Neal was poring over the file for Ling Xian for the umpteenth time; he was starting to think there was no way in besides the strip club. It irritated him. A lot. He was hoping Peter would have come up with something better. Or at the very least, a female agent. There had to be something. Someone.

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	likessmart 2011-11-01 02:54 am UTC (link)
	Peter came into the office with coffee for both of them, and six file folders. He handed the cup of coffee over, knowing it already had the exact amount of cream and sugar in it to Neal's liking. "Look these over," he sighed. He handed him the files, shaking his head. They were women he was considering for the undercover job. (Reply to this)

classicratpack 2011-11-01 02:58 am UTC (link)

"Thank you." Neal said, taking the coffee and the files. He raised an eyebrow. " ... seriously, this is all?" This was a rare time it was okay to judge on looks. "She's too old. She's too young. She's ... creepy." That redhead had kept trying to flirt with him. "She looks like Pollyanna, so unless she's the world's greatest actress, no." Seriously, they didn't have anyone who could pass for a stripper? "My kingdom for Diana." (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2011-11-01 03:01 am UTC (link)
	"I know," Peter sighed. He was massaging his temples, and obviously looked as upset as Neal did. "I miss her, and you know that I don't want to say what I'm about to say." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 03:05 am UTC (link)
	Neal looked up at him stonily. "Can we please hire a pretty woman for the future?" He knew BB didn't mind, but he did. Every time one of these happened, BB was putting herself in danger. That bothered him, on a fairly fundamental level. Neal was surprised Peter wasn't giving him crap about it. It must be serious. (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2011-11-01 03:06 am UTC (link)
	"I'll be sure to tell my boss that, I'm sure he'll love it." But Peter sighed hard, shaking his head. "I know you don't want to ask. I'll do it for you. I'm just going to hope she says no for once. We can send Crazypants." He pulled out his cell phone and disappeared into the hall for a moment, pacing. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 03:08 am UTC (link)
	"If we wind up tracking these gangsters, we're going to spend time in sleazy clubs. We need a lady who looks like she could belong there if she tried." Neal argued, but he just nodded moodily when Peter said he'd ask. "Thank you." He sat back down, hoping BB would decline and knowing she probably wouldn't. (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2011-11-01 03:11 am UTC (link)
	Slinking back into the room, Peter groaned to himself. "She'll be here in a half hour for briefing. I'm sorry." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 03:15 am UTC (link)
	Neal shook his head. "I can't control her, but I don't have to like it." He kicked his feet up on the desk. "I've been through the file eight ways to Sunday, and I just don't see a place to pickpocket the guy except at his favorite club. To do it in his restaurant's too risky." (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2011-11-01 03:18 am UTC (link)
	"If he's smart, he won't even carry what we need at his restaurant. He'll be more relaxed at the club, he won't think twice at a woman being near him. He underestimates women in general." He sipped his coffee, grumbling to himself. The guy was an asshole, and he knew it. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 03:22 am UTC (link)
	Neal nodded. "He'd see you or me a mile off." But he shook his head. "If that bastard breathes on BB wrong, Peter, I'm holding your guys responsible." (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2011-11-01 03:29 am UTC (link)
	"If he breathes on her wrong, I'm going to be the first one to pull her out. I promise you this." Peter had grown fond of the girl, and it was for more than just the fact that she seemed to make Neal happy. She was smart, and Peter liked smart. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 03:42 am UTC (link)
	"I'll hold you to that." Neal nodded, looking up at him seriously. "I'm going to go get a Danish." He got up, needing to move around; he wasn't upset with Peter, but he wasn't happy at the situation, either. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 03:49 am UTC (link)
	When he returned, BB was already there, wearing jeans and a grey sweater that made her look smaller than her already petite frame generally made her look. She smiled weakly at Neal, sighing. "I'm sorry, baby, but I know Peter's in a tight spot. You wouldn't have called me otherwise." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 03:55 am UTC (link)
	Neal wrapped an arm around her, nodding a hello. "I told Peter," he murmured into her hair. "I can't tell you what to do, but I don't have to like it. And I'm going to start praying that Diana shows up." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 03:57 am UTC (link)
	BB laughed. "Me too. From what you tell me, she's gorgeous." She was teasing, and hoped that her silly eyebrow waggle would convey that. She was trying to make Neal smile. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 04:04 am UTC (link)
	He did smile. "She's also married." Neal winked. "To a possessive woman, or so I'm told." He'd liked Diana's wife, as he recalled. But he saw Peter coming back into the office, and sighed. "Let's make with the de-briefing," he said, sitting next to BB. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 04:09 am UTC (link)
	"Lucky girl." She smiled and nodded, getting more comfortable and taking the file from Peter. As she read, she wrinkled her nose hard. "You guys sure know how to pick them. I'm sure they come to you, but ... ugh." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 04:12 am UTC (link)
	"Believe me. We really tried to make the pick-up any other time, but nobody could get close enough." Neal shook his head. "Ling Xian just doesn't let anyone near him. Except whatever stripper gets to give him a lap dance." He wrinkled his nose. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 04:16 am UTC (link)
	"Don't worry, I'll get it." She sighed, wrinkling her nose as well. "Worst comes to worst, he'll think I'm another stripper that tries to pick pockets. It's a hazard most men realize is out there." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 04:22 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah." Neal shook his head. "I mean, the actual pickup is easy, especially for an alleged thief." He shot a look at Peter. "Picking a drunk and horny guy's pocket is child's play. The problem is for you to get close in the first place." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 04:23 am UTC (link)
	BB laughed, rolling her eyes. "And it won't be much of a challenge if I'm a stripper. Are you going to tell the club what we're doing? They can talk me up if they know - they could pimp me out as their new top girl or something." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 04:34 am UTC (link)
	"They could. That's pretty much up to Peter, though." Neal looked over at him. "It's his call." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 04:37 am UTC (link)
	Peter nodded. "I like that idea, it means that their security will be able to help as well." He figured just in case, an ounce of prevention would be worth a pound of cure. BB smiled as well, nodding. "It seems to be the best way. I can even go talk to them if you want." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-11-01 04:48 am UTC (link)
	"Peter can handle that," Neal answered. "Probably better coming from someone with a badge." Not that BB's idea wasn't a good one. "You can go pick up something appropriate to wear, if you want. Department's dime." He poked her, wanting her to smile. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-11-01 04:52 am UTC (link)
	She smiled and nodded. "I'll go to a standard stripper store, that's no problem. She smiled and poked him back, smiling weakly. (Reply to this)

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