(Chapter 5)

Jaren still wanted that Degas. He had tried to bid on it and was upset to say the least when it had disappeared off the grid. It had taken much of his available contacts and resources to discover who had anonymously set up the black market auction. He'd been surprised to find that someone associated with the sale worked for the FBI, an ex-con who snitched on their own. It hadn't taken much to figure out that he could use his own notoriety to draw those who possessed the Degas towards him to get it into his hands. Once he had the piece they would be nothing more than refuse he could toss aside and so far he had gotten rid of all but three of his captives. He wouldn't worry about the two agents, they had never seen his face but Caffrey... the ex-con would be fair game if he could work things right. He clapped his hands in anticipation. Who would miss a consultant who had an penchant for running? His keeper was gone and the others were still recouping from their bout with his nasty little bug. Nobody was there to watch the young con so Jaren only had to bide his time and wait for their guard to be down. He was patient.

()()()

Neal wanted to do something now, but even Elizabeth told him to let Mozzie check things out before they went in all gung-ho. She was sounding so much like Peter he almost called her by his name but then they both realized what had happened, silence ensuing for a few before they started to talk again.

"I'm sure he's ok. Mozzie said the last known location of that phone was an unincorporated area of forest and old rock quarries near the edge of the city. We'll find him, El."

She nodded back although a bit less certain, licking at her lips before she spoke.

"Neal... what is it that Jaren wants? Tell me the truth."

Elizabeth's voice was firm but gentle meaning she would listen before she took a side and Neal knew hopefully she would understand his answer as he licked his own lips nervously.

"A Degas. I don't have it anymore... I just realized I gave it back to Mozzie. Kel... ler took it."

He gave a heavy sigh, uncertain why he had asked for the masterpiece when he knew they no longer had it. Maybe it was the illness talking, now that he knew he was over what had been a very terrible bug. Neal had vague memories of the doctor injecting him with antibiotics and some other drugs to fight the botulism. He was fortunate to be alive, much more all in one piece. Elizabeth squeezes his shoulder ever so gently to get his attention again.

"Do you have a forgery of it? Maybe that would be enough to pull their attention away and let him go if Peter's still a prisoner."

Her voice was hopeful as he recalled the forgery he had made but it was in FBI evidence. If he had to steal it, that might be a possibility to plan on in case Peter hadn't actually escaped. Always good to have a backup plan.

"Maybe... but it's in evidence. Peter knows about it but not... who did it. Kramer might know..."

His voice trailed off at the last part, an understanding look from her as she changed topics.

"You look better, Neal. We'll search for him soon enough. Rest. I shouldn't have bothered you with this when you've only just woken up... I'm sorry."

Elizabeth blushed slightly, eyes apologetic as she stood to leave. He grasped at her arm gently, shaking his head at her as their eyes met.

"I should be the one saying that. Jaren wants what he thinks I have, just like Keller did. I'm sorry..."

He felt very weak all of a sudden, that urge to run he had pushed away coming over him as he realized all the trouble he had caused. Keller had kidnapped Peter to get at him for the ring he wanted to give to Kate... then he kidnapped Elizabeth for the treasure and now... now Jaren had Peter for all he knew and the past was dredged up again. The treasure should be long out of their reach now, Mozzie hinting of reserves but Neal wanted to stay here. He wanted to forget the past as if it never happened and be normal with his friends and family here in New York. Maybe he would never have that normal life he wanted. Frustration washed over him like a cold spray and only a nudge from Elizabeth brought him back from the brink.

"It's not your fault, Neal."

She was sincere in her plea but he felt less than happy with the results. He was here but where was Peter?

()()()

He was dreaming. He was at home, sitting on the sofa as he tended to do, Satchmo at his feet gnawing at a doggy toy while he watched a game on ESPN. His team was losing which was disappointing as he stood up with a stretch and felt the stiffness of his muscles. How long had he been there staring at the TV?

"El?"

Peter moved over to the kitchen but his wife wasn't there. He glanced out into the backyard through the curtained window of the door but it was empty, the whole house silent. Something felt off as he moved back towards the sofa and found that Satchmo was gone too, the yellow lab disappearing since he'd last been here. He ran upstairs, a strange urge coming over him as he looked into the bedroom and found no sign of his wife or their dog. He looked in the bathroom, went up to the attic and finally thought he heard a noise from the guest room. It should be empty but...

"El? Hun..."

He opened up the door, eyes widening at what he saw as he stepped back and slid down to the floor in horror. Peter was shaking as he stared into the room and the awful scene within.

"No... This isn't real. This isn't..."

Suddenly he found himself gasping for breath, laying on the cool dusty ground. He gave a wheezy cough, rolling over onto his back with some effort as he glanced up through a tree-covered canopy at the dimly lit sky above. There was a hint of sunlight just beyond but the area was deep enough it was still bathed in shadows as his eyes looked around hoping for some sign of help. A quiet beeping sound drew his attention to his right, brown eyes glancing at the lightly glowing red light on the ground beside him. That's when he remembered he had sent a text, his hand grasping the item as he pushed with as much strength as he had to wake up the screen. His vision was blurry but he could read the small text seeing that the cell only had 2 more bars left of power and barely one bar of signal strength. Peter's memory was a bit fuzzy but he could vaguely recall sending a text out to his wife. Had she gotten it? The phone beeped at him again and he saw a small flashing icon indicating he had a new message.

Suits are ok. Where are you?

Peter smiled slightly at the message as he painfully sat up against a nearby tree and did his best to text back.

One Suit still waiting for pick up. Free and clear.

He guessed Mozzie had written him back. His wife never used the word Suits to describe him but maybe it was to be safe. They couldn't be sure he wasn't Jaren although he hoped the words he'd chosen had proven otherwise. A beep was heard indicating he had a new text when he looked.

Tracking Suit now.

This had to be Mozzie. Neal and El wouldn't be so business-like as he lay back and tried to relax. He was so thirsty, his body especially his stomach hurting him more than it ever had. If anything, Peter needed to get hydrated as he pocketed the cell and slowly pushed himself up to his feet. The world swayed a moment but he managed to keep upright as he stumbled over the uneven ground hoping to find some kind of stream or creek. These old quarries tended to be riddled with springs if not rivers of some kind. He just needed something semi-potable at best as he made his way across the deserted landscape and finally heard the sweet sound of flowing water. Peter smiled despite the stiffness of his muscles as a stream came into view. He collapsed to his knees as he came to the edge of a small river, arms supporting his weight as best they could as he leaned over to drink. The agent had barely taken two large sips when his limbs gave out sending him face first into the fast flowing stream. Peter fought to pull himself up to the surface but his muscles were less than pliable from the effects of the botulism. He could barely kick his legs to keep his head above water as he was pulled down underneath and finally gave into the river's cold grasp as he passed out.

()()()

Mozzie looked perplexed as he entered Neal's room, the young man finishing dressing as he pulled on a loose cardigan. All his clothes looked a bit baggier than usual as he stood up, that sallow look not quite gone from his face as the little guy decided whether or not to tell him the bad news.

"Neal... I... I think I found Peter. Do you have a map?"

The younger man looked at him curiously with a nod before moving over to a nearby shelf and pulling out a large rolled up tube. They extracted the huge map over the dining table, Mozzie giving it a glance as he looked at his phone and then pulled out his laptop, giving it a quick tap or two before looking at the map again and pointing at a certain area out in the boonies.

"There! That used to be a huge rock quarry for a local cement factory but they went out of business and moved on. The signal is coming from that area. Feel like going for a drive?"

()()()

Jaren smiled, watching the consultant and some small guy with a balding head and glasses step outside the palacious home of Ms. June Ellington. He had done quite a bit of research on the owner of the ex-con's residence and found she had quite an interesting history herself but she was small when compared to Mr. Caffrey. Her husband had been the con so she would be little more than someone who had married a con. He'd seen her walking around town during his investigations of the young man. Her manner was nothing more than ordinary. Jaren would let her be while he followed larger game. He wasn't familiar with the little guy but perhaps he could find out something that could make this weird association between Caffrey fruitful.

"Follow them."

The driver in front nodded, watching as Neal entered the back of a cab the little guy was driving. It was obvious they were trying to blend in but Jaren was smarter than most. He could follow their path and get what he wanted. He WOULD get what he wanted if it meant using Caffrey's friends as bait. He had no qualms about hurting innocents if it came down to it. Perhaps he'd start with the pretty wife of the agent he had killed. She seemed friendly with Caffrey, more so than anyone should be if their husband was a Federal Agent. Maybe Jaren would look into her relationship with his mark a bit more closely.

()()()

Mozzie was driving a bit more erratic than usual, Neal feeling a bit queasy now as he moved forward and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Mozz... what's up with the stuntman driving? You're making me nauseated."

Neal was not paying much attention but to the scenery off and on. He kept thinking about Peter and hoping he was still ok after the texts Mozzie had mentioned to him. The little guy made a motion with his head.

"Tail. Not too far behind. I don't recognize them. Tinted windows, black SUV but not one of the Federal Suit-mobiles."

Neal gave a quick glance without appearing to look, using the rear-view and side mirrors from the back. Mozzie was right and he saw the car. Something about it was familiar but he couldn't quite remember what as the car lurched around a turn at breakneck speed. Mozzie wasn't a stunt driver but he could lose a tail if he had to. Neal gazed back to see that they were no longer being followed.

"Good move! I wonder if it could be someone from Jaren's team. I'm surprised he didn't contact me when I didn't go back. Maybe he thought I ran."

He frowned at the thought, hoping Peter hadn't thought he had been abandoned. The last thing Neal needed was another reason for the agent not to trust him. He heard a cough from the front and glanced up at Mozzie's face reflected in the rear-view mirror.

"I'm sure the suit knows you didn't abandon him. It wasn't your fault you were poisoned."

Mozzie was trying to help him feel better but Neal continued to feel guilty about everything. He wanted to get Peter back to El no matter what. They weren't supposed to be apart and he would make sure of that if it was the last thing he did.

"Ok, almost there. Just a few more minutes until we hit a dirt road and head for the abandoned quarry. I have stuff in the trunk. The doctor mentioned what he gave you to get well so I picked up a few things from Tiny. He's better than an HMO."

The little guy grinned, Neal nodding back with a smile to mask his guilt and uncertainty. What if this was a set up by Jaren? Still, Mozzie had confirmed the word used from his chats with El. They had shared safe words once when Peter wasn't able to make date night. Unlike his parents, Peter and Elizabeth seemed to really love and trust one another. Something like that was worth sacrificing for.

()()()

It wasn't too much longer before they reached the perimeter of what used to be the Atascosa Rock Mill. The fence had long since been torn up and the gate left open so they drove right in, easing through to what had been the foreman's office. The trailer was rusty and tore up from neglect and disuse as the two men exited the vehicle and went back towards the trunk and popped it open. Mozzie handed Neal a pack with a few items in it and then took one for himself.

"You ready for this?"

Neal nodded as they started down the trail into the woods growing up around the old cement plant and through to a small overgrown trail. He was still a bit tired from the effects of the botulism but he could do this. He had to. It wasn't long before they saw something curious along the trail. They found shovels at some point indicating someone else had been here recently. Both men looked grim but didn't say anything for a moment.

"I guess we'll split up. Just keep your phone ready for texts. There's a river not too far from here towards the western end of the quarry. Might be worth investigating."

Mozzie showed him a map, one already in the pack Neal had as he took his out and they marked their routes, synchronize their watches and then started off in opposite directions. He watched the little guy vanish out of sight through the trees before heading off down river towards what looked like an old processing plant. Maybe Peter had found shelter there? Neal walked quickly but did his best to get a good look for clues of Peter's presence. There were indications someone had thrown up along the trail he was on, as he smiled slightly, a hopeful glance on his face. He texted Mozzie to let him know he might have found something, running as he headed towards the end of the path and found the river. It was swift to say the least, definitely not for anyone who didn't know how to swim, he thought, as Neal glance along the bank for signs of Peter.

"PETER?"

He called out, his voice echoing slightly as his foot hit something and he saw what looked to be a cell phone. Neal picked it up and found messages back to Mozzie along with other info that might be useful in getting the owner of the phone in trouble with the law. Jaren didn't hire people who kept their personal details off the phone, this one with pictures and other items of interest. He pocketed the item and glanced around hoping to see his friend when he saw the shoe. It was floating, the lace caught on a branch along the embankment as Neal moved down to grab it. It was Peter's, he recognized it immediately, eyes combing the water for any sign of his friend.

"PETER?"

His eyes searched the bank until they fell upon a pale form clinging to a rock in the middle of the river. Neal dropped the pack to the grass before he took off his shoes and quickly dived into the fast flowing stream. It took a bit of work but he made it to the rock, nudging the figure of his friend who seemed unaware of his presence.

"Peter... wake up. Come on..."

The agent felt cool to the touch, eyes closed as he hands held onto the rock with dear life. Neal did his best to gently remove his friend from the rock before swimming back towards shore. It was hard carrying the agent as he felt the tenseness of Peter's muscles from the botulism. He dragged his friend onto the shore and threw his jacket over him as he grabbed up the pack and quickly pulled out the antibiotics. Mozzie had said they both needed one depending who found the agent first. Neal gently cleaned Peter's arm and then pushed the needle in. He sensed a slight reaction, then a slight relaxing as Peter leaned against him a bit more heavily.

"It's ok, Peter. You're safe now."

Neal held his friend close to him, Peter's head laying on his shoulder as he tried to keep him warm. The water had been frigid, his own body shivering some from the dunk but Peter was sick, the poison still in his system. He hoped the antibiotics would help soon as he pulled out his phone to text Mozzie and tell him of his good fortune.

"He won't answer your text, Mr. Caffrey... will you?"

He turned to see Jaren standing there, another couple of large goons holding Mozzie captive, his friend gagged with his arms tied behind him with zip-ties. Neal shivered slightly, their victory suddenly dashed by the presence of their captor. Red flashed before him but he had to hold back with Peter hurt and Mozzie captive. Jaren smiled and seemed to read his mind with a slight chuckle.

"Decisions... they're a bitch sometimes. So, are you willing to give me what I want now? Your friends are depending on you."

A third and fourth goon he hadn't noticed came up from behind, one taking Peter from him while the other held a gun. Mozzie looked at him like a scared puppy, making some noise beneath his gag he didn't understand.

"The Degas... why do you want it so badly, Morrison? The treasure is a curse. You'll never be able to sell it."

He had to delay a little, his hand in his pocket quickly texting without any indication he was doing it. Neal hoped the message went through before they figured out what he was doing. Jaren made a motion and the man with the gun grasped his arms, pulling them back and zip-tying him at the elbows. They pulled out his phone, the goon handing it to Jaren who gave it a quick glance then smiled.

"Smart. You deleted all the info and tossed the SIM. If you weren't a government snitch, I might ask you to join my team."

Jaren had him but he had a trick or two up his sleeve if things went the way he hoped. For everyone's sake, his plan had to work.

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Sorry for the delay with this chapter. Had a long week with work and centipedes invading my personal space. Not fun trying to chase one of those buggers around your apt hoping to catch and release it. This one is smart though, hid for 5 hours before it came out. I so want to kill it now if I do find it. No mercy! Speaking of which... exciting whumpalicious times to come in the next chapter.