Spring was lovely in Central City, I decided. The day was sunny and warm enough to sit outside with just a light jacket; a good thing for me as they didn\u2019t allow animals\u2014other than service animals\u2014in CC Jitters. I sipped one of their signature \u201cFlash\u201d coffees while testing out their free wi-fi by scanning the website of a local charity on my tablet. The patio area was full of customers enjoying their beverages and the good weather, but no one bothered me, probably because of the small, scruffy dog laying at my feet.<\/p>\n
He suddenly perked up, nose in the air, giving it a good solid sniff before letting out a sharp bark. I was just about to reprimand him when someone spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Dibny?\u201d<\/p>\n
I whirled at the familiar voice. My eyes lit up with pleasure. \u201cDr. Snow! What a pleasant surprise!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, this is a surprise!\u201d She came around the table, arms outstretched. I rose, placing my tablet on the table before giving her a stout hug. \u201cI thought you\u2019d gone home to Opal City!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did. Just long enough to sell my house, pack up, and move here.\u201d I settled back down in my chair and took a sip of coffee while Dr. Snow tugged her companion, the handsome young man I remembered in passing, forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Dibny, this is my friend, Jay Garrick. Jay, meet Sue Dibny. She came to us for help a couple of months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, yes! I remember passing you in the parking lot.\u201d Jay held out his hand. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you, Mrs. Dibny.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, call me Sue, both of you.\u201d My dog stood, wagging his scruffy tail at Dr. Snow, who crouched down and offered her hand for a sniff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat an adorable dog!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis name is Ralphie. He\u2019s a terrier mix.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, a mutt.\u201d Ralphie\u2019s tail wagged a mile a minute, sometimes in circles as she petted him. \u201cWhere did you get him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Central City animal shelter. He\u2019s a good companion and gives me a reason to get outside and walk.\u201d I smiled as she withdrew to give Jay an opportunity to make friends.<\/p>\n
Ralphie\u2019s reaction to Jay Garrick was different; his hackles went up and he growled low in his throat. He began to bark, growling between spurts of warning yips. Startled, Garrick withdrew, stumbling backward before catching himself on another patio chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cRalphie! Stop that! Come!\u201d Frowning, I snapped my fingers. Seeing the threat retreating, he returned to his spot beneath my chair, eyes watching Garrick\u2019s every move. I turned my own attention to the perceived threat. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Mr. Garrick. He\u2019s usually very friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Mrs. Dibny. I\u2019ve never had much luck with dogs. And, please, call me Jay.\u201d He turned to Dr. Snow. \u201cHey, Cait? Why don\u2019t I get the coffee and the two of you can chat while I wait in line? I\u2019m sure you have some things to catch up on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds wonderful,\u201d Dr. Snow said. She settled into the chair beside me as he pulled it out for her. \u201cThank you, Jay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you need a refill, Sue?\u201d When I shook my head, he nodded. \u201cOkay, then. Be back soon,\u201d he said, striding off to the coffee shop\u2019s doors. Dr. Snow\u2019s eyes followed him until he disappeared inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s such a nice guy.\u201d Her dreamy utterance abruptly ended as she turned to me, leaning in to ask, \u201cSo, you moved here? When did this happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot long after we spoke last.\u201d I put the tablet back into my bag and took another sip of my coffee. \u201cSomething you said about giving yourself space really resonated with me. Ralph and I bought a house here, with the intention of moving and relocating his private detective business. I figured, I already have a house here, why not go through with the plan? So, here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAmazing!\u201d She smiled at me, a twinkle in her eye. \u201cYou look so much better than you did when I saw you last. More relaxed and rested.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because I am both. Coming to Central City has done me a world of good.\u201d I paused. \u201cHow are Cisco? And Barry? Still working hard?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, they\u2019re both very busy. Oh, thank you for those chocolates and the edible arrangements. You didn\u2019t have to go through all that trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I did! You deserved more thanks than I could muster up at the time. Did you get the check?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ralphie wiggled his way under the table to lie down at Dr. Snow\u2019s feet. She glanced at him but did nothing more. \u201cYes, we did but Barry was puzzled. He couldn\u2019t figure out what to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, so Barry owns S.T.A.R. labs?\u201d I hadn\u2019t found any new information on the owner; the name of Harrison Wells was still attached to any financial records.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he is. Or he will be once Dr. Wells\u2019s will clears Probate.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cUntil then, there are no funds to repair the building and the city might object to any remodeling which makes it look as if the accelerator is coming back online.\u201d Leaning forward again, she clasped her hands together. \u201cIt was a generous gesture, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI should probably speak with Barry, then, and tell him to use the money in whatever way he sees fit. I just thought it was a shame for the place to look so damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our conversation lagged a little. Ralphie\u2019s whine brought her attention back to him. \u201cSo, Ralphie,\u201d she said, wiggling her fingers so he would come closer. \u201cDoes Ralph, uh, inhabit\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cNo, he doesn\u2019t. He\u2019s tried, but says the dog\u2019s senses are too limiting.\u201d I grinned. \u201cBesides, when he does, he wants to talk and that means Ralphie barks incessantly. He\u2019s not as bad as just a dog and fewer people give me funny looks when I\u2019m talking to Ralph because they think I\u2019m talking to the dog.\u201d It was my turn to move forward, as if imparting a secret. \u201cI have noticed, however, that Ralphie is a very good judge of character. You should keep an eye on your friend there.\u201d I wanted to tell her about the would-be thief who slid up beside my car as I stepped out to fill my gas tank\u2014I locked my car doors at his angry bark\u2014or the belligerent woman who mistook me for a feuding neighbor. I didn\u2019t have time because Jay, hands full, was headed our way.<\/p>\n
I leaned in, my voice soft ask I asked, \u201cPlease, Dr. Snow, if you haven\u2019t already mentioned Ralph\u2019s condition to him, don\u2019t. I just\u2014I\u2019d like to keep that quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Snow frowned, puzzled. \u201cI\u2014sure, okay. I can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d I sighed, relieved.<\/p>\n
Her frown cleared. One side of her mouth quirked up in a smile. \u201cDr. Snow\u2014that sounds so formal. Call me Caitlin, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right; Caitlin it is.\u201d At a snap of my fingers, Ralphie abandoned her and settled by my side again. He didn\u2019t lie down but stayed alert, his eyes focused on Garrick as the man took the seat opposite me at the round table. I could hear the low growl in his throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I hope you ladies had a good talk while I waited in that line.\u201d Garrick shook his head. \u201cThere\u2019s a trainee behind the counter today; he took forever!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir best barista, Kendra, quit a few weeks ago.\u201d I pulled my tablet from my purse again. \u201cLooks like they\u2019ve had a hard time replacing her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caitlin murmured her thanks to Jay as he handed her a cup. \u201cThat\u2019s right! Kendra. Cisco dated her for a little while; he told me all about it. I\u2019m not surprised they\u2019re having difficulty finding someone as good as she was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally? What a coincidence!\u201d<\/p>\n
The conversation lagged a little again. Ralphie\u2019s reaction to Garrick soured me on learning anything about him, but it wouldn\u2019t hurt to ask some questions. After all, my nose was beginning to twitch. I put on my best hostess smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Jay, what do you do for a living?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question seemed to take him by surprise. \u201cWell, right now I\u2019m helping Caitlin and Cisco at S.T.A.R. Labs deal with the recent influx of metahumans.\u201d He cleared his throat. \u201cI\u2019ve had some experience with them.\u201d Something in my face must have clued him in to how that sounded. \u201cHeh. Uh, actually, I mean I\u2019ve had experience with metahumans in general. Not these in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see. So, you\u2019re a geneticist, too? Or a researcher?\u201d I sipped my coffee, gazing at him from over the cup\u2019s rim.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, more of a behaviorist, I guess. I find I understand how they think, what moves they\u2019re likely to make.\u201d He shrugged, giving me another smile. Really, he had a vibrant one. \u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I flapped a hand, a self-deprecating gesture. \u201cOh, I\u2019m what the old-timers would call a socialite. Inherited money, good works, supporting the arts, that sort of thing. My husband, Ralph, was a private investigator; we were moving to Central City from Opal City for his business.\u201d I sighed. \u201cThen the particle accelerator exploded and I lost him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m so sorry to hear that!\u201d He glanced over at his companion. \u201cIs that how you know each other?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d I nodded, wanting to give Caitlin some direction. \u201cShe helped me understand what happened to Ralph the day he died.\u201d I smiled at her, an honestly warm expression. \u201cShe gave me some closure; helped me accept his passing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was glad to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could have sworn Garrick\u2019s eyes narrowed as they flicked back and forth between us. \u201cSo, that\u2019s why you were at S.T.A.R. labs a few months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
My nose twitched again; by now, I was used to the little warning tic. \u201cYes. It took a while for me to connect his death with the explosion and, once I had I thought, surely the lab was closed. But Dr. Wells\u2019s confession caused quite a stir and I discovered it was open. So, I visited Caitlin when I came to Central City on business.\u201d I turned to her and reached out my hand. \u201cYou were such a help.\u201d<\/p>\n
She grasped it and squeezed, shaking it gently. \u201cAs I said, I was happy to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
A soft chime went off. Caitlin let go of my hand and consulted her phone. \u201cOh, break time\u2019s over. We need to get back to the lab.\u201d She began to gather her things as Garrick finished his coffee. \u201cIt was so good to see you again, Sue. I hope you enjoy your new life here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, welcome to Central City,\u201d Garrick quipped as he took charge of the trash. He walked it to the nearest trash can. I scrambled in my handbag for a business card.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, take this. My phone number\u2019s on it. Call me whenever you like and, please, remind Barry to get in touch about that check.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d She took the card. I stood and we embraced.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember what I said about your friend,\u201d I murmured. \u201cRalphie hasn\u2019t steered me wrong yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caitlin\u2019s smile was terse; I could tell she didn\u2019t like what I had to say about her handsome young man. Garrick returned, gathered her up with a hand around her waist, and, giving me a brief wave, guided her away from the coffee shop.<\/p>\n
I sat down as I watched them go, breathing a troubled sigh out my nose. My coffee was cold and I debated buying myself a refill. A spring breeze ruffled my jacket, raising goosebumps. Ralphie stood suddenly, stretching, his pink tongue curling up into a yawn. I took that as a sign.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Ralphie my boy, I think we\u2019d better be on our way. I want to find out more about this Jay Garrick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Author’s note:<\/strong> I’m taking some liberties with CC Jitters; the production stills show no sign of an outdoor seating area. However, there might still be one behind the building and tucked out of sight. Just go with it, please.<\/p>\n << previous chapter<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0next chapter >><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Spring was lovely in Central City, I decided. The day was sunny and warm enough to sit outside with just a light jacket; a good thing for me as they didn\u2019t allow animals\u2014other than service animals\u2014in CC Jitters. I sipped one of their signature \u201cFlash\u201d coffees while testing out their free wi-fi by scanning the website of a local charity on my tablet. The patio area was full of customers enjoying their beverages and the good weather, but no one…<\/p>\n