Chapter 3: Gems in Play
June's mansion. Saturday, November 11, 2006.
"Black Diamonds is such an exotic name," June remarked to Sara, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Will Henry provide us with black diamond earrings and a secret code?"
Sara grinned back at her. "He really should. I'll bring it up at the next meeting."
They were putting the final touches to the music room where June had suggested they meet with Raquel. She was due to arrive in a few minutes. Neal was in the entry watching for her.
Sara gazed around the room. There was no sign of the surveillance cameras Mozzie had installed. Thanks to them, they'd be able to review every facial expression Raquel made. Henry was especially keen to build a psychological profile of her.
"Byron would have loved the idea of the Black Diamonds," June said softly, her expression turning wistful.
"I wish I'd known him. Every story I hear makes me appreciate even more what a treasure you had." Sara deflected onto a different topic to keep June from becoming too sad. "I imagine the hiding spots Mozzie's created would have been a hit with him as well."
"He would have loved them! Even if they're only used by children to hide their toys. Thanks to Mozzie's additions, the mansion is regaining some of the mystery it had when Byron ran poker games in the loft. I can feel his spirit more than ever in the house."
Sara had wondered if June was simply tolerating Mozzie's "embellishments." Instead, Mozzie was helping to keep Byron's spirit alive. Perhaps she should encourage him to make a couple more especially for June. "Would you like to stay for the meeting?" Sara asked.
"Thanks for the offer but I'd rather watch from the closed-circuit camera in my study."
Neal strode in and winked at Sara. "Raquel's cab pulled up. Are you ready for a walk on the dark side?"
She flashed him a confident smile. "Our ship is setting sail." Sara had worked countless undercover cases but partnering with Raquel would be a unique experience.
Neal turned to June. "I'd appreciate your assessment of Raquel. I think she's trustworthy within the parameters we've established, but do you agree?"
"I'm looking forward to evaluating her," June said.
Sara knew those weren't empty words. June was a pro at analyzing people. Sara hoped they could find other safe ways of keeping June an active member of the Black Diamonds.
While June retreated to the study, Sara and Neal headed for the front door.
Raquel's eyes flickered with appreciation when she stepped into the marble entry. As usual, she looked like she'd emerged from an Italian fashion magazine. Sara was determined to hold up her end. She was wearing a Narciso Rodriguez dress that Neal particularly liked. Thanks to Mozzie's investment help, Sara had the funds to indulge in her love of fashion, and she particularly enjoyed supporting up-and-coming American designers. This was her power dress in saffron-gold. If Raquel wanted to take it as evoking the music box, that was fine with Sara.
"You've done well for yourself, Neal," Raquel said, kissing him on both cheeks in the Italian manner. "Sara, this is a true pleasure. I've heard so much about you."
Raquel had a sly smile that reminded Sara of a knowing Cheshire cat, but there was also a hint of wariness. Sara didn't expect to be trusted. Based on Raquel's attitude, she'd modify her approach. She reminded herself that Neal believed Raquel wouldn't double-cross her during the con. Sara knew that if Neal had the slightest doubt about Raquel, he wouldn't let Sara go in with her.
This was her best chance to become friends with someone Neal had been close with for years, and she was determined to make the most of it. She gave Raquel her most welcoming smile. "As I have about you. I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. I'm willing to do all I can to help rescue Alex." She hoped Raquel inferred that in this case friendship was trumping illegal activities.
"Buzek won't stand a chance against the two of you," Neal said confidently. "Raquel, I think you'll like what we've planned." He nodded to the music room. "This way, please."
Neal had a relaxed air as if he was the lord of the manor. And he was. June wanted them to consider the house their home too. Heady stuff for a girl who worked backstage with her mom at Disneyland, dreaming of princesses in castles and pirates on the high seas. Now she could fulfill both fantasies.
They sat down around the game table in the center of the music room. It was a recent addition prompted by a request from Mozzie. June joked it was the first sign that he wanted to move in. He'd also added a cabinet on one of the walls to hold games—both board and video. As Sara sat down, she could picture the Clue board in front of her. That was her and Neal's private game for strategizing a sting. The only other person they played that game with was Mozzie. He was currently in the study, watching the proceedings with June—their wizards behind the curtain.
"We plan to take advantage of your business relationship with Buzek," Neal said. "From what you told me, you've acted as a facilitator for numerous transactions. He doesn't know that Alex is a friend or that you were working with Alex to recover the music box."
Raquel nodded in agreement. "He thinks I only have a casual acquaintanceship with Alex. She told him that you and I sometimes work together and that I'd be able to contact you. Buzek realizes that Alex's grandmother knew who his grandfather was. He likely assumed Alex tracked him down on her own. She was careful not to mention the music box in her call to me. She simply described it as an item of value."
By doing so, she was also protecting Raquel. Sara gave Alex points for that.
"Does Buzek know why you're in town?" Sara asked.
"No, it hasn't come up."
Neal smiled. "Good because we're going to provide you with the reason. You'd heard of a jewel smuggler who operates out of New York. She has the inside track on smuggling rubies and other gemstones from Burma. You have several clients in Europe who are interested, but as a sign of goodwill, you're willing to give Buzek a chance to bid on them."
Raquel turned to Sara. "And you're the smuggler?"
"Neal knows I have a fondness for anything that sparkles." Raquel didn't realize how true that was. Neal had given her an alias of Tiffany based on Tiffany Case in the James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever. Sara knew she was destined to someday play an undercover gem smuggler. It was a role she'd prepared for ever since she begged her mom to add sequins to her dance costumes.
"You'll need more than a sparkling personality," Raquel said, looking unimpressed. "Will you have any samples?"
"Of course," Sara said confidently. Mozzie and Travis were already working on them.
"We assume—and hope—Buzek will want them appraised," Neal said. "Since he won't have an expert when you meet him, you'll agree to let him keep them for evaluation purposes."
"What's to keep him from refusing to return them?" Raquel asked skeptically.
"We'll make sure it's not an issue," Neal assured her.
If all proceeded according to plan, they'd have no difficulty in recovering the gems. Mozzie had already learned who Buzek used as an appraiser. He'd also discovered that the appraiser visited Buzek to validate gems.
"I don't see how this will help us free Alex," Raquel said with a frown.
"It's a necessary first step," Neal said, not divulging any additional details. "You should like our strategy. It will enhance your reputation as a player in the gemstone underground. Buzek won't expect you to know anything about the music box, and for your sake, you should remain ignorant."
She arched an eyebrow. "Ignorance is bliss?"
He shrugged. "Less chance of being caught in the crossfire."
For both her and them. They'd agreed to provide Raquel with only enough information to carry out the sting. Raquel was a friend but not trustworthy if she considered her self-interest lay in a different direction.
Sara's part had a minimal amount of risk. If the sting failed, at worst her reputation for undercover work would take a hit. She wished she could say Neal's assignment was equally safe. Neal was determined to carry it out, and Sara had consistently bitten back the words of caution. Long ago, she'd promised herself to never make Neal regret confiding in her. They'd discussed his role. He assured her he could handle it, and she trusted him even if her stomach didn't.
Henry was the captain of their crew. He was the one to reject the idea as too dangerous. But so far he hadn't.
#
"Anything you need from the store?" Eric asked. "More grog? Perhaps some sea biscuits?"
Henry looked up from his spreadsheet. "Nah, I'm good. What's the plan for dinner?"
Eric's smile had an evil glint to it. "I've been researching pirate food for my new role as quartermaster of this crew. How about bone soup, salted beef, and hard tack?"
Henry made a face. "Fresh fish sounds much more like pirate fare to me."
"I'll see what I can do." He turned to their dog. "Splash, as first mate, you're in charge of keeping the captain safe while I'm away."
Splash whined eagerly at the role, no doubt anticipating playtime in her future. Eric slipped on his jacket and then hesitated at the front door. He turned to face Henry. "Shopping can easily wait if you'd rather talk."
Henry used to feel that only Neal engaged in twin-speak with him, but Eric had shown an even more sensitive ability. But this was a burden Eric didn't have to be subjected to.
Eric approached him. "Splash isn't the only excellent listener in the family."
"What gave me away?"
Eric shrugged. "Those notes you've been studying for hours. How restless you were in bed last night. I was honored you asked me to join the crew, and I take my responsibility seriously. Quartermasters aren't only in charge of supplies. They're the captain's second-in-command, their assistant in all matters."
"And sage counselor." Henry exhaled. Never had he been so glad he'd stuck to his promise and hadn't shut Eric out from what could very possibly turn into a hot mess.
Eric took a seat across the table from him. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Neal's scheme, would it?" He snorted at the soulful look Henry gave him. "Of course, it does."
"I'm beginning to have a lot more sympathy for Peter," Henry admitted. "Half of me is envious, wishing that I could do Neal's role, and the other half is stewing that it's far too reckless. To hell with the music box. It's not worth ruining his and Sara's future happiness. And it doesn't help that I know Sara's counting on me to make the right decision."
"Let's work with what you just said. You claim you're envious. Would you have any second thoughts if you assumed Neal's part?"
"No," Henry said bluntly. "But safecracking's not a skill I mastered. Neal's the only one who can handle it."
"You're straying off the subject," Eric reminded him. "The key issue is that you wouldn't have any problem assigning yourself the part. And how would you expect me to react?"
Henry sighed heavily.
"The truth, please," Eric said, giving him a look that indicated he already knew the answer, and Henry couldn't squirm his way out of it.
"I'd hope you had faith that I knew what I was doing." Henry made a face. "And, yeah, by rights I should treat Neal the same way. Am I turning into a carbon copy of Peter?"
Eric shrugged. "I'm starting to feel the breeze of hovering helicopter blades. But don't kick yourself about it. Shouldering the responsibility for the safety of others is a learned skill just like anything else. You're an only child. So is Neal. Neither one of you has had much practice. Peter doesn't have any younger siblings, so he tends to treat his team like his kids. Me, I've been a big brother since I was two." He smiled. "Learning anything is so much easier when you're little. You don't have to carry around an adult-sized load of pressure about the possible repercussions for every decision you make."
"Answer me this. If I told you I was going to pull Neal's stunt, would you try to talk me out of it?"
Eric hesitated for a moment. "I don't think so. I'd worry. I'd ask for a thorough check of equipment first. But in the end, I'd trust you."
"I think I should make you captain."
"Sorry, I already grabbed the quartermaster role," Eric said with a laugh. "Too bad you can't draft Peter. Maybe you need to raid his ship and hijack him."
"I may just do that," Henry said, feeling better by the moment. "Win-Win is famous for raiding the Bureau for talent. Pops is a master at it. Richard likes to refer to his pirate ancestor Jean Lafitte, but raiding and pillaging are in my blood too. Hands down, the best raid I ever made was when I convinced you to become a pirate with me."
"We'll sail the high seas together," Eric promised. "And if you ever doubt yourself, I'll be there to remind you to chill."
When Eric sailed off to raid the grocery store, Henry tackled his flowchart with renewed enthusiasm. The raid on Buzek was in good shape, but there were still a few pieces left to decide about Baltimore. He and Eric would drive down tomorrow to meet the plane. This was another scheme that could blow up in their faces, but Henry had a good feeling about it. Maybe it was because he and Neal were so happy with their choices in soulmates.
#
"Henry still has plenty of time," El said soothingly into the phone as Peter walked into the living room. She held her cell phone away from her face and mouthed "Angela."
Peter smiled and headed to the kitchen for a beer. Dinner would need to be postponed. Angela was assisting El, Janet, and June with Sara's shower. Like everything else the Caffrey kids were involved in, the event had mushroomed in complexity. Peter was told what happened on Sunday was only the first part. The second part would take place on Thursday once the out-of-town guests arrived.
He supposed he should be relieved. Angela would insist that Neal and Henry didn't throw any monkey wrench in the wedding plans . . . unless they were keeping her in the dark too.
He popped the bottle cap and returned to the living room.
"I don't know of any additional surprises," El said. When she saw Peter, she rolled her eyes helplessly. "It's undoubtedly something work-related."
"What's Henry done now?" Peter asked when she ended the call, keeping his tone light.
"Nothing to be upset about, although Angela doesn't feel that way. She wants to rehearse the duets they'll sing at the party. She'd hoped he'd be free tomorrow morning, but he and Eric have something else planned. When Henry told her he'd only be available starting on Wednesday, she didn't take it well."
Peter smiled. "Sometimes she forgets Henry has an office to run and a personal life that doesn't revolve exclusively around her schedule."
El nodded. "She admits he tried to get her to rehearse last week, but she didn't have the time."
Were Henry's activities related to Daniel Buzek? El was speculating that Henry's Sunday plans were in connection with the surprise he had planned for the party at Riffs, whatever it was. But Peter bet Neal's scheme was involved.
During dinner, he replayed in his head every phrase Neal had used. He called it a recovery case. That meant it was legit, and Henry was likely part of it. Sara could be as well. Were they going after the Lorimer crew? His stomach lurched at the thought. El and Angela were focused on wedding plans. Why couldn't the happy couple be too?
Whatever they'd planned was scheduled to be over by Wednesday since Henry said he'd be able to meet with Angela then. Did he realize how dangerous the crew was? How many murders they'd committed? Peter thought back to the U-boat con. Neal and Henry acted like rogue pirates, dismissive of safety concerns. They lapped up the dangers of the con. They undoubtedly assumed whatever they were planning this time would run equally smoothly.
Had they factored in the glaring difference? Namely, that Peter wouldn't be around to make sure they didn't wind up in the Bermuda Triangle of failed cons. A small voice grouched about Neal letting him know about Buzek. Didn't he realize how aggravated Peter would be at being out left of the loop? His mature half rebuked that grouch. Neal was being considerate, not wanting to interfere with a Bureau sting.
Peter continued to mull over his limited options while he took Satchmo for a walk after dinner. During Neal's con to unmask Fowler, he'd relied upon Peter to do the right thing—not that he gave many clues about what that was. It had been frustrating then and now he was being forced to relive it.
Neal called him the puzzle master. Was he relying on Peter to once more figure out what to do? Only now, thanks to Henry's involvement, the game was even more complicated.
And he had to admit that even though it was damned frustrating, he was starting to smile about it. Neal didn't work for him but they were still a team. Satchmo whined, and Peter realized he'd stopped walking. "Sorry, fella. Got distracted." He picked up the pace with fresh enthusiasm.
Neal was including him in the action, but he couldn't do it officially. Why? Most likely because whatever he and Henry planned was illegal. Peter trusted that Neal and Henry didn't routinely go rogue, so a friend was probably involved. Possibly Mozzie, but Neal had many other friends in the underworld. And one of them needed his help.
What role was Peter supposed to play? Neal had called him at the office, so that meant he wanted his official help. As Neal ended the call, he said he'd let him know if there was anything the Bureau should be aware of. How did Neal intend to do that? Was he expecting Peter to hang around or did he have something else in mind?
"C'mon on, Satch. I'll race you back to the house. We have calls to make."
The cold case of Buzek having been involved in his rival's murder should do the trick. Peter could claim new leads had developed. If he squinted, that was a true statement. Under the circumstances, round-the-clock monitoring of Buzek's property was justified. Peter had plenty of available personnel. If it didn't pan out, the assignment was still worthwhile. It kept his agents sharp while providing useful field experience. The case wasn't that different from the war exercises the military held. No one questioned their importance.
Game on, Neal. Like it or not, I just joined your crew.
#
On a Sunday afternoon, the mansion was blissfully quiet. It was the only day the workers weren't present. An hour ago, Sara had left with Janet and June for her shower. Neal smiled as he thought about what her reaction would be. She probably suspected the event would be held at Janet's costume warehouse in Chelsea. Sara anticipated fun with costumes, but Neal had resisted her pleas for details by claiming ignorance. Fiancés weren't normally involved with showers. How could she expect him to be clued in?
He liked the wedding preparations swirling around their con. The two balanced each other and helped keep him focused on whatever was currently in the spotlight.
Mozzie entered the music room. "Travis should be here any moment." Mozzie's face shone with anticipation. "Sometimes I think he left his bureaucratic overlords just for me. Root32 and I are kindred spirits. Did you hear about their contract with the CIA? Just think what secrets they'll have access to!"
Neal smiled at his enthusiasm. "Henry mentioned it. He's very smug about having signed a contract with Root32 beforehand. If he'd waited to approach them, they might not have had the time for Win-Win."
"Tosh, Travis will always make himself available for us."
Neal might feel guilty about taking advantage of his friendship, but Travis genuinely enjoyed working with the Black Diamonds. He told Neal that Root32 wouldn't have achieved its success if White Collar hadn't promoted its anti-malware program. Thanks to the software Aidan wrote, their company had achieved global recognition. Travis claimed he could justify his work with the crew as beta testing.
"Have you spoken with Rusty?" Neal asked.
Mozzie nodded complacently. "He was delighted to get the tip. My strategy has worked out even better than I hoped."
When Neal quit his job at the Bureau, Mozzie decided his days of working with White Collar were also over. But not his friendship with Diana and Jones. From time to time, a well-placed confidential tip would be beneficial not only to them but also conceivably to Mozzie and Neal. Rusty was a two-bit fence who was down on his luck. His skill as a fence was minimal but he had a good heart and was trustworthy. Mozzie had introduced Rusty to Jones in October, suggesting he would make a capable confidential informant. Jones was delighted to have a snitch he could call on for help without Mozzie's involvement. The two had developed a good working relationship, helped along by a shared love for Scotch. Rusty also helped to maintain Mozzie's standing in the underworld. This was the first time the Black Diamonds would take advantage of the relationship.
"You should be prepared to receive a call from the suit late this afternoon," Mozzie added.
"That soon?"
He shrugged knowingly. "Rusty will text Jones, using a burner phone of course. Jones, conscientious to a T, will respond within the hour. Afterward, he'll ponder what to do for fifteen minutes while humming the theme from Spider-Man—the 1960s version. It's easier to sing and well-suited for Jones who doesn't have your gift for music. He'll then call the suit. Peter will stew over his report while he watches Oceans 11. I checked. It's on TV this afternoon. He'll call you at roughly six o'clock."
Neal laughed. "I hope you're right. That's the doorbell. I bet that's Travis."
When he opened the door, he found not only Travis but also Richard and Aidan. The musketeers were back!
Notes: Neal gave Sara the alias of Tiffany in An Evening with Genji. Sara wasn't in town when Fowler attempted to frame Neal, but that case also involved diamonds. The details are in The Queen's Jewels.
