm down.
“We were trying to keep you all away and out of the line of fire by keeping you at Archie and Veronica’s. We had a tip that another Shady Grove patient was going to be prematurely discharged. Just like on the day of the reunion.”
“Listen, girls,” Veronica said with a sympathetic voice, “this is a lot bigger than anyone anticipated. It involves a lot of things and people you don’t know or understand.”
“Like Abuelo?”
The adults paused, exchanging shocked looks. They had never really told the kids about Hiram, trying to keep that trouble in the past and the negativity out of their lives. Of course Veronica and Archie had spoken a bit to Annie about him, he is her grandfather after all. But she never seemed to express interest until now.
Although they had suspected his involvement, they were shocked that the kids may have caught on.
“I-it’s really best you girls stay out of this,” she continued, trying to find the right words.
“Why? Because he’s taking payments from Ellio?” Annie asked stridently. The gang was not used to her being so strident.
“Where did you hear that?” Archie asked.
This was new information to the parents who had been investigating on their own.
“Well we were able to get into the casino and-“
“Let me guess, that was Olivia’s idea?”
Toni said narrowing her eyes at her daughter.
“Guilty,” Olivia murmured before Chloe continued.
“We found a document recording a bunch of payments Ellio had made to Hiram over the last year or so. We just don’t know what he’s paying for.”
“Shady Grove patients to do his bidding, presumably,” Jughead thought out loud.
“That would make sense with Hiram owning the Shady Grove property,” Betty confirmed.
“Hiram owns Shady Grove?”
“My father still owns a lot of property in town. The businesses just pay him rent. He’d acquired them all when he was plotting to destroy Riverdale and drive people to Sodale but since he left town he’s just been collecting.”
“What if Ellio is trying to buy those businesses from him. Now that the casino is open he’s been doing more business in Riverdale.”
That certainly may be, but why target us?” Cheryl asked.
“Because we’re the good guys,” Archie answered strongly, “If he’s trying to move in on Riverdale like Hiram Lodge he knows it’s gonna be a fight.”
And Archie was right.