Two Puzzle Masters

In Nocturne in Black and Gold, Marta Kolar alludes to Rolf Mansfeld having become nearly as fixated on recruiting Peter as his brother Klaus is on Neal. It's easy to understand Klaus's motivation. The master thief known as the Leopard is quite familiar with Neal's ability, having refined his skills as a forger and cat burglar for two years. Klaus came to think of Neal as his younger brother and is now eager to welcome his wayward protégé back. But why is Rolf so interested in Peter?

I imagined that Rolf first learned of Peter when Klaus asked for his brother's help in luring Neal back to the fold. Neal quit Klaus's crew in March 2003. Shortly afterward he became friends with Mozzie and started working for Vincent Adler. In the summer of 2003, Adler fled the country, and Neal worked freelance till he was recruited by Peter in December of that same year. Why had an FBI agent gone out on a limb to offer employment to a criminal? That was the initial puzzle Peter presented to Rolf.

Through Philip Kramer, Peter's former mentor and now Ydrus informant, Rolf was able to acquire a detailed profile of Neal's boss. Peter acquired the nickname of the Archaeologist as a probie because he'd never stop digging until he achieved his objective. Kramer admires Peter's ability and intelligence. He undoubtedly gave Rolf a glowing review blended with a warning to watch out for him. Peter is a serious threat, particularly now that he's a member of the Interpol art crimes task force.

But Rolf is secure in his own superiority and isn't concerned. The cybercriminal is fascinated by how Peter was able to take a young art thief and turn him around. When Neal left Klaus, he had no intention of changing his lifestyle, simply his crew. But now he's holding down a steady nine-to-five job at the FBI. He apparently is thriving within a federal bureaucracy and has adapted to the regulations and restrictions imposed upon him. Neal has received excellent performance reviews for his work while he also pursues a double master's at Columbia as a part-time student. Rolf gives Peter much of the credit for the transformation.

Intrigued, the cybercriminal decided to test both Neal and Peter by placing a hidden code in a document written in Latin by Galileo (The Woman in Blue). He constructed a puzzle for them to solve which involves the use of Renaissance astronomical instruments, including Apian wheels and armillary spheres. Rolf monitored how Neal and Peter worked together to escape a house filled with seemingly deadly traps. Those experiences demonstrate both their ability and the strength of their friendship. It's at that time that Rolf first began to speculate about what it would be like to have both Peter and Neal working for him and his brother.

The Arkham Files stories serve to elevate Rolf's opinion of Peter still further. In turn, how can Peter help but admire what Rolf has accomplished? It might seem crazy to us that Peter would make an alliance, but not to Rolf. Who wouldn't want to? Kramer was won over. Peter can be as well.

Klaus scoffs. He believes their odds with Neal are excellent since Neal is still a thief at heart. But a dedicated law enforcement agent like Peter? The odds are astronomically high against their success. Kramer also cautions that Peter can't be bought. But as Rolf questions Kramer about his own experience with criminal informants, Rolf senses an opportunity, and it lies through Neal. Klaus's lion cub is Peter's Achilles heel.

Nocturne in Black and Gold on Archive of Our Own
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