Chapter 2 – Ordinary Lies

The police had arrived on the scene within moments, of course an officer had already been on the scene from the beginning, but this was different. Alicia held her arms across her chest as she stared down towards her feet in silence. Officers swarmed around her as they continued to cut off and secure the theatre. In the corner, two officers had begun to take witness statements from the bystanders; their faces one of confusion as they listened to the tales of the man in red. The impossible man.

But it was this curiosity in the red streak that had gotten her friend killed. Andy was only trying to look out for her, perhaps if she had taken his warning and left then…. Nothing would have happened. Jess would still have a father.

Biting her lip to control the sudden urge to cry, Alicia turned in her spot and wandered into a small alcove of the theatre, her eyes wandering around the room in a vain attempt to drain away the build-up of tears. The room still showed all the signs of a battle; covering the walls were the icy scars of what the gun had caused, sparkling softly in the light.

Spotting a nearby cluster of ice, Alicia wandered towards the corner of the room in which the first bystanders to be attacked had stood. Large towering icicles protruded from the wall from the impact of the beam, as the sunlight shone through the glass doors it reflected off the crystal clear ice, causing the light to split and a spectrum of colours to be projected over the nearby pillars. It could almost be considered beautiful, if the meaning behind its creation hadn't been a deadly one.

"Alicia Norris?"

Alicia turned to face the two officers who had been interviewing the other bystanders. One of the men was the officer she recognised from the beginning of the fight; he had dark hair and bright hazel eyes which radiated comfort. His stature was broad however, suggesting that he was the last person you wanted to get in a fist fight with. Beside the more senior officer stood his partner, with bright blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, Alicia decided that the man before her was the stereotypical good guy cop from almost ninety-nine percent of American TV shows.

"Alicia?"

Realising that she hadn't answered for some time, Alicia pulled herself from her amusing reverie. "Sorry, Yes?"

"My name is Detective Joe West" The senior of the two stated, "This is my partner, Eddie Thawne"

"Hello" Eddie greeted with a friendly smile.

"Hi" Alicia responded as she brought her hands up to play with the hem of her sleeve. "How can I help you guys?"

"We understand that you know the deceased" Joe continued carefully, his eyes narrowing as he formulated his next words carefully. "Were you a relative or?"

"No" Alicia interrupted immediately, "Have you not searched his office yet?"

The two officers seemed to shake their head in a confused manner. Proceeding onwards with her point, Alicia felt the tears begin to well behind her eyes. "He is-" The young woman choked as she corrected herself, "-was married, with a young daughter. I am- was just a close family friend"

"Oh" Eddie frowned deeply, his hand reaching outwards as he placed it gently onto Alicia's shoulder. "I apologise for your loss"

"No need to" Alicia mumbled, "It was my fault that he died In the first place, if I hadn't of run back into that stupid foyer…"

"Why did you?" Eddie pushed onwards, his eyes intrigued as he lifted his small leather notebook higher. Pressing his pen against the paper, the detective waited with baited breath. "Why did you go back in when you knew it was dangerous? Did you see anything out of the ordinary?"

Alicia paused as she watched Joe send Eddie a wayward glance. She could tell the two officers the truth, that the reason she stayed in the foyer was because of an impossible streak; a similar story to the other bystanders. But then it would make her look just as delirious. From overhearing the conversations of the other surrounding officers, the department seemed to already be discarding the possibility of a man possessing super human speed. Instead deciding to pass it off as a sign of shock.

"Because I wanted to see what the commotion was about, perhaps I did it because I thought I might be able to offer what little support I could to Detective West" Alicia gestured towards Joe, his eyebrow twitching upwards in response. It was around about then that she realised the flaw in her plan.

"Thank-you" Detective West stated with gratitude, "Although, I doubt any of us would have been able to stop him with that gun"

Alicia froze. Had he seriously just let her get away with such a blatant lie? Detective West himself had also been saved by the same red streak that so many were speaking off. Had the whole impossible man scenario really just been an illusion from the shock? Alicia continued onwards with her internal debate, the moment the impossible man had placed a hand on her should seemed too real, too warm to be a fragmented illusion… had it really happened? Or was the grief from losing her best friend beginning to take its toll on her tired mind. Deciding that enough was enough, the young woman straightened her back in resolve.

"I'm sorry but I have to go" Alicia apologised as she went to move past the officers.

"But we still-"

"Of course" Joe cut off his partner with a short elbow to the side, "We may need to ask you some more questions at a later date, but for now it's probably best you get some rest. It's been quite a day, for all of us."

"Thank-you, Detectives" Alicia pulled the best false smile she could muster, "Oh- Do you think I would be able to take my jacket from Andy's office? I know it might be evidence-"

Joe smiled warmly as he waved his hand, "The office wasn't entered at any point by Snart, I am sure they will allow a young woman to collect her coat to leave. As for Andy's family… Eddie and I will probably be heading over there next to inform them of their loss. Perhaps at some point in the next few days, you might want to drop by and offer your support.-" Joe paused as he seemed to take in Alicia's appearance. "In your own time of course"

Nodding slowly, Alicia offered a short wave before she turned and began what seemed like the longest walk towards Andy's office; the floor seemingly growing in length as she approached the small wooden door. Unlike before however, the wooden door was ajar. Hesitantly, Alicia quietly peeped around the door noting the presence of a tall, slender man. He had dark brunette hair, which appeared to be swept to the side. Additionally the young man was wearing a black waterproof jacket; a green and white checked shirt flailing from the bottom where it was stuffed beneath a baby blue jumper.

Wearing bright white latex gloves, the officer appeared to be analysing the office for any clues. However, upon closer inspection; Alicia noted he was staring at one object in particular. The picture of Jess.

"That is- was his daughter" Alicia announced as she entered the room. "He was looking for another job, so that he could be there for her more often"

Dropping the frame clumsily, the man tuned around to face Alicia; his face one of shock as he glanced between the fallen picture and the young woman before him. Smirking at his reaction for the briefest of moments, Alicia took in the rest of his appearance. His hair was indeed swept to side as it highlighted his angled face. Light green eyes stared back at her full of hope. They almost reminded her of the streak's eyes.

"Weren't you ever told that sneaking up on people is rude?" The young man accused as a small mischievous smile filled his features. Stepping forwards the officer extended his hand, "My names Barry"

"Alicia" She greeted as she accepted the hand with a slight shake. Turning her attention back to her coat, the young woman shifted to the right and began to pull the black leather jacket for the coat stand. "Do you mind if I?"

Following her gaze to the jacket, Barry shook his head furiously, "No, no, no, no- take it if it's yours!" He paused as he considered what he had said, "but of course it's yours otherwise you wouldn't be taking it"

"No" Alicia smirked at the man's goofy response, "It's not mine, I just fancy a change… Does it suit me?" The young woman flicked her head to the side, her hair flying across her face as she pulled a mock pose.

Barry chucked in response as Alicia regained her composure and returned to pulling the leather jacket over her shoulders. "Were you a relative of Andy?" Barry questioned suddenly, his face changing into one of remorse.

"No" Alicia answered, "No- I was just close a friend. He… he was my only friend. Andy was a good man, always putting other before himself. He didn't deserve to die."

"He sounded like a good man" Barry stated simply, noticing Alicia's eyes beginning to well; the scientist instantly changed the topic. "I'm sure a girl like you has plenty of friends" he added quickly, his arms slipping into the pockets of his coat.

"Even if I did, nobody is going to want to know me anymore now." Alicia glanced upwards at Barry, "Not after I got him killed."

"You didn't get him killed" Barry countered instantly, his body stepping closer to the young woman's. "There was nothing you could have done"

"No offence, Barry, but how would you know?" Alicia sighed as she brought her hand upwards to wipe away the tears from her eyes. Alicia was pretty sure that she had some impressive panda eyes by now. "You weren't there and you don't know me." Turning, the young woman left the small office and began to wander towards the glass doors of the building.

"From what I've heard-" Barry came up beside her, his arm catching her elbow and forcing Alicia to turn. "There was no way that he would have escaped the blast from that gun, It's a miracle as many of you survived as you did"

Alicia took little comfort from the remark. She could have always done something more. "Thanks" She uttered quietly; pulling a false smile upon her features.

Barry allowed his grip on Alicia's arm to falter, as he dropped it in a defeated manner.

"Barry!" Detective West signalled for Barry him in the corner, the tone in his voice one of urgency.

Turning back to face her, Barry smiled sadly before gesturing towards Joe. "I need to go"

Donning a cheery façade, Alicia tilted her head to the side. "It was nice to meet you Barry, and I don't mean to sound rude but-" The young woman gestured to the latex gloves. "Due to your line of work- I hope we don't meet again?"

Barry smirked as he peeled the gloves off his hands, "Neither do I"

Laughing Alicia waved goodbye as she turned, her hands pressing against the cold glass of the theatre as she emerged into the bustling streets of Central City. A cold blast of wind wrapped around her, causing the young woman to shiver violently. The action instantly caused images of her frozen friend flashed before her eyes, the way the ice stuck to his skin; encasing him in a frigid cocoon of his final moments.

Opening her phone book, Alicia glanced down at the contact list; her fingers shaking as she slowly highlighted Monica's name. Joe had been right, she should contact Andy's family sooner rather than later. It just that, she didn't think she could handle being an emotional cushion at that moment. Stuffing her phone into her bag, Alicia began to power walk down the street towards the nearest liquor store. At this point she didn't care about the new job, she just needed to have a drink.