(Chapter 8)
Neal was dreaming, the chloroform having knocked him out quickly. He saw himself back in prison, talking to Peter in the interrogation room that day he tried to convince him to give him a chance. There was a purpose there now, something he hadn't noticed before. The agent was pretending not to be interested but obviously he had been told to act normal and not push things. The dream rewound back to when he was in his old apt with Kate, now empty. Peter was talking to him like an old friend but there was a reluctance in the man's voice he hadn't noticed before. Was his mind just playing tricks on him now that he'd heard everything straight from the agent's lips? What was real and what wasn't?
This is my fault. I take all the blame, Caffrey... Neal. Have a nice life.
The voice sounded sad, a genuine sense of concern in their tone. He knew the speaker and a part of him felt a relief to hear the sentiment he'd missed. This was his friend speaking, the man he had come to know. It was Peter Burke and not the stranger who'd blamed him for everything. The con wanted to respond but his body was limp, cold and unresponsive. Someone touched his hands, wrists bound closely from the feel of it as he started to rouse mentally. There was something in those other hands, something pushed into his own and kept hidden. A gentle but familiar squeeze by stronger hands than his gave him reassurance he needed before a loud bang brought him from his dream-like state back to reality and darkness.
He was still not fully conscious but the loud sound had helped to pull him back into the waking world. Neal blinked in the near pitch black gloom only vaguely conscious of where he was. It had to be a trunk of a car, the smell of exhaust evident and of motor oil if not rubber. He gave a muffled cough hearing faint voices just beyond the darkness.
Now for your part, nephew. The evidence box...
Neal blinked knowing who it was that spoke and realizing exactly what Peter had done. The agent might not like him but he was giving himself up for what to the man who held all the cards. What was his name? His mind was a bit addled from the chloroform but he finally recalled hearing Peter call him "Simon." The agent was in danger but more so now. Without the evidence box Ellen had told them about Simon would kill the agent straight away and come back for him. The con grunted some, tape pulled tight over his lips as he shifted in the darkened interior of the car trunk hoping to get free of the cuffs and zip ties that held him. His chest hurt some as he moved, Neal remembering how he'd torn open the injury pushing Peter out of the way. He had to work around the pain, feeling back for his own picks but something was in his hands behind him. He gave it a quick feel and realized it was a small pick set. Peter must have left it for him when the other man wasn't looking.
Thank you Peter...
He felt at the small set finding the right picks and getting the cuffs off. His wrists were still tied as were his ankles as he dropped the picks and dug around the small lock picking kit. He winced when he found what he needed, glad that Peter had told him once about the small blade inside. His fingertip was only slightly nicked by the razor but he ignored it as he worked on the ties and finally broke free. He only sat up a bit, barely 2 ft between him and the floor of the trunk as he cut his ankles free and pulled the tape from his mouth. Now he only had to find a way out of the trunk and he was set. His eyes spied a faint hint of light off to the side away from the locked part of the door, his eyes focusing in on the source. He scooted over to the chink and saw it was a narrow space. He moved as best he could pushing against the item blocking the light source and was quickly blinded by more light as it fell forward. Now he was staring into the backseat of the car. Neal whistled quietly, smiling as he figured out what Peter had done. This was an extra cushion you removed for child car seats and to push stuff into the trunk for storage. It was normally locked in place but someone had conveniently left it open. It was a tight fit but he could probably wiggle through. His head throbbed and the chest wound ached but he bit his cheek as he pushed into the small space and slowly wiggled towards the interior of the car.
()()()
Mozzie looked down at his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. The ringtone wasn't Neal's but he recognized it as his other redirect number that went to any burner he had. It was the Suit calling, his eyes rolling a bit but he checked the message and blinked, a brow rising up in query although he was alone. The Suit seemed awfully anxious to get the box but he ignored it until he heard from Neal. Meanwhile his suspicions of the mystery Suit following him were about to come to a close.
"I got a match, Dante..."
Aaron was sitting off in the corner of a small cozy but mostly empty loft. Books lay in piles everywhere but the room was neat, clean and dust free. Only a single arm chair was in the middle of the book piles in what looked to be an abandoned library or bookstore. He pushed the phone into his pocket and approached the younger man who sat cross-legged on the floor on what appeared to be an old oriental rug. The colors had faded but you could see faint hints of birds, cherry blossoms and a river of some kind as the con moved closer and crouched beside the other.
"Give it to me... I need my sanity back."
He gazed at the screen through bespectacled eyes and blinked, eyes widening in surprise if not mild shock. Aaron turned to look up at him when Mozzie got up and moved away, pacing and talking quietly to himself. This couldn't be happening, not like this. Elizabeth had told him... she wouldn't lie to him and so far... No, they were all in on it from the beginning. He knew that now...
"Dante?"
Mozzie glanced back at his associate and held up a hand, waving him off a bit as he continued to pace, his mind a whirl. This man had the same features around the eyes, the nose similar and yet he couldn't believe it. The Suit had never mentioned much about his family beyond his father during the Yankee incident but this... THIS was bigger than everything. Maybe the white knight they'd come to trust wasn't so white.
"Print that out for me, Aaron. Thanks."
He was dismissing the young hacker and photographer. It was his work that got the picture of his stalker and gave him an insight into Peter and Neal's friendship. It all made sense now and he had to warn his friend before it turned into a tragedy.
"I'll see you around?"
Aaron was talking to him but all he could do was nod without turning, his thoughts still swirling and shifting like so many butterflies in the breeze. This was not how he thought this would end and with the loss of Ellen this made him angry not only for Neal but for himself. He had liked the woman and he had begun to trust Peter more than he thought he could with a Suit indoctrinated in the ways of the upper echelon of conspiracy. He heard the door shut, turning to see that Aaron was gone and he was alone in the dimly lit loft. He moved to the armchair and sat down, exhaustion setting in as he tried to quiet his mind and figure out his next step. He reached for his cell when it buzzed. The ringtone was from a line that was only used by Neal when he was in danger. He picked up quickly.
"Neal?"
()()()
Neal had to catch his breath, the wound hurting more as he did his best to keep from bleeding more. He found some band-aids in the glove box placing them on his wound to keep it closed. He dug around and found several things of interest in the glove box along with a burner phone. Apparently their kidnapper didn't want to give his location away but Neal could quickly remedy that. He glanced down to find his anklet was gone. He had not anticipated that, cursing silently now that he no longer had the anklet to help someone find them. He turned on the cell and dialed quickly.
"Jones..."
The con sighed in relief catching his breath to get a look around and collect his thoughts. Now he noticed where they were and everything seemed to fall into place.
"Who is this?"
The agent sounded annoyed if not suspicious when he hadn't answered right away.
"It's Neal... How fast can you get to Gansevoort Street? There's a large warehouse there..."
He was feeling a bit breathless now, glancing around but nobody had come out of the building yet and spotted him. He wanted to run in and save Peter but a part of him was still feeling betrayed and confused because of his friend's confession. Hadn't he done nearly the same going after Kate? He'd given up so much to go after a pipe dream... Every man had his price. Apparently Peter was no different than he had been then but he was making up for it now.
"Yeah. How did you get that far... Your anklet is showing up as offline. Is Peter with you?"
Neal peeked out the right side window at the warehouse nearby and still saw nothing to indicate he was seen but also no sign Peter was ok. He sighed deeply before answering.
"He's inside with our abductor. I don't know who it is but he has ties with Cyrus. I think he's the one that sent him after us."
The con couldn't turn on Peter even when he knew what had happened. The agent had taken a chance to help him so that proved something about their friendship was real. Neal felt tired, his chest still hurting but he had to help his friend. He wasn't ready to give up yet.
"There was a backer? He must have been watching all the time. I'll get Diana to bring El to the Bureau and we'll go meet you over there. I have the burner phone you're on tracked near where you told me. Hold on, Caffrey."
Jones sounded like the friend he needed, a security he was happy to have as he finished the call and hung up, slipping out the car quietly. He walked up towards the entrance when he realized maybe he had one more card. He dialed one more number, the cell ringing a moment before it picked up.
"Neal?"
Mozzie's voice was the best thing he'd heard in the last few minutes next to Peter's confession during his half consciousness in the trunk. He nodded to the phone, pacing back and forth while he spoke.
"No questions... I need your help. The evidence box... can you get it?"
He had to ask that first knowing it was what everyone wanted. He needed it for his own satisfaction for his past but he'd give it up for his present. Peter was worth helping. There was a hesitation, silence as Mozzie didn't answer. Neal thought he'd lost his friend but then heard a wheeze of breath.
"You can't trust him anymore... I was right but found out too late. I'll pick you up and we can run..."
Mozzie sounded more paranoid than usual, Neal trying to sort out what was going on. His head still ached from the chloroform and he didn't have time to argue with the oddness of his friend.
"Mozzie... who can't I trust? I don't understand. I need that box. Peter's life depends on it."
He was desperate, looking at the entrance to the warehouse and trying not to think of the danger his friend was in as he paced and spoke on the phone. Time was ticking away and he had to be quick.
"The Suit... Peter... he's the bad guy. He's been in their pocket the whole time, Neal. His uncle was pulling strings... His family is behind EVERYTHING!"
Mozzie was freaking out but Neal didn't want to hear. He'd heard enough and he couldn't let his friend's paranoia contaminate him with the doubts he'd pushed aside.
"I know... about Simon. Peter... he gave up everything to help me, Mozz. It wasn't all fake."
He waited to hear what the con would say, knowing he felt the words he'd just spoken. Neal didn't want to choose or run and he could with his anklet off. His eyes glanced down at the unencumbered left leg but he could only think of Peter being there and giving it all up for him. He heard a deep sigh over the line.
"Neal... he's... Are you sure? We can run. I have your half of the treasure in storage..."
Mozzie had stopped himself from rambling on, pursuing a line of thought Neal wanted to chase after and investigate but after everything he had to keep Peter alive. Something told him he had to trust in the man who now may have betrayed him. It was a dying hope, a wish sent with blown out candles and it was all he had to keep him going at the moment.
"Just bring the box. Please..."
He hung up on the con man who'd been there when nobody else was with some regret hoping that Mozzie would bring what he asked. The FBI would be here soon but for now he had to go inside and do some acting of his own. Betrayed as he felt, Neal pushed the code to enter the warehouse, the door popping unlocked as he entered the dimly lit hall with slow deliberate steps.
I'm coming Peter...
()()()
Peter was pushed ahead, wrists still cuffed behind him as his uncle pressed him on. He hadn't thought this through as much as he'd hoped and now everyone would draw their own conclusions. He wasn't going to make it but he had left an out for Neal. The con deserved an escape from all the trouble he'd caused the young man. It was the least he could do.
"So, Peter... you said the box was here. Where did the 4 eyed con hide it? I don't see any place it could be hidden."
Simon had turned on the lights reminding Peter of the time he'd been here with Neal. The treasure had been gone and the con had looked as surprised as himself to be in the empty warehouse. It had not been an act for Neal and now he was in the same spot only he knew there was nothing here. Peter had to be believable.
"He told me he would bring it here. Dammit Mozzie!"
He put all his anger into the curse but he was secretly glad the con hadn't answered him. Simon said he knew about the con's past and yet he had never shared exactly what information about Mozzie's parents he had. Were they still alive? Peter's mind was grasping at straws on everything he could think of as he pulled away enough to find a corner he remembered with a small vault in it. It was open and bare, making his anger justified even if he hadn't expected it to be. Simon ran up and pushed him aside, looking at the safe and cursing inaudibly before hitting the agent across the cheek. Something cut at his skin and he realized it was the ring on his uncle's finger: A large gold pin set in a matching mold but it wasn't an FBI 10 year pin as Peter had. There was another law enforcement insignia imprinted on its surface he knew better than his own.
"You think I'm as stupid as all that, nephew? There's dust here. The box was never here was it? This was all some lame ploy to delay the inevitable. Now I have to make sure you know what I meant by paying for disobedience before I get rid of you for good."
Simon hit him hard, stunning Peter as he felt himself slump to the floor only to be lifted and dragged across the cool cement towards what looked to be a set of pipes next to a large column. He felt his arms stretched back over his head uncomfortably and locked in place as he sat there.
"First, I take care of your boy wonder of a con man."
He glanced up at the man he had admired as a teen, the older brother of his father who reigned over an empire it seemed but was nothing more than a bully and a crook. His vision was blurry at best but he could see the cold snarl on Simon's lips smiling down at him from above. Peter growled back, too tired for anything else. He felt a kick to his side which knocked the breath from his lungs and made him turn and throw up, the pain unbearable. Simon's laugh was cool and without humor as he turned and walked away.
"If you'd only done what you were told. Someone is already taking care of your lovely wife. I hope he was worth it, Peter."
The agent heard those words echoing in the empty warehouse through ringing ears, his eyes closing as his body shut down from the pain. His last thoughts were of his wife forgiving him what he'd done and his hope that Neal had escaped.
()()()
Neal heard footsteps, ducking into a utility closet with quiet ease. He could hear Simon, the man who'd taken them, speaking quietly on the phone but it was too muffled for him to understand through the metal door. Finally a large clang told him that the man had exited out of the building as he slipped back out and headed down the hallway towards a place he hoped never to see again. The fact Mozzie had taken him there earlier seemed highly ironic with the incidents of the day. Everything seemed to revolve around the treasure he longer had and his past. Neal hoped he would be able to be rid of one and answer the questions he had for the other. Right now though, he had to see if Peter was still alive.
The con shuffled along, keeping to the wall in case he had to hide again. There wasn't a means to keep the main door locked should Simon come back. He hoped he could find the agent quickly and get him out but not before he had answers of his own. He was at the door now, the warehouse they had shared in this building when Mozzie had sent him the mysterious card and key. The con had meant well but it had nearly cost him everything keeping the secret from Peter. Now he wondered if the agent knew everything all the time and had played him as he had tried to. The only difference he could think of was that Neal was innocent of the crime but with his past he knew nobody would believe him. Now nothing seemed to matter but he had to keep on task or leave the agent there to his own devices as his anger seemed to indicate. He gave a deep sigh, fighting back pain and betrayal as he opened up the door and slipped inside.
The storage section was huge, empty and dimly lit with emergency lighting. He saw drag marks on the floor along with regular footprints in the dust. He hadn't been here since this morning but the place had been empty since the incident with Elizabeth. Maybe a year had passed since her kidnapping and he never forgot the guilt he felt about being a part of that. She was innocent and he believe for everything that he knew now about Peter, she still was. For her sake he would bring Peter back and let the agent deal with the consequences of his actions to her and his peers. This wasn't just about Neal anymore. Jones and Diana would want to know how far their boss had fallen. They were his friends and he doubted they were privy to anything Peter had done with this Simon character. The agent had manipulated them at the word of his uncle. The man had a reason to go after Neal but why? What did this have to do with the evidence box and his past? His mind was flashing back and forth between what he should or shouldn't do until he came up with a final solution. Neal would save the agent, get his answers and if he had to go back to prison, so be it. This was a wrong he had to right. The Peter Burke he thought he knew had taught him that much. No man was above the law even one he had thought so honest and true.
"I'm... sorry."
The voice was faint but echoed from some part of the empty space. Neal glanced around but saw nothing within view. Maybe he had only thought he heard something? He moved quietly forward, seeing the small vault off to the side open and signs someone had been at it recently. There was a large column beside it as he moved closer to look around its edges.
"... sorry..."
Neal turned slowly, looking just around the large pillar of concrete to find a battered Peter Burke sitting on the floor, head slumped forward against his chest. The con move closer, crouching beside the agent and gently eased his friend's bloodied face upwards. Simon had punched him hard, blood clotting around his nose, a split lip and Peter's temple where an obvious gash still ran light with blood to his neck. Neal wanted to cry despite everything but seeing his friend hurt made him angry and he forgot their differences for the moment.
"Peter... come on, Peter... wake up."
He gently eased the cuffs off his friend, using the picks the agent had left to free Peter as he leaned him back against the wall and checked for any other damage. Peter winced as Neal touched his side to help him sit up better, the agent opening his eyes to stare dazedly up at him.
"He's... Simon... kill you... ki... kill El..."
Peter's voice was weak, raspy and barely audible but Neal heard the last part loud and clear. He pulled out the cell and showed it to the agent.
"He had this in the car. I already called Jones. They're coming to help, Peter. Just hold on."
He saw the agent staring up at him as if in disbelief but finally Peter nodded back, wincing again as he did so and they were up on their feet again. There was a back exit to this place he'd found only with Mozzie's help. Simon wouldn't know about it, the con leading his friend that way as quickly as possible across the empty space. It seemed miles his own injuries aching from supporting his friend but they finally made it to the hidden door, Neal nudging it open while holding Peter. Someone stood in the hallway outside.
"Mozz? What are you..."
He glanced behind the little con man realizing they weren't alone. He had been surprised someone was there but more so that it was Simon holding Mozzie hostage now. This was turning out to be one hell of a day.
"Someone's uncle caught me coming the back way. I told you we should have just ru..."
Mozzie didn't finish his word, a gun cocked behind him as Neal stood there holding up Peter who was slumped against him. Things weren't looking good and now Mozzie was here but where was the FBI? Jones said he was coming and he knew they were prompt. Something was wrong...
"Looks like we're going back inside, Mr. Caffrey. After you..."
Simon waved the gun but it was within inches of Mozzie's skull so he could only nod and comply, easing himself back inside the cavernous warehouse as he kept Peter upright. He heard the door clang shut behind them, footsteps indicating that Mozzie and Simon were following as he continued walking towards the other exit with some effort. Peter was starting to slump more in his grasp, growing heavier and finally pulling the con down to the floor with him as he collapsed, his own wound tearing he thought as he winced before checking the agent.
"Peter? Hey... Peter?"
Peter didn't respond, his eyes closed tight but his face otherwise relaxed as if he were merely sleeping. He didn't seem to be breathing but maybe it was just his imagination as he moved closer to check. Neal blinked, looking back at Simon with a glare.
"He's not breathing..."
()()()
Jones didn't find any sign of Caffrey or Burke, talking to Diana and others as they continued their search and tried to figure out what had made their boss run away. Neal's anklet had been tracked up until it appeared someone had turned it off. This was smelling like the Adler incident all over again but something must be up if they used Peter's key card for the tracker. He just hoped someone would call them about the location as he returned to figure out how they were going to keep Mrs. Burke safe while searching for Peter and Neal.
"Jones... nothing. Everyone's searched the area but there's no sign of either at the shop front. It was empty and for lease. They picked a great place for a kidnapping. No one saw anything and nothing on the traffic cams yet. Still waiting for the rest of the footage."
Diana sounded pissed if not peeved, both agents confused at the senior agent's behavior. Peter had been off lately and even Elizabeth his wife was acting like something had happened. Agent Gains was no help only stating that he took a moment to check on some intel on his cell when he turned and found that Burke and his wife had left the balcony. He watched Burke run away but the agent's wife come back and allow him to lead her to her rooms. By then Diana had returned but Jones had been on the street searching for his colleagues. Something wasn't right about this and like his boss he wanted to trust his gut.
"Let me know when it comes in. I'm going to call Hughes and see what he says. Something stinks and I can't quite figure out what. Has Elizabeth said anything to you?"
He was worrying about Peter's wife who immediately asked to be alone, holing up in her room at the hotel. Diana shrugged.
"She locked herself up in the bathroom and hasn't made a peep. If this were Caffrey I'd think it was an attempt to escape through and air vent but I hear her breathing in there when I walk by and listen. I think something spooked Peter and he couldn't convince her to leave with him."
They talked quietly between themselves, keeping it away from the other agents until they had a handle on what was up. For now the official story was that there may have been a second person working with Cyrus on the premises. Peter went after them and Caffrey after the agent to help. It was all they had at the moment to keep things normal until they had more answers.
"Sir... yes... no I... We were going to bring Mrs. Burke there if possible. Agent Gains is watching her. No... we don't know where they are."
Jones moved away from the crowd of agents swarming the place to speak privately. Diana kept guard, moving between groups of their own to see what was being found. So far both Neal and Peter were off the grid as was their mysterious kidnapper. They had found signs of a third set of footprints at the site they were last believed to be. They could only tell the shoes were high quality men's wear like something Neal would buy but nothing else.
"You want to talk to Barrigan and myself? I understand. I'll get Gains and Mrs. Burke back to the Bureau. Yes sir. Thank you sir."
He hung up the phone, looking over a Diana as she moved back to see what was up.
"What did Hughes say?"
She could see the confusion in his eyes as he pulled her aside and spoke quietly.
"We're taking Mrs. Burke to the station. Gains can watch her but... he said he had to talk to us privately. Something about the case he needed to let us in on."
She blinked at him, eyes flashing with curiosity. This sounded like more than just a typical discussion with their boss. Something was definitely up.
"Let me see if she's out of the bathroom yet. It's been a good 20 minutes since Gains brought her back."
Jones nodded, watching his colleague leave to the next room as he tried to think what it was Hughes wanted to discuss with them. He'd sounded more serious than he'd ever heard him but also concerned. He saw Diana come back out, shaking her head before moving over to see what another agent wanted her to look at. Elizabeth was holed up, something he'd never seen her do with her curious nature which meant maybe she wasn't telling them everything. Gains had seemed oblivious to what was going on, moving down the hall to do guard duty as instructed. Jones knew something was up but what it was... He glanced down as his cell buzzed in his hand, taking the call without looking at the number.
"Jones..."
The line was quiet, a faint hint of someone breathing on the other end and wheezing too. When he didn't hear a voice, he spoke again.
"Who is this?"
The agent thought it might be Caffrey's little friend, his tone annoyed if not suspicious when he didn't get an answer right away. The guy was knowledgeable but it came at the cost of his annoyingly suspicious if not paranoid nature. He could deal but right now wasn't the time.
"It's Neal... How fast can you get to Gansevoort Street? There's a large warehouse there..."
Jones was surprised at the location after everything he was privy to. He didn't know the full story but he knew enough, keeping calm as he continued to chat with the con. At least he knew they were both ok for now.
"Yeah. How did you get that far... Your anklet is showing up as offline. Is Peter with you?"
Neal sighed deeply before answering. This wasn't making Jones feel any better about finding them now. Something was wrong.
"He's inside with our abductor. I don't know who it is but he has ties with Cyrus. I think he's the one that sent him after us."
He sensed a hesitation but knowing there was a person behind this made it more realistic. Cyrus wasn't one to do this kind of operation on his own at this level according to the information they had. Jones didn't ask what Neal was hiding only to track where they were. Peter needed them.
"There was a backer? He must have been watching all the time. I'll get Diana to bring El to the Bureau and we'll go meet you over there. I have the burner phone you're on tracked near where you told me. Hold on, Caffrey."
He heard the phone call end and realized he hadn't told the con to not do anything rash. It was too late to call back so he had to find Diana and move Elizabeth to the Bureau. He had to let Hughes know they would be late for that meeting now that they had a location for Neal and Peter. Diana was out of the room, his eyes roaming to see where she might have gone. He moved over to the closest agent and asked, the female agent glancing around then shrugging.
"She was just here, Agent Jones. I think she went to check on Agent Burke's wife."
She gazed up at him as if waiting for further instructions or questions. When he nodded back without an answer, she went back to her work. Jones walked over to the bedroom door, reaching for the knob when he heard muffled voices inside.
"Open the door, Mrs. Burke. Don't make me kick it in!"
There was so much hustle and bustle of agents out here he hadn't heard much from the bedroom. The walls were thick enough to drown out softer sounds and it was apparent someone else was in the room with Elizabeth and not Diana. Jones thought he recognized the voice as he turned and hissed at a few ages to come over.
"Something's wrong... You... find Agent Barrigan and have her get here immediately. You two, back me up."
The three agents nodded, the one he'd pointed out initially leaving quickly to find Diana while the others pulled out their weapons uncertain what to expect. They were on either side of Jones who was forefront and ready to run in. There was a bloodcurdling scream and the thundering crash of someone breaking a door down as he rushed into the bedroom, the other agents beside him as he called out.
"FBI!"
Jones ran forward, gun ahead of him, the two agents flanking him as they saw what was going on. The bathroom door was smashed in, two small bullet holes obvious in the framework that was left and a man with dark gloves in a suit only a Fed could afford standing by the mess. The figure was frozen at the moment, silence as everyone stopped what they were doing outside. Only a faint muffled crying could be heard of Elizabeth Burke in the bathroom as the man blocking their way and hers slowly turned around. It was Agent Gains. Jones blinked but he didn't let his guard down, motioning for the man to drop his weapon as the other two agents did their job and cuffed the agent. Gains was frowning, not even a guilty look on his face as cold brown eyes stared at them and back at Elizabeth before they took him away. Jones went inside the bathroom and found Peter's wife in the tub curled up and holding her hands over her face. She looked terrified but quickly came back to herself as their eyes met and he helped her out and into the bedroom. She was trembling, face pale as she clung to him and thanked him for coming so soon. After a moment he saw Diana peeking in with a curious look at the both of them as he motioned for her to come in. She saw the shattered bathroom door glancing at the two of them with a wide eyed look of surprise.
"What the... Jones... Elizabeth... What's going on?"
She looked embarrassed almost as if this were her fault for not being present but both Jones and El were shaking their heads. He pulled Diana aside and spoke quietly.
"Gains... he was trying to kill Mrs. Burke. I think whomever sicked Cyrus on Peter and Neal also paid him off to finish the job. I just got a call from Neal. He said they're on Gansevoort in a warehouse. We need to make sure she's safe and then see what's up with Peter and Neal."
He wasn't sure what was happening anymore and at the mention of her husband Elizabeth was looking more upset than she had. Now Jones was certain there was more to this but at the moment his boss' wife was too emotional to ask questions so he could only leave her with someone they'd trust. He knew just the person.
"Call Neal's landlady. She can stay with Elizabeth along with a few agents. I'll call Hughes and let him know what's up. This just got a whole lot more complicated."
Diana nodded to him, taking Jones' place in the bedroom as she comforted her as best she could, making the call to June. Elizabeth was curled up on the bed crying as he left to make the fateful call to their senior agent, Reese Hughes. This case wasn't going to be as easy as they'd all thought initially. Neal was out there on his own with their boss and the brains behind this whole scheme. He glanced at his watch and realized Neal's call had come in quite a while ago. He hoped the con hadn't done anything stupid, his cell in his hand as he dialed the Bureau.
"Hughes..."
Jones swallowed hard before answering.
"It's Agent Jones, sir. Something's come up."
There was silence on the line before he heard the squeak of an office chair and footsteps. Reese was standing which meant he was listening and ready to jump in.
"Go on..."
The not so happy tone of Hughes' voice was softened but still there as Jones told him everything. He heard a deep sigh on the other end and more footsteps. Their boss was pacing his office.
"I'll make sure Gains is put under close watch. Get to Burke and Caffrey ASAP! I'm afraid this ruse had gone on long enough. Tell Diana to bring June and Elizabeth to the Bureau. We all need to have a little chat once this is over."
oOoOoOo
Author's Note: Lots and lots of excitement, revelations and WHUMP! Let me know what you think. I think you'll like the rest of this story. :D