Chapter 6

Peter thanked Officer Bradley for her information. He waited for, and reviewed, the information Diana and Jones brought to him. Allied Parcel Service did, indeed, have an employee named Jay Sterling and the description matched Neal. Peter sat at his desk debating his choices. He still, he didn't want to involve the division in this, just yet. As much as Hughes believed in him and knew he was a good Agent. He still might think Peter had gone off the deep end.

Peter knew he had to go to APS and see for himself. But he didn't want to scare Neal off. He didn't want to come in as 'Agent Burke looking for Jay Sterling.' He feared Neal might run if he thought anybody was after him, not matter who it was. If Neal truly didn't know who he was, he had to…he just had to be wondering who shot him, why they shot him and were they going to try and shoot him again? That had to terrify someone who already had so many questions.

Peter made up his mind. He had to know. He had to see, for himself, if Neal Caffrey, International Art Thief, really had no idea who he was. He needed to see if Neal was actually living under the name Jay Sterling. And he had to know if Neal was working a regular job, delivering packages for Allied Parcel Service. The very idea seemed almost…fantastic in its normality and so, so far out of Neal's character. Peter couldn't help but smile at the image of Neal Caffrey in a work uniform. Peter shook his head as he pulled his jacket off the back of his chair and left the federal building.

Peter walked into the company's office about 15 minutes later. He sat down with Neal's supervisor. Peter hesitated for just a moment. He was terrified that whatever he did would put Neal on alert. He doesn't want to do anything that might cause Neal to run.

"I believe the man you know as Jay Sterling is actually Neal Caffrey. He was…working for the FBI on a case, and he got injured. He has been missing for over 6 months. And we…I have to make sure that this man is the one I'm looking for." Peter produced a picture of Neal and handed it over.

Neal's supervisor took the picture and looked at it carefully. He nodded his head. He then called Jay into the office. Neal arrived a few moments later, popping his head in the office door.

Peter just sat and stared. It was Neal Caffrey, of that Peter was positive. But Neal had not recognized him. Neal had looked directly at Peter. The two of them had even been introduced. Peter could tell that Neal had no idea who he was. Peter told 'Jay' that he was looking for a man named Neal Caffrey. Peter was again greeted with a blank stare. He gave Neal card, which Neal pocketed without so much as a glance. Neal was then dismissed and he turned and left the office.

Peter stood looking defeated. He had not expected things to go like this. He thought as he walked to his car. He had expected Neal to see him and, Bam, the old Neal Caffrey would be back! The memories would come flooding in, and his life would go back to normal. Well, what passed for normal since Caffrey had become a part of it.

Peter now, truly, was not sure what to do next. He had fought with everything in him not to run after Caffrey. He had to fight everything that told him to stop Neal and make him remember. Peter knew memories didn't work that why. And, again, he didn't want to scare Neal into doing something stupid, like running.

Peter knew he had to tell Hughes he had actually seen Neal with his own eyes. But he was very undecided as to how to handle things beyond that. And what would he tell El? What would they do if Neal never regained his memory? Did he really want to put El through that type of pain again?

TBC