(Chapter 7)

Neal was a bit sulky, quieter than he normally would be as he mulled over the last few days. Cyrus had turned on him like a tiger on the rampage but someone had sicked his former associate on him and Peter but he didn't know who or why. They had been so careful and yet...

"Caffrey..."

He turned, sitting up some in his seat as he noticed Jones watching him curiously. He made it look like he was just shaking off exhaustion, partially true due to his own injuries as he felt a pull where he'd been shot barely a week before. Jones seemed to accept his act, nodding over at a thermos in the cup-holder.

"Italian Roast if you like. Your benefactress was nice enough to send some over with your things as a courtesy to us. Someone's watching her too so no need to worry."

Jones was being his friend, something he needed now but his mind kept going back to Peter's words. Much as he appreciated Jones and Diana their boss, his partner was the one he worried about most of all. Call it selfishness but he was curious why the agent would have said what he did. It hadn't felt like a dream when it happened. He'd been near conscious so he knew the difference in real versus fake conversations. This had felt very real.

"Thanks."

He left it at that, not feeling like his usual jocular self. His shoulder hurt from the gunshot but he didn't regret what he'd done. Elizabeth was safe and that was all he needed to know. He owed her and Peter so much... They were the family he'd always wished he could have had growing up. Neal didn't want to lose them but now doubts set in about his right to their happiness. If they ever gave up on him, that was their right. He had no real ties to them other than working with Peter and he knew that. Still, Peter had always been there for him and Elizabeth. They saw something in him he had thrown away when he'd learned about his father's true identity from Ellen. He was still searching for proof that his father might be innocent as she had told him. Sam was in the ether still, no sign of the man since their initial contact. Mozzie was hiding away but they'd see him again tonight when they used his hideaway. He clung to his friendship with the con man even as he felt doubts however truthful they might be of his ties with Peter.

"We're here. Hey, isn't that... Peter?"

Jones sounded surprised, Neal glancing up to see a shadow run across the parking lot and disappear around a corner. The shape looked like his partner as he quickly removed his belt and left the vehicle before the agent had turned off the engine. He was running after the figure despite his tiredness, adrenaline and curiosity pushing him forth as he saw the figure now walking quickly ahead of him. Neal could see them now in the streetlights sickly glow. It was Peter Burke!

()()()

Peter wasn't sure how to do this, his mind racing with every possibility. Caffrey had always said to make plans but know they might fall through and just go with the flow. He was about to do that now, his eyes on the agent as they answered a call and turned away from him and El. There was a small balcony walkway off to the left, locked and gated but easily picked with the little skill he had gained working with Neal. Peter maneuvered his wife in that directly to a table next to the gate, standing while she sat. He leaned back against the metal hiding the fact his hands now behind him were actually reaching for picks hidden in his back pocket. If he was going to do this, he had to do it now. He felt out the proper picks from the small soft leather case and started work on the lock as quietly as he could. Luckily city sounds drowned his actions out for the most part.

"Hun... you seem rather pensive. Tell me what's wrong."

Elizabeth's plea was quiet yet plaintive, her blue eyes fluttering up at him with questions he knew he needed to answer if she was going to go with him. Would she still love him after the truth? He paused in his picking, transferring the metal parts to his left hand as his moved the right one up to wipe tiredly at his face. His head still bothered him more than he liked to admit. Cyrus had gotten him good but the man was in jail now and wouldn't be getting out anytime soon for what he had done. They might not have him on his actual crimes, but attacking an agent and suspicion of shooting his CI was enough. He did his best not to look as guilty as he suddenly felt about everything.

"Nothing wrong... but I have been thinking about something. Do you... remember how we talked about dropping things and taking off to see the world?"

When he'd first met Elizabeth, she worked at an art gallery. It was one of his first major stakeouts as an Agent before getting the assignment with Caffrey. Simon had helped him get recruited into the FBI but at the time he hadn't known for what reason. Peter had been thinking about becoming an Actuary or even a CPA before he finished College. He had the skills and both were lucrative careers if you entered with a solid firm and didn't mind being shoulder deep in numbers. It wasn't his first choice but sports had become secondary once he'd learned his shoulder might not recover from another injury. He wasn't willing to give up on life and mobility for a career in sports that would only be cut short. Math had been his fall back and something he had been good at for most of his early schooling. Justice was another idea he had always believed in and combining the two to work with the FBI seemed like a win win with the then 25 year old. His uncle's influence had seemed like a magical fix to all his problems. Simon had been a Godsend in his eyes when he'd found out how his luck had been fixed. Simon had been happy with his nephew's eagerness. He had been more happy that Peter didn't think he would start a family any time soon, his mind on working and solving cases until he'd set eyes on Elizabeth. His colleagues had teased him but he'd staked her out hoping to find something to talk to her about. The sign she'd given him quite literally was one he hadn't expected nor apparently had Simon.

"I remember... We discussed it on our first date. You tried to talk about Paris and Rome with me. I know you hadn't been there yet but now..."

She paused, something in her expression causing her to really look at him a moment as if seeing something she hadn't before. It was only a momentary look before his wife shrugged it off and continued.

"If you're trying to make something up to me, you're not to blame for the past month. You and Neal couldn't have seen what was coming..."

He stopped her there, holding up his right hand and taking only a quick glance over at their guard. The agent was still on the phone and looking bored by what he could read of the younger man. Maybe this would be easier than he thought as he put his hands behind him again and continued his work on picking the gate open.

"I... haven't told you everything, El. There are reasons I couldn't but now that we've been together for 10 years, I can't lie to you any more... or to myself. I haven't been completely honest with you about..."

He heard the soft click, feeling the lock give as he smiled inwardly and quickly put his pick set away. He had his wife's full attention now, those blue eyes he found so inviting staring at him solidly with an openness he hoped would remain after he told her what he'd hidden from her.

"If this is about the case, Diana gave me some background. I know you couldn't tell me all the details hun. I'm a big girl. I'm not angry."

She was still smiling but would she keep on if he finished his thought? Peter looked over at the agent, the man's back to them as he made a decision and pulled his wife closer. They kissed but that was just the ploy he needed to get her and himself out from the balcony. She hadn't notice they were on the other side until the quiet click of the latch locked again and El glanced back to see what the sound was.

"Hun..."

He put a finger to her lips, the agent still busy on his cell as he led her down the small walled catwalk towards an outer staircase. He saw the questions in her eyes as she finally stopped him, pulling away to arms length, their hands still holding.

"It wasn't... I didn't know I'd meet you. He didn't tell me what he had planned until afterwards. You have to understand why, El. Things changed once I met you and I don't want to do this anymore."

Maybe he hadn't said enough, or was it too much, but his wife's expression had turned pale with a hint of shock.

"Who are you talking about, Peter? What are you talking about? I don't understand what this has to do with our going on vacation?"

Her tone was less certain now, a hint of frustration at trying to understand his words and a look back at the balcony they'd just escaped from. He had to tell her the truth or live a life of lies forever.

"Simon... he's been manipulating me since I joined the Bureau. I didn't understand what was going on in the beginning but once I started chasing Neal it all became clearer."

He left it open, uncertain he could say what was going on between his so called partner and himself. Elizabeth's expression remained calm, the smile softer now then slowly curving downward to a tight frown he recognized immediately. Her fingers began to loosen their hold on his as she moved back a foot or so and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You've been lying to Neal? I don't... This is some kind of joke. You and Neal are like brothers. He's family, Peter."

She was in denial but slowly the thoughtful look in those blue eyes told him El had figured out what he was saying even if she wanted to believe otherwise. He reached out for her hand again but his wife gave him a wary glance, arms still crossed firmly over her chest.

"Simon... the man I met the other day... he's after Neal? I don't understand. Why did he want you to... to do this?!"

Her tone rose and Peter realized that sooner than later the agent would turn and see they were gone if he didn't hear El's voice first. She was flashing her eyes at him now, anger more than evident as he tried to placate her and convince her to join him. They had to go before Simon returned for them. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her again.

"I'll tell you everything but we have to go now. Simon will be back and I don't want you hurt."

He had finally admitted it if not in so many words but now she knew it all. El's eyes widened and she held a hand to her mouth.

"The shooting... Neal... that video... it's connected isn't it?"

Her voice lowered and it was obvious even to her where his priorities lay. She was more important than Neal but he was not going to warn the young man of the dangers ahead. Elizabeth stepped away a bit more, heading back for the gate they'd left as Peter realized he'd lost the one person he cared about.

"I can't go with you. I don't... I don't know who you are."

There was a hurt to her tone, his heart breaking as he nodded to her and heard footsteps near the gate. The agent was behind it talking urgently into his phone as he gazed through at them both. Elizabeth looked torn despite her anger at him but he understood as Peter moved back towards the stairs with a soft "I'm sorry..." and hurried away. The disappointed vision of his wife haunted his mind as he raced down the metal stairs, the sound clanging loudly in his wake as he hit the pavement and took off. They'd all know of his deceit soon enough and much as he had put up a brave front of honesty, Peter felt anything but honest at the moment. The fear and worry he'd built up over the past month was threatening to drown him. Without Elizabeth by his side he was lost, the agent anything but himself as he ran across the open parking lot, across the street and down the sidewalk. Maybe Jay could help him. His cousin was separate from everything so he'd kept in contact secretly so that nobody would know, not even Simon what he was up to the last month. It was all he had left as he slowed to a rapid walk, lost in his own thoughts. He didn't notice the figure following him as he ducked into a nearby cafe for a quick breath.

"Did you have a drink request sir?"

Peter turned to see a barista with a maroon apron wiping down a table near him in the small bistro. He shook his head, looking back towards the door to leave when he saw someone and held back. It was Neal. The con was paused outside the very cafe he had run into, eyes looking around curiously as the agent stayed out of view. Finally the younger man lifted a cell to his ear before pushing it back without making a call or answering it. There was a worried look in the con's eyes but Peter couldn't be sentimental now. It was Caffrey's fault he was in this mess in the first place.

"No thank you..."

He waited until Neal had disappeared around the corner before he went back outside, glancing around but not seeing any pursuing agents. Would they send Diana and Jones after him once his secret was revealed? He hadn't technically done anything wrong. Simon had done the worse of it while Peter fed him information and kept him in the loop on Caffrey's activities. He suddenly remembered the little guy and the evidence box. Maybe now was the right time if Mozzie didn't know, he wouldn't object to giving him the box' location. He had to try as he pulled out his cell and called the only number he knew to reach the con.

"Mozzie. I need to talk to you about that package. Call me back directly. Thanks."

Peter crossed the street as he left the front of the cafe, losing himself in a crowd of pedestrians doing the same. He turned a corner and saw an empty building with a "for lease" sign as he walked over and slipped inside. The place was dusty, windows boarded up and light dim as night fell over the city. He could hide out here without any issue.

"Peter?"

The agent froze, turning to see another shadow coming from the back of the store front. He knew the tall lean shadow more than he ought to, his eyes adjusting to the gloom to see a slight glimmer of blue in their eyes.

"Neal... go back to the safe house..."

Peter had no time to deal with the con man his mind elsewhere as he turned to go but heard the steps move closer and finally a hand on his arm. The con was quicker than he thought.

"What are you running from, Peter? I always suspected... but I didn't want to believe it was you. Was it all a lie?"

The younger man's voice was calm but there was an underlying hurt he had anticipated. He couldn't deal with this right now, not when he had lost Elizabeth.

"Go back, Neal!"

His tone was almost a growl now. It was because of Caffrey he lost his wife and everything else. Once Hughes found out about his deceit everything might as well go up in flames. His life and his career were over and the last thing he needed was to explain himself to this... to a con man. He felt a hand on his shoulder, frustration getting to him that he grabbed the arm, pulling the young man around and up against the nearest wall, a loud thud and grunt as the con hit. Peter pushed his other arm up against his former partner's neck, moving close enough to keep Neal pinned securely with his weight.

"I told you to leave! Are you so naive that you don't understand I don't want you around?! I've lost Elizabeth because of you and my career... None of that matters so long as he holds the cards. He can have you for all I care!"

Peter hissed the words venomously at the con man whose blue eyes even in the darkness flashed with hurt and betrayal in the dim light. The agent let go after a moment, the con man remaining where he was as he walked away. He couldn't stay here and Simon would find him or El if he didn't get to that box first. He checked his phone, the soft blue glow illuminating his face a moment. There was an image in the background of himself and Elizabeth, her blue eyes were laughing and happy. Peter sighed, checking his messages quickly but seeing nothing from Mozzie as he moved to push the cell into his pocket.

"Peter!"

Neal called to him but he didn't turn, hand still on his cell when he felt a hard push to the side as if he'd been tackled. The agent fell to the floor, his cell falling out of his pocket as he used his hands to catch himself. He felt weight across him as he moved to sit up and found the con slumped over him, a pained sound coming from Neal's lips. That's when he noticed the blood on the younger man's shirt and heard the cocking of a weapon from nearby.

"Looks like he's more loyal to you than you anticipated, Peter. Shame you had to let him down. Next time I won't miss. Get up!"

Peter saw the look in his uncle's eyes, making slow movements to get up as Neal rolled off of him still hurt it seemed as he saw the blood stain had grown. It was the old wound opening up from his attempt to save the man who sold him out. Suddenly Peter felt a whole lot worse.

"Don't dally, Peter... Caffrey. Now, where is the evidence box? I know your little friend has been looking for it."

Both men were standing now, Peter having made an attempt to hold Neal up despite everything. The con man had pulled away, swaying unsteadily on his feet a few feet away as Simon kept the gun on them both. He watched the con staring at his uncle coldly, a tightness in his manner that wasn't just the pain of his opened wound.

"Nowhere you would find it. Mozzie already knows to keep out of sight and not to get the box without me there. You're not getting the contents so shoot me now and get it over with."

Betrayal rang out in the con's voice, his blue eyes staring ahead at their captor but not at Peter. Neal was pissed at him, no words would fix this.

()()()

Neal was angry, seething inside. Peter had lied to him all this time and Mozzie had been right. His initial assessment of the agent had been correct all this time and both of them had fallen for the greatest lie ever invented. Knowing it was truth hurt more, making the con man ignore his throbbing wound as he felt blood seep out and stain his shirt. This man was going to kill them anyway, why not ask for an end to all his pain and all the lies. He saw no other way.

"I know where the box is, Simon. I wanted to be certain of its location but Mozzie finally told me where. Let me lead you to what you want to end this once and for all."

Peter was using Mozzie for his dirty work now? Neal felt even more anger welling up in him but he couldn't do much with this other man holding a gun on them. He would never doubt his friend again, turning slightly to glare at the agent who look more than eager to give them all up for his own well being. Did Elizabeth know her husband was a dirty rotten crook? Was it his fate to trust in men who seemed shining knights on the outside as his father had before the truth slipped out. It was inevitable that all his faith was gone. As Mozzie often told him, never trust in the man but he hadn't listened.

"You're quiet, Mr. Caffrey. A penny for your thoughts?"

The man was addressing him. What had Peter called him... Simon? Their eyes met but he was glaring at the man even more than he was at his former friend. There was a similarity there and now he realized what it was. Mozzie had been worried about a man in a suit following him that reminded him of Peter. This man was related to the agent. He finally saw the similarities and a cold hard laugh left his lips.

"You're related. I see it now. Mozzie said you reminded him of Peter... You're not his father, too much of a difference still but... maybe an uncle?"

He saw the agent stiffen and knew he'd guessed right. Simon clapped, keeping the gun on them despite being impressed.

"Good guess. Yes, Peter is my nephew and a wayward black sheep at that. It's about time he came back to the flock. I was afraid he might not turn you in but things didn't turn out the way he thought with a certain someone so here we are. Now... put these on and we'll exit out the backdoor away from spying eyes."

Simon handed them both cuffs, Peter putting his on and then Neal. The man checked them both, smiling as he nudged them with the gun out the back.

"Since I know you might figure a way out of those cuffs, I'm going to have to make sure you stay put."

Neal didn't know what the man meant until he felt the cloth pushed over his face and smelled a sickly sweet substance just before he passed out. His last vision was of Peter standing with an unhappy frown on his face and a quietly mouthed Sorry before everything went black.

()()()

Peter watched Simon drug Neal but there wasn't much he could do at the moment. He still had his picks, his uncle thinking he was anything but capable of that if Cyrus hadn't looked for them. He remained still biding his time as he thought up the only thing he could do. His phone was back in the building so if Mozzie called back nobody would get the message especially Simon. In that sense he was protecting the little guy whatever he might think of the two cons. El didn't want anything to do with him and that was probably best for now. Simon seemed to know what happened which made him think one of the agents in their group was informing his uncle without his knowledge.

"I'm going to add a zip tie just in case he wakes up. Can't have him escaping but with his trust in you broken, I think he would have stayed around to see why. He really is the loyal puppy even if his master kicked him in the side."

Simon was pushing his buttons but why did he care? He watched the con's limp form pushed into the trunk of the vehicle as both Neal's wrists and ankles were zip tied and tape was pulled over the con's lips. Simon pushed a key into the anklet and removed it legally making it nearly impossible to not implicate Peter if something happened. His eyes remained on the unconscious figure that had trusted him so much. He looked vulnerable like a sleeping child and it ate at him. Much as he hated to admit it, there was something about Caffrey that drew you in and made you feel sorry for him. Maybe...

"Don't make this harder, Peter. Get in the back seat before I change my mind..."

He heard the trunk closed, cold eyes staring back at him as he nodded quietly and slipped into the back seat. The door was closed and he saw there were no handles or locks to be picked but he could get his cuffs free if he worked at it. Caffrey and Mozzie had taught him that much when Lang had kidnapped him and it was a talent he had retained.

"I heard Elizabeth was heartbroken at your revelation. By the look on your face my source wasn't far off..."

The man was smiling, a victorious gleam in the face reflected back at him through the rear view mirror. Peter glared back but he had already pulled out his picks to work on the manacles.

"This is your fault, Simon. Why couldn't you just let me leave? Caffrey isn't your foe. He doesn't know anything about the box nor do you beyond speculation. There may be nothing in it for all you know."

He had to distract as he quietly poked at the keyhole for his cuffs, keeping his irritated and angry face on. Simon drove through the city, smiling at the agent with his own smug expression.

"You were the perfect little patsy until you found her. Now that she's gone and the evidence box will be mine, I really have no need for your services. Consider this me disowning you from the family. Your friends will only know that you ran off with Caffrey and ended up dead. They won't know why and he'll get all the blame. Perfect set up even if it was merely an accident."

The smile annoyed him, Peter fuming which wasn't an act as he worked on the cuffs and felt the first one open followed by the other. He held them in place so they wouldn't jingle knowing he was stuck in the vehicle and would have to tell his uncle of a false depository. It occurred to him that Mozzie had taken him to a storage facility once. It might just work if they went there again.

"You still need me to give you the directions, Simon. Getting ahead of yourself?"

Peter had some pull now, Simon's brow furrowing as he frowned.

"Right... so, where exactly are we going, Nephew? I still have my contact watching your lovely soon to be ex-wife. We don't want anything to happen to her do we?"

The agent froze uncertain if he could go through with this if Elizabeth was still in danger. This was his fight, not anyone elses and yet Simon had to pull in innocents. This was what had made him shy away from being directly involved with so much of what had been done to Caffrey. Much as he didn't want to get involved, the con was innocent and didn't deserve this. He had to make things right if not for himself then for everyone involved.

"No... Gansevoort St... 255."

It was where the treasure had supposed to have been when Neal took him to save Elizabeth's life from Keller. He had been pissed not about the treasure but that the con had put his wife in danger. He would have let the con leave if it had been feasible at the time but he was still under Simon's thumb and now it seemed he still was. He watched the smile on his uncle's face grow broader.

"Good location. I remember that's where your friend in the trunk and his little con buddy had their own treasure. Figures they'd use the same place again. His friend isn't as smart as he thinks he is."

Peter stiffened at the mention of Mozzie's ineptitude. The little guy wasn't half as trusting as Neal had been and a part of him regretted drawing the two men so close to the center of his uncle's web of deceit. If he could only find out who was keeping tabs on Elizabeth...

"Gains is a promising agent. You've trusted him with quite a bit of responsibility of late as has your underlings, Barrigan and Jones. He's got them on a wild goose chase at the moment looking for Caffrey and yourself."

Simon seemed so sure, his information up to date and that's when he noticed the earpiece. Gains must be feeding him information through their and he couldn't hear it. Clever but now he had to figure out his next move. Once they got to the empty warehouse he would have to find someplace to be the hiding place of the evidence box. Other lives depended on him.

()()()

Elizabeth didn't believe it and yet it was plain as day. Mozzie had often asked her about being a front for her husband and now she was beginning to wonder who it was she had married. Peter was a different man and seeing him as such, a darker figure without the usual finesse and honesty she had come to know scared her. Was she wrong to pull away as she went back through the gate to the balcony, the figure of her husband leaving quickly into the darkening evening.

"Mrs. Burke..."

Agent Gains was beside her, a confused look on his face as he talked into his cell again and she heard other footsteps coming closer. Jones and Diana... Hughes... what would they say to this new Peter? Was she certain what it was she thought she now knew about the man she married. Her world was fracturing around her...

"I'm ok. Peter..."

She didn't say anything else, uncertain what to think as she shook off the agent's attempts to comfort her and walked back into the hotel where Diana stood. El looked to both of agents before she pushed passed and went back into the room and locked herself up in the bathroom. Peter wasn't the man she had thought. He was selling out Neal for their own personal happiness and as much as the con man had done wrong, he didn't deserve this. He had truly changed and she refused to see him hurt by anyone much less her husband. Did he know? She worried about Neal's feeling when she heard voices outside and a knock on the door. It was Diana.

"Jones and Neal are looking for Peter, Mrs. Burke. Are you ok in there?"

She sniffed back a few tears, wiping at her eyes and nodding at the door even if the agent couldn't see her.

"I'm fine. Just... give me a few minutes."

She remained in the bathroom a while longer, crying softly and sitting on the edge of the tub. El thought she must be dreaming but no, she was awake. The look in Peter's eyes had told her the truth and that had made her run away from him. Who had she married? This was not her Peter.

"Of course everything's under control... keeping an eye out. Yes. They suspect nothing. If I have to..."

Someone was talking in the bathroom adjacent this one. Did they not realize she could hear them? The voice was familiar but she wasn't sure whom as she continued to listen.

"Barrigan and Jones aren't smart enough to figure it out, Sir. Of course. She's holed up in the bedroom next door. Yes. I'll take care of it..."

()()()

Peter kept his cuffs loose only pushing them on enough to look like he was still chained as the car came to a halt. He remembered the first time he'd seen this warehouse. It was late and he'd rushed home to see that Elizabeth was safe when Keller had left him the burner and an ominous message. Neal was there and he'd been angry, pulling the con outside to confront him out of sight. They'd come here and for a moment he'd forgotten about his assignment and everything else. He just wanted his wife back and nothing else to do with the con man who'd been forced upon him. Simon had convinced him to give Caffrey another chance and he'd reluctantly agreed. Neal had given up everything to help protect and bring his wife home. It made no sense to him but slowly he was realizing his mistake in underestimating Neal's link to him and his wife. She loved him like the brother he didn't have and Peter...

"We're here. Time to pay the piper, Peter."

The agent cringed at his uncle's attempt at humor. He hadn't heard anything from the trunk so Caffrey was still unconscious. That would be his benefit while Peter would be first shot if anything were to go wrong. He had lied to his uncle so it was obvious it would. Simon walked around and let him out, opening the door from the outside as he led him over to the trunk. His uncle opened it with a key fob, smiling down at the still sleeping con.

"Say goodbye to your former assignment, Peter."

The agent acted as if he cared, a part of him regretting his choices now. Simon was not his friend and never had been. Caffrey had been everything a friend should be when he could have run. He needed to make peace, reaching down to touch the con's hand a moment as he spoke the only words that were probably truth.

"This is my fault. I take all the blame, Caffrey... Neal. Have a nice life."

He let go when Simon pulled him aside, slamming the trunk shut and shoving him ahead with his gun.

"Now for your part, nephew. The evidence box..."

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Exciting chapter. We see Peter's true colors and his realization that what he did was wrong. Elizabeth hasn't told the others yet but she's heard things that indicate her husband was right to run. Will she make the right choice? Will Peter and Neal survive Simon's grab for the box? Where's Mozzie in all of this?