"Keller," Neal acknowledged warily. "What a pleasant surprise."
"You're looking good, Caffrey," Keller said with a smirk. "Single life must suit you."
Neal didn't rise to the bait, instead he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "What do you want?"
"What, I can't call to chat?"
"Well, sure, there's a Starbucks down the street, let's go." Neal responded, and Keller's smirk widened.
"Nah, I'm here for a reason." Keller said, slowly walking backwards down the alley.
"And what's that?" Neal asked, staying put at the entrance. "You planning to rob them or something?" He gestured at the gallery next to them.
"Maybe not tonight." Keller said, looking up at the building. "I'm here to offer a challenge, Caffrey."
Neal laughed, shaking his head. "Really?" he asked. "Alright, I'll bite. What sort of challenge?"
"A theft." Keller said, regarding Neal with a serious gaze, his smirk vanishing. "First person to steal the piece wins."
"What's the piece?" Neal asked, but he was already bored with the conversation.
"I'm gonna let you decide that, Caffrey." Keller said, pointing at him as he spoke. "The only rule is that it's valuable."
"Why would you let me decide?" Neal asked with a frown. "That's only gonna make it harder for you."
"Don't be getting cocky already, Caffrey." he said. He gave a shrug. "I'm feelin' generous."
"It's not much of a challenge for me if I'm choosing." Neal responded, his frown still visible. "I'm not interested, Keller."
"Well then make it a challenge. You don't have to pick something you know you can get." Keller shrugged again. "Pick a piece that's equally hard for both of us."
Neal regarded him for a long moment, taking in the relaxed posture of his opponent. "What's your angle?"
Keller held out his hands placatingly. "Just looking for a little fun, Neal. I'm bored, what can I say."
"No, you want something. What is it?"
Keller rolled his eyes, leaning against a wall halfway down the alley. "Just name the piece and let's start." he said, tilting his head to look at Neal.
Neal shook his head and started backing away. "Not interested. See you around Keller." He turned and stuck his hands in his pockets, debating whether to catch a cab home.
"Who's Elizabeth?" Keller called.
Neal stopped in his tracks, a brief rush of panic washing through him. He spun back around to face Keller, who was looking down at his feet, but even from where he was standing Neal could see that his smirk had returned.
"She works here, right?" he asked, looking to Neal for an answer. Neal forced himself to appear calm. Keller looked at his watch. "I think her shift finishes soon actually."
"I don't know anyone called Elizabeth." Neal answered with a shrug.
"Really, Caffrey?" Keller asked with raised eyebrows. "You're gonna play dumb with me? You see, I was here a week ago, looking for you, buddy. And most days I watched you leave this gallery with her." he said, tapping the wall he was leaning against.
Neal slowly began stalking forwards, his fists clenched.
"So I looked her up." Keller continued, pushing himself off of the wall. "Didn't realise you got over Kate so quickly."
"It's not like that." Neal answered, his voice quiet as he glared daggers at the other man. "I barely know her."
"Don't quite believe you, Caffrey, sorry. So I figured, if you didn't wanna take my challenge, I'd have a little chat with her, you know? Get to know the girl who's captured your attention."
Neal surged forwards and slammed Keller against the wall, barely refraining from gripping the man's throat. "You do that and you get an FBI agent after you." he hissed.
"What, you'd run to the FBI?" Keller asked, his face the picture of incredulity. "How dumb do you think I am?"
"Dumb enough to not notice that she's dating a fed." Keller didn't need to know that Peter was actually incompetent at asking Elizabeth out on a date. "Don't believe me, check it out for yourself, she's going over to his after her shift." Elizabeth had texted him that morning asking if he wanted to come over to watch a game at Peter's and Neal, sticking to his plan to back off from the agent, had declined. The last thing he wanted to do was get them involved with Keller, but if one night of tailing his friends meant they'd be left alone, he'd have to deal with it.
Keller must have finally sensed he was telling the truth, for he nodded slightly. "Alright, Caffrey, alright." Neal shoved him once more before backing away to the opposite wall. He saw Keller gesture at something and as he turned his head he noticed someone disappearing from the entrance of the alley.
"So now you've got no leverage and I'm leaving." Neal growled.
"I mean, there's always Kate."
"You don't know where she is." If he couldn't find her then there was no way Keller could.
"Maybe not, but hey, how about if I win I get her?" he said with a sickening grin.
"She's not a prize to be won." Neal snapped.
"True, but perhaps she'd choose me anyway. I mean, she's clearly bored of you, and I know she's a sucker for shiny things."
"Whatever, Keller." Neal said, heading back towards the alley as he tried to rein in his temper. "Steal whatever you want and try to win her over, I don't care." He knew Kate wasn't materialistic, she was sentimental. The painting he was after would be what she preferred.
"Come on, Caffrey, admit it. Beating me would feel real good, right?"
Yes it would. It would feel so good. But Neal had too much to be dealing with at the moment. Maybe once he'd shaken off Peter and taken Kate's painting, he'd think about getting back in touch. Now, though, he was too pissed to say yes.
He turned once more towards Keller. "Another time, Keller." he said, though he was doubtful there would be another time. Not after he'd threatened Elizabeth.
"Don't say no to this, Caffrey. You'll regret it." Keller warned, and Neal straightened at the threat in his tone.
"Why the hell do you want to do this so badly?" he asked. All he got was a shrug, and before Keller could actually respond, Neal heard a shout from behind him.
"Nick?"
Neal turned at the sound of his alias to see Peter Burke jogging over to him from across the street. He didn't know how the agent had spotted him standing halfway down an alley, but he was fairly sure he hadn't seen Keller.
"Friend of yours, Neal?" Keller asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Shut the hell up." Neal snapped, striding forward to try and meet Peter before he started down the alley. Peter had been going faster than he judged, though, and the agent came to a stop a few feet after the entrance.
"Peter, what are you doing here?" he asked, moving closer to him in the hopes that he'd instinctively take a few steps back. He didn't move, though, meaning they were standing unusually close to each other. Peter was frowning at him slightly, but that was the only reaction he gave.
"I'm here to pick El up. What are you doing here?" he asked. "You normally hang out in dark alleys?"
"Oh, sure, most days in fact." Neal responded with a false laugh, gripping Peter's arm and moving with him as the agent tried to look past him. "Hey, since when is she 'El'?" Neal asked, quenching the rising panic that was making his heart pound against his ribcage.
"What? Oh, I dunno, I said it the other night at the restaurant after you left and it kinda stuck." Peter answered, momentarily distracted from trying to peer down the alleyway by Neal's questions. "And hey, you left a little promptly, was everything ok?" He squeezed Neal's arm as he asked, worry in his tone. Neal forced himself to ignore the part of him that was pleased Peter had been concerned by reminding himself that Keller was stood behind him.
"Everything was fine, Peter, don't worry." Neal replied with a bright smile. "Come on, I'll wait with you for Elizabeth, let's go."
As he was spinning Peter he glanced behind him. Keller had his arms crossed and was watching them with a curious gaze that Neal absolutely did not like the look of. When he met Neal's eyes he raised an eyebrow. He couldn't let Peter near Keller – even if it was unknowingly on Peter's part – for another second.
Peter suddenly tensed under his arm and Neal turned in time to see a man in black take a swing at the agent with the butt of a gun. With a grip still on Peter's arm, he yanked him back and caught the swinging gun with his other hand. He used the momentum of their attacker to steer him towards the wall, tripping him up so that the guy collided into the bricks with a grunt.
He wasn't knocked unconscious, though, and Neal prepared himself as he got back up. A sudden shout distracted him, though, and he looked to see Peter drop to the ground, his eyes closed and blood trickling from his temple. Keller was stood behind him, holding his own gun.
"Don't." he said sharply, and Neal watched as the man backed away from him, lowering his weapon.
"Who's Nick?" Keller asked, watching as Neal knelt next to Peter.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Keller?" he yelled, gently rolling Peter onto his back and shaking his shoulders slightly. "You just attacked an FBI agent."
"He important to you, Neal?" Keller crouched opposite him, on the other side of Peter.
"What? No. Get the hell out of here before I call the cops."
"And you'll be the only one with him. There's no CCTV down here and they'll look you up, and what are they gonna find?" he asked with a grin. "Nice try but I don't scare so easily."
"You didn't have to attack him, I was trying to get him away from you. That was for your benefit too, you know."
"Come on, Caffrey, I'm not stupid. You don't give a damn about me. You give several damns about this guy, though." he said, prodding the agent's shoulder with a finger. Neal forced himself not to lunge across Peter and tackle him.
"Get out of here." he growled.
Keller smirked one last time before rising to his feet. He stepped over Peter and strolled down the alley, his hired muscle following him.
"Better hear from you soon, Neal." he called, disappearing down the street.