Chapter Four
"I hate this," Peter declares as Neal and I walked beside him. "Every year, every year, is like this. It's impossible to catch a cab. Ah, here's one."
A cab approaches us. Neal smoothly opened the door to the really pretty fashion models. Peter huffs, finally realizing Neal's intentions. I chuckled as Neal and Peter fought. Of course they would have to have an argument over something so trivial.
"It's fashion week, Peter," Neal patted his shoulder. I laughed again as Neal gave the cab away to another set of pretty models.
Peter looks down at his wrist, checking for the time. "We're supposed to be there, interviewing the witness right now," Peter stated.
"He's right, Neal, so please do not give the next cab away." I smiled at Neal, finding the situation comical.
"Of course, Libby, anything for you," Neal said, giving me a charming smile. Neal quickly hailed a cab and the three of us squeezed into it, and left for work.
I dropped my black purse onto my desk, and then took off my black jacket. My right hand went to play with the bracelet on my left wrist, but there was no bracelet. I swiftly dropped to my knees, desperately searching for my bracelet.
I was wearing it when I came in here, right? Maybe it just fell. Oh God, I can't lose this. I got back on my feet and searched in my jacket pockets just as Neal came in.
"Hey, Peter and I are waiting for you to interview the witness."
I switched to looking in my purse. "I'm sorry. It's just…I just lost something that means a lot to me," I whispered, looking at the floor.
Neal walked up and tilted my chin up, so I could look at him. "What did you lose?" He said, kindly. I smiled. He's just so sweet. I brushed my hair away from my face.
"I always wear a silver bracelet," I started. "I always wear it, so I was wearing it on the way here. But I can't find it."
Neal quietly searches on my maple desk. He ruffled through all the papers. He opened all the drawers. With no luck, he dropped onto his knees and began patting the floor.
A tear falls on my face, from both happiness and sadness. Neal is just too prefect. I just wish that he'll want me as well, but like always, it's never going to happen. Someone so amazing in every way would never want to be with me.
"Is this what you were looking for?" He asked, dangling a plain sliver bracelet with half a heart as a charm. Inside the heart it says 'Be Fri'.
My eyes widen at finally finding it. I then jumped Neal into a fierce hug. "Thank you! Thank you so, so much!" I slightly shouted. "This bracelet means everything to me! I thought I lost it, but you found it! Thank you!" Neal's laughter rings in my ears. We let go of each other, and Neal had the audacity to ruffle my hair. "Hey, you ruined my hair." He laughed again.
"So, why does this mean so much to you?" He asked, putting the bracelet back onto my wrist.
"She gave it to me." I stated as tension filled the air.
"You must have cared deeply for her if you're still wearing this."
"I did." I got up and handed my hand to Neal. He reached out and grabbed my hand. I helped him up, but he didn't let of my hand. "I still do." He gave my hand a squeeze. I don't know what gave over me, but I stood on my tippy-toes and I gently brushed my lips onto his cheek. "Again, thank you." I whispered by his ear and walked out the door.
I sat next to a sad model named Tara with my arm around her shoulder. She has brown, curly hair, dark skin, and dark brown eyes.
"You sure he called himself Ghovat?" Peter asked.
"Yes," She answered with no hesitation.
"Okay, Tara. Now please tell us what happened," I said.
"I was at a party. Many models were invited. It happened as I was leaving, when I went for my coat. I was in the back room when two men came in, arguing. They didn't see me because I made sure to keep out of sight in the closet. They started shouting at each other. Then everything became quiet. The man who called himself Ghovat, I heard him leaving. When I walked out, that's when I saw the other man." Neal opened the files, revealing pictures of the victim.
"He was already dead," She finished.
"Good job, Tara. You did really well," I said, continually rubbing her arm. "Agent Burke won't let anything happen to you, so he's going to have agents with you. If you have any questions, concerns, or you just want to talk, give me a call." I reached into my purse, and handed her my card. Peter also slides his card to her as well. "If you hear his voice, do you think you can identify him?"
"I will never forget his voice."
I sat at my office, doing boring paperwork. Paperwork is the worst part of my job. I love helping people and help solving cases, but the paperwork, I despised them with a great passion.
"Hey, Libs, you're great with people right?" Peter inquired, entering my office.
"It's part of my job to be. Why?"
"I need you to help me convince Hughes to throw a party so Guvstar would show up."
"That might actually work," I said standing up. "Was this Neal's idea?"
"Why would you think this was Neal's idea?"
"Because, you my brother," I poked him on his nose. "would never throw a party."
"Is there a plan in here somewhere," Hughes starts to leave the room. "If so, call me."
I hurried past Neal and Peter, trying to reach Hughes before he left. "Boss, Neal knows what Ghovat's thinking. They've the same life. He's convinced that he'll show up, and I think so too. So we should trust him on this."
Hughes turned to Neal and my brother. With his fingers, he beckons for Neal and Peter to come. "I'll authorize 5 gram for this party."
"15 would be better," Neal responded.
I elbowed him in the ribs. "We'll make 5 work."
"Yes, and we'll get Elizabeth to help us."
"My wife?" My brother questioned.
"She's an event planner, best in the business, and she'll work within the price." Hughes nodded, and then left. As soon as Hughes was gone, Neal smiled and slightly shoved Peter.
"No don't hit me," Peter snarled while I rolled my eyes.
While Neal, my brother, and El were planning the party, I was at the park watching Aidan and Arianna play. Aidan was climbing the monkey bars while Arianna was on the swings. I watched them play for another hour before I received a text from Neal. It said to meet him and the others at the address he had given me. "Aidan, Arianna, it's time to go home!" I bellowed. They ran up to me, complaining about why they had to go home too fast.
I dropped them off at the house with Savannah and then went to the address given by Neal. "Whoa," I mumbled. "This place is great!" I was on a roof top with a beautiful view of the city and lots of hedges.
El swayed towards me wearing a dark purple dress. "Isn't it?" She laughed. "Peter found it."
I snorted. "I doubt he did."
"Nope my honey found this place." She said. "Sorry, Libby, but I have to go and set up everything. Have fun and wear that dress that we bought three weeks ago. Do you remember which one it was? It was the one we bought right before you meet Neal." I nodded before she walked away.
I walked around, trying to find Neal. I spotted him laughing and smiling with a model. I took a deep breath before walking to the bathroom. I grabbed a paper towel, lightly wet it, and washed my face with it. He's never going to like me. I should just move on. Yes, tonight I'll forget about him, and I'll find another guy. Yes, I'll do that. I will get over him.
This time I returned to the party wearing a red dress with a thin layer of black over the red, and jewels under my breast. I was also wearing my black ballet flats. I wore light makeup, just blush, lip gloss, and eye shadow. I left my light brown hair loose on my shoulders with a red flower pin pinning back my hair by my right ear.
A man, who appears be in his early 40s, approached me. "Why are you by yourself?" The man asked. "You're so beautiful, I was sure that I would have to wait in a line to speak with you."
I giggled. "Thank you. That was really sweet."
"What is your name, beautiful?"
I giggled again. "Olivia."
"That name is fit for a princess. Olivia. I love it! My name is Zidel."
We talked about an hour before Zidel said that he had to go. I handed him my phone and he gave me his. I programmed my number in his phone as he did the same with my phone.
"Good-bye, princess." He kissed my cheek and then left. I smiled. As I turned around, I saw FBI tackling a man. I was too much on cloud nine to work any longer that night, so I went home and fell asleep.
I walked confidently into the FBI headquarters, smiling. "Libby, what are you so happy about?" Neal asked once he saw me.
"Can't I just be happy?" I responded. He raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I meet a guy last night." Before he could say anything else I said, "That's all I'm going to say about it. Bye, Neal."
After two hours of tedious paperwork, I left work early so I could take the kids to their doctor appointments. It was when the kids and I were waiting for the doctor was when I received the text.
Hey, Princess. Meet me in two hours at the Grand Bay Hotel
I smiled while the doctor read our names. Aidan and Arianna are fine, today was just a regular checkup.
Two hours later I arrived at the Grand Bay Hotel wearing jeans and a nice blue shirt. I didn't know where to go exactly so I just waited in the lobby.
"Ah, there you are, princess," Zidel said. "Come with me." We hooked arms and walked into the elevator. In the elevator we had a nice conversation. Once we reached our floor a man walked towards us. Zidel and the man shouted back and forth in another language. Zidel then extended his hand to the curtain, and placed the curtain around the other man's neck. I slowly backed away to the wall. I jumped in fright when I heard him fall.
Think! What can I do? What can I do? I started to play with my bracelet. What if…am I willing to do that? I took off my bracelet and let it fall onto the floor before a sharp pain came at the back of my head, and all that I could see was black.
Neal Caffrey paced around the crime scene, looking for any clues. "No, maybe he was trying to shut him up," Neal answered Agent Cruz's question.
"We still don't know if he was here," she said.
Peter entered the room. "No, our ghost was here." Peter then confirmed the ghost's signature with the victim.
"How did he get out?" Agent Cruz asked, crossing her arms.
"Boss, I found a service elevator down the hall," Agent Jones announced walking into the room.
After Peter and Neal discovered the true purpose of the dress they found, Neal continued to pace around. A silver sparkle caught his eye. He bent down and picked it up. It was the exacted same bracelet as the one he knew that his best friend Olivia has. His eyes widen in realization. The man she met at the party was Ghovat.
"Peter, I think we have a problem," Neal announced. He let out a breathe before continuing. "Peter, he has your sister."
