Neal had never been the paranoid type, but he was fairly sure this wasn't paranoia. A week or so ago he'd helped Peter out on a briefing; a man was about to lose his house because of sleazy dealings by some 'investment group'. It was stuff they'd handled before. He hadn't noticed anything for the first few days, but now he was sure: he was being followed. Not constantly, but they were there.

He was home now, wondering what to do. BB was out somewhere, and Peter was with Elizabeth. Frankly, he didn't trust anyone else. Maybe Garcia? This was actually new territory for him.

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(Post a new comment)

	folleconnasse 2012-01-20 04:47 am UTC (link)
	BB arrived home a few moments later with a few bags of groceries on her shoulders. "Hey," she called out, contented sounding. "I'm home, is anyone here?" Some guy had hassled her for change and it had sort of stuck in her craw, but she was sure it was nothing. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 04:51 am UTC (link)
	"It's me." Neal came down the stairs with a purpose, though. "Come in here." He locked the door behind her, making sure both locks had engaged. It wasn't much, but it'd be good for now. "How're you? What were you up to?" He knew he looked keyed up, but well, he was. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2012-01-20 04:53 am UTC (link)
	Moving into the kitchen, she blinked as she looked at him. "I was getting groceries - are you okay?" She worried, and set the bags down. "What happened? Was it at work?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 04:57 am UTC (link)
	"I'm ok. Just ... nervous." Neal came over to her. "It sounds crazy, but honestly, I think I'm being tailed. Not by the same guy, but I can just tell. It's the same type of guy." He sat on one of the kitchen chairs. "You didn't have any kind of conversation with anybody when you were out, did you?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2012-01-20 05:13 am UTC (link)
	BB blinked, dropping a grocery bag. She moved to the butcher block, pulled out a filet knife and tucked it into her boot. "Wait here," she snarled, moving outside quickly. It was probably the first time Neal had ever seen a woman conceal a deadly weapon in a Louboutin, but it was her first time doing it. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 05:16 am UTC (link)
	Neal had his gun with him, but he hadn't used it, hadn't even touched it. He drew it now, figuring he should protect BB, or at least try. Neal went toward the door, though he stayed inside. (Reply to this)

folleconnasse 2012-01-20 05:21 am UTC (link)

But BB had already scaled the building next door, figuring it would be easier to find people from the rooftops. After making a circuit around the block, BB came back into the mansion, sighing. "Lost him, he probably got into a car somewhere." She sighed, shaking her head. "It was too coincidental, I knew it, he kept wanting to help me put my groceries away and wouldn't take any money without helping me." She rolled her eyes, using liberal air quotes at 'help'. (Reply to this)

classicratpack 2012-01-20 05:33 am UTC (link)

Neal's eyes narrowed; he put the safety back on his gun and laid it aside. "What'd he look like? The guys tailing me have all been mid-height or short, brown hair, thin but not scrawny. They've ranged from mid-twenties to early forties, but they've all been carefully nondescript." He shook his head. "It has something to do with the man who came in trying to get us on to some kind of sleazy investment group. It started after that." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2012-01-20 05:43 am UTC (link)
	"Boring guy, yeah. Brown hair and eyes, swimmer's build, jeans and a t-shirt. Little on the dirty side for my guy but he was trying to act homeless." She put her knife away and then pointed at Neal's pocket. "Call Peter. He needs to know, but if I call it'll just worry El." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 05:50 am UTC (link)
	"Especially with the baby." Neal nodded, picking up his phone and dialing. Hopefully his partner would be in. (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2012-01-20 05:53 am UTC (link)
	Peter was always in - no matter where or when he was, he picked up his work cell phone. That wasn't to say his answer would be friendly, but he'd pick up. "Neal. What is it? I was just sitting down to watch the game." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 05:59 am UTC (link)
	"Both BB and I were followed today," Neal said without preamble. He briefly outlined the guys he'd seen, and now the creep who'd accosted BB earlier. "I really think it's got to do with that investment group's case. Maybe they're trying to take us out?" He wasn't afraid; he was irritated at this point. (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2012-01-20 06:08 am UTC (link)
	"Meet me at the office in ten, and call your hacker friend." Peter wanted to keep things on the QT and she was trustworthy - in addition to being the best. He hung up and told El that he had to go back to work for a while. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 06:21 am UTC (link)
	Neal did so, leaving a message for Garcia to get to FBI HQ in New York as soon as humanly possible. He and BB got there fast; Neal felt safer here than most places. Whatever anyone had plans for, they couldn't really do anything inside the freaking FBI building. (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2012-01-20 06:23 am UTC (link)
	Peter showed up soon after with a not-as-bubbly-as-usual blonde in tow. "Peter told me everything, are you guys okay?" Garcia hugged BB and Neal in turn before whipping out her laptop and working on opening up her "borrowed" Interpol and FBI servers. For his part, Peter moved to show Garcia photos and information on the person that had dropped off the case information. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 06:25 am UTC (link)
	Neal could only watch, curious as to what was going on. "I've been racking my brain and there's just nobody here who hates me," he said at length. "The only thing I can think of as to why someone would do this is because they want something. Something tangible? Information? Secrets?" (Reply to this)

	all_knowing 2012-01-20 06:40 am UTC (link)
	"I don't really see a lot here either, my love. The guy that you both talked to earlier has a sheet filled with petty things, mostly being picked up for illegal gambling. He's got loser all over him, doesn't look like a mover or a shaker." She continued typing away, wondering if she could find where he was at least by tracing the money he'd spent. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 06:51 am UTC (link)
	Neal shook his head. "Someone like that is a lackey for someone else." His mind ran through the list of people he might have offended - some of BB's friends, people they'd stolen from? Someone from Dubai? Who knew? (Reply to this)

all_knowing 2012-01-20 06:56 am UTC (link)

"Well, his bank account sure did get fatter recently." Garcia's fingers were a blur as she typed, tracing the source of the 100k. "Really? Someone's alias is Stallone? Is it me or do criminals get more and more stupid every day? Well, someone using a really terrible alias ... does anyone else think this is too easy? Like someone's trying to get caught?" She felt goosebumps break out on her arm. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 07:01 am UTC (link)
	"Yes." Neal's blood ran cold, and he meant it - it felt like the whole room had turned to ice. "I know who this is." He looked up at Peter. "So do you." (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2012-01-20 07:02 am UTC (link)
	Peter blinked. "I do?" BB had never seen Neal so worried, and she chewed on her lower lip. "Neal?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 07:04 am UTC (link)
	"Out of all the criminals and con men you know. Who's the best at blending into a crowd?" Neal said softly. "Almost too nondescript. Who would use an alias like that to mock us, like a catch me if you can?" (Reply to this)

	likessmart 2012-01-20 07:06 am UTC (link)
	Eyes wide, Peter's mouth dropped. "Do you think he wants to hurt you? I don't care. I'm getting a security detail on your mansion and putting you up in a hotel." Garcia had moved to hold BB's hand, but BB looked unafraid. "Who is it, and why can't we make a play against them directly?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2012-01-20 07:11 am UTC (link)
	Neal sighed. "His name is Matthew Keller. The short story is that he hates me, and the reason we can't make a direct play is because he's the type to take revenge. He's been following us to make a pre-emptive strike." (Reply to this)

likessmart 2012-01-20 07:14 am UTC (link)

BB chewed on her lower lip. She felt impotent - she knew a whole guild of assassins, but because Neal worked for the FBI she couldn't bring them into play. Wouldn't. Garcia noticed her nervousness and lightly stroked her hand. "So what, we're just supposed to let him get closer?" Peter shook his head. "No. No, that's exactly what we do - Penelope, you said it yourself, he wants to be found. So don't find him. Don't give him what he wants, and maybe he'll tip his hand." (Reply to this)

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