"Exonerate?" Coulson asked him, curiously. "How?"
"I have the black book. I have Zemo's journal. I can also get the original telegrams of the information he sent to the SSR."
"How can you be sure he was the spy, Steve?" Phil responded. It wasn't that he didn't want to help the Baron. Rather the opposite, but if they were going to retry a 70-year-old case and free Heinrich Zemo the case needed to be airtight. Especially when dealing with alleged Nazis, the public was not necessarily forgiving or understanding. They would get one chance at this. Phil Coulson knew that if they failed to convince a court that Baron Heinrich Zemo, one of the world's most brilliant minds, was innocent of the crimes he was accused of... there would be no unusually long sentence this time. This time... if they lost the case the Baron Zemo line would come to a quick end. He'd be given execution without a doubt.
Steve said quietly, "His name... was in the telegrams. Spelled out across them... not in any particular order. But so much so there is no way it was a coincidence.
"That may do it. But what do we do when they bring up HYDRA testimonials pointing him out as a high level member during the war?"
"Well obviously they shouldn't be trusted because they are HYDRA and that makes them liars by default."
"Yes, but you do realize... the public doesn't realize how far HYDRA would go to incriminate Zemo..."
"You're right... well looks like Captain America will be giving an account of his direct experience with Baron Zemo. I have one request Phil..."
"You know I'll take care of anything you need..."
"Get the damn mask off his face. While he can emote behind the mask, it'd be more relatable to see him without it. And God knows he needs it, imagine being him... meals via syringe for 70 plus years."
"Can do, Steve." Phil said, before hanging up, and he meant it. Fortunately, he knew that SHIELD now had a way to break the seal. The surgeries to fix the result of the seal was going to be quite a bit harder but not impossible. Coulson knew just how to make it happen, all before the retrial SHIELD would be arranging. Coulson would have gone to any lengths to help the Baron before, but he thought about what Steve had said. 'Imagine being him... meals via syringe for 70 plus years.' He shuddered. He now knew why Zemo had hated needles with a burning passion. Having one in your arm 5 times a day everyday, on top of bi weekly blood draws to check nutrient levels for 70 years or more... that would be Hell. As soon as Zemo was all fixed up, he would bring that man a bacon cheeseburger and a pint of beer. The man probably could use it. It also explained why for a muscular man of 6'2" stature, Zemo was underweight. He was only getting exactly what he needed. And no doubt Zemo preferred to keep it that way despite his weight. Phil knew he wouldn't want to add extra injections where they were unnecessary.
An hour later and Phil groaned. Another surgeon on SHIELD's list that didn't want to operate on Zemo because of his infamy as a Nazi. Why did everyone have to know the Baron's name? He looked at the list, only one more name who specialized in facial reconstruction to try. After explaining the Baron's situation and giving the doctor a moment to think, he was surprised by the answer. "Yes."
Phil sat up straight, he couldn't believe what he heard, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" He was convinced he had imagined the whole thing.
"Yes, of course. I'll do it. I suppose you got a lot of no's for the surprise in your tone."
"I- ah... unfortunately yes, Helen." Phil said, ecstatic he had found someone to do the job. Not only that but Helen could make Zemo's reconstruction the most realistic. He wondered why he didn't call Helen first. He chuckled. "Can you do it in one go?"
