One thing that I have always loved about USA shows is that they teach me new things. This episode has taught me about Pai Gow poker. Though I have no idea how to play it, I now have an interest in learning. This episode was also a nice change away from art theft.
The FBI has lost contact with one of their undercover agents. The agent was working a case involving a Chinese money launderer named Lao. They want Neal to make contact with Lao using one of his old aliases, Nick Halden. For this case they tell Neal to get familiar with Pai Gow poker.
Mozzie teaches him the game by making him watch a movie called Tiles of Fire. A movie that Mozzie has seen way too many times. Neal can’t stand the movie and has Mozzie just show him how to play instead. Neal plans on getting a good hand then throwing it away to get Lao’s attention.
The FBI sets up post in an apartment in Chinatown that belongs to one of their CIs. While entering the apartment everyone takes off their shoes except for Peter who seems hesitant. He finally does revealing some adorable yet embarrassing socks given to him by his wife. The man’s daughter Bi grabs a piece of equipment that Peter needs. Peter takes it back from her bringing her to tears. Peter does not know what to do so Neal steps in and shows the girl some magic with a business card. Peter tells Neal that every time he sees him do that he checks for his wallet. Neal hands Peter his wallet back.
They bring Neal into the restaurant to instruct him on getting in to the game. They remove Neal’s anklet and replace it with a watch. The watch also has a GSM transmitter so they will be able to hear everything that is going on at the table. Peter warns Neal that Lao is dangerous and that they will pull him out if he is in any danger.
Neal enters the game without any trouble. He sits at a table and starts playing. A young lady joins the table to watch the game. Neal has a good hand but folds like he planned. It gets Lao’s attention and he joins Neal for a game. Everything was going as planned until the FBI finds out that the NYPD got a tip and is about to raid the game. Lao sees the cops coming on his security and immediately suspects Neal. To keep his cover, Neal runs from the cops instead of telling them that he is working for the FBI.Neal makes it out and the women from the table, Meilin, invites him back to her hotel room.
Peter is a little more than ticked off that the NYPD has interfered with his mission. He also wants to know the identity of Neal’s mystery women. As long as Neal is in Chinatown, Peter intends on following his every step.
Meilin tells Neal that Lao asked her to stay the night with him. She seems interested in his watch and removes it from his wrist. She walks in to the bathroom and smashes it with a glass. Peter decides to remain in place since they already have men on the ground who can track Caffrey.
Inside the room, Meilin reveals that she knows all about Neal Caffrey and that she works for Interpol. She wants Lao and offers to help Neal find Kate if he helps her get him. Neal says that he already knows where Kate is but wants the man who has her. Meilin says she can do that.
Peter wakes up after a brief nap and takes over so Agent Cruz can get some rest. Peter looks down and sees that one of his socks is missing. He spots Bi and calls her a little klepto. She sits in the chair next to him and listens as he goes on talking about Neal. Neal overhears him talking and Peter claims that he knew that he was there. Neal responds by telling him that Bi speaks perfect English. She laughs and runs off. Neal tells Peter that Meilin can make the meet with Lao happen. Lauren has found out Meilin’s name and has a place of business. Peter doesn’t know about her being Interpol yet and wants to find out why she called the cops about the game.
Neal cannot approach Meilin’s coworkers without blowing his cover so Peter goes in to show him how it’s done. He goes up to the women and asks them about Meilin. He is met by a bunch of angry Chinese chatter. Peter returns with a tape recording of his conversation. He knows that people will say a lot of things to someone who does not speak their language and wants to know what they did. He asks for a Chinese translator to meet them at FBI headquaters.
His translator will not be there for another hour and he is growing impatient. He tells Lauren to play the tape to see if they could find a name or something. He hears laughter and looks up to see Bi standing in his office doorway. She says that someone called him a bad name. Peter uses her to translate his recording.
All they get from the recording is a place called the Red Lantern. Jones pulls up some information on what their missing agent was working on before he disappeared and it was at the Red Lantern too. Peter wants to investigate it further. Lauren tells Peter that when she ran Meilin she got nothing because her name popped up restricted.
Peter tells Elizabeth that Meilin is Interpol and that Neal already knew but did not tell him. Elizabeth points out that the only reason Neal would keep something from Peter is if Kate is somehow involved.
Peter gives Neal his lockpick set so he can open the door to Red Lantern Exports, a shipping company that they suspect is being used as a front. They see scuff marks on the floor and follow them to an icebox. They look inside and find their missing agent. They hear Lao’s men returning to remove the body and decide to hide so they don’t end up the same way. They leave with the body and Peter tells Neal it’s time they had a talk about his friend from Interpol.
At his house, Peter asks Neal what they promised him in exchange for Lao. Neal admits it had to do with Kate and did not know what to do. Neal says that they want Lao to walk so they could get to his boss. Peter says that Lao does not have a boss and figures out their plan. If they arrest Lao on Asian soil then they will get additional funding. Seeing that he has been lied to, Neal is back on Peter’s side.
Neal returns home to find Meilin already there waiting for him. He confronts her about her lie. She tells him that after her mission is complete, she does not care about what happens to Lao. Before she leave, she also throws in that she knows who the man is that has Kate.
Neal and Meilin head out for their meeting with Lao. In the elevator, Meilin gives Neal a new account number to memorize so the FBI cannot trace it. After they make their transaction Neal asks Lao if he would like to finish their game. Lao accepts and Neal goes to join him. Neal reminds Meilin that now that the money has been transferred it does not matter what happens.
Lao points out to Neal that he is almost out of money. Neal says that they should play for each others watch. Lao agrees to the bet. Neal turns the watch back on allowing the FBI hear again. Lao wins and Neal leaves him with the watch. Later on Lao confesses to killing the FBI agent and through the watch they catch everything on tape.
Peter tells Neal that Lao will be going away for a long time. Bi comes up to their table and tells Peter to close his eyes. He does and she pulls out the sock that she stole from him. He takes it back and thanks her.
Peter and Neal head back to the FBI. Neal’s phone rings. It’s Meilin. She apologizes for giving him an empty flash drive and says that her information was too important to put on one. She says that the man who has Kate works for the FBI. Of course she will not tell him how she knows that and hangs up. Neal looks around no longer knowing who he can trust.
Well, knowing that the man who has Kate is FBI narrows down the list. I really doubt that it is Peter. My best guess would be the chief, always yelling at Neal like he hates him. I just don’t know if that hate runs so deep he would do something like this to him. If you have any guesses, please share them in the comment box below.
