Ch - 102 Hartley Rathaway?

After Dr. Wells had briefed the team on the break-in, he decided to take everyone, including Joe and a few CCPD officers, to his house to inspect the damage and search for any clues he might have missed. The vandalism was extensive, and it was important to get a closer look at what had transpired.

Upon arriving at the house, Wells gestured for them to follow him inside. He turned to Barry with a hint of frustration. "I know I told CCPD about the vandalism, and I told Joe, but I didn't intend for the police to be fully involved in this. Barry, you shouldn't have called them."

Barry looked a little taken aback, but Wells shifted his gaze to Joe and softened his tone. "Look, Joe, I appreciate the help, but the involvement of CCPD isn't necessary. Since you're already here, though, make yourselves comfortable. Explore the place if you like—although, to be honest, Caitlin and Cisco haven't even been here before."

Caitlin and Cisco exchanged glances. As much as they were curious to explore Wells' house, they held back, knowing it was a crime scene. Walking around aimlessly might destroy any potential clues, so they decided to stay put.

Meanwhile, Barry, ever the CSI expert, immediately set to work. He carefully examined the shattered glass windows, reassembling the pieces with his speed to study them better. What he found left him puzzled—there were no points of impact. No rock, bat, or any solid object had broken through the windows. It was as if they had simply shattered on their own.

After gathering all the available evidence, Barry turned to Wells, who was seated silently in his wheelchair, observing Barry's work. His face was unreadable, a mask of thoughtfulness. Barry approached him cautiously and asked, "This wasn't some kind of teenage prank, was it?"

Wells, quietly impressed with Barry's deduction skills, shook his head. "No, Barry. It wasn't a prank."

Barry's expression grew more serious. "Does that mean you know who did this?"

Wells hesitated for a moment, clearly reluctant to reveal the answer. But then, with a heavy sigh, he admitted, "Yes. I know exactly who did this. It was Hartley Rathaway."

The name didn't ring a bell for Barry, and he asked, "Who's Hartley Rathaway?"

Wells took a moment to gather his thoughts before replying. "Hartley Rathaway was one of the finest scientific minds I've ever encountered. He was brilliant... but troubled."

Joe, who had been listening intently, perked up at the mention of the name. He recognized it, though only vaguely. "Rathaway? Isn't that connected to Rathaway Industries?"

Wells nodded. "Yes. His grandfather founded Rathaway Industries, and his father expanded it into the empire it is today. Hartley was supposed to inherit the business, but things... didn't go as planned."

Swayam, who had been quietly observing, sensed a deeper story behind Hartley's name. It felt familiar, as though he remembered it from somewhere in his own knowledge of the Flash TV universe. Curiosity piqued, he asked, "So, what happened?"

Before Wells could respond, Caitlin spoke up. "He came out to his parents, but they didn't take it well. Old money, old values. They disowned him."

Swayam raised an eyebrow. The personal drama was starting to paint a clearer picture. Clearly, Hartley was more than just a brilliant scientist—he was a complex individual, shaped by a difficult past.

Wells continued the story. "Hartley's relationship with his family fell apart. He became estranged from them when I met him, but I saw his potential. He was crucial in helping me build the particle accelerator."

Barry, still listening closely, seemed surprised. "But you've never mentioned him before. Why?"

Caitlin gave a soft, knowing smile. "He wasn't exactly the easiest person to get along with. Hartley had a challenging personality."

Cisco, never one to mince words, added with a snort, "Yeah, what she means is, Hartley was a jerk. And on some days, he could be a total dick."

Joe chuckled at Cisco's bluntness, but the tension in the room remained. Wells didn't refute Cisco's assessment. Instead, he added, "Hartley, like many geniuses, had trouble relating to others. But he was brilliant, no question about it."

Caitlin nodded in agreement. "He was always your favorite, though."

Cisco chimed in, "The chosen one. That's what he called himself. He was always rubbing it in."

Joe, now understanding the complicated relationship between Hartley and Wells, asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "So, if you two were so close, why would he target you?"

Wells sighed again, clearly uncomfortable. "Hartley left S.T.A.R. Labs about a year ago. We had a disagreement, a falling out."

Joe pressed further. "What was the disagreement about?"

Wells remained silent for a moment, clearly wrestling with something he wasn't ready to share. Barry, sensing the tension, tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, we'll stop him. Sam and I will figure this out. Sam, stay here and keep an eye on things. I'm heading back to my lab to look for more clues."

With that, Barry and Joe left, leaving the others in S.T.A.R. Labs.

Once they were gone, Cisco muttered under his breath, "I could have gone my whole life without seeing that jerk again."

Swayam, having picked up on Cisco's obvious disdain for Hartley, realized that their first interaction must have been rough. Cisco's bitterness wasn't the playful sarcasm he usually displayed—it was personal.

Before Swayam could comment, Wells turned back to the group. "Hartley's return is no coincidence. He's dangerous, and I have no doubt that his vandalism is only the beginning. We need to be ready for whatever he has planned."

Caitlin crossed her arms, a frown settling on her face. "But why now? Why would he come back after all this time?"

Wells shook his head. "I don't know, but whatever his motives are, they won't be simple. Hartley never did anything without a plan."

As they stood in the lab, the weight of the situation hung heavy in the air.