Blue

A White Collar-Heist Society Crossover

Chapter One: A Kat and A Hat

I do not own White Collar or Heist Society

Two pairs of blue eyes met each other in surprise, first narrowing in confusion, then widening into recognition before settling into an expression of perfect innocence. One pair of blue eyes belonged to a man in his twenties who was currently rocking a fedora. The other pair were the property of a dark-haired teenage girl who, at this time, looked to be in her early twenties despite the fact she was small. They both looked as if they belonged in the elegant room. They were high class. They were also equal distance away from a very old painting secured by nothing more than an insultingly cheep stand. It was quite obvious that the respective owners of the blue eyes wanted to remove it from the affront and put it somewhere quite nicer. Somewhere in their own respective collections.

"Hello," Kat, the girl, greeted.

"Hello," Neal, the one in the hat, repeated.

"So why are you here?" Kat asked lightly, her voice and body much steadier than her racing brain. She knew that Hat-boy was a thief and if he was any good he could tell the same about her. She didn't have any way to signal her crew so she couldn't expect any help. She knew that Hat-boy could physically outmaneuver her, not that she wanted any roughhousing around the painting. She could scream and claim she caught Hat-boy but then the painting would be whisked away and she might never get another chance to retrieve it. She needed that painting.

"Just admiring the art. And you?" Neal had to work to tear his eyes away from the painting and focus that he had just snuck into a not-quite-empty room. Yes, the girl was a major snag but he didn't want to deal with her when a Da Vinci was in front of him! Especially when the girl was a thief. A thief that was trying to steal a painting that she shouldn't have known about. The FBI had only caught wind about it because of a tip from one of the servants in Mr. Hadrick's employ. Mozzie hadn't heard a word about it. The girl certainly wasn't going to get a tip so unless she was already in on the job then... Neal then concluded that she had to be working with Hadrick or one of his associates. Peter was definitely going to want to talk to her.

"I was just about ready to powder my nose and then, well, I must have lost my way."

"Almost believable, I couldn't even see your tell." Neal commented, taking a few lazy steps forward. Kat also advanced,

"Who says I have one?"

"I do. So what should I call you?"

"I go by Sue McMurray. What about you?"

"Nick Halden," Neal tipped his hat, "You don't look like a Sue."

"So sue me," Kat shrugged, "Sometimes you don't get a choice what you're named."

"And other times you do." Neal said pointedly, "So who are you working for? Hadrick?"

"I'm self-employed. You?"

"Sort of in a partnership," Neal took a fluid step to the side which Kat matched before bluffing, "He can't be paying you enough."

"Pay? Oh, that's laughable. He hasn't given me anything that you'd consider in the same category as 'pay.'" Kat was able to say quite truthfully. Improve was everything to a con-artist and she thought it would be best to see what Hat-boy was thinking.

"Then why are you even here?" Neal sidestepped again, only to have Kat step twice. Now the two were slowly circling each other as if they where a dance. Neal kept his body calm even though he knew that Peter would be going ballistic in the van from only hearing the vague audio. A team of Feds would be up there soon. All he needed to do was stall the girl.

"I'm sure I have a better reason than you. You can't have much of a partnership if he sends you to do his dirty work."

"As I said, sort of a partnership. He's learning."

Kat chuckled slightly at that. Even though this thief was certainly her opponent, he was charming. A little bit to charming but that was a cons way. Plus, she was hiding her tension. Laughter puts people at ease. As soon as Hat-boy truly relaxed, not just wearing his mask of calm, she'd make her move.

"So then why aren't you teaching him?"

"Who says I'm not?"

"I do," Kat gave a little smile as she said it exactly the way Neal had before, "You're not a major player in this. Your partner is. You're obviously not filled in on all of the details."

"And what would my partner know that I don't?"

"It's either that or your stupid. Not many people would like to admire that painting, not with who owns it. You haven't done your research." Kat knew that giving information was generally a bad idea but in some cases, a little info went a long way when getting people to trust you. It was a long shot but if she could scare Hat-boy then maybe she could reach a deal where she could walk out with the painting.

"Hadrick? He's not a threat."

"You think that this belongs to Hadrick? Seriously? He'd have it in an underground vault if that were true. No, the Da Vinci has never belonged to Hadrick. The man that does own this, it's protected by reputation alone."

"Are you trying to tell me a ghost story?"

"No, but I'm trying to-"

"Name, please."

Kat gave a mysterious smile before her lips curved into a disgusted expression that couldn't be separated from the words,

"His name is Keller."

Kat saw Neal's face morph into shock, rage, fear. There was something personal.

A pen dropped.

Then the door was kicked in and a crowd of guns flooded in.

"FBI don't move!" Some imposing woman called,

Kat stared in absolute shock. She was caught. This was not good. A thief's biggest tool was her face, her reputation. The giant smear the Feds would leave on them, as well as the jail time, could sink her. And her crew.

"Caffery, what the heck happened?" an agent approached Neal. Neal wasn't listening, his attention still turned to Kat.

"What do you know about Keller?" The cons voice was loud enough for everyone to hear it and the room went silent. The agent who had been approaching Neal, Peter Burk, froze.

There was too much going on now. Kat did not like her brain at the moment. She quickly tried to prioritize. The Da Vinci was crossed out- she didn't care about Visily Romani's wishes right now, she could get it later. Hat-boy being with the FBI was minimized. The FBI catching her and Keller were still too much so she combined them.

"Immunity, if I tell you what I know I get immunity."

Neal slammed his hand on a table,

"No! Not where Keller's concerned. Where is he and how did he get out of jail?"

"Answer him," Peter moved closer to the girl.

"Boss," Diana caught Peter's shoulder, "Let's do this back at the station."

Peter sighed but nodded his assent,

"Cuff her."

Peter looked at the young thief and noticed she was almost in tears. Pure terror. She wouldn't cry but she was obviously frightened. That was good, much better than interrogating a calm façade.

Then Kat took a breath and forced herself to relax. What did the Feds actually have on her? She hadn't said anything implicit. There was no physical evidence that she was actually going to steal the Da Vinci. They wouldn't be able to hold her. She could beat them. This was probably just karma rearing its ugly head for when she'd turned her father into Interpol. Bobby Bishop was fine, so Katarina Bishop would be fine as well. It was in her blood to outsmart law enforcement. She put on a cocky grin that even Hale would have had to work to top.

Peter sighed. He hated cons. He really did. Why did everything have to be a game to them, a show? Why couldn't they just use their brains for good?

Hale had been talking to Gabrielle when he saw Kat in handcuffs. That wasn't good. At all.

"Gabrielle!" Hale sort of squeaked at her. He'd deny it later but his voice was strangled by shock.

"What was that?" Gabrielle asked, nearly sure that a dying hamster had said her name.

"Window. Kat." He worked on composing himself as Gabrielle's slipped.

"What are law enforcement doing here? I thought Simon said this was safe!"

"I am going to kill him." Hale growled,

"We need to get out of here. Get Nick and signal Simon, I'll follow Kat." Gabrielle pulled something from her purse, while Hale argued,

"No, I'll go get Kat-"

"No, you won't," the blond cut him off, "She is my cousin and I'm far less conspicuous than you when you're in a mood. I'm better for this. No arguments!" Gabrielle slipped off, leaving Hale with no choice to follow her orders.

Kat sat pleasantly in the holding cell, watching Peter and Neal talk on the other side of the clear walls. It seemed like an ineffective design in her opinion. She could see them just as well as they could see her. However she wasn't going to complain that she got a free window of information.

Peter entered the room and Neal stood outside. Peter sat down and steepled his fingers, wrists resting on the table.

"So, let's start with your name."

Kat kept silent.

Peter sighed.

"We know you're not Sue McMurray." Peter waited expectantly, "You do know that cooperation is the best option for you."

"What if I wanted a lawyer? And what are you charging me with? You don't have anything to hold me with."

"You were clearly going to steal that painting."

"Which in and of itself was stolen. Your guy over there was clearly going to steal that painting. Clearly is always a matter of opinion. It'll be his word of mine. Who's to say that- Caffery? Am I right?- wasn't stealing it. Caffery stealing art-" Suddenly Kat's head jerked to look at Neal, "Caffery. Neal Caffery. You have Neal Caffery working for you? He's Neal Caffery? Oh, jeez," Kat gave him another critical look before muttering, "That explains the hat."

She'd have to remember to tell her family about this. Her father had worked with Neal once or twice.

Peter wasn't sure how to respond to this.

"We don't care about you, just tell me about Keller."

"I happen to care about me a great deal." She responded, "So I'll tell you everything I know about him if you agree to let me go."

Peter wasn't sure about this, even if he desperately wanted information about Keller. If this girl had killed someone or something like that then no matter what she said he'd have to put her away.

"We'll see after you talk."

"Let me get this straight," she paused, "You have nothing on me, only an interpretation of events that were witnessed by Neal Caffery, and I'm offering you free information. The case won't stick. You might as well stop wasting both of our times."

Diana knocked on the glass of the door and Peter rose to meet her. They stood right on the other side of the door, turned so Kat couldn't quite read their lips. Neal stood close, oddly resembling a puppy.

"I know her names not really Sue McMurray but I ran it and came up with this," Diana handed Peter a folder, "Whoever she is she's been to Russia recently, and back, and partied around Europe."

"At least we know she wasn't part of that thing in Uruguay." Peter joked as he saw all the times the passport had been used,

"Paraguay, Peter, Paraguay," Neal corrected, "And remember, this is only an alias. For all we know, she could have been."

"This says she was everywhere from Monaco to Switzerland when that was going down." Peter disagreed, "Who is this women?"

"Let me see that," Neal grabbed the file, "This says she's twenty one."

"So?"

"She isn't twenty one. Look at her; she's using every trick in the book to look older without using prosthetics. Her picture in this also... Peter, I think she's a kid!"

"What? Yes, she'd young but-"

"You don't lie about your age unless you have a reason. The only reason I can think of is that she's under eighteen."

"What?" Peter looked at Kat again, "But how? She's too good- We have a minor? Darnit Caffery, this means a lot of paperwork."

"Boss?" Diana asked as Peter rubbed his head in frustration,

"Look up school records, try to match her photo, something. This just got a lot trickier if Caffery's right."

"Could I try talking to her?" Neal asked, "I might get something you wouldn't."

"Neal," Peter warned him, looking hesitant,

"She's a talented young thief, sound allegedly familiar?" Neal smiled, "Remember Scott? I can do this Peter."

"Alright, fine. But be... I don't know. I'm trusting you here Neal, don't screw it up."

Neal tipped his hat and entered Kat's room.

"So you've heard of me."

"And you've become a suit."

"You've heard of me well enough to know about my hat so we must have some mutual acquaintance. Who is it? I'm curious who's talking about me."

"I'm curious to why I'm still here when you have nothing on me. Isn't there some sort of time limit?" Kat stuck out her chin in a 'try me' expression.

Neal kept him charm-smile on as he tried to analyze the girl. Why wouldn't she give up one little name? She would have to be aware that they knew she was integrated into criminal society so it wouldn't give any darning information on her. Neal knew he'd give away names, he didn't owe his previous employers or partners anything- unless he did. Therefore, whoever they'd both met had to be someone important to her. Her Mozzie maybe?

"Come on, who is it? I won't tell the Feds."

"You are a Fed."

"Criminal consultant," Neal waved off, "There's a difference. They got me chained by my ankle. And they don't pay me. But it's better than prison."

Kat looked at him and tried to see past the smile. She couldn't tell if he was wild or tame, thief or Fed. He was a little like a reverse Nick she figured, (fully noting the irony in Neal's alias) Neal came from crime but turned to the law. If Neal was like Nick then Kat was partially sunk- She still didn't completely understand the boy. Heck, she didn't understand boys as a gender! Why the heck was she trying to figure Neal out if she couldn't even understand her best friend Hale? (Or was Hale her boyfriend now? It was confusing) Oh, yeah, she was in FBI custody and if she didn't get into Neal's head she wouldn't gain an advantage. Darn boys! She was doomed.

"Conning people isn't all it's made out to be," Neal continued, "I know the rush is addicting and it's hard to stop but-"

Kat couldn't help but chuckle. Was he seriously trying to give her the speech? She had tried to walk away from her life of crime but that simply wasn't possible. Stopping only resulted in her best friend (or possible boyfriend) putting the headmasters car on a flagpole. And, yes, she knew it was addicting. She had just gotten over from weeks of being heist drunk. Neal knew nothing about her.

"I know, I sound like an old fogie but it's the truth." He sounded offended,

"Yes, yes it is." She bit her lip to avoid cracking up, "I know that heists are addicting but I also know it's impossible to stop. If it's in your blood, it's in your blood. No amount of running can change that, no amount of atonement, and no amount of catching others." Kat looked at Neal pointedly, "But then again, why would I know about such things? Guess I must have seen too many movies or something."

Neal hated her tone, she full heartedly believed the inevitability of life of a con. That no one could quit. He knew many shared her sentiment- Mozzie, Adler, Kramer- but he was still hoping it was at least possible. Peter believed in him, sometimes, but Neal rarely dared hope. He wasn't even sure he wanted to stop being a con. All he wanted was to not be doomed by his criminal father. He wanted it to be his choice, not fate.

It seemed to him the girl believed in fate.

"There must be some choice," Neal said almost flippantly despite how much this phrase meant to him,

"Other than death?" Kat asked skeptically. Then again, she thought, even then she could imagine Hale, Gabrielle, Simon and the Bagshaw brothers finding her and trying to use her spirit in a heist. She got the ridiculous image of them trying to use a Ouija board so she could tell them where jewel were hidden and what the security was. Another thought appeared and it included Hale trying to steal the Grim Reaper... It made her glad she wasn't dead.

Then again, she added sadly, her mother wasn't pulling any heists.

"There has to be one."

"Maybe for some people," Kat shrugged.

Jones noticed a tall, leggy blonde walk into the FBI. She strode in confidently without a hint of wobble from her ludicrously high heels.

"Where is my client?" she demanded, waving her arms.

"Ma'am?" Jones asked her,

"Short, dark-haired woman, blue eyes. I'm her lawyer."

"And you are?"

"Evanna Dare," she waited expectantly before snapping, "Well get on then!"

"How the heck did she get a lawyer?" Peter wondered, "She didn't call anyone!"

Neal stood looking at the two within the holding cell.

"Let's let her go."

"What? But she knows something about Keller! Keller who somehow escaped from prison; Again!"

"We put her on surveillance. Whoever she is, she's good enough that she's not going to slip up here."

"Neal-"

"Look Peter, she has information and a lawyer, we don't even have her name."

"It's possible that she is really Sue McMurray."

"No. Think about if I was in there and all you knew about me was Nick Halden."

"Good point," Peter nodded his assent, "Jones? See her out."

Meanwhile, back inside the holding cell, Gabrielle was taking her turn grilling Kat.

"How did you not notice that someone else was in to room?" The blonde didn't show any of her frustration in her body language but it was quiet clear in her tone.

"He wasn't there yet. He walked in right as I went through the window."

"What do they know?"

"Not much. The big news is that Neal Caffery is over there." Kat gestured with her eyes, "You know, the hat guy?"

"Yes, I know, the hat guy;" Gabrielle looked at him and then processed it, "He's a snitch? Didn't your dad work a few with him? This could get hairy."

"I think my dad's safe but we need to tell Uncle Eddie."

"Are we going to tell Uncle Eddie about this?" Gabrielle made the tiniest hand gesture,

"Not yet," Kat winced, "I'm not looking forward to the lecture. And isn't he in... Where is he right now?"

"Poland," Gabrielle said, "He is going to find out you know. And if you took an unnecessary risk than-"

"I didn't take any risk! I was working precisely off of our plan- which you agreed was simplicity itself. How could I have known that Caffery would be trying to steal the Da Vinci?"

"Why was he stealing it?"

"FBI sponsored retrieval or something? I'm not sure."

"Unless he's working both sides. He could have been trying to take it for himself. I mean a Da Vinci! If that's not enough to tempt someone than I'm not sure what would."

"If so we could use that,"

"What are we going to do about the painting, now that it's in FBI custody?"

"Not here," Kat warned,

"Yeah, ok Kitty-Kat."

"And it anyone asks, I'm Sue McMurray."

"Ah, that's helpful."

"Why? What did you call me?"

"Short," Gabrielle smirked as Kat sent her a death glare, "And I'm Evanna Dare."

"Got it Gabs," Kat nodded.

Peter came into the room,

"You may go."

"Thanks!" Kat beamed at him but she couldn't stop her confusion from showing,

"Next time do not waste my client's time!" Gabrielle tossed her hair contemptuously, "Or mine."

The two girls walked quickly, but not suspiciously so, out of the office.

"You better be right Neal," Peter grunted,

"Even if you're agents lose them it'll be fine, I've put Mozzie on the case."

"How?"

"He hates Keller too, if there's any chance the girl could help catch him he's willing to do it."

Gabrielle and Kat managed to ditch the FBI tail very quickly, Peter had made the mistake of leaving the matter to the Harvard crowd instead of Diana or Jones. They never saw Mozzie. This wasn't Kat's fault because, as good as she was, Mozzie was... weird. He was suspicious looking and abnormal but at the same time he blended in because of this. He looked like he'd be doing weird things so the mind didn't flag him as dangerous.

Mozzie wasn't sure what to make of the two. They were young, talented and seemed like royalty. The two projected the aura of high class refinement. The short girl reminded him of Neal in a strange way. They didn't say much so he didn't gather a lot of info but he did catch a few names. The brunette was referred to as 'Cat' and the blond was called 'Gabs'. Someone labeled 'Hail' would be freaking out.

When Mozzie got to their destination, he immediately called Neal,

"Neal, we have a problem."

A\N: So is anyone intrested in this so far? I love both universes and was shocked there weren't any crossovers of the two! Therefore I started writing this. What do you think? Could you tell me in a reveiw? Pretty please with sugar on top! An a cherry, and choclate, and icecream, a pie, and cake that isn't a lie, and muffins, and cupcakes, and rainbows and sprinkles on top of that! (The question is, what in the world is on bottom?)

Next Chapter- Peter and Neal find the true identity of "Sue," Kat steals a hat and Mozzie has more problems.