Chapter Eighty-nine
"Asha, I can't apologize enough." Walsh said sincerely. "I'm so glad you're relatively okay. I went into such a panic when you went missing."
"Missing?" Asha knit her brow. "This all happened like an hour ago. How did you even know?"
"Jones and Diana must have just missed you at Light for the Lost, I sent them to pick you up when I realized Walker played us. Although I had a gut feeling that you might end up a target I have to say I'm still very surprised Walker went after you."
"It wasn't Walker." Peter informed. "It was Jake."
"Oh, that make more sense." Walsh said nodding thoughtfully.
"It does?" Peter said doubtfully. "Neal had a good point, I don't think Jake would go back to Walker let alone work for him again like this."
"Jake's not working for Walker, he's hunting him down." Walsh corrected. "I shouldn't be telling you any of this, but what the hell. Jake apparently knew where Walker used to live, he broke in, took the current occupant hostage and from him learned about Light for the Lost. He must have seen Asha leaving Light and figured he could get more info on Walker. Did Jake ask about him?"
"No but I wasn't in much of a listening mood."
"Understandable." Walsh nodded. "I'm confident he would have if the encounter had lasted longer."
"Have you warned Walker about Jake?" Peter asked.
"I had to." Walsh grumbled. "I have to admit it was nice to see some real fear in Walker's eyes. The law doesn't phase Walker in the slightest, but this is a monster of his own making. He's in trouble and he knows it, this case is going to get messy quick if Jake gets his hands on Walker."
Peter's blood chilled as the memory of the mess Jake had made of Miller. Beyond the stench that still seemed to somehow randomly assault Peter's senses Peter was still haunted by the cold stiffness in Miller's body when he'd lifted him up. Jake was so child like that despite all his violent tendencies at times it had been difficult to imagine Jake as actually capable of murder, however Peter had seen the proof first hand.
Remembering the Neal had experienced Jake's capacity first hand Peter realized that Neal hadn't spoken since shortly after he had drawn Jake for Asha. Looking over at Neal Peter's heart sank when he saw him staring uneasily at nothing. Neal wasn't participating in the conversation at hand because he was too distracted by the one happening in his head. Peter wished there was something he could do about Jake's specter. Neal had done well out in the rain just a few minutes ago, but all that seemed to have been undone by Jake's latest attack. Worrying about Neal Peter didn't even realize that from Walsh's perspective his own attention had suddenly wandered away.
"Peter?" Walsh asked concerned. "Are you two okay? Why are you guys wet?"
"Neal," Peter said ignoring Walsh's question. "Why don't you go upstairs and change into something dry?"
Neal jerked slightly at his name before he looked down as if just noticing that he was soaked. Narrowing his eyes in irritation Neal curled his lip slightly and shot the empty space to his left a dirty look. Everyone noticed the odd behavior, and although no one said anything Neal noticed suddenly being the center of attention. Before the Labyrinth Peter felt that if anyone ignored Neal for more than thirty seconds he always found a way to bring everyone's attention back to him. However now he just apologized shyly before disappearing upstairs.
"Should we be taking him to the hospital?" Walsh asked seriously.
"Probably." Peter sighed sadly. "Alan, you said that you were having Jones and Diana pick Asha up?"
"Yes," Walsh nodded "we were going to pretend to arrest her."
"What?" Elizabeth and Asha asked in shocked unison.
"I said 'pretend'." Walsh smiled. "The information that you helped us get off Walker's computer tried to hint that you've been embezzling a hefty amount from Light for the Lost."
"Embezzling?" Asha repeated horrified. "I would never..."
"It's okay, it was just Walker trying to throw us. He would have sent a fleet of lawyers to save you."
"I don't understand."
"He was trying to make the FBI look bad." Peter explained. "Walker knows exactly how to play this game."
"We're still going to get him." Walsh said confidently. "But I feel like I've sidetracked your original question, Peter."
"I was just wondering if that meant that you had a safe house set up and ready for her?"
"I do." Walsh nodded.
"Elizabeth, would you go with Alan and get Asha settled in. Asha that is assuming you want to accept FBI protection?"
"I do." Asha said quickly. "If for no other reason than I need safe place to process all of this. Elizabeth always had her suspicions of Walker but I never…then Jake…I just..this is all a bit much."
"It's going to be okay." Peter assured. "Thank you for trusting us."
"We can make tea once we get there and talk through everything." Elizabeth said gently as she stood up. "Let's go."
"Wait…I thought we weren't supposed to talk?" Asha asked.
"That's all blown now that you're here." Walsh shrugged. "It's fine, this case was already a tangle, we will get Walker on solid evidence."
Walsh tried to keep the 'I hope' look out of his eyes but for the most part he failed. Peter flashed him a confident smile that he truly meant. The FBI could slip up here and there and still win, Walker on the other hand had to make zero mistakes. Peter gave Elizabeth a kiss before thanking Asha and Walsh and seeing them out the door. Before she left Elizabeth gave him a whispered 'good luck'. With everyone gone Peter released a stressed breath.
Walking up stairs Peter headed into his bedroom expecting to find Neal sitting in the corner, but he wasn't there. With a growing knot in his stomach Peter went over and opened the closet door but it was empty. Not believing that Neal would run Peter was about to check under the bed when he heard a noise from across the hall.
Stepping back out into the hallway Peter noticed the half closed bathroom door. Slowly opening the door he invited himself inside. Peter was surprised to find that rather than being on his knees in front of the toilet with a rebelling stomach Neal was actually casually lounging fully clothed in the empty bathtub. Proving he wasn't quite as calm as he first appeared a shiver raced through him before subsiding again. Walking over Peter turned around, sat down and rested his back against the side of the tub. Satchmo appeared at the doorway and wagged his tail hesitantly. Peter gestured for the dog to join them and Satchmo trotted in and laid down in between Peter's leg and rested his head on Peter's lap. Smiling down at the loyal dog Peter pet his damp fur.
"Still seeing Jake?" Peter asked sympathetically.
"Not right now, but 'yes'." Neal admitted.
"We could move to a safe house for a while."
"No." Neal shook his head. "I don't want to run, and I can't hide."
"Can't?" Peter questioned. "Because he's in your head or because you think he's going to find you?"
"Yes."
"Neal, I'm not going to let Jake get to you."
"...I know."
Neal's response had been a little hollow however by the time Peter turned around to face him Neal's anxiety seemed to have passed, replaced by a confident smile. Leaning forward Neal turned the tub faucet on and let the water level slowly rise. Although breathing heavily Neal leaned back and focused on relaxing before flashing Peter another smile.
"I'm not going to let him get to me either."
