2019.

Gracie and Kevin left the penthouse through a different elevator than they entered, a secret elevator hidden behind the refrigerator, which slid away from the wall with surprising ease. 

“How did you sneak all this construction into the Sepulchre?” Gracie asked.

“I had to get special permission from the owner of the building,” said Kevin, “which is me.” 

The hidden elevator brought them down to a private parking deck, where Kevin guided them to a more nondescript car than Gracie could imagine him owning, a Ford Taurus with a faded hunter green paint job.

“This isn’t exactly the Crimson Wraith Roadster,” said Gracie.

Kevin nodded. “This is not the Crimson Wraith Roadster.”

“Aren’t superhero cars supposed to be more, you know, cool?”

“If they want to get stopped in traffic.” He handed her the keys.

She grimaced. “I, um, I’m not actually that good of a driver.” 

“Don’t worry. It’s self driving.”

“This car is self driving?”

“With a little remote help from the Crypt, but it shouldn’t look like it’s self driving, so you get to take that seat. I’ll be in the back, suiting up.”

Gracie squeezed the keys and felt their metal bite into the flesh of her palm. She had never done anything like this. Every fight Gracie had ever gotten into had only been in response to someone else starting it. Trouble found her all on its own. For the first time, she was seeking it, and that made her heart race with a whole new kind of fear. 

But Kevin had faith in her. He wanted her there. Without any confidence of her own, Gracie would have to rely on his.

The inside of the Taurus was a lot more impressive than its exterior. As she sat, an elaborate computer display lit up to greet her. 

From behind her, Kevin said, “Crypt, this is Specter Prime. We are in position. You may take the wheel when ready.”

Danny’s voice came through the car speaker. “Roger that, Specter Prime.”

The car came to life and began to make its way out of the parking deck, onto the streets of Titan City, seeking the Haunt that was following Betsy.

Their pursuit led them north, away from the luxury living of those who made their home at the edge of Titan City’s beating heart, up into the more modest neighborhoods. They passed the campus of Titan University, driving through the coffee shops, art galleries, and late-night pizza places surrounding it, and crossed the Brennert once more into an industrial region, where the things that actually make life happen were manufactured — food and textiles and construction materials.

Kevin had donned his tunic and armored leggings by the time Danny spoke once more. “Specter Prime, Subject has come to a stop and left her vehicle.”

“What’s the location?”

“You’re not going to believe this. It’s one of the old SnyTech factories. Hasn’t been operational in about five years.”

“I believe it,” said Kevin.

“Yeah, silly me thinking I could surprise you SP. She’s entering the building. Switching to thermal imaging to follow her movements inside.”

“Good work, Crypt. We are minutes away.”

Gracie said, “SnyTech. That’s one of yours?”

“Was, before the Snyder-Finn merger. Some of our SnyTech factories made the transition. Others were phased out. This was one of those.”

It was an uncomfortable connection to the Crimson Wraith’s alter ego. 

“So, why do you think she’s going onto property that was owned by your family,” asked Gracie. “Like, your family by blood. What does that mean?”

“For one,” said Kevin, “it means she might know even more about our operation than we’ve considered. We should expect her to be prepared.”

“Prepared, how?”

He slid his leather gauntlets into place, covering his wrist communicator. “Considering she had her apartment rigged to explode and called ahead to have her neighbor rescue her cat, we should expect that she knew she was followed and that she has something special prepared for us here.”

How did he say these very scary things with such a level tone? 

“Fucking hell, like what? Another bomb? Some kind of toxic gas? Machine guns? Ninjas?”

“Before I enter the building, Danny will report on what he saw from the Haunts. Their scan will include light, sound, and electronic signals on various frequencies that should reveal the number of living beings inside, any machinery in motion creating heat or sound, and most electronic devices. That will give a general idea of what is awaiting me inside.”

“Awaiting you? As in just you? I’m not going in too?”

“No, I want you to stay back.”

As much as Gracie hated not knowing what they were going up against, she hated the idea of not being able to help him even more. 

“Um, okay, I appreciate your concern for my safety…”

“It’s not that,” said Kevin. “You’re highly capable and would be an asset in a fight. But if we have any advantage, it’s that she doesn’t know you are one of us now. Whatever intel she may have on the Crimson Wraith, it’s highly unlikely that you are a part of it. That’s why I need you to stay back and stay at the ready. You may be the one thing she can’t prepare for. Does that make sense?”

One of us now. What an incredible thing to hear him say.

Gracie nodded. So, she wasn’t getting sidelined. She was their ace in the hole. But she still didn’t like Kevin going in on his own, no matter how many times he had already done that as the Crimson Wraith. 

They arrived at the SnyTech factory to find it lit only by the light of distant streetlamps. Inside, it was dark. The sagging chain-link fence no longer offered any protection. Many of its windows had been shattered, and a few graffiti tags scattered about its chipped concrete surface.

As promised, Danny reported on the findings of his scan. “She’s alone. Made her way up to the rooftop. Has a few small pieces of electronics with her, but not sure what kind. Also, she’s blue.”

Through the Crimson Wraith mask, Kevin asked, “What was that, Crypt?”

“Blue. She got up to the rooftop, stripped down to her underwear, and covered herself in blue paint.”

“The fuck?” said Gracie.

“I guess we’ll find what that’s about soon enough,” said Kevin. “Specter Second will be staying in the vehicle until needed.”

Specter Second? That was her. Gracie had a codename.

Then Kevin extended a small plastic case to Gracie. “This is for you.”

With his face once more obscured by his mask and voice modified to a spectral echo, accepting the case from his red-gauntleted hand felt somber, meaningful. This came from the Crimson Wraith. Gracie felt her hands actually shaking a little as she opened it.

“Is that… a mask?”

“Tactical goggles,” he said. “Yes, they will help to hide your identity, but also they will give your eyes some protection. Their yellow lenses will help you see better in low light. Also you’ll find an earwig in there which will allow you to speak on our frequency.”

“Okay.” Her voice sounded small to her when she said it.

“I won’t call you in unless I absolutely need to. And things up there go badly, you will hear me say the codeword, ‘ashes.’ That will be your signal to leave. Get out of here and get to safety. Understood?”

“Ashes. Got it.” She inserted the earwig.

“Good,” he said. “Specters Prime and Second going quiet, Crypt. Engaging Subject.”

“Confirmed, SP. Be careful out there.”

“Yeah,” said Gracie. “Be careful. Please.”

“I will,” he said, and left the car.

“Haunts have a visual on you, Specter Prime. Specter Second, you should see him on the dashboard monitor.”

Just like the night Kevin hung Zack off the top of the Snyder-Finn Building, Gracie followed his movements on the screen in night vision green. This time, though, she watched from above, not from the camera in his mask. 

Gracie saw him enter the SnyTech factory, and a red diamond appeared on the screen to give his approximate location. It showed Kevin making his way up the stairs inside, arriving on the rooftop to finally Edward’s murderer.