Teasing the FBI
"This coffee tastes weird." "That's probably because it's not coffee."
Sitting in the van trying to figure out what their suspect was up to; Peter lifted the nearest cup to his lips and began to drink it absently. Pulling it back with a shake of his head, he commented. "This coffee tastes weird."
Laughing from the seat beside him, the probie Diana laughed. "That's probably because it's not coffee."
Realizing that he had stolen her drink, Peter apologized and offered to spring for a replacement.
Lifting it to her own mouth, Diana smirked. "I can stand a few germs. Besides, your face as you drank it was plenty of payment." She knew she could away with a slight tease since he had stolen her drink, but she wasn't going to push her luck by carrying it too far.
Smiling, Peter enjoyed her frank response and could afford the teasing in exchange for his mistakenly taking her drink. "I guess we're even then."
"Unless you decide to steal any more of it," She smiled behind the cup. There wasn't much chance of that; he hadn't shown any appreciation of her Chai and green tea.
Making a face at the remembered taste, Peter reassured her. "There isn't much chance of that. I don't understand how you can stand that stuff."
"It's good for me, and better than all that coffee everyone is always drinking." She was enjoying the conversation but split her attention to the screen she was supposed to be monitoring.
"You'd better find a way to enjoy coffee, it's like water around the office after a long stakeout or during a dull day spent filling out bureaucratic paperwork," Peter warned. He loved the stuff and had no problem drinking nearly anything, including the office sludge.
"For you, I could steal the stars – but I can also get them through legitimate means, if that impresses you more."
Inside the downtown restaurant, the FBI was observing, Neal Caffrey, or Alecio Marseille as was his alias for the encounter, was dressed as a charming French aristocrat and attempting to woo an American heiress.
"For you, I could steal the stars - but I can also get them through legitimate means, if that impresses you more." He crooned in a heavy accent.
Practically melting, the woman loved every minute of the game. They had been wining and dining through the city whenever she had an event to go to or an evening free for romance.
Using the girl's slips of information, Neal intended to break into her father's vault and steal some particularly valuable papers along with a painting or two from the house along the way. It was a profitable endeavor, and a great deal of fun for him as he enjoyed the beautiful young woman and all of her charms.
Getting a tip from their balding and short-statured waiter, he took leave of their conversation to slip into the men's room. Slipping into the back area of the restaurant with the little man, the two made a hasty departure before the FBI entered the premises looking for them.
"You don't get to pin this break-in on me." "But you were the one who broke in!"
Choosing to proceed with their plans, and hoping they were one step ahead of the FBI, the two criminals made their way past the mansion's security and into the main area of the home. Since the vault contained the most financially beneficial items, they chose to begin there in an effort to boost their dwindling resources.
Although it had the potential to be worth it, the young heiress had expensive tastes so the con had cost them a great deal. They needed the monetary boost to afford running from the FBI.
While Neal worked his way into the safe, Mozzie collected the paintings of choice and carefully put them into transportable containers.
Slinging them over his shoulder when he finished, he checked on his friend. Neal was busy cleaning out the safe, so they were soon sneaking away from the mansion.
Hearing the alarms go off, they took off at a run and hurried to escape without being caught.
Once they were further away from the scene, Neal breathlessly commented. "You don't get to pin this break-in on me."
"But you were the one who broke in!" Mozzie was quick to point out.
"Yeah, but it was your idea." Neal turned towards him with a smile. He loved the adrenaline rush that followed a successful heist, and a chance to tease his friend made it even better.
Sniffing, Mozzie accepted the compliment. "Of course it was, but you were the one who was able to get the secrets from her in order to pull it all off."
Proud of their accomplishment, the two cons went to retrieve their possessions for moving on to a new location. New York was getting too hot with Agent Burke leading the investigations into their activities.
"I hope we draw the attention of the FBI." "Are you insane?" "I've never seen anyone kick a door in before. It's so exciting!"
Neal and Mozzie had been working together for a few years. They had accomplished a collection of successful heists and cons through Europe, a sprinkle through Asia, Africa, and South America, and had built a strong reputation in the United States for their legendary ability to get the job done without being caught.
Returning to the city after a while abroad, Neal commented to his friend. "I hope we draw the attention of the FBI."
"Are you insane?" Mozzie questioned from where he was arranging supplies. Looking over at his tired friend, he wondered if the man was more exhausted than he seemed.
Grinning from the lounge chair where he was relaxing, Neal glanced over from where he had been staring at the ceiling. "I've never seen anyone kick a door in before. It's so exciting!"
"I have a friend, big guy, who can kick in doors. Remind me to ask him over when this job is done. Then you can watch him kick in a door or two without the risk of the FBI arresting either of us." Mozzie suggested.
Seeming appeased, Neal didn't make any more comments and went back to staring at the ceiling as he drifted off to sleep.
Deciding to delay the job slightly, Mozzie opted for Neal to get more rest so he would be on his game when the time came.
They stood hunched over the intricate map with shock and realization etched on their faces.
The FBI team had been working hard to catch Neal Caffrey and the shadow man who supported him. Although they didn't have much information on the backer, they had a growing compilation on Neal.
Working through their information from the streets, the team was doing their best to predict what Neal was planning with his return to the city. There was a lot of chatter in the criminal underground and their street contacts were slipping them what they could get their hands on. Putting it all together, the information began to form a picture.
They stood hunched over the intricate map with shock and realization etched on their faces. Neal Caffrey was going to be involved in a heist, a very big one!
Working to come up with a counter plan, the team dispersed to begin their roles. There wasn't much time to put them into action so there was a flurry of activity as they tried to beat the cons.
"Should we let him know we're on to him?" "Now, where's the fun in that?"
Watching the activity from positions of their own, Neal and Mozzie enjoyed the FBI's belief that they were slipping into position unnoticed.
"Should we let him know we're on to him?" Neal smiled as he watched Peter directing his team in their activities. It was like he wanted the cons to know he was present by the law enforcement air he was giving and his familiar voice barking commands.
"Now, where's the fun in that?" Mozzie preferred the idea of leaving the oblivious agents to their work while they got away with the crime right under their noses.
Shrugging, Neal decided not to risk the wrath of their crew. The others wouldn't be so forgiving of him, and he had a reputation in the criminal world to keep. Besides, he decided to leave Peter to the belief that the room only had innocent staff in it and no external observation. It meant their surveillance and extra equipment had gone unnoticed.
She smiled a little, "You're a manipulator." "I like to think of myself as an outcome engineer."
When the day came to accomplish the heist, it was a battle of wits. The FBI held their positions hoping to catch the cons, and the cons endeavored to complete their tasks right under their noses. Both sides accomplished their tasks, but neither was completely successful.
Seeing the situation about to explode, Neal took his portion of the loot and fled the scene. He had completed his portion of the work and placed the goods in the agreed upon spot for the rest of the crew. Whether they made it out to retrieve it or gave it up to the Feds hoping for a lighter sentence, was up to each of them.
Purchasing the tickets for himself and Mozzie, he enjoyed a little harmless flirting with the associate behind the counter hoping she would throw in some upgrades for him.
She smiled a little, "You're a manipulator."
Knowing he could work her awareness in his favor, Neal smiled in reflection. "I like to think of myself as an outcome engineer."
The flirting worked. She lowered her head while raising her eyes at him. Then biting her lip, she informed him of the upgrades she had added for him before sending him on his way.
Having successfully evaded the FBI, it was another point for Neal and Mozzie, with another lost round for Peter and his team.
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Alright, you know the drill and it's that time again. This collection will end next week so I need to know which completed story you would like to see next. Check out my profile page and either PM me or tag your choice into a review and the one with the most votes will win. Happy voting :D