Red Goes Green

Chapter 2 – Toxic Pheromones

Leaving STAR Labs behind him, Barry ran over to Central City Picture News to meet up with Iris. He suspected that she'd still be at work and as he arrived there he saw that his guess was correct. Barry slowed down and walked into the offices at a normal regular person speed and approached the desk were Iris was sat working.

"Hey Iris."

"Hey Barry." Iris looked up form her keyboard and smiled at him. "I have so many deadlines right now so you best make it quick."

"I'm always quick. Anyway I wanted to ask you a bit more about that story you told me about earlier."

"The botanical research facility one?"

Barry nodded in confirmation.

"Well I don't really have a lot to go on yet. Certainly not enough to publish the story. But I can give you a list of the facilities and what was taken from them."

"I don't suppose you have any footage?"

"Nope. Whoever is behind this is smart enough to destroy the cameras before they enter."

Iris had printed out the little material she currently had on the case and handed it over to Barry.

"You know that because I'm giving you this I expect you to keep me in the loop on what's going with this one."

"Of course I will."

Barry headed back to his lab at the precinct. Once there he speed read through all Iris had on the case. She certainly hadn't been lying when she'd said she didn't have enough yet for a story. He didn't recognize most of the names of the plant pheromones, however a few of them he was certain he knew to be poisonous and he suspected that the rest of the list were probably toxic. That said he had no idea there were so many botanical research facilities surrounding the Central City area!

The missing toxic pheromones gave Barry an idea. What if the death had been from intoxication instead of strangulation? He went down to the CCPD morgue to see if he could get a lung sample to analyze. It took a bit of sweet talking but Barry managed to get the sample he needed. With a sample procured he headed back up to his lab to go about the process of analysis. His speed powers meant Barry could speed up the process of analysis and he was quickly able to get confirmation of his theory. Ivy had indeed killed her victim through intoxication.

With this knowledge he ran over to STAR Labs and entered the cortex to hand Iris' findings over to Caitlin and share his little discovery. Caitlin looked over the list of pheromones handed to her by Barry.

"Ivy's certainly been busy. There's one thing that connects all of these, their toxicity to humans. Fortunately because I now have this list I can get working on an antidote if she attempts to use any of these on you or anyone else."

"Awesome. How long do you think that's likely to take?"

"Difficult to say precisely. But hopefully sometime before your first encounter with her."

"By the way, there's more. I ran tests on a lung sample from the victim and it turns out Ivy has already been using her toxic pheromones to kill."