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


Chapter 11

Peter watched in awe as Neal morphed back into Neal Caffrey. By the time the time the elevator reached the twenty-first floor a fully restored Criminal Consultant swaggered out. There was no semblance to the young man who had been falling apart just minutes earlier. To say that the transformation was impressive was an understatement. It was mind-blowing.

By contrast, Peter was completely wrecked. He trailed after Neal, his mind spinning with the revelations he had just become privy to. As they entered the conference room Hughes gave him a questioning look but he just shrugged his shoulders in reply. Diana and Jones both looked surprised to see Neal looking so chipper but reckoned that Peter had apologized and all was well between them. They took their seats and Diana pressed the remote to start the video clip of the Drummonds Bank.

Neal watched the screen intently while the four FBI personnel watched him even more intently. When it had finished they all looked at him expectantly.

"What?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips. Oh yes, Neal Caffrey was back all right!

He knew what they wanted to know, of course, but he was not willing to give it to them on a platter. They were going to have to ask him. Frankly, he was amused that they were so easily fooled. So much for all their fancy degrees; they needed to go back-to-basics.

"Neal!" Peter warned.

Neal looked around at the group and with a sly grin said simply, "Mozzie is right-handed."

And with that he got up and left the room, leaving them all feeling somewhat foolish. Peter started up, ready to retrieve his smug friend but Hughes put his hand on his arm to stop him.

"So right now, we have nothing concrete to put Neal or his partner in the bank?" Hughes asked Peter.

"No sir, nothing." Peter replied. It was true, in a Caffreyesque way of speaking. Of course, there was plenty to connect him with the woman since their conversation downstairs, but nothing to suggest he was involved directly with the incident at Drummonds.

"And this is definitely not his friend, Mozzie?" Hughes continued.

Peter remembered the half-sloshed Mozzie he had encountered at June's.

"No, it was not Mozzie." He concluded, somewhat relieved.

"Okay then. Let me know when you have something more solid to go on." Hughes sounded irritated as he arose and returned to his office.

Peter dismissed Diana and Jones with instructions to dig deeper. As they left they heard Hughes call out, "Peter, a word in my office please."

Peter walked into his boss's office and sat down. There was no way that Hughes was taken in by Neal's apparent innocence but he was not prepared to divulge Neal's confession to him just yet.

"So if it walks like Mozzie and it talks like Mozzie… " Hughes words hung in the air like an oncoming storm cloud.

"It was something to do with Mozzie." Peter finished for him. "I don't know how he did it, but yes, I'm sure he sent him in to warn her."

Hughes hadn't been fooled for a moment but Peter was grateful that he was obviously willing to cut them slack with this, for now anyway.

"Peter, don't let Caffrey drag the whole Unit down with whatever this latest escapade of his is all about. Don't let him out of your sight until you have it all sorted out. Put him back in lock-up if necessary. I will keep the heat off until you get the case resolved. It would have been easier if the press didn't like a bank job so much. I want this over ASAP, is that clear?"

"Yes, sir." Peter replied wearily.

"You okay Peter?" Hughes asked, concerned.

"Yes, sir. Believe me, I want to see this all gone too." Peter said, hoping it would be, but doubting that he'd ever see the end of it. Getting the woman was going to be the easy part. Dealing with Neal long-term, well that was a different matter altogether.

He returned to his office world-weary and sat at his desk, looking out over the agents' bullpen below. Diana was staring at her computer screen with rugged determination, her fingers flying over the keyboard. It was only a matter of time before she dug something up. Jones was leafing through the case file, his brow furrowed in concentration. And Neal, well Neal was just sitting at his desk, playing with his damned elastic band ball, seemingly without a care in the world. Peter watched him, counting the minutes until the young man could resist the temptation no longer.

Nonchalantly he perused his co-workers before sliding the desk drawer out to look down at the picture of the woman.

As though he was suddenly aware of being watched Neal looked up guiltily. As his eyes met Peter's he blushed and hastily pushed the drawer closed.

"Here we go." Peter sighed as he got up and putting on his jacket, headed downstairs.

"Let's call it a day people." He announced.

Stopping in front of Neal's desk he pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a migraine creeping on. "You, you're coming with me."

Neal got up without comment and followed Peter to the elevator. As they entered he looked over his shoulder and noticed Hughes standing behind his desk, watching them.


TBC

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