(Chapter 9)
(Wednesday: 2 PM)
Jones was concerned when Peter didn't show back up from lunch. He thought maybe his boss had been detained by other business but when a day passed and he hadn't heard from his boss, he became concerned. The agent left the offices and hit the elevator down button but it was taking a bit too long. After a moment he finally went around the large potted palm and took the stairs. When he hit the lobby area, he pushed the door open and saw a familiar figure walking over to the elevators. Jones was about to call out when the figure turned and he saw it wasn't who he thought it was. The agent blinked but quickly made his way across the floor to the elevators and caught the door before it shut.
"Hey, sorry. Gotta get back up and get something I forgot." The man nodded to Jones curtly without actually staring at him. Jones stood slightly behind the man and took a good look. It was uncanny! If he hadn't seen the man's face, he'd have thought it was Peter. He thought about what Burke had said about "doppelgangers" and it suddenly made so much sense to him.
"Excuse me. You look familiar to me. Your name isn't Peter Burke is it?" He saw the man stiffen a bit but shake his head without turning. Jones smiled to himself.
"Sorry, you just look like a friend of mine. So what offices are you getting off at?" The man didn't reply, pushing another floor suddenly but Jones reached forward and pushed the "stop" button and the elevator shuddered and paused it's ascent.
"Just so you know, I carry a piece and I work for the FBI." He kept his voice low and menacing and saw the figure stiffen again and turn. The man looked a bit frightened, leaning back against the doors as Jones approached him in the small space.
"I just need some answers and you're going to give them to me. Ok?" The man nodded stiffly and Jones hit the start button and the elevator shuddered back to life. The man who looked like Peter (if only from the back) frowned some but he kept his back to the door watching Jones with a somewhat resigned look on his face. He nearly fell out into the FBI lobby when the door finally opened up and Jones made a motion for him to move forward, piece showing beneath his half opened jacket. The man nodded and entered the offices through the glass door and followed Jones to Hughes offices.
(Wednesday: 3:30 PM)
"This is preposterous! Jones, get some agents on this right now. You're in charge and put this person in holding!" Hughes was madder than ever but this time it was for a good reason. He had heard Jones' tale and in relation to everything Peter had added before that, it all made sense.
Jones cuffed the man and lead him from Hughes' office and down to some other agents that took him to holding. The agent felt pretty secure they'd find Neal if not Peter now that all this was out. He remembered the number for the other phone and went to his desk to call Peter. The phone rang and finally someone picked up. It was Neal Caffrey.
"Hello?" Jones gave a gasp of surprise.
"Neal? How... where's Peter? Oh... You'll have to let me know the details later. We've been looking all over for you guys! Are you ok? Good!" He talked to the young man a moment then started to tell him about the "doppelganger" and everything that had been going on in his absence. He sensed a strange edginess to the young man's voice he hadn't heard before but he figured it was stress from all that had happened.
"Tell Peter what I told you. See you guys soon." Jones hung up and leaned back in his chair, his knees brushing the underside of his desk. He felt something hit his knee. Something small and unobtrusive but it was there. The agent pushed his chair back to see what it was and saw an object about the size of a button stuck under his desk. He pulled at the item and it removed with a clicking sound.
Jones looked at the item and then around the office. Someone had bugged his desk! He held the item in his hand and walked up the stairs towards Hughes office and knocked. The older man waved the young agent in and Jones held up a hand for silence as he pushed the small item onto Hughes' desk. The man stared at it as Jones wrote on a nearby notepad: "This was under my desk." His superior nodded with a livid look and took the pad, writing down a reply. "Someone's head is going to roll!"
(Wednesday Evening)
Jones went by to the Burke residence and spoke with Elizabeth. She was relieved to know where Peter was, having heard nothing but a few tidbits here and there from Jones himself. He also mentioned that Neal was with her husband and that seemed to make her feel all the more relieved.
Jones started to leave the residence, saying Good-night to El when he saw a suspicious vehicle across the street. Soon as they saw him looking in their direction the driver had quickly pulled a newspaper up as a ruse. The agent had a strange feeling about this and asked Elizabeth if he could use her bathroom. She nodded but once they had the door closed, he locked it and bolted it letting her know to do the same with all the windows and back door. She looked at him confused but complied.
"What's the matter?" He looked at her and peered out the curtains trying not to be seen but the car was still there, driver watching the house.
"I'm not sure. Someone's casing the place. I'm certain of it. Let me call in some backup just in case." El nodded and paced a bit as Jones called in the cavalry just in case.
An hour after the call, Jones gave a little whistle. El came over and peered out over his head.
"I guess they weren't who they pretended to be? Glad you were here, Jones. I can't imagine what could have happened." She shivered a bit and hugged herself as she went and sat on the sofa. The agent joined her as she made a motion for him to sit.
"Peter's going to be back soon. Don't worry." She nodded at his comment and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks for being here. All this intrigue since Neal lost Kate⦠it's all been too much for me but I've learned to live with it. I must be crazy!" She threw up her hands a bit and Jones laughed as did she. The tension eased up some and he peered back out the window to see an agent give him a thumbs up.
"Looks like it's all clear but I'll leave a watch on the house. Peter would want that and I'll stay inside to be certain you're safe." El nodded at the agent and smiled.
"Let me start up a pot of coffee."
