Chapter 8

"But I am… Mr. Martin is the one with the money… come on," urged Gus as he walked in and after a moment Neal followed behind.

"Mr. Franklin," greeted Gerald Martin, "I see where my associate was successful in recruiting you into our counterfeiting group…excellent. I have a one hundred dollar bill for you to start with," he added as he handed the money over. "I expect the counterfeit bill a week from today…any questions?"

Neal shook his head and watched as Martin dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

"Come on Neal," Gus said as he hurried Neal along and after one look back at his teacher, Neal followed. Gus and Neal made small talk as they walked out of the building and onto the campus stopping at the bike racks nearby.

Neal continued to talk with him hoping that Gus would let something slip that would lead him to the printing press and the rest of the printed counterfeit money.

Gus cell rang soon afterwards and after a quick response turned to Neal and said, "That was Laura… I was supposed to meet her in the café off campus and got so busy talking with you that I forgot," and left immediately.

Neal watched as Gus started off towards the café, only to dart away when he thought he was hidden from Neal's sight and headed back to the art building. Intrigued Neal followed him back inside and watched from a safe distance as

Gus went through the building until he came to an unused classroom. Neal darted to the door and glanced in, marking in his mind where Gus was standing before walking quickly out of the building. He would check the room out later during the night after all was quiet. He hurriedly got on his bike and rode home.

"Neal, where were you? I was expecting you at the office by four, but you never arrived. I was afraid that you had gotten into trouble when El called to say that you had just arrived home and wanted to see me," Peter said upon entering his home.

"I've been recruited by the counterfeiters to forge a one hundred dollar bill," Neal said with a smile.

"Tell him the other part of your news, sweetie," urged El with a smile.

"I got the highest grade in class today for my forged fifty dollar bill," Neal replied happily as he handed over the project with the A+ and Excellent written in the upper right hand corner.

"That's great news kid. Felt good to work hard on something and be praised for it doesn't it," Peter said before pulling Neal into a hug..

"Yeah, it does…thanks."

"Anything else you want to tell me?" asked Peter.

"Yeah the name of the individual that is running the operation…Mr. pompous ass himself, Gerald Martin, the headmaster's brother," Neal said casually as he dropped the bombshell.

That got Peter's attention at once. "I wonder if his brother is involved as well."

Neal shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, but I followed Gus back into the art building after he told me that he was meeting up with his girlfriend at the local hangout at the other side of the campus after I had been recruited. He went into a vacant classroom. I glanced in while Gus was focused elsewhere and watched him take something from a bookcase and put it back a minute later. I left before he could come out and catch me. I thought I would go back and check it out… might have information vital to catching this counterfeit ring."

"No… not without backup you won't," Peter ordered. He knew his CI and this was something that might get him in trouble if he goes by himself. "We will set it up for tomorrow… you stay away. Do you understand what I'm saying Neal?"

"Yes, but I could be in and out within a few minutes and then we will know for sure," argued Neal. He was getting tired of playing the part of student… it would be different if he was doing it for himself, but that was not the case here.

"Neal! NO!" repeated Peter once again and a bit louder. "You will not like the consequences if you disobey me in this."

"Okay…okay…you don't have to shout. I heard you the first time," groused Neal.

"I know I don't, but it isn't the fact on whether you heard me or not that worries me, but if you will obey me," replied Peter in his normal voice and then turning to his wife,

"So how do you thing we should celebrate Neal's high grade?"

"We could go out as a family and eat at a restaurant of Neal's choosing?" she suggested which shocked Neal that they would care that much.

"Sounds like a plan to me… well son, where do you want to eat and remember I am on a government salary… don't go too expensive," Peter joked.

Neal was touched and suggested a new restaurant that had just opened up in the neighborhood. It was a Bistro and should have fine menu.

Later than night, Neal snuck out of the house. He had told his "parents" that he had better get started on that counterfeit hundred dollar bill and had retired to his room leaving the Burkes to enjoy the evening by themselves.

El had checked on Neal once during the evening and found him hard at work on the forgery, and had returned to Peter's embrace where they stayed watching television, and Neal quietly slipped out to check on the item that he had seen Gus with earlier in the afternoon. He turned the light down low and rearranged his bedding to look like someone was sleeping. He knew he could be back before the Burkes went to bed and if they checked, his camouflage should fool them.

It was ten o'clock and the movie was over with and while Peter let Satch out for the last time that night Elizabeth went up to check on Neal and found him covered and apparently sleeping, but the mother in her had to go and tuck him in.

She pulled down the blanket and sheet to find…a pillow but no Neal.

"Peter… Neal's missing!" she called out anxiously.

Peter ran into the room to see for himself and cursed out loud, "Damn it, Neal," before turning to find him.

"Peter, do you know where he is?"

"Yep… and against my orders he went to Stanton College to see what Gus had. He couldn't wait until he had back-up," he replied angrily.

"What can I do?" asked El as she followed her husband into their room and watched as he got his gun and badge out grabbing a coat on the way out.

"Find your grandpa's leather strop. I'm about to put it to a good use when we return," instructed Peter before leaving. El only nodded sadly knowing that soon Neal was going to be in pain… his dad was going to tear up his ass.