Ever since birth you have the first letter of your soul-mate's first name and last name on your left wrist. Mine always said PB with it in curvy, swoopy, and elegant letters. The letter P at on the top of my wrist with the B hanging on to the end of the P's stem. It was the most particular thing. I always wondered what it stood for. Maybe Pat Barfuss, Paige Burchfield, Pearl Baridon, or even Pixie Bargo but I could never find that person with my first letters. So I settled for second best if there is even a thing that is second to a soul-mate or "true" love. After a while the words soul-mate or true love just became cheesy and worthless so I settled for my second best; Kate Moreau.
She had blue eyes and brown straight hair. She never had a soul-mate. Her left wrist showed nothing. She was one of the unlucky ones but I was there to be with her. She didn't care about my two letters. She didn't ask about them or anything. We spent time together and I love her more than anything. We con people together and had fun but soon I left her. I was being selfish at that moment because I wanted to keep conning and she wanted to settle down. After a while I realized the risk of my job and came back to her. She didn't move on like I thought she would.
I met her in the storage unit that I kept all of my art work that I conned out of people. She was leaning against the door. Still looking beautiful as ever.
"Kate, I'm sorry I left. I love you" I said. "I may have lied about a few things but I never lied about loving you."
"I love you, too." She said. She turned around and looked like she was about to cry. I walked up to her and gave a kiss and a hug but I still felt empty. It happened every time I kiss someone. But this time it felt worse. It feels like I am seeing things for the first time. Maybe Kate isn't my true love. Maybe I should find my real soul-mate not second best. It's true that I love Kate but not romantic-like. Not the way I thought at first.
"How did you find me?" she asked. That stopped my train of thought.
"Moz heard you were fencing Mauritian penny stamps." I said.
"I quit dealing with stamps." She said confused. That's when it hit me.
The next thing I know is the F.B.I squad banging the door down with guns surrounding me and Kate.
"It's okay." I said to Kate.
"F.B.I, Hands on you head." One of the men shouted. I started backing away for Kate with my hands above my head and lowering them to the back of my head. I turn to see the man that I gave the lollipop to. I didn't know his first name only his last. He had his brown hair brushed to one side and deep brown eyes. He was wearing a black suit with a white dress and a purple tie.
"Agent Burke." I said.
"Neal Caffery." The agent said. "You're under arrest." He smirked.
"I know." I said. Why denine it.
I pulled down my right arm to shake his hand. The guns recharged and getting ready to shot. He looked confused but he shook my hand. After I said:
"Thank you. I would haven't found her without your help."
His jacket rode up a bit and I thought I saw the letter N on his wrist but it could have been a different letter. But the biggest part was the way it felt it made my heart melt and feel warm. It felt like an electric shock went through my body. It was magically. I don't understand why I felt that way but the hand shake had to end. I looked at the agent's face and saw a little smile tugging at his lips. Another agent came and put a handcuff on me.
"So you guys were all in that municipal van out front." I said. I mean there are about a dozen of them. "That's got to be uncomfortable."
"It didn't smell too good either." The agent that was cuffing me said. The agent started to walk me towards the door that they came in but not without another look at Agent Burke. I wonder what his first name is. That was the last time I saw the agent.
Four years later
Now here I am in jail and about to break out. I shaved my beard that I grew and put on the security guard outfit. I am walking down the line of the other prisoners at work hoping that no one notices me. I got a couple looks but no one said anything. Not even the guards. I started walking towards the exit, the only way out of here. I pulled out the card I snatched and slid it through the scanner and open the door. The prison guard grabbed it all of a sudden. Oh shit, I'm caught, damn. I waited until something happen but all that happened was the guard holding the door for me. I nodded and went out the doors. I exhaled a sigh of relief. I looked around the parking lot and looked for a police car I could use. I ran up to the closest van and hotwired it. I pulled out a tape out of my pants and put in the player. The song 'Hold on I'm coming.' By: Sam and Dave's. I opened a little compartment and pulled out three dollars. How convent. I smirk. I drove the truck and then dumped it with the security jacket before people start looking for it. I ran up to a little 'yard' sale and saw a yellow jacket just what I need.
"Hi. How're you doing, man?" The person in charge of the sale said.
"Good. How about you?" I ask walking towards the mirror and putting the yellow jacket on.
"I'm fine." The person said. "It's only five bucks, man."
"I'll give you three." I said using one of my many charming smile to make him go for it. It honestly didn't take long. He took the three dollars and didn't argue. I guess I do work miracles or the guy was desperate but whatever.
I went to the next part of my plan. Getting a vehicle. There is a little Valla that the valets wear yellow jackets. The Valla is for the airport so the owner won't know it's gone until they come back. I ran up to a man and his wife getting out of a convertible and they fell for my jacket.
"Take good care of her. We will be back in a month." The man said. They took their luggage and gave me the keys and one one-hundred dollar bill.
"Thank you, sir." I said.
I got into the car and drove off. I took my jacket off and into the back and enjoyed the rush of the air as I passed by. I couldn't wait to surprise Kate.
She visited me after I went to jail and we would talk. She visited each week but the last time I saw her, she broke up with me and told me that we won't see each other again. We yelled at each other and she left. I wanted to know why so I broke out of jail and is going towards our shared apartment. I didn't love her like I use to but I didn't show any signs of that. I was honestly glad that she broke up with me but I didn't like the part about her not seeing me again. I didn't like losing someone close to me. But one thing I noticed was I haven't felt the same about Kate ever since I met Agent burke in that storage unit when he was arresting me. I couldn't stop thinking about him and wondering what his first name was. Also that wonderful, spine tingling hand shake. I wondered what letters he has on his wrist. But either way I would find out.
I parked the car a block away for the apartment and went up to our room. I open the door and it was cleared. Everything was gone. All I could see was a wine bottle standing in the middle of the floor. I grabbed it and slumped against the square pillar. Thinking about all the good times we had with this bottle. I know I didn't love like I use to but I still cared about her.
I heard echoing footsteps coming closer. I guess the police found me.
"I see Kate move out." The person belonging to the footsteps said.
I know that voice its Burke's. I guess the police couldn't find me so they brought in the one person who could find me. I would be filled with joy but I just couldn't at this moment.
"She leave you a message in that?" Burke asked. He was only standing a couple strides away.
"The bottle is the message." I sighed.
"It's been a while."
"Yeah." A little too long for my taste though. "Few years give or take."
"You carrying?"
"You know I don't like guns." I grinned.
"They asked me: What makes a guy like you pull a boneheaded escape with four months to go."
I just keep staring at the floor. I still ask me the same question. Why am I here?
"I guess you figure it out." I said.
"Kate says adios to you at prison, and then gets busy with her disappearing act. Her trail ends here." Peter explained. "But you already know that." He looked at me and smiled.
I looked at him and he was wearing the same outfit that he was wearing at the storage unit. His hair was a bit browner but his eyes were still the deep, warm brown as I remember.
"I missed her by two days." I said looking around still slumped against the square pillar.
"Still, it only took you a month and a half to escape a super-max." Burke said impressed. "Damn impressive."
I smiled at that comment and gave a low laugh like breaking out of that prison was the easiest thing in the world. Grant it was easy but not that easy.
Burke went on his walkie-talkie and told the people outside that it was clear, I was indentified and unarmed. I looked up at this in question. The people responded back with a 'roger.'
"We surrounding?" I asked curious. He nodded. "How many?"
"Including my agents and the marshals all of them, I think." He said looking around then at me. I nodded. Damn there is no escape and man I didn't know I was so wanted.
"What's the message?" Burke asked.
"Goodbye." I said setting it down.
"Women."
I scuffle.
"We're going to give you another four years for this, you know?" He said.
"I don't care." I said. What is four years going to do? I just wanted to see Kate again and learn the agent's first name and the letters on his wrist. That all but seems like I won't get either. Maybe.
"You know, that's the same suit you were wearing the last time you arrested me." I chuckled out.
"Mm. Classics never go out of style." He said. I look around his suit and saw a very particular thing. I start reaching for it on his shoulder and he flinches but I pulled back for a second. I reach for it again and this time he doesn't flinch away. He looked at me with a face between 'what are you doing' face and 'I'm watching you' face. I could see his face clearly now with me only a foot away from his. He is very handsome. He watched my hand as it went to his shoulders and picked up the thing. I was right at what it was.
"You know what this is?" I asked holding it up.
"No idea." He said. "I got it from a case I was supposed to be working on before they yanked me off to find you."
"You think you'll catch him?" I questioned.
"Don't know." He said. "He's good. Maybe as good as you."
"What's it worth if I tell you what it is?" I asked. He looked at me confused. "Is it worth a meeting?"
"What are you talking about?"
"If I tell you what this is right now will you agree to meet me back in prison in one week?" I asked. "Just a meeting?" I gave my most charming smile to make him go for it.
I heard a voice in the distance yelling 'hallway clear' so I didn't have much time. I really hope he goes for it. The voice is getting closer.
"Okay." He said calmly.
"It's a security fiber for the new Canadian one hundred-dollar bill." I said quickly. I gave the thing back to the agent. He held in his hands looking at it then at me. I then heard the thuds and the scarps of the other agents coming. I held up my hands because I know how this goes. They put the handcuffs on me and yell all the things from last time. I give Burke one last glance before they escort me out and say:
"One week."
One week later
Peter came. They set us out at the tables that allowed us to have a talk face-to-face. The room was a fading green with a couple windows and six or eight tables. I sat down in a prison orange short sleeve shirt and pants. I covered my left wrist with putting my hands together on top of the folder that I brought.
"Hello, Agent Burke." I said cheerfully.
"Hi." He said seriously. "Now tell me how did you know?"
"What is your first name, first?" I said.
"Why would you want to know that?" He questioned.
"If you want to know ho-." I said getting interrupted.
"Peter. Now can we go on with this?" He said.
Peter Burke. Peter Burke. Peter Burke. It fits perfectly with my two letters on my wrist and for the feelings I started to develop for the agent. Now I just need to know his letters and I have the perfect plan for it. Oh my god this is amazing.
"Ok." I said smiling ear-to-ear.
"How did you know?" he said sternly.
"Come on, Peter. It's what I do." I said with his name perfectly rolling off of my tongue. "How upset were the Canadians?"
"Oh, very." He chuckled out. "Well, as upset as Canadians can get. All right, so I agreed to a meeting. We're meeting." He began to sit down it looked like but didn't.
"I know why you call him the Dutchman." I began. "Like the ghost ship. He disappears whenever you get close."
He shrugged. "How do you know anything about him?"
"You know my life. You don't think I know yours?" I said. "Did you get the birthday cards?"
I actually only know his birthday, that he works for FBI white collar division, that he has no wife or husband but a sister, he has letters on his wrist and his name. Also a couple of his cases that aren't about me.
"Nice touch." He said.
"You've been after the Dutchman almost as long as you were after me." I said. "I'll help you catch him."
"Really? Really? How does that work?" he questioned. "Do you want to be prison pen pals?"
I pulled out the folder that was under my hands and flipped it open. I slam my fingers at a place on the paper. He came over and looked at the paper and began to read.
"You can get me out of here." I said. "There is a case law, Precedent. I can be released into your custody."
"Nice. This is very nice. But you're right, I do know you." He said like he was talking to a child. "And I know the second you're out; you'll take off after Kate."
I actually might do that but I have a plan for that, too. But before I do that I really want to know what is on his wrist.
"Peter, I am not gonna run." I said reassuring. "GPS tracking anklet. The new ones are tamperproof. Never been skipped on." I pushed a picture of the anklet and how good it is towards him. He began to look at that.
"There's always a first time." He said placing the papers down. I was heartbroken but there might still be hope.
"Think about it." I said looking at him with puppy eyes.
"Sorry, Neal. Nice try." He said and got up. Patted my shoulder a couple times and walked out with my folder. I watched him as he left.
I went back to my old cell and just laid there thinking about all that happened. I didn't realize how late it got until Bobby, the guard told me I had to turn off my light.
"Give me one more minute." I asked. "And it is already midnight."
"Yep." Bobby said and went off.
I laid there and eventually swung my legs off the bed and sat up. I looked up at the wall with all of my tally marks. All three years and eight months of it. I waited so long until my sentence was up but Kate dumped me that week and never came back. She moved out of our shared apartment. I add another line to finish one of the groups and was about to put another but I couldn't stand it. I waited so long and this is what I get another fucking four years in this hell hole. Peter won't let me be that consult thing and I am stuck here for another fucking four years. I am sick of it. I keep Xing out the whole chart and breaking the light bulb in the progress. Then I slammed it as hard as I could and just stared at it. One of the inmates yelled at me but oh well. Who cares anymore? I'll be in here for the next four years. Might as well get use to it. The wire that was holding the light bulb swung back and forth. I ran my finger through my hair and breathing heavily to subside all of my anger and try to relax. I slam my fingers down and began to relax. I went to the other side of my cell and started a new chart. Well, next four years here I come.