White Collar: Knock on Wood

Chapter Five: The Emperor

"Damn it." Peter growled.

"What's wrong, Boss?" Diana asked.

"We can get this Josephine Hanes on identity fraud, and the painting, but we don't have enough for the stronger extortion charges, and we have absolutely nothing to connect her to the murders."

"Uh...I have bad news and bad news..."

"Now what?" Peter sighed.

"Neal is off his game."

"What?"

"The painting is a forgery," Diana said "and she has paperwork that states that she bought it as a 'replica'."

"Damn it. Neal really didn't have a good chance to look at it. What's the other bad news?"

"I had my friend from Violent Crimes go over all the evidence from both cases. He says that the bus accident could go either way, but Richards shot himself. There is no question on that one, he says it's suicide."

"Something about it just doesn't seem right." Peter insisted.

"Maybe she cursed them into doing it." Diana shrugged.

"Yeah, right." Peter huffed.

"You said Neal wasn't feeling well today?"

"He just didn't get much sleep. He's fine."

"She cursed Neal."

"Don't tell me you believe in that stuff?"

"All that stuff she said about the Hanged Man and the Emperor...you gotta admit it fits you and Neal pretty well."

"Diana..."

"Plus she seemed to know about Kate."

"Anyone can look at Neal and know he's lost someone." Peter countered. "Even on his best days you can still see the pain of Kate's death in his eyes."

"Yeah." Diana agreed sadly. "Still...how did she know his name?"

"I don't know. Have the lab boys been able to break into her computer yet?"

"No. And she has surrounded herself with a legion of lawyers." Diana growled in frustration. "Speaking of which we can only hold her until the bail is set, and we both know she'll be able to pay it."

"How long do we have?"

"Probably only till the end of the day."

"She's going to disappear." Peter sighed.

"I don't think we'll get a judge to rate her as a high flight risk."

"Probably not." Peter agreed. "Go hassle the lab geeks, I want into that computer before she posts bail."

"Got it."

Diana left to put some pressure on the lab techs as if that was going to make them be able to work any harder. Sitting at his desk Peter started combing through the stack of evidence that came along with this case. The set of photographs from the stuff in the warehouse was as thick as a dictionary. He started leaving through them one by one in hopes of finding something even if he wasn't sure what it was.

Finding it difficult to concentrate Peter put the photos down and rubbed his eyes. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Neal had sounded on the edge of panic on the phone when he'd first answered. Neal's sudden curiosity in his astrological sign didn't sit will with Peter either. After a few minutes of indecision Peter pulled out his cell phone.

"Haversham." Mozzie answered.

"Mozzie?"

"Yes, Suit?"

"Can you..." Peter hesitated. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Depends." Mozzie said warily.

"I just want you to go over to Neal's place and check on him for me."

"What's wrong?"

"He's just not feeling well. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'd feel better if someone looked in on him."

"You can be such a Mother Hen." Mozzie chuckled.

"Can you do it or not?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks."

"But you owe me one." Mozzie added seriously.

"Put it on my tab."