Original subtitles

Hasta mañana, Stan.

Have a good one.

[door opens, closes]

[soft thumping]

Donna?

-[flesh sizzles] -[screams]

[groans in pain]

If you're trying to scare me, it won't work.

I told you I ain't paying you a damn cent more.

[jukebox clicking]

[rock music playing on jukebox]

Come on, man. That's enough.

-[music continues] -[beer bubbling]

[whooshing]

[low growl]

[screaming]

[sighs] Ooh!

-Fresh java. Thank you, baby. -Yeah.

Hey, I was thinking that we could get an early dinner reservation tonight.

Sure.

Actually, um,

you know what? Why don't we stay in, have a quiet night, just the two of us?

That feels better--

Thank you. I'm okay.

I got to get used to it eventually.

It's just another day.

I can clear my schedule.

I'm fine, really.

Besides, things are… things are busy at CCC.

Need to be there.

[cell phone vibrates]

And I need to get to work.

I'm just a phone call away.

I know.

[exhales]

Is it that bad?

[clears throat] Sorry. The fire just kinda weirds me out, is all.

[clears throat] The vic's name is Stanley Mullen.

Uh… He's the manager of this local watering hole.

[Barry] That's weird.

The body's burnt through, but the ground underneath isn't even charred.

Yeah, this was definitely a meta attack.

Dark matter levels are off the charts.

Whoever the meta is, they produce fire that ignores the laws of physics.

Oh, man. Now this is giving me,

like, Goodbye-Armageddon-But-Hello- Dante's-Inferno type of vibe.

Morning, Allen, Runk.

Find anything that can help us piece this together?

Uh, no, not yet. Were there any witnesses?

Uh, the bartender, Donna Winters, didn't see the crime

but she said our victim got into a pretty nasty argument last night

with a recently paroled ex-convict.

Apparently, the guy had a temper.

Oh. And he was wearing a Lips concert t-shirt. You know, as in the rock band.

I was gonna ask her some follow up questions.

Would it be okay if I, um, showed her a picture

of someone who could be our suspect?

Sure.

Donna, this is CSI Barry Allen and C.C.P.D. Consultant, Chester Runk.

Miss Winters, the person you saw arguing with the victim, was this him?

That's him. That's the guy.

Jaco Birch. I'll put out an APB.

This way, ma'am.

The Hotness did this?

I thought it was all about the moolah, not cold-blooded murder.

Plus, how do you kill someone without burning half the place down?

Looks like we're not the only ones who leveled up this year.

Here you go, boss lady. This is every suggestion

the Bullpen brainstormed for who should be our first CC Citizen of the Week.

Nice work.

Only, this is every suggestion…

except the winning one.

-Rosie Levin? -Hmm?

Uh… Boss, I don't think launching our first profile section

on some shallow social media influencer is the way to go.

I just thought we were supposed to be the voice of the people.

I hear you.

But Rosie Levin is who the people are interested in.

Five hundred thousand of them, to be exact.

If we can bring those eyeballs to CCC,

then, hopefully, people will read the stories that matter.

Is there something that you want to tell me?

Yeah. Okay, fine.

Taylor brought this to me earlier, and I told her it wasn't right for us.

And she went behind my back.

She believed in the story, and she followed protocol

and made an appeal to the editor-in-chief.

And I approved it.

Is that a problem?

Yes. I mean, no.

I just mean if the Bullpen knows they can come to you

when I say no, my word means nothing.

Look, you're still their boss.

But I'm also yours.

That means sometimes we are going to disagree on the stories

that we tell. It's a part of the process.

Yeah, you're right. Of course, I…

Actually, you know what? Why don't you both interview Rosie?

You want Taylor and me to work together?

You are my Supervising Editor. Go supervise.

Plus, opposing perspectives make for better stories.

And keep an open mind. I mean, you might

be surprised at what the two of you can do together.

Yeah. You got it.

Whoa, whoa. Easy with the guitars, roadies.

You're unloading the gilded weapons of true rock gods. Come on.

Trust your old man, Harold.

Watching the Lips concert is gonna blow your freaking mind.

Yeah. Whatever, dude.

I'm sorry I couldn't land

the backstage passes I promised. All right?

I kind of ran into a bit of a cash flow issue.

You bribe me here with stuff you couldn't even get, Jaco.

Even more lame than usual.

I know, right? [chuckles nervously]

But, uh, hey, look, maybe after the show, we could grab some food. Huh?

I could tell you stories about these crazy things

these bands I work with get into.

You aren't with the bands, Jaco. You're arena security. Anyone can do that.

I'm gonna go for a walk.

Look… Look, Harold…

[siren wailing]

Whoa.

Jaco Birch, you're under arrest for the murder of Stanley Mullen.

Uh, I think you got the wrong guy.

What's going on?

Take him somewhere safe.

Hey--

Let go of me, jerk.

Hey. Get your hands off my son!

Calm down and put your hands behind your back.

Nobody's taking my kid away from me.

Never again!

[groans]

Thanks, Flash. We've got it from here.

Harold, I'm innocent, I swear. I'm innocent.

Please, believe me.

Flash, you gotta help me. Please.

I didn't do anything.

Please! I can't lose my son! Please.

I swear to God I didn't do this.

-Where's Mom? -What's going to happen to my son?

-Dad! -Barry!

Dad!

Harold, I didn't do anything, I swear.

I swear. Please, believe me. Please!

Okay. I got to be honest.

Eh… Based on these police reports,

I'd advise Mr. Birch to start thinking about a plea bargain.

[sighs] Okay.

I'm guessing you feel differently.

I… I just want to make sure they got the right guy.

It seems like they do.

He argued with the victim hours before he was killed.

He's got no alibi.

The crime matches his powers, and he's an ex-con.

Who was released early for good behavior.

Korber and those other officers

could have been killed, too, if you hadn't intervened.

[stammers] I know how it looks for Birch,

but there isn't any hard evidence that he's guilty.

And last night he supposedly killed a man.

And then, instead of laying low, he went back to work this morning?

As a security guard, of all things?

It's just-- It doesn't add up.

Yeah. Stranger things have happened.

I know. Look, I've worked hundreds of cases like this,

and I'm telling you something about this

just-- it doesn't feel right to me.

Okay. Okay, but you know that Birch had motive

and opportunity to commit this murder.

You didn't see his face when they took him from his son.

He was…

He was begging for me to believe that he's innocent.

And you do.

I'm not sure yet.

Look, would you be willing to meet with him?

To get a read on his emotions?

Yes, of course, I'll meet with him.

Guilty or not, everyone deserves proper representation. But, Barry…

using my powers to read a client?

It's an ethical line that I can't cross.

Yeah, of course. I'm sorry. I…

I just don't want to see someone

go to prison for a murder they might not have committed.

[Taylor] So, Rosie,

dropping out of Cornell to become a social media influencer took guts.

What inspired you to make such a bold decision?

Let's just say institutionalized learning felt like a total prison.

Uh! Mmm-hmm.

Trust me, it's not.

What my supervisor means

is that our readers are just so eager to get to know the real Rosie Levin.

So sorry. Will you excuse me?

Uh… [sighs]

I'm so sorry. I don't know what her problem is.

Uh, now, uh, why don't you take me through a typical day?

Lydia!

Garcia!

[scoffs]

Oh, my God, it's so good to see you. How are you?

[chuckles]

Well, look who decided to come say hi.

I haven't seen you since Iron Heights. At least, not in person.

Then, again, your face is plastered all over that news website.

CCC Media. Yeah, I… I work there now.

These days, I'm writing the headlines, not starring in them. [chuckles]

Must be nice.

So, you've been working here since you got out?

No. Um, my first gig was cleaning out porta potties. That was fun.

I guess this is kind of like a promotion for me.

Not that you care.

What's that supposed to mean?

I get it. You're too busy to help out old friends.

You're mad because I'm a reporter now?

Look. You got out, walked into a legit career. Good for you.

Meanwhile, I busted my butt to get my GED in prison and look where it got me.

[chuckles nervously]

This is just temporary. I mean, I'm sure you can do better.

Gee, thanks.

I didn't mean it like that.

I know what you meant.

The truth is, cleaning floors is the best job I can get

with a record like mine.

People like you don't see who I'm trying to be, only who I was.

Makes it really hard, you know.

No. I don't know.

Not yet. But… I'd like to try and help you.

How could you possibly help me?

Let me share your story with the world.

Trust me.

Before we get into this, I need to know my son's okay.

The cops won't tell me anything.

Yeah, Harold is fine,

with Social Services until they track down his mom.

Good luck. She's been in and out of his life

since he was born. No telling when she'll turn up again.

Harold's mother took care of him while you were in Iron Heights, right?

Barely.

That's why I got my act together and got the hell out.

But Harold, he never forgave me for abandoning him, and I don't blame him.

Every second of the four years I spent in that prison,

it was like he was serving time, too.

The thing is, Harold's a good kid.

I don't know what he did to deserve a father like me.

Okay. Why don't you tell me what happened last night?

Stan and I got into it at the bar.

I sold him a guitar so I could buy Harold backstage passes to the Lips concert.

At the last minute, Stan decided to pay me half of what we agreed on.

Then what happened?

Sure, we argued.

And, yeah, I told him this wasn't over. But then I went home.

That's the last I saw of Stan.

Can anybody confirm that?

Anybody? Was your son home with you last night?

No, he was out with friends.

So, unless my vinyl collection can talk…

I got nothing.

All right.

Listen, I've been around long enough to know you're about to tell me I'm screwed.

But I'm telling you, I'm innocent.

Jaco, the bartender places you at the scene

moments before the crime.

Any jury is going to see that

as more than enough evidence to convict.

No!

I won't leave my son without a dad again, okay?

You got that?

[Cecile] I wish I had something better to tell you, Barry,

but Birch just doesn't have the pieces that you need to build a strong defense,

and all of the evidence, it's still pointing to him as the killer.

I… I know you didn't use your abilities in there,

but what does your gut tell you?

It's telling me that whether he is actually innocent or not,

he definitely believes that he is.

But it's not nearly enough.

Yeah, but look, if there is any chance he is innocent, we have to help him.

[gate opening]

What's going on?

Jaco Birch just escaped custody en route to holding.

-Was anybody hurt? -Thankfully, no.

But so much for his "I'm innocent" sob story, huh?

[Donna gasps]

You told the cops I killed Stan?

Come on, man. I only told them what I saw.

And when you think about it, I really didn't see anything.

Hey, you and me are… are good, right?

I'm gonna lose my son because of you. Because of what you said!

Hey, man, relax. Maybe I didn't see anything.

Damn straight, 'cause you're gonna take it back.

You're gonna take it all back right now!

Wait, man, please! [screams]

[system beeping]

-Nothing on the satellites yet. -Keep trying.

We have to figure out where he's going before C.C.P.D. does

so we have a chance to prove he's innocent.

Are we talking about the guy who just burned his way

through a C.C.P.D. transport convoy?

Birch running away doesn't change the evidence.

There's nothing directly tying him to Mullen's death.

Sure. Barry, sure, but fleeing custody is not exactly exculpatory.

And I'm saying that as his lawyer.

She's right, Barr, if Jaco Birch is innocent, why run?

Why did Frost run when Chillblaine framed her?

Unfortunately, sometimes people don't get a fair shot

from the justice system.

Yeah, and, as a former DA, I know.

I know that sometimes it's true, they don't.

Okay, but how do we know Birch isn't the same hothead he's always been?

He'd be halfway across the country by now.

No, he didn't skip town. Not without his son.

And you know this how?

-I just do. -Okay.

Uh, guys, emergency dispatch is getting calls about a fire

right outside O'Shaughnessy's.

[Cecile] What?

Why would Birch go back to the scene of the crime?

If it's really Birch.

Yeah, I'll find out.

I'll go with you for backup.

Holy crap.

What kind of fire is this?

I think I know who this is.

Is that the witness who pinned it on Birch? The bartender?

You know, your innocent man, Barr, is not looking so innocent anymore.

I thought we were supposed to be working together on this.

Next time. Right now, I am in the zone.

I thought I saw you two were back. How'd the interview go?

Great. I feel like the story is exploding out of me.

So, everything went well?

[sighs in exasperation] Yeah. Peachy.

Seriously, you're gonna love what I'm doing here. I promise.

[clears throat] Excuse me, I just need to get some air.

[chuckles awkwardly]

Well, I'll let you get back to it.

I'm looking forward to reading the finished product.

Roger that.

I got back the tomography reports from the crime lab.

Donna Winters, the bartender who died,

the thermal lesions on her body match the marks on Stan Mullen's body exactly.

Too exactly.

No pyrokinetic meta could replicate burns like that

even if they tried.

I told you. Something about Birch's case wasn't adding up.

Barry, we're the ones who told Birch

Donna blamed him for the murder

and now Donna is dead.

She's dead.

You see how that looks, right?

Yeah, but the facts are still on Birch's side.

Neither crime scene has any direct evidence tying him to it.

No DNA, no fingerprints, no witnesses--

That are still alive.

Barry, you gotta admit, Birch has motive.

And the more emotional he gets, the stronger his powers are.

Like, you know, earth-shattering.

Thank goodness he wasn't in a bad mood today.

Doesn't make him a killer.

[Cecile sighs]

We know you're just trying to do the right thing here, we do.

But, Barry, we can't help but wonder if just maybe you're not thinking clearly

about this case.

Oh, so that's it.

You've already decided. You're giving up on him.

No, we're just looking at the facts, man.

So am I.

Two exact fire signatures makes me think Birch is not our guy.

Chester, could you take a look at this and see what you can find?

Yeah, okay.

I know you've all thought Birch was guilty from the start--

[Cecile] That's not true.

Each of us have been trying to help him from the beginning.

But then Birch ran off.

He was just trying to protect his son.

What about other suspects?

There are none.

Both victims worked at O'Shaughnessy's.

Maybe they, uh, owed somebody money or pissed off the wrong person.

I… I get Birch is a known fire-meta and an ex-con.

That also makes him the perfect fall guy.

Now you think he's being framed.

I'm saying it's possible.

Look, Birch is the freaking Hotness and a bad guy.

It feels like he's changed.

Not to us.

And, honestly, it feels like you're asking us

to believe in something impossible.

Yeah, I am.

If anyone had when I was a kid, my dad wouldn't have gone to jail.

Barry.

[breath trembles]

Barry, honey.

Look, we're-- We're sorry.

We weren't thinking.

Look, here's the deal.

I believe Birch is innocent.

So, with or without your help,

I'm gonna do everything within my power to clear his name.

[Joe] That looks familiar.

It's been, what, seven, eight years since I've seen this board.

Except, the last time it was covered with photos of a different man.

Cecile told me what happened.

The team is worried about you.

They don't have to be. I'm fine.

No, you're not.

They don't know what today is.

I do.

February 1st. Henry's birthday.

You remember, when he was turning 45…

and your mom threw that surprise party?

The whole block showed up, and you were baking cupcakes for weeks.

And when the big night came, before he can even take off his coat…

his pager went off.

A patient needed him.

He had to miss his own party.

And you were disappointed, of course, but you understood.

He was helping save people's lives, right?

Yeah.

But Henry, he was crushed.

He was worried that he was missing all these moments

with you and your mom.

But I told him,

"Those cupcakes might be stale now,

but… you'll have more birthdays with both of them."

Only, there weren't.

That was the last one before it happened.

-Barry? -Dad!

Stay out of the house!

Barry!

Joe, the look in my dad's eyes that night…

it was the same look in Birch's eyes when they arrested him.

Look of an innocent man desperate not to lose his son.

Begging someone to believe him.

And you do?

Yeah, I do.

I just keep thinking about all the time my dad lost.

[sighs wearily]

All the birthdays we spent separated by Plexiglas.

I can't let Birch and his son go through that if he's innocent.

I don't know, maybe the team's right. Maybe I'm making something out of nothing.

Do you think maybe I've had blinders up this whole time?

Maybe.

Or…

you can see something they can't.

Look…

what you went through, I wouldn't wish on anyone.

But what it did was it gave you the ability to believe in the underdog

when no one else is willing to.

So…

if your gut tells you

to not give up on Birch…

then, for Henry's sake, don't.

Not yet.

[cell phone chirps]

[Allegra] So, what do you think?

I think the lede is in the second graph, not the first.

But, besides that, it is a very engaging

and beautifully written article.

I think it's gonna open a lot of eyes.

Seriously, you like it?

Yes, I do.

But, Allegra, as strong as that article is,

that's not what I assigned you.

I know, but I have a unique insight into Lydia,

and me connecting with the story so much

is what's gonna make it connect with our audience.

Agreed.

But I wanted you to make this special

and to help support a colleague.

There's some decent writing in Taylor's article, but it's all surface.

There's no context. There's no examination of Rosie's influence on young women.

You could have made this story so much better

if you had helped her, like I asked you to.

Yeah, Iris, I'm so sorry.

The interview with Rosie, it wasn't going anywhere.

So, you abandoned it?

I followed my instinct.

I… I thought that's what you want me to do.

What I want is for you to learn how to be a supervisor.

That's why I'm trying to teach you how to mentor her.

Instead, you did just the opposite.

But… I have an obligation to our readers

to publish the best articles that I can,

and your profile on Lydia is amazing.

I think it's gonna start an important conversation.

So, we're gonna go with it.

But, next time, please run any changes this big by me first.

And another thing, I want you to talk to Taylor.

You're her immediate boss,

so it's up to you to fix this, not the other way around.

[Barry] Chester, what'd you find?

-You were right. -Yeah, check this out.

So, I cross referenced the heat signature from O'Shaughnessy's

to the one in the alleyway from the second victim.

Guess what I found.

Both signatures produced an anomalous heat effect

created by non-composites reacting to hydrogen isotopes.

Nuclear fusion.

What you're describing is cold fusion.

But Birch's powers come from absorbing heat, not nuclear fusion,

meaning…

He's innocent.

Yeah. We get this data to C.C.P.D., we can clear his name.

Okay, Chester, put everything you have on a drive.

I need to get this to Captain Kramer fast.

I need to find Birch.

[computer chirps]

Hope he doesn't do anything else stupid

before we clear his name.

Harold, I know this is tough, but we're gonna find you a place to stay.

I'm here to make sure your transition is as easy as possible. Okay?

Whatever. I'm used to Jaco being a screw up.

Especially since he got his powers.

[brakes screech]

I want my son!

Now!

Harold, get out of the car.

Get down on your knees with your hands above your head.

I'm not letting you cart my son off to strangers. Harold!

Birch, I said get down.

Why won't you leave me alone?

C.C.P.D. scanners have Birch at Hastings Avenue and Nicola Lane.

Oh. Man, satellites just picked up a city vehicle at the exact same spot.

It's a Social Services SUV.

He's trying to get his son.

C.C.P.D. still doesn't know Birch is innocent.

-If he tries to take his kid by force-- -We have to stop him

before he does something he'll regret.

-Birch, listen to me. -No, you listen.

I just want my son.

Now get out of my way.

[low rumbling]

Wait. Wait. Wait, wait, wait.

-Harold, stay back. -She's right, son.

-It's dangerous. -I'm not scared of him.

[rumbling continues]

Look, Harold, I know how bad this looks,

but I swear I'd never hurt anyone.

What's wrong with you?

You get that you're a total loser, right?

I am a total loser.

Have been since the day I was born.

I thought having powers would change that,

but all they did was make things worse.

Now they've turned the only good thing in my life against me.

My own kid!

[rumbling intensifies]

All I wanted

when I got out of Iron Heights was a clean start,

to get my life together so we can be a family.

This is your final warning.

Who cares? No matter what I do, you'll always think I'm a killer.

And now you want to take my son away forever?

Well, I won't let you!

[panting]

You can't keep me from my family, Flash.

No one's taking Harold away.

I know you didn't kill anyone,

your lawyer found evidence you're innocent.

You have to stop what you're doing before anyone gets hurt.

Okay.

All right?

[loud rumbling]

[car alarm ringing]

Oh, come on.

I'm not doing anything.

It's not what you're doing, it's what you already did.

Officer, get them to safety!

Thanks for the save.

Birch, your heat abilities,

they're connected to the earth beneath where you stand.

Yeah, science is not my strong suit, but, yeah, okay, I'll buy that for a dollar.

He means emotionally.

Ooh.

-Right. -Chester,

can you scan for thermal activity below us?

Yeah, yeah.

[device beeping]

Mary Mack Gibson Jr.

Okay, there's a volcano's worth of magma

erupting beneath the city's lower crust.

When Birch was upset, he must've absorbed so much heat from the planet's core that

he opened up a lava channel.

Flash, if you can't stop this in the next 30 seconds,

Central City'll turn into Mount Doom.

Officer, get them back!

Flash, you got to do something. I know this is all my fault.

But everyone in this city,

my son, he can't die because of me. You got to save him.

No, you have to save him. Look, I've got an idea.

If it works, there's gonna be a huge release of pressure beneath us.

When that happens, I need you to absorb the remaining heat.

I've never done anything like that.

You can do this.

I know you can.

Okay, ten seconds. Time to ride or die, people.

Let's rock.

[rock music playing]

Where'd he go?

I don't know, but I'm detecting new activity right under the surface.

Fifty meters down.

No, no, wait, 90 meters down.

One hundred and ten meters. 120 meters.

Whoa! Flash is doing his thing underground, y'all.

So get ready.

[screaming]

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

You don't see that every day.

Not that I'm complaining, but how did you do that?

[pants] Phased into the water table under the city,

then released it into the lava channel.

I stopped the meltdown,

but not the massive heat exchange that was released.

What I couldn't stop, but knew Birch could.

Otherwise, everybody within a ten block radius…

…would've been fried like a Bananas Foster's in the French Quarter.

Mark and I are going to Mardi Gras next year.

Okay.

Wait. So, saving hundreds of lives--

Try thousands.

…saving that many lives is what I just did?

Yeah.

Looks like you're the father Harold deserves after all.

You okay?

You used your powers again.

I know. I know--

To save us.

Thanks, Dad.

I love you. I love you.

Okay. Okay.

Social Services is on their way with Harold.

They should be here any minute.

[exhales]

I can't believe they're actually letting me have custody of my son.

That evidence you found saved my ass.

Plus, Harold is almost 18

and Judge Hankerson let him decide where he wanted to be.

-And, you know, with his mom being-- -MIA as always?

You and Harold are getting another chance. A real one this time.

It's all because of you two.

And The Flash.

Yeah, but…

[sighs]

you're the one who told him not to give up on me.

[chuckles]

-I'm just really grateful. -Yeah.

Thanks. Thank you.

And if there's ever anything I can do for you, just let me know.

Uh… Just be there for Harold.

-Are you okay? -I will be.

Hey there, kiddo.

Hey.

Come on.

Dinner is on me. We've got a lot to catch up on.

[exhales]

Barry, they are gonna be all right.

I guess the real question is…

are you?

Come to gloat?

No. Kind of the opposite.

I guess you saw the first article for our new profile section.

-You mean yours? -Taylor,

I know how this looks and…

I want to apologize.

Yes, Iris loves the Sanchez story, but we are running

your piece on Rosie Levin next week.

And our audience deserves to read it.

Thanks.

So, tell me, what did I do to deserve

getting stabbed in the back by my own supervisor?

Iris assigned you to help me,

not run me over, which is exactly what you did.

I didn't mean to. And you're right, I shouldn't have done that.

I just-- I got excited, and I guess I felt like

Lydia's story was something our readers needed right now.

And that's how I felt about my story.

Iris did, too, until you called in a favor with the boss.

Guess you learned that in prison.

[scoffs]

You're right. I got lost in a great story.

You stole my byline.

Taylor, we are still publishing your article.

Because Iris is a journalist with ethics.

Something you are clearly lacking.

Fine. Good to know.

Look, I messed up. I said I'm sorry.

It won't happen again.

But I am still your supervisor.

So I'm hoping we can get past this.

Okay?

I'm gonna destroy you. Yeah?

Shouldn't we be toasting with champagne?

Mmm-mmm. Plain old light beer, that was Henry's favorite.

And I used to give him hell about it. I'd say,

"You're a doctor, you should have better taste."

Then he'd laugh and he'd say,

"Well, I'll drink something more expensive when you buy it."

[all laughing]

Do you guys remember when Henry filled in on Dad's softball team?

Oh, my gosh, what a disaster.

What? What happened?

Well, even as a kid,

I knew that you're not supposed to catch a ball with your face.

[Cecile] Oh, no.

No. Really?

Yeah. Right in the nose.

Good thing he was a doctor. He was able to reset it himself.

Hey, babe, are you okay?

Yeah, no, it's… you know, it's nice to hear everybody remembering him this way.

What do you remember the most?

Yeah, little things, mostly.

[chuckles]

Um…

Like, [hesitating] he never made me

clean my plate at dinner, even when all I'd eat were carbs,

like mac and cheese or those Hawaiian dinner rolls.

[Iris] Mmm.

I… I kept asking him

to read me the same bedtime story over and over.

It was one about the hippo who went to school

and made cookies for everyone, and became their friends.

I can see how ridiculous that must have been now.

No, I'm sure he enjoyed it.

[exhales]

Mostly, I just remember being loved.

I still miss him, every day.

And that is okay.

Yeah.

Well…

happy birthday, Dad.

So if Birch didn't kill those two, then who did?

I've checked every fire-based meta human in here,

everyone's either still at Iron Heights or alibied up.

So, what do we do now?

I know what Joe would say.

No suspects? Then shift your focus to where it matters.

The victims.

But Stan and Donna were different ages, races and genders.

They both worked at O'Shaughnessy's.

So the killer's a disgruntled employee?

Or they were chosen at random, and we're still missing something.

What are you thinking?

Chester, the cold fusion data we pulled off the bodies,

could you program the variables into the satellites?

Sure. What am I looking for?

More victims.

If there's a meta serial killer out there, we need to find them…

before somebody else gets hurt.