8A: Inspection
Peter hated interagency politics. They were always messy and full of prejudice. Other agencies often saw the FBI as a bunch of dumb bureaucrats who flashed badges and shuffled papers all day, in triplicate. However, he'd personally experienced enough agents to know other agencies often felt wild and devious in comparison to the rules and structure of the FBI.
Between them all, he preferred working for the FBI. It was the nearest form to his sense of justice and balance. Nothing was perfect, he had to admit the FBI had its faults, but he trusted the overall purpose of their efforts.
Working on his reports, Peter tried not to think of the impending evaluation and remain focused. But, his mind kept wandering despite his efforts. Giving up and putting his pencil down, he decided to lean back in his chair and try to work through the emotions his situation was evoking. Maybe then he could work?
He still didn't know how a basic art theft with a microchip about data being hidden in pictures was such a big issue. Steganography was a known means of hiding things; it had been used for hundreds of years in a variety of means. What was so secret about it that it infringed on the security of other agencies?
If it was just about the infringement on other agencies and they had to hand their research over then that wouldn't be as much of a bother. That was all Sterling and Bosch were doing for Sara's involvement in the case. Instead, his team had to hand their research and suspect over in addition to writing a bunch of extra reports about what happened and then they were to expect agents from the other agencies to come to spend a few days with them and evaluate their work. The results could affect their futures with the FBI if they received negative evaluations.
Sighing, Peter didn't feel it was fair. He ran a good team who were only doing their jobs. It wasn't like they leaked data to the streets or had reputations for being creative with their positions.
Maybe it was because of Neal? He was being investigated off the books for the treasure and had a criminal past. But, he hadn't been working with them on the chip so he wasn't aware of the data to be capable of being a security breach. Besides, he was also a master at steganography. Neal had hidden his signature and who knows what all else in his works over the years.
Whatever the reason, they were to expect three representatives in the morning, one each for the FBI, CIA, and the NSA to provide the evaluations for each agency. The three agents were accustomed to working together so they were guaranteed to have good cooperation. But, Peter wasn't overly worried about that. He was more concerned with their perspectives and whether or not they would give him and his team a fair evaluation.
There was nothing he could do about the situation except continue to do his work and hold to his effort at following a moral direction.
Since thinking about it was only adding to his frustration, Peter went back to working on his reports. The sooner they were completed, the better impression it would give, and the sooner he could get this over with.
Sitting in his office, Peter occasionally glanced out over the office monitoring the team's behavior while they waited for their evaluators to arrive.
The team tried to go about their work in a normal fashion. They were managing their duties, but at a slower pace than usual as it was natural for them to be distracted whenever the elevator was heard. Everyone was eager to see what kind of agents their careers were relying upon.
When a stranger did get off of the elevator and entered the office, he was a red-headed English-looking man wearing a brown suit with a white shirt and green tie. Opening the door and strolling, he seemed to observe everything with a critical eye before climbing the stairs and closing himself in Hughes' office.
The first thing Peter noticed, besides his initial observations, was that he wasn't invited to the meeting. He was the field head of their department so it was almost customary if not courteous to invite him to stand as a representation for his agents.
Not too long after, the elevator carried another stranger into their office. This one exited the car in a sleek black suit with a white shirt that contrasted his dark hair and eyes. He gave the agents below a smooth smile before walking up to join the conference in Hughes' office.
Something about the man made Peter think of Neal, if he were trying to smooth something past him with a smile anyway.
Then, only a few minutes later, the last one arrived. He wore a charcoal gray suit with a blue tie and his head was cleanly shaven. Although he obviously paid attention to what was going on around him, he also didn't portray any emotions as he simply strode through and went into Hughes' office.
For a while, the work continued and Peter tried to make as much progress on his work as he could while expecting to be included in the conversation occurring next door.
Eventually, Hughes left his office and called the team into the conference room to introduce the evaluators to everyone.
Congregating together as directed, Peter took his seat towards the front and waited for the rest of the team to catch up. He wasn't surprised when Neal pulled up a handy chair towards the door that also happened to be on the opposite side away from him.
Ever since he'd been investigating Neal for possibly stealing the treasure, the kid had started being more emotionally distant. Maybe he didn't want to risk giving anything away, or maybe he was hurt by his investigation. They still had a lot to settle between them, but it was causing a rift in their friendship while things were being researched.
It didn't take too long before the rest of the team had filed in and chosen their seats. Then the meeting began.
"These are the agents sent to evaluate our team." Hughes began to indicate which one was which and who they were. "Agent Cade Odle is with the NSA," this was the red-headed man in the brown suit. "Special Agent Travis Tangeman is representing the FBI," the man in the charcoal gray suit was indicated. Finally, "Agent Pedro Renigar is here for the CIA," and the man in the sleek black suit was the only one left.
With the initial introductions started, the meeting transitioned through the purpose of their presence, what was expected of the team and then into their normal morning update.
Peter was proud that his team was able to handle the pressure. They remained calm and showed their abilities through the meeting and in their closure rates. The visiting agents would have to dig and be creative to find something wrong.
That confidence didn't last for long.
It wasn't a misstep on the part of his team, or even the agents catching on to their suspicions of Neal. No, it was the evaluating agents themselves. Peter sensed something was off about them and they soon showed their colors.
In his meetings, Peter first met with Agent Tangeman of the FBI. The agent appeared to be nonbiased and asked general questions. He was serious and probing while going over the standard forms of the evaluation. However, he occasionally added an extra question that didn't seem to be a part of the official inquiry. Assuming they were his way of gauging his character, Peter answered the questions honestly and openly.
Then Peter had his appointment with Agent Odle of the NSA. He threatened to find whatever skeletons were lurking in his closet and promised a thorough investigation into everything to ensure his work was in order. The man tried to be intimidating and Peter didn't appreciate it.
Agent Renigar of the CIA came in last with a perfect smile and promises to make sure everything went smoothly. However, there were hints towards less than candid behavior. He seemed to expect Peter to pay when they went to lunch. Peter was supposed to help him with a small favor, from one agent to another. The man even offered to ignore what he acted like was a small infraction.
They felt like bribery.
It wasn't hard to pay for the meal as a courtesy since it was only a sandwich, but Peter was careful to avoid any of the other potential traps.
When he reviewed it later, Peter thought he understood their scheme. Tangeman used the nonbiased approach to make people lower their guard and give him information about their character. Then Odle played the bad cop and attempted to apply pressure anywhere he thought there might be a weakness. Finally, Renigar was the smooth conman who sealed the deal ensnaring their victim in something that seemed harmless but would provide them with sufficient blackmail material. Their ultimate goal was unknown, but he felt like they were using their positions as evaluators as their own power high. They were in control of agents' futures and they knew it so they weren't above taking advantage of it for their own benefits.
Unimpressed, Peter kept an eye on how the men treated his team.
The agents seemed to be getting the same treatment as he had. They were put through the search for weak points, threatened, and then attempted to be worked over each in their own way. Peter was proud that his agents didn't fall for it any more than he did.
There was one exception though, only one person who wasn't subject to the manipulation tactics. Neal Caffrey wasn't being evaluated at all so he didn't have to worry about their games.
Peter had decided to get his own file rather than call for a probie to do it for him. It gave him the means of observing what was happening on the floor, and he didn't like what he overheard.
As he stood in the records, he scanned a series of boxes looking for his file when he heard a noise on the other side. Someone else was there as he heard Neal get pushed against the shelves.
Odle's voice carried through the gaps. "You're a con, Caffrey. There is a reason you aren't being evaluated, you aren't worth the trouble."
"And I'm the happier for it. I've been watching you and your companions. You're trying to run a game on the team. It won't work, but then we also know you'll give them a bad evaluation out of revenge." Neal had also caught on to their behavior.
Listening, Peter wondered what would happen. Did Neal know of these agents and their plans, or was he predicting the outcome based on his knowledge of how criminal acts worked?
"What would you know? You're just a con, always have been and always will be, nothing more," Odle sniffed. He didn't see Neal as any threat.
"So I've been told. It's the general opinion of anyone who knows me anyway. That's why I don't fear you though. I'm just a tool to the FBI, so I'm not important enough to warrant going after directly, and not valuable enough to be used against anyone. You're wasting your time with me." Neal slid to the side and slipped away.
"Huh, the point I hate most about that is that he's right. No one here seems to like him too much; he's nothing but a con that functions as a tool. Well, now, that's just too bad," Odle seemed rather disappointed.
Odle wasn't as disappointed as Peter was though. Neal was a member of his team, not a tool for them to use. It was his failure that would lead Neal to believe that. He was responsible for the con.
It took Peter longer than it should have to find his file and return to his office. He needed to talk to Neal, but he also knew the evaluations were to be done the next morning and they would be rid of the other agents. Then he needed to focus on resolving the situation with his consultant and friend.
Thank you, everyone, for reading, leaving kudos, reviewing/commenting, and choosing to favorite :D
First, I'm posting later than usual as I've worked the last few days and just haven't had much energy for anything else. My schedule is often on weekends as that's the busiest time in my department and sometimes I manage to get things done when I get home while others... well, not so much. For these weekends when I just don't have much energy, I'll post on my first day off afterward.
Second, Ranger is doing better. He's got Ring Worm (a fungus that he got who knows where) which is being treated. However, his fur loss is presumed to be from stress due to the weather finally shifting warmer and then plummeting back down giving his little system a bit of a stress shock. Being upstairs and away from the drafty garage door has improved his coloring and we hope to see his fur coming back over the next month or two. In the meanwhile, my anxiety for my fur baby is reduced, but there are still plenty of stressors to contend with through other means.