Chapter 3

Peter had time to brief his agents and Neal on all he knew before he called for Agent Kramer to join them. "Agents and Neal this is Phillip Kramer, head of Art Crimes in Washington, D.C. His city was the first place that our Monet thief hit. He's going to tell us all he knows about the individual in hopes that we can put it to use in catching him or her. Phillip the floor is yours."

Kramer glared at Neal for a moment but quit when it became obvious that it wasn't affecting him in the least and got back on the subject. "From what we could make out from the security tapes our thief is smallish, could be male or female but most likely is young. The paintings that were stolen were small in size making it easy to be taken out. The alarms were triggered as he left the museum as if he wanted us to know that he got in without any notice and only alerting us after the crime had been completed which tells me that he is cocky. After he hit Washington he moved on to Chicago and it was a repeat in every way to the theft in Washington. We figure that he's going to hit New York City next."

Agents Jones and Barrigan got up to report their findings and then it was Neal's turn. "The MET's security is excellent; I couldn't find any way that a thief could break in and I have a question for Agent Kramer. Is it possible that the thief was in the museum before it closed and hid until after security had made their rounds?"

"That possibility always exists and I had the same thought and grilled the security until I was certain that in this case it didn't happen, We ran security checks on all of the security and not a one had even an overdue book fine...they were honest believe me. The same was done at the museums that the thief hit in Chicago and all checked out."

Neal nodded but wasn't satisfied with the answer although he kept those thoughts to himself. He would have to check that out for himself before he would be satisfied. When all information and queries checked out Peter dismissed his agents for lunch.

"Phillip a word please?"

Agent Kramer nodded and followed Peter into his office making sure to close the door behind him before taking a seat. Neal had just happened to glance up and see Kramer close the door to his dad's office and wondered if he was the topic of their conversation.

"Petey, I just can't understand how you could let that kid con you into adopting him. I thought I trained you better than that?"

Peter raised his eyebrow at the use of his hated nickname but didn't mentioned it as Kramer droned on about Neal conning him and El. He wasn't going to let it drop.

"As I said earlier El and I love the kid and he loves us. He's the child we couldn't have and now our family is complete. He has not conned us into anything, not that he hasn't tried to use his talents in getting us to change our minds when it comes to disciplining him when he goes against out wishes. He has turned over a new leaf. He has changed and with his help we have the high conviction rate we now maintain."

"Once a thief, always a thief and once this case is over I will prove it to you and take Neal away with me so his real rehabilitation can take place. He will not con me into believing he is anything other than a thief and when I'm finished with him he will know his place in helping me raise my conviction rate!" Kramer left unaware of the look of horror on his former's student and friend's face.

Peter watched with shock as his former mentor walked down the stairs pausing only at Neal's desk for a few words before leaving the floor and ultimately the building.

As soon as Kramer left Neal was running up the stairs to his father's office with tears rolling down his face. "Dad he says he's going to take me away from you and mom to be with him. Don't let him take me away!"

Peter grabbed his son and pulled him into a hug as he lowered the blinds at his windows for privacy. "Neal he will not be taking you away from your mother and me so get that out of your head. He has this misguided idea that you are partly responsible for the robberies; that you are working with the thief but we know that isn't true. Now all we have to do is catch the real thief and prove it to Kramer…so dry your tears and get back to work…the sooner we can solve this case the sooner Agent Kramer will be out of our lives."

Neal gave him a weak smile and dried his tears before going back to his desk and although he gave it his best effort it soon became obvious to his father that his mind wasn't on his work and so he approached Neal. "Why don't you go home, son. I know that your mother is working from home and that she is making your favorite chocolate chip cookies….and there is nothing like homemade cookies to brighten your day."

The mention of cookies did the job and soon Neal had gathered his papers and with fedora on head, he headed out the building. He quickly hailed a cab and headed home unaware that he was being followed by Agent Kramer, sure that he was going to catch the boy into doing something illegal that he could rub in his former student's face.

I'll show you Petey…that boy is rotten and soon he will be helping me raise my conviction rate, Kramer thought to himself as he readied his camera.

"Mom…I'm home!"

"In here, son; I'm just taking out the first batch of cookies. I have a glass of milk ready for you."

Neal dropped everything on the nearby couch as he made his way into the kitchen. He gave his mom a hurried hug before grabbing the first hot cookie. "Ahh, they're hot" he said as he just as quickly put it back down on the plate.

"Silly boy, I just removed them from the oven…try one of these," El said as she directed him to the plate of cookies on the kitchen table right next to a tall glass of milk.

Neal sat down and grabbed a cookie and bit down as he savored the cookie before finishing it in two bites. "That was good, but you added pecans to it. It made it taste even better…thanks Mom I needed that."

"Your father called and told me about your run in with Agent Kramer….I'm sorry dear, that he is giving you such a hard time."

"He scares me, mom. I know I shouldn't let him scare me so much, I am nineteen after all but he has haunted my dreams since he almost caught me when I was fourteen. He told me that if he ever got his hands on me again that he would break me of stealing by beating me daily until I knew my place….in his constant custody."

"Oh, sweetie, your father would never let that man take you away from us. We will protect you from Agent Kramer so get it out of your head; you are safe."

Neal pondered what his mother had told him as he consumed cookie after cookie and soon his anxiety began to lift and by the time the cookies and milk were gone so was Neal's anxious frame of mind. It was then that Satch appeared with his ball in mouth.

El seized upon the distraction to say "Why don't you take him to that dog park up the street. You could do with some exercise as well after eating all of those cookies."

Satch's sudden whine was the final straw and Neal smiled as he fetched the dog leash as well as a bottle of water before the two left and headed out for some fun. After a thorough workout both boy and dog headed for the shade trees to rest while Satch eagerly lapped from the bowl of water that the park made available for its patrons. As Neal was about to take a swallow from his water bottle he noticed a friend whom he hadn't seen for years walk up. "Hello, Neal."

"Alex, it's great to see you. What are you doing in New York City?"

"Visiting a friend at the moment. How are you Caffrey?"

"I'm fine…I've got a real family now Alex and a change of name. My last name is Burke now…Neal C. Burke."

"Burke…that name sounds familiar. Please tell me that it isn't the last name of that White Collar agent who caught you a couple of years ago?"

"It is…we got kind of close after he arranged for my release once he found out my true age. They love me as much as I do them…it's a good relationship. I even work with him as his CI at the White Collar department. Our closure rate in high since I joined." Neal was proud and wanted to brag to his friend.

"I guess you aren't interested in helping me with a little job?"

"A job…." and then as a light bulb suddenly turned on he asked, "please tell me that you aren't the Monet thief that has hit Washington, DC and Chicago museums?"

When Alex didn't answer Neal had his answer. "Oh Alex, you can't continue…not here…please!"

"I'm sorry Neal but I have no choice…I agreed and now I have to make good my promise. Goodbye, Neal," and with a kiss to his cheek Alex got up and left leaving Neal reeling with the knowledge that his friend was the thief they were investigating. He was so focused on what he had just learned that he was unaware that someone else had walked up until he heard,

"I've got you now boy!"

And Neal looked up into the smug face of Agent Kramer and felt his anxiety return big time. "What do you have Agent Kramer. I've been playing with my dog when a friend dropped by. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Except when that friend happens to be Alex Hunter, a known art thief and your partner."

"I don't know what you are talking about and if you will excuse me it is time for Satch and me to leave, my mom will be worried if I don't return soon," and with calmness that he didn't think he had he reached for the leash and turned to Satch.

"I don't think so boy; you are coming with me. You have a lot of explaining to do to convince me and your father that you aren't up to something." But as Kramer reached to grab the boy he hadn't accounted for Satch who suddenly growled and placed himself between the agent and his master which gave Neal the break he needed to take off.

"Come on Satch!"

Kramer scowled as he quarry took off and he was unable to do anything but watch him and the dog run off in the opposite direction from home.