(Chapter 7)

Two days went by slower than Neal had hoped but he was finally free to go home. June was out of town for a few days, visiting her daughter so Peter brought him to their home. Neal had to be watched for safety reasons. If Roth and company found out he was alive, who knows what they'd do and Peter hadn't brought the option up to Hughes only because he didn't want to use Neal as bait. He'd gone through enough without the highers up getting the idea they could bait the hook for Bethany and company with Neal another time. He wasn't taking any chances.

Peter set the young man up in the guestroom upstairs, having stopped by June's briefly to pick up some additional clothing and toiletries. Once Neal had unpacked in their guestroom, they retired downstairs in the den where Peter turned on a game as they sat and chatted. El came and joined them, bringing snacks and drinks.

"Thanks El." Neal was smiling at the small glass of wine she set near him followed by a beer for Peter. The agent grinned.

"That's why she's a premiere caterer." He pulled her into a big hug as they sat there watching TV and hanging out.

()()()

The three days Neal spent with the Burkes went by more quickly than his stay in the hospital and he was both relieved to be back home in his apartment at June's while still missing the bonding time he had with Peter and El. He felt a bit lonesome since he was under house protection, an agent outside watching the place until they prosecuted Bethany and crew. They still had no idea where Roth, Cirrus, Blaze or Aggie had disappeared to. They were basically ghosts.

Neal paced his apartment or the terrace boredly, feeling cooped up after two more days had passed. He was taking breakfast and dinner downstairs with June more often, sneaking views of the outside from there, watching people passing by and talking to June of her daily exploits. He felt trapped. Even Mozzie didn't help with his daily visits but they played chess, drank too much wine and chatted about things. Peter had better catch Roth and friends soon, Neal thought as he sighed boredly.

His phone buzzed on the third day back at at June's, a text from Peter.

"Had to let Bethany go. No evidence, no body if we can't bring you out of hiding. She's bugged though with a tracker. If she contacts Roth and friends, snap!"

Neal grinned, texting back.

"Biting suspects. Didn't think you had permission to sic Satchmo on them."

Peter simply texted back: :|

Neal laughed, leaning back on the sofa as he pushed his phone aside. It buzzed again and he saw a text from Mozzie.

Caught up in something. Will be there tomorrow. Sorry...

Neal sighed, pushing the phone aside and leaning back against the sofa tiredly. He had really hoped Mozz would come by but he'd been alone before although he wasn't much of a loner except for security reasons. He liked having people around and now that he could have people he trusted like Peter and El, June and Mozz... it felt good. He hoped this case would end and he could go back to his life again. His two mile radius was beginning to sound really good.

He opened his eyes, listening to something in the background. Neal heard voices. He walked out onto the terrace and looked across the city and over the side. The voices weren't coming from there. He went back inside after a moment and exited his room, the voices obviously from somewhere downstairs.

"Yes, it's been too long since we were last together. How are you, Constance?"

Neal heard June talking to someone, another voice answering as he came to the bottom of the stairs and took a left towards the source, the dining room. He saw June sitting with her back to him and another woman beside her, a small plate of food and a coffee pot in the middle of the dining table.

"I think it's been what... 15 years since we last saw each other. I'm so sorry about Byron. I had no idea and we were abroad at the time. How have you been?"

He assumed this voice was Constance's, Neal drawing closer as the two women continued to chat back and forth.

"I've survived. It was hard at first but I had both of my children, grandchildren and friends around me. I keep busy... oh and I have a boarder. You should meet him. The most charming young... Neal. I didn't see you there." June had turned just slightly enough she saw him coming closer and turned to address him directly. She stood up as did Constance, both women smiling at Neal.

"Constance, this is my boarder Neal. He's been staying with me for the past year." She was smiling proudly as if introducing her son to someone. Neal blushed ever so slightly, holding out his hand to shake Constance's and smiling brightly.

"It's good to meet you." Neal felt a little self-conscious, the woman looking at him curiously like someone meeting the friend of their child and sizing them up.

"So you've been staying here for a whole year? Which room did she give you?" Constance had that strong bearing that made Neal want to gulp like he was going to be under oath or something. June tsk-tsked her friend.

"Constance... quit interrogating him. I gave him the room with the terrace. Remember when we used to go out there with Byron and George and play poker under the stars?" She was obviously trying to save him from her friend with a small redirection. Constance blinked a moment and turned her eyes back to June smiling wistfully.

"Oh yes! Those cigars were nightmares that our boys smoked. I still have nightmares about the scent." Constance had sat back down again, June offering a seat across from them to Neal. He took it quietly as they continued their discussion.

"But I used to smoke them too... and I seem to recall a certain lady who liked Cubans and I don't mean the men." June was winking at her friend, turning her glance subtly towards Neal. He was rolling his eyes playfully before he excused himself for the kitchen, the discussion following.

"Well, George was always getting his stash through his friend at the embassy... what was his name... Juan Cortez."

Neal was shaking his head with a smile as he listened, poking around the pantry and fridge for something without really looking. He was mostly just bored out of his mind, head ducked into the fridge when he heard a cough.

"I'm looking for Constance Cassity. Where can I find her?"

Neal closed the fridge and turned, his eyes meeting with two familiar ones. Agatha 'Aggie' Cassity stood there. She wore a plain blue sweater over blue jeans, hair pulled back into a pony tail. Neal tried not to react hoping beyond hope she didn't recognize him but her eyes seemed to be sizing him up.

"Who did you ask for?" His voice stuttered ever so slightly which probably helped because her head shook a bit as if dismissing something as she repeated herself with a frustrated glare.

"My mother... Constance Cassity. Oh wait, I think I hear her in the dining room." She gave him a dirty look before walking past him into the dining room with a muttered comment about hiring good help. He looked at his clothes and realized he was wearing a comfy pair of but not raggedy black knit pants with a white tee. He had on his black loafers he wore when he didn't have to go out and when he saw his reflection in the chrome of the stove his hair was mussed but not badly. At least he didn't look like Alexi or he could have had some issues. She must think he was a cook or butler but he wasn't dressed as one.

"I apologize, June. My daughter has been busy lately planning a trip to Rio with some friends and I need to finish helping her with the preparations. Aggie... quit hurrying me! Again, my apologies June. Say good-bye to your handsome boarder for me. Tell him I'm sorry if I came across too strongly. I'm just thinking of you dear, but he seems the absolute gentleman from what you told me... and he works for the Government! He's handsome and has a respectable job... Aggie... why can't you find a boy like that?"

He heard a frustrated sigh but it wasn't from June or Constance. He wanted to find a place to hide before either Constance or Aggie came back. Neal saw the laundry room and ducked inside as the voices came nearer.

"Don't be a stranger, Constance. Remember, next time you're here in town to come visit me."

Neal listened as June said her good-bye's to both and the back door closed. There was movement as she shuffled around the space and then the laundry door opened and she smirked at him.

"I'm so sorry about that, Neal dear. I had forgotten how much of a domineering woman she was. You can come out now." Her smiled remained as Neal peeked around like a frightened mouse and walked back into the kitchen area.

"I'm sure she's a good friend. I didn't mean to barge in..." He felt a blush to his cheeks but she just patted his arm lightly and smiled.

"Actually no... you distracted her enough for me to get some words in. Her daughter though... that one is a problem child. Constance told me she got in with a wild crowd not too long ago and she's worried about her. This sudden trip to Rio... she thinks Aggie's in trouble but she doesn't know how to ask." June sighed, gently hugging him again before she started puttering around the kitchen.

"I was just going to make something.. brownies I think. Would you like that? I suddenly have this need for something sweet."

Neal nodded with a smile asking if he could help but June shook her head.

"No, I don't want to give up my secrets yet. Go wash up and I'll bring you up some lunch and the brownies in a few, ok?" She insisted, pushing him out of the kitchen. Neal sighed, going back out into the dining room and heading back to stairs. Something caught his eye as he passed the dining room table and he reached down to pick it up. It was a cell phone, pink with a small flower in jewels hanging off. He recognized it as Aggie's. Next to it was was a small folded piece of paper, his curiosity getting the best of him as he opened it up and read it quickly.

"Bethany knows best, Aggie. We have to leave the country before anyone associated with Corsavon comes looking. Bethany gets out tomorrow from holding and they have no evidence. Call me. - Roth"

Neal glanced down at the note, stuffing it into his pant pocket as he went back up the stairs and entered his rooms. Roth and company were scared of any pay back from Corsavon's friends he might have. Interesting. Still it had been scary to see Aggie but she hadn't recognize him at least. That was a relief but he was going to contact Peter.

He grabbed his cell and made a call.

"This is Peter Burke. Leave a Message."

Neal sighed, waiting for the beep.

"Peter, it's Neal. Call me." He left it brief but hoped the agent would call him back soon.

()()()

Aggie rolled her eyes as she drove her mother back home. She wanted to be out of the woman's path, leave for Rio sooner than the three days it would take to make preparations. They had been waiting on Bethany to be freed although why the witch had been willing to throw her life away for someone she had Roth and the others kill... well, Aggie knew her supposed friend was a mess. She didn't really like her but what she represented: Freedom, riches, power... that's what she wanted and she wanted away from her controlling mother.

Once her mother was home, Aggie made an excuse to go to the store for something, getting back into the car and driving away. She just wanted out of the city and away from her life. Mostly she was annoyed at Bethany for killing Corsavon. She's come to like the con but apparently he had done something to piss Bethany off and what it was was a mystery. Only Roth had a vague idea of what had happened but Aggie suspected it was jealousy. Maybe Alexi had another girl and she found out. Roth would do what Bethany said without question. He loved her even if she didn't love him back.

Aggie sighed again, glancing around till she found a spot at the coffee shop to pull into. She wasn't sure she wanted coffee but she had to pull over and think. Something was bugging her and it wasn't just her mother and the whole Bethany thing. That man she saw at the house of her mother's friend... he seemed familiar to her. She thought he looked a bit like Alexi but he didn't act or speak like him and besides, Corsavon was dead. Roth had already told her what they did and she was an accessory now whether she had actively participated or not. Still... he had looked enough like Alexi she almost thought he could be till he spoke and stuttered. Not suave at all but he had been cute.

She looked up as someone tapped on her window. It was Blaze, his blue green eyes looking at her curiously as she rolled the window down.

"Fancy meeting you here, Aggie. We're all inside if you want to join us. We've been trying to call you." He was smiling grimly at her, her eyes rolling up at him.

"Really? Then why..." She poked into her purse then her pocket. Her phone was missing.

"Dammit... must have left it at that woman's house. Tell them... I'll be right back." She saw him look at her curiously before moving away from the car as she turned it back on and pulled out.

()()()

Neal was waken up by the sound of an unfamiliar ring tone. He opened his eyes and saw the pink cell he'd found of Aggie's ringing. He didn't answer it but let it go to message. Once it had done so another different ring tone played and he saw she had a new text. He picked up the cell and read it.

"We're at the coffee shop. Where are you?"

It was from Roth. Neal's eyes narrowed, checking her unheard message and hearing Roth talking.

"Aggie... pick up already dammit! We have to talk! Bethany called a meeting. You know where. (she's not there. No... Ok...)"

Neal listened to the background noise and Roth's voice turning to talk to someone in the background at the end. Maybe he could take this to Peter. He tried calling again. Voice mail. Something must be keeping the agent busy or else he had left his phone somewhere. Neal sighed and called Jones.

"Jones... Neal? Hey how are you doing?" The agent sounded excited to hear from him. He grinned.

"Good. Is Peter there?" He waited while he heard Jones move, the sound of his chair creaking slightly. After a moment he heard the agent speak again.

"Not in his office that I can see but I know he had some meetings today. Did you try his cell?" There was the sound of a phone in the background and he heard Jones move again.

"Yeah but it's going to voice mail. Know when he's out of that meeting?" He heard Jones hesitate, the phone still ringing.

"Sorry, no. I only know he had one but he's not here. I need to get this call. Talk to you later but I'll let Peter know you're looking for him." Jones said bye and Neal hung up, pushing his phone back to the table. He wasn't supposed to leave June's but if Aggie and friends are planning something, he had to get the dirt to Peter and help put them away.

Neal made up his mind, digging in his wardrobe for something to wear. Perhaps it was time for Alexi Corsavon to come back. He went into the bathroom, showered, shaved and dressed. He wore a nice suit, a tan number he found that was very warm. He thought it made him look like he had just gotten off a yacht on the Aegean sea. He was just finishing up his look when he heard a knock on the door.

"Neal?" June's voice was muffled by the door as he walked over and opened up.

"Brownies ready so soon?" He was smiling and she grinned back.

"Very nearly but Constance's daughter showed up. Did you find a phone downstairs when you left the kitchen?" She looked up at him and he nodded, walking over and grabbing up the pink phone.

"I wasn't sure who's it was." He was smiling at her, June looking relieved.

"Oh good. She seemed rather worried about it. I'll take it down to her and check on those brownies as well as lunch." She reached up to fix his lapel, fussing like a mother.

"You're dressed rather nicely for dining in." She took his arm and they walked downstairs together. At the bottom someone was standing in the foyer. They turned and it was Agatha Cassity. She looked pale suddenly, looking past June at Neal with a strange glance.

"Dear, are you ok? You look so pale." June had taken the phone from Neal and handed it to Aggie but the younger woman barely noticed, her eyes on Neal, her expression frightened.

"I...I need to go." She barely said that and was gone out the front door before June could say bye. Neal felt a smile on his lips. Maybe he wouldn't have to sneak out after all, but he noticed the confused look on June's face.

"That was odd but she is a strange young woman. Oh... lunch. I was making some chicken. Is that ok?"

(Several hours later)

It was a long busy day and Peter was more than glad to be done with it. He was looking forward to going home and eating dinner with his wife, his mind wandering that way when he heard someone call his name. Peter turned to see Jones following him upstairs to his office.

"Jones, what's up?" He sat down at his desk and pulled up a few things on the PC he had to work on before he could go home. The meetings were one after another and he was happy it was finished at least for the day. He had the weekend ahead of him.

"Caffrey called for you a few hours ago. Maybe the cabin fever is getting to him." He smirked ever so slightly, Peter sighing.

"I meant to go check on him today and I couldn't. We're still working on the case with Bethany and her friends along with one more Hughes tossed on my plate today. I need him for the next case but have to finish the last one first. El's going to kill me... overtime again." Peter looked tired, Jones sighing in understanding.

"Well let me know how I can help, boss. See you next week." He gave a little wave and left, Peter nodding back as he reached into his pocket and felt around. He blinked, digging into his jacket pocket and then looking around till he found what it was he wanted.

"No wonder I didn't know he called." Peter felt badly, his phone having been at his desk this whole time. He sighed, looking to see a message from Neal. Peter pushed the option and listened.

"Peter, it's Neal. Call me."

That was it. Peter wondered at the tone, the young man sounding more than just bored. Intuition kicked him in the side so he phoned his partner back and waited.

"Big Brother's listening. Leave a message if you dare."

Peter shook his head and waited for the beep.

"Neal, it's Peter. Pick up already... ok, I'll be there in a little bit on my way home."

()()()

He could hear voices but they were far away and his head throbbed. Someone grasped his chin in their hand and lifted his head, dropping it back against the floor.

He's not going to be talking to anyone this time, whoever he is.

Who was talking? Where was he? His head swam as he tried to think back to who or what... his memory was empty, body unresponsive.

He's the only tie linking us to what was stolen. We made him vanish once, we can do it again. Help me with him.

Someone lifted him up but he could only let them, his arms bound behind him roughly, ankles secured and what felt like rags stuffed into his mouth and tape over his lips. He opened his eyes but it was dark, something like cloth wrapped over his eyes tightly.

We can't let him get away this time. Help me already!

He wanted to break loose, run away but he felt tired... exhausted, the throbbing in his head growing as he finally passed out.