Backdrop to Italian Masquerade

Italian Masquerade is the final story in the Caffrey Conversation cycle for 2005. It begins in mid-December and finishes on New Year's Eve. It is also the conclusion of the Clueless con. In the prequel, Cloister of Secrets, Neal and Sara revealed to Peter, El, Travis, and Neal's friends at Columbia University that they've been dating in secret. To make the unveiling a memorable event for Henry, Neal has drawn on his teammates and college friends for the final phase—Operation Checkmate.
Status of main characters:

Neal Caffrey: Neal has now worked at the FBI for two years. This is also his second year at Columbia University. When the story begins, he is in his final week of the first semester. He and Sara have been dating since August. Sara is an insurance investigator for Sterling-Bosch. She was transferred to London a month ago.

Mozzie: Mozzie's interests have broadened in 2005 to include the organic honey business and a blossoming career as a writer. In 2005, he wrote the script for two student productions by Aidan Phillips. The first was an animated short called Yellowface, the Masked Avenger. The second production, Pirates from Beyond, was a sci-fi piece starring Henry, Neal, and Sara. Beginning in October, Mozzie has been assisting Diana with writing Arkham Files. Mozzie and Janet Dodson have been dating since January. She is a costume designer and avid amateur naturalist.

Peter and Elizabeth: Peter will celebrate his 40th birthday in January. Elizabeth is five years younger with a thriving events-planning business. Peter is volunteering at a series of telescope workshops for kids at Columbia University. Elizabeth is a member of a community theatre in Brooklyn.

June: It has been close to two years since Byron died. June serves on two boards: the Harlem Jazz Museum and Masterson Music. She is a founding member of the Arkham Round Table and serves as beta editor for Diana and Mozzie.

Henry Winslow: Henry is in charge of the New York branch of his family's investigation firm Winston-Winslow and lives in a loft in NoHo. He is in a relationship with Eric Vasquez, an architect.

Rolf and Klaus Mansfeld: Neal's former mentor, master art thief Klaus Mansfeld, and his brother Rolf, a cybercrime expert, are both in a Hungarian prison while authorities decide where their trials will be held.

Arkham Files: References are made in this story to Sands of Abydos. Henry and Elizabeth designed a key scene in the final chapter that they hope will nudge New York Neal and Sara in the right direction.