Diana

Peter waited on a park bench in an open area where no one could be watching without being seen. He heard steps of high heals behind him and turned. He was met by Diana's smile. She sat down beside him.

"Thanks for coming."

"You knew I would, boss," she laughed.

"You don't have to call me that anymore," he said. Diana was the smartest probie he ever had. "How's, uh…"

"Christy?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, she's good."

"Good. Good, good. Good," he found himself repeating. He did not know how to get to the reason she was there. "You guys like D.C.?"

"Different city, same paperwork. I should've stuck around," she said. "Probably more interesting with Caffrey around."

"Too interesting."

Diana picked it up at once.

"He's the reason I'm here?"

Peter nodded. He sighed and let his eyes sweep the area before he continued.

"Diana, what I'm about to ask you to do is a lot more than paperwork. I need you to look into an OPR agent. Agent Garrett Fowler. Somehow he's manipulating Neal's anklet."

"Why?"

"Neal has access to something he wants."

"Sounds like he hasn't changed."

"No. Same old Neal." At least on the aspect that he did any stunt needed to get Kate back, Peter thought. When it came to other things… well, maybe their had been a change.

"He still wearing the hat?" Diana asked.

"Oh, please."

She laughed. Then she got serious.

"Boss, if I shall do this, I want to know what's going on."

Peter could not agree more.

"There is this music box that belonged to Catherine the Great. I'm not sure if Fowler is controlling Kate or the other way around. Or if there is a third person involved as well. But someone wants this box and thought that Neal had it."

Diana nodded.

"Yeah, it was one of the rumors we heard, remember?"

No, Peter did not remember, but Neal Caffrey's name had been on many suspected crimes and they paid attention to the ones they at least knew were crimes by someone, and not just a rumored crime no one even reported.

"Well, in this case, he did not steal it and I don't think he had any idea where it was. But then one Alex Hunter walked into his life and now I think he and Alex are going to steal it. With the help of Fowler who turned his tracker off. Officially, Neal is in house arrest, and is in his home."

"And you know he is not?"

"We had a talk yesterday, in my house, after Fowler arrested my wife and I punched the scumbag on the jaw." Peter saw Diana's look. "Yes, I'm on suspension. And I know for sure that Neal would never do anything to deliberately harm Elizabeth. Fowler tried to get rid of me, to help Neal succeed."

"Why would Neal try when he knows you're on to what he is doing?"

"Because he thinks he'll get Kate back."

"Even if it means he'll go back to prison."

"Yeah," Peter nodded with a sigh. "Just as I would fight for El. And you for Christy."

"We might not have reached that stage yet," Diana grinned. "But I'll hope we will."

"Will you do this?"

"Sure thing, boss."

"You're always welcome back, you know that."

"Yeah, I know. I'll get started right away and see what I can find on this guy. See you."


This was the night. The night when he would get his hands on the music box, at last. Neal watched the sky over Manhattan and felt an excitement he had not felt in a long time.

"How did it go?" Mozzie asked.

"Good."

"The consulate accepted your gift?"

"I spoke to Mr. Tomassi, the consulate manager. Fancelli's study of Vulcan is now in the inner sanctum."

He had even been invited to follow it there, so he had walked the route he would take tonight. Mr. Tomassi was a fan of Fancelli and had almost been too easy to convince to accept the donation. He had a feeling that the man did not like or trust him, but a work by his favorite artist was a too grand temptation.

"How is the security?"

"Like we expected. The outer door opens with a key card."

"And what about the inner door? Can we get through?"

That one would be tougher but nothing was impossible. And it was enough if he got through. Then he could let the others in.

"I'll figure out a way," he assured Mozzie.

"He invited you to the party?"

"He did." Mr. Tomassi had felt obliged to do so. He did not want to risk an upset and overlooked donor.

"Alex?"

"She's the duke's plus-one. You?"

"You're looking at the new assistant server trainee. If I play my cards right, I get dental in three months."

Neal smiled. He was sure Mozzie knew exactly how to play those cards.

"All right. Then we're ready. Let's cut it off." He put his left foot on a chair. "Wanna do the honors?"

Mozzie grabbed the sturdy pair of scissors with a grin.

"I feel like I should make a toast or something," he said and considered, while they picked up their glasses. "' We feel free when we escape even if it be but from the frying pan into the fire.' Eric Hoffer."

Neal held out the band and Mozzie cut it. Holding the clunky thing in his hand made Neal terrified for a moment. What if he had it all wrong? What if he was going back to prison just for this?

"No sirens," Mozzie said.

Neal raised his glass.

"Into the fire."

Their glasses met and then they drank.


The same afternoon Diana knocked on Peter's front door. He let her and he sat down by the dining-room table. Diana hung her jacket over the back of a chair. She produced two files from her back, opened them and placed them on the table.

"This is everything I could find on Garrett Fowler," she said and sat down opposite him. "Not much there. Put in a request to go after his files. I'm waiting on the judge."

"I don't need much. He's aiding a premeditated robbery," Peter said, browsing the files without any hope. "The anklet is the key."

"You sure it's him?"

"Fowler's doctored Caffrey's information in the past. He's doing it now. I need to know how."

"Well, marshals monitor the anklet."

"Department of Justice supersedes their authority. Fowler could override them and get access. Or he's altering the data remotely."

"You can't do that from just any Internet connection."

"You'd need a secure line," Peter agreed. "He's doing it from OPR offices. They have one in New York. That's where I need to go."

"Nobody gets in without fede—"

"Federal clearance and an appointment," Peter interrupted her. "They wouldn't let me within a hundred yards."

"But they'd let me," Diana smiled.

Peter watched her. She was right, but it was risky.

"Fowler finds out and it's career suicide," he warned her.

"I came here to help you," she replied, certain of what to do.

"Thank you."

Diana rose and got her things together, putting her jacket on.

"This music box," she said, "what happens if he gets it?"

"I don't know," Peter admitted. "But we need to make sure he doesn't."

Diana nodded in agreement and left.

Peter remained by the table and the Fowler's files. He had no idea where Neal was and what he was doing. Should he tell Jones what was going on and bring Neal in? If they did, what would Fowler do? No, the kid knew the risks. They needed to sneak up behind Fowler to catch him or he would just cause more damage on the way.

But what interest could Fowler have in that music box? That question nagged Peter. There was nothing every so innocent in his files that said that he even had the slightest knowledge of what it could be. He had never had any interest in antiquities, history, or even music. The guy was told to have a minor, insignificant stamp collection. No, there must be someone else behind this. Was it Kate? But why then did she not contact Neal directly? She could probably walk directly into his apartment and ask him to steal it and he would.

If Fowler had known that Peter would become a threat to the operation, it still would cost him money and time to arrange the trap. Even he could not do things without someone watching and signing the papers. So if he had people spying, it might not even be OPR-guys and they cost money too. It was all too big for a guy like Garrett Fowler. And Kate, would she trust an agent from OPR?