Phee–brilliant! So of course the explanation will be something else not as cool. (mutters about BF having no memories, fictional London link to Land without Color, and other busted theories).
I like that idea as it explains August instead of leaving us to think he was just lazy (or crazy) to be so insistent that Neal had to leave Emma. It could also be that August knew about the HO but was not following orders. If he knew they were after Neal, it would make sense to say don’t lead them to Emma. Then if they almost caught August after his conversation with Neal in Canada, it explains August stealing the money and heading to hide out in Phuket.
“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” -- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass