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CHAPTER 5

Peter met with Tessa's father and explained everything. It took some hard convincing before Mark finally agreed that his daughter sometimes liked to be the center of attention. And that it was possible that maybe she found Neal attractive and maybe she wanted to get his attention and not the other way around.

"I can assure you that Mr Caffrey is very professional. He would never do anything unethical," Peter couldn't believe he was saying such things.

"I believe you. I'm sorry I misjudged the situation."

"Don't worry about it," Peter replied.

"From what you've said about him, Mr Caffrey almost looks like an angel," Mark said.

Peter had to fight hard to hide a laugh.

"So, what do we do now?" Mark asked.

"Do you agree to let Neal keep an eye on your daughter?"

"I'm not sure it's such a good idea. I don't feel comfortable having him around my daughter anymore even though apparently he hasn't done anything disrespectful. I hope you understand."

"Of course I understand. I'll send you someone else," Peter said.

"I need more details before I let another stranger get close to my daughter," Mark replied.

"Naturally. I'm thinking of agent Jones," Peter said.

"Okay, can you tell me a little bit more about him? How is he like?"

"Nothing like Mr Caffrey," Peter replied with a smile.

"Okay then, I agree."

"Good," Peter said and was on his way out.

Meanwhile, Neal went back to his place to shower and change clothes. Mozzie was sitting at the kitchen table like always with a glass of wine.

"Want some?" he asked Neal.

But Neal declined.

"Not on the job," he said. "Well, technically I don't know if I'm still at least a little bit on the case," he added.

"Why's that?" Mozzie asked.

"Long story."

"C'mon, tell me," Mozzie pried.

"Okay. To make a long story short, the girl's caused me nothing but trouble so far," Neal summarized.

"I see. What kind?"

"I went to check on her and she was laying there in bed wearing almost nothing and asking me to touch her lingerie and her skin…"

"Interesting," Mozzie's eyes were wide open.

Neal was confused.

"You're a woman magnet, a womanizer," Mozzie said.

"Oh please."

"It's true. Wherever you go there's always a woman falling for you," Mozzie said.

Neal had to admit that it was partly true. But it wasn't his fault he was so damn good looking.

"So, what did you do?" Mozzie asked to know the end of the story.

"Nothing. Her father came home and had the wrong idea and she put the blame on me, making up stories, telling him that I did touch her…"

"I see."

"He told me to go and not come back. He called Peter and now…"

"Peter's on your back," Mozzie would sometimes finish Neal's sentences.

"Exactly! He went to talk to her father. He might still be there as we speak. And I'm waiting to know if I can go back there or not," Neal explained.

"Are you sure you don't want a drink?" Mozzie asked. "It might do you some good, you're upset."

"No, I'm fine, thanks. After a good shower and a change of clothes I feel like a new man already," he smiled.

"Feels good to be home, doesn't it?" Mozzie asked.

"Oh yeah!"

It felt good to be home indeed. But he couldn't help wondering how it was going with Peter and Mark. He didn't need to wait any longer. His cell rang. It was Peter.

"So, how did it go?" Neal asked right away.

"Pretty good. You're off the case!" Peter said.

"Oh, and how is that good? And first of all, how come you're not mad if I blew it?"

"Well, he's not pressing charges," Peter replied.

"Ok, good to hear," Neal was relieved.

"He believed me when I told him you were an angel. Then I didn't have the heart to tell him it was far from reality," Peter said.

"Haha, real funny!"

"Why am I not mad? Well, as you explained she put the moves on you, not the other way around."

"What do I do now then?" Neal asked.

"Come back to the office and we'll figure that out."

"Okay."

They hung up and both met at the office about 30 minutes later. Once there Neal quickly took the stairs to Peter's office. Peter was sitting at his desk, impatiently waiting. It was just the two of them.

"So?" Neal asked impatient to know what to do next.

"So, I'm thinking we need another inside man," Peter said.

He didn't even have time to finish that Neal was already all smiles.

"Great, you know that I know the game. I can gamble and win or lose money, your call," Neal said, excited like a child.

"I wasn't really thinking about you for that job," Peter said.

"What? Now I'm confused, why did you call me here then?"

Then he thought for a minute.

"Oh no, don't tell me you have someone else to babysit? Because I'm not interested!" Neal said.

"It's not really your call now is it?"

Neal shrugged.

"Oh, c'mon, Peter."

"Actually, I was thinking of sending Jones to keep an eye on Tessa and taking Diana with me to distract the other guys including Sam's team," Peter explained.

"You'd take a woman with you in a world like that?" Neal said even though it didn't really make sense as Diana was a really good agent who could be sent anywhere for any job.

He was ready to say about anything to get the job. He wanted to be part of it. Be where the action was taking place.

Jones and Diana came in the office. Peter told Jones that he'd replace Neal with Tessa. He wasn't too happy either. Babysitting wasn't what he had in mind when he joined the team.

"Just for a few more days," Peter told him.

"Okay," was all Jones could say.

"Please, Peter, let me come with you, I'll do everything you say, and you'll barely even notice me!" Neal said.

"I somehow doubt that!" Peter teased. "You always manage to get the attention drawn to yourself."

"You really don't trust me, do you?" Neal asked in a sad voice.

He was hurt that after all this time Peter didn't really know him that well.

"Don't be like that. It's just that you always manage to turn things around. You always get things to work the way you want."

"Not always," Neal joked.

"Maybe he could join Sam and the others?" Diana gave an idea.

"That's actually what I was thinking," Peter replied.

"The team that's gonna beat you up?" Neal asked with a smile.

"Yeah, Neal, that team," Peter replied. "But please stop it with the smile."

"Sorry," but he really wasn't.

"No gambling," Peter said as he pointed the finger as you would with a child.

"Now that's not fun, why not?"

"Because I said so! I'm the boss," Peter said with a grin.

He sometimes enjoyed getting on Neal's nerves when he got the chance as it was usually the other way around.

"Now, we go to the casino but not together. Once in there you never saw me, never heard of me, nothing, you got that?" Peter said.

"I sometimes wonder if you think I'm stupid," Neal said.

"Oh well let's just say that you're no Peter Burke," Peter teased.

"The day will come you'll admit you'd be lost without me," Neal said.

The truth was, Neal was a big help on most cases. Everybody knew that. Even Peter but he wouldn't say it too much to avoid Neal's head to explode.

"So," Peter went on with the explanation. "I'll tell Mark that he has to behave like he's never seen you either. You go and introduce yourself to Sam. You pretend you're a bodyguard or good fighter or whatever. Anything you want, I don't care, you just join that team."

"Copy that," Neal said.

"You keep your ears and eyes wide open and take mental notes of what's happening on their side. And of course you give me a heads up before they want to beat me up."

"Of course," Neal replied.

"Ok then, that's it. Go do your thing and make me proud," Peter joked.

… TBC …

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