Treat You Better-Ralph Dibny

Elongated Journey Into Night...

"Why is the scariest person I've ever seen roaming our halls?" Caitlin came into the cortex alarmed.

"Cisco." We all answered. Cisco, whose girlfriend's father was on our Earth, was bending over backwards to get his acceptance. It was annoying, but then again, it's Cisco.

"Okay, so I've got the coroner's report for the death of the bus driver, but it doesn't seem like there's any signs of foul play." Iris studied the computer screen.

"Aside from him being the one guy who could've told us who else was on that bus." Joe pointed out.

"They logged his personal effects. Let's see...credit cards, cash, receipts." Something caught my brother's eye.

"Wait, go back."

"Of course." I muttered.

RALPH DIBNY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

I owe you $5 for the ride

Me, Joe, and Barry looked at each other. "Ralph Dibny."

"Well I'll be damned."

"Who's Ralph Dibny?" Iris asked us.

"He used to be a cop." Joe told his daughter.

"Dirty cop. He got kicked off the force." Barry added.

"For what?"

"It's a long story." Joe admitted as Iris and Caitlin pulled his profile up on the TV.

"That's him."

"Oh! He's handsome in a square jawed Oliver Queen kind of way." Iris said, causing both Barry and I to glare at her.

"For real?"

"Babe, you know I've only got eyes for you."

"The IOU is dated the same day that Barry came out of the speedforce." I observed.

"You think Dibny was on the bus that day?" Caitlin asked me. "Maybe he's a metahuman now?"
"Let's pay him a visit." Barry agreed. "Are you sure you want to come?" Barry muttered to me.

"No. But I have to."

XXX

The three of us got to Ralph's office just as a woman, clearly in dismay, was running out.

"This is definitely his place." Joe decided. We knocked on the door before entering.
"Reconsidered, huh?" Ralph said, just now turning around his chair.

"Ralph."
"Joe West." He looked at me and Barry who came in after. "Barry Allen. Been a long time, Rookie." He then looked at me.

"I'm not a rookie anymore, Ralph."

"Meghan, you're looking gorgeous as always." He winked, making me roll my eyes.

"You look healthy." Barry said sarcastically, trying to take the attention off of me.

"Yeah. Got the spare tire out of the trunk. It happens. Might even happen to you one day too, Slim Jim. So what brings you three to Casa De Dibny?"
"Were you on the 405 bus four weeks ago around noon?" I asked him immediately, wanting this interaction to be over quickly.

"That's a very specific question." He pointed out.

"We found your IOU from the deceased bus driver's personal effects." Joe explained.

"Deceased? Hey, that's one less U I owe. What's it to you three?"

"It's a simple question. Why don't you just answer it." Barry tried to pressure him.

"You walk into my office after five years like nothing ever happened, and ask me for a favor? I smell a mystery."

"It's not a favor. It's information." I pointed out.