Chapter 2 It Gets Murkier

" I did not bug your phone."

Huh! Fowler had not bugged Neal's phone that was true. Neal himself found the bug on Peter's home phone and what was Mentor? There was no operation listed according to Moz, but there were the telescopes and a team watching across the street.

Kate was not there; this was a bust. It seems his suspect list just got larger.

Neal strolled home deep in thought. At least now Peter was willing to check things out and he could delve into who blanked out his tracker data.

It seems that his mystery was not ready to be solved yet. Time to found out whom Fowler was watching across the street. It was an office building with some apartments.

"Moz, Fowler was there, but not Kate. He had a team and was watching another building. I need the list of tenants to see who was being watched, particularly those on the west side of the building that face the team in room 525."

Time for sleep it had been a stressful several days and he was glad to sleep in his own bed.

Enjoying the bright morning on the roof terrace with June's coffee and a sumptuous breakfast welcoming him back at home. Neal enjoyed the view of his beloved Manhattan. A knock on the door and Peter came up to the table with a wry grin, "Well partner, ready to get back to work? "

Leaning back with a devilish smile Neal. "Yeah, partner, but do I still need this tracker? I came to you when it was gone and didn't run even when I had reason to flee with being framed." he cajoled.

Peter just smiled and said, "Only because you needed me. You were fast enough to take that four story fall. Besides Hughes, after your disappearance, needs the reassurance that our consultant is under control. Deal with it Neal" in a firmer tone.

"Now Peter, admit you enjoyed the show. You did not even run after me.

Peter just smiled enigmatically. He was damned if he was going to boost Neal's ego over that audacious escape.

" I think it is best if I continue to ride herd on you and pick you up in the mornings. It helps my reputation that I can control the slippery Neal Caffrey."

" Have you checked your residence for OPR bugs, Neal?" Asked Peter.

Neal smiled and said, "Peter, please stop trying to tell me how to do my business. Of course my place is clean, I learned that lesson when you were chasing me. Speaking of surveillance, Fowler is running a team out of a building on 56 th Street in room 525."

"Neal, what the hell were you doing there? "Peter expostulated in an exasperated tone. "Have you not antagonized Fowler enough? I expect you busted into their operation, didn't you?" in a despairing manner.

"Peter, I had to, I thought he was holding Kate." Neal looked at Peter with that soulful look.

Peter just sighed. Neal was incapable of keeping out of trouble. He just tumbled in and out from trouble to trouble. It was a good thing Neal had a charmed life and more lives than a cat, especially after that highflying stunt out a four-story window. Peter had to admit he was highly amused at Neal's nerve and audacity that he had just stood still in admiration and amazement.

Though Peter had to ruefully admit that part of the trouble that Neal attracts is due to his new role as a FBI consultant. He would be lucky if Neal even survived to live his four years with the FBI. That kid had more guns pointed at him than most FBI agents ever faced. At least he was cool under the situations.

Even the frame was partially because of his work both as a thief and a FBI consultant, he mused.

"Neal keep away from Fowler, though I would like to know what he was up to." Peter admonished.

"There was no record of an operation, Peter, but he asked what I knew about Mentor. What do you think he meant?"

"Neal, poking around a OPR investigation is a good way to go down. If I go down there goes your probation." Peter cautioned. "I will check it out carefully." He reassured Neal.

Neal just nodded and smiled, glad that Peter was aware of the danger, especially since Peter seemed to be the target. He was glad that for once they were working together rather than at cross-purposes. Though Neal would continue his own investigation with the information he got from the court order releasing his files. Peter was sharp, but he had his blind spots, that Neal did not intend to ignore.

On the drive in, Neal asked, " Peter, you will check into the blank time on my tracker, won't you?"

"Yeah, Neal, I will have Mark check that out in IT and at the US Marshall office." He glanced sideways at Neal. "You did not do it yourself, did you?"

Neal answered seriously but with some resentment, "No, I expected that would have been my alibi and I was shocked and dismayed that the only advantage of my ball and chain had disappeared. That tracker is just a big red target on my back and now I have to worry that someone else is manipulating that data. It doesn't give me a good feeling"

Peter replied, "Me neither, that is worrisome and I am sorry it happened. We have to deal with it. Tulane didn't roll over, even with an immunity offer."

"Do you think he was scared to?" asked Neal.

"I do not know. I think he knew who had instigated the theft, but he was not willing to divulge that information." Peter replied.

" I can understand that. It is easy to die in prison." Neal mused.

Peter felt his hear sink with that realization that Neal had escaped from prison twice and was at risk always of going back. Neal's facility with charm kept him safe while he had been in prison, guards and inmates liked him. Peter mused that Neal's ability to manipulate people had been a plus while in prison, so he could skate through safely.

Peter reflected how much that charm was camouflage to protect him by getting people to like him and help him, such as his wife and himself during his recent run as a fugitive and how much was deliberate to con people.

"Hey, Neal now that you own a business do you thinks that you may stay and make a honest dollar?" asked Peter.

"You Know, Peter I may just do that. I need some other income while working for the pittance the FBI gives me." Neal reflected. " My recent escapades will probably be good publicity." He smiled happily.

Ironically it would probably be a roaring success from Neal's daring escape from four floors up from the judge's chamber.

"I expect it will become all the rage with the clerks and attorneys at Court." Peter fumed.

Neal just laughed and Peter grimaced.