Part 20
Iris walked into a bar that Carson had texted her from in Keystone. She spotted him at a table in the corner downing shots of whiskey. She walked over to him.
"What do you want?" asked Iris
"You need to help me get that bitch."
"How do you expect me to do that? She is never alone since that day at Jitters. It's not like I can just walk into the hospital she works at. These two guys I went to high school are security guards there and they like her. She helped them pass math and science or some thing."
"I happen to know she has an allergy to peanuts. What you need to do is get some peanut oil and pour it in her coffee. Doesn't have to be much. Just a small drop will be enough to make her sick enough to end up in the hospital. From there I can handle things."
"What are you going to do to her?"
"Do you really care? I thought you hated her."
"I do hate her. But if I want Barry to give me the time of day then I can't be traced to you killing her."
"Don't worry about it. No one will know that you helped me teach that bitch a lesson."
"Good. The last thing I need is to be tied to murder."
"Oh I am not going to kill the bitch. Just make sure she wishes she is dead."
"What are you going to do about her brat?"
"I don't care what happens to that pain in the ass brat. The kid can die for all I care."
"You just don't want to get your hands dirty."
"Your daddy is a cop right? Well you see there is one thing worse then being a cop in prison. It's a cop that beat on women and killed a kid. So it is best someone else takes the kid out."
"Well it can't be me. Not if I want Barry to pay attention to me. The brat is his according to Caitlin. If the brat dies then it can't be at my hand."
"I might be able to find someone. But it will cost you. This person will want payment."
"Tell me how much and I will get it."
"I will contact them."
Iris turned and left the bar. Not noticing that someone over heard the conversation. He finished his drink and headed out to make a call.
"Hey Joe. Good call to keep an eye on Iris. She met with Carson. Carson wants her to sneak some peanut oil into Caitlin's coffee. Caitlin is deathly allergic to peanuts. Carson also said he would find someone to kill Crystal." Said Eddie
"Damn. Unfortunately until Iris actually does something we can't arrest her. Carson right now being in Keystone puts him out of our jurisdiction. He also hasn't committed an actually crime in either Keystone or Central City."
"So he is off limits for the moment. I got a buddy on the Keystone PD. He might know who he could be thinking about hiring to kill Crystal."
"Reach out to your buddy. My guess it is someone part of the Bertinelli crime family."
"Got it Joe. I'll call him and see if he can talk to his confidential informants. Just got to call Patty and tell her I will be a bit later."
"Leave it until tomorrow go home to your family. The Captain already has a protection detail watching both Caitlin and the Allens. I doubt Caitlin's brother is in any danger."
"Nope Charlie is living in Masonville not sure where her mom lives. All I know about her is that she is CEO of Tannhouser Industries."
"Tannhouser Industries is about forty-five minutes outside of Central City. I don't see Dr. Tannhouser driving much more than that to work every day seeing as the woman is a workaholic."
"I think Caitlin may have gone that way if Barry hadn't come into her life. Then she had Crystal."
"Well having two kids didn't prevent Carla Tannhouser from becoming a workaholic after her husband died."
"Yeah I know. Charlie was the only person Caitlin could count on for a very long time."
"Well she doesn't have to worry about not having people there for her now. Get home to your family."
"Night Joe."
Eddie headed home to his family to be there in time to help tuck the kids into bed and read them a story.
Barry sat next to Crystal's bed watching her sleep. She was curled up on her side with Mr. Ruffles held close. She was so beautiful looking so much like her mother. He was lost in thought and didn't notice Caitlin until she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Let her sleep Bare. If she needs us she will let us know." Said Caitlin
"Ok."
Barry kissed Crystal then followed Caitlin out of the room. Then went downstairs and got some ice cream so they could talk.
"So my mom called for the first time in months." Said Caitlin
"Wow, that is unexpected."
"No kidding. She will be here for Crystal's birthday party. Which is good I guess. Charlie told her that we are living with you."
"How did that go over?"
"Not as well as I would have hoped. But my mom and I have never gotten along very well in my memory anyway. Though I get the feeling she is hiding something from me."
"Cait, at least she is making an effort to come for Crystal's birthday. Has she done that in the past?"
"Sometimes she remembers. Others not. We did see her last Christmas. It was at Charlie's house. It was actually really nice. Erin did a really nice job of decorating the house. Trust me it was all Erin. About the only thing my brother did was bring in the tree and put the star on top. If he had his way the tree would have been small enough to fit on an end table bare not even a light in sight."
"He finally married Erin Grady?"
"Yeah about a week before Susan was born. Needless to say it was basically a shotgun wedding. Erin's dad was not happy with my brother."
"He does know that Erin had some part in getting pregnant right?"
"Yes. But in his eyes his little girl was corrupted by my brother."
"Did I corrupt you?"
"No. Barry, you were the best thing to come into my life. Well before Crystal."
"Of course. Cait did you talk to my dad yet?"
"Yeah when we picked up Crystal. He gave me the name of a therapist he thinks can help me. It's a woman that has helped others with similar issues that I have."
"Good. I want you to get this help."
"Barry, you should know that I did make a will after Crystal was born. I also had written a letter explaining everything. Charlie was to bring her to you if anything happened to me before I got the courage to tell you about her in person."
"I am glad that nothing did happen to you. The world would be a dark place without Caitlin Snow in it."
"You always could sweet talk me."
Barry smiled then leaned over and gently kissed Caitlin.