Notes: At the end of this chapter is background information for those new to the Caffrey Conversation series.
Chapter 1: A Slight Complication
Neal's office. Winston-Winslow. Tuesday, July 10, 2007.
"Phoenix contacted me."
Neal stared at his cell phone for a second as the familiar adrenaline rush kicked in. When Klaus Mansfeld called him from a burner phone number, he assumed it was to discuss something Klaus didn't want his French handlers to overhear. The subject could have been a personal matter—something related to Neal and Sara's upcoming trip to Paris, for instance. Instead, he'd hit the jackpot.
"I was beginning to wonder if he thought we were too big a risk," Neal admitted.
"I did as well," Klaus said. "Three members of his investment club have been arrested since you went undercover as Francesco. The prudent course would be to steer clear of us."
They'd known it was a high-stakes gamble for Klaus to proclaim that Neal was the heir to Leonardo, a legendary art forger. Working in tandem with a man known only as Phoenix, Leonardo had replaced some of the world's greatest art paintings with his forgeries while selling the originals as investments for future extortion. The known clients were mainly mobsters.
Five months ago, Neal was told that Phoenix would contact him. But the Austrian who transmitted the information was now sitting in prison. Reason enough for Phoenix to avoid dealing with them. Why the change of heart?
"What painting does he want me to forge?" Neal asked.
"He's giving us a choice," Klaus said. "His client wants a Rembrandt. Do you have any suggestions?"
"A candidate comes to mind. Portrait of a Bearded Man." He'd painted a forgery of the work as an assignment for Klaus. It was his last project before the botched Berlin museum heist that caused him to quit Klaus's crew. The forgery was the finest he'd prepared under Klaus's tutelage. He often wondered what had happened to the painting. Would Klaus tell him?
"You're thinking of a forgery that a brilliant apprentice prepared," Klaus said. Neal could hear the smile in his voice. He also appreciated Klaus's choice of words. Even on burner phones, discretion was advised.
"If you believe the forgery would pass muster, I wouldn't need to paint one," Neal said.
"I think you'll find it up to your exacting standards, but there's a slight complication."
#
At the end of the workday, Peter powered off his computer. Neal had asked him to stop by his office when he was ready to leave. They'd take the express bus home together.
Peter paused to savor the thought. He and Neal were fellow commuters to Uptown Manhattan. It still didn't seem real.
Last week, he and El watched the Independence Day fireworks on their patio in Brooklyn. The next day the packers arrived. On July 6, they moved into their townhouse on 101st Street. Neal and Sara had taken off work to help. Mozzie and Janet were there too. Together they spent the past three days unpacking and stocking up on supplies.
El claimed she felt fine, but no one wanted to take any chances. Her due date was a little over a month away. She teased him that he was more nervous than she was, and she was right.
Mozzie and Janet were being particularly solicitous to ensure she didn't over-exert herself. The man who Peter used to consider the devil on Neal's shoulder had somehow transformed himself into the role of guardian angel.
Neal was slipping on his jacket when Peter arrived. "Ready to head uptown, neighbor?"
"I am," Peter said, studying a blown-up photo of a painting on one of Neal's easels. "Is that a Rembrandt?"
"Why yes, it is."
"Another pinprick forgery?" The Interpol art crimes task force had been investigating a string of forgeries made by an expert in the 1990s. The forger known as Leonardo had marked them with pinprick designs. Members of a so-called investment club could at a later time extort ransom demands from the world's art museums, using the designs to prove the works were fake.
"Not yet, but I've been commissioned to turn it into one." His expression turned thoughtful as he studied the work. Why didn't he seem more excited? Forging an Old Master would usually send him soaring into the clouds.
The former art thief Klaus Mansfeld, who was currently working for Marcel Jauffret of the French National Police on a work-release program, was Neal's partner in a long con. Klaus had advertised on the dark web under his alias of the Leopard that the successor to Leonardo was available for commissions. They'd caught their first prize—a corrupt Austrian politician—last winter.
When Neal was executing the forgery, the Austrian told him a man known only as Phoenix would contact Klaus with additional commissions, but so far none had arrived. They'd speculated that since the Austrian had been exposed, Phoenix was suspicious of a double-cross. Neal had been careful to provide an alibi, but the timing of the arrest was highly suspicious.
Peter had long wondered if Neal's con of leading a shadowy second life as a thief and forger while on the Interpol art crimes task force wasn't approaching its expiration date. He'd maintained the con for three years. Was that why he was so serious? He worried that it was a trap?
Peter perched on one of the lab stools at the worktable. "Tell me about this particular painting."
Neal narrowed his eyes. "I thought you wanted to leave. El is waiting for you."
"Actually she's not. She's meeting with her assistant. She told me Yvonne was bringing over an early supper for them to share during the planning session." The painting was a portrait of a middle-aged man with a slouchy hat. Only his face was illuminated. The rest of the work was in dark browns with a touch of wine color to his collar. The man had a weary, troubled expression. "Who's the man?"
"No one knows. The painting's in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. It's only identified as Portrait of a Bearded Man."
"Will it be a challenge to forge?"
Neal gave a brief chuckle. "The challenge lies elsewhere." He took a breath. "You may recall an extensive discussion we once had about a certain Cubist painting containing a violin."
Peter looked at him startled. He'd hardly forget Braque's Violin and Candlestick, a work Neal had stolen with Klaus. Neal had kept his connection a secret from Peter and the rest of the team even though the painting was a key element in their investigation. Neal's eventual confession had been the most painful moment they'd experienced in the four years they'd worked together. That he brought it up wasn't a good sign.
"Does the portrait have a similarly convoluted provenance?" Peter said, trying to maintain a neutral expression as he cautiously stepped into murky waters.
"Some might view it that way. You've undoubtedly heard that many of the Rembrandts in museums are suspected to be forgeries. Some unintentionally. For instance, works by members of Rembrandt's workshop can be difficult to distinguish. Then there are the others. Rembrandt's paintings command top prices on the dark market. Any art forger would probably have at least dabbled in copying the master."
Including you.
"For a young artist out to perfect his craft, studying Rembrandt is essential," Neal continued.
Meaning that Klaus assigned works by the Dutch master for you to forge.
Neal turned to look at the easel. "It would present an interesting dilemma if Phoenix requested Klaus provide a Raphael forgery and he already had one available."
Peter kept his reaction muted. Neal was stepping right up to the line of self-incrimination. He wouldn't cross it, not only for his sake but Peter's as well. "In that hypothetical situation, how would Klaus respond?"
"I expect he would first devise a way to let me know about the request. In the sting we'd set up, I would need to forge a Rembrandt. My task would be simplified if I could use the forgery instead. That's assuming its quality is excellent. Given that in this hypothetical situation, Klaus had inspected the forgery, he would be aware of its quality."
"But I sense an issue," Peter said. "Klaus might not have kept the forgery."
Neal nodded slowly. "That would present difficulties."
"Hypothetically speaking, what might Klaus have done with it?"
Neal hesitated only a moment. "Conceivably he sold it as an original."
"And who might Klaus have sold it to?"
"As you know, mobsters are excellent clients. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the forgery had been sold to"—Neal made a show of considering options—"the head of a regional mafia, like Serbia for instance. They could even be a member of Phoenix's investment club."
"An interesting discussion, but let's return to the here and now," Peter said, suppressing his qualms about mafia involvement for the moment. "How is Klaus handling it?"
"He told Marcel about the commission. He also informed him that he knows of an excellent forgery that could be available to use. The hitch is lifting it from the leader of a regional mafia."
"Under the circumstances, you might want to paint a forgery instead."
"That's an option," Neal agreed. "But an extra inducement in retrieving the existing forgery is what else we might find. Just as in previous cases, any sting could result in additional recoveries—not only of paintings but contraband."
"I sense other difficulties. In the first pinprick case, you prepared the forgery on-site where the client could watch. In this situation, how would the client know?"
Neal arched an eyebrow. "That I was the one who'd painted it? Why would they care? A more intriguing question is who the client is. How knowledgeable is he on art?"
"Do you know where Phoenix's client is located?"
"Not yet."
"If he's in a country that doesn't have strong ties with Interpol, you could have the devil of a time making charges stick."
"But we may also learn more about Phoenix, and that alone justifies the risk," Neal argued. "Initially, we didn't know how active a player he is. This proves he continues to be engaged. This could be our best shot at exposing him."
In principle, Peter agreed but there were still far too many unknowns. He wished Sara were in town, but she was currently in Antwerp, investigating a jewel theft. If he were Neal's supervisor, he wouldn't allow the project to proceed until those troubling blanks were filled in, but he wasn't. Neal was essentially a free agent at Win-Win. The closest person he had to a boss was John Hobhouse in London, and John tended to give him free rein.
"Have you told John about this?" Peter asked.
"An hour ago. He also got the hypothetical version, and like you, undoubtedly read between the lines. He's promised to assist."
Peter nodded his understanding. John was the only member of the Interpol art crimes task force who knew how closely Neal had worked with Klaus.
"I'll have to be off-grid for a while," Neal warned. " I'm glad your move is over."
Peter kept his tone light. "Just remember, we're counting on you being available in August. I'm going to need a lot of handholding around El's due date."
He would also need to stock up on antacids for what Neal was contemplating. Up to now, Klaus had been restricted to Paris. This case could easily put them in the field together. The thought of the Leopard roaming Europe with his former lion cub was unsettling. Two wild cats breaking into a mafia godfather's domain was the stuff of nightmares. But Peter could also tell by the glint in Neal's eye that he couldn't wait to start.
What would Sara say? How would Henry feel? Could anyone rein them in, and should they?
#
That went well.
Peter's response was more muted than Neal had expected. But he didn't take any chances. He kept the focus on Peter and El's townhouse during the bus ride home.
Between remodeling and settling into their new neighborhood, they had plenty to talk about. Peter had sold the Taurus in favor of an SUV that had much more room for hauling baby gear. El would also be able to use it for her business. But hanging over their small talk was the specter of the upcoming job.
He knew Peter wouldn't be thrilled with it, but they'd struck an agreement where Neal would no longer shield him from his dangerous missions. It hadn't escaped his notice that Peter clamped his lips shut several times during the discussion at work. The technique worked surprisingly well. He could hear Peter's arguments in his head but he didn't have to counter them.
Tomorrow morning he'd call Sara. She was on a case with Diana in Belgium. Given the time zone difference, it worked out best for her to call him in the early morning before he left for work. The exact time was flexible, based on when she had a break.
When he arrived at the mansion, he found Mozzie in the game room, working on the script for Red Sands. The first pass at worldbuilding for the video game was completed last month. Mozzie had already sent a detailed synopsis to the development team at Scima and to Stefano Prestini who commissioned the project. The head of Space Horizons was taking a surprisingly active interest.
Mozzie was exuberant about the game's potential. He was convinced that Red Sands would spark a highly successful franchise.
They were the only two in the mansion that evening. Janet was working at the costume warehouse on a new play, and June had a board meeting.
Neal raised the bag of Chinese takeout he'd purchased on the way home. "If you feel like taking a break, I'll be upstairs," he said.
Mozzie didn't turn away from his desk but he lifted his head to sniff the air. "That's Hunan Beef."
"Yes, it is."
"What are we plotting?"
He smiled at Mozzie's inclusion of himself. "You'll remember that last year when I forged a Vermeer, we modified the Find the Lady con. I suppose this one could be called Find the Gentleman."
"Is he a member of the aristocracy?"
"In a certain sense. The portrait by Rembrandt is worth a king's ransom. Klaus and I are running the con. Would you like to be a player?"
His eyes widened. "Deal me in, but wait ... Will Klaus be unleashed?"
Neal frowned. "He's been unleashed since February. This is a task force job." He shrugged. "In most respects."
They headed for the workroom on the third floor—what used to be the original loft. Although it had been converted into a combination studio and office, the original vibe was still present. Neal had even kept the retro appliances with a few minor upgrades. He no longer cooked there. The oven was used for arts and crafts exclusively. But Mozzie liked the positive energy present in the room and it was still their favorite space to plot a con.
"You realize you're playing with dynamite, mon frère," Mozzie said after he heard the details.
Neal nodded in agreement. "The odds of it being a trap are high. The question is who set it?"
"Impossible to predict with the limited data you currently possess. In this game of cat and mouse, you were designated the mouse. We'll need to turn the table so you can resume your feline appearance."
"But initially playing the mouse role will be advantageous," Neal pointed out.
"Agreed, as long as you don't get your tail caught in the mousetrap. Have you given Klaus your answer?"
"It was a foregone conclusion. We'll discuss it further tomorrow."
"Who else knows you forged the Rembrandt?"
"Besides Klaus? Chantal and probably Rolf. Klaus was being manipulated by his brother during the years I was a member of his crew. The safest strategy is to assume Rolf knows about every job I did and every forgery I made."
"Mouse Trap is one game I don't own," Mozzie said, a frown forming. "Dean's quite fond of it. I should acquire it for my collection." He shoved the takeout cartons aside. "We'll need to make do."
Neal retrieved a pad of paper from the desk. It would be a long night. Should they invite Mozzie's rat Percy and Janet's cat Thalia to the session?
Notes: When Neal referred to the Braque painting, Peter worried that the Rembrandt would be equally controversial. During the Braque discussion, Peter told Neal in no uncertain terms that in the future, he didn't want to be kept in the dark. The Rembrandt poses some of the same issues, but Neal appears to be disclosing as much as possible without incriminating himself. Peter is appreciative, but this also means he's in the unenviable position of stewing about something he can't control.
Peter suspects retrieving the painting from the mafia boss will present the most challenges, but, as you'll discover in the next chapter, the situation is more complicated than he realizes.
Background on the Caffrey Conversation AU for new readers: The series was created by Penna Nomen and begins with her story Caffrey Conversation. Our blog has a list and short summaries for all the stories. The primary initial difference from canon is that Neal was never sent to prison and the characters are several years younger. Peter recruited Neal in 2003 when he was 24. In the fall of 2004, he entered Columbia University's graduate program in art as a part-time student. In October 2006, he left the FBI and began working at Henry's company, Winston-Winslow. He and Sara were married the next month. At the beginning of January 2007, Peter moved into his new role at Winston-Winslow. In February 2007, Diana Berrigan and Clinton Jones left the FBI to work at Winston-Winslow.
Main non-canon characters:
Henry Winslow: Neal's half-brother. His husband is Eric Vasquez.
Travis Miller: tech and electronics expert.
Neal's friends from Columbia University: Richard Carlisle, Aidan Phillips, and Keiko Nakahara. Richard's husband is Travis. Aidan and Keiko are now married.
Janet Dodson: Mozzie's girlfriend and soulmate
Klaus Mansfeld: master art thief. Formerly married to Chantal.
John Hobhouse: leader of the Interpol art crimes task force, headquartered in London.
Marcel Jauffret: the French representative of the art crimes task force.
Blog: Penna Nomen & Silbrith Conversation
Visuals and Music: The Mousetrap board on the Caffrey Conversation Pinterest website
