Neal's canon expertise as a fencer inspired me to introduce a Thee Musketeers theme in Caffrey Conversation. Ten years ago, I set the stage in The Woman in Blue by having Neal join a university fencing club. The club's leader, Aidan Phillips, was so impressed with Neal's ability that he gave him the nickname of d'Artagnan. When Fowler framed Neal for a theft in the following story, The Queen's Jewels, Neal's university friends leaped to his defense. Peter was one frustrated boss during that con. Even though Neal assured him he was one of the team, none of the details could be shared since they were illegal.
In The Queen's Jewels, Aidan called himself Aramis and Richard Carlisle took on the role of Porthos. Mozzie was introduced to the group as Athos, and Travis became an auxiliary member. Their nemesis Garrett Fowler was known as Richelieu.
The musketeers resurfaced in several other stories, including Raphael's Dragon and Set in Amber. Along the way Henry, Sara and Aidan's girlfriend Keiko became auxiliary members. The musketeers' activities often involved diversionary tactics in elaborate cons.
In Vermeer Interrupted, what started off as a vacation for the musketeers led to a call to duty when Henry was abducted. During that story, the musketeers daydreamed about other vacations they'd like to take. At the top of their list was Paris, one of the main settings in Alexandre Dumas' tales. That dangling thread is resolved in my next story, All for One, where cons are nested within cons, and three new members are inducted into the musketeer ranks.
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