Note from the Phoenix: I'm pleased to see how much you guys enjoyed hearing from Daniel again...even if he did strangle Peter. Prepare yourself for the 'title sequence' at the end of this chapter!

White Collar: The Eye of Sita

Chapter Seventeen

"Peter?"

Neal called out for his friend even though it was obvious that he wasn't in the hotel room. Still somewhat breathless from running over here Neal pulled out his cell phone and dialed Peter. The phone rang to voice mail. Reminding himself that there were plenty of reasons for Peter not to answer Neal did his best to keep calm.

"It can't be Daniel, he was dead, I know he was..."

Unsure of who he was trying to convince Neal waited a few minutes before calling Peter again. This time when he didn't answer Neal started pacing, looking down he briefly noted that he must have left his shoes at Sara's. Hanging up Neal dialed in to the Art Crimes office and asked to be connected to Walters. Although it was seven thirty Walters was still in.

"Walters, here." He answered wearily.

"Agent Walters..."

"Caffrey," Walters snarled "don't think for one moment that I haven't figured out that you were just jerking me around last night. Nice touch with the tears, however I don't appreciated it. Don't expect any favors or leniency from Art Crimes in the future."

"I was just wondering if Peter's with you."

"He left my office hours ago."

"Where did he go?"

"How the hell should I know?"

"Agent Walters, I think Peter is in trouble." Neal said seriously.

"Good."

"Agen..."

It was too late Walter hung up with a loud clatter. Neal ground his teeth together in frustration. He knew he shouldn't have even bothered asking Walters for help. Not giving up easily Neal dialed another number.

"Neal?" Diana answered having seen him on her caller ID. "What's wrong?"

"I can't find Peter. He's not answering his phone."

"How long has he been missing?"

"Officially...about five minutes."

"Jumping the gun a little aren't we, Neal?" Diana ask seriously. "Peter's a big boy, he can take care of himself. He probably just needs some time away from you, Lord know I would by this time."

"Diana, please, this is serious. Something big has happened here."

"What?"

"I can't tell you."

"Then I can't help you." Diana replied simply.

"All I want you to do is look up his cell phone GPS location." Neal explained. "If he is somewhere he should be then there's no harm."

"Neal, I'm home. It will take me half an hour to get into the office. If you know for a fact that this is an emergency then I can call it in...but you know how pissed Peter will be if he's just out grabbing a quiet dinner somewhere."

"You're right." Neal admitted.

"Peter has to keep track of you, not the other way around."

"I'm sure he's fine."

"If he's still missing in a few hours call me."

"I will, thanks Diana."

"Your welcome."

Neal hung up, but he still wasn't convinced that everything was okay. He dialed Peter again, if he was just out at dinner he'd be annoyed enough by the ringing to answer. Once again the call ended in voice mail. Tired of getting nowhere with the phone Neal hurriedly made his way back to Sara's.

"Neal?" Sara asked as she opened the door. "I'm getting a little tired of you just inviting yourself over here and then running off without any explanations."

"Do you have a cell phone GPS locator?"

"Those are illegal for civilian use."

"I know that." Neal snapped. "Do you have one?"

"Neal, what's going on?"

"I need to know where Peter is, can you find his phone or not?"

Neal was still standing out in the hall, when he took a step forward to come into Sara's room she took a nervous step back. Suddenly realizing how strange his behavior must seem to her Neal backed away to give her some space. Sara watched him cautiously, clearly waiting for either an explanation or for him to disappear again. Neal sighed in defeat.

"Sara, the man you were asking me about might be Daniel White. He is someone from my past that I thought was dead, but recent events are starting to make me question that. If he is alive: he probably took the Hope Diamond. He is also very dangerous and now I can't find Peter."

"The locator is in my car. I'll get my keys."

Neal smiled at Sara's willingness to help now that she had a simple explanation. While she grabbed her keys Neal retrieved his shoes. Sara went over to the small wall safe and opened it. She brought over a folded print out and handed it to Neal. Opening the photo Neal gasped sharply. He hadn't truly believed that Daniel was alive until he had the photo in his hands.

"Daniel..."

"What does he want from you?"

"Revenge."

"What did you do to him?"

"I gave him that scar."

Neal folded up the photo and put it in his pocket. Sara started to protest, but she thought better of it. She lead Neal down to her car and started up her in-dash GPS. The regular program came on the small screen, but she typed a few commands and a password into it and a new program opened up. Sitting in the passenger seat something on the screen caught Neal's attention.

"How does your car know I'm here?" Neal asked.

"Uh..." Sara blushed.

"You can track my anklet." Neal smiled. "How do you do that?"

"I might have a friend who has a friend who knows your GPS identification number." Sara admitted with a nervous smile.

"You were checking to see that I wasn't anywhere near the Hope when it was stolen."

"Do you blame me?"

"Not really." Neal said.

Sara flashed Neal a more relaxed smile and then punched Peter's number into the illegal program. It took the system a few minutes to triangulate the signal off the surrounding cell phone towers. When it did finally find the location it was stationary.

"He's about six miles from here, or at least his phone is." Sara said. "The signal's not moving."

"You should stay here, I'll go check it out."

"Oh no, my car, my software, my job to find that diamond."

Sara didn't leave any room for arguing and started the car. With little choice in the matter Neal put his seat belt on and stared out the window. He tried Peter's cell phone one last time with the same results as before. They quickly got on the highway heading away from the city. Neal's thoughts shifted between trying to think of a good reason for Peter to have driven out here to how angry Daniel must be with him.

"He thinks I left him to die on purpose..." Neal muttered to himself. "I would never have left him..."

"Who? Peter?"

"Daniel." Neal corrected vacantly. "There was so much blood, he wasn't responding."

"This Daniel was a friend of yours then?"

"Something like that."

The mournful tone in Neal's voice kept Sara from asking any more questions. Neal tried to keep his heart from racing as they came closer to the GPS location. Getting off on a lonely exit they drove through a nice neighborhood until they came to the school. Peter's car was alone in the middle of the parking lot, he had Sara just pull into the parking lot entrance and told her to stop. Neal's stomach twisted painfully when he noticed that Peter was in the driver's seat, but he wasn't moving.

"No...no, not again..."

"Neal?" Sara asked fearfully.

"Sara, do you have your gun with you?"

"It's in the hotel safe."

"Okay, probably for the best anyway." Neal sighed. "Stay here."

"Nea..."

"Stay here." Neal repeated firmly. "If shots are fired just get out of here as quickly as you can, don't wait if you hear a shot just drive."

"I'm not just going to leave you here."

"It won't matter, I'll already be dead."

"Neal, if you think this is a trap don't go out there."

"I have to."

Sara reached over and grabbed Neal's wrist as he went to unbuckle his seat belt. He hated seeing her so frightened. Neal leaned over and kissed her cheek. Before she could argue any further he pulled away and opened the car door. Taking a deep breath he stepped out of the car and out into the dark parking lot.

Neal walked slowly towards Peter's car with his hands held out to either side palms up to prove to anyone who was watching that he was unarmed. If Daniel wanted to take him down, now would be the time. Neal didn't look around, he kept his focus on the car as he made his way across the open space. When he made it half way to the car without being shot he started to lose his nerve.

"Daniel," Neal called out "if you've hurt him you had better shoot me now, because I will hunt you down."

Holding his breath as he continued to walk Neal waited to either hear gun fire or for Daniel to step out of the shadows. Neither event happened and Neal made it safely to Peter's car. Stepping up to the driver's side Neal hooked his fingers under the handle and pulled the door open.

Peter was motionless in the reclined front seat. Neal stared in horror at the bright red mark around his throat that suggested a violent strangulation. He reached out with a shaky hand to press his fingers against Peter's throat to see if he could find a pulse. Neal jumped back with a yelp as Peter jolted awake with a painful gasp. Peter sat forward and grabbed onto the steering wheel. He shook his head to try and clear his disorientation.

"Peter?"

"Neal?" Peter replied in a hoarse whisper.

"I'm here, are you okay?"

"I think so." Peter winced. "Hurts to talk."

"Don't talk, just focus on breathing."

Peter closed his eyes and nodded as he took a few deep breaths. Neal looked over his shoulder as he heard Sara approaching slowly in her car. Although Neal tried to stop him Peter insisted on getting out of the car. He was unsteady on his feet, but Neal made sure he didn't fall. Sara parked her car a few spaces away and got out to join them.

"Sara, you should go. I'll take care of this."

"I'm not going anywhere, Neal." Sara came up and gently put her hand under Peter's jaw to guide him to look up at her. "Very little petechial hemorrhage, no trachea collapse, whoever did this wasn't trying very hard to kill you."

Peter shook his head. Still breathing heavily Peter closed his eyes and leaned back against the car for support. Making sure Peter stayed on his feet Neal kept a sharp eye out for Daniel, but they seemed to be alone.

"Was it Daniel? Is he alive?"

Peter nodded, but instantly regretted doing so.

"Peter, I am so sorry. I still don't understand how he survived, I would have sworn on my own life that he was dead. I never meant to put you in danger. I had no idea that he would come seeking revenge like this."

"Not revenge..." Peter panted painfully. "His son."

"Son?" Neal repeated in shock.

"Si...Sita. Sita."

Finding it too painful to talk Peter pressed his hand against his throat. He looked like he was about to lose his ability to stand. Neal had Sara open the door to the back seat and helped Peter lay down. Although he protested at first Peter quickly fell asleep once settled. Neal watched over him for a minute to make sure he was still okay before taking a step back and dragging his hands through his hair.

"Who names their son 'Sita'?" Sara asked confused.

"No, I don't think Peter was talking about Daniel's son, I think he was talking about the Hope."

"What?"

"Sita is a Hindu Avatar, the daughter of Lakshmi the Hindu goddess of wealth and wisdom."

"Avatar?" Sara asked still confused.

"An Earthly descended of a god or goddess."

"What does a Hindu goddess have to do with anything?"

"An old legend states that the Hope Diamond was once part of a sacred Hindu sculpture of Sita."

"A sculpture? I thought the diamond was purchased from a mine."

"Many believe that the Hope Diamond was never legally purchased, but rather originally stolen from India and brought to Europe. It's what gives the Hope Diamond its other name."

"What other name?"

"The Eye of Sita."