Chapter 5

"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

Neal fled upstairs. Those were the first words Peter had spoken since pulling him out of danger and he knew he was in deep trouble and in for a spanking.

"Honey, what's wrong and why is Satch wearing that guide dog harness?" El had walked in as soon as she heard the door open. She would have to be deaf not to hear her husband order Neal to his room and now she wanted an explanation.

"He disobeyed me…again and almost found himself in Kramer's clutches. If I hadn't checked his anklet and found that he was heading in the opposite direction from home I might not have gotten there in time to save him. Oh honey, why does he insist in disobeying me?"

"You are too tense to deal with him now…come with me while I pour you a glass of milk to go along with a plate full of cookies. It worked great in taking away Neal's anxiety earlier now let's see how it works in relieving yours," advised El as she took him by the hand and led him into the kitchen.

El waited until her husband had consumed several cookies and drank have the glass before asking, "Now tell me all about it?"

Peter nodded and began to talk. "Well you know that Phillip is sure that Neal is involved in the robberies…if not actually committing the thefts then planning them somehow. What you don't know is that he plans on proving it to the extent that will allow him to take Neal back to DC with him and when he has him there he plans are using physical force into breaking his spirit."

El gasped before crying, "No, he can't take our son away."

Peter nodded and got up to pull her into a hug. "I'm not going to allow that to happen. I would rather send him away with Mozzie than let that animal have him. That is why I am trying to keep him safe but he's got to help, too. This morning Alex Hunter visited him while he was at the Dog Park and Kramer got it on tape but fortunately for Neal his film was too grainy to make a positive identification of the young woman."

"How do you even know that it was Alex; I know you aren't going to take Phillip's word."

"Nope, and I didn't but later on I talked with Neal and he told me. I told him not to do anything to cause Kramer to even suspect that he might be doing something with Alex. I told him what the consequences would be if he disobeyed me and he understood them…but then I find him exiting Alex's room just minutes before Kramer was about to enter. I just don't understand why he ignored me."

"What was the last thing you told him before he left?"

Peter paused and he thought back. "I told him that the sooner we solved this case the sooner Phillip would be out of our lives."

"There's your answer then…he wants to solve the case as quickly as possible to get rid of Phillip no matter what the cost is, even if it means that he won't be sitting comfortably for some time. Peter that man has haunted his dreams since their first meeting and he terrifies him…he would be willing to face even one of your spankings if it means that Phillip is gone. Please do not be too harsh with him when you punish him," pleaded El as she hugged her husband.

"How can you be sure that he felt that way?"

"Call him down and ask him."

Peter walked to the bottom of the stairs and called up. "Neal! Please come down son."

Peter had to hold back his urge to laugh as his dapper son came down wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. If you think that a pair of thick sweatpants is going to protect you from a spanking, you have much to learn, thought Peter as Neal walked in.

"Neal, your father wants to ask you something."

Neal turned his attention towards his father and waited.

"Yeah…well your mother and I were talking while I cooled down and we were wondering why you would disobey me when you knew what the outcome would be if I found out."

El raised her eyebrows at her husband's use of "we" but waited for her son to answer.

"Dad, I know I shouldn't have ignored your warning earlier but I wanted Agent Kramer to leave me alone and I thought if I could find out who Alex's client is maybe we could get the case closed. Agent Kramer scares me so badly; I have woken many a night screaming in terror because of him."

Peter looked at El with awe, "How do you do that?"

El just smiled at him. "I'm just better at reading him then you are," as she pulled Neal into her arms for a comforting hug.

Peter shook his head before turning back and asking with his eyes, "What do I do next?" He knew that he had to punish Neal but he just couldn't use his belt on the boy. He was so scared of Phillip that he was willing to use a shortcut in solving the Monet thefts even if it might mean that his backside would bear

the brunt of his dad's belt.

El rummaged in a nearby drawer and handed Peter a wooden spatula before kissing Neal on the cheek. "I think that I will take Satch for a walk around the block while you handle things."

Peter nodded and waited with Neal while El put a leash on Satch and departed.

"Neal I know that Kramer scares you and that is why I didn't want you involved in this phase of the case. If you could have just given me the information on where Alex was staying I could have gotten a warrant and legally search the room."

Neal looked down but didn't say anything at first and then mutter, "I just wanted Kramer gone, Dad."

"I know son, I know," Peter said as he squeezed Neal's shoulder as a form of comfort before whispering, "Come on son, let's get this over with so you can

make the most of your mother's comfort when she returns," and led him to the kitchen table.

Neal reluctantly bent over and grabbed the edges of the table waiting for his father's first strike. He wasn't surprised when he felt his sweatpants pushed down but gave a yip of surprise when his boxers followed a moment later.

"Dad…please"

"Sorry son, but I can't let your shortcuts cause you to be taken away from us. I know Kramer scares you but the loss of you would devastate this family and if it means that I tan your bottom then that is what I'm going to do. Maybe after sitting on a sore bottom for a few days will cause you to think before acting," and with that he let his first lick fly, followed quickly with a flurry of others. He concentrated on his son's buttocks and sits spots until he had Neal sobbing and begging for mercy. Just as he heard the front door open he brought the spanking to an end and pulled up Neal's boxers before walking out to meet his wife.

"He's in there and he could use your comfort while I need to get out of here and calm down."

El nodded as she handed Satch's leash to Peter and went into the kitchen where she found Neal still crying as he turned to face her. He had pulled his sweatpants back up while they were talking. "M-Mom," he sobbed as she rushed to his side and pulled him into a hug and held him until his tears had come to an end.

"It's a good thing I made a double batch of cookies today because I think we are going to need their calming effects before the day is over. I'll get you a pillow while you get the milk out and pour a glass for your dad as well," instructed El as she darted upstairs to pull a pillow from one of their beds. By the time she had returned so had Peter who was standing next to Neal and talking quietly.

"I love you, too Dad," replied Neal as he hugged his Dad.

"Have a seat son," El said as she placed the pillow in her son's chair, "while I get the cookies and pour myself a cup of tea."

Soon they were all eating and laughing over some story Peter was telling and all was well once again in the Burke family. "Dad, I got something to show you.' Neal rummaged in his pocket before pulling out a scrap of paper. "While I was searching Alex's room I found this tablet next to the phone. It looked like she wrote down something earlier and took the paper with her so I was thinking that it might be her client's address. I could see the indention and making use of a soft lead pencil was able to bring it up." He handed the paper to Peter and waited.

Peter was able to read the address. "I think you might be on to something son. This address is in one of the poorer neighborhoods of town but that makes sense. The client wouldn't want to meet at his place; he will want to hide his identity just in case.

This might be her client. I'll have Jones check it out tomorrow. Good work, but next time we wait for the warrant; that way saves you a sore bottom."

By the time Peter made it down the next morning he was surprised to find that Neal had beat him and was enjoying a breakfast of waffles covered with blueberry syrup. He also noticed that he was still in his pajamas and sitting gingerly.

"How are you feeling this morning...ready for a full day of work?"

Neal grimace at the thought of sitting all day on his sore bottom while his father took his seat at the head of the table. A plate of waffles appeared in front of him as well as a cup of coffee a minute later. He added the syrup and dug in, savoring his wife's homemade waffles.

"Aren't you having some, honey?"

"I already ate while fixing them for Neal, but I will have a cup of coffee while you eat."

"Dad, can I take a day of sick leave today…please Dad…my backside is killing me."

"Sorry, son but I'm going to need you if we want to get Agent Kramer to do home. Are you up to it now?" Peter encouraged his son with the promise of the departure of the man who terrified him for so long.

Neal didn't even pause to think about it. "Yes, sir. I'll just go and shower and get dressed. I'll meet you at the door," and with that Neal swallowed his last bite and was bounding up the stairs to get ready for work. The sting his hindquarters didn't feel so bad now if they could get rid of Kramer.