When Neal comes back from his lunch break Peter calls him into his office. "Look, what I've got for you. The marshals just brought a surprise present for you."
"Did ever come something good from the marshals?" The former criminal is suspicious. "This is a new anklet. It seems there are some security issues with the former model. They didn't give me any details but obviously the old ones are not really 100% tamper-proof." "I didn't do anything!" "Neal speaks with utter conviction and looks as innocent as a lamb."
"No-one accuses you of any tampering. The marshals just don't take any risks and exchange all anklets to a new model. You should like this one. It's even smaller than your old one. Won't bulge your trouser leg. It will look much nicer with one of your fancy suits."
"Anything else I should know about the new anklet - except from its fashion value?" "They haven't told me much. It seems to be more precise about your current location." "Which means from now on you can not only monitor if I am in my apartment but you can tell whether I'm in my bed or the bathroom?" "Something like that." Peter speaks with a smirk. You can be assured I won't be digging for these details. There is another piece of information they gave me. They have changed the anti-tamper protection to an active mode of operation." Which means?" "Don't ask me for any specifics but they told me it would be very painful for the monitored subject if someone should try to remove the anklet by force."
Peter stared at this young ward. "What do you indicate? I didn't remove my anklet by force." "You didn't cut it when you went to search for the Japanese elephant in my house?" "I was forced to do it!" "Yeah, says the escape artist. Just don't try anything and neither should Mozzie..." Before Neal could answer Peter cuts him short: "I know that he inspects every anklet I gave you and checks for security breaks and ways to pick it. I guess it's just the nature of beast. But I don't want to be called in the middle of the night to rush you to an emergency room because you played around and activated the tamper safeguard."
After that, Peter removes the old anklet and gets the new one in place. It feels ok and indeed, it didn't show at all under the trouser leg.
Later that day, the con man feels a little itching at his ankle. He might have to get used to the new plastic fiber. He never had any allergies and probably that itching has nothing to do with the anklet at all.
On his way home he calls Mozzie to meet him at his apartment. As soon as the baldy man arrives Neal exhibits his new anklet. Mozzie examines it thoroughly, checks the internet for any technical details on the new device. Finally, he gives up. "Sorry my dear friend. There is nothing I can do about it. Either you get hold of the keys or you are trapped and dependent on the suit's mercy. Just let me warn you: If you should ever want to cut it or pick the locks - just don't. Apparently you will be grilled with electrical power. That anklet is current-carrying and it will knock you out if the sensors detect any violation. This model is brand-new. There's not much about it on the internet to find - no details how exactly this is working."
During the evening Neal s lower leg starts to feel numb and the itching increases. A cold shower might just be what he needs. During the night he wakes up a couple of times thanks to the smarting in his leg.
The next morning, the CI complains about the anklet to his handler. "Ok Neal. What do you expect? Shall I call the marshals to tell them to remove the anklet because you sense a little itching in your leg?" "It's not only itching, the skin is reddened!" Agent Burke rolls his eyes. "Cowboy up! Now let's get to work. Today is Friday. I promised El to call it a day early. We will be heading off for a weekend by the sea. I promised her this journey for ages and I want to wrap up the case before I leave. Let's wait and see. If the itching is still there on Monday, I will call the marshals. Probably you only have to get used to the new material."
It is another mortgage fraud they are working on - nothing really fascinating about it. But the reformed criminal helps to put the evidences together and build the complete chain of proof. When the case is solved Peter leaves the reports to Diana, Jones and Neal.
"I'm off. I'm really hoping for a quiet weekend with my wife. In any case of emergency - emergency in the meaning of a matter of life and death - you can call me. I don't want to get any calls because you feel the urge to visit a gallery outside of your radius or jump on top of the Roosevelt Island tramway. My wife and I would really appreciate a couple of days off. If there should arise anything needing the attention of your handler call Diana."
It takes the remaining team some more hours after agent Burke has left to complete the paperwork and seal the case for the district attorney. The tickling and smarting in his ankle becomes more and more unpleasant.
Neal tries his luck with Diana and complains about the anklet. She isn't very susceptive to his plaint. "Did you talk to Peter about this?" "Of course, I did." "What did he say?" "Well, we should wait until Monday." "Now, we are talking. I'd say we do exactly that: Wait until Monday." "But he said that only because he was in a hurry! He didn't look at the ankle at all." "I am not interested in watching a hairy men's leg at all. Let's call it a day and head into the weekend. Get yourself a bottle of Aloe Vera lotion in a drug store on your way home and stop whining." It crosses his mind that Diana was constantly in a very bad mood during the last weeks.
His way home takes much longer than usually. The young man is limping and finally decides to take a taxi. Back at home he inspects the ankle. It doesn't look good - the skin has an angry red color and is moistening. He goes downstairs to look for June. Maybe she has an idea what to do.
Too bad his landlady went to visit her daughter and would stay there for the night. Neal sits down on his couch and elevates his foot. Calm down, he tells himself, you've suffered from much more serious injuries than this. Later on, he calls he's old friend. "Mozzie hey, will you come over tonight?" "Hm. You are meeting with whom?" "Jim Keith about Black Helicopters. He's dead, Moz." "I understand, CIA camouflage. Yeah, just drop by whenever you think it's secure."
It's still an hour to midnight when Mozzie walks through the door and takes a seat at the dining table. Unfortunately, he didn't get any new insight on the black helicopters which would be used for the most likely military takeover of the United States. The guy he met was a screwball. The expert on conspiracy theories helps himself to a glass of wine and fills his young friend in about the complete waste of his evening.
Finally, he directs his attention to his host. "You don't look good. What's wrong?" "Ah, my ankle. It's still hurting. I think it's infected." Neal removes the ice packs from his foot. Mozzie was appalled. "What is that? It's sore and swollen. You need to call the suit and make him remove the anklet. And you should probably see a doctor."
"No and no. Peter is out of town and doesn't want to be disturbed and you know I don't like doctors." Mozzie is still alarmed. Back in the old times when they both were working together he rendered quite some first aid for his young friend. He could adjust a dislocated shoulder and stich up a stab wound. But this looks nasty and he has no idea what to do. "Any objections if I stay here overnight?" "No, make yourself at home. I am tired and go to bed." Mozzie doesn't sleep but is listening to his friend who is moaning and tossing and turning in bed. At 1 a.m. he switches the light back on and tries to wake his friend. He's calling his name but Neal doesn't wake up. When Mozzie shakes him gently he feels the heat radiating. His friend is running a temperature.
The older man is at a loss. What should he do? The anklet has to come off! He would do it himself but is afraid that Neal might get an electrical shock. The marshals or the FBI have to disable it before they could remove it. He decides to call the suit - no matter what Neal told him earlier on. The phone was diverted to the mailbox: "Hi, this is special agent Peter Burke. I am not on duty right now. You can reach me at my office on Monday morning. In case of any emergency please call 911. Neal, if that's you: calm down and wait until Monday and if you're in serious trouble call Diana." Mozzie has some reservations regarding the suit. But the pant suit scares the wits out of him. He doesn't dare to call her.
Right then Neal awakes, screaming with pain. Mozzie knows where to look for June's medicine chest down in the basement. She has helped him with some pills every now and then. He climbs the stairs down and returns with a selection of pain killers.
"Come on, mon frère, you'll have to take these and then we'll be going to the nearest hospital." "Are these painkillers?" "They will help you and ease the pain." "No way, you know I don't take painkillers." "Yes you will take them, now!" Neal accepts the inevitable and yields to reason. He takes the pills from Mozzie and swallows them.