White collar –Prison Break Chapter 4
Mozzie hated visiting the prison. It was a reminder of what could happen if he slipped up badly enough. He made sure they knew Neal's lawyer was coming here to see him and would need a private room before he went and tried to look lawyerly as they let him in and searched him. The good thing about a lawyer's visit was they got a private room unlike regular visitors Mozzie thought as he sat waiting for Neal to be brought in. There weren't many people Mozzie would take risks like this for, but this was for Neal. He never told Neal how much he hated coming to the prison, as he knew if he said anything Neal would stop asking him to come. Mozzie had learned over the years that, unlike most people, Neal actually listened to what Mozzie said and even more amazingly he did what Mozzie told him. Sometimes, anyway. Mozzie loved him for it, they were brothers.
He looked up as Neal was brought in and was horrified, Neal looked terrible, he had a black eye and was moving a little more stiffly than his usual graceful stalk, but that wasn't what worried Mozzie, it was the look in Neal's eyes. It was the same look he had after Kate's death. Like he hadn't slept for days, like every time he closed his eyes something terrible was lurking there.
Mozzie tried to hide his concern, as he knew Neal didn't like anyone knowing his weaknesses, let alone pointing them out.
"Who did that to you" Mozzie demanded as soon as Neal sat down gesturing at the black eye. "We can sue the prison for improper treatment of prisoners"
"It was Peter actually." Neal told him, smiling slightly. He hoped it would divert Mozzie from questioning him on how he was. It worked.
"Peter did that to you? Why? We could still sue." Mozzie said obviously confused which Neal thought was for the best.
"Mozzie, we don't have long and I need you to get some supplies for me, including a signal interrupter for a security feed"
"to interrupt the prison cameras?" Mozzie guessed straight away "Why? What about the Feds"
"I'm arranging a prison break for Pietre Dubrek." Neal told him.
"Without the Feds approval?" Mozzie was taken aback "Neal that's crazy, they shoot escapees and why would you want to help a thug like Dubrek escape?"
Mozzie knew this was a bad idea, but he was torn because the idea of orchestrating a prison break at this level was really tempting. He and Neal worked through the plan, Neal was a genius when it came to the concepts but Mozzie was the expert at the mechanics. Neal would cut into the security camera feeds. With a little help from FBI in the van, there was hours of footage they could use to use to put in place of the live feed. There were only minimal patrols at night, the main focus was the guard room where two guards watched all the cells remotely 24 hours a day. The guards would be watching old video while Neal was free to walk Pietre Dubrek out of the prison under their noses.
They worked through all the details, trying to think of all possible scenarios and contingencies they would need, but all the while Mozzie was watching Neal, seeing the signs that his friend was not himself. The dark shadows under his eyes, the slight tremor in his hands and he was tense, like a coiled wire under tension.
"So you doing okay?" he asked as casually as he could once they had worked through the plan to Neal's satisfaction.
"The room service is terrible" Neal told Mozzie smiling ironically
"How's the bedding" Mozzie tried approach the subject indirectly knowing that a direct confrontation will just cause Neal to brush him off.
"It's no Hotel Palazzo Avino, that's for sure" Neal replied blithely, but he knew Mozzie was worried and wanted to reassure him a little
"I'll definitely sleep better once I'm out of here." It was as much as he was comfortable sharing. He wouldn't have said as much as that if it wasn't Mozzie.
"You don't think this plan might be a little risky? Maybe lack of sleep might be causing you to rush things?" Mozzie asked hesitantly.
"No." Neal replied bluntly his tone making it clear this was as much concern as he was willing to take.
"What does Peter think?" Mozzie asked
"I haven't talked to him about it yet, but this is the most efficient way to get the evidence we need" Neal told Mozzie firmly. "hopefully the set up will be enough anyway. I only need to get hold of the books or get him to admit running the scam to the recorder"
Once Neal had been taken back to his cell, Mozzie packed up his case slowly, wondering what he should do. He had gone to Peter with his concerns behind Neal's back before, but it wasn't something he did lightly. It was against everything he stood for turning to the authorities. He made an exception for Peter because he had proven himself to be more than just another suit working for the establishment and because he wanted to protect Neal from himself.
Peter was here supervising the operation, he should be able to see the signs for himself, Mozzie thought, there was no need for him to go behind Neal's back. He closed his case and headed out of the prison, it felt like freedom. He would have to pass the signal interrupter to the Feds to get it into the prison, he could simply mention something then. Peter was a smart man, he would get the message from a small hint and Mozzie's honor would be intact. Feeling better, Mozzie smiled to the guard who let him out and set off whistling to start tracking down all the things Neal would need for the breakout.