Chapter 7

Neal was ushered into a small entryway by a short, ugly, young man with no taste in apparel. The man, wearing an ill fitting brown suit, introduced himself as "Bernie". He led the young consultant down a narrow hallway to some glassed-in cubicles. In one of the larger open offices, a beaming Edward White waited surrounded by several of his henchmen.

White motioned to Bernie who proceeded to pat Neal down for weapons and his anklet. The short thug then removed Neal's cell phone from his pocket.

"Ah Neal, you arrived promptly and without your monitor. By now the feds will be anxiously searching for your whereabouts. We'll have to keep you well hidden. I can't express my delight that you decided to join us. You do understand that this is conditional acceptance until you prove your worth."

"I'm more concerned that Peter Burke will be searching for me and trace me here," replied Caffrey. "He's the real threat to your whole operation. Peter was the only one who was intelligent enough to catch me, not once but twice!" Neal was hoping for some feedback from White on Peter's location. It didn't take very long for the miscreant parolee to clarify the whole situation.

White turned to Neal with that cold smile, "You don't have to worry about your babysitter anymore."

Neal, struggling with dread, portrayed an expression of confusion. He questioned the older man, "What do you mean? I thought I was going to be delivering the fed to you?"

White held up his hand to silence Neal. He then motioned to one specific large, burly individual. "Tony, bring my surprise guest out here to us. Wait until you see who I found on my doorstep this evening, Neal" quipped White.

A few short moments later, Tony returned supporting the bedraggled, bloodstained and staggering Peter Burke! Peter looked up wearily at the men in the office and spied Neal. His eyes glimmered first with hope and then caution as he fought to keep his balance. His hands were tightly handcuffed behind his back and it appeared he had been beaten around the face.

Oh Pete buddy, thought Neal, I was hoping your condition wasn't this bad.

Before Peter or Neal could say a word, White jumped in with a cutting statement directed at the agent. "Hey Burke, did you know Neal was the one who warned us you would probably be coming by this evening? My men were ready to greet you in the parking lot," White lied.

Peter glanced at Neal with a questioning gaze. Neal adopted an air of indifference and remained silent.

White continued, "You see a friend located a specific classified agency document that you had hidden from Neal. The document that described your plan to back-stab your pet convict and return him to prison after six months of use. I showed Caffrey a copy of that paper to him today." The forger nodded at Neal to speak.

"At first I couldn't believe you would do this to me Peter," exclaimed Neal angrily. "But I spent the day researching agency files and authenticated it. I had always planned to abandon this whole consultant project as soon as I found Kate. You just made me end our partnership so much sooner!"

Peter blinked heavily and remained silent. He was nauseous, ill and had trouble following the conversation coherently. One thing was clear to him however, Neal Caffrey admitting to betrayal. He had trouble sorting out his conflicting thoughts. Why couldn't he think clearly? He needed to remain alert if he was going to escape. He had thought Neal was here to rescue him; that possibly Neal had contacted headquarters. Now it seemed Caffrey was one more danger in his world. " Eh tu, Brute," he thought.

Neal had difficulty watching conflicting thoughts cross Peter's face. His partner was close to collapse. He was sure Peter believed the worst about him. Neal had avoided him all day, refused to discuss Edward White and now had just verbally thrown him to the wolves. He had admitted he suggested the consultant position solely as a sham to find Kate. In trying to con Edward White Neal was destroying all the trust he had built up with his friend.

Hold on Peter, thought Neal. Think it through. I won't betray you.

White intervened. "Put Burke back in storeroom," he ordered. I want him to spend the rest of the night deciding when to volunteer the name of my dear betrayer. No food, no water, no medical aid until I hear the name. We have already discussed all the particulars. Right Peter?"

White motioned to his big thug. Tony, yanking Burke by his wounded arm and shoulder, returned Neal's partner/associate/friend to his prison.