So I decided to come back and tweak this story. Plot is the same, I just added a few more details.
Neal turned the corner, into a long alley, he always took to work. He slowed, something seemed a bit off. Out of nowhere, somebody grabbed him and threw him up against the wall. Neal's head hit the concrete wall hard and he was slightly dizzy. He blinked a couple of times, trying to clear his head.
"Hello, Mr. Caffrey. You have access to something that I want."
"And that would be?" Neal sneered at the man.
"Twenty bars of gold, which your friend Peter has locked up in the evidence locker."
"I'm not going to steal anything from the evidence locker." Neal started to walk away. The man grabbed Neal and held a knife to his throat. Neal stiffened at the touch of the cold metal on his throat.
"You will do what I tell you or Peter's wife dies." The man held a picture up and Neal's eyes went wide. It was El, in her kitchen doing dishes. "You have until three o'clock. I'll be in touch. If you tell anyone, she's dead." The man gave Neal another shove and disappeared. Neal's head was spinning, should he tell Peter or keep quiet? Should he risk Ellie's life by informing Peter?
Neal cautiously made his way to the office. He was on high alert and jumped at every loud sound. When Neal stepped off the elevator, Peter was waiting for him.
"You're late."
"I know." Neal's voice shook. "Can I talk to you? Alone." Peter led the way to his office. Neal shut the door. He let out a sigh and turned to face Peter. "This morning…" A red dot shined brightly on Peter's forehead. Neal panicked didn't he hadn't expected snipers to be waiting. "Um…never mind." Neal quickly left Peter's office and practically ran to his own desk. Peter stood confused in his office, but became distracted quickly with his work. Every once in a while, Peter would look up from his paperwork and watch Neal twitch nervously. Something was troubling him and Peter was determined to find out what it was.
Diana walked in with a box, with tape that said evidence on it. Neal's eyes landed on the tape and the wheels in his head started turning. He stood to help her with it.
"Need any help with that?" Diana looked at Neal and immediately knew something was off.
"No, I'm fine. But thanks." Neal was about to ask again, when her phone rang. She looked at Neal and rolled her eyes. She passed him the box. "Go log this into evidence." Neal nodded and grabbed the box. He swiftly grabbed his briefcase and headed to the evidence room. He hoped his plan would work.
When he was inside the evidence locker, he moved quickly and located the bars. He moved them to another part of the room and found a box of rocks. He placed the equivalent weight of rocks as gold into his suit case and quickly left the evidence locker. He swiftly placed the brief case under his desk and sat down as if nothing had happened. As soon as he was settled, the phone on his desk rang. Neal picked it up.
"Very good, Mr. Caffrey. I will be at the front of the police station in ten minutes, you better be waiting." The line went dead. Neal calmly replaced the phone into its holder and rose. He made his way to Peter's office. Before he could enter, Peter looked up.
"Can I help you Neal?" Peter could clearly see worry and fear in Neal's eyes. He hoped that Neal would tell him what was going on.
"Yeah, I'm going to take a lunch break." Neal turned to leave, but froze when Peter responded.
"That sounds good, I'll go with you." Neal turned back around.
"No, um, it looks like you have a lot of work to do, so I'll bring you something." Before Peter could reply, Neal was down the stairs, briefcase in hand, headed for the elevator. Peter glanced at Diana.
"Something is up." Peter stood and put his jacket on. "Watch the office, I'm going to figure out what's going on." Diana nodded and watched as Peter raced after Neal. Something told her to follow him, so she did.
Just as Neal walked out the front doors a black car with tinted windows rolled up. The front passenger window rolled down. The same man from the alley smiled evilly at Neal.
"I see you have what I want." Neal walked towards the car and handed the briefcase to the man. He smiled and looked back Neal.
"Now leave and don't bother me or anyone I know." The man seemed to ponder this.
"Just one more thing." Neal looked confused. "I know you, you're going to go to your buddy Peter and tattle on me." The man raised a gun to Neal. Neal took a couple steps back.
'No, I won't. I promise." Just then Peter burst through the front doors.
"Neal!" Neal looked at Peter and then the man.
"No. It's not what you think. I didn't tell him anything."
"Not taking any chances." The man fired at Neal and then the car sped away. The man watched in the rearview as Neal's body hit the ground. He laughed and focused on the suitcase in his lap.
Peter froze when he heard the gunshot. Time seemed to slow as Neal fell to the ground and the car sped away. Peter went into cop mode and tried to catch the license plate number. When the car disappeared he dropped down next to Neal.
"Neal?" His breathing was labored and his eyes were glazed over. "Neal, can you hear me?" Blood seeped from the wound on his chest.
"P-peter?" Neal's eyes met Peter's. "You're welcome." Peter's face twisted with confusion. He placed his hand on Neal's chest, trying to slow the bleeding.
"For what Neal." He looked into his friend's eyes and willed him to have enough strength to survive.
"He threatened to k-kill El a-and y-you. I-I saved y-you."
"How did you Neal?" Peter was confused. Who threated to kill them and why?
"I pretended t-to s-steal g-gold from t-the e-evidence locker." It was becoming harder for Neal to breath. "I-I put a t-tracker in the case."
Peter looked up when sirens could be heard. He hadn't even thought to call them, but with a quick glance around, he noticed that Diana was standing behind him, phone in hand. He gave her a nod of approval and put his attention back on Neal. His eyes were now closed and his chest no longer rose or fell.
"Neal!"