WHITE COLLAR : 'The Snitch, The Gambler, The Babysitter'
SUMMARY
New week, new case. Illegal gambling... Someone has to go as the inside man to gamble and lose money, while someone else has to babysit… 'What Peter doesn't know can't hurt him…'
Author : Maryline aka Miss SMG Depp Ackles (see my other link).
Date : February 2012
As always I own nothing…
CHAPTER 1
Monday morning. Peter was already in his office while Neal was still at home, showering.
"When is this thing gonna come off," he thought out loud, looking at his anklet.
It couldn't be soon enough anyway. He sighed and started to get dressed. He was getting ready for a new week to begin.
Peter was pacing in his office wondering where Neal was. It wasn't even 8 o'clock yet but Neal was always there by 7.45 a.m. Peter had a lot of work to do, a special assignment, and he needed Neal to get here. He quickly arrived. As soon as he set foot in the office Peter yelled after him.
"Great, what have I done now?" Neal asked, looking at Jones as he took the stairs to Peter's office.
"Neal, finally," Peter said.
Neal took a look at his watch. "It's not 8 a.m. yet, what could I possibly have done wrong already," he joked.
"Nothing – yet," Peter said. "But I've got an assignment for you. It's gonna be a busy week."
Neal didn't say a word. He waited for Peter to go on with more details.
Jones and Diana invited themselves inside the office. They had heard of Neal's new mission already and didn't want to miss his face when he learned the news. It would be brilliant to start the week.
"So, Peter, what is it about this time? Do we have to catch some big bad guy and you need an inside man? Big drug dealer in town? Art thief? What is it?" Neal asked, all smiles.
"Illegal gambling," Peter started to explain.
"Okay," Neal sounded suspicious already. "Care to elaborate?" he asked.
"Well, if you will let me," Peter said, impatient and annoyed of always being interrupted by Neal.
"Big fish in town about to seal a deal with us…" Peter started before being interrupted by Neal once again.
"Cool, I'll be your inside man. I'm good with cards and every other game," he said as his smile grew bigger.
"I don't think so," Peter said. "We need you for something else."
Neal was anxious.
Jones and Diana were trying to hide a smile and Neal was growing impatient.
"That guy will get us inside if someone stays with his daughter, keep an eye on her," Peter said.
Neal could feel it coming. His smile dropped. "Oh no no no, don't even think it," he said as he threw his hands in the air. "No way I'm babysitting." He shook his head.
Peter smiled. "Oh yes. You'll keep an eye on the daughter, Tessa…"
"What? While one of you has all the fun gambling? Are you kidding me?" Neal said, upset. "And who would it be?"
Peter smiled so much his jaw hurt. "Me."
"Oh no, what do you even know about gambling?" Neal asked.
"I know a lot," Peter replied.
"Oh c'mon, Peter, I'm the man for this job. I'm telling you, I'm your guy!" Neal practically begged.
Diana and Jones were laughing hard. They knew Neal wouldn't like it at all. He would have been the inside man. He would have been the one playing, gambling. He would have been the one having all the fun.
"You see, Neal, the goal here is to lose money, a lot of it," Peter explained.
"So? I can do that," Neal replied.
"I don't think you could. You cheat," Peter said.
Neal looked at him. "Now you're really hurting my feelings," he joked.
"I mean, you would win and we don't need that. So, you go pack your stuff and go live at their house, with the daughter, for a week. And don't forget that charming smile of yours," Peter teased.
Neal shot him his 'just drop it' look.
"I bet that kid is twelve. I've never babysat for anyone before. What am I supposed to do all day long to keep her busy?" Neal wondered out loud.
"Bring some games," Diana said.
"And don't forget cartoons," Jones added with a smile.
Neal wished he could get his hands on something to throw at Jones. But nothing on the table besides files.
Peter walked up to Neal. "That's not it," he said.
"What now, there's more?" Neal asked, not sure he wanted to know what was coming his way now. "Is it Christmas or something?"
Peter was smiling. It could be good or it could be bad.
"The anklet's coming off for this one," he said.
Now that was something Neal liked to hear. He started smiling again as someone came in the office to remove it.
"You're letting me lose for a week? Um, I like that, free at last," Neal teased.
"One wrong move and you're back in your cell, you know that, right?" Peter said, seriously.
"C'mon, Peter, don't you trust me now?"
Peter gave him that look.
"Okay, don't answer that," Neal said. Then he tried again. "Are you sure you don't need me to gamble? I can lose. I'll be your inside man."
"Sorry, Neal, this one's for me," Peter said, smiling again.
Neal knew any further discussion on the subject was a waste of time so he went home to pack some stuff and left after explaining the situation to Mozzie.
He drove to the house he was supposed to stay at and parked the car nearby. He walked to the door as fast as he could. This assignment couldn't be over soon enough.
He rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door. He heard footsteps inside the house.
A woman opened the door.
"Hi, I'm looking for Tessa," he said.
The woman looked at him from head to toe. "You must be Neal," she said.
He nodded. She invited him inside the house.
It was a very big, very nice house. You knew as soon as you were inside that rich people owned the place. Everything looked expensive. The kind of things, art, Neal used to get his hands on.
"Is Tessa here?" he asked again.
The woman turned to face him. "You're talking to her," she said.
Neal looked confused. Here he was, standing with a box of games and cartoon DVDs to entertain a kid and before his eyes was a beautiful woman. A young woman, around 20 years old, he thought. A smile started to show on his face.
'This is gonna be fun… if only Peter could see this' he thought, smiling.
… TBC …
Thank you for reading so far :) More chapters soon!