All right… I never knew Anastasia was creepy… Is she really that creepy? TT
And once again I sincerely apologise for my tenses and grammar and so on and so forth. I really did read it again and again till I was sick of it and then I passed it on to a friend that also read it.
So I'm really sorry TT I know there are many people out there with impeccable English and mine is just… So I thank you all for still reading this story…
Yippie White Collar is back! Which means my story needs to change a little T_T
Once again…I'm not as smart and witty as Mozzie, Peter and Neal… So Pardon me if I do screw up… TT
I don't own White Collar… But my brains own them in many ways.
Every stroke of the brush calms his mind and at every stroke his plan was forming. When the picture was completed, his plan was just as complete.
He moved to the bathroom, slipping out of his clothes and turned on the water at full blast. He knew that Anastasia had made his room warm so he would not be able to escape so he made sure that the water was cold, if he was to escape, he had to first adapt to the cold.
He recoiled at the first contact with the water. He took a deep breath before soaking himself in the ice cold water, nearly cursing at every touch.
He was shivering and numbed all over by the time he was out. He went to the closet and made himself another set clothes.
He took the pot of coffee and poured himself a cup before dumping the rest into the sink. Putting the pot back to its original place, he sat down to enjoy his coffee.
Sasha entered the room on time as always. Neal gave her a charming smile causing her to blush a little.
Charming her was easy; getting her to talk was even easier as she sees him as an output for all her frustrations. Before he knew it, she had told him information on some the people in the mob. She also showed him her phone, complaining that those irritating men would call and command her to go to their filthy room and clean it up.
Of course she also said that he was the prettiest thing she had ever seen, he was really flattered and even felt a little guilty for using her.
"Your art is beautiful…" She complimented, her blush deepened.
Neal grinned, "Why thank you! Not many people appreciate my kind of art."
She giggled, "Is it because you forge a little too well?"
"Something like that." He replied with a wide smile, before pointing to the empty pot, "Do you think it is possible for you make me another pot of coffee? Your coffee taste fantastic."
She went bright pink again, "We…well of course. I'll be more than happy."
She went over to the bar counter to prepare the coffee. Neal went closer to her till their bodies were touching, "Ah…so this is how you make the coffee." He whispered into her ears.
Her ears went red, "Mr… Mr Caffrey… you're…You're too close…"
His eyes widened in shocked, "I'm sorry I didn't notice." And he backed off with his hands in the air.
She took a deep breath to calm herself down before resuming making his coffee.
He sat down again and started doodling on a piece of paper.
She put the coffee in front of him, a smile on her face, "There you go."
She continued her chores, but she was mostly staring at him.
When she was done she grinned, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Neal waved her goodbye and she left the room. He waited for about a minute or two before smirking; he then took out her phone, hidden in his clothes.
He started dialling Peter's number.
"Agent Peter Burke here." Though it sounded a little weary but a familiar comforting voice greeted him.
"It's Neal!" he hissed
"NEAL!" Peter exclaimed, "Thank God you're okay."
"Peter, where are you?" Neal asked.
'Driving home and I should be the one asking you this question." Peter shot back, "So where are you Neal?
"Judging that the country is freezing and Keller was in their hands, I would say somewhere in Russia and I'm being held by the Russian mob." Neal answered, his eyes always shifting back to the door.
"Somewhere in Russia? Do you know how big Russia is?"
"Well, I'm sorry for being drugged all the way here." Neal snapped, "The one that's holding me is called Anastasia."
"Last name?"
"I have seriously no idea." Neal shrugged even though Peter could not see it.
"Alright then… Neal, did they hurt you in anyway?" Peter asked his voice full of worry.
"I'm talking to you, do I sound hurt?" Neal joked.
"Damn it Neal, I'm serious!"
"Yeah, I'm fine..."
"Then what do they want from you?"
"I'm an art."
"I knew it! I just knew it! I'll save you Neal. Don't do anything silly. If they did not hurt you then we would want to leave it that way." Peter commanded.
Neal smiled, "Sure, I got all the time and luxury in the world before I start to do something."
Neal pushed the wooden board blocking the window away and saw the black car parked outside, which means Anastasia's back.
"Don't you do anything I mean it, Neal? Neal! Are you listening?"
Neal spoke quickly and quietly, "Peter, I need to hang up now… She's back."
And he hung up. He did his best to erase all traces of his call; it was in Russian after and he was not that fluent in that language. He then picked the door and threw the phone out…
It was felt like a dream when the withheld number was Neal. Hearing Neal's voice was like a miracle and he never did believe in miracles.
He knew Neal was smart and would contact him somehow… But he never did expect it to be so dang straightforward. He wondered, how did Neal even get a phone?
The only unfortunate thing was that most the information Neal provided, he had already figured it out. But as he said 'most', so there was an information that he gained and that was a name, Anastasia.
Neal overall sounded fine and even had the gall to joke with him under such circumstances. But his blood froze when he heard Neal said 'She's back." and hung up. His guts keep screaming danger but he just did not know what.
He quickly dialled Diana's number.
"Yes Boss?" Diana inquired.
"Diana… I need you to search for anyone in a Russian Mob by the name of Anastasia."
"I'm on it." She replied.
He hung up and droved back home, thinking about Neal. His gut was bothering him.
Even though Neal said he was fine but his imagination was winning….And Neal was Neal, you never know if he was really feeling alright. You never know what he was thinking and did he steal a billion dollar treasure…
His thoughts started to wander and he remembered how he had ignored his gut and they lost a lead, the fat landlord was one of her men, delaying their progress so they could clear all their tracks.
No way was he ever going to ignore his gut feelings. But what use could he do, he was here in New York and Neal was somewhere in Russia. He could only pray for Neal to be safe.
He wanted to continue searching for Neal at the office but Elizabeth called him and told him he needed to come home immediately. He wondered what could be so important.
He parked the car, and dragged his feet home.
"Hon! You're home!" Elizabeth smiled as she moved toward him and gave him a long kiss, relaxing him for a few second.
The living room was a mess, there were papers everywhere.
"What is going on?" Peter asked giving a sceptical look. As he moved in he saw Mozzie, Alex Hunter and Sara Ellis gathering around his dining table, discussing goodness knows what. But he could guess… Neal.
They all looked up at him.
"Hey Peter." Sara gave him a small smile.
Alex gave him a little wave and a small "Hi".
Mozzie forced a smile, "Hi Suit…"
He had a weird guilty look.
"Today I got a call from Neal, and he told me he was fine and he was held by the Russian Mob… At first I thought Keller had somehow implicated him but that doesn't seem to be the case." Peter kept his gaze directed at Mozzie, "I wonder what could have made them notice him in the first place?"
He opened and closed his mouth like a fish… uncertain on whether he should tell the truth or not.
Peter sighed, "All right. I'll give you and Neal full immunity."
Mozzie bit his lips, "Neal… stole from the Russian Mob."
"He did WHAT?" Peter yelled, "Of all people to steal from he steals from the Russian Mob?"
Mozzie shrugged, "It was a good painting…"
"That could get him killed!" Peter shook his head and took a sit at his couch, "What are you guys here for anyway?"
Alex smiled, "Planning a heist."
"A what? In my house? Are you crazy?" Peter shot up; his eyes were wild with anger.
Sara passed a file to Peter, "We believe that it is this girl that took him."
"Anastasia Goguniv?"
"Well you see… When Neal stole the painting... he said he saw a girl…" Mozzie shrugged awkwardly.
"This kind of kidnapping needs someone who had power and money so this girl is it. Oh she is also the daughter of the late mob boss" Alex explained.
"So you are telling me that this girl saw Neal when he was stealing and she did nothing to stop him so she could get him now as an art and now you are in my house planning to steal him back?" Peter summarised everything which sounded a little weird to him.
"You're getting smarter, Suit." Mozzie commented.
"What are you here for then, Sara? You are no thief." Peter sighed.
"I am an insurance investigator… And the one I'm investigating stole something from me. I want to retrieve it, that's all." Sara smiled.
"Yes I cannot imagine a world without a treasure like it. It should be shown off to the world." Alex joked.
"Can we get back to business?" Mozzie rolled his eyes.
"You're really planning a heist in my house?" Peter asked.
They all glared at him. He swallowed and fell silent.
"Cookies anyone?" Elizabeth asked with a motherly smile on her face.
"Miss Anastasia, you look restless." Akim pointed out.
She sighed, "Anastasia. Call me Anastasia. And yes I'm restless…"
"Yes Miss… I mean Anastasia… Do you happen to be restless because you miss the boy?" He asked politely.
She gave a small smile, "You could say that…"
She sighed again, her men were always such simpleton… there was nothing to them that she could explore.
When they say yes it means yes and when they say no it means no. There was never a read-in-between-the-lines kind of thing. Even their questions were straightforward.
And then there were the con men. They sure can lie with a straight face and you never know when you need to read in between the lines.
Sure there were many con men in the world but Neal was a different kind. Everywhere he goes, eyes would turn to him. His presence was just that strong, yet such a strong presence could remain undetected when in a heist.
She remembered seeing him six years ago during her birthday party.
He was in her late father's room, stealing a picture. He smiled when he had the picture in his hands. It was not a normal smile but a genuine smile that seems to lighten up the whole room.
Then he saw her, she saw panic in his eyes but it disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. He gave her a charming smile and disappeared into the night.
That was when she knew she wanted him.
She was captured by his elegance and beauty.
She gazed out of the car window; she muttered "I don't understand why is there a sudden need for me to follow all of you to the meeting? Don't Surgei always tell me stay home?"
"Surgei said you might be a little too obsessed with the boy… So he wants you to experience more of the outside life." Akim replied matter-of-factly.
Anastasia rolled her eyes, "Every time I go out, I miss him more."
Akim remained silent till they arrived back home. She ran into the house, bumping into the maid which Neal had praised her before... Her name was… Sasha!
"Miss Anastasia! I'm sorry!" She looked flustered, her eyes shifting in every direction.
"Searching for something?" Anastasia questioned.
She nodded her head furiously, 'Yes… My phone actually…"
Anastasia gave her a warm smile, "If I see it. I'll be sure to return it to you."
She bowed, "Thank you so much."
She then left, still searching for her lost phone.
Anastasia then skipped to Neal's room. She was about to enter into the room when she saw a phone a little further away from the room door, it looked like Sasha dropped her phone outside of Neal's room.
She frowned, things were never simple. She picked up the phone to check the calls logs. It was empty…
She called Akim.
"Yes… Mi… Anastasia?" He asked.
"Bring Sasha to Neal's room." She said dangerously.
"I'm on it."
And the line went dead.
She put on her brightest smile and entered into the room.
He was reading a book. He looked up and gave her a smile.
"Hey Neal… I miss you." She sat down across him, a huge smile plastered on her face.
"I would be lying if I said the same." His gaze were piecing through her mask. He must have felt something was wrong.
Her smile dropped, her eyes glaring straight at him.
"You stole something today, did you?" She asked coldly.
His face remains impassive, "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"WHO DID YOU CALL?" She hollered, slamming both of her hands at his armchair.
He flinched at her sudden outburst.
She raked her hand through her hair, "You must have called him… You called that agent, did you?"
He bit his lips and remained silent.
"Anastasia… Sasha's here." Akim announced and pushed a bewildered Sasha in.
She smiled at him, "Thank you so much Akim."
Akim nodded but he remained standing at the door entrance.
Anastasia strolled to where Sasha was standing, she held up the phone.
"Ah! That is my phone!" Sasha exclaimed as she took the phone out of Anastasia's hand.
Anastasia smiled and pulled out a gun, pointing it at him.
"Tell me, Neal. What did you say to him?" She asked coldly.
"I did not-"
She pulled the trigger.
"AHHH!" Sasha screamed in agony, as the bullet hit her in her knee cap.
Neal's eyes widen in shocked and fear.
"Wh…what did…what did you do?" He stuttered.
"Quickly, tell me."
He took three deep breaths to calm himself down, "I just told him I'm in Russia, and I am well treated by you. Could you put the gun away please?"
"That's it?" She asked sceptically.
"Yes! That's it, I swear…"
"That was easy wasn't it?" She smiled and pulled the trigger the second time.
Thank you for reading… Now you mind clicking the review button to review