Marvel's Captain America: Sub Rosa by McDonald David

Author:McDonald, David [McDonald, David]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781772752038
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Published: 2016-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Freedom Foundation Offices, Washington, D.C.: 2100 hours

It was hard to keep track of time in the basement room. No windows let the sunlight in, and there was just the ever-present glare of the overhead lights. Steve filled the long wait by testing his body. Even in a bare room there are a number of exercises you can do, and Steve knew them all. Push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, isometrics—he worked his way through them. Slowly, his body responded, each movement coming slightly easier than the previous one. The only time he paused his exertions was for the tray of food that was slid through a slot in the door at regular intervals, shoveling it down quickly and then resuming his workout. By his estimation, he had been in the room for about thirty-six hours when the door finally opened.

It was Karl, his handgun out and leveled at Steve. “How are you feeling, Captain?” He was careful to keep some distance between them, standing near the open door with Steve against the wall.

“I’d feel a lot better if I wasn’t locked down here,” Steve said. “And if Katherine wasn’t up there.”

He noticed the shift in Karl’s eyes.

“Is she still up there, or have they taken her away?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Karl said. “They left about an hour ago.”

Even with the gun in his hand, he took a step back at the anger in Steve’s eyes.

“Hang on a second,” Karl said. “I’m on your side.”

“Are you, Karl? You have a gun, and you’re between me and the door.”

“Oh, this.” He looked down at the gun, then clicked the safety back on before holstering it. “I wasn’t sure you’d give me a chance to talk if I didn’t have it.”

“I’m listening,” Steve said. “But not for long.”

“After you left, some more of those TLF goons turned up. They were keeping a pretty close eye on us all, and every time I even looked like heading in this direction, one of them would follow me.” He walked over and took a seat on the bed.

“They spent a fair bit of time running through some computer model with Katherine, demonstrating how effective that tool she created would be at defeating their government’s firewall. I tell you what, Katherine is good—very good. I never would have come up with that solution. It’s elegant.”

“And then?”

“Well, Gary managed to regain some of his backbone, when it came to his money, at least. He wouldn’t let Ernst leave with her until the wire transfer processed. Ernst tried to bluster his way out, but Gary pretty much threatened to call the cops if he tried to leave with Katherine. Gary said that he’d scupper the whole deal if he had to.” Karl shook his head. “I guess that shows exactly where his real priorities are. I can’t believe I bought the whole ‘freedom is a right’ line.”

“You shouldn’t blame yourself, Karl,” Steve said. “We all need something to believe in.”

“I guess so,” Karl said, then changed the subject, as if embarrassed.

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