Intrigue

When Neal and Peter go undercover to investigate a beautiful widow about to receive a huge life insurance payment, things become complicated when Neal begins to develop feelings for her.

Sara Ellis turns to Peter and Neal about a dead inside trader fraudster worth $50,000,000, whose widow, Sophie Covington, is uncooperative except to Neal (who saved her from an attempted kidnapping at the funeral). Neal charms her and finds she's no black widow but targeted by her late husband's dodgy business partner, Wilson Mailer. The latter is manipulated by Mozzie through trigger-nervous PI Freddy Slavkin, hired to spy on Wilson by his suspicious wife, Poppy. When Wilson bribes an accomplice for a kidnapping, Neal must trick everyone. Peter is finally reinstated.—KGF Vissers

Opens with a recap and a New York City montage.

Neal visits Peter at the evidence warehouse and shows him his first FBI check since returning. Sara shows up and asks about Neal's recent adventures. She's working the Covington settlement, a hedge fund manager Peter investigated, who recently died while diving and left $50 million to a young widow. She's trying to make sure the wife, Sophie, didn't have anything to do with it.

Sara and Peter stake out Covington's funeral during Peter's lunch break. They spot Covington's hedge partner Will, whom Peter suspected may also be dirty. They notice somebody taking pictures.

Elsewhere, Neal takes Mozzie to meet Ellen. She suggests he work with Sam, a former cop who knew a lot about his father.

Sophie leaves the funeral before Covington's 21-gun salute is complete. Neal walks by just as she's being abducted. He saves her from being thrown into a van by masked men.

Peter gives the White Collar team his version of what he saw. On his way out he looks wistfully at his empty office. Peter asks Hughes if he can consult (outside hours from the warehouse). Hughes says he'll make a call.

Neal and Sara watch Sophie give her statement to Jones. Peter joins Neal and Sara, having been given the thumb's up to consult. Jones asks Sophie about her relationship with Will, which sets her off. The plan is for Neal to try and get close to her. They quickly fashion an "accidental" meeting in the hall, with Peter giving Neal the pseudonym "Neal Armstrong" on the fly. Neal asks Sophie if they can meet for coffee to get back his hat. She gives him her address to meet at 4:00.

At Sophie's place, Neal finds Will there, who leaves shortly thereafter. Sophie tells him Will is just her husband's former business partner. Neal looks around. Sophie flirts then offers him a glass of wine.

Outside Sophie's place, Peter and Jones await. The man who was taking pictures at the funeral is outside and begins to follow Neal. Neal notices and calls Peter. Peter tells Neal to lose the tail so they can follow him home.

Peter and Jones follow the man to his loft. He opens the door with a shotgun; they identify themselves as FBI and quickly put him on the ground. Freddy Slavkin is a private investigator who works infidelity cases. Will's wife Poppy Mailer hired him to see if her husband is having an affair with Sophie. They look at his pictures, which includes shots of the kidnappers.

At Peter's home, he, Neal, Jones, Diana and Elizabeth assess Freddy's photographic evidence. Sophie doesn't look like a high spender but Will does (beyond his means). Peter thinks Will was the abductor, as well as Covington's killer. The team thinks Will will try to take Sophie again. They want Freddy to take incriminating pictures of Neal with Sophie in an attempt to flush Will out.

Neal comes home to find Mozzie and Ellen playing cards. Ellen is waiting to hear back from Sam. After Ellen leaves, Neal asks Mozzie for help in conning Sophie.

Neal drops by Sophie's place offering to make her a meal. Outside Mozzie cozies up to Freddy, making him think he's looking at Neal who is a world-class conman. Sophie tells Neal she doesn't feel right taking the money and plans to donate the insurance settlement to charity. Neal leaves, tossing his hat on a statue on his way out. She comes to the door to give it back to him. They kiss deeply.

At the bureau, Neal and Peter watch the live feed from an installed surveillance camera where, based on the pictures Freddy took of Neal and Sophie, Will and his wife get into a huge argument. Will realizes she'd been paying a PI.

With Peter sent back to the evidence warehouse (his cover as a consultant expired) and Neal's anklet removed, the team will watch as Neal escorts Sophie to a gala event at her art charity. The team thinks this will be a golden opportunity for Will to try and grab Sophie.

On the way to the event Neal notices that Sophie's bodyguard/driver Tony has a new watch. Neal then tells the two of them he's stolen all of Sophie's money. When Sophie tells Tony to call the police, he instead pulls out a gun, asking Sophie to give him her phone and get out of the car. Tony then takes Neal's phone and drives away.

Peter gets a call from Sophie. She says Neal stole her money and tells Peter exactly what Neal told her. Peter, risking his career, leaves the warehouse to help Neal.

Tony brings Neal to see Will, who pulls out a gun.

Peter pops into the van and tells Hughes what is happening and says he has a plan to find Neal.

At the bureau, Peter tells Sophie exactly what Neal did, figuring out she was in danger and making up a story about stealing her money to get her out of the car and away from Tony. They tell her about Will. Based on what Neal said, Peter realizes they need to put $50 million into Neal's account. $25 million each will have to come from Sophie and Sara.

Cut to Neal convincingly telling Will he needs him alive in order to get the money, showing him an online wanted poster so Will won't think he'll go to the police.

Both Sophie and Sara agree to put the money in Neal's account (just in time).

Having made a deal to keep 10%, Neal puts $45 million of the money into Will's account and walks away. Before he leaves, he suggests Freddy may have incriminating photos of Will. Neal calls Peter and says he thinks Will should be on his way to Freddy's to destroy the evidence.

Peter and Jones await Will at Freddy's place and place him under arrest.

Neal and Sophie have a cordial good-bye. Hughes says the money from Will was recovered. Peter has been reinstated as head of the White Collar division.

At the party for Peter's return to White Collar, Neal and Sara talk over what has happened. Sara was really hurt by Neal leaving, because it opened up some family wounds.

Neal goes to Ellen's place and finds the guards shot dead with her being loaded into an ambulance. She tells Neal "They found me. Trust Sam."