Bryce was waiting for him at the top of the stairs, with a big smile on his face. "Another score for the Barker brothers!"
Neal couldn't help it, he smiled too. "You got it?"
Bryce held up the small flash drive that had been in the safe.
"And which gun did you use?"
"His," Bryce said. "You were right, I didn't need mine at all, but it was good to have it on me anyway."
Neal chose to ignore this comment and focused on the fact that he had just successfully run a con with his brother, after so many years.
Bryce seemed to feel the same way, so Neal poured drinks and they spent an hour reliving it, as they used to do back in cheap hotel rooms after a big score.
Too soon, the hour had come to an end. Bryce's phone buzzed. "It's from my boss," he said. "She needs me to give a report ASAP."
"Right," Neal said. "Of course."
The two brothers embraced, and Bryce looked seriously at Neal. "You know, you could come with me. I'm sure the agency would take you. We could travel the world again, this time legally."
Neal smiled a bitter smile, and held up the leg of his pants. "I can't."
"Cut it," Bryce said. "The CIA would clear you, I know they would, set you up with a new identity. They've done it with me a thousand times."
"That life is not for me, Nicky. You know that."
Bryce nodded. "Goodbye," he said. Short, sweet, not drawn out. That was how they always did it.
"Bye," said Neal.
Bryce walked to the door, then turned back. "Danny, take this." He held out a small card with a phone number on it. "You can always reach me on this number. It might take me some time to get back to you, but I always will. Once the anklet's gone, give me a call if you change your mind."
Neal nodded, and looked down at the number on the card. When he looked up again, Bryce was gone.
The end. Thanks for reading!
