Unintended Consequences

DISCLAIMER: White Collar belongs to Jeff Eastin and USA Network.

Chapter 10

##

A few minutes earlier...

Wednesday 8:56 p.m.

Neal inched closer and was fairly certain the figure was Grace even though the moonlight hid her face. He put his finger up to his lips for her to remain silent.

"My name is Neal Caffrey…I worked with your husband Frank…my girlfriend was Kate Moreau…"

It stung Neal a bit that he had to use the word 'was' in reference to Kate, but he was certain it would help clarify who he was and that he was here to help.

Grace nodded her head to indicate she understood. He and Kate had shared more than a few dinners and wine with Frank and Grace before the museum incident. Focus. Stop daydreaming. Neal shook his head to rid himself of the memories. He tried to concentrate on quickly freeing Grace but realized the ropes were tighter than he had anticipated. He took out the small flashlight he has used earlier to pick the door lock and looked around for something to help cut the ropes. He finally found a rather large knife in one of the drawers. He didn't want to waste more time, so he figured it would have to do. He worked quickly to untie Grace's hands and feet and dropped the ropes by her chair. He walked toward the back of the chair letting the moonlight illuminate the knot holding the gag in place. He had loosened the knot but was still working on it when he heard a soft creak. Startled, he looked up to see moonlight streaming on Peter's face as he stepped into the room, gun drawn. Neal saw a look of intense hatred spread over Peter's face when he saw him. It didn't even cross his mind that he was still holding the knife. Neal's first thought was that Peter must have checked his anklet and somehow found out about the forgery. He doubted he would be able to talk his way out of this one, especially after Peter had confronted him earlier. Peter was never going to believe him now. Neal realized that going back to prison seemed a definite possibility until he heard the gun go off and felt the impact in his chest drive him to the ground, his head striking the hard floor. The knife clattered to the floor a few feet away. Neal's last thought before the pain in his head and chest conspired to pull him under was perhaps he had overestimated the bond he thought he had shared with Peter.

##

Peter rushed to his sister's side ignoring the man who had fallen to the floor; making sure she was okay was his first priority. He quickly reached to remove the gag around her mouth when it fell with just a slight tug. His mind didn't register it as a problem until he realized that her arms and legs were already free; the ropes lying beside her on the floor were obviously cut. Confusion was evident on Peter's face even in the moonlight as he grabbed her hands to help her out of the chair. She wobbled a bit, but then stood a bit straighter as Peter helped to steady her.

"We have to get out of here."

Suddenly, they were surrounded by a bright light. Peter turned and saw Frank holding a gun on them; his finger still on the light switch. Thoughts raced frantically through Peter's mind, if Frank was by the door who was on the floor?

##

Jones and Diana had quickly reached the entrance to the building. Diana carefully turned the knob and motioned for Jones to go in first, gun drawn. They saw a light on about halfway down on the left hand side.

"Jones, that must be the office suite from the blueprint. That has to be where Peter is."

"I agree. We have to be careful. We don't want to blow the op if he's ok."

They kept moving closer until Diana crept up to the window and used a mirror to reflect the occupants of the room without being detected. She signaled for Jones.

He scooted closer and looked at the reflection. He whispered in a low tone.

"Should I assume the guy standing is Frank? I hear Peter's voice but I don't see him. He doesn't sound injured."

"Well if it isn't Frank or Peter do you think it was Grace?"

"I don't know."

They listened for a few more seconds while Frank droned on with glee about why he was doing this.

"Peter's wire was still working when we left the van so we should be getting all of this. This is what we need to nail him. Let's give Peter a few more minutes to see what he can get Frank to say. We're right here in case he needs us."

##

"What's going on Frank? Did you plan this? You kidnapped your own wife?"

"Did you bring the money?"

"All $287,500 of it. It's just outside the door. Nice clue. Exactly the amount of money you spent on the mortgage buying Grace our parent's house. What more do you want?"

Grace had just realized the significance of the ransom and looked furiously at him. He ignored the glare and focused his attention on Peter.

"This worked out better than I expected. What better way could there be to get rid of an FBI agent and his consultant?"

"They will track you down for killing an FBI Agent."

"Kill you? Nah…that would be too easy. No, I'm going to watch you squirm while your FBI career goes down in flames and there's nothing you can do. In fact, you sealed the first part yourself, and I didn't even plan that. Like I said this couldn't have turned out better!"

Frank turned toward Grace but left the gun aimed at Peter just in case he tried something.

"Grace. Take Peter's gun. It's time for a little brother sister reunion."

Peter didn't move.

"Give Grace your gun. Now."

Peter reluctantly handed his gun to Grace, who hesitated a moment before reaching for it.

"That's right baby. Just point it at him and keep it steady."

Frank took out a pair of handcuffs and secured one to Peter's right wrist. He then pulled Peter over and locked the remaining cuff onto the limp left wrist of the injured man still lying on the floor. Frank chuckled.

"Here's the beauty of the plan. The NYPD should have gotten a tip from a very concerned citizen that a very valuable Vermeer painting can be found at your residence. We've even created a bill of sale from a less than reputable dealer detailing your purchase of the Vermeer painting. There are even several witnesses that will step forward if necessary and identify you as the person they saw at the auction. It looks like you and your criminal consultant joined forces. After all, who could possibly stop that kind of combination – world class forger and the smartest FBI agent? You could definitely make a killing…pardon my pun."

Peter had a sudden flashback of himself and Neal breaking into a bank… maybe it would be all too believable.

Ready to break into a bank? Admit it Peter. We make a pretty decent team.

Bank robbers?

I see you smiling. Come on the infamous Caffrey and Burke…We'd be legends.

I can see the wanted posters now but it would be Burke and Caffrey.

Peter knew there was no way Frank could know about the bank, but still the seeds of doubt had been planted and both the FBI and NYPD were going to have questions. At least Peter knew now that Frank had been the person behind the painting delivery and he still thought it was there.

Peter thought about giving him the unfortunate news that the police hadn't found the painting at his house, but with two guns pointed at him Peter decided it was probably not in his best interest to let Frank know part of his plan had failed.

"Really, I have to say 'thank you' Peter. I thought my plan was perfect, but you made it far superior."

Frank lightly tapped Peter's temple with his gun.

"Lots of gray matter still up there. Grace always did say you were very smart. You tied up another loose end for me by shooting him."

Frank motioned to the still body lying on the floor handcuffed to Peter.

"If he dies, you'll go down for murder as well as art theft. I'm just not seeing a way out of this for you my dear brother-in-law."

Peter looked up and glared at Frank.

"You would let one of your cronies die just to take me down? Did he betray you?"

"See…now here's a sensitive issue. We did some work together in the past; just didn't work out so well. As a direct answer to your question, yes, he betrayed me. He betrayed everyone in my profession. In fact, he went to work for the FBI."

Peter kept a stony expression on his face, while Frank laughed at Peter's refusal to comment.

"I know who would have thought it could get better? Here's another laugh for you. He might have betrayed me, but in the end he betrayed you; it's who he is."

Shock registered on Peter's face; he just couldn't keep the stony glare in place. Frank couldn't possibly mean…no, it couldn't be. Peter's mind simply couldn't deal with the thought. What other con man could Frank be referring to? He had been so busy worrying about Grace and Elle that it had never occurred to him to check Neal's anklet again after he had left his apartment. The warehouse was well within Neal's radius so an alert would never have been triggered. How was Neal involved in this?

##

Neal slowly woke up hearing voices around him. He couldn't quite focus on them as his chest was killing him and his head was throbbing. He tried to remember what happened. Slowly the memory of Peter's face floated to the surface. Peter was holding a gun and it was aimed straight at him. Neal remembered holding a knife trying to free Grace when he had felt the sharp stabbing pain in his chest. He had never been so grateful to have actually followed June's advice when she gave him the package from Mozzie and told him what the little guy had said. He wasn't sure how, but somehow Mozzie knew something bad was going to happen and had tried to warn him without alerting Frank. Neal knew without a shadow of a doubt that the vest under his clothing had saved his life and he had Mozzie to thank (again). He realized someone's voice was talking nearby. He could hear it clearly now, 'Yes, he betrayed me. He betrayed everyone in my profession. In fact, he went to work for the FBI.' The voice faded out as Neal tried to concentrate on the voice, who was speaking and what they were talking about? Were they talking about Peter working for the FBI? He couldn't be sure. Neal became aware of something on his wrist; something very familiar…the cold metal of a handcuff encircled his wrist. Had Peter arrested him? His brain was still too fuzzy to remember. Peter must have found evidence of the forgery and somehow figured out what was going down or he never would have found the place. Neal thought it was strange that he didn't feel a handcuff on his other wrist, but he was too tired to open his eyes and figure out what was going on…it took much less energy to just lay there and listen.

##

"What makes you think anyone would believe I did this, Frank?"

"You just shot a man in cold blood and I watched you do it, Peter. You don't mind if I call you Peter, do you? It won't be Agent Burke for much longer anyway. It's a classic misdirect. Shift suspicion to you, your lovely wife and your criminal consultant and manpower will be expended. Who knows maybe they can even get a conviction; now that would be icing on the cake. Either way they'll be following a red herring; a priceless painting created by a master…just not the 17th century master they are expecting. The most important thing for you to know is the forger is none other than your very own criminal consultant."

Peter groaned. How could Neal have possibly betrayed him like this? After all they'd been through he actually forged another painting and did it right behind Peter's back. Neal had looked so innocent this afternoon at his apartment. Had he been scheming to destroy Peter with this painting? Peter refused to believe it, there had to be another explanation. Why would Neal work with Frank?

Frank's voice permeated his consciousness once again.

"I, in the meantime, escape with the real painting that no one is even looking for anymore because they found it at your house and they are too busy interrogating said FBI Agent, his lovely wife and his criminal consultant. Oh, and by the way…You know just for grins and giggles. I simply can't resist any longer."

Frank bent down to remove the ski mask from the face of the man Peter shot and heard the gasp as he looked up to see Peter turning as white as a sheet. Frank once again stopped to laugh about the sheer brilliance of his perfect plan; he was finally taking both Burke and Caffrey down and getting rid of Burke's miserable sister; he couldn't be happier.