Turquoise meeting
Peter sat with Lauren, Jones, and Hughes in the conference room. He had called for Neal twice, and both times he had answered from his desk that he would be with them in just a minute. Jones sent a guy to buy them some decent coffee, and then they got to work.
Hughes got a phone call, the coffee arrived, and then the kid walked in all smiles.
"Ah, you went out for coffee. Nice."
He grabbed for the fourth mug but Lauren pulled it away from him.
"Oh, you took forever," she said with a grin. "So you miss out."
"Whose is that?"
"Hughes," Jones said.
"Well, you'll be glad I took my time," he said, sending Peter a glare, "because I solved our embezzlement scam." He dumped a thick founder on the table. "It's a lapping scheme."
Peter grabbed it. So that was what the kid had been doing by the desk—solving what they were supposed to settle in that very room. Four agents outsmarted by a con-man. Again.
"A lapping scheme?" Lauren asked.
"It's a way to siphon money," he told her.
"I'll show you," Neal said and grabbed the senior agent's mug. "Let's say I want a sip of Hughes' latte. Just a sip."
Peter stared baffled as the kid did just that.
"Mm. Oh, that's delicious," Neal said. "But now I have a problem."
"Hughes is gonna toss your butt back into prison for drinking his coffee," Jones smiled.
"Right," Neal agreed. "So I take a little bit of yours. Pour a little bit into here," the kid said and grabbed Jones' mug and poured a little of it into Hughes' mug, making almost again. "But now you're gonna kick my butt," he told Jones, who nodded.
So he grabbed Laureen's mug.
"Hey!"
"It's a lapping scheme." He poured a little into Jones' coffee and Hughes'. "I keep going as long as I can. In the end, I got a full cup. No one is the wiser."
Then Neal went for Peter's mug, but Peter snatched it out of reach.
"Until I catch you." He sipped his untouched coffee with a smile. "That's good work, though. Very good work."
Neal seemed pleased by the praise. Then the kid's phone pinged and he looked at the message.
"June is throwing a champagne brunch," he told Peter. "I totally forgot. Do you mind if I cut out early?"
"What kind of monster would I be to keep Neal Caffrey from a champagne brunch?"
Neal grinned.
"See you, guys."
And he was gone.
The kid did deserve to go early. He had solved a complicated crime. That did not mean the Peter trusted the kid to do honest deeds on his free time. It had been days since he had confronted Neal with his 'theory' that he and Alex was going after the music box. The kid had done his job more than well, just as before. It was hard to tell if the young con-man was up to something or not. It was too much to hope for that Neal had become a law-biding citizen just like that, so Peter kept his eyes open.
He considered calling June and ask, but that would be enough if all he wanted was the formals. June would cover Neal's back. And no matter reason for her doing so, Peter had a gut feeling that the rich lady was good for Neal. He did not want to stir things up, causing more problems than he had to.
It would have to do to track the kid's anklet.
Hughes come back into the office from his phone call.
"Getting anywhere?"
"Neal solved it," Peter told him and pushed the file across the table. Hughes grabbed the coffee and browsed the material.
"This is good work," he said and sipped his coffee. They all stared at him. "What's with the coffee? I ordered a latte." He frowned. "And why are you looking at me?"
"It's a lapping scheme," Peter said.
"The coffee or the case?"
"Both, sir," Jones said.
"Do I want to know more?" the senior agent asked.
"I don't think you do," Peter sighed.
Neal took pride in never lying to Peter. June did indeed throw a champagne brunch. But not in her home, but a neighbor's. And when he got there, June smiled at him and showed him the stairs to the basement.
He walked down, knowing Alex would be waiting for him. He had however not expected to see a small swimming pool. And in the water was Alex. The main light source in the room came from the pool lights, which made the room turquoise.
"Got your message," Neal said, stopping by the brim of the pool. "I was wondering when you were gonna call."
"Hop in. We'll chat."
"I forgot my suit."
"That's never stopped you before," she smiled and Neal recalled their shared memory. "Relax. I know you're wearing the anklet. What I don't know is if you're wired. Get in."
Neal dropped his overcoat and continued with his jacket and his tie. In the pool, Alex was watching him. She knew he had to do has she said or he would leave empty handed. Somehow he did not mind that much. After all, she did not have a swim suit either and she seemed to enjoy what she saw when he undressed.
When he was naked he did not linger but dived into the pool. The meeting place may seem romantic but the water was chilly. He swum up behind her.
"Where's the music box, Alex?"
She turned.
"No small talk?"
"Come on. The note said it's in Manhattan."
"I wanna make sure you're not gonna go get it without me," she said.
"I told you. We get it together." He had not actually said that. It was she who insisted.
"It's in the Italian consulate," she revealed without a fuss. "I traced it to the consul general. He tucked the box into his private safe in the consulate last year. He's flying in next month to pick it up."
So there was a deadline. That was why Alex chanced her mind.
"A consulate is a hard target." A challenge. He was already in love with the idea.
"They're having a party next week. It's our chance to get inside."
"I'm always up for a party. What happens when he notices it's gone?"
"Nazis stole the box from the Russians."
"He wasn't supposed to have it in the first place, so he won't talk," Neal realized. That was good. Less risk that he would go to prison. "I've got a question. I know why I'm naked. Why are you?"
She smiled and he knew why.
He also remembered that he had told her that it was over with Kate.
So, no excuse there. Somehow he did not mind that much.
Back in his apartment, he called Mozzie. Half an hour the friend walked through his front door.
"This better be good."
"I talked to Alex."
Mozzie studied Neal's face, pulled out a chair and sat down.
"You talked to Alex. And?"
"The music box is at the Italian consulate."
"A consulate?" Mozzie almost yelled. "Oh, great. An international incident. Look, I don't wanna end my days in some underground prison adopting cockroaches as pets." Neal sighed. He had been so enthusiastic that he had forgotten that his partner in crime, despite his choice of profession, was terrified to go to prison.
"We're not talking about North Korea.," he pointed out. "It's the Italians, Moz."
"They do prison just fine. Ask Galileo," he gestured. "Can we do it without Alex?"
"No. She won't tell me which safe it's in."
Mozzie sighed.
"She was always a smart girl."
"Yeah," Neal agreed and walked to the glass wall watching the view.
"All of this is moot anyhow," Moz added. "The suit isn't gonna let you out of your anklet anytime soon."
Neal turned to his friend.
"Not Peter."
"Then who?"
"Fowler. If he wants me to get him the music box he has to cut my anklet. He's manipulated it before."
He was certain that Fowler would agree to it. Why not? He had manipulated the data without leaving any trace. Now, this would fall back on him.
Mozzie rose from his chair.
"Okay. Let's say he goes for it. Let's say you get him the box. Then what?"
Neal frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You give Fowler the music box and Kate comes running into your arms. You settle down, buy a fixer-upper, and then join the PTA?"
"Yeah." There was nothing more to say about it. He would serve his time, Kate could move in, and when Peter released him they could settle down where ever they wanted.
"Neal…" Mozzie shook his head, "happily ever after isn't for guys like us."
"It is this time. It is."
His friend did not argue anymore. He just sighed.
Yes, he knew both Peter and Mozzie had their objections to his search for Kate. But it was none of their business. He had his dreams and they were his. And he preferred to try and fail, than not try at all.
Mozzie selected a bottle from Neal's wine collection. Then he brought out two glasses, uncorked the wine and poured. He handed one glass to Neal and then raised his own glass.
"Cheers to operation remove anklet, then. May your time without it be long, free and close to dear friends."
Neal raised his glass in approval. He tasted the wine.
"Honestly, Moz! Did you just opened my bottle of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon?"
"Of course I did! You're gonna get your Kate back. What could be worth celebrating more?"
The irony in Moz's voice was not lost on Neal. But he had a point. He was going to get Kate back.
Neal sat down on the sofa and brought out his phone. Mozzie sat down in the armchair.
Neal used FBI's general number.
"Agent Fowler, extension 221."
"One moment."
A few seconds later he heard another voice.
"Agent Fowler's office."
"Tell him I've got information on the music box he requested."
"Who is this?"
"He knows. He can meet me at midnight tomorrow."
"Where?"
"He'll know that too."
Neal hung up. He glanced at Mozzie.
"Too cryptic?"
He got a slight shrug in return.
"Where are you gonna meet him?"
"I'll find a place."
And he could just hope that Peter would be as observant as he hoped that Fowler would be.
