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Chapter Three Smoke and Mirrors
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"He's all over the globe. Robotics labs, weapons facilities, jet propulsion labs. Reports of a metal man, or men, coming in and emptying the place," Maria Hill informed Steve. He walked alongside the women and were on their way back to the conference room. Zatanna looked up from where she stood waiting for the two by the staircase and joined them.
"Fatalities?" Steve asked as the three ascended the staircase.
"Only when engaged. Mostly guys left in a fugue state going on about old memories, worst fears, and 'something too fast to see,'" Maria said to the two. Zatanna narrowed her eyes while her hand slid up the rail of the stairs, "The Maximoffs. I️ suppose it does make some sense he'd go after them. They have someone in common."
Maria shook her head, "Not anymore."
She handed Steve the tablet and placed between himself and Zatanna. The photo on the screen, portrayed Baron Strucker, dead, with the word 'peace' written in blood above his body. Steve and Zatanna stopped walking once the reached the top of the stairs and noticed Clint on the phone down the hall.
"Barton. Might have something," Steve called to the brunette man. Zatanna stood slightly behind him, giving her better a sight at Clint.
"I gotta go," Clint said and hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Steve asked him.
"Girlfriend," Clint said, nonchalantly. Zatanna smirked at his half of a lie. Steve nodded and walked away to enter the conference room. Clint turned to Zatanna and gave warning look which caused her to hold her hands up in innocence.
Zatanna walked after Clint to join the others after Steve had walked ahead of them. Natasha, Tony, Thor and Bruce glanced up to see the missing theee Avengers enter the room. Steve walked towards Thor and handed him the tablet with the photo of Baron Strucker
"What's this?" Tony asked once Thor handed him the tablet.
"A message," Zatanna said to him and crossed her arms.
Steve nodded, "Ultron killed Strucker."
"Damn, he did a Banksy at the crime scene, just for us," The playboy joked. Zatanna rolled her eyes at his reference.
Natasha analyzed the photo, "This is a smoke screen. Why send a message when you've just given a speech?"
"Strucker knew something that Ultron wanted us to miss," Steve said, realization dawning on him. Natasha took a seat in front of one of the computers and after a few moments she spoke again.
