Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA Network and Jeff Eastin.
Chapter 7
Peter decided to walk to Neal's apartment to see if he could find anything incriminating there while Neal was safely locked up and unable to destroy evidence that might link him to the day's events. He needed the fresh air to help clear his head and the time to calm his nerves. He would most likely lose his job over this, but more worrying to him, Diana and Jones were probably going to be lucky if a major demotion was the worst that happened to them. Hughes might get to stay but his reputation would take a major hit as he had backed Peter on several occasions when he came under fire for bringing Neal onboard at the White Collar Crime Unit. But the fallout from the operation gone bad was not his only cause for concern.
Even though his anger was nowhere near dissipated he was already feeling deeply ashamed of having lost control and hit Neal. The sound of the slap kept ringing in his ears and Neal's shocked expression replaying in his mind. He had never hit anyone like that before and although he knew he had had good reason to be furious at Neal he would never be able to justify his actions to himself.
When he reached June's house he was surprised to find himself there. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts, it seemed as though he had only just left the scene downtown. Luckily he had had his own key to the building for some time now and he let himself in, hoping not to run into June as he still felt considerably out of sorts. He went immediately upstairs and into Neal's apartment. Everything was as they had left it after cleaning up after Neal's meltdown the previous evening. He sat down on the sofa and took stock of the past 24 hours. A wave of exhaustion washed over him and he leant his head back and closed his eyes, unable to process anything more. It was a good hour later when he awoke with a start.
His body somewhat rested he got up and poured himself a glass of water before sitting down at the table. Immediately he remembered Neal's cell phone and retrieved it from his jacket pocket. Neal's last call had been to Mozzie, a text he must have sent while they were en route to the bank.
We're headed to the Drummonds Bank downtown to take a Con down. This is someone I need to protect. What can I do Moz?
Mozzie's reply had been immediate and to the point.
You do what Peter tells you to do.
A few seconds later Mozzie had texted Neal again.
I'm serious Neal, do not intervene.
Peter was stunned. A sickening feeling started to wind its way through his gut. Had Neal really not been involved? He'd felt bad enough about hitting Neal before reading the texts but he felt ten times worse now. He groaned inwardly as he put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. He felt a headache coming on at speed and got up to look in Neal's bathroom for painkillers. He found some in the medicine cabinet and while taking a couple of them he heard laughter coming from downstairs. It snapped him back to reality and he felt an immediate urgency to get back to the FBI building and take care of Neal. As he left the apartment and went downstairs he heard June's laugh again and then froze at the sound of Mozzie's voice teasing her, "June, did you even read this book?" followed by more laughter from them both.
Horrified, Peter turned toward the lounge where the conversation was coming from as June looked up at him, waving him over with a smile. "Peter, what an unexpected surprise! Is Neal home also? I'll have him come and join me as my dear Mr. Haversham is tearing apart my critique of our book club choice this month." June and Mozzie were sitting together on a sofa. The table in front of them was taken up with (empty) cocktail glasses and copies of The Help. Mozzie nodded at Peter, greeting him with his eponymous "Suit."
Now Peter was seriously confused. Mozzie was clearly the wrong side of several Tom Collins' yet he had watched him on the bank security footage not three hours earlier.
"When did you get here Mozzie?" He asked, nervously.
Mozzie laughed and replied, "Peter, I haven't left. After breakfast June and I decided to spend the day together as it was our book club day. Is everything okay with Neal? You look concerned." Peter placed Neal's cell phone on the table.
"But your texts to Neal …"
"He didn't do something stupid did he?" Mozzie asked, with genuine concern.
"Well I thought he had. I thought you both had. You weren't at Drummonds Bank today at all?"
June put her hand on Mozzie's knee and fixed Peter with a slightly tipsy smile, "I can vouch for Mozzie. He's correct in saying he's been with me all day. Why are you asking? Has something happened concerning Neal?"
Peter looked at them both mournfully. "Yes, something happened. But it wasn't Neal who did something a stupid, it was me. I'd better go and see if I can right the mess I've made. I'm sorry Mozzie, I saw someone very like you today and I put two and two together and made five. I must get back to the office and see Neal right away." Looking thoroughly miserable and bid them farewell before heading out to catch a cab back to the Unit.
Mozzie watched him go with mixed feelings. He was relieved that his plan had gone smoothly but felt for Peter too. It was true that he had been at June's house all day but what he hadn't mentioned was the time he'd spent after breakfast setting things in motion for finding the woman. His colleague Ryan was to tail her from whichever bank the women next hit. They had already anticipated that it would be one of the smaller downtown banks. When Neal texted him about Drummonds Bank he had immediately called Ryan back and changed the plan to instead have him get her out safely while Mozzie used Neal's computer to hack into the bank's system to activate the fire alarms and sprinklers. It had been quite a feat pulling it off at such short notice and it helped considerably that Ryan bore a striking resemblance to Mozzie. It was a dirty trick to play on someone who had essentially become a friend, but although he liked and dare he say even admired Peter, a suit was a suit and Neal's wellbeing had to come first.
Mozzie had pulled Neal out of his past years before and it had been a long and arduous struggle. He was not going to let it reclaim him now. He knew that when it came down to it, Neal was nowhere near as self-sufficient as he so carefully portrayed himself. Over the period of their friendship he had outgrown Mozzie physically but he would always remain his little brother. He really did feel bad for poor Peter but Neal would always be his priority. He shrugged inwardly …
Sorry Suit.
TBC
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