Chapter 4: Postcard

June's Mansion. Saturday, September 9, 2006.

Diana hadn't initially thought she'd be able to attend the Arkham Round Table session on Saturday. Her schedule cleared when late on Friday afternoon, she and Jones arrested the ringleader of the counterfeit purse scam.

The disgruntled employee was unhappy with her treatment at the factory. To exact revenge on the designer, she'd agreed to partner with a branch of the Sicilian Mafia to replace the bags with knockoffs while selling the original bags through the black market. That evening, Diana and Jones supervised the confiscation of stolen handbags in a Queens warehouse. The file could now be marked with the stamp of Case Closed. By rights, the prosecutor should send her and Jones thank-you gifts for all the evidence they'd provided.

Her private celebration with her girlfriend would come this evening. Since Christie was scheduled to work at the hospital in the morning, Diana was free to attend the writing group's meeting.

These days the group only met once a month. Now that June was also serving as beta reader to Mozzie, the two of them probably met much more frequently. Henry still liked to attend the sessions. Diana suspected it was mainly to toss in suggestions for his and Eric's characters. She hoped to eventually work Christie into the tales, but the new character she'd created for herself would first need to be developed.

Diana had told June she'd arrive early to help set out the refreshments. She also hoped to sneak a look at the remodel designs. June's driveway and the parking spaces in front of the house were filled with pickups, construction trailers, and a dumpster. The workmen were using the back entrance so there was little physical evidence of the project in the front rooms except for the loud thuds, screeches, and roar of power equipment.

"Welcome to Bedlam Manor," June said when she greeted her. "We'll have to make do with the floorplans. A tour won't be possible."

"How are Neal and Sara managing?" Diana asked as they entered the dining room. The blueprints were already spread out on the table.

"So far it hasn't been an issue. By the time they get home, the workmen are generally done for the day, and the loft will be the last space to be remodeled. Today they wisely decided to go shopping."

"For hardware?" In Diana's admitted limited experience with remodeling, she'd discovered the most challenging aspect was picking out the small items.

June smiled. "No, they're looking at baby clothes."

Diana's mouth dropped. "No! Already?"

June chuckled, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Yes, they're shopping for baby clothes but not for themselves. Myra Stockman, Neal's art mentor, had her baby on Wednesday—a beautiful girl she and her wife named Karli."

"Wedding plans, baby clothes." Diana exhaled. "Neal and Sara's new world." She stifled the small envious voice inside her who wished that was her world too.

"And with a challenge to start it off!" June said, luckily oblivious to Diana's mixed emotions. "Sara told me you'd helped with the falcon clue."

"Do you have any others you'd like me to plant?"

"If you wouldn't mind." June handed her a postcard.

Diana stared at the photograph. "I thought I had the puzzle figured out, but I can't see where you're going with this one."

"That's because you didn't see the clue Sara planted for Henry to find. I won't give away the surprise. That way when Henry wheedles you for a hint, you can honestly deny you know the answer."

Diana promised not to reveal the subject of the photograph. As June pointed out features of the floorplan, her mind drifted. Who wouldn't be envious of their penthouse? Would she and Christie ever embark on a similar project? Diana's salary wouldn't go very far . . . yet. But in time it might. And Christie's salary could make a dream residence a reality. But would Diana ever wear a wedding gown? Legally? Myra and Britta couldn't even get married in Sweden.

And that was a shame. Sara's challenge had provided the spark for her and Christie to fantasize about what kind of wedding they would have. If she included it in a story, would it only make her more bitter that it couldn't happen in the real world? Henry and Eric had turned their commitment ceremony into a wedding even though they couldn't get a marriage certificate. Richard and Travis called each other husband. How would Christie feel about turning their fantasy into reality? Were they ready to take the next step?

By the time El, Henry, and Mozzie arrived, Diana had her head back in the game. Henry was working on a plot involving Eric that gave her more ideas for Christie's character. That Saturday evening as she and Christie celebrated the successful conclusion of the case, Diana didn't breathe a word about her conflicted feelings. She and Christie had plenty of time to discuss children and possible weddings. For now, it was enough to tease Neal about how many bedrooms he was planning on.

And that was exactly what she intended to do come Monday morning. But Hughes quickly put the kibosh on her scheme by appearing at the morning briefing. She wasn't surprised when he announced Neal's departure. Ever since Sara accepted a position at Win-Win, Diana figured it was inevitable. But that the boss was leaving too?

Starting in October, Peter would be section head of Organized Crime. Jones would replace Peter. She would be his second-in-command. They'd usher in a new era with new opportunities. But, God, she'd miss having Neal and Peter around.

#

When Peter and Neal arrived at La Palette, Chef Jacques was at the door to greet them. For Peter, it brought back memories of the first time Neal took him and El to his favorite restaurant. On this occasion, Neal had invited him to lunch to celebrate the promotion. Did he suspect Peter had held off accepting the job till Jemison axed the Interpol collaboration? The timing made it easier for both of them. Neither was leaving the other in the lurch.

Jacques led them to a table in an alcove that contained only a couple of other tables. Peter especially liked that section. It was quiet and well-suited for conversation. An abstract painting was hanging on the wall by their table. It was one of those works seemingly designed with the express purpose of confusing him. El said he should like contemporary art because the meaning wasn't easy to discover, but usually they just gave him a headache.

"You okay?" Neal asked. "You seem lost in your head."

"Just a few ghosts," Peter said, giving him a reassuring smile. "This bistro holds a lot of memories for both of us. Celebrations, Jones monitoring your conversation with Klaus . . . It was the first time I heard you speak German."

"You're not worried about me reverting to my former life?"

"No, although it's probably for the best I won't know the details of the scrapes you, Henry, and Sara will get into. On the bright side, I won't have to buy as many antacid pills."

Neal chuckled. "You may need to send your extra pills to me. Section head of Organized Crime . . . very impressive. Just remember, you're the leader. Let your agents confront the bad guys."

"You sound like El." Peter stifled the inner voice who was grumbling about the fun he'd miss out on now that he wouldn't be investigating cases with Neal and Mozzie. This was the right time. El needed him. That future Baby Burke needed a responsible father.

Neal was watching him thoughtfully. "Don't think for an instant that I won't continue to consult with my puzzle master on tricky problems." He glanced around the alcove. "In fact, I think I'll tell Jacques this is our puzzle-solving table. We're going to need a spot with the proper ambiance . . . and pepper steaks."

"That's what you ordered for us?" Peter asked, his mouth already watering.

"Your love affair with Jacques's pepper steak and pommes frites is well known. Whether or not you tell El is completely up to you."

"I appreciate that." Peter had made no secret of his lack of enthusiasm for El's excursions into vegetarian cooking. If he never had tofu or quinoa again in his life, he'd be a happy man. "You picked the right place, and it's not just for the pepper steak, although that doesn't hurt. Surrounded by all these abstract works will no doubt inspire me to solve the mystery du jour."

Jacques, an artist in his free time, had the walls of his bistro covered with paintings by young artists who were trying to gain recognition. One of Neal's works was in the collection, but Peter had yet to guess which of the many abstract splashes of color was his. While Neal tasted the Burgundy he'd selected, Peter's eyes drifted to the painting in their alcove. It wasn't as bad as some. You could make out partially open French doors overlooking a view of some sort. Those blotches could be flower pots. But what did the view consist of? Surely that bright-green round object wasn't supposed to be the sun?

Neal was sipping his wine, watching him with a half-smile on his face. Peter knew that look. It meant Neal was enjoying a secret he hadn't shared.

"This is it? Your painting?"

Neal's smile broadened as he nodded. "It's a marker for our table."

Peter studied the work more closely. "It's not as expressionist as most, I'll grant you."

Neal winced. "Please. It's fauvist. I was in a Matisse phase at the time."

"It's not a forgery, is it?"

Neal rolled his eyes. "No, Peter. Myra might give it low marks for being derivative, but it's no copy." He looked affectionately at the painting. "I painted it not long after I arrived in New York. Jacques was letting me stay here."

"What's that lime-green object supposed to be?"

Neal arched an eyebrow. "You tell me."

Peter stared at the painting. The exuberant shades of color were starting to grow on him. Had Neal already started working for Adler? Peter slapped the table. "The lollipop!"

He grinned. "You guessed it. I painted this after we met for the first time."

"I was working a forged bond case and had just spoken with the bank manager. You came up and gave me a song-and-dance routine about whether your money was safe." Peter pointed a slice of baguette at Neal. "That was the first time you gave me that innocent look that made me suspect you were hiding something. Then you offered me a green lollipop. Or was it a sucker?"

Neal frowned. "Definitely lollipop."

Peter chuckled and let it ride. "That scene is etched in my brain."

Neal's eyes flicked toward the painting. "It was clearly a life-changing experience for me as well. Your integrity and intelligence were on full display. Mozzie berated me for attracting a suit's attention, but I was intrigued. You were so different from anyone I'd met."

"I felt the same way." Peter nodded at Neal. "I'm glad this is where we wound up."

"Me too," Neal said softly.

"You're not in an orange jumpsuit—"

"—and you're not a straitlaced agent in a dull gray suit," Neal finished. "We complement each other and will continue to do so. So, are you ready to help me with my current puzzle?"

Peter took a swig of wine. "Sure. What 'ya got?"

Neal reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a postcard. "This photo of an iceberg was on my desk when I arrived at work." He frowned as he studied it. "I hope it doesn't mean Sara wants to go the Arctic for our honeymoon."

"Don't look so glum. You should be excited about the possibility, and just think of the connections!"

Neal crossed his arms. "Like what?"

"Vikings for one."

Neal shook his head. "That's for you, not me."

"You forget. In Arkham Files, you're an expert in Nordic runes. Then there's the aurora borealis we saw in the mountains of Tirelia."

"Sara wouldn't be so cruel," Neal countered.

"I think she'd look stunning as an ice princess. You of course would wear a parka." Peter gave an exaggerated smile. "This is one wedding I'll really look forward to. Sara knows you call me a polar bear. She's privy to your nickname of Baby Bear."

He knitted his brows together. "Then how do you explain the falcon?"

"It's probably a gyrfalcon, indicating that you'll be wed on a mountaintop." Peter knew the odds were minuscule but teasing Neal was a big boost to his spirits, and Neal appeared to enjoy playing along.

Neal pondered for a moment. "She could be thinking of that ski resort we stayed at last year—Lynx Mountain. Sara mentioned wanting to go there sometime. She likes to ski. But the iceberg implies water . . ." Neal's mouth dropped. "I solved the puzzle!"

#

When Neal returned home at the end of the day, he found Sara and June sitting in the dining room poring over blueprints.

"Are these more designs from Eric?" he asked, leaning down to kiss Sara.

"No, they're from Janet," she explained. "She left a few minutes ago. I'm sorry you missed her."

Neal smiled to himself as he debated how much to reveal. "Are you sure she wasn't here for another purpose?"

June exhaled. "We knew we couldn't fool you for long. Sara, we might as well confess."

Sara nodded regretfully. "Janet has been meeting secretly with us for the past week. I suppose we should proceed with the unveiling."

So Janet's visit was unrelated to the challenge. Neal knew Sara. She wouldn't announce anything without giving him a chance to offer his solution.

Sara gestured with a flourish at the blueprints on the table. "Behold the new gardens! Janet is going to bring nature onto the roof."

"As well as transform the gardens on the street level," June added.

"We were inspired by what Peony has done on her rooftop," Sara explained. The owner of a B&B in their neighborhood—who just happened to also be the head of the Silver Cauldron Wicca coven—had lush gardens complete with a pergola on top of her brownstone.

"Does that mean you and June are joining the Silver Cauldron too?" Neal asked.

"We really should," June said. "Angela, Mozzie, and Janet are already members."

"You may want to as well," Sara said. "We can sit around the fire pit on moonlit evenings and call on the spirits to aid our cases. The roof will be transformed. There's plenty of room for an herb garden, butterfly garden, hummingbird garden, pollinator plants for Mozzie—"

"Pollinator plants . . . that means a beehive too I suppose?" Neal prompted.

"Of course, but he promises to only keep one hive here. The extra bees he'll take to a cottage retreat he and Janet are building in New Jersey."

"How come I haven't heard about that?" Neal demanded.

June patted him on the shoulder. "You've been distracted, dear, what with the changes in your workplace and extracurricular activities. Janet bought a parcel of land near the Great Swamp National Refuge. She and Mozzie have already commissioned Eric to start on the plans. It will be a place where she can work on her designs and observe nature while Mozzie conducts thought experiments."

"That's Arkham Mozzie who does that," Neal objected.

"Not anymore," Sara said. "It's both of them. Why else did Mozzie want that spiral staircase to the roof? He's already designated where he wants his lounger."

"I suppose it won't be far from the observatory he plans to build," Neal joked.

"How did you guess?" June exclaimed, chuckling at his look of shock. "He's promised to keep it very small—just large enough to hold his telescope so he won't have to lug it in and out."

"When Peter hears about this, he may want to do something similar with his townhouse," Neal said.

"How is Peter?" June asked. "Is he excited about the promotion?"

Was he? Perhaps he was deliberately playing it low-key. "I think so," Neal replied, not wishing to voice his doubts aloud. "I imagine El is thrilled. As section head, he'll be able to leave the fieldwork to others. Jones and Diana anticipate many of their cases will overlap."

"Henry can't wait for October 2 to arrive," Sara said. "Today he asked around the office for recommendations on the best coffee maker."

Neal smiled at the thought. His days of drinking swill were numbered.

"Byron would be delighted to hear about the office pool table," June said, a melancholic expression briefly crossing her face. "I know he'd like you to have this." She retrieved a slim rectangular case that had been hidden by the drapes—a cue stick case. "In honor of your new job, it gives me great pleasure to present you with Lord Byron," she added. "Byron ran the tables with this cue stick. May it bring you equal success."

"With a pedigree like that, I'm sure it will," Neal said, brushing her cheek with a kiss. "I'll do my best to live up to Byron's high standards. Won't you join us for happy hour so we can toast Byron and your present?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I have a board meeting to go to." She winked at Sara. "And I know you have plenty to talk about."

On their way upstairs, Sara showed Neal the progress the workmen had made on the renovation. From his perspective, demolition was a more appropriate way to view it. Neal had emptied the contents of the storage space in August. The walls were now being taken down to the studs before reconstruction could begin. Mozzie was carefully monitoring the operation, on the lookout for secret caches installed by Byron or previous owners.

If all went well, the project would be complete early in the coming year. Luckily, Neal's grandparents had already requested everyone come to D.C. for Christmas, and June planned to spend extended time with her children over the next few months.

"It's a beautiful evening," Sara said. "Let's have our drinks on the terrace."

"Excellent choice. You can point out where the garden features will fit in. Is champagne acceptable?"

Her eyes lit up. "I sense a celebration is in order. Have you solved the challenge?"

Neal smiled. "You'll have to tell me." He waited to start till he'd opened the champagne and they were seated on the two-person glider with the champagne in a cooler beside them. Looking west, they could see the sun dipping below the buildings along the New Jersey shoreline of the Hudson River.

Sara clinked glasses with him. "Did Peter provide any help at lunch?"

"Only the misleading variety. He was convinced the postcard meant we were getting married in Viking country."

She arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure he's wrong?"

Neal nodded complacently. "Diana may have Arkham Neal visit the frigid monastery of Leng, but you wouldn't be so heartless. Peter made a strong case, though, and your challenge was an excellent way to inaugurate our puzzle table."

"Did Peter identify your painting?"

"After a couple of well-placed hints." Neal explained how he'd handled it. Sara already knew the story behind the painting.

"I like to think that green lollipop is a symbol of Peter beckoning you to a new life," Sara said.

Neal nodded. "In retrospect, it's much more significant than I realized at the time. That was one of those life-changing chance encounters, and not just for me."

"You're thinking of Peter?"

"And Mozzie too. He'd witnessed my stunt. Shortly afterward he began to use Candy Land to strategize cons. That lollipop must have inspired him."

Sara chuckled. "I'm glad we have our special game too. And speaking of Clue, isn't it time for you to make your presentation?"

"Yes, I believe that crocodile has ticked long enough," he said, refilling their glasses. "Let's start with something old. Given your love of historical romances and costumes, I assumed you'd pick a historical period as inspiration for your gown. How am I doing so far?"

Sara smiled. "You've earned your first points."

"Keep that scorecard handy. I'm just getting started. You'd mentioned your choices having a personal significance and I took that to mean you'd include Arkham Files in some way. The alarm clock that mysteriously appeared in June's study could be a clue to the ticking crocodile in Angela's Lost in Neverland musical. It could also refer to the crocodiles of Sands of Abydos where Arkham Neal and Sara took their relationship to the next level. A crocodile could also allude to the Egyptian love poem at the Met's exhibit of Tutankhamun's treasures."

"I do love that poem, and it would be just like me to reference that scene in the Met. Happening upon you and Raquel could easily remind me of the train wrecks and near misses we had. What did you decide for something new?"

Neal took a sip of champagne. "I took that to mean that although you chose a historical period, it wouldn't be any mentioned in Arkham Files. We'll star in our own romance. New could also refer to Janet who undoubtedly is designing your gown. This will be a new, unique creation."

Sara sighed happily, resting her head on Neal's shoulder. "Another point. Janet is the designer."

"Will there be dragonflies and bees on your gown?" he teased.

"Even I don't know the answer to that! Have you figured out where the wedding will take place?"

"That was a challenge with many conflicting clues. The falcon on Diana's desk could represent Horus. That along with the crocodile points to the Temple of Dendur at the Met. The clock could indicate the bell tower at the Cloisters or a church, but I decided on a venue with several layers of significance—the Morgan Library."

"You guessed it! How did you arrive at the solution?"

Neal channeled his inner Hercule Poirot. "The vault at the Morgan Library was 'borrowed' by Diana for inspiration when she described the Miskatonic Library vault. Clue number two was that the library hosted an exhibit of ancient Egyptian poems, as referenced by the crocodile. The library is also a link to your love of books. The falcon refers to Dashiell Hammett's book The Maltese Falcon. By including that work, you're alluding to the future hunts for missing treasures we'll pursue as Win-Win's ace investigators. But the most obvious link is the architecture of the library. With our love for Raphael, how could we resist a Renaissance palazzo setting?"

Sara raised her champagne flute to him. "Obviously, we couldn't."

"I only have one question and that's how did you manage it? The library usually can't be reserved for private events."

Sara tapped his nose. "But it can for donors above a certain level, and I just happen to be related to one."

"Who?"

"Walter Ellis, who else! He donated a while ago, figuring it would add luster to his persona of a successful scriptwriter. Mozzie likes the cachet it brings." She smiled. "As a collector of manuscripts, he feels a camaraderie with J.P. Morgan."

Neal chuckled. "So Mozzie knew all along and didn't tell me."

"He had every confidence you'd arrive at the right answer and didn't want to spoil your fun. Mozzie would also like to officiate at the ceremony."

"He could rightfully say that was understood ever since we picked his character to be Reverend Green for our game of Clue."

She smiled happily. "I was hoping you'd feel that way too. By the way, Mozzie was the one who suggested The Maltese Falcon. Don't be surprised if Sam Spade appears in a future Doctor Who script."

Mozzie as Sam Spade? He often liked to channel Sherlock Holmes. Was this an early signal he was branching out?

"You still haven't given me your answer to the style of gown," Sara prompted, returning him to the current puzzle.

"Henry found the Hope Diamond clue you planted, and that steered me in the wrong direction for a while. I almost had you in a gown suitable for Versailles until I found the iceberg postcard. You were referring to the Heart of the Ocean, weren't you?"

Sara clapped her hands. "Bravo! I couldn't resist the diamond with its ties to both The Titanic and Marie-Antoinette."

"And it's blue, satisfying the need for something blue. But I assure you we'll have a much happier ending than what occurred in The Titanic."

Sara smiled into his eyes. "I'm counting on it. You already had your moment of being at the bottom of the ocean. Nemo and Shellie have risen to the surface where they'll live happily ever after."

After a satisfyingly long pause for a congratulatory embrace with the promise of more to come later in the evening, Neal provided his final guess as to the style of dress. The solution was so obvious, he was surprised he hadn't immediately figured it out. "When I heard June humming 'Gigi' in the study as I left for work, I knew the answer. And it's the perfect choice!"

Sara rested her chin on her propped-up fist. "And that is?"

"The Belle Epoque of course," Neal declared, confident he was right. "It's the period when this house was built. The Morgan Library was founded in 1906. You can use Edwardian or Art Nouveau elements as your heart desires. The Belle Epoque is called the Golden Age of Paris, and we're about to embark on our Golden Age in New York City." He raised his glass to her. "Am I right?"

"Only my soulmate could have arrived at the correct solution." Sara clinked her glass against his, her eyes shining. "Joie de vivre will be the motto of our future life together. You will be resplendent in period attire. Your tuxedo will make Gaston from Gigi jealous."

"And Peter and Henry will be very happy they don't have to wear tights."

"At least not for the wedding. In fact, since we're holding it in a library, I thought we could suggest guests wear whatever they'd like. For those wishing to wear costumes, they can connect to a book in the library. But Peter and Henry shouldn't burn their tights," she warned. "New York's Renaissance Festival will be held in a few weeks. El, Angela, Janet, and I are already making plans."

"I'm looking forward to it. I don't mind wearing tights, especially since this time I'll be able to participate. I'm sure the whole team will want to take part in the battle enactment. It may be one of our last joint exercises."

"Then we'll make it a spectacular one," she promised.

Neal hoped so. Celebrating at the festival would be a good way to remind everyone to keep in touch, no matter where their careers took them. "Did you know about Peter's connection to Gigi?" he asked.

"No," Sara said. "What is it?"

"That's one of his mother's favorite movies. Peter watched it so often with her, he can probably recite every scene."

"As can I. My mom was the same way. She loved the costumes." Sara's eyes grew bright. "She'd be so excited to know my gown will have hints of Gigi in it."

Neal's eyes were growing misty too. "You know you're very much like Gigi."

"My love of jewels?"

"That, and champagne. Also, your love of dance. And, just like Gaston, I'm completely captivated."

Notes: My next story, Thief in the Woods, is in the Crossed Lines series, but career issues will continue to be front and center as Neal and Peter prepare for their new jobs. Neal and Sara will also get to work their first joint insurance case. I'll begin posting Thief in the Woods on November 10.