Notes: This chapter just didn't want to be written. I feel like this is filler until next chapter when things start moving (like Ruiz meeting the new head of White Collar)

Chuck didn't like James. It was obvious from the moment Chuck walked past the man and set up his computer.

"Look, my job is just to gather info for Neal," Chuck said as he started typing away.

"What a pleasant guy."

"Be nice. I've known Chuck for a long time. He doesn't like how you've just appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be my family."

"I didn't claim anything. You and your agent tested my DNA."

"And you're lucky they didn't sell you out the moment they realised who you are. There's a few people out there who would be willing to pay any price for information about you."

Bryce resisted the urge to facepalm. Where was the usual, chattering, friendly Chuck? Why was he being so hostile?

"At least I'll know who to talk to, if they find out where I am."

"Bold of you to assume that you'll be able to talk to me," Chuck countered.

"Why do we need this guy?" James asked Bryce.

Bryce shrugged. "He's very good at his job."

"I'm an old friend of his. I was there when you weren't."

"Chuck!"

"He is right," James said. "However, you can't ignore that I'm here now."

Chuck huffed and crossed his arms. "I guess you're right. Don't hurt Bryce. Most fathers don't get second chances."

James hesitated before nodding. Chuck then immersed himself in his work.

"Sorry about him," Bryce said, swallowing his pride to apologise to this man. They needed James to think that Bryce was willing to believe him over his friends.

"It's okay. He's right. I wasn't there. But he does seem a little intense. Are you sure he's the right person for the job?"

"What do you mean?" Bryce could not believe his father was saying this with Chuck in the room.

"He obviously doesn't like me. Doesn't that mean he might be bias towards finding 'evidence' that I did horrible things?"

"Are there horrible things for Chuck to find?"

"Of course. You forget that I became the fall guy for a whole department of corrupt cops. There's a lot of crimes unjustly marked against my name."

"It's a good thing that Chuck isn't here looking into you."

James nodded but he still seemed wary of Chuck.

Chuck got into the cab Mozzie was driving.

"He's following you," Mozzie mused as he pulled out into traffic.

"I'm aware. Hopefully he hasn't noticed that I noticed."

"No. You look completely oblivious to your surroundings."

Chuck shrugged. He was used to people thinking that about him. "I still haven't found anything about your birthparents."

"I expected as much. Bryce and myself have been looking for years. I don't expect you to solve it in a day."

Chuck stretched and used the motion to glance behind him.

"He's still following us," he sighed. "It's almost a good thing we're staying at Agent Burke's."

Mozzie nodded but he made a few quick turns in the hope of dislodging their follower. It was a force of habit and Bryce hadn't said to let the man follow Chuck around.

Peter came out of his office to the worried expressions of Jones and Diana.

"Has something happened?" Diana asked with a glance towards Bryce's office. He was currently in a meeting with the rest of the department heads but he had been quiet before that.

"The team we're contracting to look into Pratt arrived," Peter responded with a frown. "James is not to be trusted."

"I thought we knew that."

Peter shook his head at Diana. "We knew that. Bryce was probably hoping that his father was turning over a new leaf."

"It's going to be difficult to keep him out of it," Jones mused. "He's done a good job of making sure he learns everything he can."

"That's why you're joining El and me for dinner tonight," Peter said. "Boss' orders."

"You boss or your boss?" Diana had a smug smile on her face.

"Both. But it is not mandatory. "

"Yeah, you'll just miss out on the biggest case this year," Jones commented. "We'll be there."

The group gathered for dinner at the Burke's place. It reminded Bryce a little of the time they had managed to gather the "Burke's Seven" in order to clear Peter's name.

"I want to be very clear on this. Our goal is not clearing James' name."

"Chuck," Bryce sighed.

"No. We're focused on getting the evidence and getting out."

Jones raised a hand. "Does this mean that you know where the evidence is?"

"Well, there is one thing we've figured out," Peter said. He placed 4 copies of the key onto the game. "This isn't a key."

"You had copies?" Bryce said, surprised.

"Peter does have good ideas," El reminded him.

"Back to the key that is not a key. What is it?" Diana asked, picking one up.

"A clue."

Chuck continued for Bryce. "It's a scene. But we're not sure where in New York it is." He held the key horizontal so the teeth of the key looked like little buildings.

"Or if it's even New York at all," Bryce sighed.

"So. A key for Jones, Mozzie, Chuck and Sarah, and N-Bryce," Peter said. "Each of you is focused on trying to figure out where this key is pointing to."

"We're focused on places from Ellen's life," Bryce said to Mozzie. "Chuck is going to run software to try and find a match from the millions of photographs of New York while Sarah does some work on the ground-"

"And Jones is doing the same," Peter finished as the copies were handed out.

"Are we taking bets on who finds it first?" Diana asked. "Because I think I'd put my money on Bryce or Chuck."

"50 on Chuck," Sarah said. Chuck's face went slightly red.

"50 on Bryce," Mozzie countered.

"How was the team lead meeting?" Diana asked when El broke up the discussion for dinner.

"Still uncomfortable. I feel like they're editing what they say because I'm there and they're used to not sharing things with the criminal CI."

"Ruiz is still away," Peter pointed out, having heard from other agents in Organised Crime.

"Yeah, he got hit hard. They think he'll be back this week though."

"I'm curious about next week's meeting," Jones said with a mischievous grin. "Can you get a photo of Ruiz's face?"