Chapter 4

On Saturday Neal had the whole day to search for Fowler. It was during his lunch time the day before that Neal had thought to check one of the banks where Fowler had an account. He had seen a large man from the back that looked a lot like Fowler and had followed him to a local hotel, Room 314.

Knowing that he hadn't the time to wait the man out or to search his room Neal decided wait until Saturday to finish his search. He out footed it back to work, walking in just as Peter stepped out of his office to summon him.

Neal had no trouble in finding the right room but knew that he would look too suspicious if he stayed too long in the restaurant so he moved outside to do his waiting. He was glad that the hotel was within his radius but became uneasy when the man he was looking for waited so late in leaving. It was barely nine o'clock that night that he left and put Neal late getting back to June's. He knew he was late when he entered to find the older lady waiting for him with wooden spoon in hand.

"June, I'm sorry I'm late," he began, "I meant to call and tell you but I've been out with Peter; in fact he just let me off a minute ago; please forgive me," he added with a smile as he tried to edge past her and up to his room.

June expression went from one of disappointment to that of anger and she struck out hard as he tried to scurry past. Her aim was right on catching him on his buttock.

"OWWW! What was that for?" Neal asked as he rubbed the sting.

"Neal Caffrey…I will not be lied to. I know you weren't working with Peter because he called looking for you not more than ten minutes ago. He wasn't pleased to find you not here and said that he would be discussing that with you tomorrow."

Neal did have the good graces to look remorseful for his deceit and said quietly, "I'm sorry June."

"Neal I don't know what I'm going to do with you. I love you like a son but I'm not strong enough to take you in hand for this…just go to your room and think on how you are disappointing me," June replied sadly as she watched him slowly go up to his apartment.

As soon as she heard his door close she went to her bedroom and picked up the phone and called Elizabeth to tell her the latest. She was worried about Neal and knew if something didn't happen soon he might go off the deep end and not even Peter could keep him from prison. It was then that El said,

"Don't worry, I know just the one that can handle our blue eyed charmer," El said and with that they made their goodbyes. Just as soon as she finished her call with June El made another one to Stillwater, PA.

"I hope I didn't wake you Jack…this is Elizabeth Burke and your grandson is out of control. We are going to need your help you get into getting him back under control," began Elizabeth as Peter opened the door.

"What has he done?" asked Jack.

"The main thing is that he has continued his search for his girlfriend's killer and against my husband's orders," she replied as she mouthed 'Jack" to her husband.

"Let me talk to him," insisted Peter as he held his hand out.

"Peter wants to talk to you," El told Jack before handing the phone to her husband.

"Jack? This is Peter….what do you want to know?"

"What has he been doing to cause your wife to be so afraid for him?"

"Kate, his girl friend was killed about five months ago and because of circumstances of that death Neal was put back into prison; it took me two months to get him reinstated with the bureau and I told him then not to pursue this…to leave it to me to find Kate's killer and I've been making process in that case but it didn't seem to Neal that I was moving fast enough so he started searching as well. I'm using Bureau sanctioned methods but Neal is using criminal ways. As soon as I realized what he was doing I ordered him to stop and with a few well placed smacks to his backside he listened and stopped his investigation. It was around that time that he met you and you took an active interest in his well being," Peter paused.

"But now he has started back up?" guessed Jack.

"Yes, I discovered that he had started up by accident as I surprised him and found he had been searching with our resources into locating bank accounts of our suspect, Garrett Fowler. I ordered him to stop once again and expressed my displeasure at his deceit, if you catch my meaning, but it hasn't done anything to stop his inquires. He is skipping lunch to search and was staying out for all hours of the night to search. His landlady and surrogate mother grounded him and she has the power and authority to do so and cut his curfew to ten o'clock which as I'm sure you can imagine didn't sit too well with him. His behavior prompted me to reduce it to nine and from his GPS tracking anklet he has obeyed and comes in on time except for tonight and then lied to her about his whereabouts," concluded Peter.

"So except for the few times you have been forced to discipline him you haven't seen a marked change with him behavior, right?"

"Nope he needs a heavier hand to keep him in line or I'm afraid that he is going to do something stupid that lands him back in prison and I may not be able to get him out this time," added Peter. "And my gut tells me that he is doing something illegal but I have no proof of what that may be."

"I can be in NYC tomorrow and maybe a week or so visit with him will set things right…is there room for me to stay at his place?"

"I'm sure that it won't be a problem once we explain things to June…she will probably welcome you with open arms and do anything you ask as long as it keeps Neal safe in the long run. What time can we expect you?"

"It probably won't be until night…maybe around seven that I can get there. I'll be coming by bus…will you be able to meet me?"

"No problem, we will take you out for dinner and then we'll surprise Neal," replied Peter as he made his and El goodbyes and hung up the phone.