Chapter Text
Peter’s gut was famous. It helped him solve crimes, gave him that edge, that nudge he needed in the right direction when something niggled at the back of his mind, his subconscious picking up clues he hadn't yet put together. It also gave him that warning sense of danger that pulled him out of the line of fire before he could even cross the threshold. It had saved him on many cases that went sideways. Today his gut was telling him something was on the horizon. Something bad was cooking somewhere and it was only a matter of time before it arrived at his front door.
“What's the matter hon?” His darling wife asked as she came wrapped her arms around him and gave him a peck on the cheek.
“ I've just got this gut feeling something big is gonna happen and it won't be good.”
“Neal?” she asks looking up at him.
Peter shakes his head and sighs a bit frustrated, “ Neal's always involved but this time…this time something tells me it's more than that. Mozzie. Have you talked to Mozzie lately?”
El frowns, “No he said he'd be out for a weeks doing something, business of information. He said it was the most lucrative kind of business. But he did say he would be back in time for our book club meeting.”
Peter takes a sip of his morning coffee,“Try reaching out, see if you can get him on one of his burners and check in.”
“I'll try but you know Mozzie.”
Peter sighs but smiles amused, “yeah I do but worth a shot anyway. He might answer for you.”
El gives him a kiss, “you better get going, hon”
“Yeah I should. It's supposed to be just a paperwork day but, my guts telling me it's going to be more than that.”
“I'll have leftovers in the fridge for you.”
“Thank you hon”
“No problem now get going you've got a conman to pick up and I've got a conspiracy theorist hunt down for information.”
Peter chuckles and they say their goodbyes.
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A little while after Peter leaves El trys sending a message to Mozzie saying:
Just checking in. want to know you'll still be making our appointment.
It was the kind of vagueness that Mozzie would accept as safe and hopefully respond to. It was drilled into her not to actually call unless it was an emergency in case he was busy with something she rather not know about.
A couple hours later she gets a text back from that same burner:
won't be able to make it this month. Please reach out to my secretary to reschedule on Tuesday.
That was when El really started to worry. That was Mozzie speak to ask Neal to get in touch Tuesday, next week since it was already Thursday. Something was definitely going on. She knew not to doubt Peter, but it made it more concerning seeing evidence his hunch was right. She opened up her messages to Peter.
Something is definitely up. He canceled on me and asked me not to ask Neal to get into contact with him again until next week.
Peter responded back a few minutes later
I'll talk to Neal.
El sat her phone down and got back to work scheduling catering and flowers for a small memorial service she was asked to help with. She tried not to let the somberness of her work affect her worry but it was hard not to. At least with her and Peter’s lifestyle they didn't have to worry about that kind of loss that the couple she was arranging this for had to. It was terrible enough imagining losing friends. She was glad of her choice to not have to worry about kids; she couldn't imagine anything worse. El took a deep breath before calling her flower guy.
“Hey Even, anyway you could make an arrangement it the shape of spiderman’s mask. It's for the Collin's family I was thinking white lilies and red carnations…”
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Peter frowned down at his screen. It was almost lunch time. Peter figured he'd get another half hour of work in before dragging Neal off to lunch to talk.
Peter didn't get to lunch in a half hour.
Peter was just putting his signature on his last case file before break when a loud boom erupted. His signature scribbled off the page as he lost control of it. Dropping it as he instinctively ducked and covered. The powerful base of sound from the explosion seemed to rock the build and everyone in it. In the wake the concopheny of hundreds of car alarms rang. Sirens from all over quickly joined the chaos.
The bullpen started buzzing with its own alarmed confusion as Peter walked out of his office. He glanced out at his people doing a quick check over them they were all as scared and confused as him but he tried not to show it. He glanced over to Hughes's office and could see him on the phone. Hughes gave him the one moment hand signal and Peter nodded.
“Alright everyone,” Peter spoke loudly catching the attention of everyone and cessing the din of murmurs, “just hold tight. If you have family in the area you can touch base but, otherwise don't clog up the phone lines. You know the drill.”
Even with professionals it was important to remind people. People were still people after all and a bomb presumably just went off in their backyard. Peter could see Diana on the phone with presumably Chrissy, Jones just gave him a nod, and Neal pulled his own phone out and shook it. Peter acknowledged him by pulling out his own phone.
I'm ok hon. I'm sure you'll see the news here soon but there has been an explosion a couple blocks away. Me and the team are okay. Love you hon. Talk when I can.
…
Be safe Hon.
…
I'm calling Mozzie
Peter didn't have a good feeling about this. He glanced at Neal and saw him frowning at his phone. His gut was saying Mozzie was in the middle of this and although he didn't know how he just had the worst feeling Neal was going to be caught in the brunt of it.
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El bit her nail as she listened to the dial note, “pick up pick up”
There was a screech of sound that had her flinching from the phone then a slam and suddenly harsh breathing was in the foreground of sound while whatever else was muffled into static.
“Oh Mrs Suit!” Mozzie sounded pleading
“Mozzie!? Are you ok?” She fretted.
There was more gasping and then some coughing, “ My physical state is fine for the moment.” He broke off to hack up a lung and El deeply wanted to call bullshit but she needed Mozzie to talk not argue.
“My metaphorical state on the other hand is in tatters. What am I going to do? How can I? How will I? He's never going to forgive me Mrs Suit! I'm never going to forgi- *haauck! Hhhuack! - ive me! I can never atone. This is unforgivable! I have failed my most sacred of duties.” Mozzie cuts off into what is definitely sobs although they are still sound he's coughing up a lung.
El has the worst feeling about how close Mozzie was to those explosions and it sends chills through her.
“Mozzie whatever it is you've done we can figure it out but I got to know are you safe. Where are you right now?” she asks firmly, clutching onto the flip phone with both hands.
“Relatively. I don't - I don't. None of it worked. Where did I fail? What if.. no no but”
“Mozzie! Where. Are. You?”
There is a russle and a few clicks of something she can't make out.
“I'm in Piccadillies.”
“Piccadillies closed a month ago.”
“Exactly. Not hmm hmm the best hide out but, good on short notice. I can't be certain how many of my safehouses have been compromised. If they were able to…”
“Mozzie, tell me what is going on.” She demands trying to get him back on track. Her patience was thinning.
It was a good thing El decided to work from home today she thought as with one hand she dug around in her purse for her cell phone. It would certainly look strange to have two phones and this kind of conversation. One-handley she typed out a message to Peter while Mozzie hyperventilated over the burner.
Got Mozzie on the phone. Almost certain he was near whatever happened when it happened. Trying to calm him and get answers. He's at Piccadillies.
“I failed. I failed. How am I going to tell him El. How could I tell him I lost him?” Mozzie laments. Loudly sniffling into the phone.
That's five blocks from where the explosion happened. Neal is freaked out but won't tell me what's going on, keeps insisting to go out and has been calling Mozzie repeatedly since he found out where the explosion happened.
“Who did you lose?” El asks as gently as she can.
The is a big sniffle and a russle of sound.
“there is no life lost, this day, Mrs Suit.” He says in a more cognizant tone, still way too somber, “but, perhaps a-a br-brotherhood for I am no longer worthy of calling myself such to Neal. I have got to go. I must face this head on. I did this. I failed at what I promised to do. I will throw myself at Neal's feet and take whatever he gives me. I- I deserve it.”
“Mozzie, Neal loves you. I'm sure whatever you did or failed to do Neal will forgive you. You two mean the world to each other. Partners in Crime,” she try to joke. It felt like she's talking Mozzie from the edge. If only Mozzie would tell her what actually happened so she could help.
“There are somethings that are unforgivable, Mrs. Suit. After my failure I would gladly fall at Neal’s feet and take the most barbaric of punishments to atone and even then I could never hope to have earned Neal’s forgiveness. Not for something like this.”
“Mozzie please” she doesn't know what exactly she's asking for.
“Bye Mrs. Suit. I have to go find Neal and tell him” he breaks off breathing raggedly into the mic.
“What is it? Let me help.” She tries again it's all she wants to do.
“How do I tell him El?” Mozzie asks so unsure, like a scared child looking for help as much as reassurance. El just wants to reach across the phone and hug him.
“Tell me what happened. I can't help you unless I know.”
Mozzie just sobs for a minute and El can't help but make instinctual nonsensical sounds of comfort, like shushing a baby.
“How'd this all start take me back to the beginning.” She instructs in a soft and steady tone.
Mozzie cleared his throat, “When Neal went to prison he asked me to keep all his most treasured possessions safe. Wh-when Neal got settled into the deal here in New York and decided he was staying he asked me to move them close to home. He wanted them within reach. Although he hasn't gone to actually see them since they were moved he asks me time to time to bring on to him and then put them back under lock and key. I- I haven't even been near it in five months! I swear yet somehow-”
“Somehow somebody found it and ?” El wasn't sure the end of that statement.
“Steal it. They only took one item but, it was it was fuck I can't even say it. I'm a coward.”
There was a distinct thudding sound, “Hey hey hey! Pull yourself together. Look I'm sure you did your best. Neal knows that. You do too. There is a reason Neal trusted you,” El ignores the snort of derision, “if you couldn't prevent it from happening. It wasn't preventable. Whatever material thing you lost i'm sure it's nothing compared to your friendship. Neal will be glad you're safe and weren't caught in that explosion.”
Mozzie laugh cries, “oh Mrs Suit I wish it were so simple.”
There is a loud sound in the background, more shuffling and the unmistakable sound of sirens passing by.
“Looks like my time to face the music has come. By Mrs Suit. I maybe be in need of your minor medical services after this. Neal has a hell of a right hook.”
“Mozz-” El cuts off as she hears the click. She looks anxiously between the two phones in her hands.
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