9. No Good Deed

Complete story — includes the ending

In bed, Neal tells Rebecca a limited version of the truth but says he can't involve her in the theft of the window for her own safety. She convinces him to let her help, and the next day she distracts the men repairing the window while Neal and Mozzie steal it. They discover that one of the panels allows secret messages in Chapter 13 to be read, but only in the real Chapter 13, not their copy. They plan to trade this panel to Hagan for the evidence that Hagan has of Neal's earlier coin theft. At the same time, an FBI watch of pawnshops turns up one of the gold coins that Neal stole for Hagan, and that Hagan used to bribe Peter's prosecutor Dawson. Peter's investigation leads him to Decker, the man who fenced them for Dawson, but Mozzie tips off Decker and allows him to escape. Peter goes to Neal's apartment and claims that he has captured Decker, and Neal confesses to the coin theft, implying that he rather than Hagan was the one who bribed Dawson to save Peter. Peter feels obligated to arrest Neal and thus reopen his own case, probably ending his career, but Elizabeth counsels him against this. The next morning, Jones actually arrests Decker, and Peter does not question him about the coins; there are enough weapons and other contraband coins in Decker's store to ensure his conviction on other charges. Peter then goes to Dawson and offers not to reveal the bribe if Dawson resigns his position and returns the coins, which he does. Peter tells Neal that there will be "changes" in their working relationship, as he now realizes that Neal cannot fully change his criminal ways. Neal agrees.