This is a sequel to my story A Brothers Search, so if you have not read that on yet you may not fully understand everything that is happening in this one. I highly recommend reading the first one to follow this one.
Hope you guys enjoy this one as much as the first one. I do plan on this story line with Neal and Peter being brothers to be a series with several shorter stories to follow this same line. If I write a story that does not fit in this series I will make not of that at the beginning of the story.
Again as always I own nothing. And I love suggestions and reviews.
Chapter One: The Call that Changed it All
Neal extended his arms over his head and arched his spine as he stretched his back muscles. It was amazing at how a little thing such as a stretch in the morning could feel so refreshing. He took in a deep breath and walked out to his balcony that overlooked the New York streets below. He loved this view. It was one of the best views in New York, and it was his thanks to the wonderful June.
The street noise below was considerably less busy due to it being Sunday Morning. Most people were in their homes enjoying their day off. Much like Neal. He took in a deep breath and absorbed the morning air into his lungs. He could smell bacon in the air from a vendor just below his balcony selling food from his street cart. Probably one of the few people in the city that worked on Sunday.
Suddenly Neal's cell phone rang from the kitchen table. He turned around and stared at the vibrating object. He pondered ignoring it and just letting it go to voice mail, but then he chuckled to himself as he thought about how likely it was to be Peter, and if he did not answer Peter would most assuredly either pull up his tracking anklet data, or show up at his door step. This was not due to him not trusting Neal but more due to the close calls they had the past several months with Keller, Keller's brother, and then Greg and that man Greg owed the money to, Peter had become? Well for the lack of a better word, over-protective. But Neal was pleased to have that problem with Peter versus the lack of trust issue they used to struggle so often with. To be perfectly honest Neal had begun to feel that same sense of over-protectiveness towards Peter and El. They were now his family and he would never let anyone harm them.
He reached down and lifted the phone. It wasn't Peter. And he didn't recognize the phone number. He frowned and blinked as he stared at the foreign number displayed across the screen. He wasn't expecting any phone calls today. He always felt slightly panicked when his phone rang and it was not Peter or Mozzie, because it could be someone from his past life calling and threatening or tempting him back into the world of crime, the life of a conman. He feared how easy it might be to rekindle his desire for that life, the life of prestige, wealth, and the opportunity to be someone else. But he began to remember why it was he loved that life so much. It was because he had nothing to live for in his own life. He had nothing as Neal Caffrey, but when he became someone else, he had whatever he wanted. But that was then, that was a long time ago. Now he had a family he cared deeply about, he had friends, he even had a respectable job, and an amazing home with incredible views. So why would he be tempted to become someone else when everything he had now was real? He wouldn't. He lifted the phone to his ear as he pressed the answer button. "Hello."
There was silence on the other end. He could hear background noise but there was no voice replying.
He just listened. He did not request for a reply. He waited. Several long seconds passed.
"Neal Caffrey?" Asked a man in a low deep voice, but Neal did not recognize it.
Neal blinked and hesitated to reply but his curiosity got the better of him. "Who is this?"
"A friend." Again the unfamiliar voice spoke.
"Does this friend have a name?" Neal sounded on edge. His guard was up, he was careful of what he would say to this strange person.
"Dawson, Markus Dawson." The man on the other end also seemed careful of what he revealed to Neal.
"I don't know that name, and I know my friends names. So you're not my friend. How did you get this number?"
Despite the fact that Neal could not see the man, he could hear in his voice and his uneven breathing he was smiling.
"What? You think you're impossible to track down? Let's just say I have my connections. Look you may not know me, but I know you, and we're not enemies. We have a lot more in common than you realize."
Neal frowned. "How about you tell me who exactly you are and let me be the judge of that?"
"I'm not a complete idiot Neal. I know you work for the FBI. Let's just take this slow for now until I know I can trust you."
"What do you want?" Neal's voice held a certain apprehension as he asked the question.
"I need your help with something. I'm in over my head and someone told me you were the person I should talk to."
"I'm sorry I can't help you, I gave up that life. Not to mention the fact that I have no clue who you are so I have no reason to even want to help you."
"I'm willing to pay you."
"I don't want your money, and I don't need your money. Goodbye." Neal began to pull the phone away from his ear when he heard the man reply.
"I'd hate for anything bad to happen to Alex over this."
Neal swallowed hard. He returned the phone to his ear. His breathing had slowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, Alex is the one that put me in contact with you. She seems quite taken by you."
"Where is she?" Neal demanded.
"Oh don't worry about her, she's fine. At least for now she is."
"If you lay a hand on her I swear…." Neal trailed off as he thought about the horror of someone harming her.
"Well now that all depends on you."
Neal pressed his lips together and his teeth clenched forcing his jaw muscles to ripple beneath the skin. "What do you want?" His words hissed through his teeth.
"It's simple really. I need a replica of a Degas by Thursday."
"I can't finish a Degas that soon."
"Well I guess that's bad news for Alex then isn't it?"
Neal closed his eyes tight. His fingers curled into his fist casting his knuckles in white. "If I'm going to do this, I need more information than what you've given me."
"There's a white envelope taped to the bottom of the bench for you at the corner of Maple and Garland St. That's within your two mile radius. You'll find everything you need in there. I'll contact you again on Wednesday for further instructions. Just make sure the painting is ready by Thursday."
Neal took a deep breath. "How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know Alex is really in danger?"
"Just get the envelope. You'll find all the proof you need in it. Oh and Neal. If you involve the FBI, there won't be anything left of Alex for the police to find." The line went dead.
Neal pulled the phone from his ear and slammed it down on the table. He dropped his head as he leaned over the table with his arms bracing himself against the table top. He was angry, but he was more worried about Alex and her safety. He had not heard from her in more than a year. He wondered if she had gotten involved with this Dawson person and it was turning bad, or if he turned on her. He knew she had never been able to give up the life, and he knew she probably never would. He always warned her to be careful with whom she teamed up with, because even a con could be conned.
He quickly dressed and as he walked out the door he slipped on his fedora. The corner of Maple and Garland was rather close actually. It only took him a few minutes to get there. Once he arrived he quickly spotted the only bench in the area. He casually walked over to the bench and looked around for anyone that seemed out of place or suspicious. But no one seemed to stand out to him.
He sat down on the bench and using his right hand he felt beneath him until he located the envelope. He pulled on it and the tape that secured it in place ripped free. Again he looked around to make sure no one was watching him. Once he was sure he was in the clear he stood to his feet and walked back to his apartment.
Inside he quickly opened the envelope. As he pulled the contents out a small photo floated to the floor. It captred his attention so he swooped down and picked it up from the floor. It was a picture of Alex, her wrists and ankles were bound with rope. Silver duct tape was spread across her mouth. Her eyes looked terrified. The confidence she normally had in her composure and in her gaze was missing.
Neal swallowed, he blinked. He sat the picture down on the table and then lifted the papers he removed from the envelope. The first page was instructions that informed him of the quality Dawson wanted in this forgery. It had to pass a museum inspection. That was almost impossible, at least for most it would be. Neal had created many forgeries that had to pass a museum inspection, but never in such a short period of time as what Dawson was requesting. He pulled the second page to the front. It was a picture of the Degas Painting he was to forge.
There was a knock at the door. He quickly folded the papers and slide them back into the envelope and placed the envelope beneath a book that was resting on the table.
He walked over and opened the door fully prepared to charm his way out of any suspicion should it be Peter that was standing there. It was Mozzie. Neal sighed in relief and pushed the door open allowing Mozzie to enter.
Mozzie could sense the relief in Neal's voice. "I take it you're happy it's me instead of a certain suit?"
Neal walked back to the table and lifted the book from the envelope. He handed the picture of Alex to Mozzie.
Mozzie stared at the picture and his face drew into a frown. He looked back at Neal. "Who sent this Neal?"
Neal handed the papers from the envelope to him. "Some guy named Dawson called me this morning and told me if I don't make a forgery of this painting by Thursday he'll hurt Alex."
Mozzie looked at the picture of the Degas. He furrowed his brow. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Neal pulled his hands up and ran his fingers through his hair as he began to pace.
"Do you think this guy is serious?"
"Yeah. I do. He told me if I involve the FBI there wouldn't be anything left of Alex for the police to find. He sounded like he meant it."
"It's going to take a lot of work to get this painting done by Thursday Neal. Especially to pass a museum inspection."
"Yeah Mozzie, I know that."
"Do you think you can do it?"
Neal looked down at the picture of Alex as he took it from Mozzie's hand. He frowned, "I can, but I don't know if I will."
"What? Neal this is Alex we're talking about. You can't seriously be thinking about not doing it."
Neal nodded his head. "No, that's not what I mean. I'll do whatever I can for her. But I think I have to tell Peter."
"No Neal you can't. He told you what would happen if you involve the FBI."
"I'm not going to involve the FBI. I'm going to involve my brother."
"Neal, they're one in the same. Peter can't be Peter without the FBI."
"Look Mozz. Peter and I made both agreed there would be no more secrets between us. I have to tell him. And I think if I do, he will trust me and help me save Alex without involving the FBI."
Mozzie shook his head. "This I a bad idea Neal."
Neal walked over to the door and slipped on his Fedora. He looked back at Mozzie. "Maybe. But I made a promise to Peter, and I have to keep it. I have to have faith in him, that he will put family ahead of his job."