Epilogue

Three weeks later

"Ellen?" Neal called from the hall.

"In the reading room!" her voice was almost back to full strength.

He smiled seeing her comfortably sitting in a big chair with a book on her lap. Sitting beside her, he took her hand.

"How are you feeling?"

"Almost like me again." She pulled on his hand to bring him close enough to kiss his cheek. "Did you thank June for allowing me to stay here?"

"Of course I did, and she was happy to help."

"Are you sure it's safe for us to stay?" She couldn't help to ask when he just smiled.

Shaking his head Neal stood up and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sure, it's the safest place in New York." Especially after all the upgrades he and Mozzie did to June's security systems. "Besides you have not two, but four Marshals finest as your watchdogs now."

"Those poor souls, as soon as I'm feeling better I will bake them some cookies, they have to die from boredom!" They laughed.

Neal was more than happy when June suggested that Ellen should stay at her home not only for recuperation but as long as needed. It gave them time to reconnect.

"Now, you'll have to excuse me, work waits for no man, con or not." With a wicked smile, Neal disappeared leaving Ellen to ponder his surprising words.

Peter was waiting for him on the sidewalk.

"How's Ellen?" Peter asked.

"Better, she is almost back to her old self." It took longer than he anticipated, but she was under the excellent care and had the stress of the past few weeks was finally gone.

"Is June back yet?" June, bless her heart of gold. She spared more headaches for Peter that he cared to admit, on the other hand, she also caused few of them. This time she was doing something to ease his worries. Having Neal and Ellen under one roof with great security helped a lot.

"No, she is staying in Paris for a few more weeks." Neal played with his hat. "You know that Marshals are not as happy as you are for Ellen to stay here."

Peter gave him a wry smile. "Well, the Marshals are never happy, but they can keep an eye on you and her at the same time."

"Is that what you said to convince them? That they will kill two birds with one stone."

"Pretty big stone I would say."

They walked for a few minutes in companionable silence. Each pondering on the same topic - mysterious box of documents they found last week.

"Have you heard from Ruiz yet?" Neal was first to break the silence.

"I was sure I heard him roar in anger yesterday, or maybe it was happiness, you know it's difficult to say with him. However, I know they made one arrest already and are gathering resources for further investigations."

"Anything on the documents itself?"

"Neal."

"I know, I know, we should keep away from it. But you know me."

"Yes, I perfectly know." He shook his head well aware of his CI's way of doing things. "That's why I won't ask where are you going to be between five and six today evening. When I perfectly well know you are not on your way home."

"Well considering I'm walking from work to home, I'm on my way home, just not straight lined?"

"Yeah, just a little bit bent, just like you" Peter couldn't help but smile. He actually liked Neal the way he was, it made life interesting. "Now for something to keep you occupied today we have a new case." Peter tried, really tried to add some cheer to his voice.

"You don't sound excited."

"It's insurance fraud." Even Peter wasn't a fan.

"Ah, that explains everything."

That evening

"HR - whatever it means, mobsters and corruption on a country-wide scale. No wonder Ellen spend thirty years in WitSec." Neal looked at the papers in his hand. It was too much. He thought he knew what will happen when he finally gets his hands on the documents in the box from Ellen. But this? This was something that even FBI would have troubles with, no wonder Ruiz was behaving like a caged lion. The documents were just the beginning, showing the top of the iceberg that was corruption on every level of not only the government but also law enforcement.

"We met with HR in the past, but their connection this is something new. Don't worry, Miss Parker is perfectly safe where she is. The smoking gun that was actually keeping her in danger - the box with its content - is now pointed in a different direction."

"FBI?" Neal wasn't sure it was the best solution. Sure Ellen was safe, well much safer than in the past years. But still.

"Well, yes. But they can handle themselves. And we will help in the background as much as possible."

The ring of a traditional telephone sounded nearby.

"Will you excuse me for a moment."

It took a little more than a moment, but when Harold came back he had a stack of books in his hand.

"Someone calling in to borrow books?" Neal was curious.

"No, no. That was another number."

Harold quickly put a sequence of numbers into his computer starting a search. Moment later name and a photo opened on the screen.

"Senator Terrence Pratt." Harold read.

"Wait. What? Terrence Pratt, I just saw his name in the documents."

Neal Neal started combing the copies spread on the table. Grabbing one page he walked to Harold to show him what he found.

"That goes way above what we previously thought. The overall situation just got way more complicated." Harolds forehead creased. Way, way too complicated.

Neal looked at the paper in his hand. "So this is the end?"

"No, this." Harold gestured at the papers covering every square inch of the table, looking at John who just came back from a walk with Bear.

"This is just the beginning."

The end.