KUWC2 – A Two Part Story Starring Mozzie

From LaraBenicio on AO3, Spies vs Cons (KUWC - Keeping up with the Caffreys):

ohhhh really hope there is a sequel to this one, when Mozzie feels guilt becuase "Bryce" died!

Notes: This one is a sequel to a Spies vs Cons story, so you might like to go back and (re)read it. I have written this so that you don't need too much information from the first story, it's just continuing the universe.

This is in two parts. The first part is the fill for the prompt and the second part is where I took it.

Mozzie's Guilt

Bryce: Will you help me?

Mozzie: You want to steal this technology from the government?

Bryce: Yes.

Mozzie: ...fine. I will assist. What do you need?

Mozzie stared at the paper in his hands. Bryce's favour had given him a bad feeling at the time and he realised with growing dread that he should have listened to this feeling.

The paper stated that Bryce Larkin a 'bank executive' had been in killed in a bank robbery. A lie. It had to be. Bryce didn't work in a bank and he wouldn't let a bank robber kill him.

That the date of his death and the date he planned to break into a secure CIA facility matched up only increased Mozzie's guilt. CIA or not, Mozzie shouldn't have let him go alone. Neal's brother or not, Mozzie shouldn't have helped him.

How could he tell Neal that his brother had died? How could he say that he helped send Bryce to his death?

Mozzie made his decision. He would tell Neal that Bryce had died but would never tell him of his involvement. It was selfish but Neal would need him. He couldn't risk alienating his friend in their time of need because he made a foolish decision.

He put his quest for the truth above the needs of his friends and paid for it.

"What were you hoping to do?" he questioned. The sombre headshot of his lost friend was nothing like the real thing. It held no answers for him.

A Hunt for the Truth

Neal joined the FBI. Mozzie's gut churned at the thought. Neal made a deal with the FBI, he was going to work with the Feds.

Neal asked for his help. Help with solving the Suit's cases.

The past seemed to be repeating itself. How long would it be before Neal died? And Mozzie was helpless to stop it.

He couldn't leave Neal, Neal needed someone to rely on. Neal needed his help. Mozzie couldn't deny his friend that.

Mozzie hunted for rumours. He hunted for information. He didn't have the name for the technology Bryce had been after but he knew what it did.

It should have been enough but it wasn't. Mozzie didn't get a single bite with his search.

Until a Stanford professor was killed. Ever since Bryce mentioned where he was recruited, Mozzie had kept a watch on all things Stanford even if he didn't take a single step onto the campus.

Mozzie ignored how the man looked a little like a CIA him with his challenged hair growth and glasses. Instead he focused on the man's speciality; the subconscious and subliminal imagery. This man was most certainly connected to whatever-it-was that got Bryce killed.

For the first time, Mozzie travelled to Stanford for more information.

Stanford had been enlightening. Mozzie didn't care much for the atmosphere but he did meet an interesting librarian who had a good story for him. Apparently, there had been a shoot-out and what he claimed was a hired assassin looking for past students.

He had run away once the gun came out but he had a name for Mozzie. A name which cost Mozzie a few bills.

Chuck Bartowski. The assassin had been chasing him and his two 'friends'.

Research into Chuck Bartowski only revealed a wimp of a man who worked in a Buy More after being kicked out of Stanford.

Rumours, on the other hand...

Mozzie logged into the secure channel on IRC chat, under one of his lesser known accounts, LittleGuy:

TheNemesis: So, you're looking into Chuck Bartoswki? Why?

NerdHerderGuy: What's so interesting about him?

LittleGuy: I am. And he's connected.

TheNemesis: Connected? Explain.

LittleGuy: He's connected to something which led to the death of a friend of mine.

TheNemesis: Ohh? Who died?

NerdHerderGuy: Oh, please don't start Nemesis.

TheNemesis: :D Why not?

LittleGuy: ?

NerdHerderGuy: I hate you.

TheNemesis: Come on, this guy is after the Piranha.

LittleGuy: The Piranha? Chuck Bartoswki is the Piranha?

NerdHerderGuy: ! What are you doing?

NerdHerderGuy: Was! Was the Piranha.

TheNemesis: Forget the mission Charles, I know who we're talking to.

TheNemesis: Hey Moz.

LittleGuy: That I can neither confirm nor deny. But, since you know my name, I assume you are willing to return the favour.

TheNemesis: 'I thought I saw a gondola', Amsterdam. You met Sarah that day.

LittleGuy: Whoever you are, I do not appreciate this intrusion into my private life and masquerade of lies!

TheNemesis: Relax, Moz, it's really me, Bryce. Chuck, confirm that I'm alive would you?

NerdHerderGuy: Um, what? Seriously Bryce, you know this guy?

TheNemesis: Of course.

LittleGuy: This is a trick! You'll not convince me like this!

TheNemesis: 9000 Burbank Boulevard, Burbank, CA. I'll meet you there.

Mozzie thought long and hard about whether to believe 'TheNemesis'. It sounded like Bryce, when he was talking to Neal. But it was easy to pretend to be someone else behind the screen of a computer and the anonymity of Internet Chat. It was something Mozzie had always loved about it, until now.

He decided to go, in order to give the person stupid enough to masquerade as Bryce a punch. He didn't care if it killed him, as it probably would.

And no, he was not hoping that it was real. Although, if Bryce did trick them, he would punch him for Neal.

The address led to the Buy More Chuck worked out. Mozzie didn't make it past the parking lot before a bag was placed over his head and he was whisked away to an underground CIA base.

The bag was pulled off his head and Bryce was smiling down at him, almost an exact copy of Neal when he was planning a con.

"Hey, Moz. Congratulations on figuring out part of the conspiracy. Care to hear the rest?"