2.
Peter was in the conference room and Neal joined him.
"Morning, Neal, have a seat..." he pushed a file toward Neal, who picked it up and read. When he finished, he looked up at Peter.
"I saw this on the news this morning..."
"Yeah, me too. I got a call from the Secret Service. It seems they want white collar to take over a case, using us as a smoke screen, so to speak, to shelter someone that needs protection..."
Peter stood up and went to the window, facing Neal.
"The Fonchetti family is involved...well, one of them is..."
"Fonchetti, huh?" Neal leaned forward,
"Can't find a bigger name in organized crime on the east coast..."
"Neal, I was told Angela Fonchetti, Gino Fonchetti's daughter, turned herself in to Secret Service headquarters early this morning. It seems she knows where the last 5 coins are. "
Neal whistled...
"I assume she can't get to them herself, is that right?"
Peter nodded.
"She says she knows where they are, but she told agents she was being watched now by the family, and wanted protective custody. They feel she'd be better off with the White Collar Unit. Nobody would look for her here. We can get her story, and try to figure out what's going on...come on..."
Peter started to leave the office, Neal followed him,
"What? She's here already?'
"Yes..." Peter walked to the elevator, pressed 'B'
Neal frowned,
"In the basement?"
"Yes. They brought her in through the underground garage."
A few moments later, the door opened, and Neal followed Peter to where an agent sat outside an office. The agent stood and opened the door, Peter and Neal entered.
Sitting at a small table was Angela Fonchetti. She looked up. She had long brown hair, and Neal stared at her face, thinking she had the biggest bluest eyes he had ever seen. She was pretty, in her early 30's. She wore jeans and a white man's shirt, much too big for her slight frame.
"Miss Fonchetti, I'm agent Peter Burke, this is..."
Before he could finish, Angela interrupted.
"Neal Caffrey..." she extended her hand to Neal, but not Peter. Neal shook it, and frowned,
"Have we met?"
"No, but your reputation precedes you..." she turned to Peter, "Agent Burke, nice to make your acquaintance..." they shook hands then, and both men sat opposite her.
"Well, Miss Fonchetti..." Peter began,
"Please call me Angela..."
"Okay, Angela...we know a little about what's going on, but I'd like to hear your story..."
He took out a pen, intending to take notes. Angela put her hand on his,
"Ground rules, Agent Burke. No notes, no recording...nothing that can tie me to this visit. I am already annoyed you had an agent see me enter this room...but, we will be more careful henceforth, agreed?"
Neal tried not to smirk, the word 'henceforth' was not something he expected to hear from her; it was too haughty.
Angela noticed his expression, but dismissed it and began her story.
"One night, I must have been around 10 years old; my father took me to his office, and opened a small box. It held 5 of the most beautiful golden coins I had ever seen. I touched them, admired them, and put them quietly back. Pop said they were for me, but when I got older. My mother had passed a few years earlier, and I was always the gleam in my father's eyes. Anyway, he closed the box, and I left. Whenever Pop wasn't around, I went back to revisit that treasure...he had them in the box in a desk drawer...he never locked things away; after all, he was surrounded by family...who would rob family? "
At this point she looked away from Neal and Peter for a moment, then looked back and continued. "When I was 15, pop was arrested. My Uncle Vito was in charge of the family now. Not long after, Pop passed in prison".
She took a deep breath, reliving that memory was difficult, Neal realized.
"I went to live with Uncle Vito on Rhode Island. I forgot about those coins, until I heard the broadcast this morning."
Neal and Peter absorbed the story, looked at each other.
"Then I realized I know where those coins are..."
"And the first thing you do is call the Secret Service?" Neal asked skeptically...
Angela looked directly at him,
"Does the name Fonchetti not mean anything, Mr. Caffrey? If pop told anyone else about those coins, don't you think another family member's memory might also be triggered? Maybe they think I know and will come after me? "
She spoke like Neal was a simpleton...Peter saw his face, and quickly said,
"Ummm, Angela, would you excuse me and Caffrey for a moment?"
She shrugged, they both walked out.
"Do you believe her story?"
Peter asked Neal. Neal rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah Peter, I do, but there's something off, she's definitely hiding something, or holding back something..." Peter knew Neal had a keen knack of reading people, he trusted that instinct.
"I'm going to talk with the Secret Service, see how they want us to handle this...keep talking with Angela...I'll be right back".
Peter left; Neal took a deep breath and went back in the room.
"Can I get you anything Angela?"
"No thanks...I have read a good deal about your work with the White Collar Unit, Mr. Caffrey"
Neal smirked,
"Call me Neal, please...and why all the interest in my history?"
He leaned forward in his seat and folded his hands on the table
"When you have time on your hands, like me, Neal...you read, research, study...I happened upon lots of interesting articles about your, um, skills, how you evaded capture, the things you supposedly acquired during your bad boy years..."
She also leaned forward, folding her hands. They were almost touching.
"Tell me, Neal...is this room hot?"
"No, the A/C is on..."
She rolled her eyes and stared at him...
"Ugh! Is it bugged? Are you wired?" she said irritated.
"No to both..."
"Good...then let me explain something...there are 5 rare coins worth over $10 million "
Neal interrupted her
"The United States Government is only going to pay $5 million"
She licked her lips,
"But if you help me secure them, I plan on selling them to an interested anonymous buyer for $10 million...and I will pay you for your troubles..."
She winked at him.
"Are you serious?" he laughed,
"I am a convicted felon, I have an ankle monitor that prohibits me my freedom...I have only a few more weeks of living like this, and I am free...what makes you think I would..."
Just then they heard talking outside the door and Peter came in. He was smiling, rubbed his hands together, and announced,
"Great news, kids...Secret Service is going to allow Angela to take up residence at Neal's place until we secure the coins and confirm their authenticity. Once the money is legally in your hands Angela, we will find a safe place for you. Neal, if you can help with this investigation, that's one more feather in your cap to freedom..."
Peter was the only one left smiling.
"Peter...can we speak alone?" Neal asked and went out the door. Angela became nervous. If Neal Caffrey told his boss of her plan, she was finished. She was just hoping he would do what came naturally, and wait things out to see what else she was up to...
"Neal, I know this isn't perfect, but it's safe. When you aren't with Angela, Mozzie will be there, or even June. "
"Peter, there's something not right about this whole thing..." He had to tell him.
"Neal, you don't have to like her, just keep her safe...get the information, get the coins...done deal...shouldn't take long how bad can that be?" Neal glared at Peter.
"But this whole thing isn't what you think…"
"It's done, Neal...make the best of it"
Neal had to smirk. Well, he tried. He would just see what this woman had to say, then gloat when he gives Peter the news that it looks like this is a con.
"Okay, Peter, you're the boss" he smiled.
"Yes, I am." He said smugly, and then turned to the agent sitting outside the door.
"Agent Belone, would you get the car and meet us where you dropped us off?"
The agent nodded and left and Peter opened the door.
"Angela? We are leaving..."
She got up, took her purse, and as she joined them, Neal noticed she had a slight smile on her lips.