Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to Jeff Eastin, USA Network et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
By the Book
"Peter." Hughes quietly waved his best agent over with two fingers and turned slightly away on the walkway in front of their offices, to keep the conversation more private. "What's our status?"
"The team is still tracking down owners of camcorders and cell phones who have used them around the critical time in the park." Peter nodded towards the almost deserted main area of the office. "So far they have managed to find eight, bringing the devices in as we speak. The tech guys have nearly finished setting up their equipment to analyze the data."
Hughes glanced fleetingly at the conference room, the only space currently buzzing with people and crossed his arms a bit tighter in front of his chest.
"Peter, do we have anything yet to tie Navarro to a white collar crime?"
Peter's little grimace indicated he knew what Hughes was getting at.
"You can't mean to hand this over now, sir," he whispered insistently, "We have a solid strategy and our people already know what's to do. Bringing someone new in will only waste time – time the girl might not have. Besides, Haversham is cooperating with us because he trusts Neal and knows me and Jones. I'm kind of afraid to think of what he will do if he has to face an unfamiliar agent."
"Don't you mean you are afraid of what the two of them will do?" Hughes asked dryly.
Involuntarily they both turned and looked back at the conference room where Caffrey was trying to talk his strange little friend into a chair – and away from a rattled-looking technician – with rather mediocre success. Hughes and Peter winced simultaneously.
"On second thought, don't answer that."
"I won't, sir."
For a moment they looked at each other.
"We can bring this girl home, sir," Peter said earnestly, "I'll take full responsibility for the decision to keep my team on it."
"For that you are not high enough up in the food chain, Peter." Hughes sighed and held up a hand, stalling his agent's next words. "All right. I'll sanction this. But keep Caffrey and his friend in line or there will be hell to pay if the girl comes to harm."
"Thank you, sir," Peter breathed with honest gratitude.
"In LINE, Peter. And for heaven's sake, find something to link Navarro to a white collar crime!"