12 - Bottlenecked
Neal glanced at his phone as it buzzed and Peter's name flashed up on screen.
Answering it, he kept his voice low so as to not get kicked out of the auction.
"Did you get him?"
"He's not here".
Neal mentally swore.
"Security cameras have him fleeing the scene. He hotwired another car two minutes before we cordoned off the building".
"So you have no idea where he is?"
"We're pulling surveillance on him now with traffic cams" Peter continued, "Putting together a couldn't have gotten far. Didn't take his things with him".
"His things?" Neal asked sharply.
"Yea. He had a laptop. He'd been monitoring the auction".
That gave him an idea...
"He's not watching the auction anymore?"
"Probably not. Too concerned with getting out of here".
Perfect.
"Alright. Find out where he's headed".
Neal hung up.
"The bidding is now $800,000 to the gentleman on my right" the auctioneer announced.
He quickly told Mozzie the plan.
"This is a lousy idea".
"Do it, Mozz".
"These people don't take IOUs" He complained.
"Fair warning. I can sell for $800,000".
"Do it!" He snapped.
Mozzie reluctantly stood.
"One million dollars!"
The crowd gasped and turned around, and Neal grinned.
"Thank you, sir. One million dollars and… sold".
"What did you get us into?"
Neal ignored him, jumping up and heading for the stairs as soon as the crowd turned their backs to him. Pulling out his phone, he quickly hit redial.
"Peter, where are you?"
"Still in the garage" He asked, "What happened?"
"Won the bid".
"What?"
His smirk fell.
"Don't worry. I got a plan".
"You usually do".
Where was the trust?
"What's the status on Keller?"
"Headquarters is monitoring his movements in real-time from traffic cams" Peter answered, "Looks like he's headed south on Park".
"South on Park. Thanks".
Neal hung up and turned back to Mozzie.
"I know where Keller's going".
He gave him a worried look, but with a clap on the shoulder, he was gone.
Neal knew exactly where Keller was headed because it was the same thing he'd do if the Russian mob were hot on his heels. He told the taxi where to go, flung an extra twenty at him when he got a weird look in response, and then not-very-gracefully ran across the helipad to await his sort-of arch-nemesis.
He didn't disappoint.
"Bravo, Keller" Neal applauded as the helicopter landed, "Seriously. Wow".
"So you came by to see me off, huh, Caffrey?"
They both came to a stop a safe distance apart.
"Who knew you were a gracious loser?"
"I have to admit, using the real Ben Franklin bottle, did not see that coming" Neal continued, biding his time, "Stroke of genius, really".
"That actually means a lot coming from you".
That was strangely… nice.
"Only wish Kate was around to see it".
Or not.
"We both know she always loved a winner. Who knows? Maybe I'll look her up, see if she still does".
Neal clenched his jaw to stop himself from reacting, and after a moment, Keller realised he'd get nothing in response.
"So, I'm curious. How'd you find me?"
"Checked Sergei's travel plans" He explained, "See he does it in style".
Keller hummed in agreement.
"I also hear he doesn't take it lightly when someone owes him money".
"Owed" He corrected, "As in past tense".
He pretended to be surprised.
"Yea, you see, our, uh, little go-around with the bottle cleared my debts. In fact, I just got a text from my broker. Bottle went for seven figures".
"Wow. Wow, congratulations, man".
"Thank you".
"So it was a two birds, one stone thing" Neal continued, "Humiliate me, turn a hefty profit while you're at it?"
He was standing too close.
"See? Now you're catching on, Neal".
Keller turned to walk past him.
"Listen, I'd love to chat, buddy. But unless you got anything else, I should get going. Be good!"
He waited until there was a decent distance between them before speaking.
"I haven't made my offer yet".
He paused and glanced at his watch.
"... This should be good".
"I'd like to offer you the opportunity to make a full confession for your crimes. The robbery of the Natural History Museum, the murder of Manuel Campos… anything else you wanna add-in?"
"You know what? I was wrong" He stepped closer once more, "This isn't good. This is sad, man. This is a moment I'll cherish. Seeing you at your most desperate".
Neal couldn't help but smirk as he heard familiar FBI-issue Lincolns pull up behind him.
"The winner of the Franklin bottle… it wouldn't happen to be bidder number 57, would it?"
"... Why?"
He grinned.
"Now, this is just awkward, but I don't have a million dollars".
Neal could pinpoint the exact moment Keller realised what he'd done.
"The auction house said they'd give me a week to put the money together".
"A week, huh?" He replied, trying to save face, "You know what? A week's not that long. I can buy that".
Peter appeared at his side, just in time.
"Did you tell him I'm launching a federal investigation on the bottle?"
"Oh yea, yea. There's that too. How long can a federal investigation go on for?"
"Not sure. Years".
"Oh, years? Wow".
"Son of a bitch" Keller muttered, glancing back at the helicopter.
"How patient are Sergei and your Russian friends?"
Peter smirked, "You can take a helicopter ride and find out. Or you can come with us. Your choice".
"... Well played" He finally replied, dropping the bag at his feet.
"Good game, Keller".
"The game ain't over".
Before Neal could so much as blink, there was a fist coming at his head, and despite the number of times he'd been in this situation, he still didn't react fast enough. The blow landed on its intended target, and he heard a sickening crack as blood burst from his nose. Neal stumbled backwards from the punch, only Lauren's quick thinking stopping him from collapsing completely, as she grabbed his arm and kept him upright.
"Help the gentleman into the car" Peter snapped, and two FBI windbreakers stepped forward.
Neal blinked, dazed and in pain and finding it suddenly hard to breathe.
"I mean, you were locked up, broke out" Keller continued, even as his hands were cuffed, "Maybe it's my turn to accept a challenge. Best two out of three?"
The handcuffs clicked into place with finality.
"I'll see you around, Caffrey".
Neal shrugged off Agent Cruz's grip, ignored Peter's worried gaze and the blood dripping into his mouth, and leaned forward so only Keller could hear him.
"I'm counting the days".
As soon as he was led out of sight, Neal gratefully accepted Lauren's steadying hold once more as he allowed himself to feel the pain.
"Fuck".
"You okay?"
He gave Peter a dark look and gingerly reached up to prod at his face.
"Bastard broke my nose".
"I'll drive you to A&E, come on".
"No, no, you've got to… process him, or whatever".
"Neal, you're bleeding on your Belstaff".
"Good to know my fashion lessons have been paying off".
"Neal".
He sighed, immediately winced, and shook off Cruz's hand.
"I'm fine, Peter, Mozzie will be here any minute; he can take me".
"I thought Haversham hated hospitals?"
"He'll get over it".
Peter hummed non-committedly and nodded at Lauren to head back towards the car. In front of them, the helicopter blades started whirring again.
"Poor Sergei's going home empty-handed".
"And so will you, if you don't get over there" Neal replied, "Keller doesn't do handcuffs for very long".
"Hmm. Much like someone else I know".
He glared but got a smirk in response.
Peter gave him a comforting pat on the back.
"Make sure you get checked out. I'll drop into June's this evening".
"Peter-"
"No arguments" He interrupted, "And, oh look, here's the little guy, right on time. I'll see you tonight".
Mozzie neatly sidestepped the agent as he returned to the car, and then let out a low whistle when he saw Neal's nose.
"I take it I missed Keller?"
He nodded, once, the pain in his head increasing.
"Damn. I wanted to see him do the perp walk".
"Sorry" He replied, "Good news is he won't be bothering us for a while".
"How long is a while?"
"Maybe long enough to finish our chess game".
"You think they have a prison that can hold him?"
Neal shrugged, "I don't know".
"Okay, so, what's the bad news?" Mozzie asked, "Asides from your face, I mean".
He gave him a dirty look, "You won't be drinking a million-dollar bottle of wine tonight".
"I'll live. Like you, I hope".
Neal turned back to the water and tried to ignore the prickly sensation of cooling blood.
"... You were right. I could use one less mystery in my life".
"Oh, I rescind that comment. There's suddenly been a lot of chatter about the music box".
Neal blinked and looked at him.
"You need to talk to Alex".
He shook his head, "She won't tell me anything while I work for the FBI".
"Then... make it worth her while" Mozzie said simply, "After I bring you to an old friend of mine, because I don't trust doctors and the hospital is out of the question and did you hear about that case in Albany where-"