White Collar – Leverage

Chapter 1

Elizabeth woke up and was confused as to where she was for a moment. Her shoulders were aching and she was lying on a hard surface. Then she remembered, she had been meeting Neal and Peter for lunch to test a new venue for her company, Peter had called to say his meeting was running late so she and Neal had headed to the restaurant ahead of him, a van had pulled up and men with guns had jumped out and grabbed her. She didn't remember anything after that. She tried to sit up but wasn't able to move her arms, her hands were tied she realised, which explained the ache in her shoulders. Instead of sitting up she only managed to roll to one side slightly causing her to collide with something warm, another person. She managed to turn and saw Neal lying there.

"Neal!" she called out. He groaned a little in response but didn't open his eyes, his hair was matted with blood but otherwise she couldn't see any injuries. She nudged him again and called his name again more softly. He groaned again but this time his eyes also flickered open to her relief.

"Elizabeth?" He asked sounding as confused as Elizabeth felt when she woke up. It took a few seconds for him to focus and realise where they were and what happened. Fortunately, once he was caught up it took him less than 30 seconds to free himself and untie Elizabeth. They were alone in a small windowless room.

"Do you have your phone?" Neal asked checking his pockets. Elizabeth looked for her purse but it was nowhere to be found. She didn't remember if she dropped it in the struggle or if it had been taken from her. She shook her head at Neal.

"Do you?" She asked back, trying to contain how scared she was, but of course Neal saw through her.

"No, but Peter will find us" Neal assured her.

"I know he will" Elizabeth agreed. "He'll be able to find us with your tracking anklet right?" Elizabeth said hopefully.

Neal lifted his trouser leg revealing a bare ankle "I'm afraid they seem to have thought of that." Neal told her.

"Can you pick the lock?" She asked and had to smile when he gave her the look which clearly said "do you need to even ask?"

"Sorry, forgot who I was talking to." She told him as he walked to the door and put his ear to it. There were voices and footsteps outside. They looked at each other panicked. They both looked around for weapons, another exit, anything that might get them out of there but the room was bare, except for the ropes that had tied them.

Neal walked over to stand with Elizabeth, she grabbed his arm, praying that it would be Peter on the other side when the door opened. Luck wasn't with them, three men entered wearing masks, the first two holding guns. Their eyes widened when they saw their captives untied and standing there and the guns raised to point at them, Neal moved in front of Elizabeth slightly raising his hands defensively.

The third, unarmed man, smiled at them and stepped forward into the room.

"Mrs Burke, you and Mr Caffrey will be our guests for just a short time. I was coming to make you more comfortable but I see that is not necessary." He smiled at them both, it wasn't terribly reassuring in the circumstances.

"What do you want from us?" Elizabeth asked

"From you? Nothing. Your husband on the other hand has something I want very much indeed. " The man told them.

He gestured to one of his men, who pulled out a phone. The man pressed a number and held the phone up to his ear.

"Agent Burke. I have your wife. If you don't do what I say, I'll kill her." He listened for a minute and then handed the phone over to Elizabeth.

"Hi Hon." She told him.

"Hon, are you okay?" Peter asked. It was so good to hear his voice, she felt her eyes well up at the sound of it.

"We're okay." She told him, knowing Peter would pick up on the 'we' and work out Neal was with her. She saw Neal nod slightly, they didn't know if their captors knew who Neal was and there was no point in giving anything away they didn't have to that might give them an advantage later.

The man held his hand out for the phone, El tried to think of something useful to tell Peter, some message she could pass, but all she could think was how much she loved him.

One of the armed men took the phone off her before she could say anything else and handed it back to his boss.

"Now a little demonstration as to what I will do to your wife if you don't do as I ask." He told Peter and then held the phone up. Elizabeth was confused until one of the armed guards passed his gun to his friend and then came forward threateningly. Neal pulled Elizabeth back, causing the men to laugh. It wasn't Elizabeth he was aiming for. The man punched Neal in the stomach causing him to double over in pain.

"No!" Elizabeth cried out and went to help stop the man and Neal tried to stop the man's next punch, but the other armed man pointed one gun at Neal and one at Elizabeth causing them both to freeze.

"Ah-ah, Mr Caffrey, Mrs Burke please behave. This little demonstration would have been on Mrs Burke had you not so gallantly volunteered to come on this little trip Mr Caffrey. You wanted to play hero, this is your reward." The boss told him continuing to hold the camera up and nodding at his man to continue. Elizabeth had to watch helplessly as the man punched Neal again and again, until Neal fell to the ground. The boss looked at his watch.

"Time's up." He turned the phone back and spoke to Peter.

"You have 8 hours Agent Burke." He said into the phone and then hung up.

The three men left the room. Elizabeth rushed to Neal's side and helped him sit up.

"Are you okay?" She asked, feeling helpless.

"I'm fine. It didn't even hurt." He told her wincing as he sat up but then managing a smile for her.

"Sure you're a real tough guy" Elizabeth agreed with him, going along with his story, knowing he was doing it to keep their morale up.

"What do you think they want from Peter?" Elizabeth asked. Neal shook his head

"No idea, but the fact they have masks on is a good sign." Neal told her.

"They don't want us identifying them." Elizabeth said in understanding. Neal nodded.

Neither of them mentioned what they were both thinking, that the FBI's policy was not to negotiate which meant Peter's ability to give the kidnapper's what they want might be limited.

"Just in case Peter can't give them what they want we should try and get out of here before the deadline." Neal said as he struggled up to his feet with Elizabeth's help.

"How?" Elizabeth asked, there was only one exit as far as she could see and there were armed me on the other side of it, it seemed hopeless but she felt hope as a broad grin spread across Neal's face.

"That's what I do." He told her.