It was two days before Neal called me.
In that time, I kept myself busy. Adler's file had given me plenty to work with, and I spent hours mapping out his operations on a whiteboard in my safehouse. There were more layers to Adler than I'd anticipated—front companies, offshore accounts, and a revolving door of aliases. The man was meticulous, a master manipulator who operated just out of reach of the law.
But I wasn't the law. And I wasn't about to play by its rules.
When my phone buzzed, I answered on the second ring.
"Henry," Neal's voice came through, tight with annoyance. "We need to talk."
"Good morning to you too, little brother," I replied, leaning back in my chair.
"Don't call me that," he snapped. "Peter's on my case about something, and I have a feeling you're involved."
"Peter Burke," I mused, ignoring his irritation. "I've heard good things about him. Sharp, relentless, plays by the book. Must be a fun dynamic for you."
"Henry," Neal said, his tone low and warning.
I chuckled. "Relax. I'll meet you at your place in an hour."
"Fine," Neal muttered before hanging up.
When I arrived at Neal's loft, he was already waiting, his arms crossed and an exasperated expression on his face.
"You're late," he said as I stepped inside.
"Fashionably so," I quipped, closing the door behind me. "So, what's got Peter sniffing around?"
Neal gestured toward his table, where a series of photos and documents were spread out. "This. He's working a case involving a high-profile art heist. The trail led him to someone matching your description."
I raised an eyebrow, picking up one of the photos. It was a grainy security camera still, showing a man in a suit walking out of a gallery. The resemblance to me was uncanny.
"I'd be flattered if I didn't know better," I said, tossing the photo back onto the table.
"Are you telling me this isn't you?" Neal asked, skepticism dripping from his voice.
"I'm telling you I've been busy with my own investigations," I replied. "But whoever this is, they're good. Almost as good as me."
Neal groaned, running a hand through his hair. "This is exactly what I don't need right now. Peter's already suspicious of me. If he finds out I'm associating with someone like you—"
"Relax," I interrupted. "Peter won't find out anything unless we want him to. I'll make sure of it."
Neal stared at me for a long moment before sighing. "You're impossible."
"And you're predictable," I shot back with a grin. "Now, tell me about the case."
As Neal filled me in on the details, it became clear that the heist was connected to a larger operation involving stolen antiquities. Peter was piecing together the puzzle, but there were gaps—gaps I could easily fill.
"Peter's gut is telling him this isn't a standalone job," Neal said. "He thinks it's part of a smuggling ring."
"And he's right," I said, standing and pacing the room. "Adler's network has been moving stolen artifacts for years. This heist fits his MO perfectly."
Neal's eyes narrowed. "Adler again? You're obsessed."
"I'm thorough," I corrected. "And if Peter's chasing Adler's crumbs, that means we need to get ahead of him."
"We?" Neal asked, arching an eyebrow.
I stopped pacing and looked at him. "You want Kate back, don't you? Adler's the key. If we take him down, we find her."
Neal hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Peter's not going to let me go off the books. If he even suspects—"
"Then don't give him a reason to suspect," I said firmly. "I'll handle the shadows. You stay in the light."
For a moment, Neal didn't respond. Then, with a reluctant nod, he said, "Fine. But if this blows up in my face, it's on you."
"Deal," I said with a smirk.
The next step was gaining Peter's trust—or at least deflecting his attention from me. To do that, I needed to orchestrate a meeting under controlled circumstances.
The opportunity came sooner than expected. Neal called me late one evening, his voice edged with urgency.
"Peter wants to meet you," he said.
I frowned. "Why?"
"He's suspicious," Neal admitted. "And honestly, I can't keep dodging his questions. He wants to know who you are and why you're involved."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Alright. Set it up. But we do this on my terms."
The meeting was arranged for the following afternoon at a quiet café near FBI headquarters. Neal and Peter were already seated when I arrived, the former looking tense and the latter exuding an air of calm authority.
"Agent Burke," I said, extending a hand as I approached the table. "Henry Caffrey."
Peter shook my hand, his grip firm as his eyes studied me intently. "Mr. Caffrey. Neal's told me... very little about you."
"I'm not surprised," I replied smoothly, taking a seat. "I prefer to keep a low profile."
Peter's expression didn't change, but I could tell he wasn't buying my charm. "Low profile is an understatement. I ran a check on you—came up empty. No records, no history. You're a ghost."
"A necessary precaution," I said with a shrug. "My line of work doesn't lend itself to publicity."
Peter leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "And what exactly is your line of work?"
"Freelance problem-solving," I said, smiling faintly. "I help people out of difficult situations."
Peter's lips pressed into a thin line. "And Neal's one of those people?"
I glanced at Neal, who was doing his best to look innocent. "Neal's family," I said simply. "I look out for him, just like he'd look out for me."
Peter didn't seem convinced, but before he could press further, I added, "Agent Burke, I understand your reservations. You're a man of integrity, and I respect that. But Neal's in a precarious position right now. He needs allies, not enemies."
Peter's eyes narrowed. "If you're implying—"
"I'm not implying anything," I said calmly. "I'm just stating a fact. Neal's walking a tightrope, and the last thing he needs is to fall. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen."
The tension at the table was palpable, but after a long moment, Peter leaned back in his chair. "Alright, Mr. Caffrey. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt—for now. But if I find out you're pulling Neal into anything illegal, I'll take you both down."
I smiled. "Fair enough."