Shaggy C.I. - Part 9
Dinner plans that night was skipped so that Peter could rest, Elizabeth insisting even though the doctor said he was fine. The drug he’d been given was mild according to the physician and would leave his system within the next 24 hours. Neal still had his earlier headache along with some aches from being thrown by the blast. He said his good-byes at the hospital before getting a ride back with an agent to June’s where his landlady greeted him with a worried look as she saw the bandage on his forehead. He’d gotten a small gash the ER nurse sewed up he explained. June hugged him gently, asking about Peter.
“Peter’s fine and so am I. I just want to rest. Thanks June.”
She nodded, hugging him gently as he limped up the stairs and into his room. He took a quick shower to wash the soot from the explosion off of him, changing to some comfy pajama pants as he crawled into bed and passed out. His sleep was dreamless as he relaxed. He slept uninterrupted most of the night until he was waken up the next morning by the soft buzz of his cell as he rolled over to pick it up.
“Hey Peter... I thought we were off for the next week?”
He listened and nodded, pushing the phone aside as he hung it up and went back to sleep.
()()()
Peter finished calling, looking across to the opposite side of the bed where his wife had been. She was up early and making breakfast downstairs. Elizabeth had an appointment in a few hours. Peter was supposed to sleep in and rest from his ordeal but he had waken up from an odd dream. He was worrying about Neal, hoping he could talk to the young man over lunch. Peter had barely hung up the cell when he heard footsteps and looked up to see Elizabeth standing there in the doorway.
“Did you wake up Neal? You’re both off of work. What was so important?”
He shrugged, wincing a bit. He’d been battered a little from the explosion but since he’d been unconscious and drugged, the impact hadn’t been quite so bad. The doctor had said he was bruised and nothing more. A lucky happenstance.
“I made a lunch date. Figured I’d thank him for calling Jones.”
()()()
Neal perked up as he finished with his collar and turned at the sound of someone knocking at his door. He walked over opening it up to find Peter standing there. The agent smiled at him as Neal moved aside and he walked into the room. The terrace was open, a soft breeze wafting through the space as it rustled the paper on the easel.
“You look chipper. I... wondered where you wanted to eat lunch.”
Peter seemed like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how as Neal shrugged.
“Doesn’t matter to me.”
Both men were a bit tight-lipped as Peter moved closer and gently squeezed the con's shoulder.
"Thanks."
Neal looked surprised if anything but smiled with a slight blush that made the agent curious. He grabbed up his jacket as the two headed out and he locked the door behind him. It seemed everything was over with now although they were still waiting trial on D'Arco and his men involved in the kidnapping. They would have to give their statements to Jones soon and Neal for once didn't feel bad lying about knowing something. It had saved both El and Peter. His mind continued to think about things as they chatted, the agent driving them to a bistro out of his usual radius. Neal was surprised by the act as they went inside, found a place to sit and continued their chit chat.
"Jones told me it was you who told them where I was and how to find the car."
Neal paused mid-bite of his pasta before smiling slightly as he nodded his head and finished eating. Peter wasn't going to let this go despite feeling thankful. The agent in him was too curious but Neal wasn't about to tell him what had happened at least not yet. A smirk crossed the agent's face.
"I'm just curious how you knew when I was alone and there were no witnesses other than the traffic cams."
A flush came over his cheeks despite himself but he just didn't think he could tell his friend why. Neal shrugged.
"A little bird..."
He sipped at his ginger ale as the agent nodded but didn't let it go.
"A mocking bird?"
Neal almost choked mostly from surprise that Peter would try and ID the actual witness as Mozzie of all people. Well it was his fault for using that phrase.
"No Peter, it wasn't Mozzie. Just... how is your burger?"
Neal did a very bad redirect the agent smirking still but nodding again as he took a bite of the bacon cheese burger before him.
"Good but redirecting isn't going to help. I want to know who tipped you off, Neal. You can fool Jones, and I can say you may have been there, but you weren't. Someone else saw what happened and called you. You aren't friends with someone on D'Arco's gang are you?"
He looked stern suddenly as if he had to be cautious but Neal shook his head.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. All I can say is they are closer than you know."
Neal felt a smirk grow on his lips as he saw the confused look on Peter's face. The agent really wanted to figure this out but unless Satchmo learned to speak on his own, he'd never know.
(The End)
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 /
Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9