9A: The Face

Peter was running a little late due to an accident trapping him in a traffic jam. Arriving at the office, he noticed Neal standing with another man just inside the doors. Neal was dressed normally in a classic suit, but the other man looked young and wore a standard FBI-style suit.

Coming up on the conversation, Peter listened to the initial part as the other man questioned Neal. He was looking for Caffrey without realizing he'd found him.

"I am Neal George Caffrey," Neal confirmed. He was standing in front of his desk with a relaxed attitude.

The agent then landed into Neal with a finger to his chest and his voice was slightly above normal. His behavior was confrontational and he tried to be intimidating while he listed off a whole string of crimes Neal had been suspected of and stated that he wouldn't get away with what he'd done.

Stepping forwards, Peter raised his hands and directed the man to step back and take a breath. "Explain, why do you think you can prove him guilty of those things? We've been investigating him for years and haven't been able to."

"He's a con, he isn't smart enough to get away with it forever. When he slips, I'll be waiting to catch him." The probie was arrogant and egotistical. This must be a new probie and one that wasn't going to last unless he learned to behave better.

Raising an eyebrow, Peter wasn't impressed. "I can attest to his skills at keeping to his role, even working with him doesn't give leaps and bounds of information. It takes patient waiting and studious observation. Even then, the details don't always come out while we're able to pursue him for a particular case. We've only been able to prove him guilty of the bonds. I understand your exuberance, but you still haven't provided a valid reason for reactivating our investigations into those crimes. We're the FBI, we work off of evidence and until you've got something solid, you have no reason to approach my consultant." Peter wasn't going to tolerate this probie's behavior, but he also needed to handle the situation with care. If someone thought he was treating Neal preferentially, then it could be an issue for both of them.

While they'd been talking, another man entered the office behind them. He'd stopped to listen and then cleared his throat asking for a confirmation before the probie could defend himself. "I believe you're discussing Neal Caffrey and his suspected guilt in a list of crimes?"

"We are, I've been researching him and I think he can be caught with enough perseverance." The probie answered for everyone else.

"I'm also an agent who's been researching him, and I have my own question if I may ask it." Their second guest was better behaved so Peter looked to Neal for his opinion.

"Fire away, this is proving to be an interesting morning," Neal put his hands in his pocket as a means of defending himself without showing intimidated body language.

The young agent fired away as directed. "Why do you take the credit for so many crimes you haven't committed? I've been researching it, and some of the cases you are suspected of are actually government-sanctioned operations hosted by other agencies. There are rather few that you might have committed, and even those sound more like government operations than some random guy committing them because he can. How do you explain that?"

Taking a closer look at the second man, Peter noticed that he was wearing a generic government outfit, but there were subtle differences. This man wasn't FBI, but he was inexperienced enough to make this approach.

Then he turned to Neal, and the man's eyes were dancing as he watched their reactions. Frowning and cocking his head, Peter wondered why Neal thought this was funny. "Care to answer him, Neal?"

"No, I don't. But, it is fun to watch the wheels turn in your head as you try to figure out if he has any ground to stand on or not." He actually leaned back against his desk and relaxed. The awkward situation around him amused him.

"Do you seriously think this is funny?" Peter put his hands on his hips.

"That I'm accused of so many things? No. Watching you puzzle over whether I'm guilty or not? Definitely!" Neal smiled that annoying grin of his.

"Here, I have some references to my proof. I can't share it entirely, but this is the basic information," and the young agent passed Peter a file.

Flipping through it, Peter noticed that some of it was blacked out, but it did genuinely reference many of Neal's past crimes as government operations. "Did you take credit for government operations to build your reputation?"

Neal just kept his smile plastered on without visually flinching. He wasn't comfortable, but he didn't seem worried.

Continuing to go through the information, Peter found all but the bonds listed and was growing worried. How could Neal have known about government operations? It seemed that this could backfire on the kid. Turning to Neal, he looked worriedly at the younger man.

Shaking his head, Neal put his finger to the top file and pushed it closed. "He's going to receive a call any second now."

This only got more interesting and worrisome for Peter. What had Neal gotten himself into?

Then the young agent's phone rang just as Neal had predicted. Answering, the man paled and gently but certainly took the files back. "They will be destroyed, yes mam. No, mam." When the call ended, he turned to Neal. "You were right, and she isn't happy. I'll be facing disciplinary action."

Taking his leave, the young agent turned and left the office leaving everyone behind him confused.

"I believe your turn is next," Neal turned to the FBI probie.

Sure enough, his phone also rang. The probie didn't talk much as he seemed to be reprimanded for his behavior. Then the young man left the office with his head ducked low to avoid drawing attention to his retreat.

"What was that all about?" Peter turned to Neal with his hands still on his hips as he looked sternly down at him.

Smirking, Neal seemed to be struggling to keep his façade. "Well, isn't this awkward? I have such a reputation for being a criminal and now you have reason to believe I may not be much of one. This is damaging indeed. However, I think I can work with it." Neal doffed his hat with a flourish as he smiled. "Nothing a good con can't work with, now is it?"

"This isn't all fun and games, Neal. You could get into a lot of trouble for playing with government operations." Peter tried to put some sense into the younger man.

"And yet, I didn't get a call now did I?" Neal turned to settle in at his desk to work.

He had a point, which only added to the mystery. Peter held his pose and watched as his friend calmly went to work on his caseload. Neal didn't seem fazed by the situation at all.

Confused, Peter couldn't get him to say anything else. Neal just smiled in amusement and continued to work through files until Peter gave up.

Going to his office, Peter decided to watch and wait. Like he'd told the probie, Neal didn't divulge his secrets easily.

Peter entered the office a week later to find Hughes' office open, the conference room closed, and the team looking up at it from time to time while they worked. Everyone seemed aware that something was going on, but not what.

Looking at Neal's desk showed his consultant studiously minding his own business and working through cases.

Neal knew what was going on.

It must connect back to the reveal in the office, where most of Neal's alleged crimes were actually government-sanctioned operations. Neal had known what was happening then too while he was able to predict the phone calls before they came.

Holding his ground in the walkway, Peter ignored the agents buzzing about him as they worked. He was watching Neal.

Neal was ignoring him.

However, that did tell him a few things. First, Neal wasn't watching the conference room for clues so he knew what was going on and didn't want to bother with it. Much like he had the phone calls before. Secondly, Neal wasn't worried or afraid. He was calmly doing his work and simply biding the time without getting caught up in office speculation. Thirdly, Neal wasn't going to be distracted by his observations. Neal hadn't even bothered with teasing him about hints or clues. Fourthly, Neal expected there to be a reason he should have his work done. Did he expect to be pulled from their team, did he know he'd done something worthy of being sent to prison for?

Deciding to ask, Peter approached Neal's desk and tapped his finger on the wood to get his attention. When Neal paused to look up, Peter asked, "Those files were government operations and you are the suspect, now I get the feeling we're seeing the official response from the higher-ups. Did you do anything criminal?" It was natural to question. Everything he knew of Neal was from their chase or his efforts to keep ahead to prevent Neal from getting into trouble.

Smiling at the concern in his voice, Neal shook his head. "I can't answer your questions, but they aren't going to arrest me or anything like that."

Releasing some of the tension he didn't know he'd had, Peter wasn't quite as worried. If Neal wasn't going to be arrested, how bad could this be? Neither he nor his team knew what was going on so they weren't at risk. Most likely, the bosses just wanted to close the situation to prevent any further risk of exposure.

That made him frown, would they pin something on Neal in an effort to protect their operations? Peter didn't like the thought, but he didn't put it past some people in government. It had been done in other governments and possibly in their own, but the laws were supposed to prevent that kind of thing.

Getting Neal's attention again, he asked, "Not even on anything circumstantial or alleged?" Was there any way someone could come after him?

"I appreciate your concern, and although I've experienced what you're alluding to, that isn't the case here. There is nothing to arrest me on because I haven't done anything illegal." Neal's tone was reassuring and he wasn't working anymore so his focus was completely on Peter.

"Do you know who actually did those things?" Peter wondered how he could be innocent and yet associated.

Grinning, Neal had a mischievous expression. "Yes, but I won't tell."

Sighing, Peter was reminded again how hard Neal was to get information out of. It didn't help that he was so curious and not getting answers! "Did you have a choice in getting involved?"

Bouncing his head from side to side, Neal thought before answering. "Not entirely, I mean, if you ever learn who they are I think you'll get it pretty easily."

Slowly pulling details in the hopes of getting answers, Peter continued. "Are you associated with them?"

Raising his eyebrows, Neal looked surprised. "Am I an agent? No, I'm not directly associated with their professional work, but I am connected to them personally."

Puzzled, Peter was more confused. "Then how do you know about the government stuff?"

"I've consulted longer and in more ways than you know," Neal answered before looking around Peter since something caught his attention.

Turning around at the sound of his name, Peter saw Hughes on the landing giving him and Neal the double finger point to join him in the conference room. Nodding in acknowledgment, Peter commented to Neal as he shifted his things. "I guess we're both about to find out what that meeting is about."

"Maybe, at least to some extent, I assume since we've both been called up." Neal agreed as he then stood up to join Peter for the walk.

Keeping companionable silence, Peter hoped he was about to learn more. Neal had whetted his appetite for information about his younger friend, but it also created more questions and confusion.

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