White Collar - Prison Break – Chapter 3
Neal has to suppress laughter when he sees Jones dressed as a guard. Normally Jones is a gifted undercover agent, able to adapt to whatever undercover role is required, but he looks far too healthy and wholesome to be wearing the cheap prison uniform, like a kid who ransacked the dressing up box.
Jones slips the message to him that they have arranged a lockdown with the governor of the prison, the only one who knows about the operation. He also slips Neal a bug to plant in Pietre or Andre's cells, but with instructions only to do so if he can find somewhere it won't be spotted. That's not easy in a prison cell. Neal hide's it in the spine of the book he plans to use as his 'in' with Pietre. The lockdown will happen just before lunch. Peter has arranged a double shift so that he and Jones will be close by to help. Neal waits until he spots Pietre almost finishing his lunch to approach him. Andre is nowhere around but there are a couple of men Neal doesn't recognise sat with him. They look at Neal as he approaches but don't make any move to stop him, apparently he doesn't look to be a threat.
"I hear you have an interest in Roman history" Neal says putting his tray down opposite Pietre and sliding onto the bench. He picks up a fork and tries to find something on the tray that is edible. He skewers a piece of broccoli which doesn't seem too offensive.
"what of it?" Pietre asks
"I have a copy of the Roman Revolution in my cell if you want to borrow it?" Neal offers.
Pietre is obviously suspicious, but he doesn't get up and walk away. That's the thing about prison, almost any distraction is welcome. Neal chews his broccoli and winces as the bruising on his face aches.
"What do you want?" Pietre asks, cutting to the chase.
"Nothing. Yet. But it's always good to make new friends" Neal tells him honestly.
Pietre looks at the bruising on Neal's face and glances over at Myers who saying something to Peter and laughing. Peter has a rather forced smile on his face.
"Why should I care if you can't stay out of trouble?" Pietre asked
"I could do with some friends with influence, like your boss. If you can introduce me I'll make it worth your while." Neal explains.
"He doesn't like outsiders." Pietre tells him standing up. He goes to pick up his tray and leave
"I think he'll like me. Just think about it. You can have the book anyway, I'd be interested to know what you think. My cellmate is not really one for conversation." Neal tells him
They both look over to where Neal's heavily tattooed cellmate is sitting alone with his tray with a wide space between him and the other prisoners. Pietre shrugs as if he is not interested but it's clear to Neal that he wants the book.
"I can get it for you now if you want?" Neal offers casually. Pietre nods and follows Neal out.
The Harvard crew have timed it perfectly. The lockdown alarm goes just as they reach Neal's cell.
The noise is unbelievable, the alarms are deafening with prisoners and guards shouting trying to be heard. Prisoner's rush to try and get to their own cells or at least safe place, while the guards try to keep some sort of order. A few scuffles break out amongst the prisoners but Peter has things well in hand since this was planned the guards are all on the ball and keep things under control. Neal smiles his appreciation at the camera knowing Diana will be watching as he pulls Pietre into his cell.
"You'll never make it back" Neal tells him. Pietre shoves him and tries to leave but Peter and Jones are there shouting at the prisoners to get into the nearest cell and forcing Pietre back inside as the cell doors slam shut.
It turns out Pietre isn't bad company. Neal knows better than to try and get any information straight away so they chat about Roman history and move on to the Greeks and Byzantines. Neal tells him about stealing the Falconer manuscript and a few other museum heists he think Pietre will appreciate. When Neal senses Pietre has relaxed around him he brings up Andrei.
"I hear you have a pretty good ID theft scam going in here" Neal comments casually watching Pietre's reaction. Pietre immediately tenses up.
"How do you know about that?" Pietre asks on edge
Neal smiles at him reassuringly and shrugs
"You know what prisons are like for gossip, but don't worry I'm not looking to make trouble. I have enough trouble of my own" Neal gestures at his black eye.
Pietre relaxes a fraction.
"Well if that's what you want to talk to Andre about, I wouldn't recommend it. He'd probably cut out your tongue on principle" Pietre tells Neal.
"Good to know" Neal says trying not to gulp. "Just between us then, how are you doing it? I mean I've run some schemes in my time but running a scheme from prison, that takes some brains as well as guts. Andre might have the guts but I don't see him as the brains, right?" Neal asks trying to appeal to Pietre's ego. The tactic works, Pietre can't resist bragging about the scheme to someone he considered an intellectual equal. It was a good scheme and what was particularly awful was that they focused on elderly customers over 65 who were less likely to catch on or be able to respond quickly when they realised something was wrong. From a conman's perspective is was a clever scheme. They had several people inside the bank being bribed to supply personal bank information on elderly customers to their street runners. They still needed names and physical evidence to prove the case. Pietre's confession to Neal and via the bug to the FBI wasn't going to be enough. Pietre ended up staying the night, during which time Neal had come up with a plan to get the evidence and get out of here as quickly as possible. He just had to sell Peter on it which wasn't going to be easy. Maybe he could set it up and then get Peter on board. After all it was easier to beg forgiveness than to be refused permission he thought to himself.
Pietre took Neal to meet Andre the next day. It turned out Andre had a cell to himself. Neal suspected that was where the books had to be kept. It was the only place Andre could control in here and he had enough of the guards in his pocket to get them to overlook his cell in any searches. He looked around as he entered, Pietre had some pictures up and a small bookcase and table. Compared to general population it was pretty luxurious. Unfortunately he didn't have the books to his criminal empire out on the table. Andre is a thickset man, with a stereotypical gangster look, heavy jawed with thick black hair and stubble. Neal almost expected him to speak with an Italian accent.
"You wanted to talk to me." Pietre asked, his Eastern European accent making itself clear.
"I think I can help you" Neal corrected. Andre smiled at Neal and then Pietre who shifted nervously. It was not a good smile, more like the kind a shark might give you as it swims up to take a bite.
"What can you offer I don't already have?" He asked questioningly
"I can get you out of here."
Back in the van:
Jones: did he just?
Diana: Yep. Caffrey's planning another prison escape.