You remember incorrectly, Satoshi abruptly cut off communication when Gavin emailed him to say he would be meeting with the CIA. Gavin himself has speculated before that this is why Satoshi went away. As doomad notes, this should totally have not been a shock.

Back on topic... Cobra is still trying to pay as demanded by the court, but ontier is evading every effort (cobra is copying me on the emails).  Ironically, they've stopped attaching their own name to their communications with Cobra.  "Anonymity for me but not for thee".