The buzzer sound fills the concrete room. The cell door opens and Daphne steps out, dressed in orange.
She sits on the bench in front of her. "I'm surprised you came before Neal did," she says. "How are you, Peter?"
"Alright. Just came to see how you're holding up."
"I'm decent, considering the circumstances."
Peter chuckles. "Neal hasn't come yet?"
"Nope."
"Oh, I didn't exactly expect him to."
"Really? Why?"
He shrugs. "Maybe he doesn't want to see you in an orange jumpsuit behind bars."
Daphne opens her mouth to say something, but stops. She didn't exactly know how to respond to this.
"There's no update on Keller," Peter fills in. "We have no idea where he is or if he's even involved somehow."
"Nothing? That's a little worrying," she lies.
"Yeah. I feel like he would have shown up somewhere by now."
Daphne turns away. "Me too."
"Don't worry, if it's not him we'll have to look for leads elsewhere. The city is going wild over Robert Bailey's death."
"I'd imagine. Reporters are still talking about it, I think everyone's pretty spooked."
"With good reason, too. Anyone would wonder if this was an act toward just Robert or to the people of New York, so no one really knows what to expect."
"Except us."
"Except us," he nods. Peter's phone buzzes. He pulls it out of his suit pocket. "Sorry Daphne, I gotta head back to the office. I'll tell you if anything shows up."
She nods.
"Take care," he says as he exits.
"Will do."
. . . . . .
Peter walks into the office, stopping at Neal's desk. "You're here early."
"Yeah," he responds, not looking up from the paperwork on his desk.
Peter blurts out, "you haven't visited Daphne yet?"
He looks up. "Have you?"
"Yeah, I just came from there."
"No I- I haven't," he looks down again.
"Why not?"
Neal sighs. "I don't know."
"Come on-"
"I don't know, Peter."
"Is it because you don't want to see her behind bars?"
He shrugs. "Something like that."
"Or is it because you don't want to see her as a criminal?'
"Peter, if I tell you will you go away?"
Peter smirks. "Yeah maybe."
Neal sighs. He looks back at Peter. "Kate died awhile ago. Daphne came into my life. I feel like, maybe if I keep seeing her, or if I see her in pain, I could realize how much I care about her, or maybe I'll catch more feelings for her than I already have, and I just don't think I'm ready. Even if to you it seems like... I'm already trying to get her, or something." He pauses, pursing his lips. "Happy?"
He exhales, saying, "but I think if you did end up with her-"
"You said you'd leave," Neal jokes.
"Right," Peter clutches his mug and goes up to his office.
. . . . . .
Neal sits down in front of Daphne. Mozzie stands off to the side, observing.
"I don't like seeing you like this," Neal says.
"I know. It's depressing," Moz interrupts.
Daphne chuckles. "Is that what took you so long to come by?"
"No, I was just way too busy hanging out with your dog."
She laughs. "Understandable. How is he, by the way?"
"He's doing great, June loves him." He pauses. "I've actually got something to ask you,"
Moz asks, "you do?"
"All ears," she says.
"Do you think Matthew Keller is involved in any of this?"
Mozzie perks up, "what? Wait-"
"I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind," she answers.
"Hold on-"
Neal cuts Moz off. "I just want to make sure you and Peter aren't keeping that from me. Keller is apart of my past, yes, but it won't hurt me if I know about him being involved."
"Guys."
Neal sighs, "what, Mozzie?"
"What do you mean, Matthew Keller? Keller? Like, he could be here? Involved in whatever case you guys are working on?"
"Yes, Moz."
Daphne speaks up. "Peter has no idea if he's even involved yet. You'll know as soon as he does."
Neal seems satisfied with this answer. He nods, exhaling.
She bites the inside of her cheek, avoiding eye contact.
Mozzie, still observing, but more anxious now, squints at her. He crosses his arms.
. . . . . .
"What are you doing here again, Mozzie?"
"I saw what you did," he sits down on the bench.
"What I did, when you were here last week?"
"You bite the inside of your cheek when you lie. That's your tell."
"Are we playing poker now?"
"Neal might have no idea, but I do. You lied about not knowing anything that has to do with Keller."
"I didn't lie, Moz. I just-"
"Oh... I see. You didn't tell him everything."
"Listen, you can't say anything to him, okay?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Mozzie, think for a second. Why do you think I li- withheld the truth, anyway?"
He shifts. "Oh, because Keller probably threatened-"
"Yes, and it's crucial we can't talk about it, you could get hurt too."
He nods. "Okay fine- I guess I understand if you did it to protect Neal. What does keller want from you, anyway?"
Daphne glances toward the security camera and the guard outside the door. "God, Mozzie-"
"Right."
. . . . . .
"I wasn't expecting to see you."
Reese Hughes was there this time.
He looks confused. "Of course I was going to visit you. I haven't really seen you in what like-"
"Four years," she finishes.
"Yeah, about four years. I don't like that it has to be with you behind bars, when you don't deserve it, again, but I'm happy to see you're alright. Well, for the most part."
She shrugs. "Everyone has their own reasons to be in a prison of some sort. I'm just serving my time."
"Yeah. You've always been poetic. You're a smart kid, Daphne. And I recently found out you got a bachelors in criminology?"
She chuckles. "Oh, yeah. I did go to college after I got out of prison. The first time."
"I want to see you succeed, I want to see you happy, and in a good place again."
"You do?"
"Of course I do. And I heard you asked Peter about a job opening?"
"I did..."
"Just so happens there's room for you to be a field consultant. Basically following a field agent like Peter around on cases, consulting, and doing files."
Daphne perks up. "Seriously? You're offering me this?"
"Well, when you get out, of course."
"Oh my god. Oh my god- Thank you so much, Reese. You're like the father I never had."
He scoffs, smiling. "No problem. And don't worry about this case. Whether it's Keller or not, we'll close it."
_____________________________________________
Hello loves, I'm so happy to get this chapter out to you, finally. I know this isn't on record as the longest wait since the last chapter, obviously, because I suck at staying consistent, but it still feels like awhile.
I hope you liked this one, despite it being a bit boring. And a bit cheesy.
Little shoutout to littledick3 for voting and reading, thank you! it means the world :) (also great username- i wish i had thought of it tbh)
See you all next chapter, have a lovely day