Where we left off...
Cheryl's in for a loop and it's only good for her to get out of it before she gets stuck. Will she, though?
continued...
It's the next day and Cheryl's about to go over all the notes and clues she's collected over the past day or so. She looked at the dirt sample and it looked, from the report, to be fresh dirt, so whoever kidnapped Toni had to know them and decided to do it coming through the backyard. The clip's had Emily's fingerprints on them.
With her notes, she got down that Toni was a Serpent and the only real enemies she could've had were Ghoulies who couldn't put their differences aside and their past behind them. She also got a tip from Nathan that it could possibly be Toni's ex, Emily, so she's going to try and get her some action and evidence from that tip.
The only thing left to judge was her consciousness. Was Toni in extreme danger as Nathan and Jughead made it seem, or was is a case of not wanting to share? She wouldn't be able to know unless she uncovered the truth.
She was looking over the clues when F.P. caught her attention.
"Aye, Red, you're going home today." F.P. said as a statement and order.
"Why? I have this case, I can't just stop," Cheryl said looking at the older man.
"See what you just did? You worry about work too much. You're a good detective, you don't have to worry about not finding her. Go home," F.P. said while walking to his office. "That's an order, Blossom," F.P. said before his door closed.
Cheryl groaned and put her things up. She grabbed her coat and phone and made her way out the department. She walked to her red Range Rover and made her way home. On the way, she stopped to get some coffee and breakfast since she hasn't eaten in over 12 hours. She arrived at her house and ate before she took a shower and laid in bed.
If being honest, this was the only missing's she ever totally stressed herself over. She knew people that knew Toni and she felt some connection to her; one that made her question this girl's full existence. She was wrapped in her thoughts when she heard her phone ring. She looked to see it was from her mom and she answered.
"Hey, mom. Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Work as always."
"You stress yourself out over that to much."
"Says everyone. Mom, work is my life-"
"Well, you need to change that. Get a girlfriend or something. Or even a dog. You hold yourself in the house too much. Did you even eat today?"
"Yes, mom. I ate today."
"And when did you eat before that?"
"Why do you do this?"
"Because I need to know my daughter's okay and healthy. That's why."
"Mom, I'm going to be fine. You don't have to worry."
"Cheryl, I do have to worry. You're my child and your health and safety is my topmost priority."
"I understand, and I love you for it, but you worry about me more than anyone else. It's weird."
"And you think that because of your dumbass father. I hate that bitch."
"Language, mom."
"I'm a grown woman talking to her child about her bastard father. I have the right, Cheryl."
"I had to keep him safe. It's my job."
"Yeah, you could've kept him safe..."
"You're coming arou-"
"...in hell."
"Just classy, mom. Just classy. I'll be by in a few."
"Okay. See you when you come here."
"Love you."
"Love you."
Cheryl hung up the phone and started laughing at her mom. Her childhood was shit, and she knew Penelope had the complete right to talk about Clifford that way. Clifford was the worst part of her life and if she could erase it she would. He took her life away. He took her childhood away. But with his horrible parenting and adult ways, he encouraged her for the profession she's pursuing now; taking the people who ruins others lives away.
Clifford abused Cheryl in everyway possible. And with her life being in danger, she never told anyone until it was perfect for her; until she could defend for herself. He killed her brother because he didn't want for him to not be on the throne. He akso abused Cheryl because of her sexuality. He made her womanhood start early. He tore her apart. Made her vulnerable. In Cheryl's mind, that's a person you should hate with your entire heart.
She got out of bed and her phoen chimed with a text.
Betts
Are you going over your moms?
Cheryl
Yeah, why?
Betts
I need to know where my mom and she probably knows.
Cheryl
What does that have to do with anything?
Oh, nevermind.
I'll ask her before I go.
Betts
Okay, thank you.
Cheryl
No prob, Betts.
Cheryl put her phone away and went to her closet to get dressed. She got out black ripped jeans, a button up top and a pair of boots. She went to do her makeup, but she didn't feel like going through all of the trouble of that, so she ended up curling her hair a bit. She grabbed her keys and left out of her house. She went to her car, turned the radio on and started her way to Penelope's. She stopped at the flower store to get Penelope roses like she always does when she visits. She arrived at the house and knocked on the door to reveal Penelope.
"Hey, mom." Cheryl said walking into the house.
"Hey," Penelope said while closing the door.
"Is Alice here?" Cheryl asked as she passed the flowers.
"Right here," Alice said walking from around the wall.
"Betty's looking for you," Cheryl said as she gave the blonde woman a hug.
"Why?" Alice asked as she broke the hug.
"She didn't tell me any specifics. She just said she was looking for you." Cheryl said.
"That girl worries too much." Alice said.
"I mean, look who we're talking about," Cheryl said referring to Alice. Alice plucked her in the back of the neck and Cheryl laughed. "What? It's so true," Cheryl said while laughing.
"Ha, ha. So funny." Alice sarcastically said with a straight face. Cheryl walked into the living room, the blonde and redhead following her.
"I'm so stressed." Cheryl said flopping onto the bed.
"You work too much," Alice and Penelope said at the same time, making Cheryl look at them weirdly.
"You have to get away from each other." Cheryl said shaking her head. Penelope and Alice gave each other a glance before looking back at Cheryl. Cheryl caught onto their actions and tilted her head a bit.
"Please don't tell me..." Cheryl started to say before Alice and Penelope nodded. Cheryl sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Alice, do you know a Toni Topaz, by any chance?" Cheryl asked. Alice and Penelope looked at one another and then at Cheryl before talking.
"Yeah. She's Serpent Queen," Alice said. "Have you ever thought of it being Emily?" Alice asked.
"What the hell is up with this Emily person? Everyone, literally everyone, is saying that it's her. Why?" Cheryl asked.
"Emily is a backstabbing bitch. She's more of a snake than a Serpent." Alice confessed.
"And y'all allowed Toni to date her? Just sad," Cheryl said shaking her head.
"You don't even know this girl," Penelope said looking at Alice and then Cheryl.
"I might not know her, but if they would've kept her from seeing this fucked up Emily person, then she wouldn't be in this situation." Cheryl said. taking her hand off her forehead. It was silent until Cheryl stood from the couch and walked towards the door.
"Cheryl, where are you going?" Penelope asked.
"I'm leaving. Clearing my mind," Cheryl said while closing the door.
She got into her car and drove to the woods. She walked until she got into an enclosed space she called her own. She laid on the cover she brought herself and looked up into the sky. All she could think about was Toni and it honestly made her think even more. Why was she so invested. Maybe because people around her knows about her? Or maybe it's that stomach churning feeling she gets when she thinks about the brunette.
If you asked Cheryl, she would never fall for a victim without knowing them, but with Toni it was like love at first sight. She fell for the hazel eyes she came across. She could see the light in her eyes, the same light she felt when she was younger. The light that was cut from her. But it couldn't be. She couldn't be. She couldn't be the person she was looking for since she turned 18. It just couldn't be. She wouldn't believe it.
---
As she was solving the case, another report came in. It was a missing's. Even though she's on one case, F.P. knew that Cheryl was the only way to solve a case like this. The report was odd, but it was a report.
Cheryl was looking through Toni's file when she saw another one on her desk. She looked up to see F.P. looking down at her. "I don't know if you want to take this, but it's yours if you want it," was all the brunette said before he went into his office.
She looked at the report and then at Toni's. What the hell was she getting herself into?
Thanks for reading, byeeeeee
-Ley♡