Chapter 2

AN: I am really glad you guys asked for a continuation. I would have probably written the rest of the story anyway. I just wouldn't have published it.

"He's dead," Kate said coldly and cruelly. "…shot in Puerto Rico. He had…outlived his usefulness."

Agent Peter Burke's mouth worked on the other end of the line. He had just picked up the phone in his office. And was not sure he had heard his caller right.

"What?" Peter replied. "What did you do, Kate?"

"You heard me. Neal's dead." Kate repeated. "I just wanted to get that out of the way because...well, you and I have more pressing matters."

Peter was in his office alone at the time. But he motioned an agent who was passing by and pointed to his phone. The agent set about trying to trace the call.

"Oh, and Peter, I'm on a burn phone. But back to what I was saying. I needed you to understand how serious I am. I had a couple of hired thugs pay a visit to Neal's apartment. They visited your place, too….

Peter hissed into the phone. "If you've hurt her…!"

Kate laughed. "I need information. I need to know where the treasure is, Peter. I know you talk to your wife about your work. I just put two and two together. She has a bit of a stubborn streak. I…It just makes things harder for her, and for June."

"What about June!" Peter shook his head. Things were getting worse by the minute.

"A sweet woman." Kate admitted. "It's a shame really. And they were both just…devastated when I told them Neal was gone." Kate said, underlining her seriousness.

Tears came to Peter's eyes as he listened. He was, of course, not sure she was telling him the truth. But Peter could think of no reason for her to be back in New York without Neal. Neal had not seen what he and the other's had been telling him about Kate. Peter had just wished there had been another way for Neal to find out the truth. He swallowed involuntarily.

"…those were really nice. I found a lot of great things in June's place. Nowhere near the hundreds of millions Neal has hidden from me. But I have a feeling, if I press these two ladies hard enough. If I use the right…persuasion, they will tell me." Kate paused. "But hey, if that doesn't work, I can still fence June's stuff."

"You cold-hearted Bitch!" Peter retorted. "Neal loved you."

"It's time to move on, Agent Burke." Kate said. "And I figure since Neal was 'in bed' with the FBI, namely you. He told you some things." She explained. "He told you where things were…to lessen his sentence…get in good with you guys." Kate paused. "You see where I'm heading with this?"

"I don't know where anything is." Peter admitted.

"Oh, come on…not even to save your own wife?" Kate replied, sweetly. "Who is the cold-hearted one now?"

Peter gripped the phone until his knuckles were white. By this time Jones and Cruse has joined him in his office. No one had been successful with the trace. And they were all just awaiting instructions.

Kate laughed. "You ready to play the game?"

"This stopped being a game when you killed Neal." Peter asserted. "How much money do you want? What's your price?"

"The FBI can't raise that kind of money." Kate replied. "What I want is the treasure. Neal told you something. He left a clue. That's what he does. He leaves clues. You tell me what he told you and you might get Elizabeth and June back."

"Might?" Peter questioned.

"You intentionally mislead me. I see a G-man on my tail and it's over. They're gone." Kate replied coldly. "I promise you that. I'll be in touch soon." Kate hung up.

Peter put his phone back on the cradle.

Jones looked at Peter. "Neal's dead?"

"That's what Kate said." Peter said, the reality of the situation hitting him.

"That was Kate? Kate Moraeu?" Cruse asked.

Peter anger exploded. He nodded. "She said she has my wife!" He swept all the papers off his desk with one swoop. He then ran his fingers through his hair trying to calm himself. "She has June too." He began to pace. "I want people at Elle's shop, send them to my house and send them to June's!" Cruse nodded and immediately began to mobilize the agents.

"She's wrong." Jones said hopefully. "I mean, he's…we don't have a body. Neal's…. And Elle…June?" Jones shook his head.

Peter nodded. "She could be lying. But I can't think of any reason for her to be back in New York without him. If she loved him, she would be with him right now." Peter replied still pacing.

Meanwhile on a beach in Puerto Rico:

A couple is walking down the beach. They see a trail of blood leading to the still form a man lying face-down in the white sand. The husband follows the blood trail back into the house where he calls for help. The wife leans down beside the man. She is relieved when she finds a pulse.

TBC

END NOTES: I reworked the last part of this chapter. Peter had not mentioned Elle or June and he just didn't seem mad enough, given the situation.