Chapter Text
“We have a problem boss.”
Peter let out a heavy and tired sigh. They did not need any problems right now. He felt like half the government was breathing down his neck over the case and everyone wanted it solved as soon as possible. A statue had been stolen and now they risked a diplomatic incident of the negative kind.
“The auction is closed. Invite only and the list has been set for two months.”
Diana’s voice was irritated and stressed as she spoke. However she turned and twisted it, there wasn’t an in for them. Without any substantial proof they couldn’t get a warrant and without an invite they couldn’t get said proof.
“Neal?”
When Peter spoke and the agents turned their eyes towards their resident criminal informant, his eyes were focused on a part of the table looking to be deep in thought.
“Yeah Peter?”
“Any of those contacts of yours have an in for us?”
The CI stayed quiet for a minute before raising his gaze to meet with Peters. Something searching in his eyes.
“Depends on how official you want it to be.”
Peters' disapproving glare immediately told everyone in the room how he felt about that. His opinion on less legal and official ways to investigate and handle cases were well known in the office. Before he could voice his disdain and disappointment over Neal’s suggestion however, Diana stepped in.
“In what way?”
Neal stayed silent for a couple seconds, gaze scanning over Diana with a serious expression.
“I could call in a favor, it won’t give us access to the auction but it would give us the statue. However…”
He hesitated a bit before continuing, making the team tense up slightly.
“… they won’t allow any FBI interference in their operation. You won’t get any eyes on what they do or their plans, neither before or after.”
Diana raised her eyebrows at his words, wondering who owed Neal a favor. Before she could speak her eyes fell on Peter. His eyes spoke of his disapproval and he was already opening his mouth.
“And who exactly is it we’re talking about? And why are they so opposed to the FBI?”
Neal made a grimace before quickly covering it up with his usual easy expression. The reaction slightly raised Diana’s alarm about the person they potentially would work with. She wasn’t alone in picking up on the slip of expression, both Joens and Peter kept their now slightly wary eyes on the conman.
“I’m not disclosing who they are until you agree. As for the unwillingness to work alongside the FBI?” It was quiet for a second. ”They don’t want any information about their operation to slip out. That’s all you’re getting.”
Peters' displeased gaze lingered on Neal as Diana and Jones turned towards each other. They both knew this was their best bet, no matter how shady it sounded. With how important it was for their bosses to retrieve the statue it probably wouldn’t even matter that it wasn’t acquired entirely above board. They both turned to look at Peter, their immediate boss and the one who would make the decision.
“Are they dangerous?”
Neal held a carefully neutral expression at that. He paused for a second before answering.
“Not to us.”
The words were measured when he spoke. Gaze held Peters in a way that told the three agents they wouldn’t get more information until they agreed.
With a sigh Peter stood up and said that he needed to talk to Hughes about it. Something that probably was wise considering the high profile of the case.
When he had exited the conference room they occupied both Diana and Jones eyes fell back to the CI, who didn’t meet their gazes. He was once again looking intensely at a spot on the table. His expression was much more serious than normal and a certain nervous energy was surrounding him.
A couple minutes passed in silence before Peter returned, followed by Hughes. The ASAC immediately zeroed in on Neal with his scrutinizing boss stare.
“Are you certain that your contact can get the sculpture Caffrey?”
“Yeah it won’t be too big of a problem.”
With a nod Hughes turned to Peter, gave him a look that clearly communicated something, before exiting the room.
“You call them on speaker. I want to hear everything.”
At Neal’s clearly hesitant expression Peter continued.
“It’s not up for debate. We hear what is being said.”
With a sigh Neal nodded and took up his phone. A double take on the device showed Diana that it wasn’t the FBI approved phone that they tapped. Peter looked incredulously on the device Neal wasn’t allowed to have, but Diana couldn’t really be surprised by the fact. With a couple of taps on the screen he placed the phone in front of him, ringing signals loud in the quiet room. A small click was heard and Neal started to talk.
“Hey Robbie, it’s Neal Caffrey. I was wondering if I could cash in that favor you owe me?”
The line stayed quiet for a couple seconds, making the agents hold their breaths. Then a melodic drawl started to speak. He had a strong accent they couldn’t place and sounded both pleasant and rough at the same time.
“Caffrey, it’s been a while. What’s the issue?”
”Are you attending the auction in New York this weekend? I was wondering if you could get me an item.”
The line stayed quiet for a second, a slight rustle being heard.
“Why can’t you acquire it yourself? Sounds to be right up your expertise, this has to do with that fbi deal of yours?”
Peters' alarmed look tried to meet Neal’s but the con man ignored his handler in favor of the phone in front of him.
“As it happens, yes it has. My handler’s here with me.”
“I see.”
It sounded thoughtful and menacing at the same time. Diana could imagine a calculating look and a smirk on the man’s face as he spoke.
“What’s the item?”
“It’s listed as 47, a small bronze statue.”
“I’ll contact you after the auction.”
With those parting words the call hung up from the other end and the room sat in silence.
“Now we wait. There’s nothing more to do until after the auction.”
“Neal, who was that?”
Peter sounded stern as he spoke and his expression was serious. He didn’t like being out of the loop.
“That was Robbie, I thought you listened to the call Peter?”
“And does Robbie have a surname?”
“I’m sure he does.”
Peters’ expression hardened even more at that. Impatient with his CIs lack of information sharing.
During the next couple of days Neal fully ignored Peter as soon as the phone call was brought up. The Agent wouldn’t leave it be and the tension between them set the whole team in a bad mood.
Then it was Saturday evening and the auction was in full swing. The team had gathered at Junes house as Neal had insisted that Robbie wouldn’t show up if they were waiting at the office or at one of the other’s apartments.
They sat around the kitchen table, having finished the takeout dinner and now staring at their bottles of beer and glasses of wine respectively. The atmosphere was tense and no one wanted to start up a conversation. Even though the clock on Neal’s wall didn’t have any sound to it they could almost hear an imaginary ticking as the minutes dragged on.
A loud pling suddenly broke the tense silence and Neal’s screen lit up showing an incoming message. He quickly grabbed it and read the text.
“He’s got it and is leaving the auction now. ETA approximately 25 minutes.”
Everyone in the room let out a collective sigh at the news.
Approximately 23 minutes later a loud knocking echoed from the door. Neal rose from his seat and started to walk towards it but before he reached it the door swung open and a man stepped in.
He had black styled hair, wore a dark silk shirt that was unbuttoned low on his chest, showing off two gold chains and many scars. Some looked to be from knives but several looked like burns or other pointy objects. Peter was also fairly sure one was from a bullet. A pair of black slacks matched the shirt and on his feet were heavy combat boots. His eyes were dark brown, close to black and stared down at every single person in the room. He was shorter than Neal but made up for it in the confident and condescending aura he brought, like they were all beneath him.
”Robbie.”
Neal nodded a greeting to the man.
“Caffrey.”
The smirk was heard in his voice even without seeing it on his lips. Robbies’ eyes shone in a way that Diana couldn't read as he spoke the name. Then he produced a box from what felt like out of nowhere and handed it to Neal. The conman opened it and seemed to inspect the contents, nodding slightly before handing it over to Peter. He looked down into it and took out the bronze statue that landed them in this situation to begin with. Neal already seemed to think it was authentic but a second look didn't hurt.
“Consider the favor cashed. Next time you need help you’ll owe me.”
Neal scowled at the words before quickly hiding it behind a neutral expression.
“Of course.”
Robbie’s eyes left Neal’s form and swept over the rest of the team. Gaze cold and utterly uninterested in any of them, except for Peter. Their eyes met and Robbie’s smirk grew.
“So, this is the pig that caught you huh?”
“Robbie…” Neal’s voice was both hesitant and warning at the same time, an odd combination for the man.
“What? Afraid I’ll steal your pet fed? Don’t worry Caffrey, I'm not interested.”
Peter visibly bristled at being called Neal’s pet fed but took the opportunity to speak up. Still not happy to have so little information on the man.
“So Robbie, I’m sorry I didn’t catch your last name?”
”You didn’t huh?” His eyes left Peter for Neal again and the smirk grew a bit at the look Neal gave him.
”Malone. Names Robbie Malone.” He let his eyes scan over Peter. Smirk slipping. ”And you’re Peter Burke I’m assuming. Can’t say it’s a pleasure”
While every fed in the room tensed up at the name Peter gaped at him. They knew who the Malones were. They might be both the New York and white collar office but all FBI agents knew about the big families to look out for and the Malones, even though they usually stuck to Gotham, were high on that list.
”Malone?” Jones whispered, mostly to himself, but Robbie seemed to hear it and his eyes turned towards the younger agent.
”Yes, got a problem with that Agent Jones?” Robbie’s smirk returned as he looked over the agent with a calculating gaze. Before Jones could answer however Robbie turned back towards Neal.
”Like I said Neal, next time you’ll owe me.”
With those final words he turned around and walked out the door. Leaving the room with scared and highly confused agents behind. As the door closed they all turned towards Neal who was scowling at the door in an almost out of character way.
”NEAL! How do you know Robbie Malone?!” Peter exclaimed.