Chapter 5
AN: This is for Leonor09. Sorry I didn't address this before. It would have been about 14 years. Neal was in prison for 3 years, 9 months. That was before his C.I. deal. He's spent 4 years, plus a few months, on the C.I. deal and then, in my story, he was back in prison for 6 years. That adds up to approximately 14 years, give or take a few months. I hope that this clears things up.
At this point 3 months had passed and the building was nearing completion. Neal was there every day. June came every few days or so, to make sure things going as scheduled. Neal was setting up his studio. And he was beginning to paint. He had so many beautiful landscapes, so many pretty picture postcards in his mind. It would be ashamed not to get those out. He painted the places he had visited while on the run from Peter. He painted scenes from his recent trip to Cape Verde. He painted the scene from his balcony. He was glad to just be able to paint.
June had gotten Neal many jobs since his release. She had lots of friends who wanted family portraits. They even asked for knock-offs of famous artists. And Neal was happy to comply. He was working. He was making good money and it was not illegal, in any way, to sell knockoffs, as long as both parties knew. Besides, Neal signed his works of art in more obvious ways these days.
"Never knew you were one for self-portraits." Mozzie replied, taking one of the few chairs Neal had in his studio.
Neal didn't reply, he just stepped back and looked at his work. He was concentrating on the figure, at the moment. He would put the figure in its background later. He stared for a moment longer. The figure had his back turned. It was obvious it was a male figure. He had no shirt on and the musculature of his back and arms was pronounced.
"He's not looking at the painter, Mozzie."
"He doesn't have to. That's you when you replicated that statue you later broke…." Mozzie paused. "When we stole the music box?" He knew Neal knew what he was talking about.
Neal nodded. "Yeah, the good ole days."
"It's actually really good. Is it going into the show?" Mozzie asked.
Neal considered probably. "I just. We have a lot to do before then, Mozzie. I appreciate you and June going ahead and making arrangements for the school to rent out the space."
Mozzie nodded. "You are very welcome. And we only had one apartment left to rent out."
Neal nodded. "Good, they should all be ready to occupy in a couple of weeks. That will give the students…and me, time to produce some quality artwork for the show."
Mozzie sipped his wine, as he walked around the space. A lot had changed in the time Neal had been released from prison.
"You did a really good job planning this." Neal admitted to him.
Mozzie shook his head. "No! You're going…." Mozzie shook his head. "…I can't even say it. And, as your friend, I am supporting you. But I must remain anti-establishment."
"You must?" Neal said, grinning.
"The last bastion of humanity in a sea of Fed." Mozzie stated.
"That one was pretty good. You should write it down." Neal chuckled.
"It was kind of fun…planning everything." Mozzie admitted.
"You could be my assistant." Neal offered.
"What?"
"…my assistant." Neal said. "I need somebody to take care of things for me."
"So, what, if you were Van Halen, I'd be your roadie? Your lackey? Your minion?" Mozzie asked.
Neal said. "June's been kind, Moz, and I do appreciate it. But she only has so many friends. And not many of them want an ex-con in their house with their valuables." He paused. "I need to work."
Mozzie and Neal fell silent. They were looking at the painting again.
"I'm just…" Neal was painting himself. He hadn't even realized it. He had just wanted to paint the human form, the way shadow and light played across the body. He wanted the subject to be a mystery. He had not finished it yet, but he had had his subject working on a sculpture. That was to be a clue to his identity. He had not even painted it yet, but the scene was to be his apartment, and he would give the view of looking at his bedroom area.
"I like it though." Mozzie said, studying the painting thus far. "A man of mystery, I get it. …some of your best work."
"What do you think?" Neal asked.
"I just said…some of your best work." Mozzie repeated.
"Not that! Do you want to be my anti-establishment, non-conformist, Van Halen-type roadie?" Neal asked.
"I don't know." Mozzie said, quickly. The thought of having a regular job gave him hives. But he did like the idea of a regular, dependable flow of cash.
"Look, you can have a trial period. Give it a month. If you don't like it…." Neal said, giving his friend an out.
Mozzie nodded, agreeing.
TBC
