Chapter 3 - Revelation
Steve gapes at them open-mouthed. "You think..." he looks at them each until they turn away or look down. Natasha is the only one who holds his gaze so he speaks to her. "You've got to be kidding me! You have to know that I would never do anything like that!"
"We didn't say you did but," Natasha starts but Steve cuts her off.
"But what?!"
"But," she goes on "you asked where the evidence points. And it leads to you. Most of the pictures came off your phone and you have access to the tower. Also, like you said yourself, after reciting Bucky's basic schedule, you are with him most of the time."
"So? That doesn't mean anything! And, is there something wrong with taking pictures? How do you know they are from my phone?" Steve says, rising to his feet.
"Well," Tony says as he opens the file Bruce had given him, "the photos say that they were uploaded from a device named 'Steve's phone' so I kinda figured..."
Sam looks at Steve hopefully "Can ya prove that the pictures weren't taken on your phone?"
Steve pulls his phone from his pocket and tosses it on the table, "No. I did take them. They are there," he points to his phone, "you can see for yourself. But taking pictures has nothing to do with me 'selling out' Bucky!"
Clint picks up the phone which had ended up right in front of him and begins scrolling through pictures "Then, why did you take all these?"
Steve shrugs, "Mostly for sketching purposes. I don't even know how to upload pictures."
"It's not that hard" Bucky says, taking the phone from Clint, "you just, push this and then select this" he demonstrates. "There - done" he gives the phone back to Steve.
Steve takes the phone and looks at it confused for a moment before sticking it back in his pocket. "Thanks?"
They sit there in silence for several minutes until Steve slaps his hands onto the table. "Well" he states "let's get to work figuring out who is after Bucky."
Everyone else looks at each other and shrugs but Tony says, "I have already looked at everything. You can't prove that it isn't you and there isn't even one strand of evidence that leads elsewhere."
"Look, Tony," Steve says, smiling and talking as if to a five-year-old, "I didn't do it. I wouldn't do that, ever. Okay? Now, you can help me or not but I'm going to try to figure out who is after my friend" then he turns, without a backwards glance, and strides out of the room.
"I have to keep Steve from doing something irrational" Bucky says to no one in particular. He reaches for the door handle but is stopped by Tony who has placed a hand on his arm. "What?"
"I know you trust Steve and all but, I think it would be best if you weren't alone with him. At least until he is proven innocent."
Bucky looks around the room and the others nod their agreement. Natasha stands and walks over to him "I'll come with you."
Bucky nods and they follow Steve from the room.