(Chapter 3)
Jones knocked on his boss' door, Hughes looking up and waving him inside.
"So, did you find something? Any sign of Caffrey?" Hughes sounded worried, motioning for the agent to sit. Jones pulled the laptop from under his arm and a file folder full of papers and pictures.
"The traffic cams didn't turn up much. We know they headed out of town past the crime scene from last night. They threw the anklet there." He showed the images from the surveillance cameras on the screen, pulling out a few stills showing the anklet.
"Couldn't get a plate or anything identifying off the car other than it was a black sedan. I also contacted June, Caffrey's landlady. She's been staying with Elizabeth Burke while Peter's missing... she allowed us access to her security cameras. Neal was kidnapped. We found signs of forced entry on her back door and drag marks. There was also some brief footage of three men carrying something out her back door." Jones sounded concerned.
Hughes nodded, his brow furrowing as he examined all the information before him.
"Good work, Jones. Get a team together. We're going to find Caffrey and hopefully that will also help lead to Burke. I'll take a look into his recent cases and see if there's anything."
()()()
June talked with the police once Jones had left, the agent leaving someone with her for protection. Once the police had gone, she locked the doors, calling a locksmith to come change the locks asap. She excused herself from the agent and headed upstairs to Neal's room. She knocked lightly on the door, a figure turning to peer back at her. It was Elizabeth.
"June, did they find Neal?" She sounded tired, her voice hollow of emotion. She was still worried about Peter's disappearance and Neal's which were seemingly tied together. The younger woman pulled her jacket closer to her, the breeze whipping at her long dark hair as she sat out on the terrace.
"No, but they know someone took him. Maybe the same people who have Peter. Jones said they have every available man on it." She walked over and patted the younger woman on the shoulder, sitting down beside her.
"Who would want to hurt Peter? I..." She was feeling guilty suddenly, wanting to blame Neal for what happened but fighting the urge. She didn't know that this had anything to do with Neal's past. In fact, it may not have anything to do with him at all but with his reputation, it was easy to want to ask how his past might be involved. She sighed, worried about both men and hoping they were still alive. It had barely been 24 hours since Peter went missing and only three since Neal's anklet had been cut.
They both turned when they heard a ruckus downstairs. Someone was arguing with the agent, both June and El going downstairs to investigate.
"My friend lives here and it's very important I talk to hi... June!" Mozzie stood there in the hallway by the door, the agent looking like he was ready to pull his gun. He looked back at the two women with a questioning glance. June held up her hand to the young agent and smiled.
"He's a friend Agent Rodriguez. Let him in." Her voice was kindly, watching Mozzie walk around the now apologetic agent. The little guy's face held some minor irritation as he glared at the man and made his way towards the two women.
"June... is Neal here? I have to talk to him now!" He started for the stairs but she stopped him as did the expression on both June and Elizabeth's faces.
"He's not here, Haversham." Her voice was quiet, her tone making him look at her curiously.
"Some thing's happened? I had a feeling it would when he told me about Peter." Mozz's voice started to go a little high, his anxiety level increasing. He paced a bit and June suggested they go up to Neal's for some privacy.
Once they were upstairs and sitting out on the terrace, June told Mozz was was going on. He paled slightly.
"This is bad. I was coming to warn him about what I discovered but this is bad." He paced again, stopping when Elizabeth stood and blocked him.
"Mozz... if you know something, please... tell Jones." She sounded tired, her manner pleading with him till he acquiesced.
"Neal called me just after lunch today to say that he had received a strange call. He was pretty sure it was from Peter but he hadn't had time to call the Feds in. Plus he wanted to be sure it was from Peter and get a lead on it. He gave me the info and I went to check out my sources." He paused a moment before continuing.
"I found out that Peter's been working on a case concerning a local Mobster by the name of Geraldi. Not someone you want to cross." He kept pacing finally stopping to wipe his glasses.
"Now Neal is missing and all I can think is they some how traced the phone call Peter made back to Neal. If they did, that would explain his kidnapping." He shook slightly with nervousness, pacing again around the table. June looked at El and stood up.
"I'll go call Jones. Thank you Mozz." She left the room, the little guy taking her seat after a moment. He tried not to make eye contact with El but it was hard when she kept looking at him.
"Peter called Neal?" She looked somewhat relieved, Mozz trying not to reply. Finally he looked up at her, a sad expression on his face.
"Neal said... He heard Peter's voice on the phone and then someone else hung it up." He left it at that, obviously unable to say what he knew was true. Geraldi was an evil SOB and everyone who had crossed him was either dead or wished they were. If Peter was investigating him on something and they found out, he wasn't going to last long. Neither was Neal.
June returned not too long after, a tray of drinks and some snacks in her arms.
"I let Agent Jones know what you told me, Mozz. They were already looking into some of his cases but that helped to bring some light to who may have been involved." June set the tray down on the table, El helping her despite the despondent look on her face. Even with the news that Neal had heard from Peter, she could tell from Mozzie's tone that it was not the good news she would have wanted. Something else was going on here.
"Excuse me, I'm not very hungry." El stood up and walked back into the room and curled up on the sofa, hear face buried in her arms. June watched with concern, turning to Mozzie and giving him a curious glance.
"I'm worried about her. Peter is her world. I know what it's like to lose the person you love." Her voice was soft, a hint of loss there as she sniffled slightly. Mozz gazed at her then over at Elizabeth.
()()()
Neal winced, his side aching from the kick the goon had given him. It didn't help they had strung him up by his wrists with the same cord, his wrists raw, arms aching as they took his weight. His legs dangled just a few inches above the floor still bound tightly. Neal could see Peter now, the agent slumped in a heavy wooden chair, arms bound tightly behind him with the same kind of thin, wiry cord. The agent was covered in bruises, scratches and a bit of dried blood. They had apparently roughed him up pretty good since he'd been taken, one eye looking swollen and dark even though it was already closed.
He was within a few feet of the agent, swinging despite the discomfort till his feet hit Peter's leg lightly. It took a couple of tries before he got a reaction out of his friend, Peter slowly opening his eyes and peering over at Neal. His bottom lip was bleeding slightly, splitting a bit more as he tried to speak.
"Ne...al..." Peter's voice was barely audible, his eyes staring glassily at the young man. Neal couldn't reply, his mouth filled with rags and covered with tape. He made a muffled noise in response hearing Peter move ever so slightly in an attempt to move towards him. The chair made a scraping noise as it dragged the floor barely an inch then stopped.
"Ne...al..." He heard his name repeated before Peter's head slumped forward to his chest and the agent went still. He could hear a wheezy, raspy breath from his friend that indicated Peter had passed out.
Neal struggled against his bonds finally stopping when he felt something warm and slick moving down his arms. He winced, looking up to see the skin around his wrists cut from the cord. He hung there, doing his best to not think about the pain. He must have passed out at some point because he felt someone slap him awake.
"Hello, Sleeping Beauty. I see you tired yourself out trying to escape. Your wrists are pretty raw." The man had light brown hair and hazel eyes, wearing a blue button up shirt tucked into jeans. He walked a few feet away and Neal felt his arms pulled up tighter, his feet dangling just a bit more off the ground. He gave a muffled groan of agony, the cord tearing deeply into his already sensitive skin. The man smiled, grasping his chin in one hand once he walked back.
"It won't be too much longer before you won't have any hands at all. Just pieces thrown in a field in the middle of nowhere." The man grinned evilly at Neal, pulling on the cord around his ankles and listening to him wince in agony.
"Soft... surprised they even kept that anklet on you. You're not much of a con if you can't handle this. I used to get beat every day by the guards till I escaped. They got what was coming." The man's eyes glittered with an angry thirst, letting go of Neal's face after a moment as he turned to look at Peter. Neal made a sound of protest as he watched the man yank Peter's head back by the hair roughly. The agent didn't react, his face twitching ever so slightly but otherwise remaining still.
Neal watched helplessly as the man cupped his hand over Peter's mouth tightly, his fingers pinching both nostrils shut. It was a moment before Peter reacted, his body thrashing as he tried to breathe. The chair scraped the floor as it moved with each shudder of the agent's body, the goon keeping a foot on the chair to keep it from moving much. Peter fought till his face turned purple from effort and his eyes popped open only to roll back and close again. His body shuddered once more than went still, head slumped back over the chair.
Neal's eyes widened in horror, wondering if his friend was dead as the man moved aside. Peter didn't move, a slight bluish tinge around his now gray lips. The goon pulled back and balled up one hand into a fist, releasing it into the agent's chest. Peter's eyes popped open again, a choked gasp for air and of pain escaping from his lips before he slumped back unconscious.
"Boss doesn't want him dead... yet." He laughed, moving back into the shadows and disappearing through a door. Neal heard faint footsteps fade beyond the door before he could hear only his own pulse rushing through his ears and Peter's shallow breath.
When he was certain that Peter was only unconscious he began to wonder if Mozzie had found anything out. Was anyone looking for him yet or just Peter? How was Elizabeth taking it? He hoped June was still with her. He couldn't imagine El by herself during this time. He felt something wet roll down his cheeks realizing he was crying. Neal looked at his friend with a worried expression, eyes growing heavy despite his efforts to stay awake. The pain was overpowering him, exhaustion fighting with his ability to stay conscious. It didn't take long before he felt himself black out once again.
Neal had a dream. He was walking down a long dimly lit hallway, the walls gray like the room they were in. He looked up to see small fluorescent lights inset in the ceiling as he glided down the passage. He heard voices at the end of the hallway, pausing only briefly to peer around the wall at them. He kept walking, passing through a similar hallway till he saw a large metal door. He reached out to pull it open...
"Wake up!" Someone slapped his face hard, Neal's head swinging back. He opened up his eyes slowly, looking around dazed. He felt himself dropped to the floor, slumping there weakly against the cool cement. Someone pulled him up to his feet, his wrists untied.
Neal saw a table pulled over into the light, a scraping sound as they pulled Peter's chair towards them. The man with the rough voice smiled, nodding to the man with hazel eyes who'd been there earlier. He felt one arm pinned behind him as he was forced to kneel at the low table, one arm held wrist up on top.
"Wake the Fed up. I think he'll like to see this." The man with the rough voice watched two other goons wake Peter, something small like a capsule pressed under the agent's nose. Peter's nose crinkled slightly before he opened his eyes and looked around till his eyes met Neal's.
"It's nice to see both of our guests awake and alert." The man with the rough voice smiled, his voice filled with sarcasm. Peter's eyes turned to look at him, brow furrowing.
"Erik Gardi. Should of known you'd be involved with this. Guess Geraldi picked you especially." Peter sounded casual despite the situation. Erik smirked, making a motion to someone in the background.
"We go back a few years. I can't say I haven't missed you while I was in prison, Burke." He grinned broadly.
"Didn't think you could leave with a life sentence, but maybe your friends have a different idea of what life means." Peter's tone was cool despite the obvious fear in his brown eyes. Neal was impressed, watching and waiting to see what was going to happen.
"Well, your pet thief here knows what prison is like. If you betray your own, you get a skiv in the back." His smile turned to Neal, the young man feeling a cold chill down his spine, the hands holding him grasping him more firmly. That's when he saw what Erik had been motioning for.
"In some countries, they cut hands off of a thief." Erik held a large rusty looking hacksaw, the teeth dull and bent. Neal struggled harder but was being held too tightly to do much. He saw the look on Peter's face, fear reflected in the agent's eyes.
"Hold him still..." Erik held the saw over Neal's wrist, pressing it against the skin till the con winced.
"I think this may take some time. It's rather dull and rusty." He chuckled, about to pull it when the sound of a door opening could be heard and footsteps.
"Erik!" The voice sounded commanding, all the men turning to look at the visitor. Neal looked up despite the saw blade biting into his skin. A man stood there dressed immaculately in an expensive Armani suit with an even more expensive coat over it. He held a pair of nice black leather gloves in his hands, a dark brown cashmere scarf around his neck. This must to be Geraldi if he had to make a guess.
"Mr. Geraldi... We weren't expecting you." Erik bowed his head slightly, his manner suddenly somewhat cowed in the presence of the man. Geraldi was a tall man, maybe 6'2" with raven black hair cut short and feathered back. He had to be in his early 50s but he looked quite a bit younger, his blue eyes sparkling in the dim light as he took in the scene. His eyes stopped on Neal, seemingly sizing him up a moment before moving on and looking at the rest of the men who all lowered their eyes.
"Erik, take our guest to another room to rest while I have a few minutes to talk to Agent Burke." Geraldi's voice was seemingly calm and friendly but everyone nodded as if he'd threatened them, moving quickly as Neal felt his arms held behind him and he was dragged away from the room, leaving Peter and the Mobster alone.
The door shut behind them with a clang waking Neal from his shock. He struggled as they pulled him down the hallway into another smaller cell. He saw a large wooden chair bolted in the middle of the room. He was pushed into the chair, arms bound tightly behind him, his ankles bound to the legs. He was still gagged from earlier, Erik moving closer, hand grasping his chin and holding Neal's head still.
"Don't worry, we'll finish what we started later. I'm sure Geraldi just wants to make sure your keeper knows what the stakes are." He smiled, slapping Neal's face before leaving.
()()()
Peter watched as Anthony Geraldi strolled into the room. The man was dressed more like a cartoon than Neal ever had, his suit enough to put a down payment on a home. He watched as the mobster excused his men, Neal being dragged out of the room in shock. He felt a pang of fear wondering what the man had in mind and worried about what they would do to Neal.
"Agent Burke..." Geraldi paused, pulling a chair up and sitting beside him, a friendly smile on his face. He lay the gloves in his hand on his lap as if he were sitting talking to an old friend. They had known each other a while, at least enough years for Peter to be a pain in the man's side.
"You're looking well as always, Tony." Peter tried to keep his manner light, his head swimming from his treatment over the past day. He saw Geraldi's lips pinch a bit at the familiar name before smiling again.
"Peter, I'm sure you know how this is going to end. It's nothing personal." He continued to smile, Peter smirking back, his lip bleeding when he did.
"Well, I'll take your word for it, Tony. I see you hired a few rejects from my old case files. Why Gardi? I'd think you'd have better taste than that." Peter was terrified of the man's reputation as a cold-blooded killer but he wasn't going to let anyone know that. Geraldi laughed.
"Why do you think? I've been planning this for a while now, Peter. You've been in my business way too long for me to ignore how close you were to getting a conviction. I figured getting rid of you will help close the case a while till a new, less experienced agent takes over and makes some mistakes. It all works out." He started to stand but stopped, turning those blue eyes on the agent.
"Just so you know I'm not a complete 'monster,' I will grant you this: If you can convince your pet convict to help me with my current job, I will spare his life. He'll be mine to use as I wish, but he'll live. I know enough about your 'partnership' you seem to care what happens to him." He moved closer, face hovering above Peter's.
"I don't know where you got that idea. He's just a tool in my belt till he's off parole in 3 years. I have no attachment to the con. If you want him, take him!" It was hard for Peter to say that but he hoped it was enough to convince the mobster to leave Neal alone. Geraldi scratched at his chin curiously.
"So if my men had cut his hand off as they intended, you'd have felt no remorse?" Geraldi grasped Peter's chin in his hand and moved his eyes to face him.
"No..." His voice trailed off despite himself and he heard a laugh from the mobster as his face was released.
"Such a terrible liar." Tony paced a moment before coming up behind Peter and whispering.
"You are dying... know that, but your friend, he's going to be my tool till I grow weary of him. If he defies me, I'll give him back to my men. Erik is always looking for someone to practice his skills on. Think about that while you have the time to do so."
Peter looked up at the man, watching Geraldi turn and leave the room. The silence was overwhelming, Peter thinking about what was said. Neal would live but he'd be nothing more than a prisoner. He sighed, pulling at his bonds but feeling no give in the cord as it tore deeper into his wrists. He cursed quietly as he realized Neal's participation was his fault. If he hadn't called maybe... he would have died alone. His body would have been found in some abandoned field somewhere in the near future in pieces courtesy of Erik. He shivered at the thought, but it would have been better than knowing he had involved Neal with this.
Peter turned his head at the sound of someone opening the door, the sound of something being dragged in. Erik was standing there with two other guys, Neal held limply between them.
"Geraldi said you guys had something to discuss." The hitman made a motion and Neal was strapped into the other chair the mobster had been using, secured and facing Peter.
"We'll let you get to your heart to heart." Erik pulled the tape off Neal's lips, the con spitting out the rags as he glared up at the man. Erik smirked, walking away with the other two goons as they exited the room. Once they heard the door clang shut and lock, Neal turned to look at Peter, the agent's eyes bright despite one eye being partially swollen shut.
"Peter, are you ok?" Neal sounded more concerned for him than himself. Peter blinked, nodding with a soft smile.
"For now. Neal... if you got out, do you think you could get a message to Elizabeth for me?" Peter wasn't sure how to broach what Geraldi had told him but he was trying. He watched those intelligent blue eyes blink back at him curiously as if the question were an obvious one.
"Of course, but why would I need to? If I get out, I'm taking you with me." Neal sounded so honest, it made Peter smile at the young man's loyalty but it was ill-spent when only one of them was making it out. He heard a cough and looked up.
"Peter, why are you asking me this?" Neal was looking like he was figuring things out but why wouldn't he? Peter sighed not wanting to say what had to be said.
"Just promise me you'll contact Elizabeth. Ok?"