Chapter 7
"Will you calm down, Peter. I mean seriously you're acting like we're about to sneak into the White House, which by the way isn't all that hard." Maureen informed him, while sitting in the F.B.I surveillance van.
It was 2 days after Maureen had tried to steal the Winter Egg. Now her, Neal, and a team of F.B.I agents were waiting to take down Maureen's employer. The meeting was set for 3 o' clock in a parking garage near the airport.
It was currently 2:45 and Peter was getting antsy. He was concerned with letting the Caffery siblings going in there alone. Peter tilted his head to the side at Maureen's comment about the White House, but decided to let it slide for the moment.
"Would you like me to run through the plan again?" Neal asked, looking perfectly at ease.
"Yeah, that…" he began, but was cut off by Maureen.
"Time to go." She said while grabbing the black duffle bag by her feet. Neal gave an apologetic smile to Peter, before following his sister out of the van. She was walking at a brisk pace towards the garage. He had to jog to catch up with her. "I hope he didn't see us get out of that van. He is always watching, and is always early." Maureen whispered nervously. Maybe having Neal come along wasn't the best idea ever.
"Everything will be fine." Neal said in a comforting voice as they reached the 3rd floor. "And now we wait."
But the two didn't have to wait that long. A few moments later and Maureen's employer stepped out of the shadows. He was in a security camera's blind spot, while Neal and Maureen were just barely in view. Peter and Jones watched from the van for any sign of distress from the two.
"Hello, Miss Caffrey. It's nice to see you again, and Mr. Caffrey what an unwelcome surprise." The man said in a mocking tone, and then he turned to glare at Maureen. "I thought that I had made it clear you were to come alone."
"Well she was going to, but when I found out that it was you she was dealing with Archer I decided to tag along." Neal said coldly, but he still managed to keep his smile on his face.
"Yes, you see Mr. Archer." Maureen said in the same mocking tone he had been using earlier. "My brother told me all about how you tried to screw him over a few years ago. And I'm afraid that I'll just have to take this fine piece of art elsewhere." She pulled the 1913 Fabergé winter Egg out of the duffle.
Archer stared at it greedily. This was not supposed to be how it went. That little girl was supposed to be so scared that she did whatever he wanted. Caffrey wasn't supposed to be anywhere near here. And that child standing across the parking lot from him was not supposed to be threatening HIM! He thought menacingly.
Archer pulled a gun from his lower back. He quickly pointed it at Neal, who put his hands up and backed up a step. That was all Peter needed to bolt out of the van, Jones not far behind.
Maureen stared at the gun as if it had kicked her puppy. "Is that the gun you used to kill Mina?"
"Yes, it is. It's also the same gun I'm going to use to kill the two of you if you don't give me that egg!" Archer said, his voice getting louder with each word.
"Fine, if you want it so bad, you can have it!" Maureen exclaimed, throwing the egg in the air.
Archer tried to catch it, but with the gun in one hand it slipped out of his other. It hit the ground and shattered into thousands of little pieces. With a frustrated growl, he shot Maureen twice in the chest. She fell to the ground as Archer pointed the gun at Neal. "Freeze, put the gun on the ground." Peter ordered, coming into view, Jones right behind him.
As Jones cuffed Archer, Peter walked over to where Neal was frantically ripping open Maureen's shirt to view the bullet-proof vest. 2 rounds were lodged in it, right above her heart.
With a groan Maureen opened her eyes and kicked, hitting Peter in the shin. "You didn't say it would hurt that much." She complained as Neal helped her sit up.
"Your alive aren't you? And Archer over there will be going to prison for a long time." Peter said in a huff.
"You're right, thanks, Peter." Maureen said, jumping up and giving him a hug. Neal had to hold in his laughter at the shocked look on Peter's face as he awkwardly returned the hug.
When she finally let him go, Maureen turned around and gave Neal a hug too. "Mozzie isn't going to be happy that his perfect Winter Egg forgery was shattered into itty bitty pieces." She said staring at the many pieces of glass on the ground.
"No he isn't, but he'll get over it eventually."
Maureen smiled and pulled Neal into a long overdue hug. "Thank you, Neal, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Reenie." Neal said. Maureen rolled her eyes at the childhood nickname, but didn't say anything.
Epilogue
It had been a week since Archer was arrested and Maureen had fallen off the map again. Peter and Neal were working on a new case when the package arrived at the Bureau. It was addressed to Peter and had no return address.
When he opened the first thing that fell out was something hard, wrapped in a bandana. When Peter opened it he wore a stunned expression and held up the Victoria-Transvaal Diamond.
Neal smiled and grabbed the box. He looked inside and saw something stuck to the side. When he pulled it out his smile widened, it was a postcard from Venice. It was addressed to him and had only one word written, "Polo."
*A/N: Is finished and hopefully now free of any mistakes. Let me know what you think and thanks for reading.