2D: Clue – Ramifications
Going to his office, Peter settled into work on his reports, but as he worked, a combination of his hunch and curiosity got the better of him. Putting his reports aside, he powered up his search engines and began researching.
First, he looked into the agent's names of those involved with the arrests for the other agencies and other branches of the FBI.
The NSA had a list of names involved in the arrest of Sergeant Gray and most of them were various agents. However, one stood out to him, Colonel James Carson. Looking at it, the only reason Peter thought it stood out was because Saunders was a colonel and genuinely one based on the conversation between the triples.
It wasn't so easy to find a name of interest out of the list the CIA had, so, fortunately, it was a shorter collection. There wasn't any reason he could put his finger on, but for some reason, the name Bryce Larkin seemed interesting.
Going through the FBI information had a lengthy list, and it included his own name, but one agent was named Daniel Brooks. Neal's brothers had called him Danny, was that a coincidence?
Second, he looked up the files of the names he found interesting. Who were Carson, Larkin, and Brooks?
Colonel Carson came from Georgia, had a basic childhood with no mention of siblings, and then he went into the army at eighteen. There he received his college education and training before eventually going into the NSA. As an agent, he had a solid reputation as a good one, but most of it was blacked out so there weren't any facts to pursue.
Bryce Larkin was from Connecticut, grew up with a younger sister, and went to college at Stanford at eighteen. He had degrees in computer engineering and accounting. After college, there was a civilian file about an accountant in Washington while the CIA obviously had records of him as an agent.
Cooper had become an accountant in Washington with degrees in computer engineering and accounting from Stanford. This one seemed to be a match. Did his hunch actually have founding? Peter knew he had to keep going in order to find out for sure.
Daniel Brooks was more interesting. He was from Saint Louis Missouri and had grown up a triplet with two more identical brothers. Reading about him, Peter learned that he'd left home at eighteen and gone to university at Columbia in New York for several art-related degrees. Then he'd been recruited into the FBI where he'd worked based out of Washington DC. There was a sealed file of a long-term undercover operation.
Could it be?
Finally, Peter started working through government databases and records looking for pictures. What did these three agents look like?
He only stumbled upon Brooks because he was also in the FBI, and even then it was an older picture depicting a younger version of Neal Caffrey. His hunch was right on, at least as far as one of the triplets went, they were an agent.
Although his mind questioned how Neal Caffrey could be Agent Daniel Brooks, he also sensed that he was right. His brother had called him Danny and there had always been something different about Neal. He wasn't a typical criminal. However, was that because he was an undercover agent, or because he embodied the elements of a classical gentleman thief? Then there was also how Neal had been released at the precinct and Peter was prevented from pursuing him on the bonds. It didn't confirm his agency affiliation, but altogether, it made a very convincing theory that Neal Caffrey could indeed be Daniel Brooks.
The CIA had a picture of Bryce Larkin that was a little more up-to-date while the NSA had a military ID for Carson on record. They were the other two triplets based on the images.
When it came down to it, either the brothers had convincing doppelgangers, or they were three agents recruited by different agencies. He had everything but official confirmation so he was rather certain in his theory.
Did Neal know his brother's affiliations, did they know his?
Peter didn't know the deeper truths behind the mystery, but he'd followed his hunch and discovered a fascinating puzzle.
It wasn't long before another robbery crossed his desk. They were only twenty minutes behind the event so they hoped to discover fresh clues when they arrived. And since it had Caffrey's MO, Peter also hoped to forward his theory.
Pulling up in front of the museum, he took stock of the general behaviors of the agents surrounding the building. Most of them were focused on the front while some were milling about various entrance points looking for any evidence that might be about.
Pursing his lips, Peter wondered why there was a gap up the side of the building that no one seemed to be searching. Getting out, he quietly walked up the alley and began to poke around without drawing attention to himself. He didn't know why, but his instinct seemed to be drawing him to the gap.
If it was Neal, he would do something unexpected, so it wasn't surprising when he found a note pinned to the side of the building and tucked away in a corner hidden by the garbage bins. It wasn't an accident that a piece of the museum stationary had found its way out there. Not a clean one with his name on it anyway.
Picking up the page with his gloved hand, Peter carefully opened it to find a sketch of a mouse eating cheese. There was a trap behind him that had been sprung, but the rodent didn't seem bothered as it was no longer a threat.
What was Neal referencing? The situation at the precinct where he was released, that he appeared to have gotten away with another theft (at least for now), or that he wasn't intimidated by Peter's efforts to discern his secrets? Was he protected by the FBI so he felt comfortable taunting him?
Frowning, Peter didn't know the answer, but he would give it consideration before he posted his response.
The investigation proved fruitless as no suspect was apprehended and the crime was added to Neal's list of alleged accomplishments.
Poking around, Peter was interested to learn that the Washington FBI had recently discovered their painting in a bust and was happy to return it.
Feeling like it added depth to his theory, Peter settled on his response.
He wasn't artistically inclined so he was reduced to searching for a graphic he found online of a cat stalking a mouse eating the cheese. A little photo manipulation with Elizabeth's assistance added the sprung trap to the side. Then he printed it and wrote 'Danny' on the front before pinning it in the location where the previous message had been dropped.
Time passed, and Peter only checked a few times to ensure his message was removed while no new note was left.
The next case to cross his desk was a message from Interpol with the suspicion that Neal had been involved in the theft of a vase and some other eclectic items from a European museum. Caffrey was once again the suspect as it was a smooth break-in while a man fitting his description had been seen flirting with the wealthy ladies of the community at a party the night before. Their running theory was that he had cased their security and then returned later in the night to accomplish his goal.
Peter knew better though. He found a vague description of a case linked to Larkin's files indicating something about a vase and a European location.
How many crimes was Neal suspected of where his brothers had been doing government-sanctioned work?
Peter was amused when a second note arrived in the form of a postcard to his personal address. Neal sent him a drawing of a mouse eating the cheese with the cat stalking it, but a second mouse snuck up behind the cat and tied a string to the cat's tail.
Was he mocking him? He didn't think Neal was above teasing, but somehow he thought the kid was clarifying that the more recent crime to his record had indeed been his brother.
Unsure how to respond, Peter drew a poor representation of the cat cutting the string followed by another sketch of its focus returning to the mouse with the cheese. He wasn't as concerned with Neal's brothers as he was with Neal. The kid was the one he pursued and had something of a bond with.
Then he put the message in his mailbox hoping Neal would pick it up as surely as the previous message had been hand-delivered.
There was another gap in communication before he got curious and found a note in Brook's file indicating an injury while he was in the field. Worried, Peter hoped the kid was alright.
A few days later he received a late-night call from a blocked number.
Hoping it wasn't Neal's brothers sharing some kind of update, he hoped it was Neal himself reaching out. Answering, he listened for the response.
"Hello, I've heard that you've been poking around looking for me."
It was Neal's voice. Smiling, Peter was relieved to hear how relaxed and amused his voice was and enjoyed knowing his injury wasn't anything too serious. "Did you now? Are you admitting to being Daniel Brooks, or are you going to continue trying to evade association? You've only corresponded with mouse pictures since the murder of Mr. Body when I also met your brothers."
"Who? You know I'm Neal Caffrey. What makes you think I would admit to anything without cause? I might allegedly know who Danny Brooks is, but I won't make any claims on the identity." He was enjoying the game of cat and mouse.
"How about the names of Bryce Larkin and James Carson? Do you have any claims on those identities?" Peter asked because he was curious about what Neal's reaction would be.
"Interesting names, I once knew a Bryce and a James, but they didn't use those names at the time. Two James actually, but I don't remember the time the other was around. Is there a reason you ask? Oh, maybe I could give you some information if they're from my world?" Neal seemed genuinely intrigued but also reminiscent before he tried to redirect the conversation.
"They're more from my world than yours, just different agencies than Daniel and I. Did you know that?" Peter prodded again to see what kind of reaction he would get.
"I wouldn't know about your Bryce and James. Mine though, that doesn't surprise me as it's something of a family trait you might say. However, I would recommend not digging too deeply; you're already on precarious ground as it is." Either he'd known or he suspected, apparently it was something that ran in their family by some means or another. The warning wasn't unexpected though.
Peter knew that prodding through the files of another agent would draw the attention of their superiors and OPR. He didn't mean harm to the operation, he was just trying to learn if he was truly being used as a cover for an operation or if Neal bore a strong resemblance to an agent and wasn't correcting his false assumptions. "If you're who I strongly think you are, is there ever going to be an official acknowledgment, or will I always be caught up in this guessing game?"
"Do you think I'd be on your watch list if I could accurately predict the future? Besides, I enjoy our games." Neal had a hint of resignation to his voice but tried to add some humor with a joke.
Sighing, Peter knew that meant there was no intention of telling him officially, at least not at this point. "Just know that I'd appreciate it. As much fun as this is sometimes, I'd also like the reassurance that there is more to it, that you aren't just wasting your talent until I put you behind bars. I will too, and you know it's only a matter of time." He tagged on his own warning. How much Neal went down for would depend on whether or not he was truly FBI and how much was able to prove Neal guilty of instead of just suspecting him of. Peter didn't want to arrest Neal for his brother's crimes, so it was going to be a tricky task to navigate their appearances and activities.
"Hmm, we'll see. I'd appreciate not spending time behind bars, but we both know that we don't always get what we want." Neal sounded like he was growing tired, but it could also be the time of the night.
"Hey, you didn't mention how you're doing. No injuries or anything?" Peter redirected their conversation back to check on the kid while he had the chance.
"Nothing serious, you know how it goes, escaping someone somewhere and sometimes people aren't nice or the escape doesn't go to plan. Don't worry about me though, I'll be fine." Neal yawned and his voice dropped a little lower.
"You're tired and need to rest to let whatever happened heal. Take care of yourself though, I want to catch you fair and square when the time comes, and not because some injury slowed you down or because something worse happened," Peter coached. He liked the kid and preferred the game to something worse, and he didn't dare speak his hope that the kid was FBI and could transfer.
"As I said, it's nothing serious for you to get all concerned about. Don't worry about me, Peter." Neal tried to deflect.
"You know me better than that," Peter wasn't going to tell the kid directly, but he wasn't going to entirely deny it either. "Goodnight, Neal."
"Goodnight, Peter," Neal disconnected and left him sitting at his desk and looking at the phone with a contented smile. He could stop worrying, at least some, since the kid was well enough to call and play something of their game. That would have to do until the next file crossed his desk.
Their game continued when Neal recovered. Peter loved the challenges of determining which twin had done what while trying to prove those crimes Neal had committed. The side messages and late-night phone calls were perks, much like the food and drinks that he served to them as they pursued.
Finally, the day came where Peter was able to get ahead of the kid. Neal Caffrey walked into his trap!
Moving in and finding Neal standing with his hands on the back of his head while Kate flattened herself up against a wall, Peter couldn't help but smirk at Neal. If he was Danny, then Washington had decided to end this charade, at least for now.
"Neal Caffrey you're under arrest," Peter stood relaxed in front of the kid. He wasn't afraid. Neal wasn't going to do anything rash and he didn't go armed.
"I know…" Neal was nearly as relaxed, but he had a slight tension.
Was that because he wasn't Daniel Brooks the FBI agent and he was genuinely going to jail or was there something else?
Extending his hand to shake, Neal thanked him.
Accepting, Peter could frankly answer, "It's my pleasure." He'd enjoyed their game and he liked the kid. Neal was certainly one of a kind, in personality anyway, Peter couldn't forget that he was an identical triplet.
They went to the office and had their interrogation. Neal was Caffrey to the end and didn't confess to anything so he was soon going to jail for the bonds.
As he was leaving, Peter didn't know if he'd see him again so he threw out the invitation, "By the way, if you ever meet agent Daniel Brooks, let him know he'd be welcome on my team."
Neal smiled at him and nodded in acknowledgment before disappearing.
About four years passed before Daniel Brooks came up again. Peter received a notice of transfer the day before he was alerted to Neal Caffrey's escape from prison. Picking up the old game, Peter had hope and he wasn't going to let it slip past him.
Standing in a simple apartment, Peter stood over Neal as the kid sat slumped against a pillar holding an empty bottle. Holding his hands on his hips, he questioned, "What's the message?"
"Goodbye," Neal sounded dejected and forlorn as he fingered the bottle turning it in his hand.
Then Neal seemed to snap out of it as he turned towards him and commented on his suit with an amused grin.
"It's a classic, they never go out of style," Peter defended his sense of fashion before Neal pulled a red thread off of his shoulder. He'd been slow to approach, but Peter wasn't seriously worried. Brooks was officially transferring to New York. Somehow, they'd be working together soon and he hoped for a confirmation of his research.
Promising an explanation in exchange for a meeting, Neal identified the importance of the thread before handing himself over.
With Neal back in jail, Peter processed his tip and the paperwork for Brooks' transfer. It was going to be a few weeks before everything was finalized with Brooks so Peter distracted himself with Neal's meeting.
The kid wanted to be a consultant working in the FBI. That wasn't what he expected, but it would work as a transition cover for him to be in the FBI as both Neal and Danny. No one else would suspect the con of being an agent.
Promising to think about it, Peter researched and put the idea to his superiors.
Brooks was still working some big undercover operation which was being transferred to New York City and the superiors approved of Neal's deal.
When Peter went to pick Neal up for his first day at the FBI, or the New York City office at least, Peter didn't know what the future would bring, but he looked forward to continued adventures with the man he could easily consider himself becoming friends with.
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