Neal walked into the attic's living area and frowned seeing Jade seated on the couch with her head in her hands. He knew this situation was taking its toll on her. "Jade…"
She looked up hearing Neal's voice and hastily dried her tears. Jade cleared her voice and asked, "So how are things in the war room?"
"Peter and Hughes are gathering all of the intel they can get their hands on. Alex is being secretive for a reason and they are going to figure it out," Neal promised, he only hoped that Jade believed him. He wasn't sure he believed himself.
"Before Adler kidnaps one of our daughters or worse?" asked Jade in a sardonic tone of voice.
Neal had a seat next to Jade on the couch and said, "I could always use myself as bait to draw Adler out. If that is what you want me to do…I will do it."
Jade frowned at him and said, "That is the stupidest idea that I have ever heard. I would never want you to use yourself as bait in any situation but certainly not this one. Adler is unhinged and you have no idea what he is after. When he figures that out you'd be as good as dead. We don't need grand gestures that will get us nowhere. We need a good plan and we need to know what the psychopath is after."
"My nearest guess is some sort of treasure trove. Adler has always had a penchant for puzzles and treasure hunts. Whatever he thinks Alex and I know must be worth a lot for him to risk coming back to New York. Law enforcement agencies aren't the only people that are looking for him," Neal quipped.
Jade's eyebrow rose questioningly, "What do you mean, Neal?"
Neal said, "Well, Adler wasn't just handling money for your average everyday citizen. Sure he stole from them as well, but was severing as a money launderer for various unsavory characters. When he took off…he fleeced them as well. There are several criminal organizations that would love to have a quiet word with him."
"Really?" asked Jade as a small smile appeared on her face. The wheels in her head began to spin.
Neal frowned and said, "I know that look and it always leads to something catastrophic. What are you thinking, Jade-y, and how dangerous is it?"
"I'm thinking that I should make good on my promise to call my father. He just might come in handy after all," said Jade.
Neal had a very bad feeling about the smirk on Jade's face. Her father wasn't a good man but he was a damn good criminal. His extensive rap sheet could attest to that. However, his underworld connections also spoke volumes for the type of man he was.
"I thought you said that Ernesto got out of the game years ago…"
Jade said, "That's what he told me but I always knew that he was lying. I just didn't want to deal with the implications of what that all meant. As soon as they released my old man from prison he went right back to work with his old crew. He'd served his time honorably and the family welcomed him back with open arms."
"Why would he lie to you about something like that? All of his children know what he is…"
"While my dad was still serving out his sentence I told him that if he came out of prison still up to his old tricks that he'd never see Sofia and Isabella in person again. He might not have been a good father to me but he adores all of his grandchildren. When he got out he told me that he was on the straight and narrow and working as a butcher at a meat market in Chicago," said Jade.
Neal smiled and said, "He always was the best meat butcher in the old neighborhood. When did you find out he was lying to you?"
Jade nodded and said, "I believed him until my brother told me that the meat market was a front for the family. I could have gotten angry and barred him from seeing the kids but it struck me…he was willing to lie and pretend to be on the straight and narrow just to see the girls. That is more of an effort than he ever made for me and my brothers and sisters."
Neal's eyes widened and he said, "That is a very big step for you, Jade. I am surprised that you went along with it…"
"Well, it isn't as if the girls see him enough to be in danger because of his occupation and he does love them. More importantly they adore their abuelo. I think the only person they light up for more is you. I couldn't let my bitterness keep him from being a good grandfather to them."
Neal nodded and said, "Well, he is their only grandfather and they didn't have me in their lives. They needed some type of male role model."
Jade kissed his cheek and said, "They have the very best male role model now…you. They also have their uncles. God blessed me with two really great brothers who spend more time out of prison than inside."
Neal nodded and said, "You hadn't really mentioned your brothers. How are Raffa and Max?"
Jade said, "Raffa is doing well. He's still working with that car theft ring but now it is his and he steers clear of the law. The market for high-end cars never really hits a low point and Raffa doesn't feel guilty because if you don't have a Lamborghini insured…well that is just your own stupidity."
Neal chuckled and said, "That is a long way up from when we were kids and he was stealing whatever car got left running to heat up in the winter."
"Well, he always had a natural acumen for liberating vehicles from their owners. I guess he thought it was a more honest business than what our father was involved in. Max is doing great. He managed to get those juvenile offenses expunged from his record and now he's a CPA. I think he's the only one out of all of my dad's children that is a law abiding citizen."
"Your old man must be so disappointed," joked Neal.
Jade laughed softly, "He kind of was when he found out Max was going to be an accountant. Dad always thought Max's way with numbers would make him invaluable to the family. Luckily, my baby brother never wanted any part of it."
"How old is he now? He was a kid the last time I saw him," Neal lamented, the time really had gone by for all of them.
"He just turned 23. We all got together in Miami for his birthday during Super Bowl weekend. I swear he was like a kid in a candy shop," said Jade.
Neal picked up Jade's hand and said, "Sometimes I wish that I was more like you. I wish that I had family. I mean…I'm all alone."
Jade's breath got caught in her throat seeing how sad Neal looked. "You are not all alone. You have me and the girls and we aren't going anywhere."
"Let's be honest…if this Adler situation doesn't get resolved soon that won't be true either," said Neal.
She scowled at him and said, "I wouldn't just abandon you, Neal. We are you family…good or bad."
The corners of his lips turned up into a small smile. "I'm not saying that you would abandon me, but I can't in good conscience ask you and the girls to stick around if Adler is after me and everything I care about. He knows I don't care about very much."
Jade sighed softly, "You have always been gallant, but I'm not asking you to be. The girls and I have a life here in New York. Besides they know you now…they are old enough to miss you terribly. I won't take them away from you again. I couldn't bear it. They need their father as much as he needs them."
Neal smiled slightly before his mind drifted back to something Jade said earlier. "Why do you want to call your dad?"
"Well, if Adler owes money to some of the families…they might like a tip off that he's back in New York. You know the family my father works for has connections right here in city," said Jade.
Neal closed his eyes a moment in exasperation. "Jade…you know what will happen if they get their hands on him."
"He tried to kidnap our kids, Neal. I don't give a damn what they do to Vincent Adler. I'm sure they will make sure he gets everything he so richly deserves. You can't tell me that you feel any different…"
He sighed heavily, "No, I can't say that I do. In fact…Adler disappearing would be great. A man like that in prison makes me think we'd always be looking over our shoulders for retaliation, but Peter…"
"What Peter doesn't know won't hurt him or us. Besides, it would be protecting him and his wife as well. Adler seems petty and vindictive. Do you really think he'd flinch at going after an agent and his wife?" asked Jade.
"Not likely…Adler has never really been afraid of anyone. I'm sure he feels untouchable after pulling off the biggest ponzi scheme of all time. I trust Peter and he trusts me. We have this…I don't know how to explain it. Since getting me out of prison Peter has always been on my side even when he shouldn't have been. He looks out for me…he cares about me. I don't want to betray him. I can't explain it…"
Jade smiled softly and said, "Of course you can but you are afraid to say it out loud. Peter is older than you. He gives you love, guidance, and support. When you help break a case he's proud of you. Despite the fact that you were a criminal for years he's still impressed with your intellect and talent. He's the father you've never had. I understand not wanting to disappoint him."
"I didn't say that…" Neal argued.
"I know you didn't say it. I said that you were afraid to say it out loud. Even if you don't want to say a father figure he's certainly an older brother figure. I don't want to cause any strife in your relationship with Peter," said Jade. She sighed deeply and her eyes closed trying to think of a new solution.
"Jade, I trust Peter to find Adler. He was able to find me and I am far more cunning than Adler ever was, but if he's still on the loose in two weeks I won't object to you calling Ernesto," said Neal.
Jade looked to Neal and smiled softly, "I can agree to that . Two weeks…I think I remember making you promise something similar earlier in the day."
Neal leaned in and kissed her softly. He lightly caressed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Well, we've both been known to be impulsive in certain situations. This is definitely one of those situations. There is something I need to say to you…I talked to Sara tonight and let her know that…"
Jade cut him off, "You don't have to keep me informed about your relationship, Neal."
"What I want to tell you is that there isn't a relationship. I explained to Sara that despite liking her a great deal…I am not love with her," Neal relayed.
She was quiet a moment and then shifted her gaze back to Neal. Jade didn't want to read too much into that statement. "Oh?"
Neal's eyebrow rose and he smirked, "Playing coy has never really been your strong suit."
"I resent that accusation. It wasn't playing coy it was trying not to seem invested in your personal life," said Jade.
"Jade, there was a point when I lost sight of what was really important. I was searching for something to make me happy because I was miserable. That is what the conning was all about. It was like an addiction. I was always chasing that next high. It was never about you not being enough to make me happy," said Neal.
Her eyes narrowed and she moved leaned away from Neal's embrace. "June told you about our conversation?"
She suddenly felt very stupid. Of course June would tell Neal about their conversation. It was no secret that the older woman had a lot of affection for Neal. Undoubtedly, she looked at him as a surrogate grandson.
"June didn't have to tell me anything, Jade. I overheard the conversation. I was going to the kitchen to offer my culinary services when I heard your voice. I know I shouldn't have continued to listen but…it didn't seem like a conversation I should interrupt. I always loved you Jade. I didn't marry you just because you were pregnant with Sofia. Neither of us were particularly religious despite 12 years of parochial school. And it wasn't as if anyone was pressuring me to make an honest woman out of you. I married you because I was in love with you."
Jade sighed and said, "But in the end it wasn't enough. I don't want any more tearful conversations about our sordid past. I just want to move forward and…I don't want to end up bitter and alone like my mother. My dad's inability to be a husband broke her. I'm scared of turning out the same way."
"I am not going to let you end up bitter and alone because no matter how many times you turn me down I will keep trying. You know me, I tend to be incredibly persistent. I will get you to come around to my way of thinking at some point…you know that," said Neal, he flashed a cocky smile.
Jade couldn't help but smile. She shook her head and asked, "What am I going to do with you?"
"Give me the opportunity to prove that I am not the selfish young man I used to be. June gave me a very good piece of advice," said Neal.
"Oh?"
"June reminded me of the old adage…actions speak louder than words. After this situation with Adler is put to bed I think we should date and get to know one another again. We'll see if I can sweep you off of your feet again," said Neal.
Jade playfully rolled her eyes at Neal, "As if you've ever failed at sweeping a woman off of her feet?"
Neal chuckled and replied, "There is a first time for everything."
Jade shook her head and said, "You are a bad influence. I am exhausted and it is time to for me to go to bed. I have no clue what time the girls will wake up in the morning. Are you okay with sleeping out here on the pull-out couch?"
Neal nodded and said, "I'll be fine. You go ahead and go to bed."
Jade stood up and yawned tiredly, "Are you sure that you don't want my help making up the sofa bed?"
"I will probably stay up for a little while. I can make up the sofa bed on my own. Thank you just the same," Neal kissed the top of her head.
Later that night Neal went down to the kitchen to get something to drink. Thus far he'd been unable to fall asleep. However, he'd looked in on Jade and the girls and was happy to see that they were all resting peacefully.
Peter looked up seeing Neal come into the kitchen. "I thought everyone went to bed hours ago."
Neal glanced at the time on the microwave and said, "I thought this was Diana's shift to stay awake."
Peter took a breath and shook his head, "I was just laying awake and keeping Elizabeth up with my constant tossing and turning. I relieved Diana and told Jones he didn't have to worry about taking his shift either. Coffee?"
Neal said, "I couldn't sleep either but I don't think I want to make it worse by drinking caffeine this late at night. I think I'm just going to have a glass of milk. Thinking about Adler?"
He grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and poured himself a tall glass.
Peter said, "Thinking about Adler and waiting for a forensics team to finish processing my house. Someone tripped the alarm tonight. I haven't had the heart to tell Elizabeth yet. Apparently, the intruders made a mess of the place."
Neal sighed and ran a frustrated hand across his dark hair. "I'm sorry Peter. The last thing I want to do was drag everyone else down."
"Vincent Adler made this about you. He's coming after you not the other way around. You have no reason to be sorry. How are Sofia and Isabella?"
"The girls are fine. They were asleep hours ago. After a day like they've had I don't blame them for being exhausted. I didn't even get to say goodnight, but at least I will be here to say good morning," said Neal, he flashed a genuine smile and took a sip of his milk.
Peter observed that Neal seemed happier than he'd ever seen him. That was saying something considering they were in the sights of a madman. "I'm glad that you are happy, Neal.
Neal smiled and said, "It wouldn't be happening if it weren't for you. You could have left me to rot in federal prison but you didn't. You could have tossed me back in prison for any number of stunts I've pulled…but you haven't."
Peter laughed and asked, "Is that a complaint?"
Neal shook his head and said, "It is a thank you. If it weren't for you I'd be getting to know my little girls through a Plexiglas window one Saturday a month."
Peter said, "Don't underestimate the importance of the changes you've made in your life. You could have cut your anklet and ran months ago. We both know I only caught you the first time because you were looking for Kate. You're great at evading capture if you really want to, but you've stayed here in New York and tried to make a life for yourself…that counts for something. Trust me."
Neal smiled and said, "Thanks, Peter. So has there been any news on Alex?"
Peter shook his head, "No, she's never called back."
"I didn't expect that she would. Alex is stubborn and it is obvious that she is as enamored with this treasure as Adler is," said Neal.
"How's Jade doing? She seemed…"
Neal asked, "Pissed off?"
Peter said, "I wasn't going to put it quite that way, but yes."
Neal said, "She's scared for the girls and me, more than that I think she feels betrayed by Alex. They've become good friends over the years. Jade isn't the type to ask for anything. She hates putting herself out there for rejection and Alex knows that. For Jade to have asked for her help…and then to be turned down that way. It is going to take a long time for her to get over that betrayal and her friendship with Alex is over."
Peter asked, "Did you really think Alex would be willing to help the FBI?"
"I hoped that she'd be willing to help Jade and the girls but I knew that it was a long shot. Jade knew that too, but she doesn't make friends easily," said Neal.
Peter said, "It would seem that most people in your former line of work don't really have large groups of friends."
Neal smiled and said, "The fewer people you count as friends the fewer people there are to betray you."
"No honor among thieves?" asked Peter, he chuckled softly.
"Not as much as you might think. Mozzie and Jade are the only people from that world that I would ever really trust and that is because they love me. They both have reasons not to but they still do. Since the move with Alex didn't pan out…what's next?" asked Neal.
"Hughes has assigned several agents to researching Gerhardt Wagner. We are going to track his every movement from the time he served in the war until the time he died here in the United States under the fake name Michael Hunter. Interpol is being significantly more helpful that we anticipated it. They're doing it under the guise that Adler misappropriated funds from European investors as well."
Neal quirked an eyebrow and asked, "You think they have an ulterior motive."
Peter said, "I've never known them not to. I talked to a case agent and got the distinctive feeling that they were more interested in what Adler was after than actually arresting the man himself."
"So much for interagency cooperation," Neal quipped.
Peter said, "Everyone is out to make a big break for their agency. Cooperation always goes out of the window at that point. The only thing we can do is ensure that we stay a step ahead of them. It won't do for them to find Adler's treasure and leave him on the loose."
Neal cocked his head to one side and said, "Adler won't stop just because the authorities are in possession of what he wants. Honestly, it'd just make it easier for him to intercept whatever it is he has his heart set on."
Peter paused as if in thought. "You just might be on to something, Neal."
The younger man looked at Peter curiously and said, "I don't follow."
"Well, finding Adler is difficult but wouldn't it be better if we maneuvered the situation to where he came to us?" asked Peter.
Neal started to chuckle as he considered what Peter was suggesting, "You mean use the treasure as bait to draw Adler out. He's bound to target whatever agency winds up with it. Magnificent idea, but there is a problem with that…"
Peter blinked his bleary eyes and took a moment to process his plan. He was having a hard time finding fault in it. However, it was 3AM.
He huffed, "Okay…I give up. What is the flaw in my plan?"
"We don't have the treasure, we don't know where the treasure is, and we have no idea what it is," said Neal.
Peter frowned and said, "Eh…well, it wasn't bad for a half-baked scheme in the middle of the night."
Jade walked into the kitchen and smiled slightly, "Is this where all the insomniacs are gathering?"
Neal stood up and walked over to Jade. "Is everything okay?"
She nodded and said, "The girls are fast asleep. I got up looking for you…and you were gone. I…"
Neal took Jade into his arms and held her close. He said, "I couldn't sleep so I came down for a glass of milk and ended up talking to Peter. When I came downstairs you were asleep."
Jade gave and uneasy smile. "I guess you could say that I had a nightmare. I couldn't very well fall asleep after that."
Neal nodded slightly and said, "Sit down. Do you want some milk?"
Jade smiled and said, "Thanks for the offer but I was hoping for an adult beverage."
Neal chuckled and said, "I am sure that June managed to sneak in a bottle of something. I'll have a look around."
Jade had a seat at the island and said, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. It seemed like the two of you were having a very in-depth conversation."
Peter shook his head and said, "I was just telling him about an idea I had to capture Adler, but Neal, having had more sleep than I spotted a major flaw."
Jade's gaze shifted to Neal as he raided the cabinets looking for liquor. "Neal has the ability to be crushingly sensible when he wants to be."
Peter chuckled at that idea.
Neal looked over his shoulder and quipped, "That's an underhanded compliment if I've ever heard one. Aha! I've hit paydirt."
He held up a bottle of whiskey in triumph.
Jade smiled and said, "June really did pack for every contingency, didn't she. Bless that woman. I think I'll take a shot of whiskey in my coffee. So what is this plan? That is if I am allowed to ask."
Neal poured Jade a cup of coffee and put in a double shot of whiskey. He added cream and sugar the way she liked it and set it in front of her.
Peter said, "Well, my suggestion was we make Adler think that the FBI is in possession of his treasure. He'll come after it and at that point we'd arrest him."
Neal had a seat next to Jade and said, "I pointed out that we don't have enough information about the treasure to make it work. Adler would see the trap for sure."
Jade took a sip of the coffee and sighed happily, "You remember just how I like my coffee."
Neal smiled at her and asked, "How could I forget? It was always more sugar and milk than coffee."
Jade stirred her coffee in thought.
Neal quirked an eyebrow and said, "I know that face. What are you thinking?"
"Not knowing what the treasure is…is that the only problem?" asked Jade.
Neal said, "No, we don't know where the treasure is and we don't have it. Those are two major obstacles."
Jade shook her head and said, "Maybe not, Neal. If we knew more about the treasure…couldn't a fake story be leaked to the press about the discovery of a lifetime. Maybe even a case report on the FBI servers about the recovery. You said that Adler probably has moles in the bureau."
Peter looked up from his cup of coffee and said, "There's no guarantee that he'll believe it."
Jade said, "Adler doesn't have the treasure and doesn't know where it is that's the only reason he still needs Neal and Alex. If news reports and internal documents start indicting that the treasure has been located but the contents are being kept under wraps as a matter of national security…he might go for it."
Neal started to smile.
Peter asked, "What?"
Neal looked at Jade and said, "The job in St. Petersburg."
Peter asked, "Would somebody mind cluing me in…"
Neal said, "If you tell the same lie enough times…people we begin to believe. We can take the same approach with Adler. If he gets information from the media, from his sources at the agency, and from his street level contacts…he'll start to believe it. Then do quiet things like up the security at the FBI's evidence warehouse. Requisition for services of historians, antiquities experts, and appraisers. All of those moves will send up red flags for Adler."
Peter started to grin and said, "In the meantime we can work on finding the actual treasure. I'll have to clear this with Hughes. Falsifying bureau paper work is a major offense that will have OPI breathing down our necks, but it just might work."