(Chapter 2)
The next morning Peter woke up to the sound of his wife laughing. She sounded rather cheerful as he pulled on his robe and curiously made his way downstairs. He could hear El shushing someone afraid they would wake Peter up.
"Morning, honey." Elizabeth walked over as Peter entered the kitchen, hugging him and planting a kiss on his lips. He looked over at who she had been giggling with. Neal was at the stove top flipping pancakes like he was some kind of culinary chef showing off. The agent grinned sleepily.
"Ah, pancakes. What's the occasion?" Peter walked over to the sink, reached up into the cabinet and grabbed a glass, filling it with water as he leaned on the edge of the counter and watched his partner showing off. Neal was smiling, looking a lot more himself than he had yesterday. Maybe he would be ok for the meeting today. Peter still wanted to talk to Hughes about it just in case Neal was still antsy.
"No reason, Peter. I just wanted to do something nice." Neal's voice was happy enough but Peter still detected a hint of something else there. The young man seemed to notice Peter's gaze, turning his smile on higher like a flame, distracting him from anything he might think he saw.
"Did you put chocolate chips in those? El... you told him didn't you?" Peter looked absolutely fascinated if not happy for the change in breakfast. He normally just had some cereal or a couple of eggs but chocolate chip pancakes... Neal must really be trying to butter him up. He grinned to himself, walking over to the coffee maker and pouring himself a cup. He made a motion to Neal if he wanted some and the young man nodded. Peter walked the cup over to Neal who took it with his free hand and took a long sip.
"I'll go set the table while you boys slave over the stove." El winked at them both as she said that, hugging Neal but kissing her husband as she left the kitchen. They both glanced after her, Peter noticing Neal relaxing some as if he knew he could hide his feelings from El but not Peter.
"It's ok. I can postpone that meeting today if you like. Hughes will arrange it after yesterday. I want you at the top of your game." He patted Neal on the back but felt a tension there, Neal shaking his head.
"I'm alright, Peter. I... I'm alright." Neal's voice wasn't very convincing but he finished making the last of the pancakes, flipping it professionally onto the platter as he turned off the stove top, neatly removed the pans and walked over to the sink to wash his hands. He wiped them quickly on the apron he'd borrowed and removed it, hanging it back over the pantry door where El usually kept it. He didn't look at Peter the whole time he did this till he grabbed up the plate and put on his smile again. He was doing this for El if nobody else. Peter nodded in defeat, grabbing up the coffee pot, emptying it into another ewer and then following the young man out into the dining room.
()()()
The drive to the FBI offices was quiet. Neal didn't fiddle with the radio or GPS and he was less than talkative for once. He kept his nose stuck in the case file as he read it quietly, something Peter liked but found oddly disturbing under the circumstances. Still, he let Neal be, poking the young man when they had parked. Neal nodded sleepily, pushing his hat over his eyes a bit and pulling his shades on when they exited. They went up the elevator to their floor and stepped out into the lobby, pushing open the glass door and entering the offices proper. They walked across, Neal only stopping briefly at his desk near the door to drop off his jacket and hat before he followed Peter upstairs to his office.
They sat there for a few minutes going over the case file, Neal all ears and behaving which unsettled Peter for once but he didn't let on seeing as this was an important case. About twenty minutes into their discussion there was a knock on the office door as Hughes peeked in.
"The bank representative is here to see you two. Ready?" Reese sounded a bit nervous despite his casually gruff tone. Peter looked at Neal who nodded with his usual smile, Peter reflecting the same back. He hoped Neal was over whatever happened yesterday but now it was too late to turn back.
They followed Hughes out of the office and down the stairs to the conference room below. A well dressed man in his early 40s, distinguished looking with a moustache, hair dark and cropped short in a professional manner smiled at them as they walked in. The man had light brown eyes that matched his suit. He stood up, hand held out as Hughes, Peter and then Neal approached. It was odd as Peter noticed a slight hesitation on Neal's part, shaking the man's hand but looking as if he'd seen a ghost before his facade covered it up. Nobody seemed to have noticed except Peter, so he would have to ask later what was wrong but for now he wanted to see this meeting through.
"Please everyone, sit. Mr. Hartwell wanted to discuss bank security with us while he was in town. He came to us since we weren't able to go up there. I apologize for the delay, Mr. Hartwell. Shall we begin?" Hughes was official, Hartwell nodding and he gave Neal a glance and then turned his attention to Peter and Hughes.
"My boss, Mr. Marin wanted to talk to Mr. Caffrey personally but is unable to leave the offices at this time so he sent me. I hope you're feeling better. He's heard good things about your expertise in solving security issues as well as your uncanny ability to sniff out forgeries. We're glad to have such a distinguished consultant on our case. Agent Hughes, thank you for giving our case your most urgent attention." Hartwell turned his attention back to Reese who was smiling but looking over at Peter.
"My agents have been the ones doing all the work with our consultant. I just oversee and monitor. If you have any questions, Agent Burke and Caffrey are the men to talk to at the moment." Peter knew he was just being modest since Hughes liked to remain behind the scenes but always kept up to date on everything. That's what Peter liked about his boss. He watched Hartwell nod, again the look at Neal before he turned it towards Peter.
"So what information do you have on these robberies from the branches that have been stolen from, Agent Burke. I heard you personally visited every branch. I'm impressed." Hartwell's tone was professional but he sensed a slight hint of condescension in it which confused him and made him suspicious. He saw Neal listening intently, the CI having said nothing yet which was unusual for him. Even Hughes seemed to have noticed but said nothing in front of their client.
"They were all inside jobs from what my team has pieced together so far. No signs of breaking or entering and the cameras were off when the incident happened which was during a scheduled maintenance of the system which are randomly set up and would only be known by a insider. I'm thinking a current employee or past employee would have to be the likely culprit. Any past or current employees you know of that may have a grudge against your company?" Peter kept his tone professional, manner somewhat bland as he tried to figure out what was between Hartwell and Neal.
Hartwell shook his head, that professional smile glued to his face.
"No. We've investigated according to what your team and our own security people have pieced together and nobody fits the description. Mr. Marin treats his employees well so why anyone would want to hurt the company is beyond our comprehension. What do you think, Mr. Caffrey?" Hartwell had turned the conversion over to Neal who had been watching and feeling out the man for the past 30 minutes. He didn't so much as blink, his fingers in a steeple pattern as he remained unreadable, blue eyes flashing slightly at the bank rep.
"I would think this was higher up than someone who was just a mere employee. Only someone high enough in the chain would know about the scheduled maintenance for the cameras." Neal left it simple, his expression still unreadable but for a slight flicker of something in his eyes towards Hartwell. Peter watched the exchange, the meeting going on for a few minutes more before they finished. Hughes excused himself when he was called by Jones for a call, Peter waiting for Neal. He saw a look between his partner and the client which made him think they needed a moment alone.
"I was going to get some coffee. Did you want some Mr. Hartwell?" He watched the man shake his head with that professional smile plastered in place, Neal shaking his head as well. Peter nodded as he left, leaving a pen on the table and walking out.
()()()
Once Peter left the meeting room, Neal moved back ever so slightly and closed the door again. He saw Hartwell continue to sit there with that false smile on his face, a hint of amusement in the man's body language.
"Neal Caffrey... such a nice surprise to see you again. I see you're doing well." Hartwell's voice was suddenly a bit less 'nice' as he spoke openly towards the ex-con. Neal stiffened ever so slightly, standing and leaning back on the door frame.
"I could say the same back. Why are you here? What game are you playing, Max?" Neal's expression had turned dark as he watched the other man. He wasn't happy to see the bank rep but for reasons other than the case. The other man clucked his tongue.
"I guess we can't discuss this here. Bugs and all but meet me somewhere... give me a location and we can talk about why I'm here. Talk about old times." The man grinned brightly, Neal looking less than happy.
"Fine."
()()()
Peter walked in after a few minutes, his blazer still draped on the chair in the conference room. He picked up the pen, pushing it into his pocket and exiting. He saw Neal at his desk in the lobby looking somewhat sullen. Whatever he and Hartwell had discussed, Neal wasn't happy about it. He wondered if maybe the two had crossed in the past during some kind of robbery. How else would they know each other?
The agent slipped into his office, closed the door and popped the pen out. He opened it up revealing a usb connection and connected it to the PC. He listened as audio came up. His eyebrows rose as he heard what was said.
()()()
Neal was well behaved for the rest of the day, Peter figuring it had something to do with Hartwell if not his reaction the day before. Now that he had heard their conversation he was wondering if he should confront Neal. Peter felt badly for spying but he had no other means of confirming what he had thought about Hartwell. Jones came in for a conference on a case file, distracting Peter from talking to Neal.
When the end of the day came around, Neal stood and pulled his jacket on, hat pushed onto his head. He excused himself early and took a taxi home. Peter understood why but he followed behind in the Taurus watching the younger man as he went home, entered June's briefly before exiting again and walking to the park. Peter followed on foot. Out of sight he saw Neal sit at his usual spot in the park another figure showing up not too long after. It was Hartwell.
Peter watched the two men chatting, Neal looking upset during the conversation. He kept wishing he had bugged Neal discreetly having no way to know what was being said beyond body language which was obvious on Neal but not so obvious on Hartwell. Peter was so intent on reading lips and figuring out what was going on he didn't hear the footsteps creeping up behind him. It was too late when he heard the snap of a branch and something like a silencer and a sting in his neck. Someone grasped a hand around his arms and mouth keeping his strangled cry from traveling. The person holding him grabbed his cuffs and pulled his wrists back, securing his arms behind him. Peter started to feel his consciousness fade, his body relaxing as whatever he'd been shot with passed into his system. He was just able to see the two men still chatting, vision blurring ever so slightly. He thought he saw Neal looking at him with wide eyes before he passed out.
()()()
Neal sat in the park awaiting his meeting with Hartwell, his manner less than excited. He glanced up as a figure sat beside him.
"Nice area. I guess it's within your 2 mile radius?" Hartwell's voice was smug as he fiddled with a cigarette and lighter. Neal glanced at the man with anything but a happy expression.
"Just tell me what you want and leave. I'm not here to socialize." Neal didn't hide his anger, blue eyes flashing at the man. Hartwell continued to smile smugly.
"So much anger. It was necessary when you decided to go your own way. It was purely business. You understand, right?" Hartwell grinned evilly.
"I was almost caught because your man screwed up the operation and left me as a casualty. Max, what are you doing here? If you're the one behind the robberies, I'm turning you in. Nothing personal." Neal grinned this time, anger in his tone. He saw Hartwell frown for the first time and flick some ash off the tip of his cig before he pushed it to his lips again.
"Still angry. I figured you would be but I suggest you reconsider your position. I have an offer for you that I think you won't be able to ignore." Hartwell saw Neal stand and shake his head.
"I'm done listening to anything you have to say, Max. I have a job to do and you're obviously the brains behind these 'robberies.' I think Peter and Hughes would be interested in hearing what was said." Neal made to go when he heard a clucking of the man's tongue again.
"I wouldn't go just yet, Neal. I told you, this offer is one you can't ignore." Hartwell made a motion, and Neal turned to see a figure in the bushes some yards away. They were holding Peter at gun point, the agent looking drugged. His blue eyes widened turning back to Hartwell, his manner tense.
"Max, what are you doing? This isn't a game!" Neal wasn't holding back, his facade breaking as he worried about Peter's well being. Hartwell grinned.
"Of course it's a game. So, are you playing? The agent's life is in your hands, Neal."
