Panic room
“You brought him here? Are you nuts?” Tony hissed, his voice pitched high in disbelief.
“We blindfolded him, didn’t we?” I retorted. I almost laughed at the incredulous expressions on Tony’s face.
Tony was staring at one of the heads of Hydra, sitting blindfolded and bound to an Ikea chair in the Stark Tower. Good thing Tony still had that ridiculous glass panic room he once built.
Steve was pacing the floor. Every few minutes he’d flex his hand which quickly balled into a fist again. He looked as if he was physically fighting off that big green monster called rage.
Tony was worrying his lip and staring at the wanted criminal that was patiently awaiting his turn.
I was trying to come up with a way to get him to confess. Having heard how bad of a criminal he really was, a confession might not come so easy.
“My men will be coming for me.” Schmidt piped up.
“Your men are dead, Schmidt.” I responded.
“Cut off one head, two more shall take its place.”
I frowned. What did that mean? He had more men somewhere? Most likely. Thankfully he didn’t even know where he was.
“Let’s talk, you and I, Schmidt.” I instead responded.
“What will we talk about?”
“How about what you’re planning. Taking over the world with magic?”
“Science.” He bit back, “But I understand your confusion. Great power has always baffled primitive men.”
Did he just call me a basic bitch?
“Why steal the money from Pierce, then?”
“Money, mister Barnes, is the only way to get what I need. Society has made it that way.”
“Don’t you say his name.” Steve growled. He stepped in between me and the glass. Perhaps it made him think I was safer.
“Did you think I didn’t know his name, Captain? Then you are more disappointing than I had thought you to be. I needed someone like him. He was perfect.”
“What for?” I hesitantly asked.
“To take blame. A prostitute. A loner. No friends. Family. Barely a place to live.”
Way to boost my confidence.
“And,” Schmidt continued, “Pierce would fall for it so easily. You steal half a million, end up dead.” He shrugged, “Problem solved.”
Steve’s veins bulged and in a flash he reminded me of a bull, scraping his hoofs in the dust before trying to impale someone on his horns.
“Steve.” I whispered, touching his arm. Maybe it would calm him down. Steve turned his withering stare towards me and for a second I almost regretted it. I was glad to notice his icy stare thawed into his familiar blue eyes as quick as they could. He frowned at me. I wondered what he was thinking.
“Ah. So that is how the great Captain Rogers got mixed up in this.” Schmidt spoke in his annoying all-knowing voice, “The major key to the plot. The thing I didn’t count on. How could I?”
“You two know each other?” I asked. Steve did seem to hate him a lot. I mean, I couldn’t stand the guy but Steve was about ready to throw him off of a bridge. It seemed more personal.
“Of course. The Captain and I go way back to his golden days. Don’t we?” Schmidt almost gloated.
“That’s enough.” Steve pulled me and Tony out of the room and closed the door.
“What the hell?” I asked.
Steve looked at Tony, “Tony, do we have enough evidence? Can we call SHIELD?”
Tony shrugged, “J?”
“The evidence would be circumstantial at best, sir. A confession in which he says he stole the money would be advised.”
“Shit.” Steve murmured, flexing his jaw and clenching his fists by his side.
Steve told Tony and me to stay outside. He promised he’d get Schmidt to confess.
“It’ll all be over soon. I promised, didn’t I?” Steve smiled, just barely touching my palm before turning around and disappearing into the room again.
Tony raised his eyebrow.
“What?” I sighed. He knew a look like that. It meant getting asked questions.
“Nothing.” Tony shrugged, “Wanna take a look at what Captain Courageous is doing?”
I doubted if Steve would like it. I nodded anyway. Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back, right?
What could Steve and apparently an old nemesis be discussing?