(Chapter 2)

Neal made it to June's, pushing his key in the lock to open the door when he nearly jumped. He turned to see who had touched his arm and saw a man he didn't recognize standing there. The man was young, maybe college age, dressed in jeans and a black tee with a denim jacket. He had a small canvas backpack over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you but I'm lost. I was looking for directions to Central Park." The man looked like a tourist.

"Go down the block, turn right and cross to the left and take another block." He saw the man nod and thank him before moving along. Neal quickly entered June's, locking the door behind him as he made his way to his rooms. He didn't give the man another thought, his mind on Peter as he remembered the call, the agent's voice sounding strangely weak before whoever it was had hung up the phone. He perked up at the sound of the bell, running back downstairs and peering down the hall at the door. Mozzie stood there.

"You look like you had a rough night. What happened?" Mozz walked inside, Neal locking the door behind him and following.

"I don't really remember. I sort of 'blacked out." He blushed slightly, blue eyes watery as he thought about everything that had happened. Mozz nodded.

"Sorry. It just occurred to me why but... how is Peter involved with this?" Mozz followed Neal up to the top floor and his rooms, both men moving out onto the terrace. The sun was shining and a slight breeze whipped at their clothes. Neal paced a bit while Mozzie sat at the table and watched his friend.

"I don't know what it has to do with Peter. I... I guess I called him. My cell phone says I did and then he vanished right outside his home. I was right there, I heard the exchange but I was too drunk to react!" He turned and leaned on the white wrought iron table near his friend, running a hand through his dark wavy hair.

"I was right there, Mozz. I could have helped him! I had a dream about it. I heard the man's voice that confronted Peter but I didn't see anything. How can I help him if I don't even know who took him?" He stood up again and paced, footsteps loud on the Spanish tile of the terrace. Mozz got up and followed, his hand on the younger man's arm.

"It wasn't your fault. You didn't recognize the voice did you?" Mozzie watched him shake his head and nodded, scratching at his chin curiously.

"Possible the Suit has some enemies looking for him; Current cases or past. If you're certain it's nobody we know, it has to be something he is or has worked on. Anything you can think of that you've read? I could dig around my sources and see if any one was gunning for the Fed." Mozz shrugged, but Neal could tell he was worried about Peter too. Peter had grown on his friend in the last year, Mozz having fun visiting with El when he had the chance.

"Thanks, Mozz. Any help is appreciated." He saw the little guy blush some, wiping at his glasses as he turned and looked at the door.

"I'll go check out my sources." He smiled slightly as he left the room leaving Neal alone in the huge estate. The young man stayed out on the terrace, moving to the edge and staring out over the city. It was just after 1 pm, the sun bright but tempered enough with clouds to be reasonable. The breeze helped, his hair whipping lightly as he turned and made his way back towards the table and sat down. He leaned back in the chair, eyes closed and tried to think about the last 24 hours.

Where are you Peter?

(just over 12 hours ago...)

Neal had curled up on the sofa in his room, hands folded under his chin as he murmured softly. His face twitched slightly, eyes fluttering under his closed lids, a frown on his lips. He remained like that for some time before finally opening his eyes and sat up with a start. He was breathing hard, face pale, cheeks flushed with a thin sheen of sweat on his brow. He had been dreaming about Kate.

"Bad dream?" Neal turned to see Alex sitting on the edge of his bed watching him. He blinked, rubbing at his eyes, looking at her again. She was leaning back on her elbows, legs crossed. She was wearing a low cut black silk top under a black leather jacket with tight black jeans and black boots, her long hair swept from her face in a couple of braids. She smirked more than smiled at him but he could tell she was being nice holding back asking what his dream was about.

"I guess you could say that. June let you in?" He stood up and walked over to the bathroom, opening the door. He turned on the water and washed his face, smoothing his hair back.

"Yeah, she's a nice person. Makes me think of that duchess we befriended in Romania. She treated us like her own kids." He thought he heard a bit of nostalgia in her voice, peeking out as he finished cleaning up. She smiled sweetly at him, her facade back to her usual cautious self. He grinned despite himself, walking over and sitting beside her, his hand grasping hers. She looked at him curiously.

"What are you doing, Neal?" She was looking at him with a suspicious glance but he just smiled that charming grin of his.

"Nothing. Thought you might be convinced to join me for drinks?" He didn't feel like being alone but he didn't want to tell her that. He saw her stare at him as if trying to figure out his angle but nodded.

"Why not. I hear there's a new bar down the street." She grasped his hand a bit more in her own, leading him to his feet, drawing him close as she grabbed his jacket and led him to the door. He grabbed his hat on the way out and they exited.

()()()

They were hanging onto one another and chatting, his arm around her waist in a gentle manner, Alex leaning against him like they were a couple. They looked good together, people staring at them enviously, if not at him then her. By all appearances, they were two of the pretty people walking the streets of NYC and seemingly a happy couple.

The bar was stylish and not too busy yet considering it was a Thursday evening. The Nagani had a kind of Asian simplicity to it with a sushi bar. Both Alex and Neal smiled, ordering up a platter to share in the corner at a secluded booth. She winked as she fed him a piece of ebi, a few guys looking at him enviously and a few women looking at her with a jealous expression when he fed her some unagi back.

"Looks like we're popular. Be right back." She winked at him coyly, making a move to the bar and a handsome Asian man who looked like he had the money to make her happy. Alex flashed those lashes as she bumped him, the man never realizing she lifted his wallet on her way to the ladies' room. Neal smirked, leaning back and sipping at his Saki. It was a few minutes before she returned, bumping the man again as she returned his now empty wallet. Neal held back a laugh, glancing up under his dark lashes when she slipped into the booth again.

"You're so bad." He poured her some more Saki, Alex taking it up and saluting him with a sparkle in her eyes.

"He's a visiting diplomat from Japan. I saw his passport. I always wanted to date a dignitary from that part of the world." Her eyes twinkled with mischief, Neal grinning.

"You and your statesmen." He held up his mini Saki cup and clinked it with hers.

"To marks." She grinned, both of them taking a shot of the Saki and smiling.

"I feel like bourbon, what do you say, Alex?"

They were there a couple of hours more before Alex began to look a little bored. She was watching Neal get drunk, her own manner a bit sluggish but less inebriated.

"One more for the road, Alex. Come on." His voice was starting to slur and she crinkled her nose at him in disappointment.

"Neal, I think you've had enough. Let me call us a cab." She nudged him away from the bottle but he held on to it, hugging it to him.

"Nobody ever liked her... not even Peter!" His voice sounded somewhat morose now, Alex looking at him as soberly as she could. There was some pity in those eyes.

"I'm sorry, Neal. Really, but I need to go. Are you going to be ok? Should I call Mozzie?" He shook his head a lot more than necessary, making himself dizzy.

"I already have a babysitter... don't need another one. Thanks for coming." He looked at her with those watery blue eyes, unshed tears making them so much more bluer than they really were. She nodded, grasping his hand in hers a moment, kissing him, then slipping out. He turned and watched her go, his last bit of sobriety wishing she had stayed. He poured himself some more bourbon, nursing the drink as he sat in the corner booth and thought about Kate.

He wasn't sure how long he was there drinking before he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey buddy, I think you've had enough. Can I call a cab for you?" It was one of the bartenders that had been bringing him drinks. Neal shook his head a little harder than necessary, pulling out his cell.

"I can cawl sumwon. Tanks." He saw the bartender nod uncertainly and walk away, Neal pushing a button on the phone before pressing it to his ear.

"Burke..." Peter's voice sounded slightly muffled, some background noise behind it. Neal was too drunk to guess what or where.

"PETER! Buddy... uhm... I am too think to drunk... I mean... come have a drink with me!" He smiled into the phone then pushed it back to his ear. He heard a tired sigh.

"Neal, have you been drinking? Are you at home?" The agent sounded worried.

"Yeah... lots. I'm down the street from Juuuuuuune's. New place... Na...Naga...ni." Neal hiccuped a bit before he heard the background noise of a car turning and Peter replied.

"Ok, I'll come pick you up. Stay put." Peter sounded tired as he hung up, Neal nodding at the phone as he pushed it back into his pocket. He slumped back in the booth, looking up at the ceiling as he felt himself start to pass out. The room was blurring in and out of focus till he felt a hand nudge him gently.

"Neal, Neal wake up!" Peter's voice sounded a bit worried, Neal moving his eyes only to glance at his friend. He noticed the agent was still in his suit. Neal had had the day off.

"Is that the same suit you caught me in?" He giggled slightly, a smirk on his lips as he slumped further into the booth, Peter sliding in to boost him up.

"Hey, wake up already! Let me take you to the car. You're not going to be sick are you?" Peter's voice was only partially serious, Neal shaking his head.

"I'm good... I'm MOOOOOORE than good!" He felt a goofy grin on his face, waving at people as Peter lifted him up and started to lead him outside.

()()()

The memory had come flooding back, the warmth of the sun and breeze lulling him into a relaxed manner as he sat in the chair on the terrace. His eyes fluttered beneath closed lids as he continued to relive the previous night. He was only vaguely aware that someone had walked up beside him, their footsteps light on the tile.

"Mozzie?" Neal looked up, gazing into three sets of eyes hidden behind ski masks. It was too sudden but they grabbed him, holding him against the chair, one holding a gloved hand over his mouth.

"So you're the one he called. You're just a lanky kid!" The man laughed, his voice cold, rough. Neal felt a pang of recognition at hearing it. The man smiled darkly at him, pulling something out of his pocket. It was a small bottle of something clear, the man dipping a rag it in before draping it over Neal's face. The young man struggled, the sickly sweet aroma filling his nostrils as he fought to breath.

"Now that all the loose ends are tied up, Burke can vanish and his little friend will be a footnote." He saw the man smile through the cloth as his vision began to blur and his eyes rolled back. Almost immediately, his body went limp and then everything went black.

()()()

Hughes was in his office when he saw Jones knock on the door, peering in with a nervous expression. He waved the junior agent in, motioning him to close the door behind him.

"What's up Jones?" He could tell the agent had some bad news for him.

"Sir, Caffrey's anklet's been cut. It went offline near last night's crime scene, then went dead. It appears he might have been in a vehicle with his rate of movement." The agent looked worried, knowing they were lacking resources with Peter missing. Hughes sighed, a tired look on his face.

"Check the usual things... traffic cams, his home, etc. I want to know what's going on and why this happened. He didn't seem like he would run last night and I don't see why he would now." He didn't sound angry for once, just concerned maybe even worried.

"Yes sir!"

()()()

June sat with El in the living room of the Burke's home. Elizabeth was just staring out the window at their car, still in the same sweats and shirt she had the night before. She looked miserable.

"El, I'm sure Peter is ok. Neal would have said something if he knew. You know he would." She saw the younger woman look up and nod, her face blotchy with lack of sleep and crying. She rubbed at her eyes tiredly.

"Peter and I don't spend much time apart. His work keeps him busy as does my own career but we always find time to call one another and keep in touch. I have a bad feeling, June. I don't..." She paused, turning and sitting back against the sofa, eyes closed.

"I'm sorry dear." June moved closer, hugging and comforting her.

"I remember when Byron would go on one of his gigs. Sometimes I worried he wouldn't come home but he always did. I don't know how he managed. There were times I saw the look in his eye that he had come close to not coming back but I ignored it because he was here again and I was just so happy to see him." She smiled softly at El.

"Peter will come back. Just wait and see. I'll stay with you as long as you like. Ok?" June saw El nod up at her, wiping at her eyes and smiling.

()()()

Neal was remembering that evening even more clearly now. Maybe it was the chloroform, but his memory started to return as he lay unconscious and dreamed. He could almost remember the voice again, the man confronting Peter. It had only been a brief verbal exchange but Neal knew the voice was the same as the man who had kidnapped him. He was certain, his mind hazy as he started to come to.

He gave a muffled groan as he woke to find his head throbbing. There was a ringing in his ears, the scent of water heavy in the air and maybe mildew. He forced his eyes open, closing them almost immediately. The light was far from blinding but his eyes were still sensitive to it, squinting as he opened them again. He saw the light was from a single bare bulb hanging over head from the center of the room. He moved his head, a big mistake when he started to feel nauseated. He swallowed back the bile, moving his eyes instead as he tried to take in his surroundings.

The room was a dusty gray color with an off white grout between the cinder block bricks that made up the walls. Moisture dripped off the rough material making him think they were below ground, maybe a cellar or sub-basement. He shifted slightly, arms bound tightly behind him. He felt the ropes cutting into his arms and wrists, ankles and legs as he wiggled to test his bonds.

"uuuuhnnnn..."

Neal froze at the sound, unsure what it was till he rolled over to his side and saw another figure in a chair sitting across the dimly lit room. He couldn't tell who the figure was since they sat in the shadows. He could just see that they were facing away from him. Neal squinted in hopes of seeing more but it was too dark for him to see well, not to mention his vision was still still partially blurry from the chloroform.

He didn't have long to wait, to find out who sat there when the sound of a latch being opened rang out. Neal slumped back, pretending to be unconscious, eyes only partially open. The sound of a door opening was followed by soft footsteps. One pair stopped near him, a foot poking him in the side but he didn't move.

"The skinny one is still unconscious. How's Burke doing?" He heard the footsteps move away from him and walk back towards the figure in the chair. He heard the chair scraped across the cement floor, another groan from the figure. It was Peter! Neal kept up his unconscious act, hoping they weren't about to do anything rash.

"He's still with us despite the fun we had with him after the phone call. How long before we get rid of both of them?" It was the cold voice, the one he remembered from his drunken binge. The sound of a gun cocking made his blood freeze.

"Not too much longer. Erik said to wait a bit longer now that they know that body wasn't Burke's. Heard someone identified it absolutely. I thought you put all his clothes, possessions and such on the body?" The voice sounded pissed, the sound of someone getting slapped obvious. Neal just lay there quietly and listened, glad they weren't paying attention to him.

"We did!" Someone whined, Neal only turning his eyes to see a young guy shifting his weight nervously. The man looked young, maybe college age, dressed in jeans and a black tee with a denim jacket. Neal recognized him as the lost tourist near June's.

"Well I don't think you did but we'll let you make it up..." Neal could see the shadowy figure speaking, no face yet but a slight glittering of green as his eyes reflected the light.

Neal heard the sound of a silencer and a gasping sound. He shuddered ever so slightly, trying to remain quiet as something hit the hard floor with a thud.

"Make sure he's disposed of properly." Neal closed his eyes again, hearing footsteps nearing him. He felt a hand grasp his chin and raise his face up then drop it again, his head connecting with the floor.

"When he wakes up, we'll let Burke watch his little friend get some of the same before we finish him off. Boss says we have to do this just right to get the Feds off his back." The voice paused, Neal feeling a shoe poke him in the side again before he felt a hard kick and gasped.

"Thought so... give him a few minutes before you show him some attention."