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"HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?" Joe asked Evelyn the moment he saw her. She was slightly out of breath due to running all the way to the crime scene from Jitters. She would've been late otherwise. "Everything with you is good?" He asked after he let her catch her breath. Her recent absence not just in work but at S.T.A.R. Labs had left him a little concerned. She had ceased all kinds of communication these past three days and it didn't bring him any solace.
Evelyn gave him a smile. "I'm better now. Ready to get back to work, sir." She told him enthusiastically before heading over to Barry who looked around the room like he was being watched.
"Are you okay?" Evelyn asked him with a laugh. Barry jumped in surprise.
"Yeah, uh, I'm fine." Barry claimed with a dry mouth. If it was anyone else they would've believed him especially given the calmness of his tone of voice, but Evelyn knows her best friend better than anyone except for Iris and Joe. She knew there was something wrong with him. He was completely on edge.
"Hey Barr, what's with all the water? Did the sprinkler system go off or something?" Joe asked Barry as he came to stand beside the duo.
"What?" Barry whispered eyeing the sprinkler on the ceiling. "No, I checked the sprinklers. They're all intact, but the water has ice in it." He lead Joe and Evelyn to the body as he spoke. "And the bruises on the coroner aren't just on the face. Look at his torso."
Evelyn removed the covering with her gloved hands. "Wow." She breathed as she examined the bruises and its coloring. Joe stared at it disturbed, but almost mesmerized at how something like this could happen.
"How the hell did you know that?" Joe asked Barry. He was confused about how Barry could have possibly known to check the torso when there were no signs or evidence of damage on the surface of the skin.
"He was killed by hail." Barry explained further as he basically, unintentionally, ignored Joe's question. He stood up with wide eyes. "We have to check the recording."
"Barry, what recording?" Evelyn asked him. When he didn't answer, her and Joe exchanged worried glances.
"Joe! We got something!" Eddie called out as he hurried over to the group with a recorder in one of his hands. "The coroner's office just installed automated dictation system. Listen to this." He then played them the recorded conversation with the deceased victim and Mark Mardon.
"It's Mark Mardon. He wants revenge."
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Evelyn couldn't seem to catch a break. After the first crime scene this morning, she headed home so she could at least try to study for her finals. But the internet at her apartment had been acting up, so she had no choice but to relocate to the closest public library. Then as soon as she got comfortable and finally focused, she was called in to assist Barry at another crime scene. It was at a casino run by a mob boss, and according to eyewitnesses, it had to do with Leonard Snart.
"Hey." Evelyn greeted Barry as she met him by the entrance. She frowned when he gave her a forced smile. "Okay, what's up?" She demanded for him to tell her what was wrong. Barry could tell by the annoyance in her eyes and the way she had her arms crossed that she wasn't gonna back down any time soon.
"I, uh, I told Iris I loved her again, and basically told her that I knew she loved me back...." Barry caved, but she could tell that he left a few things out. "And she told me she loved Eddie and that basically she and I are never gonna happen so..."
"Oh, I'm sorry Barry." She apologized softly. She knew this probably wasn't the best place for a hug but she didn't care. She pulled Barry into a quick but comforting embrace that he needed at the moment.
"I'll be alright." He said with a breath. Barry had begun to fidget with his hands which is something Evelyn had learned he does when he's uncomfortable or nervous. "I need your help with something. Can I ask you a question? It's important."
"Of course Barry, you know you can ask me anything." She answered genuinely.
"I need to you to give me the addresses of all of Snart's hideouts." He said slowly, and Evelyn swallowed. "I know I'm putting you in a difficult situation, but I wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't important. Please, I know you two have a past. Just like I know you two still talk. Just...please, Evelyn."
"Barr." Said Joe interrupting their important conversation, but Evelyn was kind of grateful that he did. He walked over to them. "Witnesses reported seeing The Flash. They said you had Snart dead to rights, but you let him go?"
"Cisco." Barry sighed, and Evelyn looked at him with furrowed brows. She didn't see what Cisco had to do with anything that happened here. Barry then elaborated upon seeing their confused expression. "Snart and his sister have him."
"Oh, man." Said Joe, and Evelyn had finally made the connection as to why he needed the locations of Snart's hideouts. "Okay. Get to S.T.A.R. Labs. Evelyn and I will get there when we can."
"Yeah, I got it from here." Evelyn assured him that she can handle the crime scene alone.
Barry bid them a quick goodbye then began to head out when he heard Eddie called him. "Allen."
"Yeah, Eddie I-"
"Oh, my god!" Evelyn screeched when Eddie's fist made contact with side of Barry's face. Evelyn stood there shocked as Joe pulled Eddie back. Singh got in between the two after Eddie demanded Barry to stay the hell away from Iris.
"What the hell is going on here? If you two have beef, you take it outside." Singh scolded them.
"You know what the worse part is Barry? I thought you and I were friends." Eddie said with hurt in his eyes. Barry couldn't find any words to speak, so instead he froze their in shock.
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After hours of searching, Cisco spontaneously showed up at the cortex of S.T.A.R. Labs. He told Barry the bad news of how he was able to be set free from Leonard's clutches. In order to save his brother, he told him that Barry was The Flash. Moments later, Barry sped off to find captain cold and have a little chat with him. When he came back, Barry informed everyone of his and Snart's odd agreement. If Barry left him and his people alone, he will keep Barry's identity a secret. The only thing Barry asked for in return was Snart not to kill anyone, or he'd lock him up regardless of Snart releasing his identity to the world.
"Leonard!" Evelyn yelled as she stormed into their big mansion that they had took over from a mob family.
"Evelyn? How did you get in here?" Lisa asked as she hurried down the stairs.
"I guess you guys forgot that I know how to pick locks." Evelyn said with a huff. "Now, where's your brother?"
"What's wrong?" Lisa asked stupidly. Just one look at Evelyn's fuming figure and today's past events should've been enough for her to put two and two together.
"As if you don't know." Evelyn scoffed her tone accusing.
"I don't.." Lisa replied. She was slightly offended by her tone and coldness. "Maybe you can enlighten me on what I did?"
"You helped lured Cisco to your brother is what you did." Evelyn said but it almost sounded like a growl.
Lisa frowned at the memory. She wasn't proud of what she did, but she only ever had Leonard. He raised her and made her everything she was today. So when he finally allowed her into this secret part of his life, when he finally trusted her, she couldn't turn him down. So she helped him get the identity of The Flash. No matter what it took. "Look, I didn't I have a choice okay." Evelyn scoffed yet again at what she perceived to be the worst excuse in the world, and she heard a lot of poor excuses from Barry. "He's my brother." She added. Her eyes begged for her to understand her reasons.
"And what of Cisco's brother, huh? You know the one who's now in a hospital with frostbitten fingers." Evelyn wasted no time to remind her of the damage of this little stunt. Lisa frowned.
"Well, technically it's Cisco's fault." Said a new voice. The two girls sights fell on the man of the hour, Leonard Snart as he took his time walking down the stairs with a smug smile. "If only he had given me his identity the first time I asked, maybe we all wouldn't be here now."
Leonard pouted mockingly as he took notice of the disappointment in Evelyn eyes. He made his way toward her and his sister. "Awe, don't give me that look Evelyn. I did what I had to-" Evelyn slapped him so hard that it echoed throughout the room. Lisa had to remind herself that this way a serious matter while she contained a laugh that threatened to break free.
Leonard's jaw locked briefly. He then turned his head to look at Evelyn with hard eyes. "I'm gonna let that slide this time...but don't try that again."
"Or what? You're gonna use your little cold gun on me too?" Evelyn challenged him. Leonard sighed. He would never physically hurt her, and he thought she knew that. But maybe she was just testing him? She was clearly trying to make a point. A point he didn't particularly care for, but she still tried and he secretly admired that.
"Look, hate me all you want, but I don't regret what I did because I got results. Terrible I know, but I was never a good person. You know that." Leonard told her, and she frowned. "Besides, I told you I have ways of getting what I want."
"You're unbelievable. See this, this is the side of you I hate." She couldn't stand being in the same room as him right now especially when he was being so arrogant. "I hope all this was worth it." Evelyn called out as she began to walk away.
"Oh, it was very much so." Leonard told her with a smirk. "So if you want to come back, there's always room for you." Evelyn stopped with her hand on the doorknob.
She turned to look at him shocked. "What did you just say? You're not saying what I think you are?"
"The Flash and I cut a deal which I'm sure you know all about since the two of you are so buddy buddy. As long as I keep his identity to myself and don't kill anyone, he leaves me and my people the hell alone. So since you have nothing to worry about now, why don't you come back? I know you miss the old days as much as I do."
Evelyn laughed to herself. It wasn't a humorous kind of laugh, but a laugh in disbelief. "I never pegged you as stupid, but you're truly insane if you think that after today I will ever go back to work for you."
"I think I heard similar words from you before." He countered.
"Let me make something clear, Leonard. The day I ever go back to you and your posse of misfits will be the day hell freezers over." Evelyn told him coldly, although it didn't deter Leonard.
Leonard smirked making her knees feel weak, but she managed to hide it due to the anger coursing through her. "Haven't you heard? We're called Rogues now."
"Bye Leonard." Was all she could say. She didn't have the energy nor the time to keep up with him today.
"I'll be seeing you real soon, Evelyn. Like I said, you can't outrun your past." Leonard's smug voice ran through her ears as she quickly walked out the door. But she clearly wasn't quick enough.
A/N:
It's been awhile but I've been going through some things. I wasn't supposed to update for a while but I felt bad leaving y'all hanging for a while.
But that's also why this chapter came out as bad as it did.
Sorry π
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