The Greatest Art Thief
Summary: An ex-cellmate of Neal's shows up and asks for his help to rob one of the cities largest art museums. When Neal refuses, the man kidnaps someone close to him to force him into helping.
Warning: A couple bad words and mild violence, no more then on the actual show.
Disclaimer: I am in no way connected to the show or its actors.
Note: Set in season two.
Note: I know very little about art and artists.
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Neal was sitting on the terrace at June's, enjoying his morning coffee and reading the morning paper. It was a Saturday and he had the entire weekend off, which was why he was still in his silk pajamas and robe at ten o'clock in the morning.
"Neal." June called out from inside.
"Out here June." Neal smiled, as the woman walked out onto the terrace. His smile vanished when he saw the man walking behind him.
"You have company." June said, as Neal stood up.
"Hello Neal." The man said.
"Hello Ryan."
"I will leave you two alone." June said, walking over to Neal. "I don't trust him, watch yourself." She whispered, and then left.
"I thought you were in prison." Neal said, as the other man walked around the terrace.
"This is a nice place." Ryan said, ignoring Neal's remark. "I would love to know the con you used to get in here."
"No con." Neal said, sitting down and motioning for Ryan to sit. "I have a very understanding landlady."
"Up to anything good lately?"
"No. How did you get out of prison?"
"Early release for good behavior."
"You?" Neal raised an eyebrow.
"The prison system is a very strange organization."
"True. Why are you here?" Neal was very uneasy having the man there. He had first hand knowledge of the man's temper and acts of violence. When they were in prison together Neal had witnessed him nearly beat a man to death.
"How would you like to make a million dollars?"
"With one of your plans? I'll pass."
"It's fool proof." Ryan said.
"Like the plan that landed you in prison? Five people were severely hurt, one almost died."
"People are expendable, the world's full of them."
"People are not expendable." Neal said, standing up. "I think it's time for you to leave."
"So you don't want to help me?"
"No I don't."
"What if I told you that you are the greatest art thief ever and that I really need your help to pull this job off?"
"The answer is still no." Neal insisted. "I have done many illegal things in my life, but I draw the line at hurting people."
"You will help me." Ryan said, with a smile that made Neal nervous.
"No I won't."
"Benny!" Ryan called out. A moment later, a tall man with broad shoulders walked onto the terrace. He had a hand wrapped tightly around one of June's arms, and a gun pointed to her head.
"Let her go." Neal hissed.
"I will, as soon as I get my money."
"What do you want me to do?" Neal asked.
"Rip off the New York Museum Of Modern Art."
"Security's tight, it will take a while."
"You have twenty four hours."
"That's not enough time."
"Twenty four hours, or your landlady here gets a bullet in her skull. I will stick to you; make sure you don't do anything stupid. Benny will keep your friend company."
"If anything happens to June, you won't have to worry about the law finding you." Neal said, his voice cold.
"Lets go, hero." Ryan said.
Ryan and Neal walked by Benny and June, on their way back into the room.
"I'm sorry June." Neal said, as he passed her.
"It's not your fault, Neal." She said.
"I will be back for you." Neal promised her.
"I know."
"Get moving." Ryan said. "And don't bother trying to cut your tracker when my back is turned, to alert the Feds. I will be keeping a very close eye on you. The museum is well within your two mile leash."
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An hour later, Neal and Ryan were sitting on a bench in the museum.
"Well?" Ryan asked.
"Like I said, security's tight."
"You only have twenty three more hours."
"I need help from a friend of mine."
"Who?"
"Just a friend." Neal replied, forming a plan. "He is very good at getting what I need to pull off jobs."
"This had better not be a trick."
"Do you want me to steal a few paintings or not?"
"Okay."
Neal pulled out his phone and called a familiar number.
"Louie's Pizza." A voice said on the other end.
"It's me, Moz." Neal said. "I need your help."
"With what?"
"It's complicated."
"How so?"
"I'm planning a new job."
"What?" Mozzie asked, surprised. "Neal….."
"Shut up and listen." Neal growled. "Can't you keep your mouth shut for once?"
"I'm sorry, go ahead." Mozzie said.
"I need you to pick up the suit I use for my jobs."
"The suite?"
"The suite."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, take the suite with you to my sanctuary and grab my tools."
"Okay."
"Times not on our side, so make sure you pick the suite up first, to save time."
"Okay."
"I will be at the New York Museum Of Modern Art in an hour, meet me on the roof."
"I'll be there."
Neal hung up the phone, hoping that Mozzie got the message.
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Peter and Elizabeth were cuddled together on the sofa, watching a movie. Both groaned when they heard a loud knock on the door, then they heard the door burst open and then slam shut.
Peter stood when he heard the door open, and then glared at the man who had rushed in.
"What do you want?" Peter asked, annoyed. It wasn't often that he actually had some time alone with his wife.
"It's Neal." Mozzie said. "He's in trouble and I think June is too."
"What happened?" Peter asked, his anger gone.
"He called me, said he was starting a new job."
"A new job?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, but he was rude on the phone. He told me to shut up, Neal is never rude to me. I mean sure he might get a little testy and…."
"Get on with the story." Peter interrupted.
"Oh yeah, right. It was a warning, telling me he was in trouble. He told me to pick up the suite he used in his jobs. I'm guessing you're the suite. He told me to take the suite to his sanctuary, he made sure I knew to bring the suite with me."
"Where's his sanctuary?" Elizabeth asked, as her husband started putting on shoes and grabbing his gun and badge.
"June's." Mozzie replied. "He told me a couple weeks ago that June's place is his sanctuary."
"Be careful." Elizabeth said, as her husband kissed her.
Peter nodded, and then him and Mozzie rushed out of the house and to Peter's car. On the way over to June's Mozzie told Peter the rest of the conversation.
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June was sitting in her living room, tied to a chair. Benny was sitting in her recliner, and had it reclined all the way.
"I could get used to living in a place like this." He said.
"They don't allow prisoners to have recliners in their cells." June said.
"Tough old broad, aren't you?" Benny chuckled.
"Untie me and find out."
Before Benny could respond, the doorbell rung. Benny quickly set the recliner straight and stood up, then rushed to the door and looked out the peephole.
"You order Pizza?" He asked, seeing a pizza delivery man.
"Some weekends when Neal doesn't work, we order pizza and watch movies. We placed the order this morning when we found out Neal would be home." June said, hoping the pizza man was really a police officer. She knew Neal would find a way to get her help.
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"This is a really bad idea." Mozzie hissed, from behind a car he was hiding behind.
"It'll work." Peter assured him, as he once again rung the doorbell.
The front door opened and a large man walked to the gate.
"Pizza." Peter said, holding up a pizza box.
The man opened the fence and grabbed the pizza, shoving some money at Peter. "Now scram." The man said, as he turned and started back into the house.
Peter pulled his gun from his pants waistband and put the end of the barrel against the man's neck. "What, no tip?" He asked.
"Who are you?" The man asked.
"FBI."
Peter shoved the man into the house, keeping the gun against his neck. Mozzie was right behind them. When they walked in, they saw June tied to a chair.
"You two alone?" Peter asked her.
"Yes." June replied, relief evident in her voice.
Benny grabbed Peter's gun hand and used all of his weight to wrestle the gun from his hands. The gun skidded across the floor and went under the sofa. Peter and Benny fell to the floor, rolling around in the floor and trying to punch each other.
Mozzie watched them roll around in the floor for a moment, and then he grabbed a vase off of a table and held it in the air above the struggling men. He was waiting until they rolled over again, placing the bad guy on top. But when they rolled over, they bumped into Mozzie knocking him to the floor as well. Mozzie landed on top of Peter and caused him to loosen his grip on Benny.
Benny managed to break free and stand up, grabbing a fireplace poker and raising it above his head. Peter saw it coming and rolled out of the way, causing the poker to hit the floor. Then Peter kicked his leg out and caught the man in the stomach. He dropped the poker and grabbed his stomach, giving Peter time to get to his own feet. Peter drew his fist back and punched the man hard, knocking him to the floor.
"His partner has Neal." June said, as Mozzie untied her. "He wants him to steal something." June stood up, rubbing her wrist. "Peter, if he does steal….."
"I know." Peter said. "He didn't have a choice, he won't get in trouble with the law."
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Please let me know what you think. I will have another chapter up soon.