Chapter Text
“So tell me, Burke, are you and Caffrey up for a trip to Los Angeles?” Hughes asked, sliding a case folder across his desk with a deft hand. Peter reached out and scooped it up, cracking it open and skimming the case notes with one hesitant eye towards his boss.
“Los Angeles?” Peter asked, trying to hide the skepticism from his voice as he thumbed through the hefty file’s pages. “What could they possibly want with us out there? I thought that office was one of the best in the country, where they send all the hot-shots that don’t want to deal with DC politics.”
“Not good enough, apparently. And nowhere close to the closure rate you and Neal have for this department. They thought they might be able to make progress on this case if they brought in the dynamic duo of Burke and Caffrey, even if it means flying you out from New York. At least, that’s what I was told when the office Director called and practically begged for our help.”
Peter paused just long enough to soak in some of the words from the file, and found himself squinting in confusion. It appeared as mundane as many of their daily cases in the White Collar division, something that any agent should have been able to crack with enough time and patience if they truly had a good lead. From what he could tell, it was just as likely the man they were chasing was innocent as guilty.
“All of this for a nightclub owner?” He paused, flipping through a few more of the pages. “It looks like he’s suspected on little more than tax fraud and potential connections to art theft, but they don’t have anything substantive beyond speculation. What makes this guy so special?”
“The fact they can’t get anything on him, nothing.” Hughes sighed, reclining back in his chair while folding his hands in his lap. “No matter how many agents they send in, how many accountants they have comb his books, they can’t figure out how he’s doing it. I guess they figured if they’re going to have a shot at bringing him down, they need the best. You two happen to be the best.”
“If you’re willing to clear us for the trip, I don’t see why not,” Peter answered, snapping the file closed. He knew he would have more time to review it later, even if at present he was doubting the legitimacy of the other office’s leads. To go after a suspect who could hardly be suspected of anything was little more than a wild goose chase. At the very least, it would be nice to get out of New York for a week or two as the colder weather began to roll in.
“You worried about Caffrey running?” Hughes asked firmly, giving Peter a stern glare that bore right through his chest.
The thought of traveling across the country did give Peter a healthy dose of concern for the CI’s ability to slip out of their grasp, but he knew that a trip like this, particularly a successful one, would bode well for Neal’s future. It was a risk that Peter was willing to take to increase their rapport with not just Hughes, but all of the FBI brass that gave them constant scrutiny. With a short breath, he took a leap of faith.
“No, sir. I’d be able to keep an eye on him. I don’t anticipate any problems.”
“Good,” Hughes said, pushing up from his desk. “I knew you’d say that. You’re both already cleared for the trip, so are Diana and Jones. Your flights leave in three days.”
“Thank you,” Peter said, standing up and exiting the office with a final nod towards Hughes. The file sat heavy in his hands, the promise of either failure or opportunity in its many pages. Even if there was no forward movement on the case, this was the breakout he and Neal could use to gain solid footing in their respective reputations. Assuming all went smoothly, of course.
On his way out he looked down into the bullpen, and Neal’s eyes shot up from his desk as though he knew the agent had been looking at him. With a sharp point of his fingers Peter called the CI up to his office. He didn’t have to look behind him to be assured Neal was walking up the stairs that very moment, slipping into the office moments after Peter with a skip in his step. After a short sigh to collect himself, Peter gave the man a look as they both settled down into their respective seats.
“Neal, if I told you we were taking a trip, do you think you’d be able to behave yourself?” As much as he attempted to convey seriousness in his tone, Neal lit up instantly with joy. His easygoing smile broadened and his eyes sparkled with something mischievous. Peter narrowed his eyes, not allowing Neal any room to reply.
“This is for work, and you’d have to be on your very best behavior. I mean that. This is the longest leash we’ve been able to give you, and it took a lot of good will to get it cleared.” There was no harm in exaggerating the point ever so slightly if it meant Neal understood the gravity of the situation.
Still beaming like a child who just got told they were going to Disney World, Neal nodded, and Peter wondered if the words had landed.
“Where are we headed?” Neal asked, already reaching across the desk to try and snatch the file out of Peter’s hands. The agent yanked it back, shaking his head with exasperation. While Neal’s enthusiasm often gave him the energy needed to push through a difficult case, the worry that there would be trouble on this one made his stomach knot a bit tighter than usual.
“The FBI office out in Los Angeles. They want our help catching a nightclub owner they have suspected on tax fraud and ties to art theft, among other things. Apparently they’ve been after him for well over a year now and are still coming up empty.”
“I’m not one to say no to an adventure, but did they maybe think that for once this guy isn’t doing anything wrong?” Neal asked, relaxing into the seat a bit. “It's not too difficult to make money legitimately out in California. What exactly do they think we’ll do that they haven’t already? I’m assuming they’re half-competent out there on the West Coast.”
“I was wondering the same thing,” Peter said, finally setting the file down on the desk and in Neal's reach. “Which is why I thought we could go through their notes so far and come up with a plan. As much as I’m sure you want to hit the beach, it’s better if we show up with a plan and get it done with. Hughes says we have three days before we’re on a plane to California, so I figure we should get to work.”
The words hadn’t even left his mouth before Neal had opened the file and was rifling through it, eyes darting back and forth as the CI drank in the information. It was always amazing to see just how fast Neal worked, his mind always blazing at speeds Peter couldn’t begin to comprehend. But knowing the surprise that awaited in the folder, Peter was able to relish the incredulous look Neal gave him from across the desk.
“Seriously, Peter? Is this an alias, or what?”
“No, as far as they can tell, his legal name is Lucifer Morningstar. No paper trail that proves it was ever anything else.” Peter smiled as Neal was overcome with obvious disgust.
“Alright, maybe the LA office is onto something. Nobody is that pretentious if they haven’t done something at least a little off-color,” Neal muttered. “At least all of my aliases - and alleged aliases - have been somewhat humble. The goal of a new name is usually to blend in.”
It was all Peter could do not to let out a sharp bark of laughter at Neal’s distaste for more blatant displays of egotism. The Caffrey brand of ego had always been a touch more subtle, so it was no surprise that this particular target was already ruffling Neal’s feathers.
“Your own history and bias aside, what’s your initial feel for the guy?” Peter asked, seeing that Neal was already a few pages into the file. Though the complete case history extended much further, he was hoping Neal’s intuition would be more immediately fruitful.
“Well, I can’t say for sure one way or another,” Neal sighed, “but I’d guess he has a second set of books somewhere. Says in here they haven’t managed to get warrants for his private residence, just the club property. If he’s hiding something, it would be in his private quarters. But I figure you already knew that.”
“He keeps the penthouse suite above the club for his private residence. I can’t imagine it would be too difficult to gain access,” Peter said. Neal raised an eyebrow, his grin the unmistakable smile of excitement.
“Peter, you’re actually condoning breaking and entering? I wouldn’t believe it if I didn't just hear it with my own two ears.”
At that, Peter smiled and let out a soft chuckle.
“Oh no, I’m not saying you should trespass on his property. I was thinking that you get permission to enter his residence, then give us something more substantive to go on from there. Take a look at those surveillance photos.”
It was one of the first things Peter had seen when skimming the file in Hughes’ office, and it was where the idea for their surefire strategy had begun to form.
“Yeah?” Neal asked, flipping through the grainy photographs that must have been taken from a building across from the penthouse. “The guy likes to sleep around, what club owner doesn’t? I’m just wondering what that means for me in this scenario you’ve dreamed up.”
“I was thinking you give him a go, see if he’ll take you up to the penthouse. Looks like he plays for both teams. Unless you’re opposed to that sort of thing, of course.” Though he had to bite back a smirk at his suggestion, Peter was surprised to see Neal shrug and nod with the same suave smile he always sported.
“You do love to underestimate me, don’t you Peter? You think I’ve gotten this far without seducing a man? Please. I’ll be up in that penthouse within the hour.” There was a hint of a challenge in his words, to which Peter could only nod. Though he was somewhat surprised by Neal’s easygoing attitude at the suggestion, he realized it only made sense given Neal’s extensive history in the business of conning. Though he couldn’t quite picture such a scene in his mind’s eye, he knew that again he would have to put his trust in the CI long enough to see this case through.
“Alright, as long as you’re really fine with that plan. Spend the next few days getting to know him better, see if you can figure out what else he might be hiding. You’re not there to steal anything, remember. Just give us some leads to go on. I want to hit the ground running on this one, show them what we’re really made of. This is a big opportunity for the both of us and I want to do it right.”
“You think if we do well, we’ll have an extra day to ourselves? Maybe have a chance to see the beach? I heard California has some beautiful beaches this time of year.” The hopefulness in Neal’s voice was apparent. Peter just sighed and shook his head, shooing Neal out of the office with an outstretched hand.
“Don’t push it, Neal.”