Hey guys, sorry for the delay. I usually don't post a new chapter until I've started to write the next one but I've been super busy this week and haven't written anything yet :( But, if you haven't already, be sure to check out my new-ish White Collar fics!
On another note, thanks for all the reviews! They really brighten up my day!
Neal and Sara walked up the steps to her client's posh townhome in Brooklyn. Sara quickly rapped her knuckles against the door and rocked back and forth. She was feeling nervous and she knew exactly why. Neal. It was strange working together again after such a long time. It had only been a few months but in that short time, he had gained and lost a girlfriend, she had moved to a new country and yet here they were, standing next to each other again.
When the door finally opened, they both saw a short and young raven-haired woman standing inside, looking at them warily. "Hi," Sara said warmly, extending out her hand. "I'm Sara Ellis and I work for Sterling Bosch. I don't know if you remember but we talked the other day about the theft."
Upon hearing Sara's words, the other woman dropped her façade and beamed at Neal and Sara. "Oh," she said, relief in her voice, "come on in."
"When did you find out that your necklaces were stolen?" Sara asked after all the pleasantries were over with, her pen poised over a Moleskine notebook, ready to write down everything she heard. Neal was recording the whole conversation and no matter what, Sara was hell-bent on getting the necklaces back for the poor woman.
"My husband wanted to see them," the other woman, Ashley Marion, answered. "I had worn the necklace the day before to a banquet and I noticed that the hook was loose and he wanted to fix it before I wore it again. I left it on his desk and when he went in to get it, it was gone." She shrugged. "Just like that. Poof. We have our security alarm on all the time and it was freezing outside so all the windows were shut."
"It's very easy for a good thief to get around a generic alarm," Neal remarked. "I checked out your system and it's very basic."
Ashley gaped at Neal, eyes widened. She glanced at him suspiciously. "Who is he?" she asked Sara accusingly, "and, why does he know this?"
Sara rolled her eyes. "This is Neal Caffrey. He was a convicted felon but now he works for the FBI and he's a free man. Don't worry, he's harmless. He was sentenced for forging bonds."
"Do you think we should upgrade our security system?" Ashley asked worriedly, wringing her hands. "I can't afford to lose any more of my jewelry."
"Just make sure that you don't leave things in the open and lock everything up all the time," Neal advised. "Trust me; thieves usually tend to go for the easier jobs and most can't crack open the complicated safes."
"We are trying our best to retrieve the missing jewelry, Mrs. Marion," Sara assured the other woman. "We'll keep in touch and keep you updated."
"I just want everything to be returned safely."
Sara acknowledged the woman's wishes with a slight nod as she and Neal headed towards the door. "Thanks again for agreeing to speak with us."
Ashley smiled up at Neal and Sara and nodded. "I really hope that you catch who's been doing this."
When the door shut behind them, Sara shook her head at Neal. "I can't believe you," she said incredulously. "What happened to being Mr. Suave? You were scaring the poor lady."
"She did have a faulty alarm system and was obviously an idiot," Neal defended himself. "Who leaves necklaces that expensive unattended for that long?"
Sara just rolled her eyes as she walked towards the sidewalk to get a cab. "So, I was thinking that we should talk sometime," she said. "Maybe we could have dinner together?"
"Well, there's no time like the present," Neal said, glancing at his watch. "It's about six now and there's this great Indian place nearby."
Sara smiled at him shyly and nodded. "Okay, lead the way," she agreed as they walked off down the sidewalk towards the restaurant.
Seated across from each other in the dimly-lit restaurant, Sara couldn't help but feel a little insecure because she just could feel that she and Neal would end up picking a fight where he'd criticize her for something again. Though, she had to admit that so far, he had been nothing but the perfect gentleman towards her. She was tossed out of her reverie when Neal snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Sorry," she apologized quickly, "what were you saying?"
"I wasn't saying anything." Neal grinned. "Anyway, what's gotten you so distracted ? Anything you'd like to share?"
"It's weird that we're back being friends again. Just two days ago, we were arguing and yet, here we are, being very friendly and not trying to verbally assault each other."
"Verbally assaulting each other? That seems a bit harsh."
Sara just raised her eyebrows. "Come on, we were pretty nasty that day. Anyhow, thanks for agreeing to talk to me. You know, I really didn't mean to ditch you like that when I moved to London. But with everything else going on in both of our lives, it just seemed better that way." She shrugged her shoulders and looked at him hesitantly. "I was afraid, Neal. I was scared that you'd move on without me in New York and that I'd be stuck alone in London.
"Which I did," Neal admitted, looking down at his plate of Tandoori Chicken.
"Tell me about Rebecca. What exactly happened?" Sara urged, placing her hand over his, squeezing gently. "You seemed bothered by it."
"Rebecca was deceptively perfect." His voice took on a wistful tone as he continued, "She was pulling a con on me and she used my greatest weakness to do it and I was a fool not to see the signs. I thought I loved her and it was all a lie."
"Wow, she appears to be more of a bitch than I am," Sara said, smirking. "I didn't think it was possible. How do you find your girlfriends, Caffrey?"
Neal finally laughed then, a deep and happy sound. "I don't know; you tell me," he joked. "You're one of them. But yeah, most of my girlfriends have been strange, to say the least."
"Except for me, right?" It wasn't a question. Neal knew that Sara still probably carried a baton in her purse and wasn't afraid to use it.
"Of course, Sara. You were the normal one. Want more wine?"
"Sure," she decided, holding out her glass. "Just don't get me drunk since I don't kiss random strangers."
"So, am I a random stranger?"
She shrugged. "No. But, either way, I'm not sleeping with you because I'm not looking for a friends-with-benefits thing anymore."
"Wow, you're getting straight to the point. I just need a friend right now. Especially with Peter leaving, I've been a little lonely lately," Neal confessed.
"Is that why Diana's been handling the case?" Sara asked. "I didn't even know that Peter left. He's here in New York though."
"Peter moved to Washington but he occasionally visits New York to help us with some cases since he still works with the White Collar department."
"And your anklet is off now," she noted, glancing at his leg. "How did that happen?"
"I really don't know." Neal lifted his shoulders. "After I found out that Peter was leaving, I didn't want to get a new handler. I was ready to be free again and Peter pulled some strings and here I am, without my leash."
"I'm really happy for you, Neal." And she truly was. Sara knew that all Neal ever wanted was to be able to live his own life again. He really knew how to live life and the anklet had put everything on hold for him. She only hoped that he'd be smart enough to leave his life of crime behind him this time.
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