Chapter 6: Harlequin's Serenade
Sara smiled at Neal sitting next to her at the restaurant and clasped his hand under the table. He was wearing his Matthew wig. She had Alicia's blond mop of curls on her head. Their fictitious friends were enjoying their final fling before New Year's. But the wigs would live on. Neal was keeping the Matthew St. John alias and Alicia Thornton could come in useful in her work as well.
The evening felt like a rehearsal party before their upcoming performance. The restaurant was a casual hole in the wall. It lent an air of intrigue to their plotting. The management at La Bottega ai Promessi Sposi had seated them at a back table far away from the front door. Mozzie and Janet were sitting facing the entrance on the remote chance Henry and Eric entered.
"El, with the ostrich headdress I've designed, you'll be a standout in the crowd," Janet predicted.
"That's the idea," El said, smiling appreciatively. "We want Henry and Eric to identify us first."
Peter and El were going to the ball as French courtiers in elaborate white costumes which would have looked appropriate at Versailles. They'd both wear white make-up instead of masks. El's cheeks would be adorned with a couple of beauty patches.
"And what do you want them to think about Mozzie and me in our Harlequin and Columbine costumes?" Janet asked. "I'm so much shorter than Sara, they won't mistake me for her."
"Perhaps not," Mozzie said, "although many have commented on what a close resemblance I have to Neal's physique."
Either because of the mellow glow they were in from the excellence of the wine or the gratitude they all felt for Mozzie financing the trip, no one cracked a smile, least of all Sara.
"But just in case Henry misses the obvious," Mozzie added, "I planted clues in his bedroom which will undoubtedly divert his mind to the right track."
"Some of them are a little literary for Henry's tastes," Neal said, "but I'm counting on Eric to help him out. By the time dinner is announced, we want the unmasking to have occurred. I have no intention of missing out on the feast."
"What clues did you leave?" Peter asked.
"Clue is the operative word," Mozzie said. "In the cabinet under the TV, they'll find a collection of handpicked DVDs including Clueless, Pride and Prejudice, The Scarlet Pimpernel—"
"—as well as Comedy of Errors," Neal said. "Even if Henry isn't familiar with Shakespeare's plot of mistaken identities, he can't miss the meaning."
"We also included West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet," Sara added. "They provide hints about Neal and my costumes."
"Peter and I are going to visit the art museums tomorrow," El said. "That should keep us away from Henry and Eric."
"We have additional security measures in place," Mozzie said. "In their room, they'll find complimentary tickets to a four-hour cruise of the islands in addition to a walking tour and gondola ride."
Would Henry take advantage of the gondola ride to serenade Eric? Neal thought he wouldn't be able to resist. Sara hoped they were as happy as she and Neal were. As the time for the unveiling grew near, she found a little nervousness mixed in with the excitement. How would Henry react to the knowledge he'd been conned? Would he wait at least a couple of months before retaliating?
The Diziani Ball, December 31, 2005.
"Wow," Eric murmured when he stepped inside the palace, and Henry seconded the sentiment. He'd thought he was prepared for the Baroque extravagance of the evening. He'd seen photos of past balls with costumed guests and performers in the ornate surroundings of a Venetian palace, but this was beyond what he'd imagined. Up to now, he'd felt his courtier outfit was a little over the top, especially during the short gondola ride to their destination, but he soon discovered many of the costumes were even more elaborate.
An orchestra was playing in the main salon. The dance floor was already crowded with costumed couples. Dinner wouldn't be served for over an hour. Until then they were free to explore the main floor of the palace and help themselves to the appetizers and open bar. Somewhere in that throng of silk and satin costumes were Neal and Sara. How to find a trickster Harlequin and his Columbine might not be easy.
Eric's face was flushed with excitement. It made Henry doubly regret that he hadn't included him in the conspiracy earlier. As he danced with Eric, his thoughts weren't on his brother but his partner.
"I spotted Elizabeth," Eric said. "We're not the only ones participating in the masquerade."
"Where?" Henry asked.
Eric spun him around. "The woman with the white ostrich headdress in a white gown that looks like something Marie-Antoinette would wear."
"I see her." Damn, Eric's eyes were sharp. Henry needed to have him along on more surveillance sessions. "And that man standing next to her with the white tricorn hat has to be Peter." Henry laughed aloud. "So they're a part of the con, after all!"
"Perhaps they were tricked into it like us," Eric suggested.
Henry shook his head after a moment's consideration. "Not likely. Remember, Peter provided cover for Sara and Neal's date at the Japanese restaurant. Peter might have kept it a secret from El till the last minute. Neal could have warned him about her."
Eric grinned. "And enlisted him to out-con the matchmakers? I'd say you've been checkmated."
"Not so fast. If I can identify their costumes before they reveal themselves, I'm calling it a draw."
Eric snorted. "You've been out-maneuvered. Relax and enjoy it. I know I am."
"I'll correct your fallacious reasoning later. First, you gotta help me find them. If Peter and El are in on it, Mozzie has to be here too."
"What do you think he'd be dressed as?"
"Who knows? This isn't the right crowd for his Quark costume. Maybe we should focus on finding a Harlequin. That will be Neal. He should be easier to spot than Columbine." Harlequin was portrayed as wearing a multicolor checkered costume. There couldn't be many dudes willing to sport that outfit.
After several minutes, Eric pointed out a fellow in a gaudy red, green, blue, gold, and black blousy silk costume. "Is that supposed to be Harlequin? The pattern's not checkered, but it's bright enough."
"Whoever's wearing it is too short to be Neal," Henry said, shaking his head. "But that grin . . . " The fellow wasn't wearing a mask. Instead, his face was painted white. A bright multicolor mask was painted around his eyes. "That's Mozzie!"
"I thought he wore glasses."
"He must be wearing contacts."
"Then that means the woman in navy and white is Janet," Eric said. "She's much too short to be Sara."
"I agree. Notice the butterfly painted on her face. A sure sign that's Mozzie's insect-loving sweetheart."
"So if they're Harlequin and Columbine, who are Neal and Sara?"
"They've been sending us clues . . . That Clueless DVD, for one." When Henry found the movie in the entertainment cabinet, he thought it was an odd choice. Then he saw Alicia Silverstone's name and the light dawned. He'd seen Neal and Alicia, whom he now knew was Sara at a showing of the movie Pride and Prejudice. Matthew Macfadyen played Darcy. How had he not realized it earlier? El had even suggested a scene in Arkham Files where Arkham Neal dressed as Darcy. That scene was included in a story that was posted shortly before Sara first mentioned Matthew. Neal must have decided to toss the scene right in their faces. And Henry had fallen for it. Now it was payback time, but so far Henry hadn't found any costumes for Lizzie and Darcy. Neal probably thought that attire would have been too obvious.
"Do you remember the names of any of the other movies in the cabinet?" he asked Eric.
"There were quite a few. Some were in Italian. Suspense thrillers, a few classics . . . I remember The Scarlet Pimpernel. That may have been a clue for Peter and El."
"It could be for Sara as well. She often wears red clothes." Henry stopped short. "Wasn't West Side Story in the mix? Neal lives on the West Side."
Eric smiled. "And it's a modern version of Romeo and Juliet. It would be fitting for Neal and Sara to portray Italian lovers." He glanced around the room. "Do you see any couples who might be them?"
"Not yet, but we'll find them," Henry said, confident the end game was at hand. "You keep watch on Mozzie and Janet. I'll monitor the Burkes. One of the couples is bound to approach them."
A good theory, but with disappointing results. Not that he was upset. The waiters kept providing them with additional champagne and snacks.
"How about that couple?" Eric asked, with a nod toward a pair on the dance floor.
"What makes you think they're Romeo and Juliet?"
He shrugged. "She's in red. You said Sara likes that color. Their heights and body types seem about right."
Henry stared at the couple. He might recognize Neal's gait, although conceivably he'd disguise it.
"Should we approach them?" Eric asked.
"They're walking away. Let's follow them."
The couple strolled to the back of the salon with Henry and Eric staying a discreet distance away. Suddenly the mystery pair ducked behind the orchestra and disappeared.
"You're not vanishing on me this time," Henry muttered, remembering how Neal and Sara had tricked him at Riffs. He grabbed Eric's arm. "They must have gone into that corridor."
When they entered it, there was no one in sight. Unmarked doors lined the passageway, but there were sounds and laughter up ahead. Henry and Eric walked into a courtyard. They were surrounded by the four-storied palace. Balconies projected from the upper floors.
Several of the patrons were standing or sitting on benches with their drinks. Suddenly the suspected Romeo sauntered into the center of the courtyard, strumming a guitar. The jig was up when he began singing. Henry would recognize Neal's voice anywhere and the song was Mark Knopfler's "Romeo and Juliet."
Henry and Eric stood back to listen. When Neal was about halfway finished, Sara—for who else could she be?—appeared on a second-story balcony.
"Neal's as much as romantic as you are," Eric murmured in his ear. "Sara and I are both very lucky."
Henry just nodded and tightened his grip on Eric's hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the other conspirators had joined them in the courtyard.
When the song ended, Henry was ready to move forward, but Neal quickly started to play another tune, and Sara launched into a rendition of "Mockingbird," a nod to the New Year's Eve challenge in Arkham Files. Neal sang the second verse, and they sang the third together.
At that point, Henry couldn't hold himself back. As far he was concerned, they both won.
#
After the serenade, everyone adjourned to the dining room on the second floor for the banquet and those who were wearing masks removed them. Neal felt as if he were a Renaissance prince with his princess beside him. Their round table held eight. The cuisine was delicious but Neal took little heed of it. They spent dinner toasting their companions for making this moment possible.
Henry insisted on a detailed account of the Clueless con in its many various stages. Sara and Neal gladly provided the history, going back to when Sara first offered to learn "Mockingbird." Only one item was left off the discussion. Miss Scarlet and Professor Plum were keeping the Clue game a secret for future scheming. Not that they had anything in mind. Simply protection for a rainy day.
Dinner ended an hour before the start of the fireworks. Many of the revelers took advantage of the time to dance, including the Burkes, Mozzie, and Janet.
Henry pulled up a chair to sit next to Neal. "Should we be concerned about those two?" he asked, nodding toward Eric and Sara who had moved to an empty table and were deep in conversation. "Are they plotting how to survive our games?"
Neal chuckled. "No worries. Sara enjoys the cons as much as I do." He glanced at Henry. "How about Eric? Does he think we're certifiable?"
"Probably. But I learned a valuable lesson during the flight to Venice. Eric has a natural talent for gamesmanship. With a few deft maneuvers, I'll be able to convert him easily."
Neal arched a brow. "You're already scheming?"
Henry shrugged. "After the successful conclusion of this one, I shouldn't rest on my laurels. You realize, of course, that I won."
"I do," Neal agreed, enjoying Henry's look of surprise that he didn't contradict him. "Although Sara and I hid the signs, it was because of the scenes you injected into Arkham Files and those romantic moments during the U-boat con, that we were able to date despite the turmoil. Arkham Neal helped me open up about my past to Sara."
"You deserve credit too," Henry said generously. "Thanks to your ability to keep it a secret from us, you were able to keep Sara hidden from the Mansfelds and that evil goddess who was plaguing you. Well played." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gift-wrapped box. "I have a late Christmas present for you."
Neal broke into a laugh when he pulled out a pewter dragon keyring. "This looks remarkably like the dragon keyring Arkham Henry gave Neal."
"Hey, it brought him luck. I hope it works for you too."
"Thanks, bro. It already is." Neal reached inside his jacket and retrieved a small box of his own. "This is for you."
"It's not . . .?" Henry asked, grinning like a kid.
Neal shrugged. "It's appropriate."
The sterling silver ring looked like it was meant to be on his finger. Henry slipped it on and held up his hand to admire the effect.
"Mozzie found it for me," Neal said. "It comes with an invitation to come out of the closet. It's no longer necessary to transmit your ideas to the writing group via third parties."
Henry chuckled sheepishly. "They'll need my guidance to do justice to Arkham Henry."
"Yes, they will."
Henry fell silent for a moment. "Speaking of coming out, you and Sara are as well. Any concerns?"
Neal could have deflected, but he was glad he could confide in Henry once more. "A few." He studied his fingers. Were there more than ten? "Sara isn't worried about my baggage, but I am."
Henry nodded. He was wise to not try to dissuade him. "And now that you two will be seen in public, she may fall prey to unwanted scrutiny."
"You heard about the message Diana received?" Neal's past wasn't only a problem for Sara.
"Yeah, Jones called me." Henry shrugged. "Empty boasts, most likely."
"That's what Peter and Mozzie say too. Sara and El are both adamant about being kept informed, and they need to be. I've been told in no uncertain terms that my lamentable tendency to keep them safely at a distance won't work anymore."
"But it isn't easy." Henry's eyes drifted over to Eric. "I've gotten the same lecture. A year ago, I took off to South America, searching for Adler on my own. I don't need to tell you how Eric felt about my keeping him in the dark about the U-boat con. Here's an idea. We'll form a club, like alcoholics anonymous."
"CA?" Neal grinned. "Conspirators anonymous? Is this the twelve-step program?"
Henry shrugged. "We may need more. You feel yourself slipping or need reinforcement, give me a call."
"Deal, if you'll do the same." Neal laughed aloud. "You know what we're doing, right? Forming a secret conspiracy to keep ourselves from engaging in secret conspiracies?"
"That just goes to show how seriously messed up we are," Henry said with a smirk. "This will be the ultimate challenge."
"What are you two laughing about?" Sara asked, approaching them.
Neal bit back his initial impulse to misdirect as he stood up. Despite the temptation, he wasn't about to cheat on his New Year's resolution even if there were still a few minutes left in the old year. He gave her a kiss and said, "We promised to try to avoid driving each other crazy with secret conspiracies."
"I heard that," Eric said, walking up. "So Henry agreed too?"
"We'll give it a shot," Henry confirmed. "You'll have to let us know how well we do."
"We'll toast your resolution at New Year's," Sara said. "It must be almost time for the fireworks. We should take our positions."
The palace had assigned places on the balconies and waterfront landing for everyone to stand. The four of them refilled their champagne glasses and joined the rest of their party on a third-floor terrace.
Sara slipped an arm around him. "Are you ready for 2006?"
"I am. Let's kick off the dust of 2005 and leave our unhappy ghosts behind."
As fireworks exploded over the canals of Venice, transforming the night sky into a dazzling spectacle of colors, Neal embraced his princess. The future had never looked brighter.
Notes: Thanks for reading! The action resumes on New Year's Day with A Witch in Venice (Crossed Lines series). My next Caffrey Conversation story is Silent Planet.
A few notes about this story: The phrase "protection for a rainy day" comes from the season 2 canon episode "Countermeasures." Sara offered to sing "Mockingbird" in Cinereous Skies (Arkham Files). It was also referenced in Nocturne in Black and Gold (Caffrey Conversation). The Green Lantern ring and dragon keyring are from Time Crystals (Arkham Files).
