Title: Never Judge A Book By its Cover
Beta: None, all mistakes are my own
Rating: G
Pairings: Neal/Kate
Warnings/Triggers: None.
Summary: Mozzie does some research.
Notes: Written for Prompt Fest IV. Prompt was Mozzie - Backwoods. Pre-series, set before the ficlet My Roots Are in the Depths of the Woods
Minor editing and additions to the original posting.
Disclaimer: I don't own White Collar. :-(

Mozzie had done the research Neal requested. The latest FBI agents in a long string of incompetent fools was named Peter Burke, and Neal wanted to know more about him after literally running into him at the scene of Neal's latest 'job'. Neal was intrigued for some reason and wanted to know as much information as possible on the kind of person Burke could Mozzie dutifully did some digging, talked to his contacts and spent more time than he was comfortable sitting near members of the corrupt government system all so he could get into the mind of one Peter Burke. When he was done sullying his soul, he reported those findings to Neal.

He read off snippets of information to the Neal and Kate in their latest hideout as they sipped stolen wine and nibbled on cheap pizza.

"He's a late-comer to the FBI. He worked as a CPA for several years before he accepted one of the offers from the FBI. He's older than most of their recruits by a good six years," Mozzie said. Neal looked thoughtful. Kate just smirked. Age didn't matter but it was odd that Burke had waited so joined the rank and file of government puppets. "He's from the hinterlands of New York. Upstate, tucked into a no-name town with a population that's just a shade above the poverty line. His father worked construction, his mother was a teacher."

Neal looked over the files that Mozzie had meticulously prepared for him, while Kate leaned against his shoulder and skimmed them for herself. "Why did the FBI recruit him?" she asked. Mozzie had to admit he thought it was a bit of a mystery as well. On paper Peter Burke looked like nothing more than a back country, red-necked hick.

As a kid Burke had won first prize three years in a row in the junior's turkey hunt. Records indicated he'd been an active and enthusiastic hunter for many years. Medical files confirmed a broken leg from being tossed from a horse's back, one concussion from the same and a dozen smaller injuries - burns from campfires, dislocated wrist from a fall out a tree, a broken arm from an ATV accident. Driving records showed Burke had driven a pick-up for the better part of fifteen years.

"He was an excellent student," Neal murmured as he read over Peter's transcripts. "His college transcript is incredible."

Sure, Mozzie thought, the fed did well enough in school and college, but so had all the other agents who had tried to find Neal. The FBI didn't hire morons (even he could admit that) but most weren't creative enough to even get an idea of where to look for his partner in crimel. This agent didn't seem any different.

"I don't think you have to worry about him," Mozzie said, and Kate murmured in agreement. "He's just another Suit. He'll be replaced like all the others."

"Maybe," Neal said, and closed the file with a grin. "We'll have to give him a good time while he's on the case, yes?"

"I'll drink to that," Mozzie said, and toasted his hosts with a flourish. No, agent Burke wouldn't be a problem.