I'm in the process of moving and I'll be leaving for a cross-country drive very soon. Even though I wanted to make this chapter longer I wanted to publish something before I left for my loyal and much appreciated readers.

"So let me get this straight, you're conning this Dr. Marrow into liking you by not conning her?" Moz stared at his younger friend's open face. "That's... different." He shook his head and sipped his wine.

"You don't understand, she's not a normal mark. She's actively looking for a con. It's like navigating a minefield with this woman." Neal popped a hors d'oeuvres in his mouth. "Of course I'm going to con her, it's just going be low-profile." Neal grinned at his own pun. "Not that I'm not going to try something more extravagant every once and a while, it would be suspicious not to. And when she catches me in my bigger cons she'll think that she can detect them all that easily and so my real con will go unnoticed."

"Really, maybe you do need counseling." Neal ignored him. God, the kid just looked so excited about his plan. Hurricane Neal, ready to strike again. "Can't you just seduce her or something?"

Neal had considered seducing Marrow for about one minute before deciding it was a no-go. On the chance that she saw through it, it would end in utter disaster for him. And if she didn't… well, the woman was engaged and happy, and in love and Neal bristled at the thought of ruining something he held in such high regard. So no seduction for Marrow. Would he still flirt with her? Of course. He liked flirting; it was fun.

"Sorry, Moz, but no."

"So you're really just going to distract her with cons while tricking her into liking you?" Moz had never sounded so skeptical.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Neal swirled the wine in his glass. He wished Moz didn't keep emphasizing that he was tricking Marrow into being his friend, as if she wouldn't like him otherwise. He was a likeable guy; he made a living being a likeable guy.

Neal's pouting was interrupted by Moz dropping a giant binder on the table. Where the hell had he been hiding that thing?

"Brought some light reading with you?"

His friend rolled his eyes.

"I took the liberty of gathering some intelligence on your funny FBI woman shrink." Moz internally winced. He was going to have to think of a pithier name for The Suit's latest control tactic.

Neal's eyebrows disappeared behind a wayward curl when he began to slowly flip through the binder. "Some intelligence?" The con man held up a paper. "This is her third grade report card."

Mozzie shrugged, like it was completely normal. "You can never be too thorough." Neal shook his head and closed the massive binder. He would flip through it later.

"Did you find anything on the stolen Mondrian?"

Moz pursed his lips and frowned.

"Honestly, there's not a whole lot. Whoever these people are they're playing it close to the chest. I did hear one thing though. Well, overhear."

Neal made a gesture, clearly meant to hurry his friend along.

"There was something about a professor and his students but my source didn't call them his students, they called them 'disciples'." Moz accompanied the last word with air quotes and rolled his eyes at the dramatics.

"Huh." Neal drank a deeper gulp of wine. "That's interesting."

Lyn had spent most of the night lying in bed listening to Roger's soft snoring and mulling over the second part of her job at the White Collar Unit: keeping Neal Caffrey out of trouble. It wasn't technically in the contract, which stated that part of her duties was to continue to monitor Caffrey's mental state, but the way Peter and Agent Hughes had explained it to her at the signing 'monitoring' and 'keeping his ass out of jail' meant the same thing.

Well obviously increasing the costs of running/committing crimes to outweigh the benefits was the most straightforward way to do it. The problem was, outside of the cases he had worked on and his living situation; Lyn didn't know anything about his life after prison. Did he have any friends? Was he dating?

If anyone would know these things it would be Peter. The redhead winced at the thought of discussing Neal Caffrey's dating habits with the no-nonsense agent. A bribe was definitely in order.

Armed with premium roast coffee and Susan's superior croissants Lyn knocked on the agent's office door.

"Enter," he replied curtly. Great, he was already being short today. Lyn entered and gave him her most disarming 'tell me about it' psychologist expression she learned in her first year of grad school. Peter took note of the coffee and pastries and narrowed his eyes.

"Ok, what do you want?"

"What makes you think I'm not just being collegial?"

Peter gave her what must be a patented deadpan look. "I work with the world's most devious conman."

Lyn shrugged and sat down, undeterred, it's not like she really expected Peter to be oblivious to her tactic. "I just want a little information about Caffrey." The psychologist slid the coffee cup and croissants across the desk. Peter eyed them for a moment before accepting the offering and gesturing to her to continue. "Does Caffrey have any friends? Not just the people he sees here but friends outside of work?"

Lyn watched Peter tilt his head, trying to retrieve the information and then his mouth twitched in a smirk.

"One, maybe two. But they have more to do with his previous activities than anything."

Lyn frowned. This was not good news.

Peter had been suspicious when Lyn brought him coffee and pastries, he didn't get to where he was today without a rather healthy does of paranoia, and as the only person who ever caught Neal Caffrey, let alone twice, he figured that paranoia was justified. The question about Neal's social life had been unexpected but it made sense that she would be concerned with that type of thing.

Mmmm, did that coffee smell good. I might be better than June's. Peter exploited his bribe and grabbed the steaming cup.

"Is Neal dating?"

Peter' hand paused on it's way bringing the coffee cup to his mouth. Ok, that he hadn't been expecting.

"No, not that I'm aware of." His hand completed the move though he continued to watch Lyn suspiciously.

"I think you should encourage him to date."

Peter almost dropped the cup, only a few centimeters from where he wanted it to be, at her last statement.

"Wha- Why?"

"He's a at his highest risk for flight when his past is involved and lowest when his ties to this community are strong. Dating and being in a relationship with a woman would strengthen those ties. And loneliness does terrible things to a person. He was locked away from the world and from companionship for four years. It's not healthy."

"Yeah, but why do I have to do it?"

"Because you're more of an authority figure. And a guy." Peter rolled his eyes at her middle-school explanation for his intrusion into Neal's love life, which, as far as Peter knew, still consisted of his charge mooning over Kate. And conspiring with Haversham to ruin all of Peter's hard work by going after her.

Did Neal really think it was easy to get him released into Peter's custody after he escaped from super-max? How difficult it was to find a judge willing to take that risk? If super-max couldn't hold one of the most notorious con men of this century how was a bit of plastic around the ankle supposed to?

But that was getting off topic.

Peter bit into the croissant, which was basically heaven in pastry form, and considered Lyn's proposal. He'd already told Neal he should start making an effort to move on and for about five seconds after finding the woman who turned out to be a fence in Neal's apartment Peter foolishly believed he had taken that advice.

Lyn might be aiming a bit high.

And Peter wasn't looking forward to having a conversation about Neal's love life that was more involved than 'Kate dumped you, move on to one of the hundreds of women that throw themselves at your feet everyday' unless it was absolutely necessary. But friendship Peter could do, was already doing. And Lyn was right; it really wasn't good for anyone to be as isolated as Neal was.

"I'll talk to him." This seemed to please Lyn because she powered down her 'Psychologist Mode' and relaxed in her chair.

Jones knocking on the door and sticking his head in ended their companionable few seconds of silence. Peter nodded for him to speak.

Jones flashed a friendly smile at Lyn before addressing his boss. "The forensics are back for the other paintings. They're in the conference room."

Peter nodded again and he and Lyn followed the younger agent out the door.

Reese Hughes made it a habit to sit in on some of his teams' meetings without warning to keep them on their toes. Today it was Peter's team's turn; the senior agent was curious to see how Marrow was fitting in so far. And though it was on the long list of things Hughes would never admit out loud, Caffrey was damn entertaining if not an annoying little shit sometimes.

When he walked into the conference room everyone stiffened and became hyper alert except for Caffrey and Marrow. Caffrey probably because he was so slick tension just slid right off of him. Marrow because she was the only person in the room whose livelihood didn't depend on him; even if he fired her she could be employed again in about three seconds somewhere else.

"So," he started, "where are you on the Mondrian case?" Hughes looked at everyone in the room but was waiting for Peter to answer. He was team leader, it was expected. The agent didn't disappoint.

"We found two other paintings that match our perps' M.O. and a lead that points to this all being orchestrated by an art teacher."

Hughes raised an eyebrow at the other agent. This was New York; 'an art teacher' didn't exactly narrow it down. Caffrey spoke up next. At least he didn't raise his hand this time.

"Judging by the quality of the work he's probably working at a university, easy access to young, quality artists."

"Which changes the profile of our quartet." Marrow's interjection was smooth instead of interruptive. She seemed to be getting along well. "This is no longer a group of established, arrogant forgers with a benefactor. We're now looking for a dynamic leader who seeks out and preys on the most vulnerable of his students. They would be insecure, eager to please, probably far from home, easily manipulated. The professor is definitely the pupetmaster in this scheme and I'd bet anything he's been through the system before."

"Anything? Really?" Caffrey was grinning that shit-eating grin of his at Marrow but she seemed to be very effectively ignoring him, which, Hughes observed, made the con man deflate a little. This amused the senior agent more than it probably should.

"Ok, great, there can't be too many art teachers with a record," Cruz piped up and then immediately looked contrite at her outburst. Eager, that one was. She was going to be one of those hellcat agents, Hughes could tell, whose name would one day make perps quake in their boots. But right now she was a rookie who had to do mind-numbing paperwork, just like every other agent that passed through these halls.

"Good." Hughes nodded to Peter's odd conglomeration of agents, a civilian, and a convict. "Let me know when you have a suspect," he told Peter before exiting the conference room.

Hughes could practically fell the collective sigh of relief at his leaving. Hughes smirked at this. There definitely some things that he loved about being the boss.

As it turns out there were two art professors with a record, one for possession of stolen property and one for petty theft. Neal had a feeling it was the petty theft guy- what was his name? The con man looked down at the print out in his lap. Ah, Brendan Gless.

Marrow was sitting in the back seat as Peter drove them to Gless' residence. She hadn't even asked if she could or should come along; she just gathered her coat when Peter announced he was going and walked out with them, like it was a given. But she did sit in the back seat again without protest, like she knew the hierarchy of relationships in their trio. Neal was Peter's consultant first, therefore shotgun was his. (Ok, technically Marrow was a consultant first but Neal hadn't even been a file on Peter's desk then so it wasn't relevant.)

"You have to admit, this guy's very good. He doesn't make the mistake of bragging and is able to keep three college students from doing the same." The thought had been rolling around in his head since Moz had managed to only scrounge up one sliver of information on the suspect. Peter grunted unintelligently from the driver's seat.

"Yeah, or he's threatened them into compliance. You don't need to have much skill to do that."

"It's been proven threats aren't an effect tool to use in ensuring complicity," Lyn rattled off from the backseat distractedly, like it was an automatic response.

"I'm just trying to paint a picture of what this guy is like before we get there. Just to be prepared." Actually, Neal was just tired of the silence and Peter wouldn't let him play with the radio or navigation system. And if he couldn't stop his mind from whirring with ideas and angles and schemes and wasn't allowed to distract himself then he would make sure both of his companions' minds were whirring with ideas and angles and schemes too. "So no threats, and it can't just be the money, not that it doesn't hurt, but if these students are as vulnerable as Dr. Marrow figures they are then they don't have the mindset to break the law just for greed. Therefore," Neal flipped up the page with Gless' photograph, "there has to be something special about our mastermind."

"What makes you so sure it's Gless?" Peter's tone tried, and failed, to hide his genuine curiosity. He was probably wondering if Neal had picked up on something that he had missed.

Neal couldn't help but break out into a smug grin. Both Peter and Marrow were going to hate this.

"Because he's good looking."

Peter and Marrow snorted in perfect synchrony. Neal twisted around to look at the redhead.

"Don't you agree that it's been proven that more attractive people have an advantage in life and are much more likely to have people comply to their requests and help them and believe good things about them even without proof the their worthiness?"

Marrow's pretty mouth pursed, her lips thinning into an annoyed line and she slumped in her seat a little. She was probably upset that her beloved psychology was proving his point and not hers.

"Yes, that is true."

Secure in his victory Neal turned back around. That wasn't really his reasoning for thinking it was Gless but that little triumph had been worth it. And it had worked towards his 'Get Marrow to Like Neal' plan; his knowledge of psychology- courtesy of the psychology texts he had borrowed from Moz (Moz had them so he could 'battle against the mind tricks of the interrogators' just in case he was ever caught.)- was groundwork for common interests.

"Yes," Peter deadpanned, "I'm sure you wouldn't have been able to pull half the stunts you did without that pretty face."

Neal's smile got wider despite his handler's mocking. This was familiar and enjoyable territory, he and Peter making fun of the other's appearance. A very juvenile part of Neal was glad he and Peter had something that didn't include Marrow.

"True, I am very pretty."

"Oh my god." The utterance was meant to be under the psychologist's breath but the car wasn't all the big so Neal heard it anyways.

"You don't agree?"

He could see her roll her eyes in the rear view mirror.

"Yes, Mr. Caffrey, you're very pretty."

Neal grinned widely despite her sarcasm. He had, with no effort, just gotten her to admit she found him attractive out loud. And she didn't even pick up on his game.

They arrived at Gless' apartment before he could exploit this lapse in Marrow's microscope-like attention to detail. Peter twisted in his seat to fix them both with his best irritated paternal stare.

"We're interviewing a suspect, try to be professional." The FBI agent was looking at Neal more than Marrow at the last part to which the con man took mild offense. The redhead looked mildly confused but let it go, simply exiting the car.

Caffrey had been right about one thing; Gless was handsome. He was maybe 35, 36, with dimples and an easy smile- not the blindingly stunning one Caffrey had in his arsenal, but still, it put you at ease and made you like him. Well, anyone who wasn't predisposed to believing he was a manipulative criminal would be put at ease and like him.

Lyn took a quick scan of Gless' apartment. It was homey and welcoming, with warm colored walls and art books and knick-knacks everywhere. It would give off the vibe of a relaxed, free spirited man if every object in the room wasn't meticulously organized to give off that illusion.

The man had been polite and courteous to Peter and Caffrey and had lightly flirted with her- taken her hand and leaned in, just a little- when he greeted them and welcomed them inside.

"What can I help you with Agent Burke?" The agent turned on his heals slightly from his own assessment of the space, his hands on his hips. Caffrey was perfectly composed, his hands in his pockets (probably to stop them from fiddling with everything in sight), and moved to stand across from his handler. All eyes were now on Gless but he showed absolutely no sign of distress.

"We're investigating a string of forgeries." Peter gets right down to business in his usual fashion. "A Mondrian a Duchamp and a Degas."

"One of Duchamp's earlier works I assume," the man said, still completely relaxed. Peter nodded. Lyn had looked up the artists they were working with online the night before. A Dada piece, especially one by Duchamp seemed too easy to discredit to her. How many bicycle wheels through stools were there in the world anyhow?

Lyn glanced at Caffrey, who was flipping through one of Gless' art books, and internally shrugged. Who knows? She wasn't the master forger in the room.

"Wow," Caffrey exclaimed, clearly focused on whatever artwork was on the page. He held up the image for Gless to see. "This is a great piece. One of my favorite Rembrandts." The con man then closed the book. "Too bad it's probably a forgery." Lyn studied Gless' reaction; he was oddly tense for the situation- surprise would have been a more appropriate expression. Maybe he already knew it was fake? "Oh, I've seen it and it's very, very good but it's probably a fake."

"Well, I'll defer to your expertise on that." Gless's grin is razor sharp, even with the regard given in his slight head bow; there is still an air of condescension. Caffrey put the book down on the side table next to the couch and this obviously bothered Gless. He tried to keep concentrated on the three of them but his eyes keep darting back to the book though Lyn didn't know why.

The redhead glanced at Peter. The agent was staring at his charge like he's seriously considering strangling Caffrey into giving up just how he knew the Rembrandt was fake. Lyn admit she's a bit curious herself. Is it one of his? Doubtful. Caffrey is arrogant, sure, but he's far, far too smart to invite the person who controls his freedom to look closely at evidence that may put him back in jail.

"I'm not quite sure what I can do to help," Gless said apologetically to Peter. The man still kept glancing at the art book Caffrey had handled.

"During our investigation a source mentioned your name." Peter shrugged. "It probably nothing but if you don't mind my associate-" Peter nodded at Caffrey "-and I taking a look around and then accompanying us back to headquarters for some routine questions."

Gless should have been alarmed by this infraction but instead he looked a bit… smug.

"Of course, Agent Burke, anything to help." Caffrey slid away from his position by the couch to join Peter at the hallway entrance. Gless moved to fill the con man's empty spot. He picked up the book that had clearly been bothering him and slid it into an empty space on the shelf. "Oh, please try not to move too many things around." Peter nodded and made an affirmative comment. The agent the fixed her with a hard stare.

"Stay here Marrow." His voice was dismissive but his stare turned meaningful in the last few seconds before he and Caffrey slipped away.

Peter had deliberately caused a rift between her and them in hopes that this would make Gless identify with her and open up. Or try to take advantage and manipulate her. Either way she could garner important information.

Smart move.

Lyn looked at Gless. His gaze had zeroed in on her and she could see him processing this new information on the dynamics of their trio.

Very smart move.