Chapter Text
Peter rubbed his temples with his knuckles, staring at a case file but not actually reading it. Instead, his mind was lost in thought. There had been a key in the belongings Neal had when he died. He wanted to investigate it, and find out where it led, to find out where the money went, why Neal was under Wall Street that day, why Keller was there…
He wanted to, but it still hurt to think about that day. But after a year, he had healed enough to think about it. To recall those terrible events.
He got up to walk to the balcony. “Jones,” he called, pointing two fingers and waving him over.
Neal had once asked if that was a skill they taught at Quantico. Peter scoffs. All the higher-ups did it- Hughes, Kramer- and he started doing it too once he became ASEC. Without thinking.
“Yes, Peter?” The man walked into Peter’s office, hands in his pockets.
Peter sits down behind his desk and reaches into a drawer. Item in hand, he leans on his elbows and holds the key out. Neal’s key. “I want you to figure out what this unlocks. Check everything.”
Jones nods and takes the key. He turns it over in his hand, staring at it. “Caffrey?” He lifted his head to meet Peter’s eyes. Peter nods.
Jones notes the movement and he closes his hand-tightly. He wasn’t letting the key go. “I’ll get on it, sir.”
Jones wanted to know what happened to Neal also. So did Dianna, and the rest of the White Collar Division. No one wanted to admit it, but they missed the con man. His laugh, his smile, his wittiness.
Peter starts to pack up for the day. He glances at the pictures on the desk and smiles.
Even though they haven’t met, Neal lived on in Peter’s son.
“I found it.”
“Found what?”
“Where the key goes.”
Peter stands up quickly, knocking his chair backwards. “Where?”
“Shipping container unit in downtown New York,” Jones replies, handing the key back to Peter.
Peter stands up and puts on his jacket. He motions to Jones to get ready. “We’re going. Now.”
The car ride was silent. With Jones driving, Peter was deep in thought. About Neal.
This was really the first time he thought about that day. What happened. Analyzing the events and factors to it all.
They pulled up to a collection of shipping containers by the docks, and Jones gets out.
Taking a moment, Peter steps out also.
One step closer. To what truly went down that day.
Jones walks off, noticing that Peter was thinking but didn’t disturb him. The dark man just led the way.
Peter followed a couple of steps behind.
They walked, weaving through the shipping containers. Jones was looking at the numbers, trying to locate whatever he found.
Jones stopped in front of it. “This is it,” he said. He handed Peter the key.
Peter just stood there, key in hand. “Neal never goes anywhere without a purpose,” he says, side glancing at Jones. “Why here? What’s he up to, Jones?”
“Maybe these containers aren’t a bad place to stash half a billion dollars in cash,” Jones replies.
Peter shrugs. He hangs his head, and looks at the key in his hand. “Jones?”
“Yes?”
Peter huffs. He has never made this request before, never. But, since he was about to uncover his dead friend’s secret, he didn’t want company. “Can you, can you wait in the car? Please?”
Jones nods. “Yeah. I will.” And he turns and leaves.
Peter is glad for the kind man.
He takes a deep breath, and inserts the key into the lock.
It turns, and he opens the door.
The hinges creaked and squealed. Peter was afraid of what he would find.
He has not seen some of this stuff since the submarine years ago. He knew Neal and Mozzie stole it, but… here it was. The Nazi treasure.
He walks further. There was more than just treasure in there. Pictures, diagrams, notes, and bullets.
Peter spots a dummy in the back of the container. It looked fine, except for a bullet hole right where its heart would be.
Bullets lie on the table. .38 caliber.
.38 caliber bullet for evidence.
The technician a year ago gave him the bullet that was in Neal’s body. It was a .38 caliber.
Shock rose through Peter. The gun was Neal’s. Neal’s gun. He was going to kill Keller. But instead… He didn’t want to finish that thought.
The only time that Peter remembered Neal holding a gun was that time he tried to kill Fowler, to revenge Kate, but Peter stopped him. Neal hated guns. But was he desperate enough to turn one on Keller?
You let her go, Keller!
Peter had shouted those words. He was concerned for the girl’s life, the captive.
He had a right to be. She was going to be shot if Peter did anything.
But she was a distraction. To get his attention off of Neal. So he could die.
But the bullet in the chamber was a blank, and it gave Peter the chance to shoot Keller, to kill him.
Same as JFK, the decoy hearse. Two different caskets! He knew he was gonna die!
What if…
Neal wasn’t really dead? No. He was. Peter saw it with his own eyes.
Peter looks back at the dummy. No bullet. None on the floor either. So Neal either removed it…
He looked at the bulletin board. Schematics of the Louvre. Medical stats. Pictures of…
Peter looks closer. One picture caught his eye.
The nurse. The one at the ambulance that day.
It must be a con!
Mozz’s words rang through Peter’s head.
Bullet shell but no bullet, matching the caliber that Neal was shot with. Blueprints of the greatest security system in France. Sticky notes of medical terms. Pictures of nurses, doctors, EMTs…
Neal Caffrey’s greatest con!
He picked up a newspaper, detailing the Louvre. In France. Dated just over a year ago.
On a painting next to him sat a playing card. The card Mozz showed Peter. The card Neal first tricked him with.
Neal, Peter thinks. He’s not dead. He’s…
It took a couple of seconds to form the last part of that thought. ...alive.
Peter grins and snatches the playing card. Neal was alive. And he was going to find him.