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sheenianniTitle: (Meet Me) At the Crossroads (Part I)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sheenianni
Artist:aragarna
Fandom: White Collar
Notes: See Prologue
PART I
The walls are dull and gray.
He turned around and saw –
The sea of orange around him is blinding.
The flames, there were flames everywhere –
He stares at the bars and wishes, prays it was six months ago and he had never made the deal with Peter –
Peter who held him back, fought him and eventually knocked him to the ground; held him until he stopped struggling, held him as he broke down and sobbed –
He did this.
Neal is back in prison, only this time there are no lines on the wall, no counting of days until the end of this nightmare –
Kate is gone.
* * *
Peter barely fights off the exhaustion as he unlocks the door to his house. He smiles tiredly and stumbles when Satchmo greets him with his usual enthusiasm. He sets his briefcase on the floor and pets Satchmo until he stops barking, then takes off his coat and hangs it right next to Elizabeth’s. He smiles when he hears the noises from the kitchen – El must have been home for a while, then. “Hey, hon,” he calls aloud and picks up his briefcase.
El is standing by the stove, skillfully chopping some vegetables and adding them into a big pan. “Hey honey. So how did it go?”
Wordlessly, Peter pulls her into a hug and just holds her for a moment.
It’s so good to be home.
“Peter?” asks El at last.
Right. Stepping away, Peter reaches into his suit and shows her his badge. “I’m reinstated.”
El grins. “See? I told you, Peter Burke, you’re the best agent around and they damn well know it. Besides, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I shot at Fowler, El,” says Peter with a grimace. “I stopped Neal from getting on that plane. What if Kate was killed because I showed up?”
“Peter, you can’t say that.”
“I just…” Peter shakes his head. “Anyway, the DOJ figured I had nothing to do with the plane – since I was suspended, it wasn’t my responsibility to stop Neal from leaving. They can’t prove I didn’t know whether Fowler was wearing a vest or not, so… They didn’t believe me about Mentor, they still suspect Neal of Kate’s murder and they were pretty adamant that he was trying to escape. It was implied that I should stay away from the investigation and the second I take one step out of line, I’ll be before that board again or outright out of a job.”
“But you’re not going to stop,” says El matter-of-factly. “So when are you going to pick Neal up?”
“It’s complicated.”
“What do you mean? The woman he loved was just brutally murdered - they can’t really leave him in prison for something he didn’t do!”
“I know that. And if I could, I would get him out of there the very second– ” Peter looks away. “I went to see him, El. He’s… it doesn’t look good. You should have seen him – he had this haunted look, like if he was still at that airstrip. He’s thinner, he’s probably depressed and he looked exhausted – I don’t think he’s sleeping right.”
“Well, would you?” asks El pragmatically.
“Hell, no. I still have nightmares about it – I keep thinking, if I hadn’t stopped him, if I hadn’t gotten there in time…”
“Neal could have been dead.”
“Yes.”
Death.
He’s lucky, thinks Peter as he holds El close. If anything happened to her – he doesn’t think he could handle it.
“I have to get him out of there,” he says aloud.
El looks at him with complete confidence. “You will.”
She blinks and tightens her hug around him – with a jolt, Peter realizes she is hurting almost as badly as him. But she has faith in him, and that somehow gives him the bit of strength and helps him breathe.
He has to talk to Hughes about fixing this injustice. And then he has to make sure that Neal does the right thing, even if he has to shake him or drag him out of prison himself.
* * *
It’s a good con, a necessary con – it’s the best for everyone. Yet instead of the familiar rush and excitement, Mozzie feels empty. He wonders what he has done to deserve all this and what compelled him to give the promises that are hurting him to his very core.
He has learned to misdirect and lie before he even learned to talk. Still, he has never been a particularly good actor, and if Neal was just a bit less off his game, a bit more himself, he would see right through him. But Mozzie is the front man on this, he has agreed to this, and now he couldn’t back out even if he wanted. Besides, just because he despises this course of action doesn’t mean their reasons aren’t justified.
“I liquidated some assets,” he says a bit stiffly. Neal is sitting opposite him, staring at God knows what – he probably hasn’t heard a single word Mozzie had said in the last five minutes. “Hey!” he snaps sharply when Neal doesn’t reply. “Are you listening to me at all?”
Neal jerks out of his daze and looks at him. “I’m sorry Moz, you were saying?”
“I said I liquidated some assets, just like we agreed three days ago,” repeats Mozzie patiently and tries to hold his breath.
Neal blinks. “Right.” He gives him a ghost of smile. “Thanks, Moz. You’re the best.”
The worst about this is that Neal really means it. Seeing the haunted eyes, the broken shadow of his old friend, knowing what he knows –
‘One wrong step and it will all be for nothing,’ whispers the voice in Mozzie’s head, and it’s right. It’s for the best – this has already cost them so much; Neal has suffered too much to risk it all now on foolish sentimentality. And so Moz plays his part, even though he might go to hell for this one day.
But until then, he’s here, and so he listens to Neal’s plans for catching Kate’s killer – he acts the part of a loyal friend and does his job. If Neal doesn’t kill him the moment he finds out the truth, he will eventually realize it was worth it in the end.
* * *
“I don’t know, Peter. Are you really sure about this?”
Peter freezes. “Of course I’m sure – what are you suggesting, Reese? What do you mean you don’t know?!”
“Peter, stop. And for Heaven’s sake, stop looking at me like I just murdered your firstborn, you know I have to ask these things,” says Hughes wearily. “You want Caffrey back, fine; I’m just as upset as you about what the DOJ did to him–”
“It was cruel and inhuman! They threw him behind bars just after he witnessed Moreau’s death – you know that’s not justice. ‘Bravery and Integrity’ – how can we even call ourselves FBI if we let this stand?”
“Peter, I said I agree with you. You don’t have to convince me.” Hughes pauses. “Just tell me this – can Caffrey handle being back at the office? Because if you put the anklet back on and this goes wrong – if he messes up a case, if he runs, if he breaks down and can’t do his part, he’ll go back to prison and you’ll be out of a job. You’ve heard the DOJ – I won’t be able to protect either of you.”
“It won’t happen,” says Peter confidently.
“Are you sure?” Hughes presses. “Because if you’re wrong –”
Peter explodes. “And what do you want me to say, Reese? What exactly are you suggesting? Neal is a human being –”
“He’s a convict first to them,” says Hughes ruthlessly. “We can argue to have him moved to a lower security prison; we can get him a shrink or maybe even commute some of his sentence, but I won’t be able to do that if Caffrey goes back on the anklet and then screws up. So tell me: can he handle it?”
“He can,” replies Peter resolutely. He might be lying through his teeth; he has no idea. But the injustice of it all makes him want to rage, because Neal doesn’t deserve to be in prison – he would have been free today if the OPR hasn’t gone back on their promise. For all Peter knows, Neal could have been living happily with Kate on the other side of the world (France, Peter thinks, they would have gone to France) if Peter hadn’t shown up at the airport when he did. All those ifs and maybes – they don’t matter, because it is what it is and they have to deal with the here and now.
Peter can’t turn back time, he can’t give Neal Kate back, can’t even give him his freedom. He can only put the anklet back on, find Kate’s killer and hope it will be enough.
If Neal can’t do it, if it’s not enough… But it has to be, because this is all that Peter has.
“Very well then,” says Hughes at last. “I’ll start the paperwork and contact the DOJ. And Peter–”
“Yes, sir?” says Peter, already halfway to the door.
“Say hello to Caffrey from me.”
Peter smiles grimly. “I will. Thanks, Reese.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” says Hughes seriously.
‘So do I.’
But leaving Neal at prison now… Peter doesn’t think he could live with it.
First things first. When he gets to his office, he dials El’s number. “Hon… Do you have a way to get hold of Mozzie?”
* * *
“I know you’ve been setting up a getaway for him,” says the Suit when they meet at June’s.
“Objection, entrapment! I admit to no such thing!” exclaims Mozzie loudly.
The Suit sighs. “Okay, you’re trying to look out for him, I can understand that. But if Neal runs now, he’ll get caught again and I won’t be able to help him. You need to persuade him that this is his best chance.”
“Like I said before, I’ll take it under advisement, Suit.”
“Damn it, Mozzie! Could you for once put your paranoia on hold and think of what’s best for Neal?”
“You presume that Neal will listen to me. … Fine. I’ll talk to him,” says Mozzie at last.
Peter smiles at him in a relieved way like a huge weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. “Thank you, Haversham.”
“Mozzie is fine,” mumbles Moz uncomfortably.
“I mean it. You’re doing the right thing here–”
“Oh, and we need a different way to contact each other.,” Mozzie interrupts him mid-sentence. “Elizabeth is too obvious a choice and so is June. The next time, you will call this number and give me a password – oh, and you need to use an untraceable phone…”
“Or I could put out a BOLO out for you,” says Peter dryly.
Mozzie shakes his head. “See, Suit, this is exactly the wrong approach…”
They bargain for the better part of the next twenty minutes. Baring a few minor concessions, Mozzie wins on a full scale – as if the outcome could have been any different. After all, he has known this game was rigged when the Suit probably still believed in the government, Moon landing and Santa Claus. He probably still believes in some of those, thinks Mozzie and tries not to despair over the naivety of his (unwitting) allies.
“I’ll see you around,” he says when the two of them part their ways.
That evening, he talks to his companion. It’s been three weeks since the plane exploded; three weeks that Neal has spent in prison, despairing over Kate’s death. The suspicion has been averted, and now Peter Burke has given them the perfect means to get Neal out. Finally, his co-conspirator agrees and Mozzie moves on to carry out the plan.
If anyone asks him, it is about damn time.
* * *
It’s hard to think that he has been in a similar situation several months ago.
Stripping out of the orange jumpsuit, Neal puts on his shirt, his trousers, jacket and coat. They’re all part of his disguise – he fixes his tie and smiles, but his insides are twisted and he might be sick, it’s wrong wrong wrong –
‘You won’t be able to look for Kate’s murderer on the run,’ Mozzie had insisted sharply. ‘I can’t do this alone. You think you’ll find out who killed her out of a prison cell?’
‘Moz…’
‘Do you trust me?’ asked Mozzie. ‘Then trust me now. Take the Suit’s offer, Neal.’
And just like that, Neal does.
Once he’s dressed, one of the guards put the anklet back on. It feels weird, anticlimactic – it should be Peter doing this. But there is no chance to rest or reconnect. Somehow, Neal puts himself together before the prison gate opens for him again.
Peter is waiting here with the Taurus, wearing the same old suit, and somehow that almost makes Neal smile.
“I see you got your tie back. Ready for some decent coffee?” asks Peter lightly, though Neal can see the barely hidden worry in his eyes.
He stares at the paper cup. “You brought me coffee.”
“I did say it was negotiable…”
“Thanks, Peter.”
Thank you.
The cup is warm in his hands – Neal takes a sip, then holds it close to his chest like a part of his armor - suddenly, he feels the sun on his face and smiles. It feels good, smiling.
“I brought you one of your hats from June’s,” says Peter as he opens the door to the Taurus and Neal notices the familiar item on the front passenger’s seat.
He beams. “Peter, really? You didn’t have to…”
“Ready to go to the office?” asks Peter seriously.
“Sure,” says Neal with a carefree smile. “I knew you liked my hats,” he says mischievously as Peter starts the car.
“In your dreams, Caffrey,” says Peter gruffly, but with a spark of humor.
Secretly grinning at their little exchange, Neal puts on his hat. Just like old times.
As the car jumps unexpectedly, Neal almost spills the coffee all over himself before he gets his shaking hands back under control. Instead of commenting on his reaction, Peter turns on the radio and then starts filling Neal on their latest case. As they banter, Neal can feel himself slipping back into the skin of Neal Caffrey, FBI consultant and con man extraordinaire – anything is better than the fog and black despair of the past four weeks. The gray prison building remains behind them like a big ugly tomb.
They’re going to work on Peter’s case. And then they’re going to catch Kate’s killer.
* * *
When Neal enters to door to his apartment that evening, Mozzie and June are already waiting there for him, sitting behind the table with two glasses of wine and a plate of homemade cookies. “Hey Moz, June.”
Mozzie watches as Neal and June share a hug, and has to stop himself from snapping at them to hurry. If he has to wait one more hour –
“It’s so good to see you, June…”
June blinks away tears. “We missed you so much…”
“I’m sorry–”
“The house hasn’t been the same without you.” With one last smile, June moves to the door. “Well, gentlemen, I will leave you to your business. You know where to find me if you need anything…”
“We will,” says Mozzie with utmost seriousness. June gives him a brief questioning look. Then she steps out and closes the door behind herself.
“She really is incredible, isn’t she?” says Neal.
“That she is,” says Moz in agreement.
A pause.
On second thought, maybe stalling isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Suddenly, Neal shudders. “Hey, do you mind if I take a shower? I’d really like to get into some fresh clothes that don’t smell like a prison plastic bag…”
Mozzie nods. “Ah, perfect move. Fresh clothes, a new start – it’s a pretty straightforward symbolism. Good to see you’re moving on.”
Neal rolls his eyes. “Actually, I just thought the clothes smelled of plastic, but sure, whatever makes you happy…” He then turns serious. “You were right, Moz. About taking up Peter’s offer.”
“I’m always right,” says Mozzie dismissively. Then he eyes Neal’s clothes. “Hmmm. I’ll check them for bugs while you’re in the shower.”
“What?!”
“Just because I told you to take the Suit’s offer, doesn’t mean the Man should be trusted. Just leave them behind the door.”
Neal blinks. “Seriously? You really want to poke through my clothes under a crazy notion that the government would place a bug in them?”
“It could happen!” exclaims Mozzie indignantly. “Neal–”
His friend sighs. “Okay, fine, as long as you stay away from my underwear.”
“Please,” says Moz with a snort.
Neal shakes his head. “I can’t believe I’m doing this…”
The moment Neal disappears into the shower, Mozzie pulls out his Russian surplus equipment and starts scanning Neal’s apartment. There is too much at stake not to take serious precautions.
When Neal finally comes out of the shower, dressed in comfortable clothes and his hair still slightly damp, Mozzie is back sitting at the table and waiting for Neal to join him.
“You wouldn’t believe how much I missed hot water,” says Neal with a small smile. Then he frowns when he notices a small box on the table in front of Mozzie. “Hey, what’s that?”
‘That’ is a plastic box with buttons and an antenna. Mozzie has spent the last four weeks working on it, and it has cost him half a million dollars, some dignity and a favor to the boss of a crime family.
“It’s a jammer to your anklet.”
“What? Moz, are you serious?”
“No, I’m kidding. Of course I’m serious!”
“Sorry Moz, I just…” Neal touches the box in awe. “A way off the anklet. Do you know what that means?”
“It means we can go,” says Mozzie with a small smile.
“We’re not running,” says Neal immediately. “Don’t you understand, Moz? With this, I can go wherever I want – I assume that’s the gist of how it works, right?”
“Well, not exactly–”
“We can catch Kate’s killer.”
Mozzie grimaces. “Yeah, about that –”
“I need your help, Moz. I can’t do it alone.”
“I never said that.” Mozzie pauses before taking a deep breath. “Neal, do you trust me?”
“You know I do. What is this about?” Neal’s confusion slowly transforms in a realization. “You found them, didn’t you. You know who it is. You know who killed her. Tell me!”
“Whoa, slow down!” Mozzie pulls away as Neal grabs at his hands with a frightening intensity. “I didn’t say anything about Kate’s killer.”
“Then what do you know? Moz, please. I need to know.”
Clearly, Neal does.
Moz tries to phrase it. ‘It’s not bad news this time. Well, not all bad. See, it depends on your definition, because – ’ He wants to give Neal an encouraging smile, but –
“There is something that you need to see.”
Okay, so he is a bit of a coward.
But it is time.
* * *
Part II
Author:
sheenianniArtist:
aragarnaFandom: White Collar
Notes: See Prologue
___________________________________
PART I
The walls are dull and gray.
He turned around and saw –
The sea of orange around him is blinding.
The flames, there were flames everywhere –
He stares at the bars and wishes, prays it was six months ago and he had never made the deal with Peter –
Peter who held him back, fought him and eventually knocked him to the ground; held him until he stopped struggling, held him as he broke down and sobbed –
He did this.
Neal is back in prison, only this time there are no lines on the wall, no counting of days until the end of this nightmare –
Kate is gone.
Peter barely fights off the exhaustion as he unlocks the door to his house. He smiles tiredly and stumbles when Satchmo greets him with his usual enthusiasm. He sets his briefcase on the floor and pets Satchmo until he stops barking, then takes off his coat and hangs it right next to Elizabeth’s. He smiles when he hears the noises from the kitchen – El must have been home for a while, then. “Hey, hon,” he calls aloud and picks up his briefcase.
El is standing by the stove, skillfully chopping some vegetables and adding them into a big pan. “Hey honey. So how did it go?”
Wordlessly, Peter pulls her into a hug and just holds her for a moment.
It’s so good to be home.
“Peter?” asks El at last.
Right. Stepping away, Peter reaches into his suit and shows her his badge. “I’m reinstated.”
El grins. “See? I told you, Peter Burke, you’re the best agent around and they damn well know it. Besides, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I shot at Fowler, El,” says Peter with a grimace. “I stopped Neal from getting on that plane. What if Kate was killed because I showed up?”
“Peter, you can’t say that.”
“I just…” Peter shakes his head. “Anyway, the DOJ figured I had nothing to do with the plane – since I was suspended, it wasn’t my responsibility to stop Neal from leaving. They can’t prove I didn’t know whether Fowler was wearing a vest or not, so… They didn’t believe me about Mentor, they still suspect Neal of Kate’s murder and they were pretty adamant that he was trying to escape. It was implied that I should stay away from the investigation and the second I take one step out of line, I’ll be before that board again or outright out of a job.”
“But you’re not going to stop,” says El matter-of-factly. “So when are you going to pick Neal up?”
“It’s complicated.”
“What do you mean? The woman he loved was just brutally murdered - they can’t really leave him in prison for something he didn’t do!”
“I know that. And if I could, I would get him out of there the very second– ” Peter looks away. “I went to see him, El. He’s… it doesn’t look good. You should have seen him – he had this haunted look, like if he was still at that airstrip. He’s thinner, he’s probably depressed and he looked exhausted – I don’t think he’s sleeping right.”
“Well, would you?” asks El pragmatically.
“Hell, no. I still have nightmares about it – I keep thinking, if I hadn’t stopped him, if I hadn’t gotten there in time…”
“Neal could have been dead.”
“Yes.”
Death.
He’s lucky, thinks Peter as he holds El close. If anything happened to her – he doesn’t think he could handle it.
“I have to get him out of there,” he says aloud.
El looks at him with complete confidence. “You will.”
She blinks and tightens her hug around him – with a jolt, Peter realizes she is hurting almost as badly as him. But she has faith in him, and that somehow gives him the bit of strength and helps him breathe.
He has to talk to Hughes about fixing this injustice. And then he has to make sure that Neal does the right thing, even if he has to shake him or drag him out of prison himself.
It’s a good con, a necessary con – it’s the best for everyone. Yet instead of the familiar rush and excitement, Mozzie feels empty. He wonders what he has done to deserve all this and what compelled him to give the promises that are hurting him to his very core.
He has learned to misdirect and lie before he even learned to talk. Still, he has never been a particularly good actor, and if Neal was just a bit less off his game, a bit more himself, he would see right through him. But Mozzie is the front man on this, he has agreed to this, and now he couldn’t back out even if he wanted. Besides, just because he despises this course of action doesn’t mean their reasons aren’t justified.
“I liquidated some assets,” he says a bit stiffly. Neal is sitting opposite him, staring at God knows what – he probably hasn’t heard a single word Mozzie had said in the last five minutes. “Hey!” he snaps sharply when Neal doesn’t reply. “Are you listening to me at all?”
Neal jerks out of his daze and looks at him. “I’m sorry Moz, you were saying?”
“I said I liquidated some assets, just like we agreed three days ago,” repeats Mozzie patiently and tries to hold his breath.
Neal blinks. “Right.” He gives him a ghost of smile. “Thanks, Moz. You’re the best.”
The worst about this is that Neal really means it. Seeing the haunted eyes, the broken shadow of his old friend, knowing what he knows –
‘One wrong step and it will all be for nothing,’ whispers the voice in Mozzie’s head, and it’s right. It’s for the best – this has already cost them so much; Neal has suffered too much to risk it all now on foolish sentimentality. And so Moz plays his part, even though he might go to hell for this one day.
But until then, he’s here, and so he listens to Neal’s plans for catching Kate’s killer – he acts the part of a loyal friend and does his job. If Neal doesn’t kill him the moment he finds out the truth, he will eventually realize it was worth it in the end.
“I don’t know, Peter. Are you really sure about this?”
Peter freezes. “Of course I’m sure – what are you suggesting, Reese? What do you mean you don’t know?!”
“Peter, stop. And for Heaven’s sake, stop looking at me like I just murdered your firstborn, you know I have to ask these things,” says Hughes wearily. “You want Caffrey back, fine; I’m just as upset as you about what the DOJ did to him–”
“It was cruel and inhuman! They threw him behind bars just after he witnessed Moreau’s death – you know that’s not justice. ‘Bravery and Integrity’ – how can we even call ourselves FBI if we let this stand?”
“Peter, I said I agree with you. You don’t have to convince me.” Hughes pauses. “Just tell me this – can Caffrey handle being back at the office? Because if you put the anklet back on and this goes wrong – if he messes up a case, if he runs, if he breaks down and can’t do his part, he’ll go back to prison and you’ll be out of a job. You’ve heard the DOJ – I won’t be able to protect either of you.”
“It won’t happen,” says Peter confidently.
“Are you sure?” Hughes presses. “Because if you’re wrong –”
Peter explodes. “And what do you want me to say, Reese? What exactly are you suggesting? Neal is a human being –”
“He’s a convict first to them,” says Hughes ruthlessly. “We can argue to have him moved to a lower security prison; we can get him a shrink or maybe even commute some of his sentence, but I won’t be able to do that if Caffrey goes back on the anklet and then screws up. So tell me: can he handle it?”
“He can,” replies Peter resolutely. He might be lying through his teeth; he has no idea. But the injustice of it all makes him want to rage, because Neal doesn’t deserve to be in prison – he would have been free today if the OPR hasn’t gone back on their promise. For all Peter knows, Neal could have been living happily with Kate on the other side of the world (France, Peter thinks, they would have gone to France) if Peter hadn’t shown up at the airport when he did. All those ifs and maybes – they don’t matter, because it is what it is and they have to deal with the here and now.
Peter can’t turn back time, he can’t give Neal Kate back, can’t even give him his freedom. He can only put the anklet back on, find Kate’s killer and hope it will be enough.
If Neal can’t do it, if it’s not enough… But it has to be, because this is all that Peter has.
“Very well then,” says Hughes at last. “I’ll start the paperwork and contact the DOJ. And Peter–”
“Yes, sir?” says Peter, already halfway to the door.
“Say hello to Caffrey from me.”
Peter smiles grimly. “I will. Thanks, Reese.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” says Hughes seriously.
‘So do I.’
But leaving Neal at prison now… Peter doesn’t think he could live with it.
First things first. When he gets to his office, he dials El’s number. “Hon… Do you have a way to get hold of Mozzie?”
“I know you’ve been setting up a getaway for him,” says the Suit when they meet at June’s.
“Objection, entrapment! I admit to no such thing!” exclaims Mozzie loudly.
The Suit sighs. “Okay, you’re trying to look out for him, I can understand that. But if Neal runs now, he’ll get caught again and I won’t be able to help him. You need to persuade him that this is his best chance.”
“Like I said before, I’ll take it under advisement, Suit.”
“Damn it, Mozzie! Could you for once put your paranoia on hold and think of what’s best for Neal?”
“You presume that Neal will listen to me. … Fine. I’ll talk to him,” says Mozzie at last.
Peter smiles at him in a relieved way like a huge weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. “Thank you, Haversham.”
“Mozzie is fine,” mumbles Moz uncomfortably.
“I mean it. You’re doing the right thing here–”
“Oh, and we need a different way to contact each other.,” Mozzie interrupts him mid-sentence. “Elizabeth is too obvious a choice and so is June. The next time, you will call this number and give me a password – oh, and you need to use an untraceable phone…”
“Or I could put out a BOLO out for you,” says Peter dryly.
Mozzie shakes his head. “See, Suit, this is exactly the wrong approach…”
They bargain for the better part of the next twenty minutes. Baring a few minor concessions, Mozzie wins on a full scale – as if the outcome could have been any different. After all, he has known this game was rigged when the Suit probably still believed in the government, Moon landing and Santa Claus. He probably still believes in some of those, thinks Mozzie and tries not to despair over the naivety of his (unwitting) allies.
“I’ll see you around,” he says when the two of them part their ways.
That evening, he talks to his companion. It’s been three weeks since the plane exploded; three weeks that Neal has spent in prison, despairing over Kate’s death. The suspicion has been averted, and now Peter Burke has given them the perfect means to get Neal out. Finally, his co-conspirator agrees and Mozzie moves on to carry out the plan.
If anyone asks him, it is about damn time.
It’s hard to think that he has been in a similar situation several months ago.
Stripping out of the orange jumpsuit, Neal puts on his shirt, his trousers, jacket and coat. They’re all part of his disguise – he fixes his tie and smiles, but his insides are twisted and he might be sick, it’s wrong wrong wrong –
‘You won’t be able to look for Kate’s murderer on the run,’ Mozzie had insisted sharply. ‘I can’t do this alone. You think you’ll find out who killed her out of a prison cell?’
‘Moz…’
‘Do you trust me?’ asked Mozzie. ‘Then trust me now. Take the Suit’s offer, Neal.’
And just like that, Neal does.
Once he’s dressed, one of the guards put the anklet back on. It feels weird, anticlimactic – it should be Peter doing this. But there is no chance to rest or reconnect. Somehow, Neal puts himself together before the prison gate opens for him again.
Peter is waiting here with the Taurus, wearing the same old suit, and somehow that almost makes Neal smile.
“I see you got your tie back. Ready for some decent coffee?” asks Peter lightly, though Neal can see the barely hidden worry in his eyes.
He stares at the paper cup. “You brought me coffee.”
“I did say it was negotiable…”
“Thanks, Peter.”
Thank you.
The cup is warm in his hands – Neal takes a sip, then holds it close to his chest like a part of his armor - suddenly, he feels the sun on his face and smiles. It feels good, smiling.
“I brought you one of your hats from June’s,” says Peter as he opens the door to the Taurus and Neal notices the familiar item on the front passenger’s seat.
He beams. “Peter, really? You didn’t have to…”
“Ready to go to the office?” asks Peter seriously.
“Sure,” says Neal with a carefree smile. “I knew you liked my hats,” he says mischievously as Peter starts the car.
“In your dreams, Caffrey,” says Peter gruffly, but with a spark of humor.
Secretly grinning at their little exchange, Neal puts on his hat. Just like old times.
As the car jumps unexpectedly, Neal almost spills the coffee all over himself before he gets his shaking hands back under control. Instead of commenting on his reaction, Peter turns on the radio and then starts filling Neal on their latest case. As they banter, Neal can feel himself slipping back into the skin of Neal Caffrey, FBI consultant and con man extraordinaire – anything is better than the fog and black despair of the past four weeks. The gray prison building remains behind them like a big ugly tomb.
They’re going to work on Peter’s case. And then they’re going to catch Kate’s killer.
When Neal enters to door to his apartment that evening, Mozzie and June are already waiting there for him, sitting behind the table with two glasses of wine and a plate of homemade cookies. “Hey Moz, June.”
Mozzie watches as Neal and June share a hug, and has to stop himself from snapping at them to hurry. If he has to wait one more hour –
“It’s so good to see you, June…”
June blinks away tears. “We missed you so much…”
“I’m sorry–”
“The house hasn’t been the same without you.” With one last smile, June moves to the door. “Well, gentlemen, I will leave you to your business. You know where to find me if you need anything…”
“We will,” says Mozzie with utmost seriousness. June gives him a brief questioning look. Then she steps out and closes the door behind herself.
“She really is incredible, isn’t she?” says Neal.
“That she is,” says Moz in agreement.
A pause.
On second thought, maybe stalling isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Suddenly, Neal shudders. “Hey, do you mind if I take a shower? I’d really like to get into some fresh clothes that don’t smell like a prison plastic bag…”
Mozzie nods. “Ah, perfect move. Fresh clothes, a new start – it’s a pretty straightforward symbolism. Good to see you’re moving on.”
Neal rolls his eyes. “Actually, I just thought the clothes smelled of plastic, but sure, whatever makes you happy…” He then turns serious. “You were right, Moz. About taking up Peter’s offer.”
“I’m always right,” says Mozzie dismissively. Then he eyes Neal’s clothes. “Hmmm. I’ll check them for bugs while you’re in the shower.”
“What?!”
“Just because I told you to take the Suit’s offer, doesn’t mean the Man should be trusted. Just leave them behind the door.”
Neal blinks. “Seriously? You really want to poke through my clothes under a crazy notion that the government would place a bug in them?”
“It could happen!” exclaims Mozzie indignantly. “Neal–”
His friend sighs. “Okay, fine, as long as you stay away from my underwear.”
“Please,” says Moz with a snort.
Neal shakes his head. “I can’t believe I’m doing this…”
The moment Neal disappears into the shower, Mozzie pulls out his Russian surplus equipment and starts scanning Neal’s apartment. There is too much at stake not to take serious precautions.
When Neal finally comes out of the shower, dressed in comfortable clothes and his hair still slightly damp, Mozzie is back sitting at the table and waiting for Neal to join him.
“You wouldn’t believe how much I missed hot water,” says Neal with a small smile. Then he frowns when he notices a small box on the table in front of Mozzie. “Hey, what’s that?”
‘That’ is a plastic box with buttons and an antenna. Mozzie has spent the last four weeks working on it, and it has cost him half a million dollars, some dignity and a favor to the boss of a crime family.
“It’s a jammer to your anklet.”
“What? Moz, are you serious?”
“No, I’m kidding. Of course I’m serious!”
“Sorry Moz, I just…” Neal touches the box in awe. “A way off the anklet. Do you know what that means?”
“It means we can go,” says Mozzie with a small smile.
“We’re not running,” says Neal immediately. “Don’t you understand, Moz? With this, I can go wherever I want – I assume that’s the gist of how it works, right?”
“Well, not exactly–”
“We can catch Kate’s killer.”
Mozzie grimaces. “Yeah, about that –”
“I need your help, Moz. I can’t do it alone.”
“I never said that.” Mozzie pauses before taking a deep breath. “Neal, do you trust me?”
“You know I do. What is this about?” Neal’s confusion slowly transforms in a realization. “You found them, didn’t you. You know who it is. You know who killed her. Tell me!”
“Whoa, slow down!” Mozzie pulls away as Neal grabs at his hands with a frightening intensity. “I didn’t say anything about Kate’s killer.”
“Then what do you know? Moz, please. I need to know.”
Clearly, Neal does.
Moz tries to phrase it. ‘It’s not bad news this time. Well, not all bad. See, it depends on your definition, because – ’ He wants to give Neal an encouraging smile, but –
“There is something that you need to see.”
Okay, so he is a bit of a coward.
But it is time.
Part II
