White Collar

A Young Con

Chapter 1

Returning and Special Agent Peter Burke

This takes place around Season 1 Episode 4.

Happy late Halloween. In the spirit of Halloween, I decided to start writing again after a while of barely doing it at all.

This is a good, show and I was surprised to see the story count so small for a show like this, so I decided to submit my own. The ages are a round about guess. I don't remember anything said about ages in the show.

I shrugged my coat tighter around myself, taking in the cold New York afternoon air. I had just got off a plane from England, taking care of a job and glad to be back home. I had a carry-on bag slung over my shoulder, as most of the time when I went away, unless I needed more space for a job, the less the better.

From what I've heard through the grape vine, Neal Caffrey was out of prison. Never thought the slick bastard would actually get caught when I first heard it, but there's a first for everything, I guess. Neal was an old friend of mine, someone I knew from the trade when I was younger.

I had an apartment in Manhattan, not too bad, but I bought it a while ago with money I had from a scam. I went to my apartment and cleaned up, changing into sleepwear since it was night.

/ / / / /

I knew my old friend was hanging around here somewhere and with his contacts, I knew he'd know I was back. Changing into blue pants, a grey shirt and one of my vests buttoned in the front, a coat over that, I walked outside, bought a paper from a stand and sat on a bench in Central Park, opening it up to the Entertainment Section.

I tapped my foot ten minutes later, but I've gotten used to waiting. It didn't mean I liked it, it made me all fidgety if I waited too long. Thankfully another body was on the other bench in back of mine. "There is a mockingbird in the park."

I couldn't fight my grin. "What color was it?" I turned my head, putting the paper in my lap. "Mozzie." He was a snort man with a bald head and thick rimmed glasses. A familiar sight and a welcoming one.

He smiled a little. "Cameron, it's been a while. 6 months to be exact."

I nodded, turning a little more. "Yeah, I know, but I just got back yesterday, and I'm sure you know that already."

He pointed a short finger at me. "You can never be too careful."

I smirked a little. "That's true. So, what's going on here?"

His eyes widened behind his wide rimmed glasses. "You'll never believe this."

I quirked an eyebrow, there is not many things I wouldn't believe from him save for Mozzie's overly paranoid controversy theories. "Oh?"

"It's about Neal, come on."

He got up and I followed, frowning in worry at his back. I caught up to his side. "What is it?"

He gave a cautious look around and said. "Just wait, follow me."

I rolled my eyes, but did as he asked. About 15 minutes later, we showed up at this expensive looking mansion. I blinked in disbelief. "Is this yours?"

I mean, he had resources and if he really wanted a place like this, he could have it, but it was too flashy for someone as paranoid as he was. Neal on the other hand…

He knocked on the door, sending me the same look of disbelief. The door opened a moment later and an older dark skinned woman with a warm face and portly, but healthy body answer the door. She smiled at Moz. "Mozzie, it's great seeing you again. Are you here for Neal?"

I blinked once, but allowing a charming smile to cross my face. "Hello? I'm Cameron. You know our friend Neal, a pleasure…"

She shook my outstretched hand and sent me a warm smile. "I'm June Ellington, just call me June. You seem like one of Neal's friends. You and Mozzie can go right up."

Mozzie nodded his head as we went upstairs to what looked like an apartment after I sent another smile at June. Mozzie let out a snort, but I just smirked, stopping at a door, saying a bit lowly. "How did Neal con her?"

Mozzie shrugged. "He says it was his charm."

I let out a snort myself. "Sure."

I knocked on the door and heard Neal's voice. "Coming!"

The door opened a moment later and Neal stared at me in surprise. Then he gave me a white smile. "Cameron! You're back!"

He hugged me for a moment, his right hand on my shoulder, I hugged him back. Mozzie replied. "I'm sort of waiting here."

I let out a laugh, patting Neal's back and pushing past him into his apartment. "Finally did your four years, huh Caffrey?"

He said. "Well, sort of."

I turned to look at him and started at something on his ankle, pointing out from the pants which were slimmer on the ankle and a white tank top, he was obviously not going out. I remembered his suits. "What the-is that what I think it is?"

I bent down and saw I was right, it was a tracking anklet, a green dot on the device. I poked it a couple of times, but nothing happened. "Very high tech. Mozzie?"

Moz let out a laugh. "No can do."

If he couldn't do it, I certainly couldn't. I was good at technology type stuff, but I didn't want to risk it going off.

I patted his leg, standing up. "I thought your prison sentence was up by now, why do they have you on a tracker?"

Mozzie piped up. "It gets worse."

Neal sent him a dry look. "Thanks Moz."

Mozzie gave him a shrug, but didn't say anything else. He sat on the couch in Neal's suite like apartment. I turned to Neal. "So, what?"

Neal smiled at me, but I just stared at him, unimpressed. "Well, a little before my ending sentence, I had to do something so I escaped."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Why would you do that?"

Sure, Neal was impulsive (not that I had any room to talk), but he wasn't an idiot. He just sent me another smile. "Something important came up, so I had to leave."

I looked at Moz and I realized what it was. We both said. "Kate."

Neal narrowed his eyes. "That's not funny, did you rehearse it?"

I let out a chuckle, shaking my head. "No, Neal, we just know how you are with Kate. So, I guess you got caught?"

I walked over to his wine rack, grabbed a red wine bottle and a glass, pouring myself one to a little below the halfway mark. Neal sent me a look for taking his wine, but nodded, leaning easily against the wall. "Yes, by Peter too."

"Peter? As in Peter Burke?" As the FBI Agent who caught you first. I mean this guy was obsessed with catching Neal, that much I knew. It seemed he lived for catching Neal Caffrey.

He rolled his eyes at me and said. "Yes. So, now I have to consult for the FBI for four years since I tried to escape."

I almost spit out the wine I was drinking, which would have been sad, it tasted good. "You-you work for the FBI?"

He shook his head with a laugh. "Consult, Cameron. Consult."

I shook my head rapidly, putting the glass down and finding a book shelf, rummaging around and taking a book by the covers and shaking it. Doing the same to another book, while feeling around on the shelf.

Neal was laughing again. "Cameron? What are you doing?"

"Searching for roaches."

It was an old code work for surveillance bug.

Mozzie waved a hand, his own wine glass in hand. "Don't bother, already did."

I nodded, standing back up, grabbing my wine glass and taking a couple drinks of my wine. "Okay, yeah you would be through."

Neal rolled his eyes again, talking his own wine glass and pouring himself a generous amount. "Sometimes I don't know who's more paranoid, you or Moz."

After taking another drink, I asked. "So, speaking of breaking out of prison, how'd you break out?"

He grinned, Neal's eyes brightening in excitement and pride. "You want to know?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't leave me hanging, Caffrey."

With another laugh, he explained it. Using the beard, the uniform and everything he did. I wrinkled my nose. "Can't use that then, you know with no beard and all."

Mozzie asked. "You planning on getting arrested?"

I shrugged. "You never know."

They both nodded in agreement. A couple moments of peaceful silence of drinking wine, a thought then struck me. "Where's Kate if you escaped for her?"

Neal and Mozzie both looked at me, I stared back. I looked around, my sharp blue eyes could detect no female clothing or anything showing that Kate was here and knowing Neal, he'd want her to be here with him. Neal stared at me still, an unreadable look in his eyes. I could only think something happened to her or she left him, one or the other. At this point, I didn't know which one I'd prefer.

Neal sent me a charming smile, one if I didn't know him so well, I wouldn't have seen anything amiss. "You sure missed a lot, Cameron. You were in England, right?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't play with me, Neal. It's almost insulting."

He smirked, but looked at the time on his phone. "Have to get dressed, Mozzie knows, ask him."

He went into his bathroom, a garment bag under his arm. The door shut. I took my wine with me and sat at the table, Mozzie across from me. "So, where is she?"

I knew Kate, known her for a long time. "Well, the 'Man with a Ring' took her, according to a photo."

I held a hand out and he gave it to me. It was a black and white photo showing Kate looking worried and a large male hand with enough wrinkles to show decent age on her shoulder with a distinctive ring I didn't recognize. I realized this was security footage. I felt slightly worried at her expression, but handed it back. "I need a copy. But I see, and Neal is looking for her, obviously?"

He rolled his eyes while nodding to my need for a copy. "Obviously."

Neal was always rash when it came to Kate, it was how the FBI caught him the first time. I nodded, knowing Neal wouldn't give this up. "Alright, I'll keep my eyes and ears out for anything."

"Thank you." It was Neal and he was combing his hair back, buttoning up his shirt and tying his tie on, shrugging a suit jacket on, fixing his tie in place, a silver tie clip in the middle. I raised an eyebrow. "That looks expensive."

He smirked. "It should be, it's a Devore."

My eyes widened in surprise, talk about an expensive suit. But if anyone can get it at a decent price, it would be Neal. I finished off my wine. "I have to go, see what I can find out."

Mozzie called out to me. "Be careful. 'It is hard to be defensive toward a danger which you have never imagined existed'."

I smiled, recognizing it. "John Christopher."

He nodded, smiling briefly. "Exactly."

I put down the empty glass and walked out, more on my mind then I got here. "I'll see you later."

/ / / /

I was sitting in my apartment, eating takeout Chinese. First couple days back in the country, I figured it'd just relax a bit before I started talking to any contacts I had.

From what Neal told me earlier, he was working with some stolen artifacts with Burke, the FBI agent. He gave a coin he found to Moz to see what he could get out of it. Apparently, he had to work for the FBI for four years and then they would let him be free. It's better than prison, I'll admit to that. Prison time is just a necessary evil to being caught.

He also told me about an old Bible he helped find. I regretted not being on an earlier flight to see the masterpiece. I have a liking for old manuscripts and history. I blame Mozzie. Suddenly my phone rang, I picked it up, just saying. "Hello?"

"Hey, Cameron, it's me."

My neutral tone went relaxed. "Oh, hey, Neal. What is it?"

"Moz is coming over, I want you to come too. I might have found something on the bottle."

I asked, confused. "Bottle?"

He replied, an excited tone creeping in his voice. "Right, I didn't tell you, the Bordeaux bottle of mine. Kate's leaving me clues. The map is the Bordeaux label."

My mind caught up with me and I nodded, even if he couldn't see it. I let out a laugh. "Kate loves the classics."

After his affirming reply, I said. "Alright, I'll be there in 15 minutes. As long as I can drink your wine."

I could almost sense him rolling his eyes at me. "Sure."

I smirked. "See you then."

I put away my food and walked downstairs to my car, a 2005 Honda Civic. Good enough looking that it doesn't look like it belongs in a dump, but not too much of a fancy car as to grab attention. I saw a car in the drive way, I think a Ford, but I figured it was June's or one of her wait staff's. Though I don't think it'd be June's, seeing the house she owns.

To my surprise, Mozzie was at the door and knocking. I got out, locked my car and pocketed my keys. "Mozzie!"

He jumped around, his hands tensed in front of him. "Cameron, stop doing that!"

I smirked, stepping next to him. "Sorry, I must have forgotten."

He narrowed his eyes at me from behind his glasses in disbelief. "What is with you and your obsession with vests?"

I automatically smoothed the fabric down. "I like them and look great in them." Today, I was wearing a sleek black vest that had four buttons in the front of it, paired with dark wash jeans, slim boots and a dark green shirt.

The door opened before he could anything. A maid answered the door. "If you're looking for Mr. Caffrey, he's this way."

I smiled in thanks at her and we walked toward Neal's apartment. It was a little strange to hear the mister on his name, considering most people he was around called him Neal or Caffrey, unless he was working with an alias. I put my hands in my pockets as he knocked. Mozzie said when the door opened. "Photocopy of a pawn ticket, but I got this coin."

I stared at Neal, who was cutting his hand against his throat in a 'shut up' sign. I looked over his shoulder and saw somewhere, a man's back. Mozzie asked. "What?"

Knowing that Neal had a reason, I said. "We actually have something to do."

Neal said loudly. "Sorry, Mr. Haversham and Miss Chase, June isn't here."

Mozzie face lit up in realization from both our words. "Oh, well, that's too bad. Um, tell her I look forward to our next round of drinks and Parcheesi."

Neal nodded. "Yep."

The guy turned to us and I raised an eyebrow, it was Peter Burke. "Hold on a second."

Mozzie said. "Sorry, it seems we're interrupting something."

I placed an apologetic smile on my face. "We're sorry."

He stared at us. "Who are you two?"

Mozzie replied, his form stiff from next to me. "I'm the neighbor…Dan-te Haversham." He nodded his head. "Dante Haversham."

I kept the smile on my face, withholding the urge to smack or roll my eyes at Mozzie. Dante? Really, he couldn't have picked a more common name?

I saw Burke's eyes go toward me and I said, still smiling calmly outwardly. "I'm a friend of Dante's here, Kayla Chase."

It was certainly move smoother than Moz's lie or alias. He stared at me, an 'uh-huh' expression on his face. I didn't drop or dim the smile on my face not one bit. I was not putting my guard down around an FBI agent, one that caught Neal no less, even if his judgement was impaired at the time.

His attention switched back to Mozzie, who looked more nervous. His normal reaction for being around a Suit.

Burke stared at him. "And you're dating June?"

Mozzie corrected. "Courting. Courting. What can I say…she likes a little cream in her coffee."

I pressed my lips together to stop myself from grinning or laughing or whatever else reaction I would give. I needed to build on what Mozzie was saying. "Dante needed me here as a chaperone, really old fashioned."

Burke stared at Neal. "You really want to keep this up?"

Neal looked bothered and annoyed, stared at Mozzie. "No. No, I don't. You're right, they are-"

Burke held up a hand. "No, I know." He pointed at us. "How about I just call you two Mr. Haversham and Miss Chase."

I raised an eyebrow as Neal made a strange look. Burke smirked. "Come on in. I thought you would be taller."

Mozzie nodded. "Me too."

Burke was still smirking. "Well, you're here. Have a drink." He walked inside Neal's place more, back toward the table.

I noticed the panicked look in Moz's eyes as I leaned on the door frame, waiting to see how this would play out. Mozzie said. "Oh, I don't drink."

Burke said, barely missing a beat. "Well, you do tonight."

Mozzie accepted defeat. "Gin's good." With that, he walked in.

Neal sent me a suffering look, shutting the door once I moved. I sent him a smile and a 'what are you gonna do?' look back.

He rolled his eyes at me. Burke moved to the fridge, looking inside. He looked at me. "You, I didn't expect."

I gave him a grin with a mix of amused and genuine. "I'm full of surprises."

He let out a snort. "I don't doubt that."

I was younger than Neal and Mozzie. I met Moz when I was younger and Neal when I was 17 and he was about 21. Give that he was about in his late 20's now, just about 30, I was closer to my mid 20's at 24.

With a sigh, I walked over with Neal to the table, a glass in my hand.

/ / / / /

After Burke had Mozzie drinking, he was relaxed. Not wanting to be off footed around a fed, I just kept wine a glass handy. Neal was getting more annoyed by the second, but I didn't blame him considering what they were talking about.

Burke laughed, grabbing a beer from the fridge and sitting back down. "I don't get it. Girl leaves an empty bottle behind."

Mozzie laughed. "Least she could do was leave a full one."

I pressed my lips together to stop the smile, but felt my lips tilting up at the corners. Neal splayed his hands. "Guys, I'm right here."

I patted his shoulder. "It's alright."

He narrowed his eyes at me, but I smirked at him. I truly didn't understand it, osing all he had, getting caught because of romance. I mean, Kate wasn't in danger. Stopping that life for romance and getting caught still made no sense at all to me.

Burke stared out the window. He let out a whistle. "Man, look at that view." He paused. "Is this why you guys do it?"

I grimaced, taking a drink and looking out the window. There was a couple of reason why I did it. I liked it, it was fun. I was good at it. I needed to do it to survive. And sometimes the simplest reason of all: We did it because it was there. And that was all it was sometimes.

Burke asked. "Is this what it is all about?"

Moz snorted, obviously intoxicated. "It's not about the stuff."

That's not exactly true, sometimes it is. Awed by the beautiful stuff we take, even if we don't keep it. Neal said warningly. "Moz."

Mozzie just smiled. "It's about doing what we want to do. Who cares about 9 to 5 or 401k's. Playing by the rules only makes borders that just takes away everything good about living life."

I took another drink, setting an wary eye on the fed. Neal stopped Moz from talking by a hand on his arm. "Moz, you live in a storage unit."

Moz stared at him. "But I live there, man. I live. As long as I don't have to live under anyone else's time or dime. I'm a free man. Cameron, will agree with me on that. Uh, not the man, part of course."

I smiled a little stiffly and chuckled for show. I'm just surprised Moz let it slip of my real name, even if I had no doubt Burke would figure it out, considering he would be around Neal a lot.

Moz finished by saying. "I-we can do whatever I want."

He smiled in my direction and I couldn't help, but grin fondly back at him. Me and Mozzie go way back.

Burke voice was heard, sounded clearer than before. "Like go into a pawn shop and get that coin you have in your pocket."

I narrowed my eyes at the fed. "Well played, G-man."

Neal just smiled and made a 'go on' motion with Mozzie. I shrugged. Burke kept his stare steady, not reacting to what I said except for a narrowing of his eyes.

As Mozzie stalled, Burke smiled (making him look a little more human) and said. "C'mon, let's see it."

I expected it, but still sighed when Moz tossed the coin to Burke. Burke had a look of awe. "That's a hell of a thing."

Moz explained. "Islamic dinar from the Abbasid Dynasty. Last seen in the museum of Mosel."

Burke glanced over at Neal. "I really shouldn't even know about this. Alisha's guilty, isn't she?"

I had no idea who they were talking about, but my guess, it was someone on the 'case' they were working on. And by not being able to look at it, Neal must have got it illegally.

Neal nodded. "Looks like it."

Burke nodded. "Ahh." He made a face. "I'm holding damning evidence and I can't do a damn thing about it."

Moz said. "You're rules, Tin Man, not mine."

Neal held out his hand. "Come on, Peter. Give me the coin."

I looked at the small gold coin in Burke's hand with interest. "Or you could give it to me." I gave him a grin.

Burke gave me a stare that was stern and made me uncomfortable. Until I remembered I was a 24-year-old adult. "And where would the coin be by tomorrow?"

I kept my smile. "Well- "

Neal pushed my shoulder lightly. "It'll be fine. Peter, give me the coin."

Burke shook his head, smirking. "I can see it now. 'FBI Agent illegally obtains evidence. News at 11'."

Oddly relieved for some reason, I chuckled to myself at the image. Neal said. "That's a hell of a story. Too bad she can't report it."

Burke muttered to himself. "Maybe she can."

I stared at him in confusion along with Neal. I stood up. "Well, as fun as this was. I mean really, it was. I have to go."

I tapped both Neal and Mozzie on their shoulders and waved at Burke. "See you around, G-man Burke."

His eyes widened, and I smirked at him, walking out the door. I heard him question as I left. "How does she know my name?"

For an answer, I heard Neal laugh and Mozzie say. "Cameron works in mysterious ways."

I laughed as I quietly went down the stairs and went to my car. I had a feeling I'd be seeing a lot of Agent Peter Burke.

/ / / / /

Moz told me of the plan an hour ago and I was walking around the streets in Brooklyn for now. I didn't have any plans as of now. I had enough resources not be needing to do anything. It's one of the reasons I came here. I figured with Neal out and Moz around, something interesting had to be happening here.

Finding nothing interesting around here, except for the same old people and nothing new (not even the fences, thieves and whatnot), I headed over to Neal's place, where I knew Mozzie would be.

I knocked on June's door, having been in the area so I didn't take my car. The door opened and a girl answered the door. She asked. "Friend of Mr. Caffrey?"

I smiled back. "Yes."

She moved a side and I walked in, going up the stars. I knocked, but heard no answer. A minute late and I grabbed the little lock picking set from my pocket, crouching and picking the lock a minute late. I shrugged as I walked in. "It could've been better."

Mozzie was sleeping on his couch, knocked out cold. I think he stayed here last night. I tossed a blanket over him from over the couch and sat at a chair by his table, my booted feet on the table, one over another.

I was looking through my phone when the door opened.

"Moz, wake up."

My head went up at Neal's voice.

Mozzie groaned. "Leave me alone."

I called. "Up and at 'em, Mozzie!"

Mozzie sat up, his blanket falling in his lap. "Did either of you draw on my face?"

I laughed. "Now that's an idea."

Neal let out a scoffing laugh. "What? No. Aimes is meeting with me today. Gotta go in as a serious high roller. Need a car."

I raised an eyebrow after giving Neal a short wave. "I guess Aimes is the 'bad' guy. Your plan work?"

Neal nodded with a smirk. "Yes, it did. I still need a car for the next phase."

Mozzie said. "I'll get my Slim Jim."

Neal shook his head automatically. "Can't steal it."

I frowned. "That's not fun. Then again, you are working for the FBI."

Neal nodded. "Exactly."

Moz said, a tired tone in his voice. "Yeah, we can't steal it." I can almost taste the sarcasm.

I caught the look on Neal's face and smirked. "Wait, you mean, not steal it as in…" A con.

Neal sent me a grin. "You got it."

I loved the con's almost as much as I loved the result. For most, it was an ends to a means, but I loved it. Sheading one's skin, being someone else or acting like it, I enjoyed it.

I founded a cleaner's that was fixing up a limousine. I pulled up a picture on the PDA I had. I handed it to Neal. "How's this?"

He looked and patted my back with a smile. "That's great. Let's go."

/ / / /

After grabbing clothes from a storage area for me and Moz (considering Neal changed at home), we headed to the cleaner's. Moz said. "Your building your contacts?"

I nodded shrugging on a suit jacket over the light green button shirt I was wearing and black pants, black standard shoes on my feet. "Yeah, I have some in London and Paris too."

I saw it ahead. "Here it is."

The three us walked over. Neal said as Mozzie went to the car. "Excuse me, sir. Can you step away from the car?"

I stood next to him, looking just as serious. The guy shrugged, moving away. Another guy came over, dressed in a blue shirt and dark skinned, obviously a manager or owner of some sort. "Yo, you need something?"

Neal nodded seriously. "Yeah." He flashed a leather badge of some sort. "Yeah. Captain told you I was coming, right? Says FBI."

The guy glared. "What you talking about?"

Neal replied, putting his badge away. "One of your limos in involved with a 418 last night. I'm supposed to bring it back to the forensic motor pool."

I moved away from them and ducked inside the back door, making it look like I was looking around for something. It was nice.

Neal called. "What's the plate on that?"

I lifted my head back up, standing straight. Mozzie called. "Uh, XC7-23W."

"What were you doing in my limo?"

I smiled slightly to show apology. "Just doing my job, sir."

The guy pointed out. "I didn't get a call about any of this."

Neal said. "Griggs, Collins, get this guy out of here."

I made a 'up' motion with my hand and Moz ushered him out. The guy left without a problem. The manager disagreed. "Hey!"

Neal asked Moz and me. "Is that our vehicle?"

Moz wiped his finger on the car and sniffed it. "Gunshot residue."

I looked back inside and looked like I was peering at the floor. "Looks to be a type of drug on the rug. Looks like it's snowin' back here."

I moved out and closed the door. Neal asked. "How many of your guys touched this car?"

The boss was looking annoyed. "We're a cleaning crew."

Neal narrowed his eyes at the man. "Oh, really? Okay. There's two ways we can do this. One, I take this car back with me. No one gets asked any questions. The second way, we assume whatever's in the backseat belongs to you."

The guy threw his hands up and scoffed. "It's above my pay grade, pal. Take it!"

Neal nodded his hand sharply. "Griggs, give him a receipt."

I got in the back, climbing in till I was by the front window. Neal winded it down. "We'll drop you off down the block."

I nodded. I didn't have to be there, it would actually look weird if I did. "Okay." I had a thought. "Hey, Neal?"

He looked back at me, his blue eyes curious. "Yeah?"

"Can I see that badge?"

His eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Mozzie chuckled under his breath. I tried to look innocent. "I want to see it."

He handed it to me. I looked over it and opened it. I then grinned. "They got you a badge? That's cute."

He snatched it back. "Shut up, Cam."

I laughed joyfully. "That's great!"

It just had Neal's name on it and that he was a Criminal Informat. Neal said. "Okay, Moz, stop here."

Moz snorted, but stopped a moment later. "Cameron, you're stop awaits."

I smiled. "Alright. I have to be somewhere anywhere to be." My tone went a little more serious. "Let me know what happens, Neal, Moz."

Moz replied. "Will do."

I crawled toward the back and got out, walking down the street and around the corner in the next couple of seconds.

Checking the time of my watch, I said to myself. "Time to talk to a friend." By friend, I mean a fence I knew well and wanted to catch up with since I was overseas.

/ / / / /

After meeting with Jimmy (my fence) and seeing what he was selling or wanting, I walked around a little. About two hours later, I got a short call from Neal, telling me the case was solved and everything that happened was fine. I knew it would be, but I couldn't help, but be slightly relieved.

I could tell this would be a long thing with Burke and I had to wait to see where it was headed.