Everything Old is new Again

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Twelve

Playing the Blue Card

Albert quickly stepped up to Neal and handed him three printed emails. Neal rolled his eyes at the first two.

"I know," Albert said. "Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Edvard Munch's The scream. Typical."

"I cannot remember how many times he painted her," Lilith drawled. "He always had a few pre painted."

Neal examined the third letter. This one had huge potential. "Renoir's La Parisienne, The blue lady," Neal softly said.

"Yes," Albert said. "Our customers do love Renoir."

"He did have a way of capturing the movement of light and shadow." Neal read the email connected to La Parisienne. "The customer says he wants this painting because she looks like his mother. I hope his name isn't Oedipus?"

More than half of the painting was in blue. Neal knew that blue pigment was the most expensive sold. He tried to recall if he had seen the pigment that he needed in Le Peintre's stock. Looking at the blue dress he realized that even if it were in stock, it would not be enough.

"Albert, if I'm to paint La Parisienne I'll need you to order a special blue pigment. It's called, Lapis Lazuli. The pigment comes closest to what Renoir used. If you want me to create a perfect forgery, I'll be needing four bottles of that pigment."

Albert joyfully grinned as he took the printed emails from him. "I'll order them right away. It should be here in a couple of days."

"Our wonderfully talented Neal," Lilith sung. "I don't know why father let you leave us."

Neal threw her a hateful glare, "I think you do, Lilith."

Lilith countered his stare by slowly licking her lips. "Yes, I guess I do. Anyway, now that you know what you'll be painting next, you can prepare yourself mentally."

Neal touched his shoulder, "Really have no choice, do I?"

"No, you don't," Albert softly said. "Again, I really am sorry for the attack, Neal. I know being here was not by your choice. But if you make us enough money, we may give you more liberties."

"You mean make my leash longer?" Neal's angry glare was now aimed at Albert.

Albert's eyes dropped while Lilith happily smiled.

She let out a tired sigh. "We just want things to be as they were when father was alive. We've already sold your two paintings. Two big payments are going straight into our bank account. That's all thanks to you, Neal. We never meant for you to get hurt, just to take father's place."

"I see," Neal said. "And like your father, you're keeping the money made from my paintings so you can go to Venice or Monaco so you can feel important as your friends fawn over you and spend your, no, my money."

The time he spent with Peintre, Albert or Lilith would come home once a week to ask Peintre for money and rest before going off again. "Peintre told me that his biggest regret in his life was not being able to say no to his children. He blamed himself for how the both of you turned out."

Lilith widely yawned. "Blah, blah, blah. Same old argument, you're starting to sound like him too. You do have to admit, the time you spent here was let us say, interesting."

"I think all that drinking has affected your memory," Neal said with a smart grin. "Interesting was not a word I would use, hell is closer."

Lilith angrily stomped her foot. "I thought with time you would accept your position here. Even if you don't, this is how things will be from now on, Neal. You will stay here, create beautiful masterpieces for us to sell and your friends will continue living their insignificant little lives."

Blowing him a kiss she said, "Rest my darling, and thank you for the suggestion, I'm off now to plan a trip to Monaco." Spinning around, she stumbled out of the room.

"Don't spend your paintings before they're hatched," Neal shouted to her. He grimaced and held his sore ribs, that argument took a lot out of him. He saw that Albert was about to say something to him. Scooting down to lay flat on the bed, he rolled to his side and said, "I'm tired, and I'm in pain, Albert. If you don't mind, I'd like to rest."

"Yes, of course Neal. Take all the time you need."

Albert motioned Nolano to come to him. He whispered, "Keep an eye on him. Don't worry about Sullivan, I'll have more men here tomorrow."

After Albert left the room, Neal noticed Nolano had his back to him. He groaned as he shifted his position on the bed to lay on his back. Even with the shot the doctor gave him, he could still feel a sharp pain in his shoulder. But that wasn't as bad as his ribs. Every breath reminded him of Sullivan's visit.

Nolano turned, Neal saw that the anger in his eyes was blatant. "Mr. Caffrey, I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" Neal couldn't imagine what he was apologizing for.

"I am sorry I did not anticipate that Sullivan would attack you as he did." Neal saw Nolano tightly fist his hands. "Be assured that I will not allow it to happen again."

"Nolano, my other shoulder is grateful. There is one thing that you can do for me."

"Anything, Mr. Caffrey."

Neal rubbed his stomach, "I guess getting stab helped me find my appetite."

"Of course," Nolano said. Neal could swear he saw a small smile on his face. "I was bringing your breakfast but dropped it when I saw Mr. Sullivan leave your room. I'll get it for you right now."

"Hopefully not the one you dropped," Neal said, with a grin.

Nolano lingered at the door. "I don't believe that Mr. Sullivan will attempt anything so soon. But just in case, I will use a key to lock the door."

"Wouldn't stop me," Neal said. "Oh, and Nolano."

"Yes, Mr. Caffrey?"

"Do you think you can bring me some of those cookies that you leave for me at night? Just two, please. Until I can get permission to jog around the estate, I have to watch my weight."

"I will bring you two. I'll be right back."

Neal continued to smile as he left the room. Once he heard the bolt slide and the door being locked with a key his smile fell.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" he angrily cursed, as he slammed his fisted hand repeatedly into the bed. Laying his head deep into his pillow he held his side and fought to control his breath. His ribs ached from the beating. That was close, that was too damn close. He couldn't believe it when he saw Sullivan rush into his room. When he pulled out his knife, he felt a cold fear that he never felt in his life. He thought for sure that he was going to kill him.

But he didn't, the pain he woke up with screamed at him that he was alive. Sullivan's arrival ruined everything for him. All he needed was a little more time to work on the siblings. To get them back to arguing with each other again. He never expected Sullivan to be here.

With Sullivan's attack they now had something in common, protecting their new golden goose. When he was first brought here, he wondered if he was going to be spending the rest of his life here. He now began to wonder if he was going to make it out of here alive.

He clutched his side, as he tried to calm his breathing down. Hearing a tapping sound, he looked towards the open window in the room. For the first time he saw his alarm clock. A robin was standing on his windowsill. It was pecking underneath the bars searching for insects. Eating his breakfast, he guessed.

As he stared at the robin, his painters' eye could see that it was made of many different colors. In his mind he began painting the bird. Medium gray for the fringe, brown-black on his back. He used orange-red for the breast and gave it a white belly. As he mentally painted the bird, he finally began to calm down.

His breaths slowed down until the ache in his chest was down to a dull pain. Peter needed to find him, fast. His options had now diminished to one crazy idea. Having Albert order one of the rarest pigments sold. Once it was ordered, he would need to be patient and wait.

"It's all up to you Peter. I've only one card left to play, The Blue Lady. Find it and hopefully you can find me."