A Legendary Figure

Professor Wilson answered the phone quickly. Just as Alvin and the old man called Tom Yaso were exchanging knowing looks, a voice came through: "Alvin, you should be out at sea right now. What do you need me for?"

Alvin nudged Stark, who was just as curious. The guy was on tiptoe, leaning in over Alvin's shoulder to eavesdrop, looking downright ridiculous.

Accepting Stark's raised middle finger with a grin, Alvin said into the phone, "Professor Wilson, I ran into an old guy at sea who claims he was your student...

"Uh, he says your old flame moved into his basement...

"Haha, Professor Wilson, how did you pull that off?"

Dr. Wilson let out a troubled sigh at the other end of the line. "Put Tom Yaso on. I don't have any old flames. The woman who moved into his basement is a countess, and exactly the sort you don't like..."

Alvin had already had a few suspicions about what the "coffin" and "basement" meant. From Dr. Wilson's answer, he could more or less guess what kind of woman she was.

But that was hardly a problem for Alvin. The Vampires had been wiped out, but it was only natural that a few remnants remained.

It had nothing to do with him. The guilty party could answer for the mess he'd made—Nick Fury was to blame!

In response to Dr. Wilson's helpless tone, Alvin laughed. "No problem. If the countess really is your old flame, you can invite her to live in Hell's Kitchen.

"As long as she can quit drinking blood, I can guarantee her safety...

"By the way, who exactly are you? A history professor at Columbia University really shouldn't know so many strange people..."

Professor Wilson was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice,