The Flash is literally caught in a death grip, as deranged murderer, Clive Yorkin drains away his very life essence. As the Flash begins to slip away, his thoughts turn to his deceased wife, Picture News reporter, Iris West Allen. The psychic drain sours for Yorkin. Sickened, the monstrous brute flees. Having greatly recovered, the Flash sees to Yorkin's other victim, Heat Wave. The Flash's old foe is in a state of shock. The Flash rushes Heat Wave to the nearest hospital. The Flash, as police forensics scientist, Barry Allen, meets with detective Frank Curtis, at police headquarters.
Allen introduces Curtis to Melanie, a teenaged psychic. Melanie uses her extra-sensory powers to track down the hit man, who injected Allen with a lethal dose of drugs. With Melanie waiting in the car, Allen and Curtis storm the hit man's hotel room. Under interrogation, the hit man, Patterson, professes innocence in the murder of West-Allen. Patterson was only hired to kill Allen. Unbeknownst to Allen and Curtis, Patterson is being watched. Patterson receives a phone call. After the party on the other end of the line confirms that Patterson's visitors are police officers, the phone detonates.
Patterson is killed instantly, but Allen is fast enough to use his super-speed abilities to protect Curtis. Returning to the car, Allen and Curtis find a note from Melanie, who has departed. During her search for Patterson, Melanie kept picking up Allen's thoughts. Melanie journeys to Whitlock Manor, where West-Allen was murdered, to aid in finding her murderer, Yorkin. Melanie locates a shard of glass, containing Yorkin's psychic imprint, and sets out to track him down. On a routine patrol to roust out transients, two police officers stumble across Yorkin.
After calling for back-up, the officers give chase. Yorkin eludes them. Returning to their car to call it in, the officers are surprised by Yorkin, who springs up from the back seat, then drains away their life essences. A group of itinerants investigate the commotion, only to fall victim to Yorkin, as well. By the time police back-up arrives, Yorkin has left a half dozen corpses in his wake. The Flash learns about the attack, from a television broadcast. The Flash also learns, that Heat Wave has escaped from the hospital. The Flash assists the fire department in dousing a tenement building.
After rescuing a family, along with a pair of firefighters, the Flash investigates the source of the blaze. The Flash encounters Heat Wave, wildly firing his hotrod, searching for Yorkin. After disarming Heat Wave, the Flash carries him away. Unbeknownst to the Flash, Melanie has tracked Yorkin to that same building. The young girl barely has time to conceal herself, before Yorkin makes his presence known.
Notes:
- This issue contains the Hostess Superhero Ad, "Green Lantern vs Triclops: Three-Eyed Keeper of the Cave"
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