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“I know. That’s why we have to go in without guns blazing. We’ll bring our outfits. I’ll drive, okay?”

“Shit.” Joan instructed her phone to call Perry as they hurried to gather their gear. It went to voicemail. “Fucking Melvin kidnapped Sadie. We’re on our way to make a deal with the Supers. Meet us there. Or I’ll let you know where Mel’s keeping her. Stay close to your phone.”

It didn’t matter what Perry wanted. Sadie needed them. Needed Joan to step up.

She went to reply to Melvin’s text. She wanted to ask if Sadie was okay. To talk to her. To reassure her everything would be all right and they were coming for her. That she was sorry for everything and would do whatever it took to make things right.

Her internal fire blazed with a roiling inferno of emotion. Melvin didn’t need to hear any of that. Asshole only needed to know one thing.

I will end you for this.

* * *

The Vector City Superhero headquarters was a modern concrete structure with imposing columns at the front. Like it dared evildoers to fuck around and find out.

Joan shot up several fireballs to be seen through the high windows along one side. Mark sent a few large chunks of ice. One bumped the glass and broke into pieces.

She checked her phone again for anything from Perry (probably too busy afternoon napping) or Melvin (definitely too busy being an asshole).

Someone raced onto the sidewalk in a red jumpsuit. Wait—was this Zee? She’d never seen them unmasked. They had flat features set in warm undertones, full lips and tousled straight black hair.

“What are you doing?” they said.

“We’re ready to make a deal,” Joan said.

“We know what Trick’s up to,” Mark added.

Zee studied them for a long moment. “You’re not here to cause trouble, right? If I let you in?—”

“He’s taken someone hostage,” Joan said. “He wants us to join him and kidnapped someone I care about. A civilian. The people you’re supposed to be protecting.”

“All right.” Zee nodded. “I’m vouching for you. If you do anything?—”

“We don’t want to be here any more than you want us here,” Mark said. “We have to stop Melvin once and for all.”

Zee didn’t say another word. Just led them to a nondescript entrance around the back. They settled their hand on an electronic pad, which opened a small section of the concrete wall.

It was surprisingly bright and airy inside. Light colors on the walls, an Art Deco-style crystal chandelier. The spacious lobby was filled with plush furnishings.

“What the hell?” Mark muttered, taking it all in. “This puts our janky warehouse to shame.”

New Sidekick hustled down the wide marble staircase. “You don’t have any meetings scheduled today,” he said, looking up and down from a tablet. “Are these citizens in need of help? I just saw some fire and ice.”

Zee glanced at the twin sources of fire and ice. “They’re here to help with something.”

“Welcome.” New Sidekick gave them a polite smile. “I’m Ward. Can I get you something to drink? Mineral water? Fair trade organic coffee?”

Sidekick Ward walked over to a beverage station. Zee shook their head and said, “This is time-sensitive. I need you to look for signs of activity from Trick.”

“Yes, Mx. Race.”

Zee walked ahead of them up the stairs. The quartet reached a richly carpeted landing. Joan snorted at the paintings—actualpaintings—of each Super along the wall. “That’s a bit much.”

Zee made a vague shrug. Farther down both sides of the hallway hung paintings of former Supers from the past hundred plus years, retired or dead. The one of Amazing Woman, young and perky and blonde with a 1960s flair, looked like it’d been torn at some point.

Ward headed to a partially open door to the right. “Whom shall I say is here to see the Supers?”

“Spark and Ice,” Mark said.