Chapter 57: Lynn: Pepper, You Have a Heart of Gold
Inside the body bag, besides the skeleton, there was an ID badge.
Lynn pulled out a tissue, carefully wiped off the badge, and took a look. The skeleton's name was Rick Davies.
The photo on the badge matched the face of the spirit. His listed employer was a construction company called 'Fuglin Group.'
Lynn pulled out his phone and dialed George Stacy.
When the call connected, Lynn got straight to it. "George, I need you to run a name for me. Rick Davies. He's a construction worker for the Fuglin Group."
George didn't ask why. "No problem. Give me ten minutes." He left his office and headed straight for the tech department.
Lynn hung up and watched as the bloody tears on the spirit's face dried up. Its obsession was fading.
A pulse of death energy flowed from the spirit and into Lynn's body.
It felt like a warm current, and the pleasant sensation made Lynn's whole body relax.
[Host: Lynn Hall]
[Age: Twenty-two]
[Identity: Emissary of Death (34%)]
[Supernatural Abilities: Physical fitness at five times peak human potential, Mystic Potion Crafting (LV3), Phantasm (LV3), Super-Sense (LV3), Bone Shield (LV3), Heat Vision (LV1), Immortality.]
He checked the system panel. The Emissary of Death's progress had ticked up by 1%.
Lynn closed the panel, satisfied.
'So, that spirit's obsession wasn't revenge. It just wanted its body to be found. How weird.'
Just as he was thinking, Pepper walked over and crouched beside him. "How did you know there was a body in there?"
"Tony didn't tell you who I am?" Lynn asked back.
"No. But… I'm guessing you're some kind of wizard?"
"Hmm. Sorcerer."
Lynn thought about what Tony and Natasha already believed. 'Might as well lean into it.'
'That vampire count was the one who came up with it, anyway. It's a good cover.'
Hearing him say "Sorcerer," Pepper's mouth opened slightly in shock.
After a beat, she asked, "What is a Sorcerer? Is that different from a wizard?"
"It is."
Lynn was about to explain the difference when George's call came through.
He picked it up. "Got it," George said. "Rick Davies, thirty-seven. No criminal record. Currently employed at the Fuglin Group, working on the new subway line. Why are you asking about him?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "You're saying he's... currently, actively working?"
"Yeah. Is there a problem?"
"A big one. But George... this is officially above our pay grade."
Lynn hung up and immediately dialed Natasha.
She answered, her voice low and husky. "Well, hello, handsome. What made you decide to call me? Miss me already?"
Natasha loved to flirt. It seemed to be her way of blowing off steam.
'Too bad,' Lynn thought, 'that stuff only works on straight-laced guys like Banner.'
'For a veteran like him, it was just child's play.'
"Natasha, are you on a mission?"
"Nope. On leave. Guest-bartending. What's up?"
"I need you at Tony's private hospital. And you should probably bring Steve. And anyone else who knows about the Skrulls."
The second he said "Skrulls," Natasha's teasing tone vanished, replaced by cold professionalism. "Ten minutes. I'm on my way."
Lynn hung up and looked at Pepper. "Pepper, this hospital... or, this basement. When was it built?"
"Three years ago."
Pepper didn't hesitate. "Tony's private hospital used to be on the Upper East Side. We moved it here after... an incident."
"As for this basement, it was an expansion, built three years ago specifically to store backup medical equipment."
After answering, she couldn't help but ask, "That... 'Skrull'... what is it? Is it like the Chitauri? More aliens?"
Seeing her bright, curious eyes, Lynn just shrugged. "You're better off not knowing. It's not that it's a secret, it's just... safer for you."
"Fine."
Pepper stood up, found a place to sit, and then suddenly asked, "By the way, what kind of house are you looking for?"
"A villa? A community? Or a high-rise apartment?"
***
By the time Natasha and Steve arrived, they found Lynn and Pepper deep in a discussion about the pros and cons of villas versus condos.
"Guys, is this really the time to be discussing real estate?"
Natasha walked in, her leather jacket creaking, and looked straight at Lynn. "Where's the Skrull?"
"There."
Lynn pointed to the skeleton on the floor and handed Natasha the ID badge. "Pepper said this basement was an expansion built three years ago. She just checked the records. The contractor was the Fuglin Construction Group."
"This skeleton belongs to Rick Davies. But I just had my partner run a check. Rick Davies is alive, and is currently working on a subway line."
Hearing this, Natasha and Steve locked eyes.
They both knew Skrulls could impersonate anyone.
'So, Lynn was saying... a Skrull killed the real Rick Davies and replaced him.'
"This is Tony's private hospital," Steve said grimly, looking at the bones. "The Skrull must have replaced him to get access... to get Tony's DNA."
"We need to move on this fake Rick Davies. Now."
"I wouldn't recommend that."
Natasha shook her head, vetoing Steve's plan. "Now that we know he's a Skrull, we need to track him. See what his patterns are, who his contacts are."
"For all we know, his 'friends' are Skrulls, too."
"You're making this too complicated."
Lynn cut in. "Did you both forget about the Truth Potion? Just grab the bastard, make him drink it, and have him cough up the locations of all his buddies."
"Right."
Both of them nodded, chagrined. "I completely forgot about the potion."
Natasha then looked at Lynn. "So what are you doing here?"
"Protecting Ms. Potts."
Lynn gestured to Pepper, who was sitting nearby, and smiled. "She's my new boss. And a great one at that."
"I mean, how many bosses do you know who will find you the house of your dreams, for free? Not many."
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