Ep 12. Bottlenecked

Neal Caffrey is a notorious white-collar criminal who has just been released from prison for his thievery. While on his way to another job, he is caught by FBI Special Agent Peter Burke and brought back to prison. Peter offers Neal a deal to work as a consultant for the FBI, using his expertise to catch other white-collar criminals. Neal is hesitant at first, but ultimately accepts the deal.

In "Bottlenecked," the twelfth episode of White Collar's first season, Neal and Peter investigate a high-end wine scam involving a renowned auction house. The case heats up when they discover that the scam artist is involved in even more illegal activities.

Meanwhile, Neal is still dealing with his feelings for Kate, a woman he met while on the run and who is also involved in the criminal underworld. Despite Peter's warnings, Neal cannot seem to stay away from her.

As the investigation progresses, Neal and Peter uncover a link between the wine scam and an illegal art collector. Neal uses his expertise to pose as a wealthy collector and gain the trust of the scam artist, leading to a tense confrontation.

Throughout the episode, Neal is torn between his loyalty to Peter and his desire to help Kate, who is in danger from her criminal associates. He must navigate through his complicated emotions to make the right decisions and solve the case.

The episode ends with a dramatic twist, leaving viewers eager to see what happens next in the lives of Neal and Peter.