NOTE: I took this down for a quick rewrite. Enjoy!
White Collar: The Eye of Sita
Chapter Twenty-Five
Daniel walked briskly through the basement hallways of the Washington Federal Office with an irritated expression on his face. The air of frustration around him kept anyone in his path from stopping him to talk. People tended to try to avoid anyone who looked like they might lead to an unpleasant interaction. Particularly when that person was dressed like a Federal Agent complete with ID badge bouncing up and down on his lapel.
An intern scrambled out of Daniel's way as he turned the corner. Daniel had been wandering around the poorly labeled hallways for nearly fifteen minutes. He knew that every second he wasted being lost was just more time that could get him caught. Turning around he saw the intern hadn't made it very far.
"Hey, Kid." Daniel called.
"Yes, Agent?" The intern replied.
"I'm from the New York office and I can't find your Evidence Records."
"Um...first left, second right, third left then straight down to the end."
"Thanks."
The intern couldn't help but stare at the white blaze scar that streaked through Daniel's temple. Daniel narrowed his eyes menacingly and the intern turned around and hurried away. Daniel reached up and rubbed at the scar. Usually when he went out into the field he had a make-up artist team that covered it for him. Now that he was on his own he had no way to hide the distinguishing mark.
Rushing down the halls following the directions to the Evidence Daniel quickly found what he was looking for. Inside the small room young woman was sitting at a small desk typing at a computer. She ignored him as he stepped up to her desk. It wasn't until she glanced up and noticed that her visitor was handsome that she stopped her typing. Bringing her shoulders back to show off her slim figure she looked Daniel over with a smile.
"Hello," she greeted warmly "you're not from this office."
"No, I'm not." Daniel smiled right back at her. "I'm from the L.A office."
"L.A, must be nice to work out in the sun."
"It has its advantages."
"How can I help you, Agent..."
"Allens." Daniel provided.
"How can I help you, Agent Allens?" The records keeper purred.
"Agent Walters has brought me in to take a look at some paintings. I can't find Walters, but it's important that I take a look at the work as soon as possible."
"I would not have pegged you for a White Collar guy."
"I got my start in Violent Crimes, but after..." Daniel trailed off as he rubbed at his scared temple.
"Understandable." She said sympathetically. "Do you have a case number?"
"Um..." Daniel made a show of patting down his pockets. "I don't. I know the main suspect is a 'Neal Caffery'."
"Caffery. Yeah, I just put that stuff into inventory. That's case AC47823-097."
"You've got a good memory." Daniel complimented.
"Thank you."
"Is there a room down here that I can use to inspect the work?"
"There is. I have to see your identification, procedure and all."
"Of course."
Daniel reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his badge and handed it over. The badge would pass any inspection because it wasn't forgery. The NSA had given him badges for NSA, FBI, CIA, Marshals, and even one for Interpol, each with there own identity, and all authentic. In his line of work he never knew whose head he had to go over to get to what he wanted and it was good to be prepared to have jurisdiction.
"Your badge photo doesn't have you scar. It that a recent injury?"
"No." Daniel shook his head knowing that the scar did not look fresh. "It's an old picture."
"You should get this updated Agent Allens."
"I know, I'm still a little sensitive about the scar."
"Don't be," the woman smiled "it makes you distinctive."
"I'll take that as a complement." Daniel chuckled.
"It was. If you need someone to show you around Washington later." She offered suggestively.
"Perhaps after I get a look at those paintings."
"Work first." She sighed. "Yup, you're an Agent through and through."
"Thank you."
"That one wasn't exactly a complement."
The woman lead Daniel to a room a few doors down that had a large desk with high powered clamp lights and magnifying glasses on it. She excused herself and disappeared off into the Evidence vault to get the pantings. She returned with two other people helping her to bring the six paintings in at once. Daniel instructed them to place them on the table. Daniel looked over the paintings and furrowed his brow.
"I thought there were seven paintings."
"Another Agent had one of them transferred to New York."
"Really?" Daniel said with a trace of a smile. "Agent Burke?"
"That's right. Do you know him?"
"Our paths have crossed once or twice."
"Is there anything else you need, Agent?"
"Just a few hours to look these over, then maybe you can guide me towards a good place to get a drink."
"Sounds good."
Daniel waited a few minutes after the woman left before reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a box cutter. Picking up the first painting he slashed along the boarders to get it out of the frame. Within minutes he had all six paintings out of their frames and rolled up tight. Taking off his jacket he draped it over the rolled up paintings.
He knew he wouldn't be able to get out of the building with the paintings so crudely hidden, but he already had a different plan. With jacket and paintings in hand Daniel stepped out into the hallway and turned to the right. Coming to the janitor's closet that he'd passed on the way here Daniel reached into his back pocket and pulled out a lock pick set.
Easily gaining access to the janitor supply closet Daniel stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Grabbing a large mop bucket and a bottle of concentrated industrial solvent Daniel brought the paintings out and unrolled them.
"Sorry about this, Neal, but these really are a rope around your neck."
One by one he placed the pantings in the bucket and poured the caustic chemical on them. When he was done all that was left of Neal's early work was a sickly gray slurry in the mop bucket. If they weren't found for a few more hours there wouldn't even bee any canvas left, it would be eaten by the solvent. In any case the evidence was useless now.
"Tampering with evidence...looks like Special Agent Daniel Allens' career is over."
Having done his 'good deed' for the day Daniel made a hasty retreat from the Federal Building. He knew that Peter would instantly identify him from the surveillance footage, but Daniel wasn't concerned with adding one more felony to his list of crimes at this point. He was a little worried about the missing Monet. He regretted adding it to the evidence that he'd given Walters to lure Neal and Peter to D.C.
"It had seemed like a good idea at the time."
Wandering the city Daniel eventually came to a pay phone in an area mostly populated by the homeless. It was just starting to get dark out as Daniel picked up the receiver. Digging a quarter out of his pants Daniel hesitated to place the call. He knew the call would be instantly traced, but at this point he wasn't sure that it mattered. Placing the quarter into the phone Daniel dialed.
"Daniel?" Michelle answered anxiously.
"It's me, Sugar."
"Do you have Liam?"
"No." Daniel whispered miserably. "I did everything they asked, they said they wouldn't release him for another month."
"Oh god..." Michelle whimpered. "Daniel come home, please."
"You know I can't do that."
"It's too late for secrets, as soon as you were off you tracker Jensen came right over. I told him everything. He understands, come home, he'll help us get Liam back."
"There is nothing he can do, there is nothing these people want from him. It's me they want, and they must want more from me." Daniel said softly. "Plus we both know that Jensen won't be able to stop the higher ups from putting me right back where they found me."
"Daniel, please, don't make them catch you, come back willingly..."
"Michelle, I can't risk being sent back to Texas while Liam is still out there." Daniel said softly. "I'm sorry, I can't come home."
"I can't do this alone." Michelle said through her tears. "I can't just sit here and wait."
"You haven't just been waiting, have you track down anyone looking into me?"
"The only hits on your old records came from the New York White Collar office after all this started. It can't be them."
"Someone found me, they had to leave some trace of that search."
"Unless..." Michelle started.
"I've already thought of that, it doesn't seem likely." Daniel interrupted. "We both know the NSA is tracking this call, I can't talk any longer."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Find our son, Daniel. Whatever it takes you bring him back."
"I will, I swear."
Daniel lingered for second, just listening to Michelle's breathing, before he hung up the phone. He knew that the NSA would have been waiting for him to contact his wife and they were most likely closing in on him right now. Daniel had interrupted Michelle just before she had said something about the possibility of this having been an inside job. It would be one way for someone to know his skill level without leaving tracks.
The only problem Daniel had with the theory of it being someone from the NSA was the fact that only people who knew about him were watched just as carefully as he was. The conspiracy would have to go all the way to the top for someone within to get away with orchestrating all of this.
"Even those guys are watched these days." Daniel muttered to himself.
For what amounted to an illegal task force the people that Daniel worked for had a lot of rules, regulations, as well as checks and balances. They were very careful to make sure that the only crimes being committed were the ones that they personally sanctioned. Feeling heavy hearted Daniel turned to leave.
Not feeling like finding a lonely hotel to spend the night in just yet Daniel continued to wander the less desirable district of DC. He hated not being able to actively search for his own son, but he had no idea where to start. Daniel started to second guess his decision to not return home. Even if they sent him directly back to prison at least he'd get the chance to spend some time with Michelle.
Standing at an intersection Daniel tried to decide which path to take. He jolted as the cell phone in his pocket rang shrilly. The phone had been left in Liam's place when he'd been taken and had been Daniel's only connection to the kidnappers. The phone did not make outgoing calls and there was no tracing the unknown number that rang in. With his heart racing Daniel answered the phone.
"I want my son back." Daniel demanded as a greeting.
"Caffrey," the familiar computerized voice greeted "there is a limo waiting for you on the corner of 55th and Lexington. You have fifteen minutes to get there."
"No." Daniel spat. "No more games, no more errands! I want to see him!"
"You have fourteen minutes."
Daniel cursed as the line went dead. Putting the phone away Daniel took off running. He knew it was pointless to argue or even converse with the voice, but he felt he had to try. Daniel was a solid two miles from the meeting place. He decided that it would take more time to steal a car than to just run there. Keeping at a dead run Daniel tore off his tie and ripped open the top button to help him breath.
It took Daniel just over sixteen minutes to dash through the streets and reach the limo. He was in good shape, but was still panting heavily when he crawled into the back of the limo. He reasoned that he'd been given this location for that exact reason.
Looking around Daniel found himself alone. The driver had the privacy screen up. The only thing in the back of limo with him was a small glass bottle with label on me that said 'Drink me'. Daniel picked up the bottle, opened it, and knocked back the contents without hesitation. As he suspected he instantly started feeling dizzy.
"I guess it's time to go down the rabbit hole...again."
Daniel laid down on the leather seat as his breathing became thick and heavy. Praying that he hadn't been truly poisoned Daniel closed his eyes and lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes again there was nothing but black. He had experienced this when he had delivered the diamond. He wasn't in darkness, the blindness was caused by a set of black contacts. Fighting against a pounding headache Daniel just laid still.
"Daddy..."
"Liam?" Daniel sat bolt upright.
"Daddy!"
Tears slipped from Daniel's blinded eyes as Liam threw himself against his chest. Hugging his son close Daniel rocked him gently as Liam cried. Only four years old he wasn't old enough to truly understand how dire his situation was, but he knew that he missed his parents. Shaking with relief that his son was still alive Daniel kissed the top of his head.
"Are you hurt?" Daniel asked softly.
Liam shook his head as he gripped Daniel's shirt tightly.
"I love you, don't worry, everything is going to be okay."
Unable to speak through his tears Liam just buried his face against Daniel's chest. Closing his blind eyes Daniel took a deep breath to try and calm himself so that he could comfort his son. He smoothed out Liam's blonde hair as he continued to rock gently. When he head a door opening he held Liam tighter. He glared in the general direction of the approaching footsteps.
"You have your proof of life, Caffrey, are you ready for one last errand?"
"Why should I trust you?" Daniel spat. "You didn't let him go last time."
"He'll die in your arms right here, right now if you don't cooperate."
"Fuck you! Come near him and I'll kill you!"
Daniel's blood chilled as he heard the sound of a gun being cocked. He curled up protectively around Liam, putting his own back to his tormenter in a desperate attempt to save his son. He braced himself for the shot, but instead several strong hands descended upon him. Daniel fought hard, but they still managed to tear Liam away from him. Daniel surged forward, but was held back by someone taking a grip on his hair and holding a knife to his throat.
"Daddy!" Liam screamed. "Help me!"
"Liam! Wait! No!" Daniel cried. "What do you want? What do you want?"
"For starters, what are you willing to do?"
"Anything!"
"That's what I like to hear."