Ch 2

"Mozzie, right?" Peter engaged the other man. Neal was in the shower at the moment and June was down in the kichen making tea.

"Em, yes," He said pointedly looking at the magnificent view instead of Peter.

"I know you and Caffrey are well acquainted," Peter said frankly.

"But that's not what you really wanted to say," Mozzie replied softly.

Peter sighed, "No," He gazed at the city he loved so much. "What is Neal up to?" Peter tried the direct approach. Mozzie shifted uneasily in his seat. "I know about Kate too," Peter continued. "Is it about Kate?" Still nothing. Why was it all of Neal's friends seemed to be so damn dedicated to him? "You're not going to share, I take it?"

"If it was of importance," Mozzie said shifting his glasses.

Peter couldn't help but sag his shoulders in disappointment. "I think it looked important."
"We are all entitled to our opinions," He answered simply.

"Work with me Mozzie, we both saw Neal walk in June's front door. He did not look happy, what's going on?"
000000000000000000

"So were you planning on telling me any time soon you still had Kate's name engraved on that thick skull of yours?"
Neal looked up from the case he had been scanning. Peter and he had just driven to the office from June's house. "Sorry?"
"Yes Neal, Mozzie told me," Peter carefully watched the conman he had thought he had known inside and out.

"Told you what Burch?" Neal played stupid. He clenched his fist. He had pointedly told Mozzie not to tell Peter. How was he ever supposed to find Kate if an FBI agent was all over him?

"You want to lift up your pant leg for me?"
"Um, is that really necessary?" Neal realized there was no way out of this, but none the less tried to buy some time anyway.

"Yes,"

"I think I need to go to the men's room actually-"

"Caffrey," Peter said almost growled.

Neal hesitantly reached toward his leg and pulled up the pant leg. "Nothing weird there, well I really need to go now,"
"Other one."
"Peter, come on can't a guy pee around here anymore?"
Peter looked at him seriously. "Fine," He mumbled. He pulled the other one up.

"Nothing," Peter forced the words out. "Never been done before," He kept on. "Supposed to be the best there is," Peter put his hands behind his head. He didn't want to believe it. He had really hoped Mozzie had been lying, but the moment Caffrey had been just a little hesitant he knew his fears were true.

"Where's the tracker?"
This was the first time he had seen Neal at a loss for words. "At June's,"
"How'd you do it?"

He coughed. "Old friend of Mozzie's,"
"Figures," Peter half shouted throwing his hands in the air. "Neal, Mozzie told me you were planning on going to San Francisco, but why? I thought we agreed Kate was a losing bet! I thought you were over this!" Peter had known he wasn't, but he couldn't help telling himself otherwise. "What do you want me to do Neal?"
"Maybe you should sit down first, you don't look too stable," Neal tried a grin and wasn't surprised when it wasn't returned.

"This isn't funny. Listen I'm going back to June's to get that thing, we may be able to still use it. I'm going to talk to the people who made it too. I hate to say it but… We need you. My boss is already trying to find a way to kick you out, if he finds out about this no doubt you'll be back in jail. And for a lot longer than last time." Peter let this sink in. "But promise me this, you won't go looking for Kate anymore? I can't afford to help you again, understand?"

"Loud and clear,"

"Good, let's pretend nothing happened, okay? Get back on that case!" Peter said speed walking out to his car.

00000000000000000000000

"Toss me the dress," A week later, Peter stood feet away from a murderer. The girl did what the large man told her and hid behind Peter once again.

Peter's heart was thumping madly as the thug told him the girl's belt was a bomb. A bomb? He had thought frantically, who did that?

"And remember, if I press the number, she goes," He made a motion with his hands and smiled a wicked grin.

Peter looked into the model's scared eyes. He was frozen. All of the sudden Caffrey sprinted toward them. "I've got everyone backing up his phone, hurry and get that off her!" He said pointing at the belt and then sprinting once again after the man.

Peter rapidly started to work on the belt keeping one eye on Caffrey as he did so.

"Hey, Steve!" Caffrey said catching up to him. Peter's eyebrows furrowed as he struggled to get the belt off and contemplated what the hell Neal was doing.

Peter gaped as the killer pulled something from inside his coat. "You're messing with the wrong man," He said revealing a shiny gun. At the same moment Peter flung the belt away, Lauran Cruz jumped the man from the back allowing Neal to let a huge sigh of relief out.

Back in the office Peter said, "I see you forgot what I said?"

Neal didn't look sorry at all, "It does seem so, doesn't it?"

"Well thank god you did," Peter couldn't help but smile. "That was… close at the end though," He involuntarily shivered. He couldn't get the picture of them all being blown to pieces or of Caffrey being shot in the heart.

"Yeah, really close." Neal seemed some where entirely different.

Peter sighed. "You're not thinking about Kate are you?"
Neal looked at him, "No,"
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow. Elizabeth and I are going out to dinner." He couldn't help grinning widely; he hadn't been out with his wife in so long.

"Bye," Neal said distantly.

"You going to be okay?"

"'Course,"

Peter looked him over once more before hurrying to meet his wife.