Nocturne in Black and Gold

Chapter 6: Jungle Boy

Reese Hughes dropped in on Peter as he was preparing to leave for the day.

"I spoke with Interpol," he said, taking a seat. "The autopsy has been completed on Bergeron, and they found nothing suspicious. There are also no signs of plastic surgery. Authorities are confident that the identity is correct."

"Anything more about the files?"

"They've begun searching through them. So far no mention of Rolf Mansfeld or the Kolars. I asked specifically about any encrypted files, and they haven't discovered any."

"Rolf may have alerted the surgeon to destroy them when he fled London."

Reese nodded. "He could have heard that Interpol was making inquiries. Interpol has been keeping track of Bergeron's patients, and no one resembling Chapman saw him. Rolf most likely went to another surgeon."

If Aidan and Travis hadn't hacked the surgeon's files, they probably would have never learned anything about what procedures had taken place. Now at least they had a chance. Peter's relief didn't escape Reese's notice.

"I know you were concerned about the propriety of your authorization, and when you told me about how you'd sanctioned a ... let's say non-traditional method of file recovery, I'm sure you remember my reaction."

The phrase scorched earth came to mind. Hughes had been scathing in his initial comments. "I expected no less."

"But you stood your ground and you were right. Standard procedures don't count for much when we're forced to work within the constraints of a compromised system and the likelihood of multiple informants."

"We've both had to adapt," Peter agreed.

"And now I'm allowing my agents to plan art heists in the conference room." Reese snorted a chuckle. "Did you know that Caffrey had the balls to ask if I wanted to join in?"

Peter laughed. "Somehow he failed to mention that."

"And do you know what was even more astonishing? I almost accepted his offer. If I hadn't had a conference call scheduled with the assistant director, I would have tried my hand at stealing that Matisse, too."

Peter had noticed him casting glances into the conference room earlier in the day. He wished Hughes could have joined them. Peter would have loved to have seen Neal's reaction when his offer was accepted.

"I talked with John this morning," Reese continued. "He mentioned he's being forced to go through the same paradigm shift in London. He alluded to an operation he sanctioned recently where someone conducted a clandestine search. When I asked if he was referring to Caffrey going in as a Doctor Who stunt double, he was shocked I knew." Reese's mouth twitched into the broadest smile Peter had ever seen him project. "Thank you for keeping me so well informed. Too often managers lose sight of reality. You're helping me keep my feet planted squarely where my people are. If they're in the mud, I want to be in the muck with them."

* * * * *

"Peter, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but your wife was destined to be an art thief. If Mozzie ever finds out about her hidden talent, he'll try to recruit her." Neal beamed at his star pupil while El basked in the glory of her teacher's praise.

The Burke dining room had been transformed into heist central. Neal had saved the Getty Museum for them to work on. Peter joined El to form Team Burke, matching their wits against Neal. Their objective was The Promenade by Renoir. Peter suspected Neal had chosen the painting in an obvious effort to win El over to the dark side. She'd taken one look at it and immediately started planning where she'd hang it in their house.