Chapter Text
Neal had tried to reach the bolt that had clattered to the floor outside the cage he was being held in, but it had rolled away too far and now he heard footsteps approaching. Damn it.
He quickly sat back down on the chair he had been bound to. He put the gag back between his teeth and by putting his arms behind his back pretended to still be bound by the shackles that he so easily freed himself from just moments ago.
He had been in the cage for the better half of the day and at this point, he was more bored than scared. His hair was disheveled, falling in thick waves over his forehead, he was thirsty and the heat was getting to him. Why did Dobbs even have a cage in this opulent mansion on the Cape Verde islands? Something was off. And he knew that he and Peter would find out.
But his main concern at the moment was that Collins had found him. What would happen to him next? Did Peter and Mozzie know that he was being held captive?
Collins strolled into Neal's prison, exuding arrogance and the confidence of a man who thinks he has nothing to loose. Who thinks he had already won by catching one of the FBIs most wanted: Caffrey. It was evident in his eyes that he would stop at nothing to keep the victory, to make sure Neal stayed where he was so he could haul him back to New York.
Collins spotted the loose screw outside the cage right away and stepped closer, tapping the bars, which fell away and to the floor with a loud bang. Angrily, he yanked the gag from Neal's mouth who had a remark at the ready:
„You should get that fixed.“
At that, Collins grabbed Neal by the elbow and yanked him to his feet and pushed him against the bars.
„You only had to be good for a couple of hours, but it seems since you got two good legs, you're gonna find a way to run.“ He pulled his gun from his belt and raised it, pointing it at Neal, who put his hands up defensively, the handcuffs dangling off of one wrist. Collins was determined as well as angry. „You were about to flee, you could be armed.“
He lowered the gun, pointing it at Neal's thigh and fired.