Nocturne in Black and Gold

Chapter 18: Reality Sandwich

Neal went upstairs to unpack after Peter and El left. June offered to have the chef prepare something but he wasn't hungry. Mozzie, on the other hand, was starving. He commandeered all the leftover appetizers and carried them upstairs along with half a honey pecan pie.

"You don't need to sleep in the loft, Mozz. June said you're welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms."

"And I may take her up on it later, but your couch will suit me very well. Don't worry. I'll postpone any Latin monologues for another time." Mozzie went to the fridge, pulled out a bottle of honey wine, and uncorked it. "We need to talk, mon frère. The account you gave the others was no doubt the censored version. We must now partake of the reality sandwich and dispense with the lettuce."

Neal smiled. He'd missed Mozzie misquoting Ginsberg. "What would Ginsberg say to my situation?"

"Most likely he'd say that there is no truth, only points of view. I gather you have three voices dueling inside you."

Neal unzipped his suitcase. "That about sums it up. Fake me and real me are conducting a constant debate. Then there's Klaus butting in, insisting he only has my interest at heart. But is it really Klaus or is he being the mouthpiece for Rolf? Maybe there are four voices, not three."

"For the moment let's stick with Klaus. He and Rolf are acting as a united front. Are you sure you don't want any of this pie? It goes remarkably well with the wine."

"Okay, but just a small slice." Neal retrieved the laundry bag from his closet and began stuffing it with clothes. "Klaus said he rescued me from prison because he couldn't bear the thought of me being locked up. Fake me is grateful for what he did and eager to resume my old life as a member of his crew."

"Klaus wasn't angry for how you conned him in the fall?"

"No, because I didn't succeed. He recognized the con right away." He decided unpacking could wait and took a seat across from Mozzie at the table. "Klaus plied me with stories of future heists and the paintings we'd steal. I remember how excited I was to hear about them. Peter said the program could plant false emotions, but I'm not so sure they're fake."

Mozzie handed him a glass of wine. "Did Klaus mention the Braque?" Neal was relieved he didn't comment on his last statement. He probably thought Neal was ready to resume his old life.

"We discussed it a little. I asked him why Adler wanted it, and he didn't know. Klaus suggested that I might have told Peter and I should ask him. He already knew Adler wanted it. Thinking back, I'm surprised I didn't tell him everything."

Mozzie stroked his chin. "Rolf and Klaus don't know why Adler wants it, so they couldn't plant your answer. Klaus was nudging you to find the solution."

"He twisted all the screws. Having the Vermeer stolen on the same night that I retrieved the Braque?"

Mozzie shrugged. "We already assumed that Rolf was behind the trap but wondered how he could have directed operations from London. It must have been Klaus who was in Paris and informed the police."

Neal nodded. "They've been playing me since September, making me feel guilty for Klaus's death while biding their time to spring the trap. Klaus probably tailed me the entire time I was in Paris. He knew I'd met with Chantal."

"The leopards of the world should sue him for defamation of character."

Neal wasn't about to contradict him. That's why his present situation was so untenable. On the one hand, he loathed the man for what he'd put him through, and on the other, he could hear that fake Neal voice in his head saying how much he admired him. It was why he was willing to see a therapist for as long as it took.