Chương 4: Chapter 4: Twisted Justice.
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"Grand Jury, how do you find the defendant?" the judge asked, his voice steady as the jury rose to deliver their verdict.
"We find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree," the foreman announced.
Gimlin looked shocked, as if he couldn't believe the words he just heard. I couldn't suppress a snort—what did he expect? That he'd actually get away with murdering his wife? He was clever, I'll give him that. Using an icicle as a weapon was almost foolproof. No murder weapon meant no evidence, right? But he'd underestimated us.
"Due to recent developments, the court finds that Mr. Gimlin is mentally ill and a danger to himself and others. Effective immediately, he will be transferred to Arkham Asylum, where he will receive the treatment he so desperately needs," the judge declared, slamming his gavel.
Gimlin's face twisted in horror. Honestly, no one could blame him. Arkham might be one of the most advanced mental health facilities, but with inmates like Joker, Riddler, and Mad Hatter roaming its halls, being sent there was practically a death sentence.
Watching him kick and scream as the officers dragged him out of the courtroom was oddly satisfying. His eyes locked on Ralph, brimming with hate.
"This isn't over!" Gimlin shouted, his voice cracking with rage. "When I get out of Arkham, I'm coming for you! Do you hear me? You and your CSI buddy are dead! DEAD!"
"Quite the first day on the job for you, rookie," Ralph remarked, hands casually in his pockets as if death threats were a daily occurrence.
"Interesting?" I shot him an incredulous look. "We were just threatened by a maniac who promised to kill us when he escapes Arkham. How are you not freaked out?"
Ralph waved it off. "Relax. Cops get death threats all the time, and they rarely follow through. Besides, he's the one who pled insanity. He should've thought that one through before pulling the trigger."
He might be right, but something about this didn't sit well with me. I couldn't shake the feeling that this decision was going to come back and bite me later.
Ralph clapped me on the shoulder, breaking my train of thought. "Come on, let's hit up Jitter's to celebrate."
I raised an eyebrow. "Celebrate what?"
He grinned. "Your first day on the job, cracking the case. What else?"
I smiled, grateful that at least one thing went right. Ralph was still a detective. He never lost his job.
---
We ended up at Jitter's, where Iris handed us our drinks. I couldn't help but remember that she used to work here before becoming a reporter.
"Here's your cappuccino, Barry," she said, smiling as she placed my drink and Ralph's on the table.
"Thanks," I replied, taking a sip. Ralph, of course, couldn't resist stirring the pot.
"So, is she your girlfriend or something?" he asked, grinning like he already knew the answer.
I nearly choked, spraying coffee onto the table. "She is not my girlfriend," I muttered, wiping up the mess. "She's my sister."
That seemed to throw Ralph for a loop. "Sister? How come I didn't know that?"
"I'm adopted," I explained, watching his confusion grow.
"Adopted?" He hesitated, then asked, "What about your real parents?"
I sighed. "My father was arrested for a crime he didn't commit, and my mother was murdered."
Ralph winced, clearly regretting the question. "I'm... I'm sorry, Barry. I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," I cut him off, not wanting to linger on it. "You didn't know."
He looked guilty, his voice softer. "I still shouldn't have asked. That must've been... really hard. How old were you?"
"Twelve," I said flatly.
Ralph stammered, "Th-that must have been traumatic."
I grimaced. "It was."
I took another sip of coffee, mulling over how much it said about Barry Allen's character that he didn't let his mother's murder consume him like Bruce Wayne did when he lost his parents. Batman let his loss define him, turning him into a vigilante. But Barry? He stayed... good. Despite everything, he never let the darkness change who he was.
I couldn't help but wonder—when my own dark future catches up with me, will I be able to handle it?
---
Turns out Barry had been investigating his mother's death long before he became a CSI. He had a secret stash of evidence and newspaper clippings about the Henry Allen case.
Why he didn't just store everything digitally, I couldn't tell you. It would've made it easier to hide.
"Barry, can I have a word?" Ralph asked, his tone unusually serious.
"Sure. What's up?"
"It's more about what I can do for you," Ralph said, leaning in. "I did a little digging into the Henry Allen case."
My curiosity piqued. "And?"
"I don't think your dad is guilty."
"Why?" I asked, leaning forward.
"There are too many things that don't add up," Ralph replied, voice low. "For starters, Henry Allen was convicted way too quickly. And you both claimed a man in a yellow suit was there. Now, most kids would be too traumatized to make something like that up on the spot. But nobody believed you."
"Because what I saw was impossible," I retorted.
"Unbelievable? Sure. Impossible? No," Ralph countered. "And here's the kicker—what was your dad's motive? He and your mom were happy, right? No signs of trouble between them?"
"They were a happy couple," I confirmed, but gave Ralph a skeptical look. "Why are you even bringing this up?"
"Because," Ralph said, his voice firm, "an innocent man lost 15 years of his life. And a son lost his father."
I sat back, stunned by Ralph's determination. "Why do you believe me when no one else did?"
"My gut told me Gimlin was guilty when I first took the case, and I was right," Ralph explained. "My gut is telling me the same thing about your dad."
I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted his help—Ralph was one of the best detectives around, second only to Batman himself. But involving him could mess with the timeline. If Thawne found out, it could cause problems I wasn't ready for.
Still, I couldn't do this alone. "Alright, Ralph," I finally said. "But this stays between us. Got it?"
"Got it," he promised. "You won't regret this."
I hoped he was right. Because I had the sinking feeling that Thawne was already watching.
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