The house was isolated, there were no houses within a few miles and the property looked abandoned anyway, but that's probably because of the state it was in, when Eddie said a place had been trashed it was an understatement. It had been practically pulled down.
When they pulled up outside Barry leaped out of the car. He had already pulled his gloves on and was half running towards the crime scene, but of course not using his speed, the place was crawling with police officers.
"Four bed-roomed house, was owned by a Mrs Andrea Lawrence and occupied by her and her daughter, no one has seen them." His tone took a sombre turn as he looked at Barry. "She's six"
Barry gritted his teeth. "Let's have a look then." They went to the most trashed room, the living room. The sofas were torn apart and its entire contents was just a pile of rubble. Barry walked cautiously up to the window that was smashed. Glass was on both sides of the window and something about the shatter pattern make his stomach turn.
"Well?" Eddie stood expectantly behind him, he didn't want to push him but he had been staring into space for a couple of minutes and he was anxious to get some answers. Part of him hoped and dreaded that it was the work of a metahuman.
He stood up and tuned to Eddie, holding his hand out for his camera. He took two pictures and then stood back. "The window wasn't smashed, it's like it was sucked out from both sides."
Eddie nodded slowly. A metahuman? Probably. But something else was wrong, the way Barry talked it was... Knowing. It was as if Barry knew what was going on as well. It suddenly occurred to Eddie that Joe didn't just tell him, he told Barry as well. 'I'll just drop the word metahuman into conversation and see how he reacts' he thought to himself and opened his mouth to talk.
An ear-piercing scream made both of them jump. The scream of a little girl. Eddie sprinted up stairs and Barry did all he could to stay at a human pace. But panic was rising in him. The new meta could have easily caused this, and Cisco hadn't completed his designs. If she was here he would try and intervene but-.
He cut off his thoughts as he entered the room, ready to strike. She wasn't there. A small girl was being dragged out of a room full of police. She screamed in grief over a dead woman who lay in the centre of the room.
Eddie looked to Barry, concerned. "You don't have to." Eddie was aware of Barry's past, everyone was, and despite the awkward moments between them he knew Iris cared for him and so would always look out for him.
"I'm fine." Barry's voice wavered. He crouched beside the woman and took a deep breath, trying to block out his thoughts. He put two fingers to her neck with a small hope- but no she was dead. He took picture and samples, checked the body for marks of struggle but there were none. He then check her eyes, they were blood shot. "She died by suffocation." His mind was racing. He couldn't think, it was definitely the metahuman and he felt responsible somehow. He couldn't take it, everything about this case reminded him of his mother's and he felt that if he stopped her, been the hero he's supposed to be then she would still be alive. "I feel sick." He left the room quicker than he had entered, pushing past everyone and feeling frustrated that he couldn't just run away with Eddie so close behind.
He was waiting for him at the car, waiting for questions, waiting for the classic 'I'm so sorry about what you've been through' but it never came. Without a word Eddie got in the car and opened the passenger seat. Hesitating slightly Barry got in.
"Home or office?" He asked looking at Barry directly, not avoiding eye contact like so many would do in this situation.
"Office." Barry clicked on the radio and they sat in silence all the way back, but this time it wasn't awkward. And for the first time Barry wholeheartedly respected him.
Barry walked into his office to find Joe and Wells both sat at one of the desks. They looked deep in conversation and when he walked in he got the feeling that he was the topic. He was right.
"So you didn't think of telling me that someone tried to kill you this morning?" Joe asks his voice stern but caring. He got up from his chair and looked Barry in the eyes.
"That happens every day of the week." Barry unsuccessfully tried to put a humorous spin on the situation that resulted in two glares.
"They don't normally come this close, Mr Allen." Dr Well wheeled over to the two of them so both him and Joe were facing him, it felt like they were ganging up on him. "Caitlin analysed those tests deeper and it appears that you suffered a heart attack during your suffocation. If you're cells hadn't been so quick to regenerate you wouldn't be stood there." He nodded his head towards him.
"Did you not think how dangerous this could be for the force if they came across her?" He didn't reveal that what he was most worried about was Barry himself. "Why didn't you tell me?" Joe had a talent of sounding incredibly load without raising his voice, it normally made Barry nervous and upset but now he was just angry.
"Look I'm sorry but I've had other stuff to worry about than what the police force are up to." He snarled and grabbed his bag that he had left that morning. He was frustrated and annoyed with the new meta and he couldn't take it out on them. Images of his dream flashed before his eyes. He couldn't. "I'm going for a run."
Wells grabbed his arm in passing, his grip was surprisingly strong. "I highly advise against that Mr Allen."
Barry pulled his arm away and walked out the door without a word.
"Barry-" Joe called but he just ignored him. He sighed deeply. "I'll have a word with him when he cools off." He told the doctor. Still looking at the closed door he had swung shut behind him.
"If he doesn't encounter the metahuman first." He said bluntly. He was determined to make Barry safe and he knew that he couldn't and wouldn't get through to him but Joe stood a chance. Harrison Wells was talented at manipulating people, everyone except Barry Allen.