Page 69 of Fanning the Flames

Oops, she needed water for the coffeemaker. There was a pitcher of cucumber water, but that would be gross to use. Ward had taken up post at his laptop after getting Gus a legal pad and pen, so she couldn’t ask him for help.

She subtly caught Joan’s eye, wiggled the bag of coffee, pointed to the pot and mouthed, “Water?”

Joan shrugged, then waved likeJust leave it. Then beckoned Sadie over to the table. Wait, she could actually partake? Sit in on a meeting of superpowered minds?

Hell yes!

She discreetly slid into the chair next to Joan’s.

Gus crossed her arms and leaned back. “What have you done to stop them?” she asked.

“We’ve fought several times with Ether, Squawk and Prowl,” Darlene said.

“Prowl gets off on that,” Joan said.

“But what have youdone? Set a trap? Shaken down their associates?”

“I was hoping they would be of help.” Darlene nodded at the former Villains. “They conveniently know very little.”

“Is Otis tossing you into the frontlines? There was a time I was you, the woman with the most power. They liked to send me in first to get shot at, run over, fight whoever came my way. Then they would swoop in and take the credit.”

Darlene gave a decisive headshake. “I’m treated as an equal.”

Gus looked at Zee. “I hope you all are.”

Zee seemed kind of surprised but pleased at her acknowledgment.

“Times have changed, Gus,” Otis said.

“But threats remain a constant.” Gus wrote something on her legal pad. “Big Quake thrives on power. No better way for him to exert his control than by taking down the city that got rid of all its Villains. Have people see who’sreallyin charge.”

“Where do you think he’ll strike next?” Zee said. “He’s taken out one of the main cell towers in the city. That’s caused considerable service disruptions. And SuperWatch isn’t up and running yet.”

“Super—what? What are you talking about?”

“SuperWatch. The app. Where we do everything?”

Gus blinked at them. “Is this one of those computer things?”

“It’s on your phone,” Kade helpfully supplied.

“I don’t use those. Nothing wrong with writing a letter.”

Definite Grandma Energy coming from Gus. Sadie gave her a polite smile—she loved handwritten notes.

Darlene clasped her hands on the table. “The internet is how everything is done today. These Villains are strategically interfering with all forms of commerce, communications, medical records…”

“Hitting people where it hurts the most,” Otis said.

“I imagine it’s causing you a headache,” said Gus.

“We rely heavily on SuperWatch.”

She skewered him with a sharp glare. “You rely on a computer instead of your instincts?”

“It gives us the word on the street in real time,” Kade said.

“What are your citizens saying?”

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