"I told you that you shouldn't have me followed," Neal said to him. Peter looked at him, he had gotten a tip that Neal and people who were under suspicion for all kinds of activities, most like Neal's former activities, were gathering together. He had dispatched officers and even started himself.

Now he found Neal sitting there, alone.

"I couldn't just ignore a tip that you were with former suspects of crimes a lot similar to yours." Peter answered, not sure why he felt like trying to defend himself.

Neal didn't look joking or happy. He was pale and Peter noticed the dark color under his eyes. How long had it been since he'd slept well?

He then remembered how scared Neal looked when the girl delivered the warning. Neal might've been actually putting taps in place in the con web for the one who was causing the events. He felt ping in his chest, maybe guilt.

"Who called in the tip?"

Peter looked up at Neal's question. "No one that you know, jut a rookie cop who was making his round and saw you and suspicious activity."

Neal sighed and that made Peter worry even more. His complexion seemed paler. the room was silent and no one spoke.

Peter thought hard; if Neal actually was hanging out with suspecting people, it would go against the limitations the restrictions of his anklet and agreement. These thoughts were going through his mind just as the door opened.

A very familiar caramel skinned female walked in and then he recognized she was the female who had come to to the White Collar division and had warned them.

He was about to explain to her that she shouldn't be here but she seemed to only turn to Neal and smile and say, "Thanks for meeting me here. Sorry I'm late."

Neal seemed surprised for a moment but then smiled a Neal Caffrey smile and Peter thought he saw relief in the male's eyes. "It's no problem." Another smile. "I always liked the ones that were harder to get."

The female smiled back and Peter was confused.

She then turned to him, hand on her hip. "You won't be needed here any longer, Agent Burke." The room went silent as the stand off started.

The female kept a confident smiled on her lips as Peter looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. She wasn't an agent!

"You have no clearance here, Ms." He told her gentlemanly. "You can't tell me what to do or be here. Jones, please escort this young lady-"

"Actually, Jones, you might want to stay exactly where you are for now and follow your boss out." Silence reigned once again and the girl reached behind her back and pulled a wallet out of her pocket. She opened it up and the flashy badge shone by the sun streaking though the still open door. Peter stared, shocked.

"That's impossible," he scoffed, looking the girl over. She smiled and shrugged. This girl (young woman) was barely old enough to be just out of high school! Certainly not a government agent!

"Jones," Peter said. "Check on it. No one's leaving here until we get this confirmed." Jones nodded and Peter turned his gaze back to the young woman in front of him. "This is the time to correct yourself, young lady. This is a serious crime-" He started as she kept that confident look.

"Peter-" Neal started, apparently butting in on her behalf, unexpectedly.

"She checks out," Jones said grimly and the White Collar division turned in shock to Jones who was still on the phone and held it out to Peter. He took it.

They watched as Peter spoke and was answered through the phone, Allisandra kept up her smile as Peter lowered and closed the phone. He looked up at her now.

She looked back at him, taking her badge back from Jones. "You all should clear out." Silence ruled once more and then Peter nodded at his agents, then they and the police started out the door. Before his leave, Peter gave Neal one last look, which Neal answered with an unsure one. The look was cut off when Allisandra stood in between them. Peter gave her a look that could cut through her and closed the door.

...

Neal couldn't get the look on Peter's face out of his head-he had looked so conflicted at the last second. He stared straight forward not seeing anything.

"Don't take it so hard," the young woman said, sitting herself down next to him. "He doesn't understand." She looked at him and he didn't return the gesture. "He shouldn't be caught up in Carter's web."

Now Neal looked at her so fast he was surprised he didn't get whiplash. She sat next to him, apparently munching on something she had gotten out and started eating. He looked at her.

She smiled. "What? you thought you and your group were the only one who knew he was in town? Nope, I've been after him for years." She smiled at him now as she finished her snack.

He looked at her with wide eyes. And they stared at each other like that for a minute as silence ruled the house and the sun slid over the floor.

-And then they heard it; the sound of a knock at the door.