"It's amazing how he can be conning someone and yet totally honest at the same time." Diana was shaking her head and smiling at Neal's remark to the boys.

"I wonder how much of it is conning himself." Peter noted.

They were parked in the van, listening as Neal Caffrey AKA 'Nick Halden' easily insinuated himself into Philrone's gambling club.

Neal was up and down in the gambling, winning, losing and winning again. It seemed completely random. But they knew he was establishing current credit as a 'player' to back up the credentials he already had under the alias. Peter cringed whenever he lost.

"Do you ever wonder at lending him all this money?" Diana asked, studying her boss.

"Oh yeah. One of these days I should let him get chewed out for the mistakes."

Neal had won a great deal of money. More than Philrone was inclined to let him out with.

"Listen, son." Philrone said while smoking a truly nasty cigar. Neal fought the urge to cough, mentally noting the man had truly bad taste in smokes and clothes. "I cannot in all fairness to you carry that kind of cash down the street. And to be honest, we do not prefer to deal in checks or money transfers."

"I won fair and square." Neal's eyes narrowed.

In the van, Peter rolled his eyes doubtfully.

"Now don't fret. I was going to suggest something of value. A painting perhaps? The average mugger could not identify it as valuable, as they could cash."

"I might be interested. What's your problem with the usual methods?"

"Too easily traced."

"Well, show me the painting."

Neal's eyes lit up as as a woman brought in the painting. It wasn't large, but it was another Orwin. "Not bad..." Neal sounded wary. "I thought these were all in museums."

Neal's eyes had already spotted the minor indiscretion that marked Rebny's signature. He continued to study it. "In fact, I've studied this artist a lot. Where did you get it?"

"Does it matter?"

"Here we go." Peter murmured.

"All right." Neal left. Voices continued after he left, proving that Caffrey had dropped a few discreet bugs. The van drove a few blocks. Neal arrived a few moments later, phony Orwin in a tube in his hand.

"Now between the bugs you dropped here and the ones at Rebny's let's hope the boy's admit the forgery and implicate Philrone."

Neal smiled as he visited Rebny the next day. He spent hours talking art with Sam and regaling Rick with his gambling exploits. "Wow. I won an Orwin." He grinned at the boys. Not bad huh? Heck of a trade. It should be worth more than what I won."

The expression on Sam's face was one of dismay and he glanced at Rick. His lips were turned down.

Rick glanced at Sam's guilty expression and said "Wow. I hope he didn't steal it or something. All sorts of people gamble there." He spoke quickly.

"Well, I'll be careful." Neal frowned. "I better have it authenticated."

At this even Rick flinched.

"Well, I have to go. Thanks for telling me about the game guys." He twirled his fedora back onto his head, well aware that the two boys behind him were radiating guilt.

The boy's voices came clearly over the audio they had recorded from the van as Neal looked up and down the block. He climbed in and grabbed headphones.

"This is wrong, Rick! He's a nice guy and he just got taken for a lot of money."

Peter gave a mild snort, Neal shot him a slightly offended look.

"We can't tell him. He'll tell Dad for sure."

"And what about Dad, huh?" The younger boy's voice was panicked. "If they test it, they'll find out Dad's name is on it. They'll think he painted it. They could arrest him, Rick!"

"Come on" Peter urged softly.

Ricky's voice finally came, strained. "He'd have killed me, Sam. I owed so much. And he said I could pay in paintings. He knew Dad was a forger and could do it again. But I can't tell Dad! I can't!"

Neal smiled and Peter smiled back. "Got him. Now we have to convince the boy's to deal."

Neal's smile dropped. "And protect them. Don't forget, Philrone won't be happy."

"Yeah."

Peter reached for the off switch. Sam's voice continued. "I can't let Dad get any in trouble for what I did. Maybe I could pay Nick back somehow."

Neal's eyes widened and he cocked his head.

"Don't even think about it." Peter snorted. "Anyway, it's the agencies money and we will get it back."

"I would never steal from children." Neal considered. "But I'm surprised he'd even think of it with everything else going on."

"Impressively honest. You could learn something."

"I believe in honesty. It's a very challenging game." Neal fired back.

"You don't practice it very often."

"I never lie to you."

Peter sighed.