Neal Caffrey's Daughter

Threads [5]

"So now what?" Neal asked over the phone.

"You want the girl," Ghovat said "I want the dress,"

"Trade? Where and when?"

"I'm not interested in meeting with you." Ghovat admitted "Agent Peter Burke,"

"Why him?"

"Because it's really the FBI that holds the dress. Is he there now?"

Neal looked over Peter "It's for you,"

"This is Burke," Peter greeted.

"I'm sure you heard everything earlier," Ghovat noted.

"You want me to make the exchange,"

"That's right. I won't waste my time telling you to come alone. Just make sure to bring the real dress,"

"If it's not, are you gonna make me eat it?"

"That's funny. Keep this phone on you. You'll meet me at the Central Park Band Shell tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm. Plenty of time for you to get your men into position,"

Peter and Neal shared a look once Ghovat hung up.

***

"You have to let me go to the exchange." Neal argued with Peter as they walked through the nightlife of New York "It's my fault Tara's in trouble. I'm the one who paraded her in that dress," He was grateful he had negated Lizzy's plan of putting on the dress.

"The best thing you can do is help me figure out what Ghovat's game plan is," Peter said. "He knows we'll have the place staked out,"

"He knows you're running your playbook,"

"Right, I'm gonna toss the old one and come up with a new one,"

"No, you don't. That's the point." Neal claimed as he stopped Peter "See, he's counting on the FBI to have a plan,"

"So we do nothing?"

"Roll with it,"

"Like you would?"

"If he expects you to have a plan, don't have one,"

"Well, that's the worst idea ever,"

"Prepare all you can. Just know it's all gonna change,"

Peter sighed "What would you do?"

"I'd go home and have dinner with my wife...and daughter," Neal admitted, the part about Lizzy remaining unspoken and in his head.

Peter gave a slight smile and left Neal.

"Don't say it," Lizzy said as she walked up to her father.

Neal turned towards her daughter "What can you do to help?"

***

"Ghovat wants the dress because it's been tagged with a security device." Hughes said during the debrief "We cracked the thread this morning. It's holding the holographic code of the latest European currency seal. We're using a counterfeit. We're hoping he won't tell the difference. But if he does, this could go south fast,"

"We're putting this girl's life at risk," Peter noted.

"We could put the entire monetary system of Europe at risk. Guess who wins. I'll be running point. We'll have eyes in the air, plainclothes on the ground. Cruz, Jones, you're with me. Burke, you know what you gotta do,"

Neal raised his hand.

"Caffrey put your hand down. Put it down,"

"I'm just wondering where I'll be." Neal pointed out.

"On a coffee run. You're not even supposed to be here. Any questions?"

No one spoke up.

"Then let's get into position,"

***

"Are we good to go?" Hughes asked from inside the surveillance van.

"We are good," Cruze reported from where she was pretending to be a jogger.

"Okay, people. Let's do this,"

Neal knocked on the back of the van door. "Can I come in?" He opened the doors.

"Get in here," Hughes hissed.

Neal did as he was ordered.

"Close the door,"

Hughes quickly sat down when Peter's phone began to ring.

"You're right on time," Peter told Ghovat.

"I like to be punctual," Ghovat admitted.

"Well, that's one thing we have in common," Peter looked around the park "I don't see you,"

"Of course you don't," Peter held up two fingers towards Cruze.

"He's signaling us," Cruze reported. "555-3147,"

"He's giving us Ghovat's phone number." Hughes noted. "Get me a trace,"

"Yup, I'm on it," Jones said.

"Good, Peter," Neal nodded.

"How do I know you have the girl?" Peter asked Ghovat. "I wanna hear her voice,"

"Agent Burke?" Tara asked over the phone.

"Tara, are you okay?"

"Bethesda Fountain," Ghovat said "That's 300 yards. You've got one minute. If I see any of your agents or unmarked vehicles move, the girl's dead. Your time starts now,"