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They walked into a darkened room filled with monitors showing live feeds from all across the city. One big touchscreen had SuperWatch on it.

“You guys seriously use SuperWatch?” Mark snickered.

“It’s the best way to get the word on the street,” said Zee.

Ward typed on the expansive keyboard. Otis sidled up to Joan. “What exactly is Perry doing?”

Joan checked her phone. Still no word. She couldn’t think of a good excuse, so she admitted, “I think he’s taking a nap. Which he’ll need if he’s gonna help us.”

“How did you get him to agree to this?”

Uh, I didn’t?“Trick’s giving him a bad name. He wants it cleared so he can pursue legit business ventures.”

“An art gallery,” Otis said, almost like he’d remembered something.

“Yeah.” Joan turned to face him. “How did you know that?”

One of the monitors zoomed in on a rooftop with Trick pacing and swishing his fugly purple cape. Ethel marched dutifully behind him. He had a few armed guards because of course the coward did.

The Supers gathered around the screen, Mark and Joan following. The camera panned and caught Sadie tied to a tall pole, squirming and trying to get free.

An orange haze blurred Joan’s vision. She had to shut her eyes before fire shot out. That didn’t erase the horrible image from her mind’s eye.

“Is that her?” Zee asked.

Joan opened her eyes. The haze was still there. “That’s her.”

Darlene cleared her throat. Joan made a fist, ready to pop off at her.

The Super nodded at Joan’s hand and said, “I have a plan.”

CHAPTER20

Sadie watched the three men with big guns guarding her on the skyscraper roof. Several more were gathered around Trick. The Villain was large and imposing, with chiseled features and a ripped physique. Hide and Volt circled around him, growing more and more fidgety.

She twisted her hands behind her back, grimacing through the thick tape across her mouth. The plastic zip-tie had her pinned against the metal pole warmed by the late-day sun.

“Where are they?” Hide said.

“They’ll be here,” Trick said. He glanced at Sadie.

A wave of confusion washed over her. Mind control? Why else had she followed him up here? It was like her brain and body were two separate entities, ’cause her body wanted to get the hell out of there.

What did Trick want with her? In moments of lucidity, she’d heardJoanandMark, but everything was fuzzy.

A roar sounded through the sky. Sadie blinked, trying to clear her mind, and saw a figure in black shooting two long streams of fire. They landed in a crouch, dark hair falling over both shoulders.

Spark.

Spark stood, searching the area. The armed guards moved closer to Sadie.

“About time you showed up,” Trick said.

“Melvin, you shitbag!” Spark shouted.

Melvin?

She looked at Sadie. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”