“Good. That’s what I was hoping to hear.”
“So that’s the plan, is it? To use the threat of exposing these three paintings to get him to pay back for the Fauvist works?”
“It’s the leverage I have at hand,” she said.
“And if it works?”
“Those letters go back into my bag.”
“What else can I do to help?” he said.
Ava smiled. “I want you to start by writing down everything you told me today — everything, every detail about the Fauvists. Do it on gallery stationery. Take your time; be thorough. Implicate your brother in every imaginable way you can. Be specific about Nancy O’Toole and Helga Sorensen. Mention the Liechtenstein account. Describe his relationship with Kwong — but leave out any remarks about ignorant Chinese.”
“You don’t want anything about the three earlier forgeries?”
“Of course I do. That will be your second document: a complete and frank confession. And don’t bother with the rationalizations — no one will care. And I’d like you to make mention of our meeting and that you’ve reviewed my paperwork and judge it to be genuine, and that I have my bases covered.”
He shuddered. “Yes, you do.”
“When you’re finished, date both of the documents and have them witnessed. Lisa will do.”
“Is that all?”
“No, I want all the information you have on your brother: addresses, phone numbers, email, and so on. What you don’t have, get.”
“And then?”
“Contact him. Phone is best.”
Hughes looked worried. “We haven’t spoken in two years. I’m not sure he would even take my call.”
“That’s your problem. You need to talk to him.”
“To say what?”
“He’s about to hit a bump in the road.”
“You actually want me to tell him about you?”
“Yes. I want you to set up a meeting between me and him.”
“You want me to talk about the paintings?”
“Yes, but I don’t want you to mention the Fauvists. Let’s keep the focus strictly on the other three. Tell him that I’ve unearthed Maurice O’Toole’s files and that I have a suspicion, borne out by some documentation, that the Hughes Gallery was involved in financing and selling forgeries. Tell him that for a million dollars I’ll go away, and that you’ve already agreed to pay half.”
“What if he doesn’t want to pay?”
“You need to convince him. Tell him that if he saw the documentation I have, he would agree immediately that a million dollars is getting off cheap. And if you think it would be effective, describe the letters I’ve drafted to the Earl and the others.”
“What if he wants to see the documentation?”
“Then he has to see me with it. I won’t let it out of my possession, out of my sight.”
“He can be stubborn.”
“Mr. Hughes, you’re approaching this from the wrong direction. You have an opportunity here to do something quite remarkable. You should be relishing it, not nitpicking the challenges. Your brother is going to be paying a very heavy price for his stupidity. He owes my client more than seventy million dollars, and one way or another, I’m going to collect it. Whatever hurt he caused you and this business is nothing compared to the hurt he’s going to be feeling. So whatever you have to say, say it.”
“I understand that,” he said deliberately. “I also understand only too well the other implications if he doesn’t co-operate. I just need to talk this through a bit.” He paused. “What if, on the other hand, he is immediately agreeable? What if he says he’ll pay the half-million and he doesn’t need to see you or the paperwork?”
“Slim chance. But if it does happen, bluff. Tell him I’m quite insistent on doing the transaction in person.”
She could see he wasn’t convinced. “Are you scared?” she asked, pointing to the files.
“You know I am.”
“Then impart your concerns to your brother. That’s all you really have to do.”
She stood up and he flinched. What does he think I’m going to do? she thought. She picked up the files, secured them with the rubber band, and held them in her lap. “I know I don’t have to say this, but I don’t like to take things for granted. These files aren’t my only copy. My colleague in Hong Kong has a set, and he’s also aware of you and your brother and what role you’ve played in this situation. So if anyone got any ideas about trying to take me out of the equation, it wouldn’t make any difference. In fact, it would probably make things worse. I think that’s a message that might be worth passing along to your brother as well.”
“You didn’t have to say that.”
“I’ve said it anyway.”
“You’re leaving?”
“You have some work to do,” she said. “I’ll be back in four hours. Is that enough time?”
“Yes, it is.”
“It will be about ten o’clock in New York by then, so you can call your brother as well.”
“He’s a late sleeper.”
“Get him out of bed.”
(26)
Ava walked down Church Street back to the hotel. She phoned Uncle from her room. It was dinnertime in Hong Kong, so she wasn’t surprised to hear the clatter of dishes in the background when he answered his phone.
“ Wei.”
“I’ve just left Edwin Hughes. It went well, I think. Now I need to get to the other brother, Glen,” she said.
“Is he in London?”
“New York.”
“How soon will you leave?”
“After Edwin gives me what I want, so I can’t leave until maybe late today, more likely tomorrow morning.” She heard voices. “Are you with someone?”
“I’m at the noodle shop near Kowloon Station, Andy’s place. Sonny is with me.”
“Say hello to Andy for me,” she said, and heard Uncle relay her greeting.
“Ava, these brothers,” Uncle said, “how much money do they still have? How much do you think you can recover?”
She didn’t answer him immediately. The same question had occurred to her after Edwin’s rant about his brother’s lifestyle. “I don’t have a clue,” she finally said, “but I’ll call you the instant I know.”
She hung up and was thinking about going downstairs for lunch, when her cellphone rang. May Ling. She let it go to voicemail. A moment later it rang again. Irritated, she picked it up, ready to silence it until the afternoon, when she saw a London number appear on the screen.
“Ava Lee.”
“Frederick here. I’m just calling to see how things are going.”
“I believe I told you I’d phone when I had something to report.”
“I’m anxious,” he said. “I was up half the night worrying about all this. The more I think about it, the more I realize how difficult this could be for my firm.”
“Then stop thinking about it.”
“Easily said.”
