Ch. 6

Peter was sitting at his kitchen table looking over a file on the museum's display when Elizabeth walked in the door.

"I see you beat me home tonight," Elizabeth said as walked over to kiss him. Then she asked, "Does this mean you caught a bad guy today?"

"Still working on that," Peter replied. "I did bring Neal home with me. Does that count?"

"It really doesn't. I think we both know Neal has given up on getting himself in over his head," Elizabeth replied. "Where is he?"

"Asleep, in the guest bedroom. Hopefully," Peter said. "I brought him back with me because power went out at June's. It's strange though. The power went out everywhere within about two miles of June's brownstone. And according to news reports, no one knows why. At least not yet."

"Not Neal's two mile radius?" Elizabeth asked, suspicious.

"No. He doesn't have a tracking anklet anymore, remember? But even so, it wouldn't have been exactly his radius. Just an odd coincidence, I guess," Peter said.

"That's an interesting coincidence."

"Yeah," Peter said, rubbing at his forehead. "Fortunately, I have other things to worry about. I'm going undercover at the museum tomorrow."

"As?" Elizabeth asked.

"A man wealthy enough to loan the Met some rather stunning, but regrettably fake, gems," Peter replied.

"Oh? Do I get to see these gems?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, right now, Mozzie has them; we may never see them again," Peter replied.

"He'll show them to me; I'm sure," Elizabeth said. "Does this mean you need some help finding a suit?"

"Why does no one one trust me to pick my own clothes?" Peter asked.

"Honey, I think it's because you pick too many ties in primary colors," Elizabeth started, then decided from Peter's sour expression that he didn't want to hear her honest opinion on the matter, "I take it Neal wasn't trusting you on this either?"

"Surprisingly," Peter replied. Elizabeth looked at him skeptically for a moment before Peter continued, "Considering that he was half asleep all evening."

"Worried about him, huh?" Elizabeth asked.

"For different reasons than usual," Peter said. "I think he was delirious when I half led, half dragged him upstairs. He tried to start singing, but it's difficult to sing while coughing."

"I'm kind of sad I missed this," Elizabeth laughed, despite herself. "What was he singing?"

" 'Witchcraft,' I think," Peter answered.

"Classic Sinatra, huh?"

"You know Neal."

"Well, despite the fact that I find this really amusing, I think possible delirium calls for a possible doctor's visit."

"Probably not a bad idea," Peter agreed.

"Mrs. Suit," Mozzie said, as he greeted Elizabeth at the door the next morning. Then he held a small box out to her, "I think your husband might be looking for these."

"And to think you didn't think he'd bring them back," Elizabeth said to Peter as he walked downstairs, holding his suit jacket over his shoulder.

"Anything could be in that box," Peter said, shrugging his shoulders.

"This is no Pandora's box, Suit," Mozzie said, opening the lid to reveal blue gems that would have been completely stunning if it weren't for the traces of plaster running across the back.

"Thanks, Mozzie," Peter said as he took the box. "I really do appreciate it."

"Glad to be of service at the end of our days," Mozzie said.

Peter fixed Mozzie with a confused stare, "What does that mean?"

"The curse has reached you and myself by now, I'm sure; I'm sorry to say," Mozzie said as way of explanation.

"I'm sorry; I'm still confused," Peter said.

"The evidence is in front of your house," Mozzie said.

"I think what he's trying to tell us is that the old maple tree across the street finally fell down; it looks like it just missed your car," Elizabeth said, poking her head out the door. "But what curse?"

"Mozzie, you can fill my wife in with the details of your latest conspiracy theory; I'm going to meet your girlfriend," Peter said. Then he leaned in to kiss Elizabeth, "Have a good day, hon."

"You too, hon," she said as he walked out the door. "Be careful going around that tree."

After she watched Peter's Taurus successfully wind around the fallen maple, Elizabeth turned to Mozzie, "Moz, I'm sensing that this is a conversation that we should have over tea; why don't you come in the kitchen with me?"

"I couldn't ask you to do that, but I'd like my tea with a little bit of honey and cookies if you have them," Mozzie said as he followed her.

"Don't worry about troubling me," Elizabeth said, smirking slightly. "I already made tea for Neal."

"Neal's here?" Mozzie asked.

"The power at June's didn't come back on after you and Sara left last night," Elizabeth said, nodding.

"Of course, it didn't; it's all part of the curse on everyone who has possessed or is investigating these statues," Mozzie said.

"Mozzie, I'm not sure I follow," Elizabeth said. "Why would there be a curse on people investigating the statues, but who haven't actually touched or even seen them?"

"Why wouldn't there be?" Mozzie asked.

Elizabeth tilted her head and looked at Mozzie in a way that suggested this was not the best explanation.

"Fine. I suspect the statues were originally taken by grave robbers, and consequently, the spirits of the Egyptian dead won't rest unless they are returned."

"Hmm."

"You don't believe me?"

"I believe that you believe that. But, is it possible that you're reading too much into things?"

"I'm not saying it's impossible. But I think the unlucky circumstances of the last two days are best explained by a curse."

"I suppose we'll have to see how things play out then," Elizabeth said.

"I'd rather not," Mozzie said skeptically. "Besides, curse aside, I think there's a decent chance things will go awry today."

"What makes you say that?" Elizabeth asked.

"Your husband is attempting to pick a conman out of a crowd at a museum display while trying to pull off an aristocratic air sans Neal," Mozzie explained.

"It's Peter's job to catch people like this thief; I'm sure he'll be fine," Elizabeth said confidently.

"We're both talking about the man who let Neal brazenly talk to him outside of a bank? The same bank that he was investigating forged bonds at? His skills in reading people are occasionally lax."

"Occasionally is not always; I think you should have a little more faith in my husband," Elizabeth said.

"Perhaps under normal circumstances I would," Mozzie said.

"Curse free circumstances?" Elizabeth asked.

"Precisely," Mozzie said. "The odds of things going smoothly are lowly. Especially considering they're at a museum. The museum from which the cursed art came from."

"Mozzie, if you're that worried, why don't you go look at the display as well?" Elizabeth asked.

"If I'm not already cursed somehow, I certainly would be after doing that," Mozzie said.

"Suit youself. But in the hopes that the art isn't cursed, and we're all still alive on Friday, how would you and Sara like to join Peter, Neal, and I for dinner? " Elizabeth asked.

"Certainly, assuming Neal, Peter, and Sara are not cursed" Mozzie agreed, then added with a sigh, "and assuming Sara would come with me."

"Why wouldn't she?" Elizabeth asked.

"She's upset that I won't tell her where I live. Apparently, being able to meet at Neal's is not sufficient. But when I offered to write her a sonnet with directions, she refused them. Then when I walked her out last night, she wouldn't talk to me," Mozzie explained.

"Mozzie, I don't think cursed Egyptian art should be your greatest concern at the moment," Elizabeth said.

"I can't just tell someone where I live," Mozzie said. "It's privileged information."

"Don't you trust her?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, yes," Mozzie replied.

"Then it seems like it shouldn't be an issue," Elizabeth said.

"Perhaps not," Mozzie said, looking somewhat unconvinced. Then he stood up from the table and began to walk back towards the front door, "Well, Mrs. Suit, thank you for the tea. But I believe I have some business to attend to."

"Some business?" Elizabeth asked.

"I need to help some friends find some things they've been looking for," Mozzie said cryptically.

"Bye, Mozzie," Elizabeth said as she nodded knowingly in response.

A/N: I swear I didn't forget about Neal...I just got carried away with Mozzie and Elizabeth