Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA Network and Jeff Eastin.
Chapter 9
Peter's mind was reeling. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Neal was still looking down so he couldn't gauge his expression. He was eerily still and all color had drained from his face.
"Murder?" Peter questioned, hoping against hope that he had misheard Neal.
"Murder."
Peter was at a loss for words. He wanted to know everything and yet he wanted to know nothing. He hestitated, but then the agent in him took over and he carried on.
"Who did you murder?"
"A man."
"You're telling me that you murdered a man, with the woman from the bank?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"It may not have been her. It was a long time ago. She looks a lot different."
"But you think it is her don't you? You've thought it since you first saw her picture, am I right?" Peter continued.
"Yes."
"Hang on, you told me at June's that night that you had never killed someone during any of your art crimes."
"It wasn't during another crime. Killing him was the crime."
"How did you kill him?"
"She hit him in the head with a rock and then I shot him in the chest as he lay on the ground."
"You shot an unconscious man?"
"Yes."
"What with?"
"His rifle."
Peter could not fathom any of this.
"What happened? Was there a struggle, was he shooting at you? Neal, please explain this to me."
Neal continued in the same quiet expressionless tone of voice that he had used so far.
"No. There was no struggle. He was unconscious when we found him. She tried to kill him with the rock but he was still breathing so I shot him."
"Neal are you saying that you executed him?"
"Yes."
"Then what did you do?"
"We hid his body."
Peter sat in stunned silence looking at Neal. Sometime during the conversation he had taken his arm from around Neal's shoulders. He couldn't remember when and he faltered now unsure of whether to put it back or not. He was repulsed by the idea of Neal killing someone in such a brutal way but Neal's somber demeanor led him to think there must be more to this scenario than he was admitting. He just could not imagine Neal taking part in a professional hit.
For years, literally, he had begged Neal to tell the truth about his past and now that he had done so he had immediately withdrawn his support. If ever his friend needed him it was now. His hand hovered above Neal's shoulder for a moment then came to rest. Neal immediately exhaled and his body slumped under Peter's touch. He turned his head to meet Peter's gaze. Something about his expression caught Peter by surprise. He looked so young, so vulnerable, so innocent ….
"Neal, how old were you when you killed this man?"
"Eleven."
TBC
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