Chapter 4

Peter was at his desk grimacing over the bad office coffee when his phone rang. "Hi El, is our son feeling better now?" Peter listen to her reply before responding.

"What! It's been a couple of hours since he and Satch left for the dog park? I'll have Jones check is status and bring them home. Look honey I see Phillip coming in and he has that smug look. I'm sure Neal is okay. Love you, too."

"Phillip, what can I do for you?"

"I got evidence now Petey that your boy is dirty." Kramer produced his phone and started the recorded movie. Peter sighed as he took the phone to see what had Phillip so excited. He saw Neal and Satch at the dog park playing before seeking the shade and rest.

"If this is all you have then all you have proven that Satch was having a great time with my boy."

"Keep watching…the good part is about to begin."

Peter turned his attention back to the recording to see a young woman stop and sit next to Neal. She was a brunette but the picture quality wasn't all that good and he couldn't even make out enough features to make a positive identification. He saw then talk for a moment before the girl left. "Where is your evidence Phillip; all this tape shows is that Neal met a young woman…that's nothing new for Neal," as he handed the phone back.

"That young woman is Alex Hunter; surely you know that name?"

"Alex Hunter? Of course I know that name. She's a well-known art thief, in fact if I hadn't caught Neal when I did he would be in the same class. The only think is that her specialty is priceless artifacts like statues and figurines; I've never heard of her taking paintings."

"Well, all I know is that I have her on tape talking with your son probably about their next heist."

"Your evidence won't stand up in court. You can't even make a positive ID of the girl."

"I can testify to her identity and you can ask your son about the girl's identity."

"Like he's going to tell you anything after the terror you have put him through since he was fourteen," and then as a light bulb suddenly went off and Peter said. "You confronted Neal about this, didn't you?"

"Yes and he would be here with if it wasn't for your dog."

"What about Satch?"

"He prevented me from taking the boy in, that's all."

"He was just protecting Neal. He probably sensed Neal's fear and acted on it," replied Peter with a smirk as he caught sight of Neal and Satch coming onto the floor. He was relieved when he saw Diana act and pull Neal away to a side office before Kramer had a chance to see them.

"Look if that is all you have, then you have nothing to prove that my son was anyway connected to any theft."

Kramer stood up suddenly and headed for the door pausing only to say, "Next time I will have the proof I need to take him away from here and when I'm finished with him I will have beaten all thievery from him," and then he was gone leaving a very upset father behind.

As soon as Peter saw that the coast was cleared he called Diana to bring Neal to him and while waiting Peter called his wife. "El…Neal is safe. He's here and after a little talk I'm sending him home…oh, and Satch is with him."

Peter felt a warm feeling overtake him when Neal and Satch entered his office. A quick hug welcomed Neal. "Have a seat son, we have much to talk about."

Neal nodded as he sat in front of his father's desk.

"I understand you had an eventful day after leaving home. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine now and thanks to Satch I was able to come here on my own instead of being dragged here by Agent Kramer. Dad, Satch deserves a new toy for what he did today."

"I heard…Agent Kramer was just here with physical proof that you met with Alex Hunter today while at the Dog Park."

"She found me, Dad. I didn't even know she was in town until she sat down with me a few hours ago. Dad, she's the Monet thief but she is doing it for a client."

Peter knew what it had cost Neal to give up a friend to him and he smiled sadly at his sacrifice. "I know that was hard to do and I thank you for your help. Was Alex able to say who her client was?"

"No sir, once I told her about you and mom she didn't seem interested in my help and left. I'm sorry I should haven't had said anything and maybe she would have told me more. Maybe I can find her and try and convince her to give herself up and work with you to catch her client."

"No…if Kramer caught you with her again he would bring you both in and claim that he found you planning your next caper. We will think of another way."

"I bet I can find where she is staying and search her room. Maybe she has left a clue that will lead us to her client," persisted Neal as he continued to press his point.

"NO! Listen to me carefully son. I don't want you involved in this phase of the operation and if I discover that you have ignored my warning you will not like the consequences of your actions…do I make myself clear Neal?"

"Yes, sir. If I disobey you and you find out then I can say goodbye to sitting comfortably for some time."

"It will be days before that sitting ability returns. Now go home, your Mom is waiting for you."

"Yes, Dad," and with another smile Neal and Satch were gone."

As Neal exited the federal building he received a call from his older friend, Mozzie. His folks were aware of Mozzie and his friendship with the "little guy" and had no qualms unless it led Neal into trouble.

"Hi Moz"

"Hey Neal guess who I ran into today?"

"Alex Hunter?"

There was a pause before Mozzie replied. "Lucky guess?"

"No, while I was as the Dog Park earlier today she dropped by and we had a little talk."

"Did you tell her about your current status as dutiful son of Suit and Mrs. Suit?"

"Yeah…she didn't seem pleased; or that I was now my Dad's CI."

"Did you expect her to?"

"No, not really but I did hope she would have least been happy for me that I now had a loving family."

"Oh, I'm sure she is, however she probably just isn't pleased with your choice of parents."

"Yeah…hey Moz she didn't happens to say where she was staying?"

Mozzie paused again before replying. "Do you want to know as a friend or do you have some other alternative reason for asking?"

"As a friend, of course. I just want to visit with her again. I haven't seen her for years," lied Neal as he attempted to con his friend into giving him the answer he wanted.

Mozzie didn't reply for several minutes as he was considering if his friend was being honest with him but eventually he replied. "She's staying at the best place in New York, but you wouldn't expect less from Alex."

"Where Mozzie," Neal nearly shouted impatiently.

"At the Marriot in Room 225."

"Is that the Marriot Downtown?"

"Yep…be sure to tell Alex we need to go out while she is in town…bye Neal"

"Bye and thanks."

I can make this work, thought Neal as he looked down at Satch, And you can help me do it Satch old buddy as he hurried away to put his plan together before his mother wondered why he hadn't arrived posthaste. "Mom, I've got to make a quick stop before coming home, but I am coming," Neal said as he choose his words carefully before hanging up.

All too soon Neal approached the Marriot checking Satch before heading in. He had gone to Friday, one of Mozzie hideaways where the dog harness was kept for future operations. Satch was now decked out as a guide dog while he put on a pair of sunglasses and wandered into the Marriot.

It didn't take Neal long to "acquire" a passkey or to make his way to the Alex's room. He stopped along the way to call making sure that she wasn't there so by the time he arrived he quickly used his key and opened the door for him and Satch. He took a moment to check out the room before he started searching it carefully in order not to alert Alex on her return that her room had been searched. It didn't take him long to learn that she hadn't unintentionally left any clues behind. It wasn't until he was ready to leave that his eyes fell on a note pad next to the phone and picked up to see indentations in the page. He only hoped that it would be able to "speak" to him later as he took the top ten sheets and tucked them carefully in his pocket. "I think we have stayed long enough Satch, we had better leave before we are discovered," before grabbing Satch's harness and putting his sunglasses back on.

"Neal!"

CRAP…it was Dad. "Dad…I can explain…"

"You will explain but not now…hurry Phillip is on his way up...' Peter paused as the elevator dinged alerting them that their time had run out and they sprinted to the nearby staircase. The stairway door closed just as the elevator doors opened and Agent Kramer walked out. They took no chances and walked down the two floors before exiting on the ground level and out the hotel.

Peter released his breath, relieved that once again he was able to protect Neal from Kramer, but not from the spanking he was prepared to administer as soon as they arrived home.