[Fic] Notes and Murder - Chapter 3: Note II: Berlin (whitecollar_bb, WC/Castle)
Title: Notes and Murder
Chapter Title: Note II: Berlin (November 2011)
Rating: PG-13
Overall Word Count: 17,397
Chapter Word Count: 3,107
Summary: When Peter's card shows up in a dead woman's pocket, two amazing forces come together to find the murderer.
Author's Note: I do not own White Collar, Castle, or any of the characters from the various fandoms that appear. Emmanuel Gray is of my own creation.
Thank Yous: A big thank you to sirwynai for being my beta, cheerleader, and listening to all of my insanity. A big special thank you to slysionnachnano for cheerleading in the final hours of getting this done!
"You look tired," was the first thing that Mozzie said when Neal walked into the apartment. He had a glass of red wine waiting for Neal, mostly because he was sure that Neal was going to be needing it. Mozzie did wonder how Neal got through as many days working with the Suits and not needing more wine than Neal currently owned. But those were Mozzie's thoughts and Mozzie learned soon enough to keep those thoughts to himself on most days. Even more so after the truth of Neal and the Suit's relationship. He moved the glass of wine over to where Neal decided to sit down at the table.
"Yeah, but the case is over. So I don't have to come in tomorrow until around noon," Neal said with a sigh as he looked through the mail that June had left him. "Did you go through my mail and, if you did, is there anything in here that I should avoid?"
"There's another post card from Alex," Mozzie said.
"Good or bad?" Neal asked.
"I didn't read it. I just saw that it was from her and decided to leave it," Mozzie said with a shrug. "Just because I look through all your mail doesn't mean that I read all your mail. There is a difference."
"True, there is," Neal said as he looked through the mail until he found the post card that Alex sent. "Berlin this time," he said as he showed it to Mozzie. "She's moved on. She sent other letters after the first post card."
"So it's a signal of when she's in a new place," Mozzie said. "Not all that subtle."
"This is Alex. She only does subtle when she needs to," Neal said with a grin. "Shall I read it or do you want me to keep it to myself?"
"As long as there isn't anything that you two should just keep between each other, I'm fine," Mozzie said.
Neal smiled at hearing that. "That's what the letters are for, Moz."
"Touché," Mozzie said.
Neal grinned at that and read over the post card first, just to be safe. He took a double take and read it once more before saying something. "It does sound like she's having fun." He cleared his throat.
Dear Neal (and Mozzie): As you can see, I'm in Berlin. Thinking about paying old friends a visit to help them out of hiding. Neal - thank you for all your letters - I love hearing from you. Pass on my love to Fletcher. ~Alex.
"Who's Fletcher?" Mozzie asked.
"Code," Neal said. "When we were first working together, when one of us was in trouble, we'd say to pass along our love to a last name. Mine's Raphael. So, when I was about to be caught, I sent along a note that just said "Pass along my love to Raphael" and she knew to drop everything I gave her and run. Along with going underground for at least three months, but that's when I knew the Feds were trying to get me."
"Honor among thieves," Mozzie said and raised his glass. "And at least we knew it wasn't just paranoia."
"Right," Neal said quietly as he thought about the post card again. "I think I should tell Peter."
"What? Why?" Mozzie asked. "She hasn't asked us to get the Suit involved."
"But she's in trouble Moz," Neal countered. "If there's a way to get her out of Berlin in a way that makes her be out of trouble, then I want to give it to her."
"She's not going to be happy about it if it means she comes back under arrest," Mozzie pointed out.
"Then it won't be with her being under arrest," Neal said. He finished his glass of wine before getting up and looking at the time. He pulled out his cell phone and quickly sent 'need to talk to you about something'. He raised an eyebrow as his phone rang, not looking at the number as he picked it up. "That was quick," he said.
"Neal," Alex said quietly. "Did you get the post card?"
"Yes," Neal said as he moved over and grabbed a piece of paper. "Where are you?"
"Not safe to give specifics," Alex replied in the same quiet tone. "I need a favor."
"Name it," Neal said.
"I need you to talk to Burke," Alex said. "I need to get out of Berlin and it's not going to happen through my contacts. They're all dead."
"What?" Neal asked and looked at Mozzie. He wrote down 'safe house needed - Berlin' before turning his attention back to the phone call as Mozzie started to call people of his own.
"I'm in over my head," Alex said. "I didn't think I would be trapped here."
"Neal," Mozzie said and wrote down a name and a place to meet. "He'll be wearing a brown trench coat and has a long dark beard but is bald. He'll be carrying a copy of the Inferno in Russian."
"Alex, Mozzie has a place for you to go to," Neal said. "You're going to meet with a Dante Lanke at the Rathaus-Passagen. He'll be wearing a brown trench coat. He's bald but has a long dark beard and he'll be carrying a copy of the Inferno in Russian."
"Alright - that's not far from where I am," Alex says.
"Alex, what or who are you running from?" Neal asked.
Alex chuckled. "I can't give everything away."
"I need to know before getting Peter involved," Neal countered.
"It's not illegal," Alex said. "Just tell him I'm ready to talk about my contacts in return for a change in identity and a safe place in the French countryside."
"He doesn't control the French," Neal said.
"Yes, but I know everyone who broke into the Louvre and where all the pieces are that they couldn't get back," Alex said. "They'll pay for the information." She paused. "And I'll keep your name out of it."
"Thanks," Neal said. "How do I get back in touch with you?"
"You don't," Alex said. "I'll call you tomorrow around this time. Keep your cell phone on. And tell Mozzie thanks."
"I will," Neal said and sighed. "Alex, be safe."
"Always," Alex said and hung up the phone.
"She said thank you," Neal said quietly as he made sure that he had hung up as well.
"Eh, it just means that one less person in the world owes me a favor," Mozzie said. "And she'd do the same for me."
"Yeah, she would," Neal said as he thought about it. "I should call Peter," he said as his phone rang. "Speak of the devil."
"Now there's a new quote from you," Mozzie countered as he walked away from the table.
"Do you have a long moment to talk?" Neal asked.
"I do now," Peter said.
"Alex contacted me," Neal said. "She's asking for help. And she'll name names if we give her safe passage to Russia for the moment."
"What's her end game?" Peter asked.
"New identity and the rest of her life living in the French countryside," Neal said. "She has information that will make the French give her what she wants."
"Do you have a way to contact her?" Peter asked.
"She's going to call me back tomorrow night," Neal said. "She's running scared of something or someone. So she's willing to give up everything and get out of the game."
"Alright," Peter said. "I'll see you at 7 am sharp tomorrow and we'll start running down what we can do and if we can find out the cause behind it. It'll be quiet due to it being Sunday."
"Thanks Peter," Neal said and made his goodbyes before hanging up the phone.
*~*~*~*
Neal was waiting outside the building as Peter walked up to meet him. "Thank you," he said as he handed Peter a coffee.
"You're welcome but you shouldn't," Peter said. "Considering that I'm thinking about all the open cases that we could solve with her help more than getting her to be safe."
"You're just being yourself," Neal said as they entered the building. "Nothing wrong with that."
"Thank you," Peter said. "Considering that El thought that I wasn't being fair."
"Well…" Neal said and smiled. "Always a good idea not to contradict El."
"I know," Peter said with a smile back. He walked out onto the White Collar floor as the elevator doors opened. "Jones, Diana," he said in greeting before going up the stairs and to his office.
"Morning," Neal said as he walked over to the two. "What can I do to help?"
Diana handed Neal a box of papers. "Upstairs conference room."
"Thank you," Neal said as he went upstairs with the box. He brought up another two before Peter walked in with Diana and Jones. Neal took a seat next to Jones.
"This is just staying between the four of us for right now," Peter said. "Last night, Alex Hunter contacted Neal. In exchange for safe passage out of Berlin to Russia and then a change of identity, she's willing to name names and help us close some of our open cases. I want a list of open cases that Alex might have a hand in."
"That's going to be a long list," Jones said.
"Which is why Caffrey is going to help you," Peter said. "I'm going to talk to our office over in Berlin and see what they can do. Neal, how much time do we have?"
"Nine pm our time tonight," Neal answered.
"Boss," Diana interjected. "How are we going to keep track on her when she gets out of Berlin?"
"She's not going to Russia alone," Peter said. "But we won't tell her that yet. Let's get to work," he added on and leaves the room.
The hours were spent making out lists of the open cases and then cross referencing them with Alex's habits. Neal helped them as much as he could, taking files out of Diana's hands at one point. "If I tell you who really did that one, I'd have to kill you," he said with a grin. They were at hour five when he said that.
"Ha ha," Diana said with a grin. "Yours?"
"I plead the fifth," Neal said with a grin. He looked over at Jones putting an open file into the not-Alex pile. "Why not?"
"I doubt she was committing a life of crime when she was young," Jones said.
"You never know," Neal said as he took the file out of the pile. He opened it and looked it over before sitting down.
"Neal?" Diana asked after a long moment of silence.
"She didn't steal it originally, but I've seen her wearing it from time to time," Neal said quietly. "And that's because I gave it to her when I thought we were going to be serious. I told her to keep it. Mom told me it was a family heirloom," he said as he showed the picture of the necklace. "I was five at the time and believed her."
"Well, you were just a kid," Diana said as he put the file back into the not-Alex file.
"Right," Neal said quietly. He jumped as he heard his cell phone ring. "Get Peter," he said as Diana got up and quickly went to get Peter. "Alex?"
"Hi again," Alex said. "Am I being traced?"
"Not by me," Neal said. "But I never know what they put on the cell phones that they give me."
Alex chuckled. "Did you talk to him?"
"Yeah," Neal said as he looked up at Peter. "Mind if I put you on speaker?"
"Nope," Alex said.
Neal put the phone on speaker as he nodded to Peter. "Alex, Peter's in the room. So is Special Agent Clinton Jones and Special Agent Diana Berrigan. I trust them with my life."
"Good to know," Alex said. "Hello everyone."
"Hello Alex," Peter said.
"Good to hear you again, Peter," Alex said. "I'd like to come in."
"So I've been told," Peter said. "Tell me what you're willing to do."
"I'm willing to name names in any open cases that I can help you with," Alex said. "In return, I was immunity and a way out of Berlin to Russia. I also want your help with contacting the French government so I can talk to them and secure a place in their country to become a private citizen under a new identity."
"That's a lot, Alex," Peter said. "My supervisors are willing to go along with it, but they want a bit more."
"I'll give you Grey," Alex said. "And give you more charges to bring against Keller."
Peter and Neal looked at each other. Peter mouthed to put the phone on mute for a moment. "Alex, we'll be right back," Neal said as he put the phone on mute. "Do you have to talk to them again?"
"No," Peter said. "I was told that, if she mentioned those two names that she was to be brought in immediately. No going to Russia."
"She's not going to go for that," Neal countered.
"It's the only way," Peter said. "Bring her back on."
Neal did so. "Alex, we're back."
"And?" Alex said.
"You've got a deal," Peter said. "But it is to immediately bring you back and not have you go to Russia."
"No can do," Alex said. "I need to go to Russia. I've got family there that I need to make sure are safe."
Neal caught Peter's eye and mouthed "allies" with a nod towards the phone.
Peter sighed. "Alex, that's the deal that we're willing to give. Also, if you let us get in contact with your family, we'll make sure that they're safe."
"No," Alex said. "I'm not about to let them be caught up in this. Talk to them and I'll call you back in a hour," she said as she hung up the phone.
"Jones?" Peter asked as he looked up at the computer screen. Diana pressed a button on the center control to bring the Berlin field office into their meeting.
"She's at Rathaus-Passagen," Jones said. "And she's starting to move east."
"So it was a cell phone," Neal said. "Good to know."
"Burner phone, so we won't be able to do this for long," Peter said. "Berlin, do you have that?"
"We do, Agent Burke," a female voice said on the phone as the sound of a car speeding up came through on the call as well.
The group watched the dots on the computer screen in front of them as they listened to the chase that was happening on the other end of the call. As it seemed that they were about to corner Alex, they heard gun shots on the other end. "What the hell?" Peter asked.
"Sniper! Sniper on the roof!" They all heard someone said. It only took a couple seconds more before the line went dead.
Peter looked at Neal. "Call her back."
Neal nodded a yes and did so. "Alex, what is happening?" He asked before Peter took the phone from Neal and put it on speaker phone.
"That would be the person that's chasing me and why I need to get out of here," Alex said. "And you need to call Mozzie and tell him to tell Dante to get the hell out of his place."
"Do it," Peter said as Neal left the room. "Alex, I need a name of who is chasing you."
"Sorry Peter, but you should know that's not happening. And the deal is off," Alex said as she clicked off the phone.
Peter resisted throwing the phone against the wall and instead kicked a chair hard. "Damn it!" He said as Neal came back into the room. "She's to the wind. But you are to say if she contacts you again in any sort of way."
"I will," Neal said as he watched Peter walk out of the room and back to the small office. "He's pissed."
"I would be too," Diana said. "As they're going to want answers about why we lost contact with Alex. Plus the deaths in Berlin and what we're dealing with."
"She was going to give us Grey and tell us more about Keller," Neal said as he thought about it. "They couldn't be connected, could they?"
"Grey and Keller?" Diana asked. "I wouldn't put it pass either of them."
"We can dig up the files and see," Jones said as he motioned for them to follow. They went down the stairs and over to Jones' computer. It was a good half hour later before they were able connect a dot or two of Keller to Grey.
"Why didn't I see that before?" Neal asked quietly.
"Because we weren't looking that way," Peter said from behind them.
"How bad is it, boss?" Diana asked.
"Pretty bad," Peter said. "But nobody from the Berlin office is dead. They're looking for the sniper, but I doubt we're going to find anything. They are saying that the target was Alex."
"Not surprising," Jones said. "Boss, we found a couple of things that link Keller and Grey together."
Peter looked over the information and nodded a yes. "Good enough for me. Too bad that we can't really talk to Keller at all."
"We really have to be worried if he gets off," Neal said. "Keller will go to ground and Grey will have another piece on the board."
"Everyone - let's go home," Peter said. "Nothing more to do today. Feel free to take the morning off if you want."
"Thanks boss," Jones and Diana said as they went to turn off computers and clean up a bit of the mess.
"Come on," Peter said as he took Neal out of the office and started to drive him back to June's place. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah," Neal said quietly and sighed. "She sent me a post card from Paris a few weeks ago. And then one from Berlin. I knew she was in trouble. I just didn't know that it was this bad."
"Alright," Peter said as he stopped at a red light. He made a decision and turned right, turning around to go back home. "I think we both need a good Sunday night dinner. I'll call El to tell her that you're coming."
Neal grinned and relaxed in the seat. He decided to close his eyes, knowing that soon it would be family time and would help him forget all that happened today for a short while.
Chapter Title: Note II: Berlin (November 2011)
Rating: PG-13
Overall Word Count: 17,397
Chapter Word Count: 3,107
Summary: When Peter's card shows up in a dead woman's pocket, two amazing forces come together to find the murderer.
Author's Note: I do not own White Collar, Castle, or any of the characters from the various fandoms that appear. Emmanuel Gray is of my own creation.
Thank Yous: A big thank you to sirwynai for being my beta, cheerleader, and listening to all of my insanity. A big special thank you to slysionnachnano for cheerleading in the final hours of getting this done!
"You look tired," was the first thing that Mozzie said when Neal walked into the apartment. He had a glass of red wine waiting for Neal, mostly because he was sure that Neal was going to be needing it. Mozzie did wonder how Neal got through as many days working with the Suits and not needing more wine than Neal currently owned. But those were Mozzie's thoughts and Mozzie learned soon enough to keep those thoughts to himself on most days. Even more so after the truth of Neal and the Suit's relationship. He moved the glass of wine over to where Neal decided to sit down at the table.
"Yeah, but the case is over. So I don't have to come in tomorrow until around noon," Neal said with a sigh as he looked through the mail that June had left him. "Did you go through my mail and, if you did, is there anything in here that I should avoid?"
"There's another post card from Alex," Mozzie said.
"Good or bad?" Neal asked.
"I didn't read it. I just saw that it was from her and decided to leave it," Mozzie said with a shrug. "Just because I look through all your mail doesn't mean that I read all your mail. There is a difference."
"True, there is," Neal said as he looked through the mail until he found the post card that Alex sent. "Berlin this time," he said as he showed it to Mozzie. "She's moved on. She sent other letters after the first post card."
"So it's a signal of when she's in a new place," Mozzie said. "Not all that subtle."
"This is Alex. She only does subtle when she needs to," Neal said with a grin. "Shall I read it or do you want me to keep it to myself?"
"As long as there isn't anything that you two should just keep between each other, I'm fine," Mozzie said.
Neal smiled at hearing that. "That's what the letters are for, Moz."
"Touché," Mozzie said.
Neal grinned at that and read over the post card first, just to be safe. He took a double take and read it once more before saying something. "It does sound like she's having fun." He cleared his throat.
Dear Neal (and Mozzie): As you can see, I'm in Berlin. Thinking about paying old friends a visit to help them out of hiding. Neal - thank you for all your letters - I love hearing from you. Pass on my love to Fletcher. ~Alex.
"Who's Fletcher?" Mozzie asked.
"Code," Neal said. "When we were first working together, when one of us was in trouble, we'd say to pass along our love to a last name. Mine's Raphael. So, when I was about to be caught, I sent along a note that just said "Pass along my love to Raphael" and she knew to drop everything I gave her and run. Along with going underground for at least three months, but that's when I knew the Feds were trying to get me."
"Honor among thieves," Mozzie said and raised his glass. "And at least we knew it wasn't just paranoia."
"Right," Neal said quietly as he thought about the post card again. "I think I should tell Peter."
"What? Why?" Mozzie asked. "She hasn't asked us to get the Suit involved."
"But she's in trouble Moz," Neal countered. "If there's a way to get her out of Berlin in a way that makes her be out of trouble, then I want to give it to her."
"She's not going to be happy about it if it means she comes back under arrest," Mozzie pointed out.
"Then it won't be with her being under arrest," Neal said. He finished his glass of wine before getting up and looking at the time. He pulled out his cell phone and quickly sent 'need to talk to you about something'. He raised an eyebrow as his phone rang, not looking at the number as he picked it up. "That was quick," he said.
"Neal," Alex said quietly. "Did you get the post card?"
"Yes," Neal said as he moved over and grabbed a piece of paper. "Where are you?"
"Not safe to give specifics," Alex replied in the same quiet tone. "I need a favor."
"Name it," Neal said.
"I need you to talk to Burke," Alex said. "I need to get out of Berlin and it's not going to happen through my contacts. They're all dead."
"What?" Neal asked and looked at Mozzie. He wrote down 'safe house needed - Berlin' before turning his attention back to the phone call as Mozzie started to call people of his own.
"I'm in over my head," Alex said. "I didn't think I would be trapped here."
"Neal," Mozzie said and wrote down a name and a place to meet. "He'll be wearing a brown trench coat and has a long dark beard but is bald. He'll be carrying a copy of the Inferno in Russian."
"Alex, Mozzie has a place for you to go to," Neal said. "You're going to meet with a Dante Lanke at the Rathaus-Passagen. He'll be wearing a brown trench coat. He's bald but has a long dark beard and he'll be carrying a copy of the Inferno in Russian."
"Alright - that's not far from where I am," Alex says.
"Alex, what or who are you running from?" Neal asked.
Alex chuckled. "I can't give everything away."
"I need to know before getting Peter involved," Neal countered.
"It's not illegal," Alex said. "Just tell him I'm ready to talk about my contacts in return for a change in identity and a safe place in the French countryside."
"He doesn't control the French," Neal said.
"Yes, but I know everyone who broke into the Louvre and where all the pieces are that they couldn't get back," Alex said. "They'll pay for the information." She paused. "And I'll keep your name out of it."
"Thanks," Neal said. "How do I get back in touch with you?"
"You don't," Alex said. "I'll call you tomorrow around this time. Keep your cell phone on. And tell Mozzie thanks."
"I will," Neal said and sighed. "Alex, be safe."
"Always," Alex said and hung up the phone.
"She said thank you," Neal said quietly as he made sure that he had hung up as well.
"Eh, it just means that one less person in the world owes me a favor," Mozzie said. "And she'd do the same for me."
"Yeah, she would," Neal said as he thought about it. "I should call Peter," he said as his phone rang. "Speak of the devil."
"Now there's a new quote from you," Mozzie countered as he walked away from the table.
"Do you have a long moment to talk?" Neal asked.
"I do now," Peter said.
"Alex contacted me," Neal said. "She's asking for help. And she'll name names if we give her safe passage to Russia for the moment."
"What's her end game?" Peter asked.
"New identity and the rest of her life living in the French countryside," Neal said. "She has information that will make the French give her what she wants."
"Do you have a way to contact her?" Peter asked.
"She's going to call me back tomorrow night," Neal said. "She's running scared of something or someone. So she's willing to give up everything and get out of the game."
"Alright," Peter said. "I'll see you at 7 am sharp tomorrow and we'll start running down what we can do and if we can find out the cause behind it. It'll be quiet due to it being Sunday."
"Thanks Peter," Neal said and made his goodbyes before hanging up the phone.
*~*~*~*
Neal was waiting outside the building as Peter walked up to meet him. "Thank you," he said as he handed Peter a coffee.
"You're welcome but you shouldn't," Peter said. "Considering that I'm thinking about all the open cases that we could solve with her help more than getting her to be safe."
"You're just being yourself," Neal said as they entered the building. "Nothing wrong with that."
"Thank you," Peter said. "Considering that El thought that I wasn't being fair."
"Well…" Neal said and smiled. "Always a good idea not to contradict El."
"I know," Peter said with a smile back. He walked out onto the White Collar floor as the elevator doors opened. "Jones, Diana," he said in greeting before going up the stairs and to his office.
"Morning," Neal said as he walked over to the two. "What can I do to help?"
Diana handed Neal a box of papers. "Upstairs conference room."
"Thank you," Neal said as he went upstairs with the box. He brought up another two before Peter walked in with Diana and Jones. Neal took a seat next to Jones.
"This is just staying between the four of us for right now," Peter said. "Last night, Alex Hunter contacted Neal. In exchange for safe passage out of Berlin to Russia and then a change of identity, she's willing to name names and help us close some of our open cases. I want a list of open cases that Alex might have a hand in."
"That's going to be a long list," Jones said.
"Which is why Caffrey is going to help you," Peter said. "I'm going to talk to our office over in Berlin and see what they can do. Neal, how much time do we have?"
"Nine pm our time tonight," Neal answered.
"Boss," Diana interjected. "How are we going to keep track on her when she gets out of Berlin?"
"She's not going to Russia alone," Peter said. "But we won't tell her that yet. Let's get to work," he added on and leaves the room.
The hours were spent making out lists of the open cases and then cross referencing them with Alex's habits. Neal helped them as much as he could, taking files out of Diana's hands at one point. "If I tell you who really did that one, I'd have to kill you," he said with a grin. They were at hour five when he said that.
"Ha ha," Diana said with a grin. "Yours?"
"I plead the fifth," Neal said with a grin. He looked over at Jones putting an open file into the not-Alex pile. "Why not?"
"I doubt she was committing a life of crime when she was young," Jones said.
"You never know," Neal said as he took the file out of the pile. He opened it and looked it over before sitting down.
"Neal?" Diana asked after a long moment of silence.
"She didn't steal it originally, but I've seen her wearing it from time to time," Neal said quietly. "And that's because I gave it to her when I thought we were going to be serious. I told her to keep it. Mom told me it was a family heirloom," he said as he showed the picture of the necklace. "I was five at the time and believed her."
"Well, you were just a kid," Diana said as he put the file back into the not-Alex file.
"Right," Neal said quietly. He jumped as he heard his cell phone ring. "Get Peter," he said as Diana got up and quickly went to get Peter. "Alex?"
"Hi again," Alex said. "Am I being traced?"
"Not by me," Neal said. "But I never know what they put on the cell phones that they give me."
Alex chuckled. "Did you talk to him?"
"Yeah," Neal said as he looked up at Peter. "Mind if I put you on speaker?"
"Nope," Alex said.
Neal put the phone on speaker as he nodded to Peter. "Alex, Peter's in the room. So is Special Agent Clinton Jones and Special Agent Diana Berrigan. I trust them with my life."
"Good to know," Alex said. "Hello everyone."
"Hello Alex," Peter said.
"Good to hear you again, Peter," Alex said. "I'd like to come in."
"So I've been told," Peter said. "Tell me what you're willing to do."
"I'm willing to name names in any open cases that I can help you with," Alex said. "In return, I was immunity and a way out of Berlin to Russia. I also want your help with contacting the French government so I can talk to them and secure a place in their country to become a private citizen under a new identity."
"That's a lot, Alex," Peter said. "My supervisors are willing to go along with it, but they want a bit more."
"I'll give you Grey," Alex said. "And give you more charges to bring against Keller."
Peter and Neal looked at each other. Peter mouthed to put the phone on mute for a moment. "Alex, we'll be right back," Neal said as he put the phone on mute. "Do you have to talk to them again?"
"No," Peter said. "I was told that, if she mentioned those two names that she was to be brought in immediately. No going to Russia."
"She's not going to go for that," Neal countered.
"It's the only way," Peter said. "Bring her back on."
Neal did so. "Alex, we're back."
"And?" Alex said.
"You've got a deal," Peter said. "But it is to immediately bring you back and not have you go to Russia."
"No can do," Alex said. "I need to go to Russia. I've got family there that I need to make sure are safe."
Neal caught Peter's eye and mouthed "allies" with a nod towards the phone.
Peter sighed. "Alex, that's the deal that we're willing to give. Also, if you let us get in contact with your family, we'll make sure that they're safe."
"No," Alex said. "I'm not about to let them be caught up in this. Talk to them and I'll call you back in a hour," she said as she hung up the phone.
"Jones?" Peter asked as he looked up at the computer screen. Diana pressed a button on the center control to bring the Berlin field office into their meeting.
"She's at Rathaus-Passagen," Jones said. "And she's starting to move east."
"So it was a cell phone," Neal said. "Good to know."
"Burner phone, so we won't be able to do this for long," Peter said. "Berlin, do you have that?"
"We do, Agent Burke," a female voice said on the phone as the sound of a car speeding up came through on the call as well.
The group watched the dots on the computer screen in front of them as they listened to the chase that was happening on the other end of the call. As it seemed that they were about to corner Alex, they heard gun shots on the other end. "What the hell?" Peter asked.
"Sniper! Sniper on the roof!" They all heard someone said. It only took a couple seconds more before the line went dead.
Peter looked at Neal. "Call her back."
Neal nodded a yes and did so. "Alex, what is happening?" He asked before Peter took the phone from Neal and put it on speaker phone.
"That would be the person that's chasing me and why I need to get out of here," Alex said. "And you need to call Mozzie and tell him to tell Dante to get the hell out of his place."
"Do it," Peter said as Neal left the room. "Alex, I need a name of who is chasing you."
"Sorry Peter, but you should know that's not happening. And the deal is off," Alex said as she clicked off the phone.
Peter resisted throwing the phone against the wall and instead kicked a chair hard. "Damn it!" He said as Neal came back into the room. "She's to the wind. But you are to say if she contacts you again in any sort of way."
"I will," Neal said as he watched Peter walk out of the room and back to the small office. "He's pissed."
"I would be too," Diana said. "As they're going to want answers about why we lost contact with Alex. Plus the deaths in Berlin and what we're dealing with."
"She was going to give us Grey and tell us more about Keller," Neal said as he thought about it. "They couldn't be connected, could they?"
"Grey and Keller?" Diana asked. "I wouldn't put it pass either of them."
"We can dig up the files and see," Jones said as he motioned for them to follow. They went down the stairs and over to Jones' computer. It was a good half hour later before they were able connect a dot or two of Keller to Grey.
"Why didn't I see that before?" Neal asked quietly.
"Because we weren't looking that way," Peter said from behind them.
"How bad is it, boss?" Diana asked.
"Pretty bad," Peter said. "But nobody from the Berlin office is dead. They're looking for the sniper, but I doubt we're going to find anything. They are saying that the target was Alex."
"Not surprising," Jones said. "Boss, we found a couple of things that link Keller and Grey together."
Peter looked over the information and nodded a yes. "Good enough for me. Too bad that we can't really talk to Keller at all."
"We really have to be worried if he gets off," Neal said. "Keller will go to ground and Grey will have another piece on the board."
"Everyone - let's go home," Peter said. "Nothing more to do today. Feel free to take the morning off if you want."
"Thanks boss," Jones and Diana said as they went to turn off computers and clean up a bit of the mess.
"Come on," Peter said as he took Neal out of the office and started to drive him back to June's place. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah," Neal said quietly and sighed. "She sent me a post card from Paris a few weeks ago. And then one from Berlin. I knew she was in trouble. I just didn't know that it was this bad."
"Alright," Peter said as he stopped at a red light. He made a decision and turned right, turning around to go back home. "I think we both need a good Sunday night dinner. I'll call El to tell her that you're coming."
Neal grinned and relaxed in the seat. He decided to close his eyes, knowing that soon it would be family time and would help him forget all that happened today for a short while.