(Chapter 9)
Neal woke up in the back of a van. Someone nudged him, his arms cuffed behind him. He opened his eyes to find Thomas glaring at him.
"Wake up, con!" The agent's voice was angry, the man holding a gun on him. Neal blinked trying to wake up as something was thrust at him.
"Turn around!" Thomas turned him around, holding him tightly around the neck, gun at his temple as he unlocked the cuffs, then turned him back.
"Get changed. We're headed for the heist." Neal looked at the agent seeing what had been placed before him. It was a pile of dark clothes, all black and a mask. Wearily he started to change into the clothes, Thomas watching his discomfort with pleasure. Finally he had finished dressing and picked up the mask. He knew doing what Gordon wanted wouldn't change anything but what choice did he have? Either way he was a dead man and his friends would be in danger. He was damned because he was a con and these men wanted to use his skills for their own selfish pursuits. He still had no idea what they wanted with the boxes, guessing that their acquisition was related to their need for the amber music box.
Thomas cocked the gun, bringing Neal out of his reverie and back to the present. He saw the agent smirking at him.
"I'm supposed to bring you up to speed on the heist. We're going to the Museum of Natural History. They have a Meso-American exhibit opening soon and one of the acquisitions is an obsidian and sea glass box. It's supposed to be very valuable for it's uniqueness. We know you've broken in before for some golden statuettes. This is your chance to do good for your friends. Get this box and Gordon says your obligation to him and OPR is over. Understand?" Thomas spoke to him as if he were an idiot but Neal nodded, his eyes glaring at the man. He knew better than to believe any word of Gordon's much less that of Thomas.
"Good, now study this map." Thomas pushed a piece of paper into the con's hand and sat back, gun still held steadily on him. Neal looked over the blue prints and found it would be a fairly simple snatch and grab. Thomas was right. He had been there before and he remembered the layout more or less from memory although it had been over 4 years ago when he did the original theft. He wasn't sure how Gordon knew about it since it had never been reported as a crime he had committed. Even Peter didn't know that one had been him or maybe it had just never come up. Regardless, he had to do this.
He sighed inwardly, his blue eyes hard and cold as he fought his emotions. He was damned because of what he was. His life wouldn't have changed had he been able to live with Kate. They'd have continued to be persecuted for things he had done even if their identities had changed. He'd never escape his past and to think otherwise was a fools errand. Mozzie was right.
"Caffrey... you ready? We're almost there." Thomas' voice broke his train of thought and he nodded. He watched the agent looking at him curiously.
"Cat got your tongue? I was under the impression you were the loquacious type." He was trying to read something into his current mood, Neal ignoring the remark as he psyched himself up for the theft.
"Just let me do my part and back off." His voice came across a little harsh, the agent blinking at him somewhat cautiously. It made him smile inside to think Thomas might finally find him 'dangerous' especially after that incident before. It had felt kind of 'fun' like a rush or something but he knew that wasn't him. He wasn't the violent type but Gordon had managed to screw around with him enough that he wasn't sure anymore what he was capable of. It was a scary thought.
He felt the van stop, Thomas picking up his cell as it rang and talking into it.
"Yes, he knows what's up. We're there now. Yes sir. Bye." Thomas looked up at the con and grinned.
"Well, looks like it's show time. Do your 'thing' Caffrey and be quick about it." Thomas waved at him with the gun, motioning towards the sliding door. It suddenly opened, another agent with a mask outside, gun in hand. Neal grabbed a small bag of tools that had been in the same pile as the clothes. It was adequate for what he needed to do, surprised OPR would know such things but why should he be surprised. Mozzie always told him this kind of thing happened and now he realized how right his little paranoid friend was.
Neal slung the bag over his shoulder and exited the vehicle and found they were parked in an alley just behind where he was to enter the museum. The window that was a few feet up was the target opening. He made his way towards it.
()()()
Jones woke up to find his head splitting. Someone had clocked him in the parking lot when he left the FBI offices to meet up with Peter. He looked around to find he was in a rustic looking cabin. The room was a bedroom but he was lying on the floor along with one other figure. He managed to sit up and scoot over to the figure and saw it was Elizabeth Burke, Peter's wife. He nudged her gently and she gave a little groan before finally opening her eyes. She blinked and looked around then up at him, eyes wide and frightened as she realized what was going on. He helped her to sit up and started working on a plan to get them free. She realized what was going on and pointed at her purse with her head, Clinton scooting over and bringing it back. He found a small metal nail file in there and began working on his bonds.
It only took a little while before he was free and he had cut Elizabeth free as well. The door to the bedroom was closed and nobody was watching them. He made a motion for her to remain quiet as he looked around and saw the window. They quietly pried the window open and he helped her ease outside into the storm and they ran into the darkness to hide. When they were at the forest edge, she stopped him, wiping her wet hair from her face.
"Where's Peter? Is he still in there? Neal?" She sounded frantic suddenly but he held her back.
"I don't know but we need to get help. I know Peter said this place was pretty deserted but do you have any neighbors or a town near by we can run to?" He watched her in the dim light, lightning brightening their faces up every now and again. She shrugged.
"This is the first time I've been here so I'm not sure. We stopped at a convenience store some miles back but it was a good hour before we got here so it's probably too far." She looked frightened, staring back at the dimly lit windows of the cabin. Peter was still inside and possibly Neal. They could just make out movement near the front of the cabin. Jones made a motion for her to stay there and moved stealthily back towards the cabin. He peered through the windows and saw Peter laying across the coffee table, eyes partially open and staring. He looked dead until he saw those brown eyes move towards the window and look right at him. Jones blinked seeing his boss staring blankly back. He made a signal Peter would know and saw his boss blink twice back at him in reply. Jones made one more sign to be sure and saw the same reply, knowing that Peter was communicating with him before he moved back into the woods to El.
"They still have Peter. We need to get help before they figure out we're gone." He dug around in his pocket and found his cell missing, cursing silently. Elizabeth looked at him curiously.
"What's wrong?" She saw him looking back at the window they had exited.
"They took my cell phone. Did you have one in your purse?" He saw her nod in the dim light of the storm, motioning for her to stay as he made his way back silently towards the cabin. He opened the window up and climbed back in. He quickly pulled her purse from where he had moved it earlier and ducked back out the window.
()()()
Neal walked carefully and stealthily through the hallways of the museum. He was heading towards a particular office in the upper level of the museum that was protected by a high level security system. They had already given him the codes and other necessary means to get in. He just had to break into the safe, steal the box and get out. He made his way up to the office without any hassles, avoiding the few guards and cameras and arrived at the upper level offices. He punched in the code and entered the room, tools ready. He crouched down and removed the mask they'd given him so he could work properly. He had barely opened up the safe when the lights came on and he started, looking around fearfully.
"Give it up, Caffrey. We know it's you." The voice was familiar, Neal turning to see Hughes standing there along with two other agents, each with their guns ready. Hughes had them stand down, walking over cautiously. Neal remained crouched before the open safe stunned and unsure of how to respond. Had Gordon set him up? He was worrying about Peter and the others when he saw Hughes hold up his hands to show he was there to talk, alleviating some of the young man's fears.
"Caffrey, I know what's going on. Peter called me before you left for the cabin and when I looked into what was going on I realized he was right. I didn't want to see it but I realize my old colleague and friend was dirty. I'm sorry this happened to you on my watch." He sounded honestly contrite, crouching beside him and smiling, hand out. Neal took it and they both stood.
"Hughes, I... I have to take this back or he's going to kill them." His voice was quiet but full of emotion, Hughes nodding back.
"I understand that but I can't in all honesty let you steal this item. You understand that?" He saw the look on Hughes face as the director spoke, panic starting to take hold. If he couldn't take the box, how was he supposed to save his friends if it mattered at all? Hughes seemed to read his look and put a hand on his shoulder.
"But I can let you borrow it. We'll serve as back up along with Jones." Hughes smiled, Neal unsure what to say.
"Jones? He was captured with Peter and El..." Neal watched Hughes shake his head interrupting.
"He's free and so is Elizabeth. They said Peter is still with Gordon and his goons. We have the place surrounded and they don't know it. We'll follow you back when they take you in the van outside. Ok?" Neal just stared at the director unsure what to say but feeling a heavy weight finally starting to roll off his shoulders. So Jones and El were safe but Peter... He did his best to think positive and nodded.
"Thanks, Hughes."
()()()
Peter could finally do a bit of wiggling of his fingers but he remained still and sluggish looking to fool his captors. If they thought he was awake, he didn't doubt they'd make him suffer especially Gordon. He was moving his eyes to watch and listen as Gordon and the rest talked and moved around. He would remain still when they looked at him apparently doing a pretty good job cause they ignored him, spilling more info than any bug would get if it had been available. He was hoping Jones and El were safe wherever they'd been taken when he saw a slight movement out the corner of his eye. He made sure the agents were otherwise occupied and moved his eyes towards his left and the window.
Jones? He could see his subordinate's face outside the window illuminated at times by the lightning. He wanted to do something more than stare but he had to keep the ruse up he was still drugged and unconscious. He saw Jones make a sign asking if he was ok. When he saw the agents weren't paying any attention he blinked twice to Jones. He saw his colleague look a bit uncertain and make another sign for confirmation and he blinked yet again twice, seeing a smile from Jones before he disappeared. He felt relieved now that Jones was freed and wondered if El was too when he heard someone yelling.
"They've escaped!" It was the agent named Jared, mask off. He knew this one as Howell from the other day at the museum. He had sat in the back with him along with another agent named Thomas who had been driving. He had names now at least along with some confirmation they were manipulating Neal. He saw Gordon walk over to him and roll him off the coffee table, lifting him up and staring into his listless brown eyes. Peter saw the agent stare at him as if trying to figure something out then tossed him back to the floor.
"Find them! We can't afford a screw up now when we're so close." Gordon sounded desperate for once and panicked as the two agents with him left. Peter couldn't help but smile but it was a mistake as he felt a kick in his side and groaned. Someone crouched over him and lifted him up by the hair. It was Gordon.
"So, you're awake. Should have guessed. Doesn't matter though. Your wife and the agent... they'll be found, Caffrey will bring the box and none of you will ever be seen again." He grinned menacingly, dropping Peter's head hard to the floor before picking him up by one arm and dragging him across the room towards the fireplace. There were still a few small embers burning in the now low fire.
"I wonder what your pain threshold is, Agent Burke. I know your pet con was fairly quick to fold on his non-violent self. I wonder if I could get you to give in so easily?" Gordon smiled evilly, propping Peter against the wall of the hearth and holding him there with one arm squeezed against his neck as he used the fireplace tongs to grasp a smoldering ember and move it towards the agent's bare arm.
"Gordon… we couldn't find them." They both turned at the sound of the voice. Jared stood there looking at them both, his hair plastered to his head from the rain outside. Gordon stopped what he was doing, dropping the ember back into the fireplace to the relief of Peter although he tried not to show that. Gordon grinned, looking at Jared.
"Keep our guest here entertained. I know you have a few tricks, Jared."
