Author's Note: I'd just like to say that this chapter is more or less a filler chapter, but I do hope you'll like it anyway :)

CHAPTER 9

It seemed as if Neal actually understood the seriousness of the situation because the boy had a sudden change in behavior.
All of the sudden Neal reverted back to the kid he had met that night at the restaurant, when Neal had acted like a little angel.
Peter had for example been able to make it through a shopping trip without Neal leaving his sight for even a second and he just hoped that the boy would be able to continue to act like an angel for the rest of his stay.
One thing was for sure, Neal's good behavior made this whole babysitting situation so much easier and so much more enjoyable.
It was actually so enjoyable that Peter forgot about the looming threat of the kidnappers, at least until Monday morning when he heard Satchmo bark from downstairs.
He immediately abandoned his task of tying his tie and hurried out of his bedroom almost running right into Neal as the kid left the guest room to check out Satchmo's barking as well.

"Stay here"

He told Neal who pouted but did as he was told.
The dog was barking like crazy while repeatedly jumping against the door, the dog seemed enraged as if he could sense the evilness in the person Peter assumed was on the other side of the door.
When he opened the door he was, as suspected, met by an envelope on his doorstep.
Although he had no idea how they could possibly know that they had done what they demanded.
He looked around but this time the man that left it was long gone and with no one to chase, Satchmo laid down by the door, clearly sulking.
Peter opened the note and yet again he was met with a picture of Elizabeth and his anger boiled up as he noticed that she had a bleeding wound on her forehead that had definitely not been there on the last picture.
He swore that when he got his hands on the kidnappers, he would give them a taste of their own medicine.

"Peter can I come down?"

He quickly tucked the note and picture away in his pocket, not wanting the child to see yet another picture of his mother in that state.

"Yeah, it's okay"

Neal slowly came down the stairs, his schoolbag clutched tightly in his arms.

"Was it another note?"
"No, it was just the neighbours making some noise"
The boy looked skeptical but didn't ask any further questions.

Just like Elizabeth's apartment building, Neal's school looked like it should have been condemned years ago, or at least been given a proper renovation.
The playground equipment looked like it was decades old and Peter wondered if it was even safe for the kids to play on it.
Neal looked at his school with dread in his eyes and the agent felt a little mean dropping the kid off when he clearly didn't want to be there.

"You okay?"
"Yeah, I just don't like school"

Neal answered before grabbing his bag and opening the door.
Peter was slightly surprised by his answer, sure it wasn't unusual for kids to dislike school but Neal had seemed to be the kind of kid that genuinely liked school and learning new things.

"Remember if you see anyone suspicious or if anything's wrong tell an adult"

Neal nodded before mumbling a goodbye before closing the door and walking towards the building.
Peter had informed both the principal and Neal's teacher about the situation, and placed an agent outside the school but despite taking these repercussions it felt wrong leaving the boy.

The new note demanded that they would not only stop chasing Scarface but also destroy all the evidence they had in the case.
Even if Peter was willing to do whatever it would take to get Elizabeth back, his hands were tied and they couldn't comply.
They spent the entire day trying to find another way but when Peter returned to Neal's school that afternoon they were nowhere near closer to finding Elizabeth.
It not only frustrated him but also made him fear for Elizabeth's safety. What would happen to her if they didn't do what was demanded?
He was a little late and there were only a handful of kids still waiting for their ride and he tried not to worry when he didn't see Neal among them.
Peter got out of the car when he spotted a teacher and his worry disappeared when the teacher had seen Neal play in an old wooden playhouse located at the edge of the playground.
The first thing he heard as he approached the playhouse was Neal's voice and Peter smiled, thinking that the boy was talking to an imaginary friend or something like that.
Then he heard another voice, a darker voice that was definitely an adult and not another child.
Imagining the worst, he grabbed his gun and when he opened the door to the playhouse he pointed the gun at the stranger.

"Get away from him"

Peter ordered while both Neal and the stranger looked at him with shocked faces.

"Peter, it's okay"

Neal said only to move so that he was in front of the stranger.

"Neal come here"
"It's okay, Peter. It's Mozzie"

Peter looked at the strange man before slowly lowering his gun.
Why was Neal's odd babysitter here, and why were they having a secret conversation in a playhouse?

"Mozzie noticed we were gone and when he couldn't find mommy, he found me"

Neal explained, as if he could read the agent's thoughts.

"What's with the hiding?"
"The teachers might know me but your agent would most likely believe that I was trying to kidnap young Neal"

Mozzie explained and Peter frowned.
Was the agent that obvious or was Mozzie just really observant?

"Well Neal, we're going home"

He said, eager to get Neal away from the man. Even if Neal knew and trusted him, Peter didn't and his gut was still telling him that there was something off about the man.

"But Peter, I told Mozzie about mommy and he can help"
"How?"
"He has contacts, he can ask around and find out more about Scarface"

Neal said eagerly, while Mozzie looked less than pleased with the kid's words.
The connections Neal was talking about was without a doubt criminal but if it could help them find Elizabeth, he was willing to let it slide.

"Okay, do what you can"

Mozzie nodded before saying goodbye to Neal and getting out of the playhouse.
The short man looked up at the agent and gave him a stern look.

"Take care of the kid or I'll personally kick your ass"

He threatened before he walked away.
The man was odd, to say the least, but you couldn't deny that he really seemed to care about the kid.
He just hoped that the man cared enough to be ready to give him all the information he found, even if it meant betraying his contacts.