A/N: Sorry I took so long to finish this 'Christmas' story. I'll do better this year. :)
Chapter 6
Refilling the tray of Caprese-stuffed mushrooms, Peter chuckled, seeing something across his dining room that amused him. Young probie Blake was backed against the wall, arms folded tight across his chest, and jaw tight. Deep in conversation with Neal, he looked stricken with an intense case of social anxiety.
Blake had intentionally been avoiding his consultant since the man's arrival, but it looked like there was now no one to rescue him from his dogged pursuer. When it came to confronting and resolving a personal issue, Neal could be like a dog with a bone. Thinking about dogs, Peter suddenly wondered what mischief Satchmo was up to in the backyard. Being locked out of a party usually resulted in the retaliation of gaping holes dug in the back lawn.
El entered the dining area, arms laden with a huge platter of cilantro lime salmon appetizers, sporting a sparkling red party dress. Peter caught her eye, motioning his wife over, while popping one of the portabella caps, oozing with mozzarella, in his mouth.
"Look at Neal over there," he mumbled, enjoying the classic flavor combination of tomatoes, cheese, olive oil, and fresh basil topped with balsamic glaze, "hon, he finally captured his prey."
Playfully slapping his hand away as he reached for another hors d'oeuvre, uttering a quiet plea to leave some food for their guests, Elizabeth gracefully placed her own plate down on their linen-laden sideboard table, heaped with finger foods.
"I don't have to look, Peter," she replied surreptitiously, taking a few moments to artfully arrange a multitude of cucumber slices, piped with a tangy whipped salmon spread. "Neal told me he hadn't meant to upset Brandon at the PlayStation Theater and wanted to clear up any misunderstanding."
"You mean Neal… being Neal, equivocated and misdirected one of my young agents, when questioned at the venue, and is now feeling guilty."
El nodded, surprised Peter knew the details.
"I figured that's what happened," said Peter,"but Blake forgot office rule number one, relating to Neal."
Elizabeth raised a quizzical eyebrow, her sparkling blue eyes shining brighter than the shimmering Christmas dress she wore.
"When in doubt about Caffrey's answers, don't."
"Don't what?" she asked.
"Accept it. If Neal is beaming, being extra chummy, pressuring you to consider doing or buying anything… no matter what, that's the time to be extra vigilant. When in doubt verify the facts and the world will be a much saner place."
"Better safe than sorry, huh?" asked Elizabeth, her lips curled in a smile as she reached up and straightened his extravagant holiday tie, gently brushing back a lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead.
"Exactly. And it was really a good lesson to learn in a non-hostile, controlled environment."
"Well, be that as it may, I believe Neal is anxious to mend the fences; he really enjoys working with Brandon."
"Did Neal tell you how he planned to accomplish this?"
"Something along the lines of a simple apology and a peace offering gift."
Peter's turn to raise his eyebrow. "Peace offering?"
"Two tickets," Elizabeth replied, "for the upcoming, sold-out Rhianna concert at the PlayStation. Seems Brandon was quite captivated by the concert venue."
"Bribery," Peter muttered, a dismayed look appearing on his face.
"No, Peter. It's Christmas," said his wife, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "I think it's sweet."
Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, Peter nodded his head agreeably, offering his wife a gentle hug.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
With a slight tremor in his hands, Mozzie placed his gift on the porch floor and straightened his Christmas bowtie. Attired in his favorite gray suit jacket, a bright red handkerchief tucked into his breast pocket, he had been vastly overdressed for Devlin's tinsel shindig.
He should have realized that Devlin's pals, the 'Mountebanks of Manhattan' were too uncouth to dress up for a holiday party. The go-to-forger, of course, had outshone his flimflam crew, but even he had worn an atrocious red and green sweater, lettered 'Fruitcake' in a shiny metallic text. Mozzie shuddered at the memory.
Devlin's venue had been a slice of old New York, located in a premier private-party space. But 'The SpeakEasy at the Gin Mill' just hadn't provided enough of a holiday warm fuzzy. Maybe that was what prompted him to arrive on the Burke's front doorstep. It had little to do with Mrs. Suit's sweet personal phone invitation, of course.
Knocking rather loudly on the wreath-bedecked door, it was opened immediately by a smiling Neal Caffrey, wearing a fetching Windsor Base textured peak-lapel tuxedo jacket, a boutonniere of holly and red bowtie.
"Hey! Come in, Moz. You look great; very festive."
"Did the Suit make you the doorman for the evening?" asked his friend, peering carefully around his friend, quickly noting the decorated home, large Christmas tree, lighthearted ambiance, and assorted guests. "Neal, is it actually safe for me to be here? Elizabeth begged me to come but the rooms are filled with feds!"
"No one here you don't know. Consider it Christmas dispensation, all right?" Neal answered comfortingly. "Even Peter was asking when you'd show up, but I thought you had plans with Devlin and his crew. Did it go okay?" The younger man looked concerned.
"After hearing their plans to bilk a Belnap Oil and Gas Company," Mozzie whispered, "I asked some rather pointed questions. It was a long-term con, inside man being the office manager, involving a multitude of forged checks and fraudulent ordering of office supplies and inventory. I, ah, chose to politely back out."
"Security fraud." Neal nodded. "Was it the timing or the participants that dissuaded you?"
Mozzie shrugged. "Might have to do with the fact I learned the company president just happens to be a cousin to one of the most influential American Cosa Nostra. I told Devlin he was an idiot to even consider it."
"Ahh… wise decision," stated Neal, leaving it at that.
"I don't see Sara. Isn't she coming?" asked Mozzie, still scanning what he could see of the guests exchanging gossip.
"Last minute plans to visit her parents," answered Neal, a momentary sadness crossing his face. "We'll get together for New Year's."
He smiled, hastening to lighten the mood.
"Mozzie," exclaimed Elizabeth, stepping up to greet her tea friend, bestowing a quick peck on his cheek. "I knew you'd come; I told Peter so. Come join the crowd in the living room."
Mozzie went pink, handed her a gaily wrapped bottle of wine and cleared his throat. "Umm… sure. Thank you for inviting me."
The trio walked forward, Mozzie casting a panicked expression Neal's way.
"Another guest arrived," declared Elizabeth as she drew the two men into a circle of people, including Peter, Jones, Diana, senior agent Hughes and their entourage.
"Haversham," acknowledged Hughes, fixing him with a steely look. Peter and the other guests greeted the newcomer, as the little man inched closer to Neal and began to rock back and forth on his sneaker-clad toes, seemingly readying himself for a quick get-away.
"As I was just telling Burke and the others," said Hughes, "I'm pleased with everyone's work on the wine fraud. After finding a top-line counterfeiting workshop during our property search, over 20 shipments of empty bottles to Coventry's homes, and the tips from the Wine Fest judge and associates, we have a rock solid case. Discovering the two aliases, he often used to sell his wine, was also a bonus. The prosecutor called me quite pleased."
Hughes' group smiled.
"Thank you, sir. I heard Coventry's ready to plea bargain," said Peter. "Seems he feels his clients, being wealthy, really weren't victimized to any extent since they had plenty of cash to throw at bogus wine."
"Too late to put the cork back in the bottle," muttered Mozzie.
"Vino Veritas?" Hughes directed back, a hint of a smile softening his normal austere expression.
At Mozzie's astonished expression, the SAIG quirked a brow. Without mentioning the odd little man's contribution, it was evident he included him in his thanks.
Leaning into the circle, Elizabeth placed a glass of ruby red wine in Mozzie's hands, as Peter put a hand on Neal's shoulder and gently directed him away from the others.
"Hughes is pleased," said Peter, "and I believe Mozzie was taken aback. Reese wouldn't outright mention his contribution, for the sake of anonymity, but he appreciates it nevertheless.
Neal picked up his wine where he left it on the bookcase. His glass halfway to his mouth, he lowered it again. "Moz would refuse any public acknowledgment; he chooses to believe his help only benefits me."
Neal watched Peter demolish one of the hors d'oeuvres Diana had brought and handed him some napkins.
"Does Elizabeth know you're taking her to the wine tasting at Finger Lakes?"
"Nope. The certificate is wrapped and under the tree."
"I'd like a trip out of my radius and a stay at an Italian-style villa on Seneca Lake," Neal said with a wide grin. "Any wrapped gifts for me under the tree, Peter?"
Responding with a heavy sigh and roll of eyes, Peter said, "If there is, it doesn't include upstate New York, wineries or vineyards."
"Wait! You didn't exclude a gift or a trip out of my radius ̶ "
"Neal…"
"What'd you get me, Peter? Will I like it? Better yet, tell me Elizabeth picked it out."
"I picked it out, you have to wait until Christmas Day to open it and yes, you'll like it."
Peter adamantly refused to give Neal any additional clues about his gift, irritating his partner with a smug little smile. He wouldn't admit it but he was delighted to have snagged a gift that would delight him.
Tomorrow, Neal would find VIP tickets to New York's premier art fair, The Armory Show, held at Piers 92 & 94 on the Hudson River. Pretty hard to obtain, the venue, not only outside Neal's radius, was an annual top draw for all art lovers, showcasing nearly two centuries of art history.
The merits of quality versus cost mentality.
Peter remembered what Neal had argued in the car. For the agent, it wasn't about buying the most expensive things or having to be fancy, what was important was providing a special gift to show appreciation for the phenomenal people in your life.