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Peter and June were sitting on June’s rooftop patio, enjoying mugs of June’s great Italian roast.
When Neal Caffrey offered Peter his help in finding the Dutchman, Peter had said “no”.
But he had started looking into it. What would it mean? Where would Caffrey live? Are security anklets really that secure? Should he get into this type of adventure?
Jones had been emphatically against the idea. You do the crime; you do the time. Even if that meant another four years in prison for making a stupid attempt at running away.
Diana had been more open to the possibility, but knowing Caffrey - she thought it would end badly.
Elizabeth had been enamored with the fact that the dashing conman risked everything for his true love.
And that’s why he was here, at June’s house. June was an old friend, but she also knew more about Caffrey's world than any of his other acquaintances. Peter had hoped that she would have better insights into what he should do.
“I can see what’s going to happen,” Peter said. “With the money the government is willing to pay for housing, I can put up Caffrey in a one-star hostel, where he’s going to quickly get in touch with the criminal element. And if I don’t ban him from moving, he’s soon going to con his way into better housing, better clothes and better cons.”
The two fell silent for a long minute.
“You know, this could be a good place for him,” June waved her hand, encompassing the whole area around her. “I’m not doing anything with that apartment at the moment. The FBI HQ is not far, right?”
“Well…” Peter wavered.
“And that way I can keep an eye on him. Help steer him in the right direction.”
“With Caffrey it’s going to be a full-time job,” Peter scoffed. And then, thinking about it more... “But it wouldn’t work. I bring him here, he’s going to see you as a parole officer, and he’s going to find somewhere else to live.”
June sipped her coffee, thinking, then put down the mug as an idea occurred to her. “What if I let him suggest it?”
“Let Caffrey suggest he’s going to be here? How are you going to do that?”
“I have some experience in the art of the con,” June said. She could see that wasn’t enough for Peter. “You bring him to the hostel first, let him know that he could move somewhere else, and then I’ll find a way of meeting up with him. Once he hears about this house, he’ll jump at the chance. I'll let him con me... He’ll think it was all his idea.”
Peter considered that. “Well… the hostel I had in mind isn’t that far. It’s possible. But if you don't catch up with him in time? It’s going to be a long shot.”
June just smiled. "We'll see."