While the house was mostly all furnished, Neal and Mozzie spent the next day shopping and exploring Paris, and altogether having a good time. Mozzie was surprised but pleased at how natural Neal acted around strangers—it had to be weird to have to look up at new people you meet all of a sudden. He knew he'd been doing it at the rehab center, but that was different.
Neal stopped at a store on the outskirts of Paris and bought a burner phone and a post card, while Mozzie looked on curiously.
When they got home that night and had settled into the living room, each with a glass of wine, Neal said, "Thank you Mozzie. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me, both with the house and before that. But, I think it's time that you go."
Mozzie's brow furrowed under his large glasses.
"You need the con, the rush, and probably the money. And I need time alone to figure out what to do next. I need to find a job, I need to get to know Paris and where I can go, and I need to meet people."
Mozzie nodded, understanding. "Okay, but I can be back here in a minute if you need me."
Neal laughed. "I won't need you. Where will you go?"
"I have a contact in Egypt. Maybe I'll go there, see if I can acquire some rare artifacts."
"Just make sure to stay away from here, and don't do anything I would've done. Peter's going to be checking for any museum heists, I don't want him to catch on to you and think you're me."
"Please," Mozzie snorted, "no government, American, Egyptian, or otherwise, will be the wiser."
"So you'll leave tomorrow, and I'll see you… when, in a month?"
"Give or take," Mozzie said. He paused. "If I can ask, what was the burner phone for that you bought earlier?"
"You of all people should understand the importance of always having a burner on hand," Neal said.
"I do," Mozzie answered, "but that's not why you bought it."
Neal smiled, knowing he'd been caught. "Grab me the post card and a pen, please?"
Mozzie got up and grabbed them from the kitchen, handing them to Neal. Neal flipped open the burner phone, copied down its number, and the addressed the postcard. He handed it to Mozzie.
A picture of the Eiffel Tower was on one side. On the other, the phone number, but no note. It was addressed to June Ellington.
Mozzie stood up, placing his empty glass of wine on the table. "I'll send it when I leave tomorrow. See you in a month, Neal."
Neal smiled as he watched Mozzie walk out. When the door shut, he whispered, "It's Daniel, now."