Read Online Legal Artistry by Andrew Grey - Free Book Online

quickly. “Gram was set in her ways, and she would never have accepted me as gay. I knew that very clearly, so I hid it from her and never told her who I really was."
    "How do you know? People can surprise you,” Gerald told him sincerely.
    "Not Gram, at least not in this. She clung to some old ways and ideas. Heck, when she died, she still referred to guys with long hair as hippies.” Dieter saw Gerald look at him in surprise for a second before laughing.
    "You're kidding?” Gerald said though his chuckles.
    "Nope. Gram was wonderful, and I know she loved me, but I know she would never have accepted me as gay. Oh, she wouldn't have kicked me out or anything, but she wouldn't have understood. I knew that, so I never told her. Does your family know?"
    "Yes. I told them a while ago. I can't say they were thrilled, and it only added to my black-sheep reputation, but they know. Not that we ever talk about it. My family tends to see things the way they want to."
    A soft knock on the door interrupted their discussion, and Dieter turned around to see an older, distinguished man walk into the office. Dieter stood up and shook the offered hand. “I'm Harold Prince and I knew your father very well,” the man said before clasping Dieter by the shoulder. “You look so much like him."
    "Thank you, sir,” Dieter answered.
    "There is one thing that puzzles me. I know you were just a boy when your father died. How did you know to call me?"
    "Mark Burke recommended you. He said you'd been helpful to him. I didn't know you knew my dad. But maybe you could tell me about him sometime. I was four when he died and don't really remember much about him."
    "I'd like that. Your father was something else,” Harold started to say, and Dieter thought he was going to tell him a story about his dad, but he seemed to remember where he was and his expression changed, becoming more formal. “Why don't I have Gerald set up a day next week, and we can meet for lunch. I'd love to tell you about your dad. He was a good friend."
    Harold took the chair next to Dieter's, and Gerald pulled a chair around to join them as they seemed to get down to business. “I did some research, and I have some good news and some not so good news for you,” Gerald began. “First, I was able to verify that you are indeed the clear heir to your grandmother's family. That means that you have standing under the law, that you can indeed bring suit to recover the paintings, if you like.” Gerald looked alternately at him and Harold. “However, since the paintings are in Austria, you'll need to bring suit there, and that's the difficult part. In order to bring this type of suit, you need to put up a bond that equals the value of the property in question."
    Dieter gasped before swallowing hard. “I can't do that. Mark said those paintings are probably worth millions. I don't have that kind of money.” He should have known this was a fool's errand, anyway. But he'd wanted to get those paintings back for his grandmother, and he'd allowed himself to hope. He should have known better.
    "We know you don't,” Harold said soothingly. “The issue is that we'd need to bring suit in Austria. We've requested copies of some of the records regarding the paintings from the Belvedere and the Austrian Cultural Ministry, and they are not cooperating. What we'd like to do is find a way to bring suit in the United States, but with the paintings physically in Austria, that's going to be problematic."
    "So I should just give up?” Dieter asked. It sounded to him like that's what they were saying. “These people stole my family's legacy, and there's nothing I can do about it?” Dieter felt his temper rise. “There has to be something we can do. Even if I could put up the bond, is there any way I could get a fair hearing? No. They'd rule to keep the paintings where they are because they think they're theirs, but they're not."
    "Dieter,” Gerald interjected levelly. “We've not given up