A Question of Ownership

At the end of Echoes of a Violin, Rolf and Klaus Mansfeld are confident that they're in the driver's seat. Soon Neal Caffrey will be working for them once more. Are they right?

Warning for minor spoilers for the Caffrey Conversation AU.

Even though their master plan is as yet undisclosed, we already know they have several factors in their favor. Neal and his girlfriend Fiona have split up. Neal has reclaimed a painting by Georges Braque that he stole years ago with Klaus. Although Mozzie's quick action prevented Neal from being captured and the Mansfelds' video of the theft doesn't identify Neal as the thief, they can still use the theft for coercion. Neal doesn't know that the video didn't identify him. If they had hidden a camera where he changed clothes, they would have succeeded. In addition, they know the date, location, and time he was at the church.

By now Rolf and Klaus believe they know exactly which triggers to pull to make Neal jump. They witnessed his anxiety when Peter was threatened, both in the house of horror and at the Underwater Stage in London. Klaus has the benefit of having worked closely with Neal in Geneva and again in New York City. Both Neal and Peter have been under surveillance. Neal's reaction when he saw the jeweled lion on a leash, a gift left by Azathoth, was recorded. (Raphael's Dragon, Chapter 5).

In the final chapter of Echoes of a Violin, Rolf and Klaus discuss a scheme involving The Astronomer, a painting by Vermeer. Klaus stole it from an off-site facility of the Louvre the same week Neal and Peter were in Paris. They plan to make use of Neal's friend Richard working at Scima in Los Angeles as part of their con. In addition, they've planted Anya's sister Bianka at Columbia to work the romance angle.

But Neal is not the only one heading into treacherous waters. He and Peter may not know Klaus is alive, but they have identified Rolf. Moreover, Rolf is unaware that his cover was blown. Peter believes that Diana's stories have convinced Rolf that he wants Peter working for him as well as Neal. Peter plans to take advantage of her next story, The Crypt, to send signals that he could be receptive to a recruitment offer.

As for Neal, he's not in as vulnerable a position as Rolf and Klaus think. True, Neal holds himself partly to blame for Klaus's death, but he has no desire to return to his former life. His experience with retrieving the Braque painting made that abundantly clear to him. He is no longer the wild, impetuous kid whom Klaus took under his wing. Neal has embraced his new life and friends. He may not have a girlfriend but he's grounded by his friends and Caffrey relatives. Neal is not about to be controlled by anyone other than himself.

The battle over ownership will continue in Nocturne in Black and Gold.

Echoes of a Violin on Archive of Our Own
Echoes of a Violin on FanFiction