Chapter 5: Unfinished Business
Federal Building. Thursday, July 6, 2006.
When Neal stepped into the bullpen, the desks were deserted. He glanced upstairs and noted the briefing being conducted in the conference room. The meeting beckoned to him like a long-lost friend.
He tossed his fedora onto the bust of Socrates, pausing to relish the satisfaction of being back at work. The others weren't expecting him. Jacob had only signed off after the morning session. Neal felt fine. He sensed that his friends were having a tougher time putting the ordeal behind them than he was.
At the Fourth of July party, he'd joked about his vacation in the depths of the ocean, deliberately injecting octopus and shark references to the point the others pleaded for mercy. The following night, no nightmares. That octopus bazooka in his brain had run out of ammunition. Neal Caffrey was back.
An unexpected gift arrived early Wednesday morning. Tricia received an anonymous message most likely from a burner phone stating that Penfold was holed up at an address in Randolph, New Jersey. Tricia was convinced that the message had been sent by Alice Langton. The raid was conducted in record time. Erasmus Penfold was now in custody and along with him a treasure trove of files.
The relief that Penfold would no longer be free to torture someone else with mind games was still sinking in. Neal realized he'd grown wary. Last fall, he'd thought Penfold was no longer a threat. Until Penfold got the sentence he deserved and was locked up, Neal would continue to call the case unfinished business. Perhaps that was why the possibility of working with Henry and Sara at Win-Win wasn't as compelling as he'd initially thought it would be. He'd gone through so much with Peter and the other members of the team, he couldn't leave them now.
Any doubts he might have had would have been blown away by the reception he received when he opened the conference room door. The tsunami of greetings was louder than he'd expected He found himself grinning so hard, his cheeks hurt. It was his first time to see Jones, Diana, and Travis since the start of the ordeal.
"We didn't expect you back so soon," Jones said. "We haven't had time to prank your desk."
"You still have a chance," Neal offered, curious to know if they really intended to do anything. "Jacob wants me to work a few hours each afternoon for the rest of the week. I should be back to a normal schedule next week."
"When does Sara have to return to London?" Diana asked.
"Tomorrow morning," Neal said. "I've promised to stay out of trouble for the rest of the summer so she can get her work done." He turned to Travis. "Have you been able to decipher Penfold's files?"
"Already done," he said, nodding with satisfaction. "They were encrypted in the same language Rolf's original malware was written in. We haven't had the time to process everything, but the files appear to contain Penfold's research, procedures, and correspondence going back to 1999. The records show the doctor was acting on Rolf's instructions when he commissioned Wilkes to steal the Vermeer painting from the Frick back in February. The painting was to be held in reserve for future use. Penfold also commented that Rolf wanted to taunt Diana with a vague allusion to the theft in an Arkham Files comment."
"Had a target been assigned?" Peter asked.
"We haven't found any file indicating how they'd use it," Travis said. "Penfold also acted on Rolf's behalf to frame Mozzie in London."
"Alice Langton wasn't involved with the crime?" Diana asked.
Travis shook his head. "Not according to Penfold's records. There had been a falling out between Langton and Mansfeld after the theft of the Carta Marina. She'd been in charge of stealing the map but not informed about Neal and Peter's abduction." Travis turned to Neal. "The plot to place you and Peter on top of the elevator was orchestrated by Penfold with guidance from Rolf. The correspondence between Rolf and Penfold reveals that although Langton had no scruples about hacking, she was adamantly opposed to causing physical injury."
"There were elements of that Cambridge abduction that reminded me of the earlier time in New Jersey," Jones remarked. "The trap door, the cryptic references, a slim possibility of escape."
Travis nodded. "That's not a coincidence. The files contain Penfold's notes about the advice he gave on the house where Peter and Neal were held prisoner. Penfold describes in detail how to make Neal think he'd shot Peter."
Neal swallowed hard, reliving the despair he'd felt at that moment.
Peter cursed under his breath. "Let's hold off on the details," he said, giving Neal a concerned look.
"No," Neal objected. "If Jacob were here now, he'd agree. I want to know the truth. Did Penfold reveal anything about the incident at the Metropolitan Museum where Klaus faked his death?"
Travis nodded, eyeing Neal with sympathy. "He and Rolf communicated at length about how to take advantage of any PTSD symptoms you might display."
"Was Klaus included in the correspondence?" Jones demanded.
"No, and that's an interesting point. So far we've found very few references to him, but they may be contained in other files. My first priority was to find evidence for the most recent abduction, and there was plenty about it." Travis took a breath, steepling his fingers in front of his face for a moment as he scanned his notes. "Penfold mentioned the trigger being implanted the night after Neal's arrival in Hungary. Penfold hired members of the Serbian Mafia to carry out Neal's abduction from the art gallery. There's confirmation that Rolf selected the London Terrace location. Penfold worked with a Serbian agent to rent the apartment several months in advance. Neal was to be picked up outside the art gallery and taken to the apartment. Penfold was scheduled to send Peter a message indicating Neal's location."
"When was it to be sent?" Diana asked, her voice rough.
"On July 11," Travis said, his face grim. "We have a copy of the email." His jaw hardened. "It's the kind of taunt Rolf is known for. It also refers to the abduction a year ago in San Diego and how it was time to finish the job."
In San Diego, Rolf had wanted to keep Neal alive, but possibly his attitude had changed since then. There was no food in the apartment. Given his mental state, he could have starved to death or have sunken so deep into paranoia, he couldn't be pulled out.
Neal was glad he'd be able to give Mozzie further confirmation that the movie con hadn't sparked the abduction. The files revealed Rolf had planned the scenario well before Neal was held prisoner in Hungary. It was to serve as a backup plan if the triggers initiated in the virtual-reality program didn't work.
Knowing the extent of the conspiracy made Neal even more appreciative of the support the team had shown him, but he knew one person in particular needed to be reminded of his gratitude. At the end of the briefing, he pulled Diana aside.
"You'd asked me to make you something a few months back, and I'd thrown up roadblocks. Sorry about the delay." He handed her a small box.
"You didn't!" she protested, clearly remembering the request.
"Just open it," he urged quietly.
When she opened the lid, she bit her lip.
"I hope you like it," he said cheerfully, carefully ignoring her embarrassment. "You'd said you wanted an octopus for your milestones shelf." Neal smiled at the pink origami. "This was a delight for me to make, and don't worry about any repercussions. Jacob also thought it was an excellent idea."
She swallowed. "I was concerned that I'd played into Rolf and Penfold's hands. That I was partly responsible for what happened."
"You weren't," he said firmly. "And Jacob agrees with me. If you weren't crazy about octopuses, flinging them in my face at every turn—"
"—I wasn't that bad!" she protested. At his knowing look, she snickered. "But I can see where some might think so."
"Thanks to you, I realized I was having an issue. You forced me to develop a coping mechanism. I might have wound up like Victor if it hadn't been for you."
Her eyes were growing suspiciously bright with moisture. He quickly added. "Of course, there are some lingering side effects. You'll have to get used to being called Pearl."
She gave a drawn-out sigh. "Is that really necessary?"
He shrugged. "I won't be able to help myself. Every time I see you, I'll think of that little pink octopus who led me to safety."
"You realize, you're asking to be called Nemo."
"Diana, are you calling my consultant a clownfish?" Peter stepped forward, briefly clasping Neal's shoulder.
"I've been called worse," Neal said. At least it wasn't Cheekbones. He didn't think Diana knew about Crowley's nickname for him, and he hoped she'd never find out.
#
Another rewrite.
Diana had lost track of how many she'd already done. Little had she realized when she initially sketched the tale that its placeholder name of Phoenix Ascending would be so appropriate. Once more her lovely phoenix had been dumped into the fire pit of unfinished stories. At the moment, the thought of resurrecting her from the ashes was singularly unappealing.
She sighed. Tricia felt a case could be made for continuing Arkham Files. Penfold wouldn't go on trial for months. Rolf could still cause issues. But the boss had warned that Hughes was against using Bureau resources on the project. Her days of having a writing cave at work were over. And wasn't that for the best? She should focus on her cases, on her career. Any writing should be reserved for leisure time.
So here she was, flopped on the couch of the apartment she shared with Christie. Her notebook was on her lap, Peachy, the starfish beanbag, within easy reach. She had a glass of Chardonnay on the side table.
Christie was in the kitchen. She'd volunteered to wash the dishes after dinner so Diana could start on the rewrite. But at the moment she'd much rather be in the kitchen with Christie.
"I heard that sigh," Christie said, stepping into the living room. "Would you like a break or are you in someone else's head?"
Christie knew her well. When the words flowed, Diana was a grouch at any interruption. Now she welcomed it. "I'd love company," she admitted. "Do we have any more of those cheese straws?"
"More than will fit into the container. I'll get a plate."
Diana watched Christie head back into the kitchen. She was barefoot, wearing yoga pants, and an oversized t-shirt—a far cry from her professional look. The same could be said of Diana. Shorts and a tank top weren't office attire. Maybe that was the problem. She'd gotten accustomed to writing at work. The ambiance at home was perfect for many things, but not writing.
"Trouble in Arkham?" Christie asked, sitting beside her.
Diana swung her legs off the couch and clinked wine glasses with her. "This is one phoenix who doesn't want to be reborn."
Christie chuckled. "I thought so. When you were telling me about the story at dinner, it was apparent your heart wasn't in it."
Diana reached for a cheese straw. "I've thought of many excellent reasons to explain why the words won't come. At the moment, the excuses are much easier to describe than the revised plot."
"You've been writing Arkham Files for over a year. Don't all writers occasionally suffer from burnout?"
"I guess so. Mozzie has expressed his willingness to continue so I don't even have to feel guilty about readers waiting for the next story. I think part of the problem is that I'm writing about friends. Even though they enjoy the stories, I'm starting to find it a little creepy. That won't bother Mozzie in the slightest."
"So there's your answer," Christie said. "Let Mozzie handle the rewrite. I hope you won't give up writing, though. Perhaps you should dip into other fandoms. You could even pick a new user name."
Diana considered as she munched on the cheese straw. "It's tempting but I'd miss meeting with the Round Table writing group."
Christie gave her a knowing look. "You mean you'd miss Chef Emil's pastries."
"Well, obviously, but also the brainstorming. Tossing around ideas is addictive. I'd miss that." Diana took a sip of wine. A plot-bunny wiggled its nose at her. Could she pull it off?
"Di, I see that mischievous smile. What are you thinking?"
"Perhaps it's time for me to inject myself more into the stories. Everyone else has been for months while my character has virtually disappeared."
"Have you thought of a plotline for her?" Christie asked.
Diana shook her head. "Not the detective. She's too close to my work persona. I'm talking about a completely new character—someone who would be much closer to my gaming avatar. Who knows? If I design her correctly, she could easily slip into a spin-off series unrelated to the Arkham stories. You could be in it too." Diana set down her wineglass and squeezed Christie's shoulder. "Haven't you always wanted to star in a fanfic?"
Christie smiled. "We'd be incredibly hot."
"Yes, we would." Diana pulled Christie closer. "We could run off and make our own adventures while leaving Arkham Neal and Sara to Mozzie."
#
Tonight would be Sara's last evening in New York, but Neal tried not to be depressed by the thought since her departure would start the countdown for her move to New York.
That evening Neal reviewed the case for June and Sara. June had been initially reluctant to join them for dinner but Sara was eager to include her. Their friendship had grown even stronger through their mutual comforting during Neal's abduction. Chef Emil had dropped off a vegetarian paella with Spanish crusty bread that made Neal happy he'd insisted on a fish-friendly meal.
"Did anything in the files explain why Rolf was so obsessed with you?" June asked.
"I'd like to know the answer to that too," Sara said.
"Penfold's notes reveal he believed Rolf was jealous of my friendship with Klaus. Apparently, my departure from Geneva hurt Klaus badly. He lashed out at his brother for having given him bad advice. That's when Rolf began formulating a plan to lure me back, but Penfold noted that at the same time Rolf grew increasingly resentful of me."
June frowned. "I hope Penfold finally gets the sentence he deserves."
"Me too," Neal agreed. "The doctor and Rolf will be charged with kidnapping and attempted manslaughter. Rolf has lost his agents. His greatest fear has arrived. He'll be shut off from the world, ignored and powerless to do anything about it."
"I'd like nothing better than to shove both Rolf and Penfold into Cthulhu's fortress in R'lyeh where they can rot for all eternity," Sara declared.
"Amen to that," June agreed. "But as long as they won't be able to harm anyone ever again I'll force myself to be content. Let's move on to happier topics, like have you picked a date?"
"Sometime in mid-November," Neal said, grateful to move on. "If we schedule it the week before Thanksgiving, we won't compete with any family reunions and I can fold the days off from Columbia into our honeymoon. I already checked with Aidan and Keiko, and they'll be able to come. I hope that's convenient for you," he added.
"If not, we'll reschedule it," Sara declared.
June smiled affectionately at her. "I can see only one problem, and that's everyone will miss you at Thanksgiving time." She paused to take a sip of wine. "I expect you're finding the loft a little cramped right now."
"Not at all," Sara protested.
"But it will be when her clothes arrive," Neal admitted. He'd hesitated over how to broach the subject, but June was making it easy for them.
June nodded. "I completely understand. You need a larger place. Do you want to stay in this area?"
"We'd like to," Sara said. "The neighborhood feels like home to me too. We'd miss the convenience of the university and Riverside Park, and particularly the ability to drop in on you frequently."
Neal was delighted Sara spoke up before he had a chance to.
"I'd hoped you felt that way," June said. "I happen to know of a place which is shortly coming on the market. It's in a historic building. The owner will be able to take advantage of tax incentives to develop it." She hesitated and broke into a smile. "Neal knows I've been considering a renovation of the third floor. I've decided to go ahead with the project. There are approximately three thousand square feet—plenty of room for a spacious apartment. I don't want you to feel pressured in any way, but I hope you'll consider it as an option for your new home."
Sara's mouth dropped. "Am I dreaming?"
June laughed. "No, but I feel I am. I've often told Neal the house would be a lonely place without him, and you have become part of the family too. The house would be doubly blessed to have the two of you living here."
Neal's eyes blurred, his thoughts in a whirl. "I'd insist on helping with the renovation and paying you an equitable price," he said, even as he longed for his fedora so he could toss it high into the air. He and Sara had already discussed how much she loved the mansion. He was confident she was equally ecstatic at the news.
"We can work something out," June said. "Mozzie keeps telling me what an excellent investment the property is, but my children aren't interested in it. As much time as he spends here, I thought of converting part of the second floor into an apartment for him. The house currently has twelve bedrooms. Even with his apartment, I'll still have plenty of guest bedrooms. The four of us may want to establish a partnership." She shrugged. "We have plenty of time to settle on the details."
"I have a bottle of champagne upstairs cooling in the fridge," Neal said. "Are there any objections to me bringing it down?"
"Why bother when I have one ready to be popped in the kitchen," June said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I'd hoped we'd have something extra to celebrate."
#
More good news awaited Neal at the morning therapy session. Jacob cleared him to work full-time beginning the following week. A contributing factor had been the previous day's discussion of Penfold. Jacob grilled him at length and pronounced himself satisfied afterward. After going out together for lunch, Neal headed downtown. He cornered Peter in his office to tell him the news.
"I assume Eric will be the architect?" Peter asked.
Neal nodded. "It will be a family affair. I imagine Eric will be challenged to new heights with Mozzie's requests."
"When did Mozzie find out?"
"Last night. He'd dropped in to say goodbye to Sara. Normally, I'd be in mourning over her departure for London. But we have so many items to accomplish that the time will race by." Neal paused to take a breath. He realized he was running on a mixture of adrenaline and caffeine but he could crash on the weekend. Between celebrating with Mozzie, calling Henry and Eric, and then having a personal celebration with Sara in bed, there hadn't been much time for sleep.
"I won't tell El," Peter promised. "She'd rather hear it from you tonight. We'd originally planned the dinner in honor of your engagement. Now there will be even more to toast."
Although Peter was smiling, Neal detected a hint of worry around his eyes. It hadn't been for naught that he'd made a study of Peter's minute tells. "Did I miss anything at the morning briefing?"
"Travis had an update on Penfold's files. He and his team worked through the night. They found detailed documentation of his work for Rolf, including profiles on Victor Liu as well as Mozzie and Henry. Various vulnerabilities were identified. For Mozzie, it was exposure. For Henry, it was ghosts. Preparations were underway for an attack on Henry. Rolf had signed off on a virtual-reality program where Robert came back as a ghost."
Neal swallowed hard. "Was a timetable included?"
Peter studied him for a moment, and Neal carefully kept a lid on his emotions. If Peter thought he couldn't handle the news, he wouldn't divulge anything else.
"Penfold had made a note that the earliest he'd be ready to implement the procedure was September," Peter said. "I've already been in contact with Jacob who will review the research."
"I should call Henry."
"Go ahead, but I've already contacted him and provided the details. Focus on the key elements, Neal. We caught the plan in time. Penfold is under arrest, and this time he won't be able to escape. His flight history will keep any judge from allowing him to post bail. That planned attack on Henry will allow the D.A. to bring additional charges against both Rolf and Penfold."
Henry was safe. His friends were safe. Neal took a slow breath. "Were there other potential victims mentioned? Was there a file on Sara?"
"No," Peter said quickly. "But there are voluminous records of other patients. The most startling from my perspective was Penfold's work on Klaus."
The news caught Neal by surprise. Tricia had speculated that Rolf liked to manipulate Klaus. He and Sara had discussed the possibility, but even after all Rolf had done, Neal found it inconceivable that someone could be so cruel to his own brother. "Had Penfold subjected Klaus to a virtual-reality program?"
Peter nodded. "In May of 2004. Penfold boasted that Klaus never realized it."
"Klaus contacted me at the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few months later."
"He was being guided by Rolf to a much greater extent than we realized. As early as 1999, Rolf sought advice from Penfold on how to control his brother. Later, Penfold provided recommendations on the most effective way to break up Klaus's marriage."
"Why would he have wanted to do that?"
"Rolf was jealous of Chantal's influence. The Ydrus leader Anya Kaldy was viewed as a tool in their scheme. Rolf believed that if Klaus was infatuated with Anya, he wouldn't object to a partnership with Ydrus. Both turned out to be true." Peter tightened his lips. "Penfold conspired with Rolf to fake his death and worked hand in glove with him when Rolf assumed the identity of Alistair Chapman."
Neal rubbed his chin. How many of Klaus's actions were being influenced by Rolf when Neal was a member of his crew? Had Rolf been manipulating them both even back then? "What's the procedure for informing Klaus? He deserves to know."
"His lawyers will be notified eventually," Peter said. "Klaus may be called upon to testify at Penfold and Rolf's trials. You will be as well."
"I'd like to meet with Klaus," Neal said. "And thank him for his help. Will you go with me?"
"I'd like to," Peter said, looking pleased. "Klaus's tip about London Terrace enabled us to rescue you. Penfold's files may eventually help reduce his sentence. I must admit I'm feeling more sympathetic to Klaus."
"We'd thought Alice Langton was Rolf's silent partner, but in actuality Penfold was Cthulhu."
"He fits the profile much better," Peter agreed. "Langton worked with them but appears to have had no connection with the psychological manipulation Penfold and Rolf excel in."
Neal took a slow breath. Life was messy. Cases didn't end neatly. Dangling threads which he yearned to snip off were unreachable . . . for now. The trials would take months but Penfold and Rolf were already behind bars.
Peter didn't want him to obsess about Penfold, and he wouldn't. At this point, the doctor was a distraction. There'd been no news about his father. Sara would be in London for another two months. The university was on summer recess. It was time to make a few waves.
Notes: Those waves will be the subject of the next Caffrey Conversation story. It covers our take on James and the evidence box plot from canon, and I'm delighted to announce that Penna's writing it. She plans to post Full Circle later in 2021. My next Caffrey Conversation story will be posted in September.
If you're looking for something to read in the meantime, I hope you'll take a look at a novel I'm currently posting. Watling's Marsh is the first work in Sedlow Chronicles, an original fantasy series. The female lead's name is Gwynn Tully. She's a 23-year-old graduate student in ecology. Gwynn is a loner and socially awkward. Her dating history has been a series of disasters, partly because of the flash impressions of wild animals she sees at random moments. Gwynn has rationalized the strange events occurring around her to her satisfaction. It's not her fault she's wide of the mark. She hopes her move to Sedlow, Connecticut will be a fresh start, and that's what it turns out to be, but in a way she never would have imagined.
Watling's Marsh has 16 chapters. The first two are already posted and can be found on FictionPress and Wattpad. An introduction to Sedlow Chronicles and links to Watling's Marsh are on the Sedlow Chronicles page of our blog.
An animal of a different sort is featured in my next Arkham Files story. I'll begin posting Zoog Whisperer in July. The adventure spans multiple eras and locations including the court of Kublai Khan and the planet Tirelia. You'll also get to meet the new character Diana dreamed up.
Thanks for reading! Check our blog for news on upcoming stories, publishing dates, and summaries of what Penna and I have written so far.