(Chapter 6)
Peter was surprised when he came home to find Neal sitting at the dining room table seemingly healthier than he had been the day before. It had been 36 hours since the young man had been found and he was already looking more like his old self than the agent could account for. That was a good thing he thought but it seemed rather quick even for the great Neal Caffrey.
"Neal... you look better."
The young man nodded, smiling back somewhat tiredly at the agent.
"Definitely feeling better. El's in the kitchen."
Peter nodded as he dropped off his jacket and keys by the door then moved forward, patting the young man on the shoulder before entering the kitchen where his lovely wife was cooking. Elizabeth turned and smiled, moving over to him as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"Peter... didn't expect you so soon. I was just fixing something for lunch. Neal seems to be feeling better."
She kept her voice low on the last part, both of them turning to look at the enigma that was Neal Caffrey. He should be dead but he was back with them now. He squeezed her close in a hug, their lips meeting a moment before she turned back to the stove.
"Lunch should be ready soon. Wash up."
She kissed him one more time before returning to her task of making lunch and Peter moved out to the dining room to talk to his friend. Neal was quiet, more so than he normally would be but under the circumstances it made sense. He passed by as he went upstairs to wash up and get ready to eat. He heard footsteps following as he reached the top and saw Neal there.
"Any news? I know you're looking into what happened."
Peter motioned for Neal to follow as he entered the bathroom, washing his hands quickly.
"We might have a lead on the why but not who. All of those burglaries you thought might be associated with your dead friend. They have a tie."
Neal looked intrigued as he leaned on the door frame, Peter drying his hands as they left for the stairs and paused before the guestroom door.
"All of the items stolen were former property of the Count du Rudolfe. I don't think he's involved but it's odd that so many of his family heirlooms have shown up here and several other countries. Diana and Jones are still collecting information."
Neal nodded at him with a slight frown.
"They still have you on leave? Can't Hughes do anything about that? Whatever happened, it's my fault."
Peter was surprised how adamant the young man was to protect him but for now they couldn't let anyone know Neal was alive. It would actually make things worse with their superiors although Hughes was doing his best to get the agent active again.
"Hughes is working on it but since your death... things are much more complicated. We know someone is looking for you so we can't let you come back till we know who and catch them in the act. Patience is key here, Neal."
He saw the rebellion in his friend's eye and held up a hand.
"No buts... it's being handled. Now, let's go downstairs and eat. Whatever my wife is cooking smells really good and I'm starving!"
()()()
Two more days passed and Dr. Munroe had come to visit Neal. Everything seemed to be better, his eyes less dilated and his wound healing with no complications. They still needed to do some more blood work to be certain the drugs were leaving his system but for now, Neal Caffrey was alive and doing better than expected. If anything, Neal felt a sense of relief at that thought, the same mirrored in his friends' faces.
"Thank you doctor. We appreciate your cooperation and help."
Peter was walking downstairs with the doctor as El stayed behind with him. Neal was rolling his sleeve back down covering the small cotton wad on his arm taped in place where the doctor had taken the blood sample. It stung but it was worth it to find out what if anything could help him remember what happened. The good doctor had given them a partial analysis of the drugs in his system, some of them very potent hallucinogens but some of them were hard to detect through normal means. Dr. Munroe was getting a colleague to work on the other ones and tell him what Neal had been given. The cocktail was one that didn't leave the system quickly but they would find the solution. It was just a matter of time.
"Neal... I was going to order some food. Are you hungry?"
He looked up at her, Elizabeth's blue eyes staring at him with concern. He knew she was still nervous around him and he didn't blame her for that. It was a miracle he was alive and more so that she still cared about him after everything he had been told had happened. His memory still refused to yield anything beyond subtle hints and feelings that soon disappeared like the fog in sunlight. He put on his best smile and nodded.
"Yeah..."
She nodded back at him, reaching to hug him ever so gently before leaving the room. He continued to sit there on the edge of the bed unable to remember what had happened to him before he'd woken up here when he heard a cough and looked up to find Peter standing there.
"You ok? You seem far away. Remembered anything yet?"
The agent walked into the room and sat beside him as Neal continued to fiddle with his sleeve. Peter finally reached over and buttoned it for him as Neal nodded back in thanks.
"You sure you're ok?"
Peter's voice was genuinely concerned but what could Neal tell him? He'd been having nightmares but he remember nothing since that day on the roof at the FBI building. He shrugged.
"I'm fine. Just tired. Head's aching a bit but I can't take much of anything since Dr. Munroe is still finding out what's in my bloodstream. Maybe I'm detoxing... El said something about lunch?"
Peter smiled at him, patting his shoulder as they stood.
"Yeah, I think she was ordering in. Not sure what though. Come on, we can sit on the back patio. Satchmo needs some air."
()()()
The lunch had been take out from a local Chinese restaurant. Everyone was happily full as they sat on the back patio drinking iced tea and enjoying the weather and company. Peter stood up and excused himself as his cell rang leaving El and Neal alone. Elizabeth seemed to be doing better at handling her fear around Neal but he was still worried for the both of them and their friendship after what had happened. He stayed by the window to observe as he took the call from Diana.
"Boss... you might want to come to my place. Jones is here and we have something you need to see."
Peter watched his wife smiling and laughing at something Neal said, the scene making him feel better at having to leave them alone. It wouldn't be for long but if Diana had information about the case...
"Give me a few minutes."
He hung up and walked back out to where his CI and wife were still talking jovially about something.
"I heard laughter. Should my ears be burning?"
El reached up and hugged him, slapping him playfully on the arm before kissing him.
"We were discussing an event I've been working on. The client is absolutely anal about every detail. I told you about what happened."
Peter had to think a moment before he smiled and nodded.
"Right... everything has to be feng shui'ed with mirrors all around. Sounds like a mental case but if their paying I guess it's ok."
El stuck her tongue out at him before he coughed and told them the news.
"I have to go... shouldn't be too long but something came up I need to look into. Call me if you need anything."
They both looked at him curiously, El comfortable and calm as he hugged and kissed her one more time before he left. He peered back out the window at the two as they talked and he knew that everything was going back to normal. Now if they could just figure out what had happened to Neal, everything would be normal.
Peter drove to Diana's apartment, knocking on the door and hearing quick footsteps.
"Peter... you won't believe what we found."
He had barely dropped his coat on a chair as she walked over to him with what looked like a photo. She handed it to him as he held it up and gave it a good look. The man was in his late 40s to early 50s with salt and peppery hair and green eyes. He was hard to miss.
"This our perp?"
She nodded.
"Andre Sorenson. Father was German; Mother was French. He works with Count du Rudolfe as his personal assistant. I'm thinking he cooks the books with all those missing items he keeps stealing back."
Peter nodded as he gave a nod to Jones and joined the two agents sitting in the living room. Diana handed him a file with more information that he quickly read through. Peter whistled through his teeth.
"Our boy's been busy. When Neal and his friends did their little con against him, he was pretending to be his boss."
Jones interrupted.
"When the cat's away... Sorenson owes money to the Russian mafia, the Japanese mafia... he's a regular poster boy for Gambler's Anonymous but with his diplomatic status from his boss, he's fairly immune to most local laws. That's what's been keeping him alive so far. He's basically been selling off several rare pieces to pay off his debts then stealing them back before the boss notices."
Peter nodded, rubbing at his chin.
"Perfect cover. He probably tells the Count that whatever item is currently missing has been misplaced or is out for a scheduled appraisal or cleaning. No wonder he's interested in Neal. He knows a good asset when he sees it. Make a copy of all of this for me so I can take it to Hughes. Good work! I think Neal will soon be making a return trip over the river Styx courtesy of Charon himself."
()()()
Neal helped Elizabeth clean up after lunch, offering to make coffee once they had finished washing up the few dishes. El went to sit on the sofa while he got the coffee and brought it back to her, sitting nearby. Satchmo yawned as he moved closer for some attention, El casually petting him as they talked and sipped on the coffee.
"I'm glad you're feeling better Neal. Peter... he won't tell you this but he was... (yawn) having nightmares."
She started to yawn quite a bit, leaning back in the chair as she continued to sip on the coffee and finally he took the cup from her.
"He... missed you, Neal. (yawn) I... missss...ed... you."
Her voice was trailing off as she slumped back against the sofa and Neal smiled. He took his cup and hers and went back to the kitchen, pouring the contents of Elizabeth's cup into the sink to reveal a white residue underneath. His manner seemed stiff and forced as he rinsed the cup out, washed it and then refilled it with regular coffee. He put both cups in the sink before pulling something off the counter and walking back towards the now sleeping Elizabeth Burke. She looked so peaceful but something in him leered at her, the item in his hand gripped tightly as he approached her. He was about to get closer when a growl distracted him. Neal looked down to see Satchmo, ears pulled back and eyes narrowed as the dog looked at him as if he were a stranger.
"Satchmo... come on boy..."
He reached down with his hand, the one holding the item behind him but the dog bared his teeth at him, nipping his hand so he cursed.
"Damn mutt!"
Neal cursed, drawing the item from behind as the dog whimpered but continued to block him from touching Elizabeth with a low growl. He was supposed to do something for Soren. Nicholaus was supposed to get rid of the past and make way for his future. He held the long kitchen knife in his hand, the metal glittering before him but Satchmo didn't flinch. Neal knew the dog was docile but he obviously cared for his owners enough to keep Nicholaus away. The con backed away, his head aching a bit as he dropped the knife to the coffee table before blinking and looking around.
"Coffee... we were... drinking coffee."
He blinked again, Neal's head clearing some but he didn't understand what was going on. Elizabeth was slumped on the couch and he looked to see his hand was bleeding some, a low whine coming from Satch as the dog moved closer and licked his hand.
"Satch?"
The dog was calm now, moving aside as Neal gently lifted El's legs onto the sofa and made her more comfortable, pulling a small blanket over her before he stepped away. Satchmo stayed by her side, eyes watching the con curiously before Neal moved back to the kitchen to wash up. He didn't remember cutting his finger but when he looked at it, it looked more like he'd been bitten. He shrugged, wrapping a small bandage around it and moving back into the outer room. He heard a car parking outside and footsteps nearing as the sound of a key was pushed into the front door. Peter was back. Neal pulled another cup from the cabinet, filling it with coffee as he retrieved his from the sink and freshened it up. The door opened up and he heard Peter call out.
"El I'm... home."
Neal peeked out, motioning at the agent to join him in the kitchen. He handed him coffee keeping his voice low.
"El was tired and crashed on the couch. So... what did you find out?"
He saw Peter take a sip of the coffee and smile, taking another before he answered.
"Lots. Our kidnapper's name is Andre Sorenson. He's the assistant for the Count du Rudolfe. I don't think the good Count realizes his number one man isn't looking out for his interests. Waiting on a warrant but we'll be contacting the Count about Sorenson."
Neal blinked but nodded. He hadn't heard the name before but it made sense someone close to the Count would be pretending to be him. He motioned for Peter to follow him upstairs. They tiptoed passed the sleeping Elizabeth and Satchmo who seemed to be guarding her. Neal didn't understand it but the dog watched him warily as both men went upstairs. He led the agent into the guestroom and pulled out the clothes they had found him in.
"I just remembered something. I noticed that Elizabeth had sewn my shirt but... Yes here it is."
He lifted his jeans, pulled out the pocket of the right pant leg revealing a tear in the lining. Peter blinked and nodded.
"He had you steal something but it's been lost. You must have dropped it somewhere between coming to and us finding you. Do you remember what it was?"
Neal shook his head, watching the agent continue to sip at his coffee. Peter started to yawn, sitting on the edge of the bed as Neal joined him. He watched his friend take more sips and yawn again, Peter's eyes drooping as Neal continued to observe.
"You look tired, Peter. Maybe you should take a nap."
The agent shook his head, stifling a yawn as he tried to get up but dropped the coffee mug as he wavered on his feet. The mug shattered on the wooden floor, liquid pooling with a slightly white residue on top. Neal felt a smile curve his lips as he put his own cup down on the nightstand, standing up as he helped Peter sit back on the bed and lay down. The agent was yawning in earnest now, eyes rolling loosely in their sockets as he gazed up at him curiously.
"I'll clean this up. You need to rest, Peter. You've made a mess of things and I'm going to fix it."
Neal was smiling broadly now, coldly almost he thought. Nicholaus was going to make things right. Peter was the reason everything had happened to Neal. Kate was dead because of him and Mozzie had been shot...
Peter stared up at him, brown eyes dilated from something Nicholaus had put in the coffee. It was a strong sedative he'd taken from the doctor's bag when he wasn't paying attention. Nicholaus was a smart person. Smarter than the late great Neal Caffrey and he would find the item that Neal lost and get back to Soren. Peter tried to speak, eyes looking up at him begging...
"Ne... Ne... al..."
Nicholaus reached across the helpless agent and grabbed up a pillow, holding it over Peter dangerously. Neal was nicely tucked into the background so his job would be easy. Nicholaus wouldn't feel a need to spare the agent's life.
"Thanks for reminding Neal where I left the item Soren needs. Neal is no longer necessary now. You're a much better agent than I figured but it's a shame you put so much trust in a con."
()()()
Elizabeth woke up with a horrible headache. She felt like she had been drugged as she fought the urge to continue sleeping and sat up. Satchmo whined beside her as she wiped at her face and glanced around the room. She was on the sofa in the living room but she didn't remember laying down. She'd been talking to Neal over coffee but that's all she recalled. Her memory was a bit fuzzy as she pushed herself up to her feet, the room spinning a bit before she stumbled towards the stairs and up. Her stomach felt a bit off as she made it to the bathroom, Satchmo in tow and threw up in the toilet. Maybe she'd gotten food poisoning? Elizabeth wasn't sure why she felt so poorly as she finished up, flushed the toilet and promptly washed her hands, face and rinsed her mouth. Her head ached slightly as she exited the bathroom, noting Satchmo looking from her to the guestroom door.
"Satch... what's wrong?"
The dog was whining still, standing by the door as she approached and opened it up.
"Peter?"
Elizabeth moved forward to the bed to find her husband slumped across the bed and the room empty. She sat on the edge of the mattress and gently shook Peter till she heard a groan. On the nightstand was a cup of coffee and in the trashcan the remnants of another. Something about the broken cup made her think back to Neal before she had fallen asleep.
"Peter... wake up."
She was gently nudging him but he was slow to respond. El started to look around the room noting a few things that made her want her husband to wake up now.
"Peter... you need to wake up!"
She slapped his face and heard a louder more audible groan. Peter was waking up.
"What did I do? I'm sorry, El."
She smiled at his apologetic tone but was more relieved he was coming to finally, brown eyes looking up at her with large pupils. She helped him sit up as he yawned.
"I feel like I slept for a week, hon."
Peter's tone was still rather sleepy but she noted his eyes looking around the room curiously.
"El... why am I sleeping in the guestroom?"
He looked confused as she had been when she woke up but Peter needed to know what she had noticed.
"Honey... Neal's gone. All his stuff is missing."
She was pleading with him to notice, his eyes looking from hers to the room again and then back again as he blinked a few times and nodded.
"Neal... I was talking to him before I felt sleepy."
She watched him look at the clock then look back at her.
"I've lost an hour. Are you ok, El?"
He was awake and worrying about her as she nodded back, helping him to his feet. Peter swayed a moment before getting his balance. They both knew something was wrong, turning as Satchmo whined.
"Hey Satch... do you know something?"
The dog looked upset but they weren't sure about what as they watched him move into the hall, pausing for them to follow. Both followed the yellow lab down stairs and to the back door. Peter moved ahead of El, telling her to stay behind him. The agent moved the dog aside as he pulled the door open and glanced outside. Nobody was there but a familiar overnight bag lay on the ground of their small patio.
"Neal's bag... El, something's wrong here. I don't understand what but... I have to call Diana and Jones. Pack some clothes. We're going."
()()()
He dropped the pillow, holding his head as it started to ache. Neal didn't know what was wrong, stumbling away from the bed without realizing who was there as he packed up his bag and left the room. Something told him he had to go. Someone was waiting for him.
Neal reached the bottom of the stairs and saw El still sleeping on the sofa. Satchmo growled at him then whined as he felt a certain duality in him. He had to go before something bad happened. He had to leave now before Nicholaus hurt someone. He didn't know who this other person was but they wanted to hurt his friends as he moved to the back door and exited. He had barely stepped out onto the back patio when hands pushed him hard against the side of the house, knocking the breath from him. He looked up to see Chris standing there.
"Chris?"
A fist hit him hard in the stomach, Neal pitching over as the pain overtook him. He was trying hard to catch his breath as hands lifted him up and pushed him back against the side of the house. Chris looked at him coldly, no words from his lips as he held him up and stared at him with those hazel eyes of his. Neal only saw the man that he'd left behind and the guilt he felt at having to do it.
"I'm sorry, Chris."
The dead man looked at him but there was little change in the expression before a cloth was pressed to his face. He struggled some before the scent went to his head and Neal slumped into near unconsciousness. He was just aware of someone lifting him over their shoulder as he was carried away from the Burkes' home and then everything went black.
()()()
Diana and Jones showed up within half an hour with Hughes and several other agents. Peter had taken the cup from upstairs in the guestroom wastebasket and put it in a clean baggie for forensics. He hoped that it would show something had been in the coffee. It was the only explanation for his sudden sleepiness and his wife's. Neal had drugged them although why was still a mystery.
"Peter..."
Hughes pulled him aside as the rest of the agents searched the house and back for clues to what had happened and where Neal may have gone.
"Reese, something doesn't sit right here. Neal's non-violent. You know that and yet he's already drugged both of us for reasons I can't fathom. Someone's still controlling him and they found out he was here and took him."
His boss nodded, moving him over to the coffee table where a scene card sat. Peter glanced at it and the item wrapped up beside it.
"No... Neal isn't a killer. This proves it! He didn't hurt El. He..."
Peter turned away, thinking or trying not to think about what the kitchen knife meant. Neal didn't hurt people. That wasn't his MO or in his nature. Hughes put an arm around him as they walked away and he saw his wife sitting outside in a cruiser. He hoped she didn't know about the knife, his expression paling as he looked at his boss.
"Don't worry Peter, El doesn't know what's up. If you want to tell her..."
Peter shook his head. There was an explanation. Maybe someone else was here physically coercing their friend. It would explain a lot although his mind was still fuzzy from their original conversation. The drug was still giving him headaches, Peter sitting down at the dining table as Reese joined him.
"We'll put you both up in a safe house. Obviously the people who wanted us to believe Neal was dead are coming back to clean up any loose ends. Diana and Jones let me know what they found. We've already sent a request to talk to Sorenson. The Count is being very cooperative now that he knows what's going on."
Peter felt a sense of relief but they still didn't know where Neal was. Soren wouldn't be foolish enough to have Neal too close at hand. Hopefully an angry Count would get the man nervous enough to admit to something.
"Thank you Reese but I need to work on this. El can go to the safe house."
Hughes raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I wasn't going to tell you this under the circumstances, but you've been placed back on duty. The powers that be finally admitted they made a mistake. Don't make me bench you, Burke. You're too close to this."
Peter leaned in close, keeping his voice low despite the anger rising in him. He had to be there when they found Neal. Reese must understand that.
"I have to be there, Reese. I'll make sure Jones and Diana do the work but I need to be there. Neal needs someone to bring him back. Please..."
Hughes was looking like he was going to disagree as he stood up and finally nodded.
"Jones and Diana are in charge of the investigation, Burke. You're there for observation and assistance. Nothing more or I will bench you."
Peter stood and thanked him as they walked to the door.
"Say good-bye to your wife. She'll be safe where they're taking her."
()()()
Chris didn't want to take Neal back to Soren but it was his task. They had figured out the agent had him by following his trail from the night he had vanished from the office. Neal slumped against the car door on the floor of the backseat, arms bound behind him with zip-ties, mouth full of gauze and covered with tape. He was expected to bring the con back but he had checked and the item had not been found. Soren would not be happy. They needed the item or everything would go bust.
He heard a groan as he parked the car where he had disappeared the day he nearly ran both Neal and the agent over. He pulled the semi-conscious con from the backseat, threw him over his shoulder and made his way into the building there. He walked down a small empty corridor of brick till he came to a dead end. His hand felt the wall till a part of the wall pushed in and an entrance appeared with a staircase going down. Neal groaned again as he closed the entrance up and headed downwards. The walls were stone, the stairs apparently old and worn from years of use. Chris continued to the bottom where the sound of a subway passing nearby made the structure shudder ever so slightly as he stepped out into an empty tunnel. He crossed the empty tunnel and up onto the opposite side where a maintenance door opened, two men peeking out.
"You found him. Good! Is the item on him?"
Chris shook his head, both men looking a bit upset as they took the limp form of Neal Caffrey from him.
"What about the agent and his wife?"
He shrugged as he followed them into the door and closed it. They followed the maintenance tunnel to another stair and up into a building and corridor. Chris let the two men take Neal down the hallway as he made a motion he was staying behind. When they were gone, he moved into a room surreptitiously, closing the door behind him.
Alex?
He was looking at the figure on the bed. Soren kept her dressed up as she had been the night he died. Chris remembered the dress she had worn when they had gone to rob the Count. Alex had looked beautiful. He had snuck away from helping Neal to see her but the door had been closed and he could only hear her laughter on the other end of the door. He wasn't jealous, the Count only a mark, his manner more protective as he tried not to think of what she was doing. Chris had moved along, guards coming so he had ducked into a side room.
"The Count should be home soon. Andre told us to warn him if Rudolfe showed up early. He's in the Count's quarters last I heard."
The guard's voice was low but his words held some other meaning as the other guard piped in quietly.
"He's with a woman. You know he likes to pretend to be the Count when he's away. Not many people know what Rudolfe looks like."
They snickered some as they passed by the door he hid behind. He heard them pass on further, relieved they had not caught Neal or found Alex. He was about to leave when he turned and saw something glittering on a table in the room. It was underneath a glass case and much prettier than the item they had come for. Chris couldn't help but move to look at it, the gold frame attracting his attention. He lifted the glass to take a closer look when he saw the flashing light and realized he had set off an alarm. He wondered if Neal had already taken the item they had come for as he quickly ducked out of the room. He no longer heard voices from the room next door as he looked up and down the hallway for Alex. He hoped she had made it to the rendezvous point as he high tailed it up the stairs to the roof.
Chris snapped out of the memory, trying to remember what he was up to as he heard voices outside. He couldn't be found here. Soren... He was scared of the man despite his need for revenge. The man could bring back the dead. He had powers to change people. Chris had been one of those that had returned... he had seen them begin the process with Neal. He couldn't go back to the other side. The cold... the darkness... he wanted to be with Alex. He wanted his old life back.
"Christophe? Where is he?"
He had to get out of the room before they found him. They were at the front door so he could sneak out the back. The door had barely shut when he heard them speaking inside.
"She's still under the influence. Good. I want her in my rooms. She thought herself smart to fool me then. The pretty fence will not be able to escape me this time."
A memory hit him as he heard them speaking. He remembered the voices in the hallway the night he died. They had talked about the Count not being the real one. Had that been Soren? Chris tried to remember but the thought left him as he moved out into the back hallway and tried his best to act casual. Nobody was in the corridor as he moved to his room and slipped inside, leaning on the door. They wanted to hurt Alex. Use her. Soren had never mentioned that when he said he would take the thieves. Chris knew he was going to get his revenge on Neal but Alex... she was his. She wasn't the one who abandoned him that night.
"Christophe?"
He heard the knock and voice, waking from his thoughts and collecting himself as he turned to open the door. He saw Soren there, the man smiling kindly at him.
"Christophe... you found our lost thief. Good work!"
He felt a smile on his lips he didn't feel but he was good at faking how he felt. He was going to run away with Alex soon. He was alive now wasn't he? Neal would be out of the way...
"The item wasn't on him?"
Chris shook his head, moving away from the door as Soren moved forward and into the room. There was a curious look on the man's face he didn't quite understand. Soren was nervous about something.
"Shame... We really need that item. Something's... something's come up. He should be conscious soon and then Nicholaus can lead you to the item in question. You will help him and bring it back to me. I have a meeting to go to."
Chris nodded, Soren still seeming more nervous than he had been in the past. Something had happened if the man who gave him life was tense. He had never seen the man upset in all the time he knew him. The confident air was broken.
"Good. Now, I will send him here and you will find what I need before I get back."
()()()
Peter had said his good-byes to Elizabeth, hugging her and letting her know he would find Neal and be back with her soon. She didn't seem happy about leaving him after what had happened but it was his job. El had married him for better or worse.
"Peter be safe, hon."
They hugged and kissed before the cruiser took off and he was left alone with the agents finishing up their search of his home. Diana and Jones walked over to talk to him.
"Boss, she'll be ok. How are you holding up?"
He turned and wiped at his face, head still hurting some from the after effects of whatever Neal had given them. He was still thinking about the knife on the coffee table and trying not to as he waved them over to the kitchen. He found a bottle of aspirin in the cabinet and poured himself a glass of water to take the pills before he answered them.
"I'm fine. Any clue who took Neal or where?"
Jones nodded as he led them over to the dining table and pulled out his laptop.
"Surveillance cameras. Remember the disappearing act near June's? He did it again only this time... we saw where he went."
Peter sat up, more awake than he had been despite the headache.
"Tell me more..."
Jones and Diana smiled as they sat on either side of him.
"There's a building for lease near where the car he had was abandoned this time. We found indications of old prohibition tunnels underneath. We had to go around through the subway but it led to a locked maintenance door. The city doesn't have the key so we're working on a warrant to get it open by the owners of the building it belongs to."
Peter smiled slightly. They were going to find him. Neal was going to be safe. They all would be. He felt some relief and a hope filling him when he heard the knock. They all turned, both junior agents turning with their guns ready as Diana approached the back door. She peeked out the curtain and Peter watched her stiffen slightly.
"Boss... you won't believe who's here."
He stood, moving towards the door and peeking out at a familiar figure. Any other time he might just keep the door locked but in this case, they might be useful.
"Let me talk to him."
Diana moved aside as Peter opened up the door and peered out at the figure who'd come to be as much a part of their lives as Neal.
"Mozzie..."
The little guy looked up at him with his usual nervousness, glancing around as he nodded.
"Suit... mind inviting me inside? There are eyes out here."
Peter glanced around his backyard curiously then back at the little guy before he nodded and moved aside. Mozzie slipped inside beside him pausing as he noticed the other agents moving around in the background, the evidence site cards and of course Diana and Jones. He pushed back a bit against the wall as if he were about to get mugged as Peter closed the door and locked it.
"Junior Suit and Lady Suit..."
Mozzie was watching the agents in the background finishing up whatever they had been doing as he moved a bit closer to the kitchen table and Peter.
"Why didn't you tell me you were having a Suit convention? Maybe I should come back later..."
Peter gently grasped his arm, Mozzie flinching a bit before pausing and turning back.
"You obviously have something for me. Tell me what it is."
Mozzie looked up at him with a conflicted look before finally nodding back and pulling something from the bag around him. Peter knew that bag all too well.
"Here... I heard you were having June's doc analyze the contents of Neal's bloodstream. My friend did that before he... well anyhow... Here."
Peter blinked but took the paper and gave it a look before passing it to Diana and Jones who whistled.
"Make a copy of this and send it to forensics and see who would have had access to these types of drugs. These aren't something one gets from your neighborhood pharmacy."
Mozzie coughed.
"You can keep that, Suits. I have my own copy. I intend on getting vengeance in my own manner."
Everyone looked at him, Jones and Diana moving away to make phone calls, Jones handing the copy to a passing agent after they'd made a quick snapshot for their records. Peter pulled the little guy aside into the kitchen, keeping his voice low.
"Neal's alive."
Mozzie looked at him with an incredulous look and then a glare that made the agent take a few steps back.
"Right... and the moon landing wasn't faked! Don't try to patronize me, Suit. I saw the death certificate same as you. He was cremated. Nobody comes back from the dead short of a messiah or Elvis!"
The little guy was getting upset, Peter pulling him further into the kitchen to calm him down.
"Mozzie... Neal IS alive. He called us a few days ago out of the blue. Diana and Jones saw him as did Elizabeth. He's been staying with us till we figured out who it was was after him."
He saw the wheels turning in the little guy's head and the a kind of moment of revelation.
"So this isn't some kind of trick? Why didn't you contact me sooner!"
Peter rolled his eyes at the con's indignation considering he'd washed his hands of everyone once Neal's death had been 'confirmed.'
"We didn't know how to get to you but we sent word with June."
He felt for the little guy not knowing but he had pretty much cut ties when Neal had died. Peter noticed the little guy nodding, moving over to the coffee maker and then at the agent.
"Mind if I make some coffee?"
Peter blinked as he realized what he was asking, shaking his head.
"No go ahead. I need to make sure things are ok out there."
He made to leave when he felt a hand tugging at his sleeve and turned.
"I may have been a little rash before..."
Peter smiled and nodded, the grip on his sleeve loosening as Mozzie shrugged back and started to set up the coffee maker. He went out to check on the progress of the investigation as he noticed most of the agents were already gone. Mozzie had tried to apologize which was better than his usual accusatory nature. He could actually use the little guy's help now that he thought about it. He waited till all the agents had left, one staying outside as a guard, till he went back to talk to Mozz. The con was sitting at his dining table with two cups of coffee. He pushed one towards Peter.
"Thanks. I have a few questions about what happened to Neal."
He saw the little guy stiffen but held up a hand.
"I just want to know what he told you about this con with Alex. He told me the gist of it but I need more details if we're going to catch the guy responsible. I already have the real Count helping. Apparently the person they robbed wasn't him."
Mozzie blinked at him, leaning forward with a most intrigued look.
"So someone was posing at the Count? Tell me more, Suit."