Neal regarded Peter with a look that declared he didn't buy for a second that his friend actually believed what he just said…
"You can't tell me this makes any sense to you." He argued
"It doesn't have to make perfect sense…" Peter sounded annoyed "they did it… that's really all that matters. They stole the painting. We caught them. We have all the evidence to put them away… It doesn't all have to wrap up in a neat little bow every time."
"But Peter…" Neal rolled his eyes at the absurdity of what he was about to say "you have to think this through" Now the older man rolled his eyes "It just doesn't make any sense at all… not even a little bit…a respectable high school math teacher and his wife… an electrician, suddenly decide to steal a five million dollar painting… A math teacher and an electrician, Peter!"
"Admittedly that is a little strange, but there is no question they did it"
"I'm not denying that… it's the why that's bothering me."
"Why don't we go ask them?" He looked up at the younger man and was rewarded with a grin before Neal spun toward the door "Wait just one minute … I have to deliver this paper work first" Peter called after him, but he was already down the hall, curiosity driving him…
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He stepped in the interview room containing the couple with only a wave at Diana as he passed her. She rolled her eyes and turned on the audio feed…in case Caffrey started to cross lines… she could intervene.
He sat down in the chair across from the blonde hair, brown eyed math teacher…leaning back he propped his feet naturally on the table studying the other man…only a couple of years older than Neal he wore a pale blue collared t-shirt and a darker blue pull over sweater vest… he wiped his palm repeatedly on his khaki pants. He shifted and shifted again… the guy was incredibly nervous… not a professor Moriarty then…
If Mr. Bryant was nervous… Mrs. Bryant was petrified… visibly shaking… tears lingered in her bright green eyes, occasionally escaping and sliding down pale cheeks. Her long straight hair escaped wildly from what Neal was sure had once been a neat French braid, tendrils of light blonde hair fluttering around her face…
Dark circles under two sets of puffy red eyes… watching him… waiting fearfully for the hammer to drop.
"I have tried…I really have, but I just can't understand why…? Why two respectable people suddenly decide they are going to steal a multi-million dollar painting. It's not a career change most people would try…"he started to flash a bright smile, but Mrs. Bryant sobbed uncontrollably. He flinched slightly, he wasn't trying to be cruel…
"Please you've got to help us!" she suddenly burst out.
"KIM!" her husband exclaimed his voice dropping to a whisper "No police remember" he hissed
"We've got to do something!" she whimpered "We can't get the money now!"
"Well then it's a good thing I'm not police" Neal grinned a bit.
"Pretty sure FBI counts too" the man wavered
"Not FBI either… just a consultant" he gave them his most reassuring smile "So why don't you consult me on your problem"
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"I thought I told you to wait" Peter muttered as he caught sight of his consultant in the interview room sitting at the table across for the couple "D*** it Neal, you never listen. If you blow this case…" he scowled deeply. He stepped quickly to the entrance, hoping to intervene before things got out of hand.
Pushing open the door he hesitated, something was wrong… He could feel it in the atmosphere… an undeniable tension that radiated from the man and woman in cuffs… and from his young CI.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked afraid he didn't want to know the answer. Neal surged suddenly to his feet. Face deathly pale… lips a thin colorless line… he practically ran for the door, pushing past Peter, the look in his eyes sheer horror.
"Tell him" he paused in the doorway long enough to glance at the couple desperately "Trust him" with that he fled the room.
"Neal!?" Peter called after his friend, but he didn't stop… didn't look back. Spinning to the teacher and his wife "What happened?" he demanded. Mrs. Bryant timidly pushed a picture toward Peter… sniffling softly.
"This is our son, Nathen… he's seven…" Peter looked down curiously. The little boy staring up at him from the traditional school portrait had curly brown hair and bright blue eyes… he swallowed tightly… the kid bore a striking resemblance to… the woman went on "he was taken four days ago"
"Kidnapped?"
"Yes…"
"They contacted you with a ransom demand?" she nodded.
"Three million dollars" her husband barely whispered. Peter shuddered. That was ridiculous… these people didn't have that kind of money…
"Why so much?"
"I don't… don't know" the woman sobbed…
"He said…" Mr. Bryant looked at Peter pleadingly "he said Nick Halden would have it"
"Nick Halden?" He studied the man before him… "The kidnapper said that specifically?"
"Yes, but you have to understand we never met the man"
"I believe that…" he glanced over his shoulder… at the direction of his friend's panicked retreat. "Why him?"
"I don't know… we never met him… not even when he signed the adoption papers."