Chapter 5

Hughes summoned Ruiz upstairs, first thing Monday morning. Now Hughes was taking his time getting his coffee, trying to keep his anger under control after seeing and talking to Neal and Peter and reviewing the evidence of Ruiz's actions.

Diana and Jones were in the conference room with Ruiz, keeping him company as they waited on Hughes, Peter, and Neal to join them. Diana and Jones had seen the photographs of Neal's injuries. They had read his statement and they had read the transcript of what the forensics department had pulled off the recording device in the pen. It was all extremely damning evidence. And it made them very angry to see a member of their team, a friend, injured.

Ruiz thought he had actually gotten away with it. He figured he was just at White Collar to give them a report for the week. And he was very prepared to lie and say that Neal had been a valued asset to the division. Ruiz remembered his threat to Neal when he and his agents had assaulted him. But Neal had gone back to White Collar the next day. Peter had needed him back for a special assignment, and Ruiz had been thrilled. He had not wanted to babysit anyway. And, besides, Ruiz was 110% certain, if Burke had known what had happened to Neal, he surely would have heard about it. Burke would have stormed into Homicide and given Ruiz a piece of his mind. That hadn't happened. That meant that Burke was completely in the dark. Ruiz could not help but smirk at getting one over on the 'oh-so-smart' Agent Burke. That was until just a few moments ago.

"What do you think, Diana? Does he resemble or act like a cockroach?" Jones asked.

"Well, to me he's always looked like a cockroach. So…." Diana replied.

"I agree." Jones stated. "And he seems to know a lot about cockroaches. I mean, he talks about them enough."

Diana nodded. "Yeah, what…4 times, 4 mentions?"

"Really, only four…?" Jones said. "Maybe I need to go back and reread the transcript."

Ruiz realized the jig was up. He had called Neal a cockroach several times, he knew. He didn't know what in the world they were talking about, though, in regards to any transcript. Ruiz started to stand, but Jones pushed him down with a hand on the shoulder.

"I need to…." Ruiz started.

"You need to speak with Agent Hughes and Agent Burke." Diana stated. "Whatever else it is you think you have to do, can wait."

"You have no right to…." Ruiz started. After all Diana was not a superior, and definitely not his superior.

Diana leaned in for a little, and for the first time Ruiz really saw her anger. "Do you really want to discuss what people have the right to do?" .

Ruiz felt very intimidated. He didn't answer. He just looked up as Hughes, Peter and Neal entered the room. Neal sat down on the opposite side of the table. Neither Peter nor Hughes said anything in lieu of a greeting. Peter just opened a folder and slid it across the table to Ruiz.

Ruiz sat and looked at pictures of Neal's injuries. His mind working, forming and then throwing out explanations, then he decided.

"I can't keep an eye on my agents 24/7. And lots of them just didn't like Caffrey. They weren't shy about saying it either." Ruiz started.

"We know it was you…." Peter started.

"You're believing a co…a criminal? …over me?" Ruiz asked, astonished.

"You meant a cockroach didn't you, Agent Ruiz?" Hughes replied. "And won't your fellow agents be thrilled to know that you tried to throw them under the bus?"

"We already know that Agent Abrams was involved." Peter replied. "Anybody else you care to mention?"

"You have proof of nothing!" Ruiz shot back.

"Oh, we have proof of everything. I suggest you take a closer look at the folder in front of you." Hughes replied.

Ruiz's blood ran cold as he looked at the evidence against him. He read the transcript. It contained every conversation he had had with Neal for the entire time he was with Homicide.

"How did…?" Ruiz started.

Peter grinned as he pulled out the pen he had given to Neal. "We thought you might have him off anklet. I needed another way to track him…just in case." He turned to Neal and nodded. "…glad Neal thought of using it."

Hughes stepped forward. "You, Ruiz, are no longer employed by this agency. You…."

"You can't fire me!" Ruiz started, as he began to stand. He glared across the table at Neal. "You…!" He seethed. "This is all your fault!"

"You are right, Ruiz. I'm not your supervisor." Hughes said calmly, and it got Ruiz's attention. "But the Director of the FBI can terminate you. He found the things we presented to him, that file,..." Hughes indicated the folder Peter had shown Ruiz. "…most interesting. You see, he is a big fan of the C.I. program. He's had several thoroughout his FBI career."

Ruiz looked panicked for just a moment; this was not supposed to happen. He would not lose his job, his career because of some…criminal.

"You did this!" Ruiz said, redirecting his anger towards Neal. He stood and started towards Neal. Diana and Jones immediately blocked his path.

"You're protecting that…!" Ruiz started.

Neal stood. "It's okay." He said to Diana and Jones, and they backed off. Neal then looked at Hughes. "...no longer an FBI agent, right?"

Hughes nodded. Then he and Peter suddenly became very interested in Neal's file. Jones and Diana became very interested in something happening out on the street.

Neal stood and glared at Former Agent Ruiz. Neal had changed. His demeanor was darker. His eyes seemed to have turned a darker shade of blue, and his voice took on an edge. "I don't scare easily. And I don't like violence. But there is a time and a place for everything."

Neal then balled up his fist and punched Ruiz in the face.

Ruiz staggered back a step or two, completely surprised. "You saw that! You all saw that!"

"I saw how clumsy you are…" Peter replied. "…falling into the table like that."

"You really should be more careful, Ruiz." Hughes stated.

"You can't…he…!" Ruiz said, looking around the room.

"Agent Jacobs has your paperwork by now, Ruiz." Hughes said. "You should get back to Homicide. I think he will want to speak with you."

THE END

END NOTES: I didn't include Ruiz's punishment because I liked the way the story ended. You get the idea things will not go well. The director will use Ruiz as an example of what NOT to do, as a federal agent. Ruiz, as a result, got a couple years jail time in a federal pen. I know assault and battery is not a federal offense. But given the situation and the fact that Ruiz was a federal agent…. It just seemed appropriate. At any rate, I hope you enjoyed the story.