The Flash recovers in an alleyway. The Flash races back to Central City Police Headquarters, to resume his battle with Goldface. The Flash stomps Goldface through several floors, and the street, ending up in the sewers. The Flash is relentless in his attack, never giving Goldface the chance to react. Lulled into a false sense of confidence, the Flash is sucker punched by Goldface, and falls unconscious, as the sewer tunnel collapses upon him. Goldface walks away from the fight in triumph. The Flash eventually makes his way back up to the street, and resumes his civilian identity, that of police forensic scientist, Barry Allen.
Mick Rory, formerly the notorious Heat Wave, has taken sanctum in Allen's apartment. Senator Creed Phillips discovers that his doctor has been murdered by Central City's newest vigilante, the Eradicator. Police Sargent Jack O'Malley is gunned down by one of Goldface's assassins. Goldface threatens to order further assassinations of police officers, should the Flash appear in Central City again. Mistaken for a prowler, Rory is attacked, and subdued, by Captain Invincible. Allen acknowledges that Rory is, in fact, his houseguest. Captain Invincible asks Allen to relay a message to the Flash, proposing a team-up to take down the Eradicator.
Phillips begins showing visible signs of stress, frequently manifesting as panic attacks. The Flash plots a stratagem against Goldface with Rory. Heat Wave comes out of retirement to steal the loot from a pair of jewel thieves. Heat Wave's newest Hot Rod backfires, rendering him unconscious, and at the thieves' mercy. Wanted by Goldface, the thieves hand Heat Wave over to Central City's newest crime boss. Fiona Webb calls Allen, never realizing that she is speaking to Rory. Webb is concerned over Phillips' increasingly erratic behavior. The Eradicator shakes down a would-be mugger for information about Goldface.
Having ascertained Goldface's location, the Eradicator executes the thug. "Heat Wave" is revealed to be the Flash, in disguise. With the element of surprise on his side, the Flash attacks Goldface, crashing them both through a window, and down to the lake below. The Flash's assault proves futile. The Flash is barely able to escape from Goldface, and reach the water's surface before he drowns. His respite, though, is merely momentary, as Goldface is quick to drag the Flash back under. The Eradicator appears and disintegrates all of Goldface's minions. Goldface leaves the Flash to drown, tied to an anchor beneath the surface. The Eradicator awaits his chance to murder Goldface.
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