Laredo, Texas, Sunday morning, La Posada hotel
Shaw was holding an invitation, staring at it with a mean glare.
"Is that paper showing an attitude Shaw?" Reese joked, amused by the face of his partner.
"Apparently Alvaredo's surveillance system is just as good as Finch's," the young woman answered.
John approached her to have a look.
The invitation card, on an excellent glossy paper, had the name of the couple engraved in a discreet grey. Below, the proper invitation had been hand written.
'We would be delighted to have you for tea, tomorrow at 4:00 pm. We have been informed of your mechanical problems. We know Laredo can lack interesting entertainment, and thought you would probably appreciate the coolness of our garden and pool. Please let us know if we can count on your visit. Alma Alvaredo.'
Reese raised his eyes and shrugged.
"Well, that will give us an opportunity to case the place…"
"You're going to have me chitchat over cucumber sandwiches while you visit the property," Shaw grumbled.
"Don't be that negative. She might show you her dressing room." John stepped back quickly before Shaw could hit him and answered with a smile to the smoldering glare she threw him.
"I knew I would miss my old job someday…" the ex-agent complained.
After lunch John decided to call Finch, surprised that he hadn't called them back.
"Harold, you there?" he asked.
"Always, Mr. Reese. Is there a problem?" his employer answered.
"No, just worried you haven't reached out to us yet," John answered.
"Considering the time the party ended, I thought it wise to let you rest some."
"Thanks…" John said with a slightly amused smile. "Any progress? I still don't know what to make of the symbol I sent you yesterday," he explained.
"I did progress, although I do not know if it is making us move forward," Finch answered cryptically.
John just waited for Finch to explain himself.
"I will start with the symbol you sent yesterday. It indeed belongs to the secret society known as the Illuminati."
John heard papers being shuffled.
"Let me read you some extracts of what I found," Finch went on.
"The Illuminati are the most modern form of a very old secret society, 'the snake brotherhood', born in Babylon over 5000 years ago. The Templars, the Freemasons, the Order of Malta and the Illuminati are only more recent versions of the same thing.
"The Illuminati order was born in 1776 in Bavaria. It is the oldest and most secret of the 'Masters of the World' organizations. Their initial project was to radically change the word, by overpowering the monarchies who, at that time, hampered progress. The French Revolution and the United States foundation are said to be the result of their strategy.
"They had designed a Plan, conceived to run over several centuries, that used the starting financial system to reach a total domination of the world. That Plan was carried on generation after generation, by an elite of hereditary initiated men that adapted it to their society in terms of technology, sociology and economics.
Finch rummaged through the papers he had printed.
"Hear this. 'according to them, the populations are naturally ignorant, stupid and potentially violent. The world, therefore, needs to be led by an enlightened elite. The Illuminati see themselves as holding a superior knowledge and wisdom, inherited from their past, giving them the legitimacy to rule over the world."
Finch stopped his lecture and waited for his employees' reaction.
"There are still crazy people believing in that bullshit?" Shaw spat. "Masters of the world, unbelievable."
"Do not take this with levity, Ms Shaw," Finch answered. "If you know where to look, you'll soon realize that society really does exist."
"The members of the Illuminati have never been identified for certain. They probably belong to the major capitalistic families, such as the Rothschild, Harriman, Russel, Dupont, Windsor or Rockefeller. Although the charges were hereditary in the beginning, it is believed that the big fortunes of today's economic world have been recruited since," Finch concluded.
"Finch, did you find anything that would point at Alvaredo belonging to the Illuminati?" John asked a bit worried.
"We will never be completely sure. We can only gather, but the symbol on the property leaves little room for doubt. It is actually quite surprising to show the symbol at all…"
"However, this lead has allowed me to progress on another research I hadn't told you about yet," Finch carried on.
"Other research, Finch? You're keeping secrets from us?"
"I wanted to have some more tangible elements before I breached the topic," Finch explained. "The research I conducted on the owners of the van and the plane led me to a highly complicated network of companies. They have common shareholders, crossed financial interests. It is actually quite difficult to get the names of the real shareholders behind all those front companies."
"Thanks to the resources Ms. Groves gave me, I am…."
"How does Root fit into this?" John interrupted.
"Ms. Groves, or as she says the Machine, is convinced Mr. Caffrey's case could help us better understand the 'menace' we are facing in New York. She is the one who convinced me to check the companies. Thanks to her hacker friends I have unlimited access to databases all over the world. As I was saying, before you interrupted, my computer is drawing a chart of the companies and their links."
Fnch paused to watch the organization chart on the screen. As new connections appeared the drawing moved, looking like a huge living nebula.
"It is starting to make sense. I have now a good idea of Mr. Alvaredo's resources."
"His fortune is huge. I haven't dug too deep so as not to trigger any alarm. Any precise research might be identified by their system. The paranoia surrounding that society probably has them hiring experts to keep an eye on every IT flow."
"This is all very interesting, but I don't see how it is relevant," Shaw intervened.
"You are right, Ms. Shaw, let me explain. I extended my research programs and I am mapping out Alvaredo's companies and interests, a lot here, in the US, but also abroad."
"Wait a minute. Finch, are you actually drawing the Illuminati members chart?" John asked, dumbfounded once again by the resources of his employer.
"That would probably take months if not years. Still, I have two leads in the US. One is Senator McCourt. It has always been suspected that the Illuminati had members among our political leaders. The other lead concerns companies linked to the hereditary families."
"I'll keep digging and hope I won't be detected. Of course, getting into Mr. Alvaredo's computer would be helpful. He must have documents on a server," Finch concluded.
"So, we really have no tangible information. A good idea of the resources of our enemy, who happens to have a house that looks like a bunker; he may be linked to a powerful secret society related to the menace we fight in New York. I really don't see how Neal fits into this! How can we do anything?" John wondered.
"I realize that, Mr. Reese," Finch answered. "Let's hope your meeting with Mr. Caffrey this evening will shed some light on the reasons for his being there."
"I certainly hope so," John confirmed. "I also hope the invitation of the Alvaredos will prove useful."
"Invitation?" Finch asked.
"Apparently, they heard about the Delmotts' misadventure. We received an invitation for tea tomorrow," John explained.
"That could prove useful and give you a chance to check the place. Security should be less important on guests. You will at least be allowed to keep your phones… I'll call you back," Finch finished the call.
Laredo, Sunday 5:00 pm, Alvaredo's property
Neal savored the shower longer that was really necessary. He couldn't tell if he was really dirty, after all the work room was quite dusty, or if it was related to the ancient story, but he always felt like he had cobwebs sticking to his body every time he left his work. Anyway, the massage jets of the shower felt great over his shoulders.
He stepped into a clear colored suit, appreciating the quality of the material. Alvaredo had really gotten him the best. He went to the garage parking.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…"
He admired the collection with a sigh then settled for the Lamborghini.
He felt his heart tighten as he remembered the time Peter had driven a similar car. Good old times…
The city was too close to really enjoy the full potential of the car, but the reaction created by his entrance on the parking of the Posada hotel brought a smile to his lips. Might as well clearly show where he was, no suspicion would arise from his visit to the hotel. Of course, John might see it differently.
He gave the keys to the valet whose eyes glowed with pleasure, and he entered the hotel lobby.
He had checked the site of the hotel John had suggested for their meeting. It was one of the most select in town. Discretion was paramount for a place visited by the jet set and international stars. No one would pay attention to his entrance. The restaurant was a must and deserved a visit. Alvaredo wouldn't have any reason not to think that Neal just wanted to taste their famous Texan steak.
He went to the beautiful sweeping curved staircase, stopping to watch the Spanish doubloon inlaid in the floor. How was he going to find John?
The concierge raised his head and smiled at him.
"Would you be Mr. Caffrey?" he asked.
"Yes, I am," Neal answered, a bit surprised.
"An envelope has been left for you this morning. I accepted it, though we do not usually accept documents for non-guests," the concierge explained, obviously expecting a generous tip.
"Thank you very much," Neal answered slipping him a bill as he took the envelope.
He moved to a corner to open it away from the prying eyes of the concierge. The message was short: "Massage at 6:15, spa."
He followed the signs to the fitness center and took the stairs leading to the spa. The receptionist smiled politely.
"Mr. Caffrey, our 6:15 client, right? The room is ready." She rose to direct him. "Second door to the right. Make yourself comfortable. Your masseur will be in very shortly.
Showing a confidence he wasn't really feeling, Neal entered the room and locked the door. A soft music and scented candles gave the room a cozy feeling. He opened the curtain leading to the massage table and couldn't help a laugh.
John and Shaw had put on the white uniforms of the spa personnel and were leaning against the table, arms crossed, with a slight disapproving look on their faces.
"Not exactly a low profile arrival…" John commented.
"Trying to make up for something Neal?" Shaw asked with a teasing smile.
At the party, their arrival had surprised and worried him; Alvaredo kept a close watch on his movements. Here, chances were this meeting would remain secret. Neal smiled, glad to see them. He couldn't really call them friends, but seeing familiar faces was nice. As for the reason of their presence…
Silence stretched.
"So?" Shaw finally asked.
"So what?" Neal answered with a frown.
"The answer to our question," John explained.
"It's…"
"Complicated. Yes, you told us so," John interrupted.
He stepped away from the massage table.
"Why don't you make yourself comfortable and tell us about it?"
Neal couldn't help a step backwards.
"You're not really going to give me a massage, are you?" he asked worriedly.
Shaw let her eyes trail over the handsome body, not hiding her admiration, "Well…. It would be nice…"
"And would give us a lever if some… motivation was needed," John added.
The CI couldn't help a nervous smile. He couldn't tell if the two agents were really teasing him or not. John finally sat on one of the arm chairs, while Shaw sat crossed legged on the table. Neal chose the couch against the wall, facing the window. He sighed.
"How did you find me?"
John raised an eyebrow in reproach. "Neal…"
"What John means," Shaw quickly stepped in, "is that we are the ones asking the questions."
"Which I will remind you, just in case you forgot since yesterday evening. Are you here voluntarily or not?"
"It's…"
"Neal!" John growled. "If you tell me it's complicated one more time, I'm going to shoot you in the arm, then press on the bullet until you start speaking," John detailed in a calm voice.
Caffrey blanched, not doubting the threat for a moment.
"Techniques of intimidation 101?"
His poor joke only produced a deeper frown of hostility and Neal swallowed hard.
"Alvaredo kidnapped me and is holding me against my will, but he also made me an offer impossible to turn down…" he said, trying to summarize in a few words a really… complex situation.
"See, it wasn't that difficult," John replied with a fake smile.
He watched Neal closely as the young man told them what had happened in the last few days, starting with the reason of his unplanned stay in Texas: to decrypt a parchment to find the location of a treasure, most specifically an Aztec mask.
Despite the offer, freedom and a substantial amount of money, John could feel that Neal's conscience wasn't at ease with the deal. Was he hiding something?
"Something else bothers me: this guy has a surveillance system that probably rivals your own. In my file, I found official documents from the FBI. There is another file that I didn't have time to check. It belongs to Rachel Turner, an ex-MI-5 agent that I met in New York recently," Neal carried on.
"We know about that case. Mozzie told us. It is weird," John admitted. "How does an MI-5 agent fit into this?"
John decided to inform Neal about their own discoveries, especially the link between his "host" and the Illuminati.
Neal attentively listened to the explanations, then a flash crossed his face as if something had suddenly made sense. John waited knowing the younger man would soon talk.
"That explains Alvaredo's fascination with that mask! According to the legend, it has a supernatural power; it is supposed to allow its bearer to predict the future. Seeing the future would help ruling it, right? Owning such an object, if indeed it has any power, would be a considerable asset for a secret society, the ultimate weapon in a sense."
"Please, don't tell me you believe in all that nonsense," Shaw snorted.
Neal ignored the comment and went on.
"Whatever the part of truth of the legend, all this just reinforces my belief that letting Alvaredo get that mask is really not a good idea."
John didn't know what to say. The ramifications of this case kept getting more and more complex. Neal was definitely one of a kind, a real trouble magnet.
Seeing as the two agents kept silent, Neal added one piece of information.
"Oh, and by the way... Just in case you'd want to throw a hood over my head and forcefully get me back to New York, I need to tell you Alvaredo has it covered. He follows me with a GPS."
John bent his head to watch his ankle but didn't see anything. Neal answered with a smile.
"Much more subtle. It is intra-dermal…. Actually intra-muscular would be a better explanation."
Shaw frowned. Removing a device inserted too deeply would prove impossible without the proper equipment.
"So I am indeed a prisoner. But if I manage to find the treasure, I will be free." He sighed deeply. "I guess you know about my situation in New York… Anyway, my turn to ask questions, now! What the hell are you doing here?"
"Our source told us you were in danger…"
"I'm gonna be keeping it busy full time!" Neal joked.
"Yeah, well you can imagine my surprise when at the same moment I got a call from the mobile I gave you last year."
"What? Oh…" Neal exclaimed. "Mozzie?"
John nodded.
"The whole FBI is looking for you again."
"Mozzie is helping the FBI?" Neal asked dumbfounded.
"Mostly fighting to convince them you didn't run. Actually, he is probably the only one that believes that theory."
"What do you mean, theory?" Neal protested. "I was kidnapped!"
"Indeed, but the deal you have with Alvaredo couldn't come at a better time. Be it Mozzie or some megalomaniac, you still are getting the means to buy your own island. Only the result matters, right?"
Hearing his own reasoning out loud gave it a whole new dimension. Neal rose from the couch and started pacing. Of course the room didn't allow for much pacing.
"Neal, calm down. We are here because we have reason to believe your life is in danger. Either Alvaredo doesn't intend to let you go, or you might get in the cross fire between the FBI and the Marshals. What do we know? This is Texas, the Rangers might actually show up too! Anyway, once this is over, I'll have no qualms in flying you personally to your island."
Caffrey froze, his eyes going from John to Shaw, suddenly seeing them in a different light. They had come to save his life; they didn't care what he did with it afterwards. Hell! Finch might even have some ideas about a discreet place where to settle. And if he really wanted to cut all ties with his past, the IT genius could most probably help him get a new identity.
He sighed deeply and, more relieved than he had ever been since his kidnapping, he sat back on the couch.
"So, what are the next steps?" he asked.
"First, find a way to get rid of your transmitter," Shaw announced. "We will be needing Finch for this."
"I'm not leaving without cracking the code of the parchment. It's important!"
John glared at him. They had other priorities than satisfying the cultural curiosity of the ex-thief! Except apparently, unless they indeed got a hood over his head and forcefully loaded him in the Falcon, Neal wasn't giving up.
He touched his earwig.
"Finch, you have light suits?"
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Reese?" said the surprised voice in New York.
"We're going to need you here, Harold."
"I was about to suggest it. I found a way to hack into the system of the building you've been monitoring. I was hoping to use it as a relay to reach Alvaredo's server but with no luck so far. The only solution is going to physically access a computer, be it in the company or Alvaredo's residence, with all the associated risks, of course…."
John raised his eyes to the CI.
"Neal, do you have access to one of Alvaredo's computers?"
"The one in the office. It's not going to be easy though, I'm constantly under watch."
John turned to Shaw, "I guess the invitation for tea will prove useful!"
"Anyway Finch, this would certainly be easier if you were here. I think it is time for Harold Wren to visit his favorite niece. She's quite disappointed not being in Cabo San Luca…" John added with a smirk toward Shaw.
TBC
