They shook hands, and Michael walked to his hotel. He rode up to his room in the antiquated lift. It was constructed of decorative wrought iron. It was a delight to be in a country that valued their antiquated architecture. The gate clanked open, and he strode to his room. He would call Sara in the morning. At this moment, he needed to clear his mind.
*******
“Michael! How are you?”
“Hey Sara, things remain very positive here. There are a couple of ways to present the find, either through private treaty or direct contact through an intermediary. I will email some numbers that are being considered. I’ve conveyed our Sister’s wishes to Sven. As we know, the predetermined destination throws a monkey wrench into the mix. Perhaps you could research these alternatives.”
“I have already looked at the private treaty option.”
“Yes, what’s your initial thought?”
“Due to her wishes, either direct contact or private treaty through an auction house sounds good.”
“I’m glad we agree on that. The numbers are huge. Also, I found a gift for you today.”
“I can’t wait! Thanks for thinking of me.”
“My pleasure. You’re never far from my thoughts. You have been such a help.”
“It’s certainly brightened up my mundane life.”
Michael was very much aware of Sara’s assistance with research and feedback, but it was more than that. He couldn’t put his finger on it; no doubt she had been his rock through the whole thing. Sure, he would have stumbled along, but she had always been by his side, even in a spiritual way. He felt her presence when he was digging up the ground in Slane. “I am glad you’ve been there for me, Sara.”
There was an extended silence on the other end, and then a giggle. “The cat says hello.”
“How is the Queen of Sheba?”
“Like most cats, arrogant under all circumstances.”
They shared a few laughs and, with reluctance, wound the conversation down. After ending the call, he realized how much he missed home. Home! “Now there’s a word,” as Emily Dickenson would say. Under his circumstances, it was an odd word—due to the fact he didn’t have four walls to call his own. Nevertheless, Brooklyn was his home. Sara, Danny, Joey, Sister, and Adam... home is where the heart is.
As Michael climbed into bed, he envisioned what he would do with the money. What charities would Sister Abreanne support? Other than her wishes regarding placement of the cover, the only other clue was her love for children. He felt she would have compassion for those who experienced a meager existence similar to her childhood. He would make sure children’s charities in Ireland were in the plan. It gave him pleasure to think of the benevolent work that lay ahead.
Michael revisited his recurring question. If Sara was able to seek the best care in the world, could she learn to walk? Mrs. De had heard a rumor that Sara’s injuries did not involve true paralysis. She did have feeling in her legs. He had seen her scratch her ankles, and there was obvious muscle tone in her legs. Would she be offended if he offered to help her get the top doctors for her condition? If this cover was worth millions, his ability to help her was limitless. Performing a number crunch was next, but sleep stole him away from his future plans.
The following morning, he called Sven. “Sven, I would like to review my options.”
“Is there anyone else you would like present at the meeting?”
“I want to review where the home base of the charitable trust should be. Also, do the accountants and lawyers need to draw up any papers before we speak to Ireland?”
“Did you have an accountant in mind?”
“I trust your judgment, Sven.”
“We can meet today at one p.m. I will present a list of possible candidates. See you then, Michael.”
*******
“Welcome, Michael. I see you made a list.” Sven leaned back in his chair in a relaxed fashion. “I am at your behest.”
Michael stated, “I would very much like your firm to stay on the case.”
Sven gave a nod and slight smile. “Thank you. We will do our utmost to keep you informed. Our clients must feel secure. The art world is foreign to most people and may create an uneasy feeling for a novitiate.”
“I’m sure I fit into the uneasy category.”
“I would think a private intermediary would be best, Michael. There would be less chance the news would get out before the sale is completed. Neither of the appraisers wishes to have their reputation tarnished. Albeit, a private representative will reduce the chance of a leak to a minimum.”
“You are guessing the cover will command around seventy million?”
Sven nodded, “At least.”
Michael spoke in a pensive tone. “I do think it will be a private middleman—if we can get the right person.”
There was no reaction to Michael’s statement. Sven was hard to read. “I do want to meet with the accountant tomorrow, if possible.”
“Good idea; they will be able to give us valuable information on your tax liability and the best way to set up the charitable organization. There is a possibility you could save several million dollars in taxes if you set up the foundation in Zürich. Your charities would benefit from this.”
“I’m ok with Zürich being home base.”
“I think we should set up a charitable foundation account ahead of the sale.”
Michael interjected, “Do you have a middleman in mind?”
“We have contracted with a few intermediaries in the past. In your situation, I would want your representative to be highly educated and familiar with the Book of Kells. He should be shrewd in a sophisticated way. This person would need to be committed to your wishes and aware of the fact there will be no other offers. Either way, we would have another person, or company, in on the details.”
“No doubt the middleman will find this situation curious.”
“If the Irish got wind of the fact they were predestined to own the cover, it would be a game-changer.”
“Yes, one thing to keep in mind—an auction house will charge as high as twelve percent for a private treaty negotiation. A private representative will be much less expensive.”
“By the way, Sven, off the subject, I was wondering why you don’t have the same surname as your father.”
“Our name is Mueller-DuMoulin. Father chose to use only DuMoulin. I chose Mueller in order to make my own mark in this field.”
Michael smiled, “I have not told you the details of how this discovery came to be.”
“I would advise that you to continue to keep that information confidential; at least until the cover has been placed. If there is a legal question, then come forward with the details.
“The more I give thought to this; Trinity might get nervous about losing the private offer if they become too inquisitive about the history.”
“This cover has been missing for ages. I doubt that you will encounter much fuss over how it was discovered. It was not stolen in modern times. The theft was centuries ago by unknown persons.”
“I hope to tell you my story one day.” Michael smiled and continued, “I’d like to go with a private representative; reason being, I suspect that involving a huge institution like Christie’s or Sotheby’s could set up a flurry of questions and possible leaks.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Michael. It will be a challenge to find the right person—it could take some time. Ireland will assume if they decline or don’t counter our asking price, it will go to auction. They will assume they could end up paying a lot more in the end, or losing it all together. On our part, we are assuming they really want it. It is a game of unknowns.”
“True.”
“If the price is not to their liking, it will be interesting to see how they will handle the dilemma. There has been absolutely no hint of this cover being discovered. I expect they will react somewhere in the range of ‘shock and awe’ when they hear the news.”
“The last
time that phrase was used, it backfired,” retorted Michael.
“To change the subject, we have connections with a firm in California that handled the impressive Gustav Klimpt sale. I advise you to consider them for all legal matters in the States. They have handled many other international art sales. The Adele Bloch-Bauer painting sold for one hundred and thirty-five million. I am sure they will have the name of the best accountant for advice on taxes and other related matters.”
“I believe I’ve seen that painting, it’s at the Neue Gallery in New York.”
“Have you seen it?”
“Yes, it is a stunning work of art. I remember a little about that case. The art was in an Austrian Gallery; it was proven the true owners or heirs to the collection were in the States. The Germans illegally confiscated it during World War II. I believe the litigation was all about ownership through inheritance.” Michael stated emphatically, “I do have papers declaring ownership.”
“All quite relevant. I am curious about the contents of that letter,” said Sven. “When all is said and done, we will share some of the details of this discovery over a glass of Dom Perignon.”
“Am I correct in assuming this find is along the same lines or more important than the sale of the Klimpt painting?”
“Your discovery is of much more importance due to the religious aspect. However, we are not going to auction.”
The subject went no further. Sven tapped his pen on the desk in a pensive manner. “Are both auction houses out of the running?”
“I have the feeling we are setting ourselves up for a leak. I think at this time, I would like you to speak with the California firm first. Find out what they have to say—no specifics of course. Any tidbits could influence my decision. It’s all about retaining confidentiality. Tell them it is an icon from Russia or something along that line.”
“Regardless, we must retain a qualified representative.”
“Sven, although I am enjoying my stay here, I would like to get going on this.”
“The lawyer who has had contact with Los Angeles in the past is in the office now. Should I call him in?”
“Sure.”
Sven left the room, leaving Michael with an avalanche of thoughts. He was not overwhelmed; he knew he had to keep his wits about him. Rushing to get this resolved was not an option. He took a deep breath.
A man of small stature entered the room with Sven. He was middle aged and seemed to have a minor tick in his left eye. His drab-grey pinstripe suit was accessorized with an equally dreary tie. His shoes were highly polished and every hair on his head was perfectly combed and placed. As he sat down, Michael could see he had leg garters holding up his calf-length silk socks. This guy was fastidious! Under the circumstances, he found this fellow’s deportment a definite plus. Michael’s personality precluded this type of fastidiousness; maybe there would be a good balance between the two of them. He had a tendency to self-destruct when forced to deal with minute details.
“Michael, I would like you to meet my associate, Karl Linner.”
The two men shook hands. Michael found Karl’s handshake firm and deliberate. Linner’s eyes were cold and penetrating. There was no hint of a smile; however, he came across as sincere and focused. In spite of Linner’s deportment, Michael liked him.
“Karl agreed to join us, although he has no orientation to this case. Would you like to fill him in?”
“Sure; Karl, thanks for joining us on such short notice.”
Michael watched the man nod his head and remain silent. Jesus! What a pompous piece of work! Michael took Linner’s approach as a get-on-with-it-my-time-is-precious kind of attitude.
Michael began, “I have unearthed an extremely important manuscript, circa tenth or eleventh century. This discovery occurred due to letters of instruction from a deceased person who has no living relatives. According to the directions, I located the hidden article in Ireland, and Sven and I have transported it to Zürich. In the letter of instruction, the previous owner intended this article be returned to Ireland. All monetary gains are up to my discretion. It was the wish of the previous owner that a portion of the proceeds of the sale be given to charities. The letter stated I am to receive all remuneration for my efforts. There are no specifics regarding what percentage should go to charity. In that there is a huge sum of money involved, I will claim a small percentage for my personal use. I intend to oversee a charitable trust with most of the monetary gain from the sale. I will request an independent audit of the trust each year.”
Karl pulled his chair closer to the table and assumed a more intense posture. He uttered one simple word: “Proceed.”
Michael continued, “I am interested in a private treaty offer presented to Trinity College or the Government of Ireland. I prefer the latter. I wish this offer to be reasonable.
Karl responded in a clipped voice, “Do you have the letters of intent?”
“I do. I will be initiating a few charitable organizations; my intention is to keep management costs at a bare minimum. I wish to donate to well-respected organizations with low overhead, such as Doctors Without Borders. I do not wish to reinvent the wheel. There may be a couple of exceptions where I will create pilot programs to assist the underprivileged in Ireland and New York.”
“Ah yes—I am impressed with Doctors Without Borders; a very well-run model,” claimed Linner.
“I will honor the deceased owner’s wishes; in that I am a United States citizen, work will need to be done on both continents. You are free to approach my future contacts in Los Angeles.”
“I would be honored to coordinate this segment of your project.” Linner asked, “Do you wish their involvement to be tax-related as well as opinions on international law?”
“Yes.”
“Considering the taxes, I think your charity will be better off operating out of Zurich. I would like to retain the Los Angeles group for advice regarding the best way to set up your personal reimbursement, due to the fact you are an American.”
Michael offered, “As you can imagine, I am reluctant to give the American firm specific details until they are under contract with a confidentiality agreement. Two of the world-renowned appraisers have given us notarized letters with written estimates of the manuscript’s worth. The larger concern regards the details becoming public before the final placement. I wish to remain anonymous on a permanent basis.”
Linner tapped his pen on the desk, “We will draw up confidentiality papers. I can imagine the battle if outside interests try to get in on the action.”
“It would be a problem.”
Linner claimed, “It sounds pretty straightforward. I am not sure about the timing with the Los Angeles team. I know they are the premier group for accounting and legal issues on your shores.”
Linner’s eyes looked like steel pinholes immersed in an olive green kaleidoscope. Michael had never experienced such intensity. If eyes were the windows into one’s soul, this guy had a granite repository at his core. He was perfect for this task.
“I will call Los Angeles tomorrow and check their availability. I expect this project will not be complicated due to their prior dealings in the art world. Let me spend today getting the plan in order. Perhaps we could meet tomorrow afternoon.”
*******
Michael’s mind was occupied with the options that were being considered. Sara was next on the agenda, and it was a good time to call. “I want to run this by you, Sara. There are a few ways to go with the placement.”
“Go ahead.”
“I would like to go with the private middleman—assuming Sven can find the right person for the job.”
Sara claimed without hesitation, “I agree.”
“I will be thinking this over tonight. Sven’s partner has a tie with that firm in Los Angeles; I think you also mentioned them.”
“I’m pretty sure I have read about them. Did they handle the Klimpt deal?”
“You got it.”
“Just a thought, Michael, have you considered Sven being the middleman?”
“I have, yes—interesting that you mention this. He has the perfect personality. As a plus, he is already part of our inner circle and familiar with the scenario. I will ask him tomorrow.
“Has he seen Sister’s letters?”
“No, if he ends up being the intermediary, I’ll present them before his trip to Ireland. Although he doesn’t need the information, I think he’ll be more motivated.”
“Michael, this firm in Los Angeles, it’s no contest...they’re the best.”
“I hope this will be a done deal soon. I can’t wait to return home.”
“Hopefully, Abbey is guiding you.”
“I agree.”
“Till then, Michael.”
“Miss you. Bye for now.”
As he headed down the street, he reviewed his call to Sara. He had not uttered the words “miss you” in such a personal way since he had left Chicago.
He remained uncomfortable with his calls to Sara; they were cryptic at best, unlike their lengthy conversations in New York. He acknowledged to himself that more than once he had blurted out the fact that he missed her and her dad. Well, so what? Although, he did miss her in a different way.
He walked around the park and made his way back to his hotel. After a cold beer, he ate at a small dinner house and turned in early. As he drifted off to sleep, he realized he could be content to reside in Zürich for extended periods of time.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The following afternoon, Michael made his way over to Sven’s office for the meeting.
“Good afternoon, Michael. I thought it would be best if Karl and I did not share our ideas until the three of us met today. We will sign any necessary papers after this meeting.”
A short rap on the door announced the fastidious little man. Michael felt Linner was as close to an automaton as any human could be; even his walk was mechanical.
The three men sat down at the small conference table. Sven spoke first. “What are your thoughts, Karl?”
“I believe it would be best to employ an independent representative; perhaps someone from our firm. My reasons are twofold: expenses and our need to keep your information close to the vest. I have excluded myself from being considered; my strong points do not include personality or warmth. This could come into play. This is indeed a unique circumstance.”