Chapter 4
It was late by the time the external investigating team was satisfied with questioning Peter. Diana had managed to get Peter a bail hearing for first thing the following morning but Calloway was insisting on keeping him in custody over night. Diana tried to argue that he was not a flight risk, but Calloway had said "This is a murder investigation, we are not going to let our main suspect just go home for the evening."
Peter would have done the same thing in the circumstances, but he didn't like to think of El sitting at home worrying about him all night. He just hoped he made bail in the morning. Bail wasn't granted lightly for murder charges, federal agent or not. Maybe he could persuade them to release him on an anklet, which would amuse Neal no end. Assuming he hadn't already fled the country he thought with a wince. Neither Jones or Diana had managed to speak to Neal since he had reported that James ran. Jones and Diana suspected that Neal was protecting his father. It would be understandable, but Peter didn't want to believe Neal would just hang him out to dry like that. The interrogation door opened, he expected it to be his ride to the prison, but it was just the one of the Agents in charge of his case.
"Agent Burke, your lawyer is here." She told him. Peter was confused, he hadn't called his lawyer yet, he was hoping that they would find James, who would admit shooting Pratt and he wouldn't need one. The agent stepped to one side to allow the lawyer in, Peter tried valiantly to keep the surprise off his face as Mozzie stepped inside, wearing his lawyerly beige suit with bow tie.
"Thank you Agent, I'd like to speak to my client alone." Mozzie told the Agent, who nodded and closed the door behind her.
Mozzie quickly sat down opposite Peter and pulled out a mobile device and put it on the table.
"How did you get that in here?" Peter asked. They were supposed to search visitors before letting them in. He would have to have words with the agents about the lapse in security once this was all over.
"One minute Suit." Mozzie told him, holding up a finger in what Peter found to be an irritating manner.
"Neal, you there?" Mozzie asked, distracting Peter.
"I'm here Mozzie. Hi Peter, us chatting on the phone like this, it's like old times." Neal said through the speaker phone, his tone wistful.
"Neal. Where are you? Is James with you?" Peter asked relief at hearing Neal's voice mixed with worry over the situation.
"No, I'm sorry Peter. I asked him to turn himself in but he refused and left." Neal told him, the pain in the story behind those words evident in his voice. Peter sighed regretfully. He thought Neal was telling the truth, which meant he would just have to rely on Berrigan and Jones to find him.
"Then why haven't you come in?" Peter asked, wincing as the question coming out more accusing than he intended.
"Because you aren't the only one they are gunning for Suit." Mozzie jumped in defensively. "If you go down for this they aren't exactly going to give Neal a pat on the head and send him on his way." He pointed out angrily.
They both stared at the phone expecting Neal to jump in and were surprised when there was silence at the other end.
"Neal are you still there?" Peter asked exchanging a worried glance with Mozzie.
"Yeah. Look Peter, if we're going to have a chance of beating this thing, it's probably better that we aren't both locked up" Neal said. He sounded tired. Peter could empathise, he was starting to feel like he hadn't slept for weeks.
"What are you up to? I don't want you to do anything illegal." Peter told them. He knew Neal would have some plan in place and that it was likely to be dangerous as well as totally illegal. There was silence at the other end of the phone and Mozzie looked away guiltily.
"You've already done something." Peter realised resigned.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Neal told him with a little of his usual cockiness.
"And the less I know the better right?" Peter asked.
"Deniability is everything." Mozzie told him.
"Look, it was acting off books that got me into this situation. From now on I don't want you to do anything on my case." Peter told them firmly. It was better this way, for their own good and for his. If they were caught messing around it would make things worse for him and result in prison for them. He didn't shoot Pratt and justice would prevail in the end. He had to believe that.
"Peter…" Neal started to say something.
"You should turn yourself in Neal. Diana has a contact over at the Marshalls office, so she managed to hide the fact that you have run, Calloway thinks you are under house arrest back at June's. If you get back there they won't even know you were gone." Peter told them both.
"They'll revoke his deal and put him behind bars. Are you Crazy?" Mozzie asked in disbelief.
"That's a possibility, but only until I get this sorted out. I'll try and keep you out under Jones and Diana's supervision." Peter told them.
"If you think you're the one still making the deals you are crazy." Mozzie told him flatly.
"I'll think about it Peter but I won't let them frame me like they are trying to do to you." Neal told him firmly.
"If they catch you then you'll be looking at life behind bars." Peter warned him.
"Without you to help them, they'll never catch me." Neal told him and Peter was glad to hear the normal teasing tone of his voice. It made Peter take a step back.
"Listen Neal, about your Pratt and your father…" Peter started, he wanted to tell Neal that it wasn't his fault and that James had shot Pratt in self defence, not in cold blood.
"I don't want to talk about this now Peter." Neal said warningly, his tone suddenly cold. There was obviously more to what went on between Neal and James than Peter knew. He wished he could see Neal's face, it was hard enough to read him in person, over the phone it was impossible. Neal was right, this wasn't the time or place for heartfelt talks.
Peter nodded his agreement, then realised Neal couldn't see him.
"At least tell me that your plan isn't dangerous." He asked them.
Neal stayed quiet and Mozzie shifted guiltily again.
"It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive." Mozzie quoted. It was close to what Hughes had said to him just before he had gone after Pratt. Telling him that if the system was broken then acting outside the law to fix it was justified.
Peter sighed in frustration. He would have liked to demand that they stop whatever they were doing or at least told him what it was so he could minimise the risk, but he wasn't in any position to stop them and truth be told he didn't want to, he was scared. He knew better than anyone that the evidence against him was pretty strong, if they couldn't get James to confess, he was looking at life in prison. In the circumstances he was willing to do almost anything.
"Well at least be careful." He told them finally.
"You too Peter and don't worry I won't let you take the fall for this." Neal told him with finality.