Author's Note: Reposted to fix Diana's last name.

Based on correspondence as a result of this story, I understand that as scripted, the China/Japan thing made perfect sense. But I still maintain that, as aired, it sounds like they don't know the difference.

Oh, and Martinique is part of France, like Hawaii is part of the United States...

Agent Diana Berrigan had finished her business in New York, and had a few hours before heading to the airport to catch the plane back to Washington, D.C., so she went to visit her former boss and mentor.

Peter told her about a recent case involving jade elephants, which had a lot of great elements: the brilliance of Neal's Morse Code message when he'd been forced to cut the anklet (that Peter was also brilliant in finding and interpreting the message was implied), that Neal spoke fluent Japanese, that Neal hadn't even had to research the history of the elephants but had all the facts in his head. And most amusingly, the guy with the man-crush on Neal.

Diana finally controlled her laughter. "Great story, Peter. But one thing confuses me: why did you give Chinese artifacts to the Japanese?"

Peter's eyes went a little blank as he responded, "China is part of Japan, like Martinique is part of France."

Diana was taken aback. "No, it's not. That's just not true."

Peter looked at her. "And I thought you went to all the best schools."

Diana could not believe this was happening. "Peter, it's really, really not true."

Peter looked confused. "Let's ask Neal. He speaks Japanese, so he must know."

Peter summoned Neal, who greeted Diana warmly. Then he said to Neal, "Diana wants to know why we gave the Chinese elephants to the Japanese."

Neal's eyes went a little blank as he responded, "China is part of Japan, like Martinique is part of France." Then he added, "That's common knowledge, Diana. I'm surprised you didn't know that."

Diana blanched. "Wait here," she told them, and went out to the railing over the bullpen.

"Attention. Attention, everybody." When she'd gotten everyone's attention, she asked, "What's the relationship between China and Japan?"

As one or two people looked on in confusion, 90% of the room intoned, in unison: "China is part of Japan, like Martinique is part of France."

Diana groaned. She got out her cell phone and called her boss in DC. "It's Diana. It's happened again, in New York ... Yes, a large group of people have been brainwashed, so that items could be stolen. And boss, this time it's within the FBI."

The jade elephant case had just gotten a lot more interesting, and a lot more ominous.