White Collar: An unofficial novel - part 11

Then prove it

The following day Peter was met with the info he had hoped for. It was time to go out into the field and find Adler. He called SWAT to get a team out and every agent he could get hold of.

They all met at Brooklyn Navy Yard. Jones handed out maps to everyone.

"We've narrowed it down to these 15 warehouses," Peter told them. "We're going in one by one till we find that sub. Now, remember, Adler's men are armed, so eyes and ears. Let's get to work." The people chattered. Soon it was only the kid left, standing by SWAT's van. "Adler's not getting away, Neal. I won't let him."

"I know."

Peter hoped that the kid trusted him enough to stay put. This was the work for fully trained agents, and the FBI was responsible for Neal's safety. Peter gave him a nod and hurried away to catch up with his own team.

The first warehouse did not ring a bell at all for Peter. But he had not seen the outside. They got inside and as he had suspected, it was not the right one. They did their job probably, though and made sure they had not missed a vast sub by mistake. Better to do it right the first time than miss Adler.

They gathered outside to take on the next.

Then there was an explosion. Black smoke rose to the sky a few rooftops away.

"Boss?" Diana asked.

"Where the hell's Neal?" Peter asked. He had no time to check the kid's anklet. "Come on!" They started running in the direction of the smoke.

As they ran, there was another explosion.

"Any more people on site yet?" Peter asked.

"Fire department's 15 minutes away!" Jones answered without even catching a breath. They split up to cover more ground. Peter pushed himself harder. If Neal were involved, it would be dangerous for him. He turned a corner and saw Neal and Adler, Adler pointing a gun at Neal, back to him.

"You won't get away with this," Adler said. "Goodbye, Neal."

Peter did not think. He took aim and fired. He may not be the fastest runner, but he was a good shot, even under stress and high pulse. Adler remained standing for a second before he went down.

Neal was pale and frightened. His eyes turned to Peter.

Peter walked up to the fallen Adler and pushed the man's gun away with his foot. There was blood from his chest.

"He would have killed me," Neal said, getting his bearings again. Yeah, Peter nodded to himself. He left the kid alone, and it almost got him killed. Why? Why had he moved away from the vans? Why had there been an explosion?

"What did he mean, 'you won't get away with this'?"

"I don't know." A whisper from a stressed and panicked man.

"I'm glad you're all right."

"You okay, Neal?" Jones asked, joined by Diana.

"Yeah."

"Come on. We'll get you back." Diana patted his arm. They guided him towards one of the cars.

Peter holstered his gun. What had happened here? What had Adler meant? He looked at the burning warehouse.

A piece of burning debris floated passed him and landed on the ground. He watched it. It was part of a painting. A painting he knew. He had seen that in Neal's apartment.

Neal's painting in the explosion?

Peter saw the pieces falling together in a pattern he did not like. He felt cheated. Neal had stolen the art somehow and replaced it with his own, making the explosion look like it took the actual art.