(Chapter 2)
Neal stood outside the kitchen door, quietly pushing open the door and stopping it before it swung back and made a noise. He perked an ear up and listened to the voices below through the open basement door. Both men seemed to speak with a slightly Italian accent so he guessed whomever had sent them had mob connections. He sighed feeling the gun in his pocket and hoping beyond hope he wouldn't have to actually use it. He'd only dealt with a few mobster types in the past and none of them were the kind of people you wanted to have go against you. Most of them made Wilkes look like a minor thug. Neal took in a deep breath and started quietly down the basement stairs.
()()()
"You think he's had enough? He doesn't look too good." The big guy Neal had seen upstairs was speaking, his voice sounding a little too eager as he pulled Peter's head back by the hair and held the gun to the agent's chin. The goon wore a nice black suit with a maroon silk shirt underneath, brown hair slicked back in a stylish manner. The other man was slightly smaller but he looked a bit fancier than the large guy and was obviously the one in charge. He had a brown suit with a white linen shirt underneath, hair a bit shorter than the first guy, black hair feathered back. He shook his head.
"Mr. Gambosa said he wanted him in pieces. I think we should do as the boss says." He looked back as the sound of a creaking stair caught his attention. The cocking of a gun helped to draw the mobster's attention back towards the stairs. Neal was walking down slowly, gun pointed at the two men as he looked around.
"Guess I wasn't the only one looking to rob this house." Neal's voice was smooth but with an edge that wasn't usually there. He saw the man in the brown suit looking at him curiously and the bigger guy about to point his gun when the first guy held up a hand.
"They were having an open house and I couldn't resist... Nicki!" The man opened up his arms in greeting with a broad smile. Neal blinked slightly glancing at the man and then smiling as realization hit him, gun still at the ready.
"Roberto? What the heck are you doing here? I haven't seen you since... well I haven't seen you." Neal gulped silently as he remembered where he knew this man from. He lowered the gun slightly, holding out his arms in a similar manner to Roberto's. The larger goon seemed to be confused but held off shooting Peter which was good for him.
"Nicki... how could I forget Mr. Gambosa's favorite pickpocket? You made quite the impression on him. He usually hurts people for less but you made him laugh. That's a rare gift." Roberto gave the con a bear hug which Neal tried to return despite the gun in his hand, his eyes on the other man who was eying him up and down curiously. Neal just smiled to fit into the moment and hopefully help Peter.
"Well, Tony always liked a good laugh. Glad I was good at predicting things." Neal held a hand up to his temple as if he were prognosticating.
"I predict us going out for a drink sometime soon." Neal closed one eye and held the other open in a semi-wink, Roberto laughing in a jolly manner.
"Always the comedian. Vincent... quit scowling. We have a guest! Vinni... this is Nick Halden, Nicki my partner in crime tonight, Vinni." Roberto sounded like he was talking about family but Vinni just nodded to Neal still guarded while Neal nodded back with a charming grin he didn't feel. He saw the huge guy grumble quietly but loud enough that Neal could hear.
"He called the boss by his first name. Nobody calls Mr. Gambosa by his first..." Roberto gave the man a look to which Vinni just shut up and stepped a few inches back.
"This is Nicki! Now, finish this up while I catch up with my good friend here." Roberto smiled at Neal and put an arm around him as they walked towards the stairs.
"Business, he can take care of it while we go upstairs and chat." Neal turned back and saw Vinni still staring at him darkly. Neal felt a chill not just from the goon but for Peter if he left. He stopped and turned around walking over to Peter and lifting the man's face. Peter was unconscious, his skin slightly cold to the touch. Inside Neal felt sick but he had to pretend a while longer.
"I think he's nearly dead as it is. Let him suffer here alone. What is he? Police?" Neal tried to act as surprised as he could when Roberto walked over and slapped Peter's face harshly, a soft groan escaping his friend's throat.
"FBI. He put Mr. Gambosa away a few years back. Tony wants him cut up for the missus who's out of town but I know you don't like blood so let's go up and talk." Roberto sounded rather cheerful which made Neal feel all the more sick at the situation.
"And ruin a perfectly good suit? Vincent, was it?" Neal saw Vincent stiffen at the use of his full name by a stranger but nodded when Roberto looked at him.
"Let's all go for drinks. My treat." Neal saw Vinni blink at him as if trying to figure out the angle but Roberto seemed jollier than ever.
"Sounds like a plan but we have another assignment after this one. I guess we could just leave him here. Would be a shame for Vinni to muss his one nice suit." Roberto patted the big guy on the arm then nodded.
"Ok, but raincheck on the drink, Nicki? I'll let Tony know you said, hi." Roberto smiled putting an arm around Neal and making a motion for Vinni to follow as they went back up the stairs. Once they reached the kitchen, they exited to the living room and front door. Neal smiled at Roberto glancing at the upstairs.
"I might do a bit of "looking" around before I go. Idle hands and everything..." Neal made a helpless shrug, the mobster laughing merrily.
"Always the comedian. We'll have to have that drink soon, Nicki. Come on Vinni... don't forget to lock up, Nick." Roberto winked at Neal before he and the other man walked out of the house closing the door behind them. Once Neal was sure they were gone he leaned back on the door and gave a major sigh of relief. Without hesitation, he made his way back down to the basement and took the stairs two at a time.
Peter looked bad... really bad. His face was nearly grayish and almost completely drained of color. Neal shuddered as he felt how icy cold his friend's skin felt as he cut the agent down and laid him carefully on the floor of the basement. Peter didn't move, face slack as he removed the tape and rag from his mouth. Luckily Peter was breathing and he had a pulse but both were just barely there, worrying the young man. He had left his cell phone upstairs and would have to go up and get it to call for help before Peter was too far gone.
He heard movement behind him and turned to see someone reach around and press something soft around his nose and mouth. Neal struggled against the hold but he person was too strong even though he clawed and tore at their gloved hands. Something sickly sweet filled his nostrils and Neal slumped after a moment, his body limp as whatever was in the cloth started to knock him out. The person dropped him to the floor and threw a kick into his side. Neal groaned softly glancing up to see Vinni.
"I knew you were too good to be trusted. Helping a Fed. I should just kill you now but I'll do you a favor." Vinni pushed a gun into Neal's hands.
"I've already called the police. They should be here soon, Nicki." He grinned and kicked him again before leaving.
()()()
Neal woke up to the sound of footsteps stomping overhead. He could hear voices shouting and then more sounds as they made their way downstairs, the wooden steps creaking. Neal opened his eyes to find a gun pointed at him, a police officer behind it.
"Put the weapon down and put your hands behind your head!" Neal was still groggy and in pain from the kick Vinni gave him, a mental haze surrounding him as he looked at where the officer was pointing. Neal found a pistol in his hand, dropping it with a clatter. He turned to look at Peter to be sure he was ok but felt himself pushed face down against the cement floor of the basement as his arms were pulled back and cuffed. Someone was talking to him and it took him a moment to realize he was being read his rights. Neal was barely conscious as he was pulled to his feet and dragged out. He kept trying to look back at Peter to see how he was but the officer yanked him hard and up the stairs. He was practically dragged through the Burke's home and stuffed into the back of a patrol car, door slammed shut. Neal winced at the sound as if he had a hangover, head throbbing.
"Take him in for questioning. We'll figure out what's going on. Let the paramedics through!" Neal just barely heard what was going on although he heard and looked up as sirens approached. He glanced groggily out the window of the patrol car, watching as EMTs rushed in. A few minutes later they came out with a figure on a stretcher. It was Peter. Neal pushed against the window wanting to ride on the ambulance with his friend but the door was locked.
"Peter... Peter..." His voice slurred, the after effects of the chloroform still with him. Someone hit the window with a night stick loud enough he winced, Neal looking to see the same officer who had cuffed him. He sat back as the man glared at him then turned away. Neal's head throbbed enough he leaned against the window and watched the movement of the officers outside as a vague blur. His mind and body were succumbing to the chloroform and the injuries as he slipped into unconsciousness.
()()()
Neal woke up to someone shaking him by the shoulders gently. His eyes rolled loosely in his sockets, his vision blurring in and out of focus.
"Nobody checked to see if this man was hurt? Remove those cuffs!" Neal winced at the man's tone and the mild shaking, his side hurting still from being kicked.
"Help me with him... Easy now..." The man who spoke was a blur visually but his voice sounded reasonable. Neal felt his arms released and strong hands carry him out of the vehicle. His feet dragged, scuffing the sidewalk and steps into the police station. He was too weak to lift them up enough to walk. The man who had spoken kept talking to him softly.
"We're going to have a doctor see you, ok?" The man was speaking again, Neal nodding his head loosely, a slight groan escaping his lips as someone grasped him in just the wrong part of his side. He saw the blurry figure looking at him with what seemed to be concern.
"Get that doctor in here now!" Neal tried to stay awake but he felt his mind slipping away into the darkness again and slumped back into unconsciousness.
()()()
When Neal woke up next, he heard a crinkling sound and he was missing his jacket and shirt. He found himself lying in a cell in a stretcher covered with a blanket, his abdomen wrapped securely in bandages. There was an IV stuck in his arm, a man in a red and white uniform sitting nearby apparently on watch. The EMT was fiddling with his cell phone, looking up long enough to blink in surprise when he found Neal staring back at him. The man pushed a button on the cell and spoke quickly as he pushed the phone to his ear.
"He's awake. Will do." The man hung up and smiled professionally at Neal. He moved over and checked the young man's pulse and breathing and smiled more.
"Seems you're going to pull through. You had a pretty back knock to the abdomen but we got you patched up." The EMT seemed happy enough but Neal just blinked up at him thinking about Peter.
"My friend... Peter... how is he?" The EMT looked confused a moment then seemed to realize what he meant.
"The shooting victim? Last I heard he was stable. Lost a lot of blood though." Neal gave a little wince thinking about Peter and wondering if El knew. The EMT moved over to see what was hurting him but he just held up a hand.
"I'm ok. Just thinking about my friend. He's married. I wonder if they contacted his wife yet." He sighed to himself feeling worse about everything. Neal knew he wasn't at fault but he did know the crooks. He wondered if Vinni had told Roberto about him but he had a feeling he may not have. He might still live long enough to fix what happened.
They both turned as footsteps approached and another officer in plain clothes approached. He seemed vaguely familiar to Neal though he wasn't sure why. The man smiled, waving at another officer with keys to let him in. The door was unlocked and the man walked in.
"Mr. Caffrey, I see you're feeling better?" The officer smiled slightly. Neal sat up on his elbows with some efforts and nodded weakly in reply. The voice was familiar. Could this be the man who helped carry him earlier? He couldn't be sure.
"I guess you could say that. I was asking about my friend Peter who was shot. How is he? When can I see him?" He saw a frown on the officer's face and the EMT left the cell quietly. The plain clothed officer sat in his place and shook his head.
"I'm sorry but we're going to have to keep you here for questioning. You were found with a gun near the man you say is your friend. His condition has stabilized but we still have questions to ask about what happened. You understand." His voice was friendly but there was an underlying suspicion. They probably knew about his record which didn't help.
"I didn't shoot Peter but I can tell you who authorized the hit, Officer..." The man looked apologetic.
"Detective Maxwell. Thomas Maxwell. Hit? A mobster set this up?" He sounded somewhat dubious but Neal nodded trying to clear his head but it just made him feel dizzier. He lay back against the stretcher and tried to catch his breath.
"Yes, hit. And one of them set me up as the fall guy. I can set up a meeting. Get the information you need. Just wire me up." He sounded out of breath as he spoke, his chest hurting some from the injuries Vinni had given him. He wheezed and he saw a concerned look from Maxwell who turned and made a motion for the other cop to get the EMT back in there.
"Well have to discuss this when you're feeling better. Thank you for being honest with me, Mr. Caffrey." Neal nodded, still trying to catch his breath. His chest was really hurting now, breath catching in his throat as the EMT came in to check him out again.
"Just take in a slow deep breath, Mr. Caffrey... in... out... in... out..." The EMT was listening with a stethoscope but looked worried as Neal started to choke, face turning red, then purplish... Neal was gasping for air, arms gripping at the sides of the stretcher tightly.
"I need a respirator now!" The EMT was talking into the phone again and someone spoke back. Neal couldn't hear what they said. He was fading away into the background, a gray mist covering everything as he felt his breath stop and he passed out.
