Sitting at the dining table a little later, Neal still couldn't believe he had volunteered to look over the case files for other cases Peter was working on. He had offered last night, but had figured El would take him up on helping with dinner. He sipped at the water, wishing it was wine instead, but knew Peter and El would both refuse considering he was medication. Sighing and flipping the page, making notes as he went along, he continued reading the file.
"Coming closer than I did?" asked Peter, flipping through his own file, glancing up at Neal.
"I have a working theory, but yeah nothing solid." said Neal, explaining what he had seen so far. "Just not sure why the clerk would steal from his workplace for his girlfriend." Peter gives him a look. "What's that look?" asked Neal looking at Peter.
Peter sighed, laughing, knowing Neal had pulled a lot of his cons and stolen a lot of things for Kate, but would never admit up to it. "You know why, Neal, probably better than I do." said Peter, rolling his eyes.
"I absolutely never stole from a jewelry hut in a mall where I was employed, Peter." said Neal, choosing his words carefully as to avoid a lie as he had from an actual jewelry store. "Too risky, too many people."
"Alright boys, time for a break." said El, laughing and walking to the dining table with Chinese food she had ordered as she had been busy with work related stuff as well. Giving Peter time to clear the table, she got plates and chopsticks, grabbing a fork in case anyone wanted one. Sitting the plates on the newly cleared table, she passed the food around and lets everyone take what they want.
During dinner, Neal and Peter talk about the cases they had looked at and El discusses her recent client, everyone trying to avoid the subject of the next day. El chooses to break up the case talk with more about the time Peter had a mustache and promising to pull out other photos she had of it the next day, despite desperate looks from Peter.
After the table was cleared, El asked, "Anyone watch a movie? Just figured it would be something different."
"Sounds good." uttered both Peter and Neal, El laughing. They agree on a movie El wants to watch and halfway through the movie, El notices Peter is lost in thoughts sitting next to her and Neal is lost drawing in a sketchpad that had been picked up from June's. She almost wishes to see what he's drawing, but is unable to as he is sitting facing them in the armchair. As the movie ends, she offers to walk Satchmo as Peter helps Neal up the stairs.
"So about tomorrow..." said Neal, grunting the last few steps. "Who's all going to be there?"
"Well you know the drill. At least one FBI agent, the witness which is you, and well I would say you could have your lawyer there, but you had an argument with Mozzie." said Peter, sitting in the chair in the guest room as Neal sits on the bed. "As for the agent, it can be me or Jones or Diana...or someone else if you like. I'm sure whomever will make time."
"I want you there." said Neal, knowing at least if Peter was there it was less times he would have to recount the event. "And either Diana or Jones is fine. I figure someone could claim you are too close to the case considering I'm your consultant."
"Good point." said Peter, already having figured he would have to tell Neal that, but he wasn't sure Neal would choose for him to be there anyways. "You got the rest or need any help?"
"I got it." said Neal, waving Peter out of the room. "I'm probably going to go right to sleep." Peter leaves and while Neal does carefully lay back on the bed, he finds himself having trouble sleeping thinking about the next morning.