{"id":946,"date":"2024-08-23T00:43:26","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T00:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=946"},"modified":"2024-08-23T01:01:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:01:29","slug":"chapter-03","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=946","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 03"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 03 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Anybody seen Mingus?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While she perfected her bot to get her more capital, she and Neal also worked on a new identity for him with a complete background and stories. And it was a fun thing to do. And she could do it herself, for the most part, however, Mingus was brilliant at making sure an ID would pass the scrutiny of any government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus helped her with her Izzy Sheppard cover. The name she adopted after leaving the Cullens. Her first new ID after leaving the Cullens, and one that they didn\u2019t know of so couldn\u2019t trace. It was the same with Mia Robbins, but that one was only shallow. Izzy Sheppard had a good background. Solid. Even when digging. And Neal needed to have the same one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She could easily get people to help her delete Neal Caffrey from law enforcement systems, apart from the hard copies, but nothing that could be replicated on servers. But a solid ID like that? No. Only government agencies like the Marshalls would be good at this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Mingus?\u201d Neal asked as he sat down across from her at the table with a sketch pad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA friend,\u201d Bella replied. \u201cI mean\u2026 if you can call other hackers your friend. Never met him in person but we talked a lot. Less now that I\u2019m away from my family but still.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s connected to them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, no. It\u2019s like he knows I\u2019m doing good now.\u201d She smiled when a private message popped up. \u201cAh, there he is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Hey Shitface, long time no talk. And the first time we do talk is after you basically single handedly exposed a crime family. Good job lol.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: LMAO. They shouldn\u2019t have shot me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: WTF!!!!! Are you okay?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Pissed off and determined.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Know who\u2019s behind it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yeah. Anyway, enough about that. I want to wrap them all up in a nice package so I\u2019m going to travel back to the US with a new friend of mine. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: \u2026 Okay? You sure? Can\u2019t you just let your information dump do that for you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: No, because that doesn\u2019t account for those who are after the hit and I know who did it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Seriously?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yeah. With help from my new friend I\u2019ll be going after them myself. Speaking of which he faked his own death and we\u2019re creating a new ID for him, and he and I got far, I even managed to establish him somewhat in the US, but I could really use your help to sell it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: \u2026 You know I don\u2019t do this for strangers.<\/em>
<\/em>
<\/em>5h1tF4c3: Okay. Was worth a shot.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: You\u2019re good at forging passports, I\u2019ve seen your work remember? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yes, but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: No one needs an ID like the one you and I created for you. Trust me on this. Your friend must have been in a lot of trouble to fake his own death. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Maybe a little too big for his shoes. He has a good heart.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mingus: Okay, but I\u2019m still not helping you with this. But I am interested in helping you set up whoever wants you dead.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: I\u2019ll be in touch. Thanks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed and shrugged. \u201cThe normal way it is, he didn’t want to help establish it properly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay, would have been nice, but I\u2019ve never had one like that before and they all held up,\u201d Neal replied, still sketching. \u201cDon\u2019t be unsure of yourself or me, it doesn\u2019t have to be perfect.\u201d He put down his pad and smiled at her. \u201cAnd here you said you didn\u2019t have any friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMingus isn\u2019t a friend. I have never seen him or met him in real life. I\u2019m not even sure if I trust him but his stuff is always sound and we helped each other a few times when we got stuck on a code. We contact each other for our mutual skills when needed,\u201d she grabbed herself something to drink and poured Neal some water as well. \u201cIn any case, are you ready to go fully vanish?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cErase Neal Caffrey for good? It\u2019s the only way to have you travel back into the US the normal way, no facial recognition, etc,\u201d she said as she set the glass down in front of him before sitting back down behind her laptop. Neal was very careful not to show her what he was drawing. \u201cNeal Caffrey will be a ghost. Completely. Poof.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you a ghost?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I had Mingus to help me out, but I don\u2019t want to risk you getting detained because there\u2019s a double entry with your face on it. Erasing your information from all the government systems is the only way to go.\u201d She took a sip of her drink as she looked at him. \u201cYou already made the first move by faking your death. You\u2019re no longer Neal Caffrey, you\u2019re Neal Flanigan. And you\u2019re not even Irish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal groaned. \u201cI had to make something quickly, saw the name on a sign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let out a snort. \u201cI\u2019m usually against reusing names, but Neal Carter has a good ring to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal nodded. \u201cBut I really like the name I chose for myself, it\u2019s my mother\u2019s maiden name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your dad\u2019s last name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sucked in a breath and shook his head. \u201cCarter is fine. What\u2019s your new name then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIzzy Sheppard,\u201d Bella said as she set up the nuclear option on her laptop. \u201cClose enough to Isabella and I grabbed the name from a TV show that was on when Mingus and I set it up,\u201d she replied before realizing something. \u201cCome to think of it, the name Carter was in that show too, you may want to come up with something else if you\u2019re not fully behind it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat TV show?\u201d Neal laughed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStargate Atlantis,\u201d Bella muttered. \u201cGreat show. Gone too soon in favor of a new franchise show that terribly sucked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNerd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah well, this nerd is going to give you a chance of going back to the US without getting your ass arrested so\u2026\u201d She shrugged as she turned her laptop around. \u201cHit the enter button if you\u2019re ready to kill every last bit of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few days later, Uncle Garrett and Liam went out to get groceries, Bella had made a list for them while she continued to work on her projects. Neal had set in motion to have his digital trail and his presence deleted on all the law enforcement servers and he was getting antsy too, he wanted to get out, and Bella had never told him he needed to stay. She wasn\u2019t sure if she was safe from the Volturi and didn\u2019t want to risk getting shot again by going outside herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She told him to bring her back a coffee while she stayed in the apartment working on her laptop. She had almost fine tuned her money maker. Almost. It was ready, but it wasn\u2019t perfect just yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella wasn\u2019t sure if Neal was going to come back to the apartment. It was strange, but while she had never fully trusted him – even while working the Picasso Museum, she never really got strange vibes off of him other than her grifter radar dinging like crazy. Yes, Neal was gorgeous, had a bright smile and when he smiled genuinely it was even brighter. She could only imagine what he looked like underneath his clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had the feeling that he was looking for something. Something else, something different. Make a change. And for some stupid reason, she believed that maybe she could teach him<\/em> things. How to make that change. But, if he wouldn\u2019t return, that was okay too. She was fine on her own, and she could likely make contact with a bunch of grifters in the US to help her out with taking down her family on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she still wondered what he looked like underneath his clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: What did you do?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She scratched her head when that message popped up. If she had guessed well, this was Neal\u2019s friend Moxie. No, Mozzie. Bella had contact with Vita before, years ago, when they all worked together on a big hack that resulted in equally big rewards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Your puppy is safe.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: You\u2019re erasing him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: It was a mutual decision, I\u2019m only trying to make things easier for him. After all, he might want to come back one day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: Seriously?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yes. I explained to him what I could do for him, and what the consequences would be if I did it. Seeing as he\u2019s already legally dead, it would make him even deader. He pulled the trigger himself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: How is he?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: I\u2019ve only known him for a few months and most of that was his cover. But he looks healthy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: I saw that with my own eyes, but how is he?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: He\u2019s a lost puppy. He misses his family.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: He doesn\u2019t have—<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: You and the Suit family. Hey, if you\u2019re in New York\u2026 how about you find all the paper trails on him and destroy that? Make it safe for him to come back?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: Already on it, figured it might help. Also gave the Suits your information package, they\u2019re enjoying themselves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: They\u2019re Suits. They can\u2019t be trusted.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: I said that years ago. Then a certain someone was suddenly on a leash to a Suit and things changed over the years. These Suits are trustworthy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yeah, no. I want to stay away from them as much as possible. They don\u2019t know who I am and I intend on keeping it that way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VitaPedrillo: Fine. That\u2019s good. But our friend is alright?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5h1tF4c3: Yes. Stop being a helicopter parent, he\u2019s fine.<\/em> She hated pushy friends and she had better things to do. Bella closed the software and continued to make her final touches on her worm. Once she was satisfied, all she needed to do was to hack one of the men she wanted to steal from or, preferably, a bank, so it could spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thought about her options while she waited for her cup of coffee and decided to go for the fun route; hack a bank. Bella grabbed the last bag of fruit twizzlers and settled at the table with her laptop and started working. Banks weren\u2019t easy, but they were fun, especially the foreign ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uncle Garrett and Liam returned with the groceries about an hour later, and Bella was so absorbed by what she was doing that she hadn\u2019t even noticed. It was only when Garrett put a plate of food next to her that she looked at him with confusion. \u201cWhen did you come back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHours ago,\u201d Garrett laughed, shaking his head. \u201cYou having fun?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she took a bite of her food and continued to look at her work. \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d Garrett said as he sat down at the table. \u201cNeal not back yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shook her head. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if he\u2019s coming back, which is fine. I gave him what he wanted and he\u2019s free to go wherever with his new alias, which is already fully set up. He only has to pick up his passport at Carlo\u2019s. Which he knows so for all we know he\u2019s on his way back to the States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs it truly fine, lass?\u201d Liam asked as he took a sip of his beer and looked at her. \u201cI\u2019ve seen the way you look at him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd what way is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had a cocky smile on his face as he took a bite from his food and spoke with food in his mouth as a result.\u201cYou fancy the pants off of him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not as strict with me and y\u2019er uncle when it comes to us using our phones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou two aren\u2019t in contact with anyone<\/em> from any <\/em>sort of law enforcement agency. Neal\u2019s practically attached at the hip to a bunch of Suits,\u201d Bella countered as she put down her fork. \u201cYou know, for someone who faked his own death for a life away from all the Suits and to start over, the look on his face whenever he speaks to that Suit of his is like\u2026 happiness. So if he fucked back off to the States to tell his Suit not to take the job in Paris, then that\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe has friends in the States, people he cares about, it\u2019s harder to make clean breaks when you have people who tie you down like that,\u201d Garrett replied with a shrug. \u201cI don\u2019t see why you\u2019re so angry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She slammed her fist on the table in anger. \u201cBecause maybe I want what he has. He lives so carefree and sees the fun in just about anything and here I am, trying to be carefree but I can\u2019t. I never settled properly at the vineyard, I was itching to get away from it. And now I\u2019m fucking hiding because my family wants me dead. Yes, the ability to walk away from crap is great, because nothing is tying me down and I\u2019m not afraid to leave everything behind, but it shouldn\u2019t be this way, should it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt makes for a good con artist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. It\u2019s great for you, for my family. I am a grifter, but I\u2019m primarily a hacker, that\u2019s what I enjoy. I\u2019m finally enjoying what I do best, but I had hoped I would have been more open about shit by now,\u201d she stared at her uncle. \u201cBecause, you see, I do think Neal is a great guy, hell, maybe even boyfriend material, but there are issues. I don\u2019t trust him, not like how I trust you two or how I trusted my family. And I am afraid to tell him the deeper stuff, as a friend, because he can use that against me. How is this a life? Neal has proven he can be trusted and yet\u2026\u201d She took a deep breath and nodded before looking back at her laptop. \u201cSo yeah, if he doesn\u2019t come back, then I don\u2019t have to get angry with myself for pushing him away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t he come back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella rolled her eyes at Liam and continued to eat while typing with her other hand in silence. She was almost in. She had hacked this bank once before, and while they had done something about the security of their servers, it wasn\u2019t iron clad just yet and this time she wasn\u2019t going to alert them to it. It was their own fault that she was able to hack them twice. Even her old code was still on the server so they had made it a lot easier for her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typing \u2018execute\u2019 and disconnecting after a few seconds made her feel a lot better. At least in a couple of hours, she\u2019d have capital to go to the US and hire people to help her take down her family creatively and without violence. They wouldn\u2019t see it coming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She closed her laptop for the night and enjoyed a few beers with Garrett and Liam, Liam giving her and Garrett updates on how the Volturi are scattering away with so much eyes on them, but that he heard that there are still a few in Paris to take care of Bella. She didn\u2019t want to hear that, but it would make it even more important to leave quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know you refuse to go back to the States, Liam, but are you coming with me, Uncle Garrett?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI figured we\u2019d find someone who looks like you and I\u2019ll take her all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s kidnapping, uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut it would give you some breathing space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella smiled then. \u201cThat\u2019s sweet, but don\u2019t you want to have your hand in getting even with my dad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrett let out a snort. \u201cI\u2019m an old man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not even 50, shut up,\u201d she shook her head. \u201cI could use you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNah, darling, my grifting days are over. I\u2019m retired. And yes, the vineyard may be gone, but I\u2019ll set up shop somewhere else. I\u2019ve done my job well with getting you to see a different way of doing things, your own way, not being dictated by your family and I\u2019m proud of you. You don\u2019t need me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded. She had expected him to say \u2018yes\u2019, but she understood why he retired. He had seen it all, done it all, and was now retired with a nice nest egg, or at least several from what she understood. She was resourceful to do this on her own, but it would have been nice if at least one of the two people she fully trusted would have been with her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the doorbell rang for downstairs, Liam made his way to the door and minutes later returned with Neal in tow. \u201cHa, told you he\u2019d be back,\u201d Garrett laughed at Bella. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, why wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d Neal reacted a little confused before grabbing a glass and the bottle of wine with his name on it before joining Bella and Garrett at the table. Bella thought something looked off about him. Neal looked somewhat haunted, mildly pained. \u201cWhat?\u201d He asked as his face broke out in sunshine and rainbows. Fake sunshine and rainbows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened? Are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d she said as she leaned on the table with her arm and rested her chin in her hand as she looked at him. \u201cFor a conman you\u2019re a terrible liar if you know what you\u2019re looking for,\u201d Bella replied with a playful smile on her face. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal took a large gulp of the wine and sighed deeply. \u201cEver heard of Sterling Bosch?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s an insurance company, works globally and their investigators are tough as nails and not easy to fool,\u201d Bella nodded as she took a sip of her beer. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had some dealings with one of their investigators, even with the company itself, they saved my ass once when the FBI was being dicks. Not Peter, but others,\u201d Neal replied as he refilled his glass of wine. \u201cThat investigator I was telling you about? She didn\u2019t believe I was really dead and spent the last few months trying to find me with her company\u2019s resources.\u201d Neal couldn\u2019t even look at her, which made Bella believe he was telling the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat investigator\u2019s name is Sara, and she and I were sort of in a relationship? Not when I faked my death but yeah, we\u2019ve dated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella took another swig of her beer to remain calm as she kept her eyes on Neal. Why wasn\u2019t he surprised? One of his friends was a Suit, why not have a girlfriend who\u2019s an insurance investigator? \u201cWhat did she want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter she tackled me to the ground with her baton, she wanted to talk. Sara wasn\u2019t angry with me, she understood why I did it, but she had always hoped I would take her with me,\u201d Neal replied, chugging his third glass in a short amount of time. \u201cShe even kissed me!\u201d He cried out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLad, you were kissed by a woman and you make it sound as if it was the most terrible thing that has happened to you,\u201d Liam laughed. \u201cIs she attractive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSee, that\u2019s where it gets interesting,\u201d Neal pointed out. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I ever loved her, I think I was in love with the idea of loving someone again, and she was an easy mark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEw,\u201d Bella visibly shuddered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou must have done a bang up job if that woman travelled around the world to find you,\u201d Garrett shook his head, laughing. \u201cIs she hot?\u201d When Bella narrowed her eyes on him, he realized that Liam had asked it before. \u201cWhat? I may be old but I\u2019m still fully functional!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re gross,\u201d Bella replied as she took a sip of her beer. \u201cSounds terrible, Neal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight?\u201d Neal agreed with a nod as he poured himself another glass. \u201cI haven\u2019t missed her since I left – and had ended things with her, mind you. Besides, there\u2019s this girl I really want to get to know better and having a complicated ex in town is bad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella looked at him and shook her head before grabbing her laptop and her bottle of beer. \u201cGuy talk time, I suppose. Good night everyone. Oh, Neal? If you want to come to the States with me, we\u2019re leaving tomorrow after stopping by at Carlo\u2019s for your passport, but you can always stay here, I\u2019m sure Garrett won\u2019t mind you staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged. \u201cWhenever we\u2019re awake. Good night everyone, this girl is hauling her ass off to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bella had been to New Orleans once. Once. And she had fallen so much in love with the French Quarter that she had acquired her own space behind her family\u2019s back while she was cleaning up after them. Mia Robbins was the proud owner of a huge guest house on Dumaine Street, half a block away from Bourbon Street and Royal Street. She hadn\u2019t actually lived in it yet, but it would be the perfect hiding spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guest house was far too big for her, but she really hadn\u2019t been able to control herself as she\u2019d walk passed it. 10 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms was definitely overkill for just one person, much like Uncle Garrett\u2019s apartment in Paris, but that was smaller in size. Bella\u2019s guest house was over 5000 square feet in space, and before she had bought it, it was used as a bed and breakfast but it had been in disarray and she had been able to scoop it up for a low price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no way that she was going to use it as a bed and breakfast. She liked her privacy. It hadn\u2019t been easy to restore the 1820\u2019s Creole Mansion to its original state, Bella wanted less rooms and less bathrooms – she figured to half it would be best but loved the walls, the ceiling and the patio of the space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracked tiles and exposed brick everywhere. It truly was like a home in the French Quarter you\u2019d see on television. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had hired one of the best and private renovation specialists with whom she had communicated while away. There now was a big kitchen area with everything she\u2019d ever wanted and still remaining in the style of the house. These days, everything could be made or bought with the right amount of money and it was easy for Bella to get money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For her, it was important to have a big stove, lots of counter space and a fridge that was three times the size she was. There was also a lot of space to put appliances and kitchen implements. Cupboards. Drawers. Large table with chairs. She couldn\u2019t wait to see it all in the flesh, sort to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had seen pictures of the den, of her computer room, the master bedroom and several guest bedrooms. There was a library without books and one of the other rooms had been made smaller but it was her art studio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big covered walkways over the street and the external stairs had also been a great selling point. You couldn\u2019t actually see the stairs from the street, as it was hidden behind two doors, but once you were through the doors, there was a passageway to the patio and on the right a set of stairs to get to the top. Underneath the stairs there was a lot of storage space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A private security firm that she trusted had done the security on her home. Cameras. Alarms. And once installed, she remotely wiped all of their access codes and made her own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her home was every girl\u2019s wet dream. Bella hadn\u2019t been sure if she\u2019d ever use it, but now she would. No one knew about her home, not even her family. It was safe, and New Orleans was filled with enough hiding spots should things get a little too hot underneath her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, they had to actually get there. Carlo\u2019s forged passport for Neal had looked great, a lot better than either she or Neal could have come up with in a short amount of time and it got them through customs at Charles De Gaulle Airport. It was always rewarding to see hard work rewarded like that. Neal mentioned that he was excited to go to New Orleans, seeing as while he had traveled far and wide while running from Peter Burke, he\u2019d never been to New Orleans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And seeing as Bella had only been there once before, they both couldn\u2019t wait to explore the beautiful city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During or after their brainstorm on how to set up the Cullens, of course. It was more important to take them down, and they\u2019d likely have to move to a different city to get everyone together but for now, nobody knew that she was going to be in New Orleans and she deserved a breather, didn\u2019t she?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t know much about New Orleans other than she\u2019d been there for a job once with her family and that she had her own home there now. And also that it was likely that she and Neal had to pay a visit to the Michaels family. The Michaels were a family of con-artists themselves, and they basically claimed the French Quarter as their own. At least that\u2019s what she remembered what her parents had told them. It was always good to inform the major players that you were in town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And not meaning any harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was going to be a tossup between the Michaels\u2019 accepting her and Neal\u2019s presence in the Quarter after Edward made promises to Nick Michaels and, of course, didn\u2019t make good on his promise, so Bella was ready for repercussions. Or whatever the Michaels decided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe she should have thought before she bought the house. The worst outcome would be that she\u2019d have to do a few things for the Michaels family. Who cared?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she truly didn\u2019t mean any harm. She simply wanted to live there, her work was all done online anyway. It was Neal that worried her, but Bella was certain that he could switch off too. Be normal. Do things he liked that didn\u2019t have anything to do with stealing or forging. Just relax. Forget the rest of the world for a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, first order of business was to arrive in New Orleans, get through customs, grab a taxi and go and admire her own place. Followed by buying groceries, some clothes and sleep, in no particular order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella couldn\u2019t contain her excitement as they were driven into the French Quarter. There were no words, really. The rich history mixed with some of the new\u2026The buildings, the people\u2026 it was as if she was seeing it for the first time, but she wasn\u2019t. But she was now in New Orleans for herself. It was now her home. And she\u2019d fallen in love all over again. Even in the car, she could hear the faint notes of jazz music and she couldn\u2019t wait to go to one of the bars to experience it all live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBel\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about this, Neal,\u201d Bella looked at him, still wearing a stupid grin on her face. \u201cIt\u2019s Izzy, unless we\u2019re safely inside my house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Neal laughed. \u201cBut the look on your face is just adorable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She stuck out her tongue to him. \u201cThis is what true freedom feels like. You\u2019re going to love my house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t even seen it yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen enough,\u201d she replied as she looked back out of the window. \u201cForget Paris. New Orleans is a majestic unicorn compared to Paris.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also French.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Bella looked back at him with a smile. \u201cBut this is the first time I\u2019m somewhere by myself. Not with my family, not on a family deadline or with my uncle. No strings, no obligations\u2026 my own private sanctuary\u2026\u201d She then sighed happily. \u201cI can do whatever I want, when I want, without having to tell someone I want to do something.\u201d She then jabbed his arm with her index finger. \u201cAnd for the next few days, I want to enjoy being in New Orleans, soak it all up and do fun stuff. I need fun stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Dirty Dancing kind of fun stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNooooo,\u201d Bella shook her head. \u201cThe drinking, dancing and sightseeing kind of fun stuff. Maybe even some karaoke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, no, not karaoke!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A devious grin appeared on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow we\u2019re definitely going to do some karaoke!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her home was everything she could have ever wished for, and more. It was secure, it was big, there were so many tiny details that she loved. Her computer room was interesting, something she hadn\u2019t seen clearly on the pictures, but it was in the room with a loft, and all of her computer things were on the loft, and downstairs there was a nice area to hang on one of the comfortable sofas she bought and a big screen TV with an entertainment set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was also a fridge that she could stock up with for drinks or snacks and the walls had frames on them with enlarged covers of comic books that she liked. Some Hellblazer comics, others were that of Supergirl or the Green Arrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because she didn\u2019t take any of her belongings with her when she went to Uncle Garrett, and they\u2019d likely be destroyed by now, the display cabinets were empty, but she was certainly going to fill them with trinkets she could find. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another important area to her was the kitchen and it was everything she\u2019d hoped for. Exposed beams and exposed walls, and the entire kitchen in a classic French country style. The big stove and the big fridge-freezer combination melted perfectly into the area. She loved the way how the light wood worked with the grey of the countertops and then there was some dark red in her kitchen somewhere too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kitchen felt nice and homey and she couldn\u2019t wait to start cooking in it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as with all the other rooms, her bedroom was even better than the pictures she\u2019d seen of it. Again with the exposed beams on the ceiling, but all the walls were intact. French doors opened to the balcony overlooking the patio and giving access to the other rooms on that side of the building and there was a fireplace installed as well. A fake one, but a good fake, nonetheless. It did look like logs were burning with the fireplace turned on, but the heat came from other areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella almost had a nerdgasm when she figured out that the heating in her room was connected to the fireplace. Turn on the heat, the fireplace switched on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just because she could, there was an Emperor sized bed in her bedroom. Plenty of room to get nightmares, toss and turn all night without actually falling off. Although, knowing her luck, she\u2019d manage to fall off the bed anyway. Bella fell down onto the bed and sighed happily. The mattress was just right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She peeled herself off the bed after a few minutes of just lying there, and explored the rest of the home before finding Neal in the patio. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour home is amazing,\u201d he replied, nodding. \u201cA bit impersonal though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to fix that,\u201d Bella pointed out as she sat down in one of the other chairs. \u201cI have nothing. It\u2019s likely my family has thrown it all away or destroyed it, which is fine, I have all the personal items I need in the bag I took.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour laptop?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a personal item, Neal, that\u2019s a tool,\u201d Bella laughed. \u201cNah, just small things. A trinket, a picture\u2026 that sort of personal item. Everything else is replaceable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded, knowing the feeling all too well. \u201cMy friend Mozzie has this teddy bear. Tattered. He got that when he was growing up in an orphanage and called it Mozart. Moz has moved a lot over the years, but where he goes, that bear goes. I didn\u2019t take anything with me, couldn\u2019t, really. Not with the way how I left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat would you have taken with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe the key to June\u2019s house. It felt like home. Never stayed in a place long enough before that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She smiled then. \u201cAnd here you are, leaving your cozy apartment in Montmartre to come with me to New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEh, I got bored,\u201d he laughed. \u201cGetting that Picasso was definitely a highlight, for such a simple job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou got into the Louvre, that sounds so much more exciting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou could get into the Louvre, even bypass their security system without actually having to do all the work,\u201d Neal pointed out. \u201cNo, I liked getting that Picasso because I actually liked working with Mia, and then finding out she was you. The Picasso and everything that followed after taught me a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat you can still pull a con for the thrill and fun, but that there\u2019s a different, a sort of beneficial for all angle that interests me,\u201d Neal replied, smiling at her as he leaned back in his chair. \u201cI never thought of that. I just wanted to keep the items because they were worth money or beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella had figured that that was the reason why Neal stuck around, and that was alright. While he had seemed to have found his \u2018off switch\u2019, and acted a lot more relaxed, he was still an opportunist and Bella wasn\u2019t going to allow herself to be played. She\u2019d just have to crush that small crush on him that she was developing. No more figuring out what he looked like underneath his clothes. Likely well-sculpted but she\u2019d never see him like that unless she\u2019d catch him without his shirt on. And that was creepy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I still keep some of the things I get, but having a storage space somewhere filled with beautiful antiques and paintings is an insult to the artists. Best place for them is to stay in museums where everyone can look at them. Going after the bad people is what I like, I get my money elsewhere, anyway,\u201d she replied as she dug around in her pocket. \u201cSpeaking of which, Neal Carter has a bank account, there\u2019s 50k in that account,\u201d she said as she placed the card on the table with the code attached on a sticky note. \u201cI\u201dll get you the papers later. The money can be traced back to legitimate sources. On top of that, if you\u2019d like, I can get you a pencoin account like the one I have, where the money you\u2019ll have will be untraceable and I can set up an extra funnel. Whenever I decide to have a bad guy donate to a charity, you\u2019ll get a percentage of that money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He looked at her in surprise. \u201cWhy would you do that? I do have money, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shrugged. \u201cI figured you\u2019re sticking around not only to help me with the Cullens but also to learn a different way to pull off a con for different reasons, so having some money might help you maintain your lifestyle, and payment for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWow,\u201d Neal let out a breath and shook his head in disappointment, maybe hurt. \u201cYou really think that little of me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tilted her head as she looked at him and scratched the side of her head. \u201cWhat other reason could there be for you to follow me to New Orleans? Aside from the reasons previously mentioned and getting the chance to make fools out of the Cullens and run from your insurance investigator ex-girlfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou really make me sound like an asshole when you put it like that.\u201d Bella could see that he was hurt, Neal looked like he had received a slap in the face. \u201cFor someone who\u2019s good at cold reading people and manipulating marks, you\u2019re really clueless as what\u2019s happening in front of your face, aren\u2019t you? You truly switch off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she replied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal leaned forward, a big goofy smile on his face. \u201cNo, that\u2019s okay, it\u2019s cute. But let me tell you the real reason I\u2019m here, with you. I think you\u2019re an amazing person, Bella, and I really want to spend more time with you, to be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She let out a breath she didn\u2019t know she was holding and nodded. Friends. Fine. She could work with that, she didn\u2019t have enough of those. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd not just as friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella looked at him in surprise. \u201cSorry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gently placed his hand on her arm and squeezed it gently. \u201cI really<\/em> like you, Bella. When we were at the museum, working together as Mia and George? I practically forced myself not to think about you because I knew what I was going to do and I didn\u2019t want to ruin your life, because you didn\u2019t deserve it. When you walked in on me stealing the Picasso, I forgot all about that,\u201d he replied. \u201cAnd sure, I wasn\u2019t quite sure what to think when your uncle told me you were a Cullen, because they\u2019re known to be ruthless assholes, but you\u2019re different. You\u2019re this beacon of light who touches every person it comes into contact with and you\u2019re beautiful. It\u2019s so easy to be around you and just be, and that\u2019s very special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She felt her face redden and warm up. \u201cUh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, in short, I\u2019ve fallen for you, Bella and I don\u2019t want to get up. Please tell me that I\u2019ve read you correctly and you feel the same because otherwise I\u2019ve made a huge ass out of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella bit her lip as she looked at him. She had not expected this to happen. \u201cI\u2019ve been wondering myself how good we\u2019d be together. Not just as partners in crime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s figure that out then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSounds like a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan I kiss you now? Please?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The first three days of being in New Orleans were spent getting supplies and clothes, make the building more homey and personal while Neal and Bella grew closer together. Ever since their talk, Neal had been more in her personal space and she didn\u2019t mind him being there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She hadn\u2019t had a lot of boyfriends in the past, her family never seemed to like the guys she brought home. Instead she had picked up random guys in bars if she wanted to get her rocks off. There had been Jacob as somewhat of an approved boyfriend, and he and Neal were day and night. It wasn\u2019t as if she and Neal were boyfriend and girlfriend, there wasn\u2019t a label, just interest and curiosity at this point, but Jacob had been possessive from the get-go and not in the nicest of ways. Neal\u2019s presence around her was protective, loving, safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now that she experienced him more up close, he smelled really good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She really couldn\u2019t wait until they both couldn\u2019t keep their hands off of each other and find out what he was wearing underneath that shirt and jacket, or even what held in his jeans. Bella had to tell herself to feel, she had explained to Neal that she had had a few bad experiences and that that was the reason that she had switched off for that side of her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much to her surprise, he was alright with that and would give her all the time she needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the fourth day of being in New Orleans, Bella decided to set up her computer for business. Installing everything from the backups she had taken with her, and checked on her laptop how well her capital worm that she had unleashed less than a week ago had performed. It was even better than she\u2019d hoped for. There was enough to pay for a crew, and quite well, and to buy everything they needed for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While her computer was installing, she had written a script that allowed her to walk away while the OS and all the other software she needed were being installed, she took her laptop and headed to the kitchen where Neal was making lunch, and it was smelling so good. \u201cI said I\u2019d make lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, you did,\u201d he nodded. \u201cBut, you\u2019ve been cooking for the last three days, when we weren\u2019t having food in New Orleans, and I thought I\u2019d do it today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d she smiled as she took a seat at the kitchen island and placed down her laptop. \u201cWould you like to call Mozzie to tell him you\u2019re no longer in France?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal looked up from his cutting work. \u201cWithout telling him where I went?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPreferably. Unless you want to invite him to join us to think of a great way of taking down my siblings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019d freak out if he learned who you are,\u201d Neal said after a moment of silence. \u201cBest to keep him in New York, but I\u2019d love to talk to him, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m more worried about the CCTV your Suit has access to, I don\u2019t want him anywhere close.\u201d Bella booted up the software that allowed her to make calls anonymously, Mozzie\u2019s phone number was saved in the address book and dialed his number. \u201cHave fun,\u201d she placed the laptop next to Neal on the kitchen counter so Mozzie could hear him clearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeal?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHeya, Moz, how are you doing?\u201d Neal said chipper as he continued cutting up the vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, good.\u201d Mozzie replied. \u201cHey, it\u2019s good that you\u2019re calling, I could use your help with something, are you alone?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course I am! The Suit and I aren\u2019t attached at the hip like you were and I\u2019m not looking after baby Neal and Teddy!\u201d <\/em>Mozzie countered, sounding slightly hurt. \u201cNo, this is about our bakery.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal let out a snort. \u201cYour bakery, Moz, I signed it over to you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDetails. It\u2019s ours. I was thinking about turning it into something else. A children\u2019s daycare. We\u2019ll teach the kids how to pickpocket and everything!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorst idea ever,\u201d <\/em>Neal laughed. \u201cWhat do you need help with?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure you\u2019re alone? This isn\u2019t being recorded or anything?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neal looked at Bella, who quietly sat at the kitchen island. \u201cShe\u2019s out, she showed me how to use this thing on her laptop and left, she needed to buy something.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, good. Hey, do you happen to know her name? Shitface is a terrible name.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do,\u201d Neal replied with a nod as he continued to cook. \u201cBut I\u2019m not going to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a great hacker, I always thought she was a guy. I\u2019m actually in awe of her, the things she did? Legendary. Seems like she\u2019s wasting her talents now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr,\u201d Neal looked at Bella. \u201cShe finally can do whatever she wants and that includes semi-retirement, can you blame her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would have done more with her skills.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you the one who always said that with great power comes great responsibility, Moz?\u201d Neal laughed, shaking his head. \u201cBut what about Shitface? Did Peter tell you something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeal, as much as I think she\u2019s a legend and currently wasting her talents, she\u2019s dangerous. She can do so much damage and destroy you and everyone you\u2019ve ever loved with a single click of a button.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, that\u2019s what she\u2019s offered me, to destroy me and she did,\u201d Neal replied, looking up at Bella again. \u201cAnd she also gave me my life back by doing so. I trust her. No matter how much she dislikes Suits, she won\u2019t do anything to harm him, because he\u2019s my friend, and so are you. She\u2019s not malicious in any way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd what if you do something stupid and she wants to take revenge?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoz, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou want to know why she\u2019s a legend? Why most hackers in the community are afraid of her? She can get through almost any security system and firewalls that are in place. At one point she disrupted the traffic lights and bridges in\u2026 what was it\u2026 Chicago?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s funny how you love The Vulture and you\u2019re afraid of Shitface.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the Vulture who\u2019s warning me about Shitface. Shitface is a legend, but she\u2019s also insane and dangerous.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella hadn\u2019t done anything remotely malicious with her hacking since she left the Cullens, and even so, she would always try to be nice about it. The two things that Mozzie mentioned about her were true, the first ability he mentioned was for ease of access and escape, and the second one was to make sure her family could make a clean getaway. Sure, she bricked several computers and servers back in the day too, but that was noob-level shit. Mozzie made it sound like she was evil enough to hack hospital servers and control someone\u2019s heart monitor or something. Or pacemakers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, she could, but just because she could, didn\u2019t mean she should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Vulture is just as dangerous, Moz, and you don\u2019t hear me talk to you about her,\u201d Neal replied as he walked over to Bella with the laptop and placed it on the island before pulling her into his arms. \u201cIt\u2019s funny how last week you said I was safe with her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are! And you\u2019re not!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI appreciate your concern, Moz.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe could land you back in prison.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t,\u201d Neal said as he rubbed Bella\u2019s back, who was now shaking out of frustration and anger. \u201cShe\u2019s not just a hacker but she\u2019s also a brilliant con artist. As smart and talented as they come. You\u2019d be impressed by her. She\u2019s funny and has a completely different outlook on the game than you and I do. And it\u2019s beautiful. I know that you\u2019re afraid that something will happen to me, you\u2019ve always looked out for me, Moz, and you still do. You don\u2019t have to be afraid you\u2019re getting replaced either. I do want you two to meet one day, perhaps after we\u2019ve finished what we\u2019re about to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed happily as she relaxed into Neal\u2019s arms. Oh, she was used to be called names or people not being too happy with her, but for some reason this hurt. Mozzie was Neal\u2019s best friend. Well, no, it made sense now. Mozzie was afraid she was going to take his place. But it still wasn\u2019t nice, and certainly not from someone who was supposed to know better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething. Will let you know if we need your help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething big?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Neal replied. \u201cBut you don\u2019t have to worry. We\u2019re both more than capable of pulling this off and she\u2019ll never replace you. Oh, by the way, we\u2019ve left France.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou left? Where did you go to?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomewhere, you know. I\u2019ll tell you once we\u2019re done and once Shitface believes that our Suit is a good guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll this secrecy because of the Suit?! The Suit is alright!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust like how you were, Moz, so don\u2019t be calling the kettle black,\u201d Neal countered. \u201cAnyway, I have to finish lunch, she\u2019s coming back soon. Talk to you later, Moz,\u201d Neal disconnected the call and pulled Bella closer to him. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to hear that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I understand,\u201d she replied as she looked up to him. \u201cIt\u2019s not nice to hear, but I understand. He\u2019s worried about you, that\u2019s all. It doesn\u2019t help that The Vulture is whispering in his ear. She\u2019s a hypocrite, but yeah, it\u2019s basic competitiveness, and I\u2019m not going to stoop to her level to give you information about her that you can relay to Mozzie. I\u2019m a nice person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, yes you are,\u201d Neal smiled at her and softly kissed her lips before releasing her. \u201cAm I good to continue to make lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she took her laptop and sat back down again. \u201cI know that we still need to make a plan, but seeing as we\u2019re not going to involve Mozzie, we need a crew, and I think we should make a list of who we want and then see if they\u2019re willing to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd after lunch we\u2019re going to the Michaels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho are they?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest criminals in the Quarter. We\u2019re just going to say hi and tell them we\u2019re no threat to them. Offer our services, one time for free, and we\u2019ll be good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never heard of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I had never heard of you, and you never heard of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, well, that\u2019s because you lived under a rock,\u201d Neal stuck out his tongue to her. \u201cBut why would you want to check in with them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI need to make sure that we\u2019re good with them,\u201d Bella replied with a sigh. \u201cMy brother made a promise to them when they had a job here. In exchange for allowing the family to fuck someone up, Edward promised them that the family would do a job for them as a thank you for being allowed to pull off a con, in addition to money and a share of the loot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever make deals with a Cullen, they\u2019re not honest,\u201d Bella ran a hand through her hair. \u201cThe Michaels didn\u2019t get anything, so, I\u2019m going to have to tell them the whole story and then offer my services, free of charge, and hope that they\u2019ll allow us to stay here. They know what I look like as I ran into the brothers while I was cleaning up my family\u2019s mess. It\u2019s only a matter of time before they realize we\u2019re right under their noses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded. \u201cTheir compound is on Bourbon Street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo you like living dangerously, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shook her head, laughing. \u201cNo, I fell in love with New Orleans. With this house. I just hope that they are the forgiving type. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re here to eat the cheese off their bread. I\u2019m a hacker and we can easily go elsewhere if we want to pull off a con. The Michaels don\u2019t piss in their own backyard either, but from what I understand is that they know everyone who\u2019s in the Quarter that can pose a threat to them. And I want to make sure we\u2019re not a threat to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCourtesy call then, sounds very archaic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shrugged. \u201cThis is New Orleans. Isn\u2019t everything old and dated with a flair of romance and mystery?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t sound safe, Bella,\u201d Neal said as he stirred the vegetables in the pan. \u201cYou don\u2019t know them, and neither do I.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe worst they can do is tell us that we have to move. And then we\u2019ll do that within the time they\u2019ll permit us. It\u2019d be a terrible thing to do because I really love this house and this city, but it is what it is,\u201d Bella replied as she checked her messages on her laptop. \u201cI only know about having to do this because of my family. Seeing as you and I aren\u2019t a family and we plan on taking down them down\u2026 who knows? They might want to help us instead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re insane,\u201d Neal laughed as he plated up lunch and brought it over. \u201cBut if you think this is a wise move, then let\u2019s do it. If all fails, at least we\u2019ll have scoped out their place and \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella put her hand over his mouth. \u201cNo. We don\u2019t steal from other professionals unless they\u2019re bad guys who do bad things and we don\u2019t know they\u2019re bad guys who do bad things. Just that my brother likely pissed them off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill cleaning up their mess then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to live in peace, not to have to look over my shoulder all the time, do you? Making friends with them might benefit us too, against people who hate Neal Caffrey even though you\u2019re dead, and the Volturi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Neal nodded. \u201cAfter lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter lunch,\u201d Bella agreed as she took a bite of her food. The way Neal cooked was almost as if you were eating in a fancy restaurant, even plated beautifully, with care and precision. It was the complete opposite of how Bella cooked. Her food tasted good, but it was more home cooking than restaurant grade. If it fit on the plate, it fit. If not, not. And no set way to plate up either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to see if Myka Morgan is still in the game,\u201d Neal said after they ate in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. \u201cFor your list of potential people to form our crew? Myka is drop-dead gorgeous and a grifter, works with NLP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeurolinguistic Programming?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella thought for a moment before adding Myka on the notepad. \u201cYou worked with her before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. Seeing as you haven\u2019t heard of me, I figured your family hasn\u2019t either, and it\u2019d be a good thing to pick people who they don\u2019t know, makes things a lot easier. Mozzie will know how to get in touch with her, if she\u2019s still in the game,\u201d he replied before laughing when he saw Bella\u2019s face contort in disgust. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, she likes the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She smiled then. \u201cOh, so you\u2019ve tried?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course! I wanted to see if she was interested in a threesome with Kate and I.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate. Neal had told her about Kate, of course. About his life with Kate before getting caught by Peter, and about what happened afterward. How she died. How he felt about Kate, and had felt. It had sounded as if it had been an unhealthy relationship. Obsession. Which he admitted, but they had an epic love, and Bella hoped that she and Neal wouldn\u2019t end up that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had learned from his past and Bella was done with indulging people by rolling over and accepting jerks. She wasn\u2019t a new Kate to Neal, she knew that. So that was good. Maybe it was time to remove the breaks on her self containment. She didn\u2019t need to be afraid with and of Neal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA threesome?\u201d she got off her chair and grabbed her empty plate to put in the dishwasher. \u201cYou want to share all this?\u201d she teased him as she motioned to her body with her free hand. \u201cBecause I\u2019m not sure I want to share all of that,\u201d she moved her hand towards his body with a devious smile on her face. \u201cAnd to talk about a threesome before we even enjoyed each other\u2019s bodies? Ha!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t\u2014 I didn\u2019t mean to\u2014 uhh, no. No to sharing. I want you all to myself,\u201d Neal said flustered. \u201cThreesomes are overrated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUhuh. They can be hot, though,\u201d Bella winked at him as she put her plate in the dishwasher and wiggled her ass in the air before turning around, smiling widely. \u201cSo, ready to go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re mean and you\u2019re evil. Who are you and what have you done to Bella?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She moved over to him, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. \u201cLet\u2019s go to the Michaels\u2026 and then we can have some fun\u2026 if you\u2019re up for it,\u201d she said as she dug her hands into his hair and pushed her body against his while he was still seated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow about that first\u2026 them later?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPatience,\u201d she laughed and kissed him again. \u201cCome on, the sooner we do this, the sooner we\u2019re back here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 03 5h1tF4c3: Anybody seen Mingus? While she perfected her bot to get her more capital, she and Neal also worked on a new identity for him with a complete background and stories. And it was a fun thing to do. And she could do it herself, for the most…<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":933,"parent":935,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-946","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChapter 03 - MeekoBuggy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 03 - MeekoBuggy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 03 5h1tF4c3: Anybody seen Mingus? While she perfected her bot to get her more capital, she and Neal also worked on a new identity for him with a complete background and stories. And it was a fun thing to do. And she could do it herself, for the most... 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While she perfected her bot to get her more capital, she and Neal also worked on a new identity for him with a complete background and stories. And it was a fun thing to do. And she could do it herself, for the most... 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