Chapter 3

"Did you hear everything?" she asked as she placed the box of pastries on a nearby table.

"Yes, and I noticed that she paused twice. She was trying to remember what best to say; I also think that the buzzer she heard was a summons," remarked Neal as his eyes lit upon the box.

"I'm sorry but I didn't see anything that could have been counterfeit bills in the shop…what do we do now?" she asked and when she didn't get a reply she said a bit louder "NEAL!"

"Oh…I'm sorry Elizabeth I was just thinking of a way I can get into that shop and get some evidence…and all I need is that box and a big diversion," as he began to fill El in on his plan.

At first she was definitely against it, "what if you are caught…I would think that counterfeiters are dangerous people."

"Yeah, but the diversion I have in mind involves a very beautiful young lady and a dirty blouse…trust me when she gets there all eyes will be upon her and nobody will even notice me as I search the shop. Now when do you say the money exchanges hands?" asked Neal.

"Oh, around ten in the morning…when are you going to put your plan in action?"

"About a quarter to ten tomorrow morning and by ten thirty we should have just what Peter needs to start an investigation…trust me what could go wrong?" Neal explained with a smile.

Neal arrived at Burke's Premier Events at nine thirty the next morning. He had convinced Peter that he wasn't feeling well and he had been excused for the day and had out footed it to El's. If Peter hadn't been in the middle of a case he might have wondered why he had left so quickly and might have had Jones check in tracking anklet but the case he was investigating had him and his team checking up on known counterfeiters in the area and he hadn't.

"Neal, you are here early. How did you get away from Peter?" asked El curiously.

"I told him I was sick and he excused me for the day," admitted Neal.

"You lied to Peter! He's not going to like that," exclaimed El disapprovingly.

"Well, I could have told him what I was up to, but then he wouldn't have let me go and he might also get mad at you," retorted Neal.

"You have a point. So did you find a young lady to act as your diversion?" asked El.

"Oh, yeah and she will be great; I've used her before. She's watching for me to enter the building before she starts her act," explained Neal before El could ask the identity of the young lady.

El nodded absentmindedly as she looked at her watch…it was nearing the time for Neal's plan to start. She handed him the box, flatten now for easy concealment and at nine forty five watched as he stepped out of her shop and head across the street alerting the FBI team who had the bakery under surveillance as a counterfeit exchange but before they could spring into action Neal plan began.

They watched as Neal enter the bakery just minutes ahead of the group of men arrive to pick up their allotted cash and just as June's granddaughter, Cindy rounded the corner obviously distressed about a ruined blouse.

As soon as El recognized the young lady as June's granddaughter she said out loud, "Oh, no, not June's granddaughter. June is going to bust your butt if she finds out what you have Cindy doing," but watched with amazement as Neal's plan worked exactly as he said…that is until Suzie's nephew arrived and put a gun to her head demanding the counterfeit money back.

Peter and his team arrived minutes later having been alerted as soon as Neal was identified. "Neal, what have you done now," cried Peter as he took in the whole scene and approached the FBI surveillance team headed by Jones.

"What happened?" he asked as calmly as he could.

"We identified Neal as soon as he stepped from Elizabeth's business and watched as he walked quickly to the bakery…we were too far away to stop him," explained Jones. "It was only minutes later that all hell broke out and an unsub ran out of the bakery and took Elizabeth and Neal hostage…and put a gun to Elizabeth's head."

Peter nodded as he handed his gun to Jones and walked calmly into his wife's business identifying himself to be an agent with the FBI as he showed the man holding the gun his badge.

"What do you want?" asked Giulio as he watched the agent carefully.

"I want you to lower the gun and step away from the lady," requested Peter in a clear and strong voice.

"Fat chance…he took something of mine," Giulio said as he pointed to Neal," and I want it ba…"

As soon as the gun was pointing away from El and Neal, Peter rushed him and soon had him in cuffs. "Here," pushing the gunman towards Jones, "take him away and everybody at the bakery…we'll sort them out later," he ordered as he handed the gun to Jones before turning to his wife.

El threw herself into the arms of her husband and began to cry as the shock of what had and could have happened registered. "It's okay honey, I've got you now," cried Peter as he comforted his wife all the while as he glared at his consultant. Once the tears ceased Peter motioned to an police officer and asked,

"Would you take my wife and consultant home?" and to Neal he ordered, "and you stay there until I return."

"Peter…I…"

"We will talk later Neal…just go with the officer now!"

Neal nodded and for once did as he was told without further conversation and after a kiss goodbye El joined him. Peter waited until after the police car had left before turning to Diana who had stood quietly by.

"Boss, I think you know this young lady," she said as Cindy walked up.

"Cindy, don't tell me Neal roped you into this fiasco?" asked an agitated Peter.

"Oh, it was fun Agent Burke; just like last time," she added.

"You had better hope your grandmother doesn't hear about it; she may not like to learn that her granddaughter was mixed up in all of this or that this was the second time Neal put you in a situation that might have got you hurt," explained Peter.

"Grandmother won't mind," Cindy assured the agent.

"If you are so sure, give her a call and tell her…its best that she hears it from you then to learn about it in the news," Peter said as he pointed to the Television news crews that were interviewing the police and looking in their direction.

They watched as Cindy tried to exit the area only to be stopped by a reporter.

"That's going to be one pissed off grandmother when she hears of this," remarked Diana.

"Yep and I'm sure she is going to take it out on the hide of our charming consultant," added Peter with a smile. "Diana, can you handle this? I need to get home and take care of a couple of people who I distinctly told to leave this alone."

"Go boss and remember Neal can be very persuasive," she added as she watched her boss retrieve his firearm and walk towards his car.

"I had better be sure there is a fluffy pillow waiting for Caffrey tomorrow," she thought as she took control of the scene.