"Andy Crawick is an undercover alias used by an FBI agent multiple times. The alias is not active anymore, but it hasn't been burnt and is still intact. The agent's name who used this alias on several occasions is David Seigel. What's going on? I don't get this."

Peter needed a couple of seconds to process the information. David Seigel and Curtis Hagen.

Why? For What? What connection was there between those two? How could he have missed that so far?

However, these questions lost their importance at once when Peter started to think about the implications for Neal. The agent was shocked.

Apparently, Diana has had the same concerns and voiced her worries. "Boss, is Seigel setting Neal up? I've never figured him playing a double game on us... Is Caffrey in trouble?"

Burke sighed. "I don't know yet. Maybe, there is a valid reason for Seigel to play Hagen. It might be an undercover operation; thus the recent events are sheer coincidence."

Agent Barrigan starred at him blankly. "You can't be serious! Since when do you believe in coincidence faced with so many suspicious facts? Remember, you told me coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and pulleys."

He gave up pretending easy confidence. "I know, I know. This can't be good. I'll have to see to it that Caffrey won't be the fall guy in some shrewd intrigue. Even worse, I'm afraid there's not much time left because Neal's about to put his head in the noose right now."

Peter checked the GPS tracking data again. The signal was still coming from the apartment at Riverside Drive. Only, there has been absolutely no movement for the last 20 minutes. That was ominous and definitely not any help to ease his anxiety.

Sure enough, so far Burke has lacked too many details to connect the dots. Yet he understood there was no time left to waste on collecting more information meticulously. It was a safe bet Caffrey wasn't completely innocent in the matter - but whatever wrong he did it was likely done for a good reason. Time to move on from archeologist to friend.

The younger man was frustrating, driving him crazy on his best days. But the agent did know that the ex-criminal had a good heart and a set of principles that hadn't been there six years ago when he had been just another case file that got dropped on his desk.

Agent Burke grabbed his jacket and phone, heading for the door. Diana joined him. "I'll come with you."

Her boss smiled at her apologetically. "I don't think so! We need more background information about Seigel's connection with the Dutchman. Neal's only chance to get off scot-free is by presenting strong evidence that he was set up. Please don't let me down. You're the only one over here I could trust to complete the research."

Which was indeed correct. Furthermore, he wouldn't put her life or health at risk, being eight months pregnant and all. He felt responsible for her well-being. Therefore, he would take care of here and keep her off the heat as long as necessary. Still he didn't want to make her feel less of an agent. That's why he kept these thoughts to himself.

Peter tried to warn Neal, calling his mobile, three times in a row. To no avail. Damn it, Neal. Answer the frigging phone!

Next, he called June, but she didn't respond either. So Burke called his wife. "El? I know you're in a business meeting in Upper West. Sorry to bother you. I need someone to go over to Neal's right now finding out if he's sitting motionless in his kitchen. It's only a stone's throw away from your meeting ..."

After telling her about the emergency situation, she promised to drop everything and hurry up. The FBI agent himself was already on his way to the auction house.

Meanwhile, Neal has left the taxi three blocks away from his target. He strolled towards the auction house, wearing jeans and a black leather jacket. His rucksack contained high end burglar's tools as well as welding equipment but looked from the outside like a student's book bag.

The con man didn't attract any notice. On the other hand, nothing slipped his attention. He watched out for anything unusual. However, he hasn't spotted any potential danger so far.

Neal focused on the crime at hand. Probably, this job would be a piece of cake. Walking into the building, finding his way down to the lower basement, then wait until after business hours, open the vault, lift the jewels and disappear through the back door into the night. Quick and easy.

Nothing to worry about. Only, his instincts told him something was off. Caffrey suspected that there was more in that heist than met the eye. He has had a bad feeling about this job long before Peter had tried to call him three times. Although, he had muted the phone the missed calls bothered him.

He couldn't talk to the agent right now. Not with all this background noises when his tracking data showed him still in his apartment. The suit was no idiot. Neal might tell him later on that he had been lost in contemplation over a painting. Maybe Burke wouldn't buy that story either, but he wouldn't be able to prove his doubts.

Caffrey checked his phone again only to find a text message from his former handler. ANSWER THE PHONE. URGENT.

The conman cursed. For crying out loud. Peter hasn't cared a fig for him lately. Why now?

He had to complete the job, simple as that. Hagen had promised it would be the last one. Neal hasn't made up his mind yet whether the Dutchman would keep his side of the bargain. Still it was worth a try. He was so sick and tired of these jobs, regularly breaking Peter's trust, risking his own freedom, for what? Being at Hagen's beck and call has led him so far only to taking stupid, insane hazards.

Caffrey sighed trying to shake off his worries. First things first. He would finish this last and final job, afterwards call Peter. Probably, the FBI agent was just in a dither because The Criminal has called in burning to bite his head off.

There were no problems at all to pass the main entrance and enter the lobby. Neal mingled with the crowd of visitors drifting towards the restricted area.

The door leading to the basement was locked. You needed to swipe an employee's card, next type in a pass code to open the door. Thanks to Mozzie's spadework the conman came well prepared with card plus key combination.

It took him only seconds to open the door and find his way downstairs. The basement was like a labyrinth. One could lose orientation easily. But Neal had the layout plan on his phone, so there was no danger that he would get lost.

Checking his phone, he saw a new message from Peter. IT'S A TRAP. DON'T GO IN.

God, how much he hated these messages in all caps. And he hated the fact even more that the bars on his mobile displayed there was no signal strength at all. No way to find out what Peter was talking about.

Could the agent actually have found out about his schemes? Rhetorical question. The suit was smart. But there was no trap. Yet even if there were a trap, how could Burke have known about it - even Mozz hasn't overheard any rumors.

Then again, maybe the message was the trap and the suit has sent it to lure him out. Or maybe this whole Dutchman-situation was driving him on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It wasn't his usual self to be so confused and unable to think straight.

After a moment's hesitation, Neal decided to stick to his original plan. Accordingly, he loaded the basement layout. Get it over and done with as quickly as possible.

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Author's Note:

Thank you all for your reviews.

I was quite overwhelmed by episode 5x03. In a good way, of course. These White Collar writers are so awesome. I just wished I had a fraction of their talent.

Now, I feel a bit bad about making Seigel such a bad guy in my story. But still, I've decided to go through with my initial story line.