(Chapter 6)
Peter stood in the lobby on the first floor of the FBI building. He was waiting for Agent Gordon, looking up when he saw Jones walk inside. He waved, the younger agent nodding.
"Hey Peter. Guess you're here to meet up with Gordon?" Jones sounded a bit disappointed, Peter noticing.
"Yeah. You sound a bit down for someone going with me. What's up?" Peter asked, his colleague looking uncertain.
"Not sure, but I've been put on another duty for the day. You'll be on your own with Gordon." Peter blinked.
"Hughes didn't tell me that. When did you get this new assignment?" Peter looked concerned, walking with Jones to the elevator.
"Just a few minutes ago. Do you think it could be false like Caffrey's text?" Jones pulled his phone out and showed it to Peter who shrugged helplessly.
"Check it out with Hughes, if it's legit. Stay. If not, call me. I'll give you our location to meet up with us." Peter saw Jones nod as the elevator doors closed and he turned to see Gordon striding into the lobby. He had to admire the man for appearing on the up and up. He was certain he had something to do with Neal's disappearance after the other day but until he had concrete proof he'd have to play along.
"Agent Burke, I see you're here early. Good. Shall we take off?" The man's tone was officious making Peter want to 'gag' as Mozzie might say. He chuckled at the thought seeing Gordon's reaction.
"Something funny, Burke?" Gordon looked a bit annoyed at him, Peter shaking his head with a smile.
"Not really... just a thought I had. So, where are we off to today?" Peter could see a hint of annoyance in the agent's eyes but it soon faded behind a mask. In a way the man reminded him of Neal how he changed his demeanor so quickly. He wondered what kind of a con the agent was playing.
"I thought we might talk to the guard who was injured to get some more information. They say he identified your consultant as the one who shot him. Not sure why Hughes allowed such a man to work as an FBI consultant." Gordon's voice was somewhat coy in an offhanded manner. Peter prickled at the comment feeling the agent's eyes on him. He turned and smiled confidently.
"I heard differently. 'Neal' tried to save the guard but someone 'else' dragged him away. It sounded like he was being coerced." Peter put some emphasis into his own words, seeing Gordon give him a curious glance. He grinned inwardly, following the agent to a waiting car. Peter paused.
"I can meet you there in my car." He saw Gordon shake his head.
"Faster this way. You can ride with me and my men." Peter had a bad feeling about this but he consented, getting into the back of the black sedan. Two more men were in the vehicle, one driving, and the other in the back already. Both had typical black FBI type suits and wore sunglasses. They turned back to nod silently at Peter without much expression. Peter nodded back feeling a chill.
"Thomas, drive us to the Asian Arts Museum." The man nodded and the car pulled out into traffic. Gordon turned to chat with Peter.
"Agent Burke, my agents: Thomas and Howell." They three nodded at each other, Gordon continuing after a moment.
"Agent Burke, I hope you were in no way insulted by my comment earlier. I was merely repeating what I heard. I'm still reading the reports on all the thefts and Mr. Caffrey's apparent kidnapping. I'm surprised that Hughes placed you back on the case when you're so 'close' to it." Gordon's voice dripped in hidden sarcasm but he ignored it.
"I'm the only person who can find him unless someone is manipulating the situation from higher up." He had thrown the ball back into Gordon's court hoping for a hint of something. The agent shrugged back.
"Who's to say? Perhaps the con is manipulating it himself. He knows our methods from working with you so closely." This time he was a bit more obvious about his tone of voice, Peter watching Gordon through the rear-view mirror. Peter felt the atmosphere grow a bit tenser but he did his best to ignore it.
"I think I know Caffrey well enough to say, someone is coercing him."
()()()
Neal was left to his own devices in the room he'd been assigned. The only person he saw was Jared in the early morning with something bought at a local fast food place. It was some kind of breakfast burrito or such with egg and sausage along with a small coffee and hash brown. At least it was food. He ate the burrito, leaving the greasy hash brown (which reminded him of a coaster) in the bag. He sipped at the coffee adding some of the creamer and sugar that had been included. He grabbed a cup from the dispenser in the bathroom and had some water when he was done.
He starting exploring the room he was in alleviate his boredom. The room was fairly small, an old (pre-90s) TV sitting in the corner with a hint of dust on it. It didn't have a plug and apparently was just there for decoration. He sighed, finding an old transistor radio in a drawer and turning it on. It was staticy at first till he found an oldies channel.
"I'll get by
As long as I
Have you
Though there be rain
And darkness too
I'll not complain
I'll see it through
Poverty
May come to me
It's true
Say, what care I
Dear, I'll get by
As long as I
Have you…"
Neal sat the radio on the nightstand, lying back on the bed, arms behind his head. He was thinking about things mostly how he was going to get out of here now that he knew Peter was dead. He had to visit his friend's grave, give Elizabeth his condolences if she'd take them… he wondered if things would be the same with June and Mozzie. It wasn't like he had been gone all that long but he had been absent. Things change.
He sighed, rolling over and closing his eyes. The radio continued to play in the background.
"That was Harry James with Dick Haymes singing 'I'll get by' on your station for all the best oldies, WKGD 1240 AM. "
Neal fell into a light sleep, the music creating a vague landscape in the back of his mind as he lay there.
"... So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me..."
His face contorted slightly as he slept, his dreams matching his thoughts and the music at times.
Neal found himself standing outside the Burke's residence. It seemed strangely empty. He walked up the few steps and knocked on the door. At first nobody answered then he heard voices behind the door and thought he saw a face peek out of the curtain briefly. Finally he heard the latch and someone opened up the door, the chain in place.
"Yes, may I help you?" He saw a man standing there but it wasn't Peter. The man looked familiar but he wasn't sure why. Another voice popped up behind him whispering.
"Who is it?" He saw a woman with auburn hair standing there and peering over the man's shoulders.
"(I don't know yet.) I'm sorry, what was your name?" The man was still looking at him and he wondered if he had the wrong house.
"Caffrey. Neal Caffrey. I was a colleague of Peter's. I came to speak with Elizabeth." The man looked at him curiously, turning around and whispering to the woman.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Caffrey was it? Elizabeth isn't available to chat at the moment. I'll let her know you came by." The man seemed cautious, the woman behind him peering to see who he was but looking suspiciously at him. Neal nodded with a false smile.
"Not a problem. Tell her... never mind. It's ok." He turned feeling strangely out of place and left, walking down the sidewalk. He could feel their eyes looking at him through the curtain as he turned the corner and leaned against the cement wall. Why couldn't he just barge in and tell her he was sorry? Beg her forgiveness for Peter's death? He sighed in his sleep, brow furrowing, lips slipping into a frown. He opened his eyes and heard the radio still playing softly.
"That was 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.'" Neal rubbed at his eyes and looked around the room. Nothing had changed. He was still a prisoner. Neal turned the radio off and curled back up one the bed. He was looking down at the wastebasket by the bed. There were ketchup packets in it along with some extra creamers in the bag he had received earlier. His eyes kept looking at the packets and then at the bathroom.
()()()
"Damn that Burke! He acts so smug but I get the feeling he's on to us. Thomas follow him tomorrow. Jared, go check on our charge. Make sure he's ready for tonight's heist." Gordon looked pissed, Jared nodding at him as he left.
Jared knocked on the door before he entered the room. It was dark, the lamp from the nightstand flipped over and laying bent on the floor, flickering softly. He had his gun ready, looking around the room for Neal as he closed the door behind him. He didn't have to look far, hearing water dripping in the bathroom as he entered and found the young man in his pajamas, partially submerged in the tub, something red dripping down his wrists. The agent's eyes widened as he leaned over to check the con and felt himself pulled forward, head connecting with the tile. He slumped to the floor stunned, Neal standing up and rinsing the ketchup and creamer off his wrists.
"Some EMT you are." Neal bound the agent, felt around and took the gun, keys and cell and exchanged clothes with the man. He pushed on the sunglasses and exited the room.
()()()
"Where is Jared? Thomas go check on him and see what's taking so long." Gordon's tone was less than friendly, Thomas hurrying off but secretly cursing at the man. Why he put so much trust in Caffrey's skills he didn't know. He made his way to the room and found the door ajar. He quietly pulled out his gun and pushed the door open finding the room dimly lit by the flickering of a broken lamp. He heard a faint groan in the bathroom and made his way over and found Jared bound and gag, a large bump on his head. Thomas cursed, untying the agent and rousing him as best he could.
"Caffrey, where is he?" Thomas sounded anxious, Jared still kind of stunned, slumped on the floor.
"Caffrey? He... blood... fake." Jared didn't make much sense till Thomas looked and saw the razor from the shaver on the counter and some empty creamer and ketchup packets. He pulled out his cell and phoned Gordon.
"Caffrey's free! Yeah, Jared was knocked out and bound. Be right there." Thomas stood, replacing the gun in his holster when he felt a hand over his mouth and cold metal pressed against his temple.
"Don't make a sound!" Neal found the man's cuffs and bound him to a chair, removing his gun and cell.
"So, why the humanitarian act with the newspaper, Thomas?" He pushed the gun against the man's chin and grinned. Thomas gulped, brown eyes widening.
"I... don't have to tell you anything!" He started to yell when Neal slugged him, the agent slumping. He stuffed a clean wash cloth into his mouth.
"Doesn't matter why. Thanks."
()()()
Peter took a ride back with Jones from the museum, Gordon apparently having an appointment. Jones' reassignment had been legit but he had been able to stop by after wards to discuss the case with Peter on the way back to the office.
"So let me get this straight, you think Gordon is behind this scheme with Caffrey and the thefts?" Jones looked bewildered.
"I saw him just before I was kidnapped in the morgue. That's when I saw Neal and discovered he wasn't dead. I just don't understand why he's having Neal take all these items. Doesn't make sense." Peter cursed, leaning back in the seat.
"But you have nothing but your word to say you saw him, boss. How are you going to prove it?" Jones had a way of getting to gist of things, Peter nodding.
"No clue yet but I have to figure this out before something bad happens to Neal. They won't keep him once he's fulfilled his purpose."
()()()
Neal looked down at his leg, no anklet in sight. Gordon had removed it after it had been turned off. He felt naked without it but he was free. He could technically go anywhere he wanted and nobody would find him. Not even Peter. He sighed at the thought, watching the lights of the city zoom past as he looked out the cab window. He felt the vehicle slow down and sat up, paying the cabbie as he exited the vehicle. He had a strange moment of deja vu as he stood there on the corner and stared across the street. He saw lights on through the curtains of the Burke's house but the Taurus was missing from its usual parking spot. El must be out. He found a bench and sat down, watching the house with a pang of regret as he thought about the last time he spoke with Peter. He had been angry, trying not to care as he pushed his friend to leave him behind.
He looked up as he saw a familiar vehicle pull up and parallel park along the curb. Neal stood, hiding behind a lamp post and peering across. He felt like a stalker but he needed to see El. Maybe seeing her would give him the courage to talk to her. He needed to know about Peter. He was surprised when a man stepped out of the vehicle and walked around towards the house. The mannerisms were familiar, the clothes... even though it was dark it looked like... no it couldn't be!
"Peter?" Neal felt a strange pang of something as he saw the figure walk up the few steps towards the door. They reached into their pocket for something and paused, turning around.
()()()
Peter was exhausted but more than that he was soul weary. He still had no clue how Gordon was involved or where they had Neal. He was only sure of one thing, Gordon had the answers if he could just prove it. He would have to find some great evidence to convince his boss that his oldest friend was a crook and a cheat, if not a potential murderer and kidnapper. He sighed, reaching into his pocket for his key but hearing it fall to the stoop. He turned to look where it had fallen and froze.
He could just make out a tall, lanky looking man standing across the street and looking his way. The figure was familiar but the clothes were not. Peter forgot about the key for a moment, moving down the steps as he stared at the figure and started walking across the sidewalk. The figure didn't move. Peter just stared at them getting a hint of features in the dim light of the street lamp. He started to cross the street when headlights flashed and he paused, the light catching the figure's face.
"Neal?" He whispered. Peter could have sworn...
"Neal?" Peter called out, the figure taking a few steps back and running for it. Peter made his way across the street, running after the figure.
"Neal!"
()()()
He froze when he saw the figure approach him, watching them pause as a car drove past. Headlights illuminated their features and he could see who it was. Peter! Neal was frozen with fear if not confusion. He remembered the obituary in the paper. This couldn't be Peter. Peter was dead.
"Neal?" He heard the person say, their tone like Peter's. It couldn't be him. How? It had to be a trick so he stepped back as they started towards him, turned and ran. He could hear them chasing him down the pavement.
"Neal!" Their voice rang out, sounding so much like Peter but it had to be a trick. Gordon must have found him. He kept running till he saw an alley and ducked inside. The figure ran past without seeing him, stopping to look around. Neal could see them but they couldn't see him. They looked so much like Peter it was remarkable. Maybe he was dreaming again.
"Neal! Dammit!" He heard them curse and turn and start to walk back. Neal waited a moment before he came out of his hiding place. He stepped out of the alley, someone grasping his arm tightly. He yanked himself away, hearing a loud gasp as he stood, back against the alley wall, gun suddenly in hand.
()()()
Peter froze, the gun pointed right at him. He was looking right at Neal but he was different. Something had changed the young man. Peter felt a cold chill run down his spine as he saw the frightened confused look in Neal's eyes, gun steady in his hands. After a moment he remembered himself and spoke with a shaky voice.
"Neal, it's me. Peter. Please give me the gun." He slowly held out his hands, one up and one out, palm face up. He watched those blue eyes studying him curiously, cautiously.
"You can't be him. Peter's dead!" Neal's voice was full of fear, his expression that of someone trying to figure something out. Peter shook his head.
"No, I'm here. I've been looking for you, Neal. You're safe now." He smiled at the young man as sincerely as he could, seeing a light start to come on behind the young man's eyes.
"You looked for me? Why couldn't you find me? You always found me before." His voice sounded bitter, Neal's eyes turning shiny with tears but he still had the gun pointed at him. Peter nodded, his manner contrite.
"They took me off the case and I did what I could with what I had. I'm sorry, Neal. Please forgive me." Peter sniffled a bit, moving his hand to wipe at his eyes. He felt a hand on his arm all of a sudden, Neal holding the gun out to him handle first.
"Take it. Please." Neal's voice sounded tired, exhausted. Peter complied, pushing the gun into his pocket quickly. Neal was looking at him with a strange expression, his face paler than he remembered as they stood beneath the street lamps.
"Let's go home. Ok?" He took the young man's arm and they started to walk back towards the house.
()()()
Elizabeth thought she heard a car park outside. She started to come downstairs, looking at the clock as she did so. It was nearly 8 pm. Peter had said he might be late. She heard the sound of something tinkling as it fell to the pavement and then footsteps moving away from the door. She peered through the peephole and saw Peter walking down the stairs. She started to open the door but he was already starting to cross the street. He seemed to be looking at a figure across the road. El looked down to see her husband's keys on the porch, crouching to pick them up when she saw the figure across the road illuminated. It was Neal.
"Neal?" She wanted to call out but Peter had already started chasing after the figure as the person took off. She considered following but it was dark and they had taken off so quickly she wasn't sure it would be safe to try and catch up. Instead, El took the keys inside with her and locked the door, sitting down at the couch and petting Satchmo as he padded over to her.
"Hey Satch. I think your father found Neal."
()()()
Elizabeth closed the door quietly, turning around as Peter stepped back. They tiptoed from the guest room and walked over to their own, his arm around her shoulder. Once they had closed their door, she sighed in relief and plopped down on the bed.
"He's really here. I can't believe it. How did you find him, Peter?" She looked happier than he'd seen her for the past month. They'd both been so worried about how Neal was and if he was being treated well but seeing him so skinny and tired looking had been a shock. It was just a relief to know he was alive.
"Neal found us. Somehow he thought I was dead. He had a gun pointed at me. Thought I wasn't me but I guess I convinced him otherwise." He was sniffling slightly, wiping at his eyes and she smiled, leaning over to kiss him.
"Of course he knew it was you if you did that. He knows you too well despite everything that's happened." She curled up next to him, his arm around her.
"I swear, Gordon will pay for whatever he did to him. Considering all the trouble they went to kidnap him then they treat him like some kind of nobody and starve him."
Peter's voice was a growl, El clucking her tongue to shush him.
"Calm down, Peter. He's with us now."