Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA Network and Jeff Eastin.


Chapter 6

By the time they had watched all the security footage, Peter was beside himself with anger. As the woman moved forward to the teller they saw that behind her stood a short man wearing a baseball cap pulled down low to successfully obscure his face. They all knew who it was. Then as the woman started to leave the sprinklers went off and a panicked frenzy broke out. The man calmly approached the woman, took her by the elbow and all the while talking to her he walked her into the back area of the lobby and disappeared from sight. The exterior cameras picked up the story and showed the couple exiting the building and getting into a waiting taxi which drove off down the block and turned out of sight.

Peter stormed out of the bank and back to the van with Diana and Jones in tow. Neal was sitting inside but got up quickly as Peter strode in and grabbing him by the suit lapels slammed him against the cabinets that lined the van.

"Ow!" Neal exclaimed indignantly.

"Where the hell did you go to?" Peter demanded.

"I couldn't stand being in the van any longer, I just went into the café to use their restroom and when I came out your were all running around yelling with your guns out so I came back inside. Peter, you always tell me to stay out of the way when guns are drawn, so I did."

"No, Neal that's not good enough. I don't believe you had nothing to do with all this."

"Peter, I assure you I was not involved in robbing this bank." It was the worst thing Neal could have said. The whole team knew how he twisted words around so that technically he wasn't lying but he wasn't disclosing the truth either. However, it was his tone of voice that sent Peter over the edge. It was too smooth, almost condescending, although he had not intended it to be so. He had been so scared that they would catch the woman and he had tried to hide his fear behind the sneering tone of voice.

Peter's eyes burned with fury as he slapped Neal hard across his face. Diana and Jones both gasped in shock and then stood in stunned silence, staring at Neal. A red imprint of Peter's palm started to appear on Neal's left cheek. His eyes widened in horror and filled with tears. It only seemed to infuriate Peter further.

"No, don't you dare cry Neal. You don't get to make me the bad guy here. What just happened was a felony and you will bring this entire team down because of your selfishness."

He slammed Neal back again and then let go of him. Peter was breathing hard and put his hands on his hips as his chest heaved up and down. He continued to glare at Neal. For his part, Neal was knocked speechless. He opened his mouth to answer but then closed it again as his bottom lip started to tremble and the tears that had been balancing on his long lashes spilled down over his reddened cheeks. He slid down to the floor and drew his knees up to his chest resting his forehead on them and covering his head with his shaking hands.

"I didn't Peter. I swear I didn't do anything. Please, please believe me." He sobbed, his shoulders heaving.

But Peter was having none of it. He bent down and grabbing Neal's suit again he dragged him back up and spun him round to face the cabinets. He pulled out a plastic zip tie and cuffed Neal's hands behind his back. "Cowboy up Neal!" he growled as he turned him back around and then thrust him into Jones' arms, almost toppling the taller agent over.

"Jones, take him to the holding cell back at the Bureau. He can stay there until I get back and do not let him out of your sight. Diana, get a hold of that cab driver and find out where he took them." Peter barked, all the while getting paler as his anger increased. He roughly reached into Neal's pockets and retrieved his cell phone. He glared at the hapless conman one final time before hissing at him, "I will see you when I get back!" Then he left the van slamming the door hard behind him.

Neal swayed slowly before collapsing onto the floor in a dead faint.

"Shit. You've done it now Neal!" Diana cursed as she turned him over and then sat down beside Jones as he started up the van. Even as Neal came to he watched them both but knew better than to say anything.

They drove back to the White Collar Crime Unit in complete silence.


TBC

I appreciate your feedback; if you are following this story please take the time to review it.