Tag to S3 episode 11 – Checkmate
"Why didn't you tell me?" Peter asks Neal outright, the cool wind blowing gently across the patio, reducing the healing burn of his bruised left eye.
It's the night following Keller's confession. El is home where she belongs and Neal is confined to their guest bedroom until he's satisfied he has all the answers.
"You wouldn't have believed me. It was my art on the sub. You were out for blood and I couldn't give up Mozzie." Neal repeats his plea for understanding again, not at all getting with the programme.
"You still could have come to me-"
"Really?" Neal launches, heading back inside with the wine glass Peter feels he should have never allowed him. "You accused me outright before even I knew it had been stolen! You made your mind up right there while the warehouse was burning. If you didn't believe me then, when I said I didn't do it, what the hell could I have said to change your mind afterwards?"
…
"We need to talk."
Mozzie doesn't both to ask Peter how he found the loft known as Monday or the reason for visiting. In silence he leads them through the side door, off the sidewalk and up a set of metal stairs into a vacant room. Vacant bar, judging by the large display of wine along one wall. Mozzie simply looks up at him, pouring a very generous glass, tilting his head offering Peter his own. Peter shakes his head, hand waving him off politely.
"Suit, as much as I love the silent intimidation... words are going to be necessary."
Peter sighs and Mozzie picks up the next clue that this visit is not the run of the mill Suit encounter.
"Okay, well I'm assuming this is about Neal?" Mozzie hedges. "He's okay, isn't he? Keller admitted to stealing the treasure so Neal's-"
"Neal's fine." Peter quickly cuts him off. "And I'd like to keep him that way."
Mozzie pauses, looks straight through his tinted lenses and stares without blinking.
"Mozzie I know you've always looked out for Neal."
"We look out for each other."
"You've protected him." Peter sympathises. "As much as I worry about you two plotting together, I know you see the dangers he doesn't and I'm grateful."
"Grateful?"
"Without you I might never have had the chance to catch him."
"That's not exactly a compliment."
"Mozzie you care about Neal?"
"Of course."
"I do too. And if I'm going to keep him safe, I need you to stop working against me."
They eye each other. Mozzie looks away first.
"I never envisioned Keller going through you to get to us-"
Peter holds up his hand. "I'm not here to assign blame. That rests with Keller and nobody else, but it's the 'not thinking of the bigger picture' why I'm here." Peter relaxes, decides he will have that wine and helps himself to a glass, swirling it and tasting it before he speaks his next words.
"Stealing the treasure was stupid. You put Neal in danger. If you do anything like that again, I don't care how upset Neal is with me, I won't hesitate in taking you down."
Having said what he needed, Peter decides to make his own way out, but before he crosses the threshold he's stopped by the call of his name.
"I hear you, Peter. I can't promise anything, but I hear you."
It's as much as he can offer, he supposes. Mozzie isn't one to make empty promises or be unrealistic to the lure of desire.
"Good." Peter nods and steps out, navigating the stairs back into the alley.
Its not perfect by any means, but it's the best they have.